Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class cruise ships are perhaps the most unique cruise ships in the world. The Oasis Class ships are the biggest cruise ships in the world, as well, and offer endless activities, dining options, and entertainment for guests onboard.

The Oasis Class cruise ships from Royal Caribbean are an excellent choice for a vacation because they offer extensive amenities and activities for travelers of all ages.

The children's programs are designed to keep kids engaged and entertained, offering age-appropriate activities supervised by qualified staff. For adults, there is a host of sophisticated dining options, including world-class restaurants with celebrity chefs, lively bars and lounges, and cozy cafes serving up locally sourced items for an authentic taste of the destination.

Oasis Class cruise ships

Royal Caribbean has five Oasis Class cruise ships:

• Oasis of the Seas is the first Oasis Class ship, and she sails from Miami and Cape Liberty, offering cruises to Canada and the Caribbean.
• Allure of the Seas is the second Oasis Class ship, and she sails from Ft. Lauderdale and Galveston, offering Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises.
• Harmony of the Seas is the third Oasis Class ship, and she sails from Port Canaveral, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami, offering Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises.
• Symphony of the Seas is the fourth Oasis Class ship, and she primarily sails from Miami, offering 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. In the summer, she sails from Barcelona and Rome, offering 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises.
• Wonder of the Seas is the fifth Oasis Class ship, and she sails primarily from Port Canaveral, offering 7-night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises. Her first sailings depart from Ft. Lauderdale, and she spends the summer in Europe, offering Western Mediterranean cruises.

Oasis Class neighborhoods

Oasis Class cruise ships are split into distinct neighborhoods onboard, which helps to keep the ship’s layout easy to navigate as well as split up crowds into different areas. There are seven neighborhoods on the Oasis Class ships, with the exception of Wonder of the Seas which has eight neighborhoods.

• The Boardwalk, an outdoor neighborhood built like an old-fashioned boardwalk, with an arcade, carousel, dining, and entertainment venues
• Pool and Sports Zone, the top decks of an Oasis Class ship with four main pools, an adults-only Solarium, waterslides, and a sports area
• Central Park, an outdoor park with over 10,000 plants and flowers surrounding dining and shopping venues
• Royal Promenade, the main thoroughfare of an Oasis Class ship with dining, bars, entertainment, and shopping
• Entertainment Place, a hub of entertainment venues including a comedy club, ice-skating rink, and jazz club
• Youth Zone, where Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean programming is located
• Vitality Spa and Fitness, the onboard spa and gym including a thermal suite, beauty salon, fitness classes, and cafe

Royal Caribbean’s newest Oasis Class ship, Wonder of the Seas, has an eighth neighborhood: the Suite Neighborhood. This is an area of the ship dedicated to suite guests and has a pool, bar, lounge areas, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and Suite Lounge.

Activities and things to do

The Oasis Class ships have no shortage of complimentary activities to choose from while onboard. While they share some activities with other Royal Caribbean ships, there are several unique things to do found only on the Oasis Class cruise ships.

Ultimate Abyss

The Ultimate Abyss is a 10-story slide that transports guests from the sports deck to the Boardwalk neighborhood. It is a dry slide and guests use a racer mat to reach the bottom. The slide incorporates lights, sound effects, and music as guests twist and turn at 9mph to the bottom.

Allure of the Seas does not yet have The Ultimate Abyss, but it will be added to the ship once the Royal Amplified program returns.

Zipline

Guests looking for a thrill can try out the zipline, located on the sports deck of Oasis Class ships. The 82-foot long zipline flies nine decks above the Boardwalk neighborhood. The ride only lasts around ten seconds, but will surely give guests an adrenaline rush.

Rock Climbing Wall

Oasis Class ships have not only one, but two rock climbing walls. At 43 feet tall, these are the tallest rock climbing walls in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. They are located in the Boardwalk neighborhood overlooking the AquaTheater and ship’s aft.

Ice skating

All Oasis Class ships have the Studio B ice skating rink. Beyond ice skating shows, there are open skating sessions available during the cruise. Guests are provided with ice skates and a helmet.

FlowRider

The FlowRider is a surfing simulator where guests can practice boogie boarding and stand up surfing as water rushes from the front to the back of the FlowRider.

Carousel

Located in the Boardwalk neighborhood on each Oasis Class ship is an intricately designed, colorful carousel. The carousels’ designs are colorful and kid-friendly, with not only horses to ride, but cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, and more.

The carousel moves quite slowly, so it is a fun activity for kids (and adults) of all ages.

Waterslides

Oasis Class ships have three main waterslides on the pool deck. First is The Perfect Storm, a set of racing slides. The other slide is Supercell, which ends with a “toilet” or “champagne” bowl, where guests loop around a bowl several times before falling into the middle.

Allure of the Seas does not yet have waterslides, but the Cyclone, Typhoon, and Supercell slides will be added to the ship once the Royal Amplified program returns.

Puzzle Break Center

Oasis Class ships offer the Puzzle Break Center, an escape room, onboard. This activity comes at an extra cost (usually around $20 per person). The escape room’s theme and challenge varies per ship, so guests can try the escape room on more than one Oasis Class ship without the storyline repeating.

Allure of the Seas does not yet have a Puzzle Break Center, and the escape room on Wonder of the Seas is still being constructed.

Kids Activities & Adventure Ocean

Each Oasis Class ship has two arcades onboard: one on the top decks near the sports deck areas and one on the Boardwalk. The boardwalk arcade is either in its own venue or incorporated into Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. The arcade comes at an extra cost.

In addition, all Oasis Class ships have an extensive Adventure Ocean area for kids. Childcare is available for kids aged 6 months to 17 years, and kids are broken into separate rooms by age group.

Teens have their own space onboard Oasis Class ships, with both indoor and outdoor spaces to hang out.

Other activities

On the sports deck of each Oasis Class ship is a mini golf course and sports court. Both are open throughout the day, with select activities such as pickleball and basketball tournaments listed in the Cruise Planner.

Select Oasis Class ships also offer Battle for Planet Z, a laser tag arena, onboard. The arena is glow-in-the-dark and sure to be a fun activity for kids and adults.

Pool Deck

Because Oasis Class ships are split in the middle, there are two separate sides of the pool deck, and guests can look from the pool deck down into Central Park below.

There are four pools on the pool deck:

• The Beach Pool, with lines of pool chairs placed into shallow water, meant to create the effect of lounging in a chair near the ocean
• The Sports Pool, where pool games and activities are played, such as the belly flop contest or pool volleyball
• The Main Pool, a regular pool with plenty of seating
• Splashaway Bay, a kids aqua park with waterslides, dump buckets, and water sprayers. Allure of the Seas has an H20 zone instead of Splashaway Bay.

Also located on the pool deck are jacuzzis at each of the four pools, two large cantilevered jacuzzis, and several pool bars.

Each Oasis Class ship also features an adults-only Solarium for guests 16 and older, with a pool and several jacuzzis.

Entertainment and venues on Oasis Class ships

Oasis Class ships have three main entertainment venues onboard. The most unique venue is the AquaTheater. Found only on Oasis Class ships, the AquaTheater is where Royal Caribbean’s aqua shows are performed, combining diving, slacklining, aerialists, synchronized swimmers, and more.

AquaTheater shows:

• Oasis of the Seas: Aqua 80 and Splash
• Allure of the Seas: Oceanaria
• Harmony of the Seas: The Fine Line and Hideaway Heist
• Symphony of the Seas: HIRO and Aqua Nation
• Wonder of the Seas: inTENse

Like on all Royal Caribbean ships, the Royal Theater is home to signature shows and entertainers throughout the cruise. The Oasis Class ships (with the exception of Wonder of the Seas) all perform a full-length Broadway musical in addition to Royal Caribbean’s original productions.

Royal Theater shows:

• Oasis of the Seas: Cats (Broadway musical) and One Sky
• Allure of the Seas: Mama Mia (Broadway musical) and Blue Planet
• Harmony of the Seas: Grease (Broadway musical) and Columbus: The Musical
• Symphony of the Seas: Hairspray (Broadway musical) and Flight: Dare to Dream
• Wonder of the Seas: Voices and The Effectors II: Crash ‘n’ Burn

Oasis Class ships also have Studio B, the ice skating rink onboard. The ice skating show(s) vary per ship, but they all combine talented figure skaters, intricate technology and lighting effects, and detailed set design to create an immersive story for guests. 

Studio B shows:

• Oasis of the Seas: Frozen in Time
• Allure of the Seas: Ice Games
• Harmony of the Seas: iSkate and 1887: A Journey in Time
• Symphony of the Seas: iSkate 2.0 and 1997: Adventure on Ice
• Wonder of the Seas: 365: The Seasons on Ice

Other than the signature productions onboard Oasis Class ships, there are plenty of other entertainment venues for guests to enjoy. The exact name of these venues may vary by ship:

• Jazz on 4, a jazz club with an elegant 1920’s atmosphere and live jazz music each evening (not available on Wonder of the Seas)
• The Attic/Blaze Comedy/Comedy Live, a comedy club where the ship’s featured comedians perform throughout the evening
• On Air/Spotlight Karaoke, a karaoke bar where guests can sing solo or with a group of friends
• Music Hall/Dazzles, a multi-level nightclub and lounge with live bands and dancing with views of the Boardwalk neighborhood

Other entertainment can be found throughout the cruise, such as live Latin music and dancing at Boleros, piano entertainment at Schooner Bar, and an acoustic guitarist at the English-style pub onboard.

Food & dining

Oasis Class ships share the following complimentary dining venues:

• Main Dining Room
• Windjammer Marketplace
• Solarium Bistro
• Sorrento’s Pizza
• Park Cafe
• The Boardwalk Dog House
• Coastal Kitchen (for suite guests only)
• Cafe Promenade (excluding specialty drinks)
• Vitality Cafe (excluding specialty drinks)
• Soft serve ice cream station on the pool deck

They also share the following specialty dining venues:

• Chef’s Table
• Wonderland (excluding Oasis & Allure of the Seas)
• Chops Grille
• 150 Central Park
• Johnny Rockets (complimentary for breakfast)
• Starbucks
• Izumi sushi & hibachi

Oasis Class ships share the following bars and lounges:

• Boleros
• Rising Tide Bar
• Schooner Bar
• Bionic Bar (excluding Allure of the Seas)
• English-style pub
• Solarium Bar
• Pool bars
• Wipe Out Bar
• Vintages (excluding Wonder of the Seas)
• Trellis Bar

One of the most unique bars on Oasis Class ships is the Rising Tide Bar, which continuously moves up and down from the Royal Promenade on deck 5 to Central Park on deck 8.

Each Oasis Class ship has a complimentary, grab-and-go restaurant located on the pool deck that is open for breakfast and lunch:

• El Loco Fresh, found on Oasis, Symphony, and Wonder of the Seas, offers burritos, quesadillas, rice, beans, and a salsa station
• Wipe Out Cafe, found on Allure of the Seas, offers sandwiches, hot togs, hamburgers, pizza, and more
• Mini Bites, found on Harmony of the Seas, offers similar items to Wipe Out Cafe and also has an omelette station at breakfast

Each Oasis Class ship also has a specialty Italian restaurant onboard, although the venue changes by ship:

• Giovanni’s Table, found on Allure and Oasis of the Seas, offers traditional Italian cuisine with menu highlights including tagliatelle alla carbonara, Mediterranean branzino, and filet mignon
• Jamie’s Italian, found on Harmony and Symphony of the Seas, offers a more modern take on Italian cuisine with menu highlights including truffle tagliatelle, pan-roasted salmon, and chianti-braised short rib.
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, found on Wonder of the Seas, is Royal Caribbean’s newest Italian restaurant concept, with menu highlights including specialty pizzas, steak muffuletta, and lasagna classica. Next door to Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is Giovanni’s Wine Bar, with an extensive selection of Italian wines and small bites.

Differences between the Oasis class cruise ships

Oasis of the Seas

Oasis of the Seas, the first Oasis Class ship, was recently amplified through Royal Caribbean’s Royal Amplified Program in 2019. Due to this, she received a number of enhancements and features found on the newest Oasis Class ships such as waterslides, the Ultimate Abyss, and new dining venues.

The pool deck on Oasis of the Seas was transformed into a Caribbean-style pool deck during the amplification, with colorful decor, comfy seating, casita lounge areas, and extra jacuzzis.

The Lime & Coconut bar was also added to the pool deck, which serves a variety of tropical drinks such as the Watermelon Rita, Blue Hawaiian, and signature Lime & Coconut cocktail.

Here are the other new venues added to Oasis of the Seas during her amplification:

• Portside BBQ, a specialty restaurant unique to Oasis of the Seas, which serves a variety of barbecued meat and comfort food, including Texas Beef Brisket and St. Louis-style Spare Ribs
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Royal Caribbean’s signature sports bar with nachos, sliders, burgers, beer, and countless TV screens available to watch your favorite team
• Sugar Beach candy store

Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas has a few significant differences from other Oasis Class ships, as her amplification has been indefinitely postponed due to Covid-19.

Allure of the Seas does not have the Ultimate Abyss slide, waterslides, or a Splashaway Bay for kids. She does have the H20 Zone on the pool deck, which features kids splash pads and water sprayers.

Despite not having these signature activities, Allure of the Seas still offers many signature activities onboard like rock climbing, mini golf, ziplining, the FlowRider, etc.

There are a few dining options unique to Allure of the Seas:

• Boardwalk Donuts, where guests can enjoy complimentary donuts and coffee each morning (complimentary)
• Cups & Scoops, a 1940s style ice cream shop selling Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and cupcakes (extra cost)
• Candy Beach candy store (extra cost)
• Samba Grill, a traditional Brazilian rodizio with all-you-can-eat meats as well as a salad and sides bar. Samba Grill is located in the Solarium Bistro in the evenings (specialty restaurant)

Allure of the Seas is one of two Oasis Class ships with Sabor, a Mexican specialty restaurant and tequila bar, which is located in the Boardwalk neighborhood.

She is the only Oasis Class ship without the Wonderland specialty restaurant onboard. In its place is the Diamond Club. Diamond members may enjoy this venue, as it is a two story venue with huge windows overlooking the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Allure of the Seas has Blaze, an additional nightclub lounge, on Deck 4. This is where the Diamond Club is found on other Oasis Class ships.

Harmony of the seas

Harmony of the Seas was the first Royal Caribbean ship to be designed with waterslides in the initial ship build, as well as add new features to Oasis Class ships such as the Ultimate Abyss. Many of the design innovations made on Harmony of the Seas have served as a model for future Oasis Class ships and amplifications.

Harmony of the Seas is the only Oasis Class ship with Royal Caribbean’s original production Columbus: The Musical!, which tells the story of Marvin Columbus, the imaginary, luckless cousin of Christopher Columbus. This show is usually a favorite among cruisers.

The Solarium on Harmony of the Seas differs from other Oasis Class ships in that she does not have a pool. She still has four jacuzzis, but guests looking to take a swim must head to the main pool deck.

Harmony of the Seas, like Allure of the Seas, has the specialty restaurant Sabor on the Boardwalk. Menu highlights at Sabor include build your own tacos, spicy beef empanadas, and cinnamon churros.

Symphony of the Seas

Symphony of the Seas was the first ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet to offer Hooked on Seafood, a specialty restaurant specializing in New England-style seafood. Those dining at Hooked on Seafood can start their meal with starters such as Fresh-shucked Oysters, Clam & Crab Chowder, and Ceviche. Entree highlights include the Messy Fish Sandwich, Drunken Mussels, and Maine Lobster Roll. 

Like Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas also has a Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade and Sugar Beach candy store on the Boardwalk.

Symphony of the Seas was the first Royal Caribbean ship to debut the Ultimate Family Suite, Royal Caribbean’s most expensive suite. The Ultimate Family Suite is designed to be an oasis for kids, with an in-suite slide, air hockey table, LEGO wall, and private gaming area.

Symphony of the Seas has a few unique entertainment additions, as well. On Royal Caribbean’s signature show Flight: Dare to Dream, guests can be amazed by a replica of the original Wright brothers’ airplane, which “flies” through the Royal Theater during the show.

During the ice skating show 1977: Adventure on Ice, a drone show is included in the performance. A total of 48 drones with lighting effects are used in the production, programmed to move up, down, and around the ice rink in sync with the music.

Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas is the fifth and newest Oasis Class ship. She is also the largest cruise ship in the world.

Originally she was designed for the Chinese market, so Wonder of the Seas has a few design differences compared to other Oasis Class ships.

Suite neighborhood

The biggest difference on Wonder of the Seas is the addition of the Suite Neighborhood. The Suite Neighborhood is the eighth neighborhood onboard and is accessible only for suite guests.

The suite neighborhood follows a similar concept to the suite-exclusive areas found on Quantum Class ship Spectrum of the Seas. Also designed for the Chinese market, Spectrum of the Seas has exclusive dining, pool, and lounge areas just for suite guests.

The Suite neighborhood on Wonder of the Seas wraps around the ship’s funnel on decks 16, 17, and 18. It features Coastal Kitchen, the Suite Lounge, and a private sun deck with views of the sports court and ocean.

The private sundeck includes its own plunge pool, bar, and outdoor lounge areas.

Other key differences

Wonder of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship with The Vue, a cantilevered bar located on the upper pool deck.

The Vue offers panoramic views of the ocean and a colorful, mosaic canopy overhead that lights up at night. The Vue has taken the space of one of the cantilevered hot tubs onboard, so instead of two like on other Oasis Class ships, there is only one.

Another new bar on Wonder of the Seas is Cantina Fresca. Located next to El Loco Fresh, Cantina Fresca offers Mexican-inspired cocktails, margaritas, and aguas frescas.

Unlike other Oasis Class ships, Wonder of the Seas only has one FlowRider. In its place is the Wonder Playscape, a brand new play area for kids onboard.

The Playscape is an underwater-themed playground with climbing walls, slides, nets, interactive murals, games, and nooks and crannies to explore.

Like Oasis of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas has a Caribbean-style pool deck complete with colorful decor, lounge areas, casitas, extra hot tubs, and The Lime & Coconut bar. Wonder of the Seas has more seating options available on the pool deck, including a movie screen theater area.

Speaking of a movie screen, the TV screen on the pool deck on Wonder of the Seas is the largest in Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Like Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas also features an Ultimate Family Suite. It is bigger than the suite on Symphony, with three bedrooms and a movie/game room that can be converted into a fourth bedroom.

In place of Jazz on 4, Wonder of the Seas has The Golden Room, an extra casino space. As Wonder of the Seas was designed for the Chinese Market, extra casino spaces were incorporated into the ship. This may be changed in the future to better fit the American and European cruise markets.

Another difference on Wonder of the Seas is the Windjammer. Unlike on other Oasis Class ships where the Windjammer is relatively small, the Windjammer on Wonder of the Seas is the largest in Royal Caribbean's fleet and wraps around the entire Boardwalk neighborhood on Deck 15.

Dining

The Mason Jar, a brand new restaurant in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, is found on Wonder of the Seas. 

The Mason Jar specializes in Southern staples, including Lobster & Crawfish Gumbo, Blackened Cajun Catfish, and Shrimp N’ Grits. Brunch is also available on sea days, with menu highlights including Meemaw’s Fried Chicken N’ Waffles, Blueberry Johnny Cakes, and Stuffed French Toast.

Adjacent to The Mason Jar is The Mason Jar Bar, serving unique cocktails with a focus on bourbon and moonshine.

Wonder of the Seas also has Hooked Seafood, Playmakers, and Sugar Beach.

Staterooms on Oasis Class ships

Due to the unique architecture found on Oasis Class ships, there are several types of staterooms not available on other Royal Caribbean ships:

• Boardwalk balconies, which offer views of the Boardwalk and a partial, side view of the ocean
• Central Park balconies, which offer views of Central Park
• Central Park and Boardwalk view staterooms, which feature a window looking into the Central Park or Boardwalk neighborhood
• AquaTheater suites, which are located in the ship’s aft with panoramic views of the ocean and AquaTheater

Oasis Class ships have a wide variety of suites available, including Grand Suites, the Owner’s Suite, AquaTheater suites, and loft suites.

There are also interior, interior with virtual balcony, ocean view, balcony, and Royal Promenade view rooms available.

Who is the Oasis Class best for?

The Oasis Class is best for guests who view the cruise ship as the destination, and they offer something for every type of cruiser.

Many guests book a cruise on an Oasis Class ship due to the sheer range of options available. With the amount of entertainment, organized activities, and dining venues onboard, there is little chance guests will ever get bored on an Oasis Class ship.

Those looking for a quiet experience onboard will find plenty of options, too, whether spending the afternoon reading a book in Central Park or relaxing in the Solarium.

The Oasis Class is an extremely popular choice for families, as the ships can cater to guests of all ages. Kids will have an abundance of activities onboard, from waterslides to rock climbing and the zipline. Teens will love the large hangout spaces and areas to explore with new friends on the ship.

Due to the size of Oasis Class ships, they are not able to fit into a wide variety of ports around the world. Therefore, many of the itineraries on Oasis Class ships are similar to each other. If you plan to visit more unique cruise ports, an Oasis Class ship may not be the best choice for you.

Oasis Class Tips & Secrets

There is no 13th deck on Oasis Class ships, so you will go straight from the 12th deck to the 14th deck!

Allure and Oasis of the Seas have art displays known as “Small Wonders” throughout the ship. These are periscopes or telescopes where you’ll find tiny, 3D pieces of art when you look inside. They are located around the ship, so exploring Allure or Oasis of the Seas to find them can be a fun activity to do onboard.

Likewise, Wonder of the Seas has astronauts scattered throughout the ship. 

The Solarium bridge wings offer a fantastic view for sailaway or sunset.

Read more about Oasis Class ships:

8 secret spots on Royal Caribbean cruise ships

Top 10 Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas hidden secrets

Top 25 free things you can do on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class cruise ships

MSC Cruises revealed the design for its newest cruise ship that will be among the largest in the world, and there are a few design ideas that look eerily similar to Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

MSC World Europa will debut in late 2022 and is 22 decks high, and 1,093 feet long.  That makes it four decks taller than Symphony of the Seas, although Symphony is still longer at 1,184 ft 5.0 in.

The ship will be right around 205,000 tons, which is just a bit less than 228,081 GT of Symphony.

Cruise ship design is more of an evolution in the industry, with different ideas building on each other over time. With that being said, MSC certainly has "borrowed" a few ideas from the Oasis Class ships.

MSC Cruises announced the ship will be divided up into different areas of the ships, known as districts.  Royal Caribbean pioneered the idea of using neighborhoods to help break up the ship into easily navigated areas for passengers.

Just like the Oasis Class, there will be 7 zones.

Perhaps most noticeable is the promenade zone at the back of the ship opens up into a sky-covered area with a giant dry slide at the aft of the ship.

MSC World Europa design

Oasis Class Boardwalk

The concept art for this aft area of the ship looks very similar to the Boardwalk neighborhood of the Oasis Class ships, with the dry slide idea coming from Royal Caribbean's Ultimate Abyss.

The dry slide on MSC will be 11 decks tall. The Ultimate Abyss on Royal Caribbean's ships is 10 decks high.

That will give MSC bragging rights for having the longest dry slide at sea.

MSC World Europa dry slide

Ultimate Abyss on Harmony of the Seas

For what it is worth, Royal Caribbean trademarked the Oasis Class stern design in 2018.

In the trademark paperwork, Royal Caribbean made certain to specify some of the features that make this design unique.

"The mark consists of the stern section of a cruise ship having a set of stylish oblong-shaped balconies on the left and right sides of the stern section, a pair of ornamental slides extending from the rear section of an decorative fish head to cascade downward to a lower deck of the cruise ship, and a pair of tusk-like structures extending upward from the top of a lower deck of the cruise ship, to a mid-deck level of the stern section, each tusk-like structure includes a set of stylish curved vertical beams intersecting near the top portion of the tusk-like structures, and an ornamental crown and anchor symbol suspended between the pair of tusk-like structures."

Another idea MSC is incorporating into its ships is an infinite ocean view cabin, which sounds a lot like the infinite verandahs on Celebrity Edge.

MSC Infinite Ocean view staterooms

Celebrity Cruises Infinite Verandah

These rooms will have a panoramic sliding window that turns into a glass balustrade when open.

MSC World Europa will enter service in December 2022 and spend her inaugural season in the Persian Gulf. Her season will begin with a four-night sailing from Doha, Qatar to her homeport of Dubai, UAE.

The vessel will offer seven-night cruises from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island, Dammam, and Doha, with an overnight back in Dubai to end the voyage.

On March 25, 2023, MSC World Europa will head to the Mediterranean, and in summer will offer seven-night cruises calling in Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona, and Marseille.

Copying is a cruise industry tradition

Before anyone gets too hot under the collar about the "inspiration" MSC has seemingly taken from Royal Caribbean, keep in mind that many ideas get borrowed from other lines.

When Norwegian Cruise Line came up with the idea of Freestyle Dining for its dining rooms, many cruise lines quickly adopted something similar. Royal Caribbean has My Time Dining as an option.

Royal Caribbean even admitted its idea for virtual balcony staterooms came from Disney Cruise Line's virtual portholes.

Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain explained how his line took the idea and expanded upon it, "We actually had looked at the idea, and we didn't think that the technology and the receptivity from the public was there."

"Disney proved that the public does value something like this."

Read more: 4 Royal Caribbean features inspired by something else

There are plenty of other examples of cruise lines replicating other line's ideas, but you get the idea that this happens more often than you might think.

More than 10 years since Royal Caribbean launched the Oasis Class ships, it remains an engineering marvel that introduced a variety of innovations, including adding a park to a cruise ship.

Kelly Gonzalez, Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President, Architectural Design (Newbuilding & Innovation), recently told the story of how the cruise line engineered a way to bring a live greenery with trees and grass to an ocean going vessel.

Ms. Gonzalez describes the story of creating Central Park as, "both a success story that became a failure story, that became a better success story in the end."

The idea

Royal Caribbean invited various architectural firms to submit ideas for what Royal Caribbean should do with the space on the ship, and the cruise line awarded the contract to a firm from the U.K. that came up with the idea for Central Park.

The original concept for Central Park was not what we see today on Royal Caribbean's ships.

While it did have the split atrium, where you could look up to the sky and then had the atrium-view staterooms looking into it, as well as the skylights that brought daylight down into the Royal Promenade, the design that won the contest was actually based on a series of rolling hills.

These were structural hills that were covered with grass with skylights on the side.

Building Central Park

Royal Caribbean had never done anything on a ship before that involved live greenery and trees and grass and things of that sort, so they brought in experts, including scientists from the University of Florida and landscape architects.

"We looked for a company that we thought would be really bringing the best expertise in a Caribbean environment and all of what that entails seasonally," Ms. Gonzalez recalled.

"We had to spend an extraordinary amount of effort working with structural specialists because we were literally putting these giant holes in a steel structure that typically is not perforated in any way. So the fact that we were breaching that with skylights was something that was very daunting for the conventional ship engineers."

In addition, Royal Caribbean had to bring specialists to address the issue of bugs that live around these plants, and implications of what happens when a ship pulls into a port and the various local laws related to fauna.

Royal Caribbean had to also address the ability to fertilize the plants and not overcomplicate the water systems to the point of impacting the environment or ocean.  Specifically, how could Royal Caribbean capture water runoff that might contain fertilizers.

The experiment

Photo by STX Europe

A major hurdle for Central Park was the rolling hills concept. There was a lot of uncertainty about grass living in an environment where the sun really had an apex high sky for a limited number of hours a day.

To tackle the idea, they constructed a piece of machinery where they mocked up the hills of of grass with real grass on it. Then they created a machine with a long axle of a car that had wheels on it. These wheels had shoes, lined around the rim of the wheel that was simulating people walking up and down the grass down in the atrium. They then simulated the lighting effect to reproduce the conditions that allowed for limited daylight.

This experiment hoped to address concerns such as:

• How would the grass grow?
• How often would it have to be watered?
• How would foot traffic up and down be on the grass?

Ms. Gonzalez summed up the experiment by saying, "Well, to make a long story short, that task failed."

The test showed that regardless what species of grass that was used, and no matter what they would do with fertilization or any watering or anything else in this in this atrium, the grass was not going to be a surviving concept.

Not only had the test failed, but it was right before Christmas and the team had reached a point where they had to go back to the drawing board.

Becoming Central Park

The team spent four weeks over the Christmas holiday working in their London office rethinking the concept of the design and to change it drastically, keeping in mind time was not on their side.

Eventually, they settled on the idea of a Central Park area that looks a lot like what we see on cruise ships today, with more of the flat walkways and the skylights that actually stand up in the sky and capture even more daylight.

Photo by STX Europe

Ms. Gonzalez spoke about the risks the team took to make the concept work, "We understand there's risk, but we put a lot of effort into mitigating that risk. And we're not afraid of failure or failure usually leads us to a better place."

"And I think the Central Park is a story of how we ended up actually in a better place with the design than where we thought we were going to land, where we started it from the very beginning."

The team believed so much in the new design for Central Park, that they created a scale mock-up of the entire Central Park neighborhood at the Turku, Finland shipyard.

Photos by Kelly Gonzalez

Essentially, they printed the design on canvas and strung it up from the trusses in the ship hall, complete with facades of stateroom balconies.

They augmented the look with proper lighting and sound so that Royal Caribbean's Board of Directors could get a good ideas of what Central Park would become.

The team had do all of this for the rest of the company to be able to understand and regain trust behind the design, and the design process, to pull off a concept like Central Park.

Photos by Royal Caribbean

"Once it's proven, and we've gone through the risk mitigation and we kicked all the tires and looked at it inside out and outside in, that we are able to really stay very true to that and deliver on the concept as it is when we presented it to our executives."

Royal Caribbean has four Oasis Class ships in operation, with more coming, and you might be wondering what the differences are between each of the ships.

Each ship offers something a little different, but they have more in common than different. While they are not carbon copies of each other, a lot of the offerings are similar, and the Royal Amplified program aims to bring the amenities up between them all.

Keep in mind that this is not a listing of every single difference, rather, it is a look at the significant differences that most guests will notice.

Last updated September 25, 2021

Oasis of the Seas

Check out our first timers' guide to Oasis of the Seas.

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Cats & One Sky
• Shows in AquaTheater: Aqua80
• Show in Studio B: Frozen in Time
• Mission Control: Apollo 18 escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Giovanni's Table
• Johnny Rockets
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Portside BBQ specialty restaurant
• El Loco Fresh complimentary Mexican restaurant
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Sugar Beach candy shop
• Coastal Kitchen

Pools & Slides

• Caribbean-style pool deck makeover, complete with Lime & Coconut signature bar. New day beds, casitas and variety of seating were added.
• Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell
• Splashaway Bay kids aquapark (larger than on other Harmony or Symphony)
• Starbucks

Unique Offerings

• Oasis of the Seas features Music Hall (instead of Dazzles)
• Ultimate Abyss slide
• Laser Tag: The Clash for the Crystal City
• Spotlight Karaoke venue
• Bionic Bar
• Revamped Adventure Ocean
• Small Wonders

Allure of the Seas

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Mamma Mia
• Shows in AquaTheater: OceanAria
• Show in Studio B: Ice Games! Ice Show
• No escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Johnny Rockets
• Giovanni’s Italian Table
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Samba Grill
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Sabor
• Coastal Kitchen
• Starbucks
• Park Cafe

Pools & Slides

• Allure of the Seas does not have any water slides
• There are four pools for all ages and a lounge with whirlpools

Unique Offerings

• Allure of the Seas is the only Oasis Class ship without some of the newest features due to the fact she was not amplified
• Last Champagne Bar on an Oasis Class ship
• One of the last Sabor restaurants in the fleet
• Samba Grill Brazilian steakhouse
• Small Wonders

Harmony of the Seas

Check out our Harmony of the Seas Guide & Review.

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Grease & Columbus...The Musical!
• Shows in AquaTheater: The Fine Line & Big Daddy's Hideaway Heist Aqua Show
• Show in Studio B: 1887 A Journey in Time & iSkate
• Escape the Rubicon escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Jamie's Italian
• Johnny Rockets
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Mini Bites
• Wonderland
• Coastal Kitchen

Pools & Slides

• Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell
• Splashaway Bay kids aquapark
• No pool in the Solarium

Unique Offerings

• Bionic Bar
• Ultimate Abyss
• Virtual Balcony rooms

Symphony of the Seas

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Hairspray & Flight
• Shows in AquaTheater: HiRO
• Show in Studio B: 1977 & iSkate 2.0
• Escape the Rubicon escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Jamie's Italian
• Johnny Rockets
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• El Loco Fresh
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Hooked
• Wonderland
• Coastal Kitchen

Pools & Slides

• Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell
• Splashaway Bay kids aquapark

Unique Offerings

• Bionic Bar
• Ultimate Abyss
• Virtual Balcony rooms
• Enhanced Solarium Bar area
• Ultimate Family Suite
• Laser tag

Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas will be the fifth Oasis Class ship, and will sail from Port Everglades beginning in March 2022.

Entertainment

Royal Caribbean has not announced the shows yet for Wonder of the Seas.

Notable Dining Options

• Bionic Bar
• 150 Central Park
• Chops Grille
• Coastal Kitchen
• El Loco Fresh
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Hooked Seafood
• Izumi
• Johnny Rockets
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Starbucks
• Sugar Beach
• Wonderland

Pools & Slides

• The Lime & Coconut is at the center of the Caribbean vibes, with two poolside bars and live music; while the
• Perfect Storm trio of high-speed waterslides
• Kids aqua park Splashaway Bay

Unique Offerings

Wonder of the Seas has the first Suite Class Neighborhood, which is an entire area of the ship only suite guests. It has a Suite Sun Deck in a new location, complete with a plunge pool, bar and plenty of loungers and nooks to kick back.

The largest Ultimate Family Suite is on Wonder of the Seas, with a capacity of up to 10 guests.

Wonder Playscape – Joining the lineup of next-level thrills for kids, the underwater-themed play area is a whole new adventure with slides, climbing walls, games, an interactive mural activated by touch and puzzles that will make them wonder if any playground will ever be the same.

The Vue – The happiest of happy hours can be found at this new cantilevered bar. The Vue offers panoramic ocean views from high above on the pool deck all day, and after sunset, it shines bright with a colorful mosaic canopy overhead.

Caribbean-style pool deck, complete with Lime & Coconut signature bar.

The largest poolside movie screen in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

Newly designed, dedicated kids and teens spaces at Adventure Ocean, Social100 and The Patio.

Should you cruise on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class or a Quantum Class cruise ship? For families, this is a tough decision, with each offering something different and we have a breakdown of what each ship excels at and why it is a great choice.

In our brand new RoyalCaribbeanBlog video, we offer a look at what makes each class of cruise ship different and which types of cruisers would enjoy each.

And if you love this video, we have lots of other great cruise videos to watch on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

So check out the video and then let us know: Do you prefer an Oasis Class or Quantum Class ship and why?

In the wake of Royal Caribbean's recent announcement to cancel complimentary perks for Oasis Class neighborhood balcony staterooms, the cruise line announced it is extending the grandfathering in of guests who booked these rooms prior to the announcement.

Royal Caribbean cited guest feedback regarding compensation related to the end of this program, and decided to allow guests that are currently booked in a neighborhood balcony departing from January 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021, that they’ll have the option to either  (1)receive a $50 non-refundable onboard credit per stateroom, or (2) choose their original package. Guests will receive an email from Royal Caribbean International and once they make their selections, their reservations will be automatically updated.

This is eligible only to those guests booked before September 18th, 2019 on sailings departing on-or-after January 1st, 2020. 

In a statement, Royal Caribbean reiterated its pride on "pushing the boundaries of innovation and constantly creating amenities and experiences that exceed the expectations of our guests, and we look forward to introducing new amenities and programs that will delight them during their cruise vacations."

Update: Royal Caribbean has extended the neighborhood perks to all guests who booked prior to this decision to end the benefits.

Royal Caribbean announced it will discontinue the extra benefits it offered to guests who booked Boardwalk Balcony and Central Park Balcony staterooms on Oasis Class ships. 

Known as DINE • DRINK • DISCOVER program, Royal Caribbean will remove the program on all sailings departing on and after January 1, 2020.

Guests booked prior to September 18, 2019 in neighborhood balconies sailing from January 1, 2020 through April 2021 will receive a $50 non-refundable Onboard Credit per stateroom, as a consolation for the policy change.  Anyone booked on sailings from January 1, 2020 and after, following the announcement, will not qualify.

If you are wondering why Royal Caribbean made the decision to remove the perks, here is what they said, "Royal Caribbean is always looking for new ways to exceed your clients’ expectations. We’ve been conducting extensive research to better anticipate what matters most to them and will continue to offer countless ways for your clients to make unforgettable memories onboard. We are excited to share some game-changing updates to our inventory and amenity offerings in the coming months."

The neighborhood balcony room benefits began in November 2016.

Royal Caribbean's Boardwalk neighborhood on its Oasis Class ships is a favorite spot for so many cruisers.  The area is inspired by both the seaside piers that dot the coast of England and the nostalgic boardwalks of yesteryear such as Coney Island. 

There is a lot to see and do around the Boardwalk, and we have eight secrets that you may not know about the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Complimentary breakfast at Johnny Rockets

Did you know that Johnny Rockets on Harmony of the Seas is complimentary for breakfast?  All Oasis-class ships offer this option, but many guests are unaware that breakfast is served here, nor that it is included with your cruise fare (Johnny Rockets has a cover charge for lunch and dinner).

The Johnny Rockets breakfast menu on Oasis Class ships is a traditional American breakfast, with pancakes, omelettes, French toast and the like.  In fact, Johnny Rockets is one spot onboard Harmony of the Seas to get omelet made-to-order.

Johnny Rockets tends to be not very crowded for breakfast, because many guests are unaware of this option, and it also has a large seating capacity (indoor and outdoor seating options).

Slide down and celebrate at the bar

If you are on Harmony of the Seas or Symphony of the Seas, a fun sea day activity is to take a ride down the Ultimate Abyss down to the Boardwalk and then celebrate with a drink (or two) at the bar.

The Ultimate Abyss slide concludes at the rear of the Boardwalk, convenient to the bar at Sabor (on Harmony of the Seas) or Playmakers (on Symphony of the Seas). 

An after-slide drink is the perfect way to celebrate conquering the Ultimate Abyss!

Aft chairs with a view

If you are looking for a quiet spot to watch the ocean, many guests are unaware of an area right below the first Aqua Theater suite balcony on deck seven.

Just behind the rock wall, you can find comfortable Adirondack chairs to sit in with the perfect view of the ocean.  Rarely will you find other guests here.

Ride the carousel at night

Photo by Michael Poole

No cruise aboard an Oasis Class ship is complete without a ride (or three) on the Carousel.  Regardless of age, guests of all ages can enjoy the classic nature of this attraction.

The full-sized, traditional hand-crafted carousel was specially designed for Royal Caribbean, and many guests find this a fun family activity.  Be sure to include at least one ride at night, because like the fairs of the past, nighttime is when these rides really shine when they are all lit up.

Luckey climber

On Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean added a large climbing structure perfect for kids to try out called the Luckey Climber.

Luckey Climber is a brand of rather large climbing structures that are surrounded by a net, designed for kids to jump on and explore.

These innovative playgrounds are part art and part jungle gym that feature some very bold colors. It is a bit hidden in the back of the Boardwalk, so not all guests are aware it is there, but it is a really fun spot for kids to burn off some energy.

Eat and drink at the bar

While the kids are trying the Luckey Climber, you should to the opposite side of the Boardwalk to grab a drink and maybe an appetizer.  Sabor offers a bar on Oasis, Allure and Harmony of the Seas while Playmakers is on Symphony of the Seas.  

Regardless of which ship you are on, you can go to the bar without any reservations and sit down to enjoy a cold beverage whenever the restaurant is open.  It is a great spot for meeting friends, and there is usually a nice ocean breeze passing by.

Pre-pay for arcade credit

If you plan to let your kids enjoy the arcade on Royal Caribbean, you would be best served to invest in a pre-cruise arcade credit purchase for the bonus savings offered.

There are three options available to purchase prior to a cruise, which offers the convenience of pre-loading arcade credit, as well as a discount.

• $25 Arcade credit for $20
• $50 Arcade credit for $40
• $100 Arcade credit for $80

By purchasing arcade credit ahead of time, you will ensure your kids get extra game time while saving you money in the process.

Boardwalk Balcony rooms come with special perks

Guests staying in a Boardwalk view balcony stateroom are entitled to special amenities for booking this type of stateroom.

Specifically, you will receive:

• Complimentary meal for four at Johnny Rockets
• Complimentary Royal Refreshment soda package for two guests
• Exclusive rock climbing wall experience for the entire family

Boardwalk view balcony rooms typically cost less than ocean view balcony rooms, and the added amenities make it a great deal.

Royal Caribbean has filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the stern design of its Oasis Class ships.

The trademark was filed by the cruise line on September 24, 2018 and describes the unique design of an Oasis Class ship that includes the balcony staterooms, Ultimate Abyss and Royal Caribbean logo symbol.

Trademark design

Aft view of Harmony of the Seas

"The mark consists of the stern section of a cruise ship having a set of stylish oblong-shaped balconies on the left and right sides of the stern section, a pair of ornamental slides extending from the rear section of an decorative fish head to cascade downward to a lower deck of the cruise ship, and a pair of tusk-like structures extending upward from the top of a lower deck of the cruise ship, to a mid-deck level of the stern section, each tusk-like structure includes a set of stylish curved vertical beams intersecting near the top portion of the tusk-like structures, and an ornamental crown and anchor symbol suspended between the pair of tusk-like structures."

This is the second ship design element to be trademarked by Royal Caribbean in September.  Earlier in September, Royal Caribbean trademarked its smoke stack design.

When Royal Caribbean built its first Oasis Class ship, Central Park was one of the most distinguishing features to hit the cruise industry.  To this day, Central Park remains an incredible space on any cruise ship. 

Stepping foot into Central Park, you will quickly come to see why so many others relish time spent in this Oasis Class neighborhood.  Central Park features a lush garden in an area about as long as the Royal Promenade and twice as wide. Here are five things that you will come to really enjoy about Central Park too.

The Flora

The most obvious thing about Central Park is that is literally covered in so many different kinds of vegetation.  Considering this is part of a cruise ship, and outdoors, finding a park in the middle of a cruise ship is pretty darn impressive.

From towering Cuban laurel and Black Olive to clusters of calla lilies and rabbit foot ferns, the park’s collection of plants is a mix of coastal and highland sub-tropical species from around the world that is well suited to thrive on Oasis Class ships' Caribbean itineraries.

A series of columns interlaced with vines is just one of the welcoming entry points into Central Park, and is elegantly landscaped with tropical foliage and seasonal flowers, shrubs and trees. Drifts of calla lilies among giant elephant ears, red ginger, rabbit foot ferns, banana croton, gold dust dracaena, and butterfly lily are some of the plant life guests discover. Impressive ‘green walls’ spanning 25 feet and five decks high hosts fern and a variety of flowering vines such as red and white Mandevilla, Clerodendron thomsaonaie, and Thumbergia grandiflora. The park also has changing displays of accent plants, such as birds of paradise and Spathoglottis ground orchids. Trees, some eventually reaching more than two-anda-half decks high, include cherry of the rio grande, podocarpus nagi, and amstel king ficus. 

Book reading spot

Are you looking for somewhere onboard to enjoy a good book?  Central Park is a vastly underrated spot for breezing through your chapters.

It is the perfect quiet place onboard to "get away" and just relax as the world goes by. You will find benches and chairs throughout Central Park that can be a great area for sitting.  With Park Cafe nearby, you can easily grab a cup of coffee or tea and bring it to one of these areas to enjoy with your book.

Be sure to look for some of the more hidden sitting areas in Central Park, which add to the aura of feeling like you are in a park somewhere on land.

Piped in sounds

If you stop for a few minutes between checking out all the fun things to do on any Oasis Class ship, you might hear a subtle aspect of what makes Central Park such an impressive area.

Royal Caribbean actually pipes in sounds of crickets, birds and other animals to add to the feeling that you are in a park.  As the name implies, Central Park is named after the world-famous park in the middle of New York City.  Like any park, animals call parks home.  While Central Park on Oasis Class ships do not usually have animals living there (birds sometimes come and go from island to island), Royal Caribbean added their own sounds to the area.

If you happen to have a Central Park balcony room, they turn off the sounds at night to ensure a quiet evening of sleep.

Al fresco dining

Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships offer a tremendous amount of dining options, and in Central Park, you can enjoy many of these restaurants outdoors.

With warm temperatures nearly year round, enjoying your meal outdoors can make a lot of sense.  Rather than taking your food and then going up a few flights of stairs to the pool deck, you can step outside and eat with the sun shining right outside.

Chops Grille and Jamie's Italian/Giovanni's Table offer their own outdoor seating areas, which means you have the choice of dining indoors or outdoors when eating at those restaurants.

Nighttime

If picking which aspect of Central Park we love the most was a contest, nighttime in Central Park would win hands-down.

As beautiful as Central Park is during the day, at night it truly shines.  The area is lit up from all angles, which transforms Central Park into a nighttime conservatory.  The lighting accentuates the beauty of the area, so be sure to bring your camera to capture the stunning look.

Each evening, there is also live music performed in Central Park.  Whether it is piano or string music, listening to it while surrounded by a beautiful park is one of those "I can't believe I'm on a cruise ship" moments that can never be understood until you experience it yourself.

What do you love about Central Park?

Did we miss one of your favorite things about Royal Caribbean's Central Park? Or did our list remind you exactly of what you remember the most? Share your ideas, suggestions and thoughts in the comments below!