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5 things to love about Central Park on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class cruise ships

In:
08 Feb 2018

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! 

Oasis Class AquaTheater Vinfographic

In:
16 May 2017

The theatrical possibilities of the AquaTheater, the distinct high diving, acrobatic performance space introduced by Royal Caribbean with the Oasis class of ships, have breathtaking limits. Two 10-meter high platforms and the hydraulic-floored pool, the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea, below will serve as podiums for high-diving, hair-raising aerobatics that AquaTheater audiences have come to love.

Royal Caribbean updates Oasis class neigborhood perks with more restaurant choices

In:
02 Feb 2017

Guests who reserve a Central Park balcony stateroom on a Royal Caribbean Oasis class cruise ship now have a few more choices for where to enjoy their complimentary lunch.

Royal Caribbean introduced special perks for guests that reserved neighborhood perks back in November 2016.  Guests who are in a Park View Balcony room will now have a choice for a complimentary lunch for two at Giovanni's Table, Jamie's Italian, Sabor or Johnny Rockets. Previously, this perk limited guests to lunch at Jamie's Italian on Harmony of the Seas or Giovanni's Table on Oasis and Allure of the Seas.

None of the other neighborhood balcony perks appear to have been changed. It is not clear when exactly this change occured, but it provides guests in a Central Park View balcony added choice in where to dine with their complimentary lunch benefit.

The Eat • Drink • Play benefits are as follows

  • Central Park View Balcony
    • Complimentary lunch for two at Giovanni's Table, Jamie's Italian, Sabor or Johnny Rockets.
    • A complimentary bottle of red wine
    • Casino gaming lessons from an onboard expert
  • Boardwalk View Balcony
    • Complimentary meal for four at Johnny Rockets
    • Complimentary soda package for two guests
    • Rock climbing wall session for the entire family

What you need to know about neighborhood balcony staterooms on Royal Caribbean's Oasis class ships

In:
19 Oct 2016

Among the many impressive features on Royal Caribbean's Oasis class ships, are two neighborhoods that offer a lot to see and do, as well as incredible staterooms that look into these areas.

Central Park balcony and Boardwalk balcony staterooms are a compelling choice for anyone looking at stateroom choices on any Oasis class ship, and here is the important information to consider when booking these kinds of rooms.

What is a Central Park or Boardwalk balcony room?

These neighborhood facing balconies are a balcony category stateroom that offer a balcony that looks towards either Central Park or Boardwalk, instead of a balcony that overlooks the ocean.

The idea was a first in the cruise industry because prior to Oasis of the Seas, balconies had never been internally facing. 

The neighborhood balconies offer the same fresh air and light that ocean view balconies do, but with the opportunity to enjoy the ambiance of the Boardwalk or Central Park neighborhoods.  In addition, neighborhood view balcony staterooms tend to be slightly cheaper than ocean view balconies.

The exact size of a neighborhood view stateroom with balcony is 182 square feet with a 52 square foot balcony. Both types of rooms include twin beds that convert to a queen, a desk, sitting area (some with sofa bed), TV and minibar and a balcony with two chairs and small table.

Central Park balcony rooms are on Decks 10 through 14, and Boardwalk balcony rooms are on Decks 8 through 14.

Why might you not want to book a Central Park or Boardwalk balcony stateroom?

Other than what you can see from your balcony, the room experience between a neighborhood balcony and an ocean view balcony are pretty much the same. For some folks, a balcony without an ocean view is not desirable.

A common concern that we hear about is noise from the neighborhood impacting the guest experience. In our experiences, the ambient noise from Central Park or Boardwalk is negligible and does not bleed into the stateroom itself. Of course, if you desire the sound of the ocean with your balcony, that will be missing here. It is worth noting that Boardwalk balcony rooms can have more noise when there are shows occurring in the AquaTheater, but your stateroom location and noise tolerance will vary.

It is also worth noting in terms of privacy, there are neighborhood balcony rooms on the opposite side of the ship that will face your balcony.

What do neighborhood balcony rooms offer that ocean view rooms do not?

There are some inherent advantages to booking a neighborhood balcony room over an ocean view balcony room.  First and foremost, the price for neighborhood balcony rooms is often less expensive than ocean view balcony rooms.

Moreover, neighborhood balcony rooms allow guests staying in them to enjoy some great people watching opportunities and enjoy the general ambiance of the neighborhoods you can view.  

Boardwalk view balcony rooms also have an added benefit of some offering full or partial views of the AquaTheater performances.

Differences between Central Park and Boardwalk rooms

As the name implies, the primary and most noticeable difference between Central Park and Balcony rooms, are the view.

Central Park view balcony rooms offer a view of the Central Park neighborhood below.  Central Park is 

Central Park is one of seven distinct "neighborhoods" that help break up an Oasis class ship.  It is an immense area in the middle of the ship that offers a lush park for guests to enjoy with tropical plants, trees and walkways. Central Park features a lush garden in an area about as long as the Royal Promenade and twice as wide.  Central Park rooms tend to have a bit less noise from the neighborhood because there are no shows in this area (there is live music in the evenings), and there tends to be less guests hanging out in the area.

The Boardwalk neighborhood is reminiscent of the whimsical seaside resorts that dot the coast of England and the nostalgic boardwalks of yesteryear such as Coney Island. There is a carousel, restaurants and the AquaTheater stage. Unlike Central Park balcony rooms, there is a partial view of the ocean when facing aft, and some rooms even offer views of the AquaTheater (the more aft your room is, the better the chance). Because of the shows and the fact the Boardwalk tends to have higher foot traffic than Central Park, it can be a bit noisier than Central Park.  

Summary

In the end, Royal Caribbean's neighborhood balcony appeal will depend on how you cruise. Do you like quiet time watching the sea, or enjoy arriving into port? Do you find the Central Park or Boardwalk neighborhoods particularly intriguing? 

When you consider the usual less expensive cost for neighborhood balcony rooms and the new perks for neighborhood balcony rooms, it is a particularly compelling option. In addition, many Boardwalk balcony rooms still offer a view of the ocean when looking to the aft of the ship.

While neighborhood balcony staterooms do not offer a full view of the ocean, having a balcony, regardless of view, is still what makes a great cruise experience.

Royal Caribbean planning to homeport Oasis-class cruise ship from new Miami terminal

In:
29 Jun 2016

Royal Caribbean made a major announcement that it will build a new world-class cruise terminal in Miami, Florida and it also confirmed that it will base an Oasis-class cruise ship there.

The new terminal will be a striking addition to PortMiami, and will serve as homeport to Royal Caribbean ships, including a 5,400-passenger Oasis-class ship.

There is no word which Oasis-class ship will be based at this new terminal. Royal Caribbean currently has 3 Oasis-class cruise ships in service, with another two Oasis-class ships on order.  The unnamed new Oasis-class ships are under construction and will enter service in 2018 and 2021.

The first Oasis-class ship, Oasis of the Seas, will be homeported in Port Canaveral beginning in November, while sister ships Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas call Port Everglades home.

“We are truly excited to be working with Miami-Dade County and PortMiami to create not just another cruise terminal, but a truly iconic building,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. "This new terminal is a symbol of our commitment to Miami, the city where our company first started almost 50 years ago. We can’t wait to bring an Oasis-class ship to PortMiami."

The new terminal will not be the only addition for Royal Caribbean in the coming year. The company has committed to add a 20,000-square-foot Innovation Lab to its corporate headquarters located at PortMiami. The Innovation Lab will continue to generate Royal Caribbean’s industry-leading, innovative vessels.

First time cruisers: Royal Caribbean's Oasis class or Quantum class?

In:
08 Jun 2016

These days, the latest and greatest Royal Caribbean ships are the Oasis and Quantum class cruise ships and if you are trying to choose between them, it can be difficult to know which is the best choice.

Royal Caribbean has put so much into these amazing new ships, so here is what you need to know about both classes of ships and how they differ.

Quantum class benefits

Royal Caribbean's Quantum class ships are the newest class of ships and have been largely associated with being the most technologically advance cruise ships.

There are three Quantum class ships in service, with two more on order.

  • Quantum of the Seas
  • Anthem of the Seas
  • Ovation of the Seas
  • Unnamed Quantum class ship (to debut in 2019)
  • Unnamed Quantum class ship (to debut in 2020)

The Quantum class ships are best known for excelling in two specific areas: entertainment and dining.

The Quantum class ships offer a great variety of entertainment on its ships. Impressive shows, amazing venues and one-of-a-kind experiences.

Royal Caribbean designed the Quantum class ships to offer some impressive new experiences that stand out.

North Star

North Star is an observation pod that is attached to a giant arm on top of each Quantum class ship. North Star takes passengers 300 feet above the sea to see area around them.

Guests enter the observation pod and then are raised up in the air provide views all around the ship.  Whether in port or at sea, North Star offers the best views on any cruise ship.

Ripcord by iFly

You know what is a lot of fun? Sky diving. You know what is incredibly scary? Jumping out of an airplane.

Ripcord by iFly is the perfect solution, offering a sky diver simulator for guests to enjoy without the risk of jumping out of a perfectly good aircraft.

After a short orientation, guests take turns entering a wind tunnel, where they will experience the sensation of sky diving.

Two70

Royal Caribbean built a brand new venue not available on any other ship with Two70.

Located on the aft of the ship, Two70 offers a sweeping two hundred and seventy degree view of the ocean.  That alone might be a great area to enjoy the view, but there is much more to see here.

Throughout the day, different shows and events will take place.  Chief among them are the Roboshows that feature amazing robot screens that move, dance and synchronize together to provide the kind of show you have never seen.  

Then there's the premier evening show in Two70, which offers a multi-sensory show that combines music, visual effects, acrobats and more to deliver a one-of-a-kind show.

Oasis class benefits

Royal Caribbean's Oasis class redefined what a cruise ship could be and are the world's largest cruise ships in the world.

Everything about the Oasis class is big, and there is a ton of, well, everything to do onboard. 

Like the Quantum class, there are also three Oasis class ships in service with two more on order.

  • Oasis of the Seas
  • Allure of the Seas
  • Harmony of the Seas
  • Unnamed Oasis class ship (to debut in 2018)
  • Unnamed Oasis class ship (to debut in 2021)

In short, the Oasis class ships offer a lot to see and do.  These ships are the biggest in the world and are packed with entertainment, dining, activities and more.

These ships are divided up into neighborhoods to help guests navigate easily around the ship and feature distinct visual areas of the ship. There is a boardwalk, an entire park in the middle, pools, and a whole lot more.

If your definition of a fun cruise is having plenty to do, then you will love the two FlowRiders, zip line across the Boardwalk, Royal Promenade shopping area, AquaTheater and now water slides.

Slides

While only on Harmony of the Seas, the water slides and Ultimate Abyss slide are truly impressive (and fun) ways to spend your cruise.

Dubbed "The Perfect Storm," three water slides are a beacon for families looking for some high-paced fun.

If that was not enough, there is the tallest slide at sea.  It is 10 stories tall and is an epic adventure. Spontaneous audio effects within each tunnel create a multi-sensory thrill for daring guests willing to test their mettle while traversing 216 feet through the one-of-a-kind slide duo.

AquaTheater

The AquaTheater is a venue on the aft of Oasis class ships that shows original Royal Caribbean productions that will take your breath away.

The AquaTheater shows feature distinct high diving, acrobatic performances with two 10-meter high platforms and hydraulic-floored pool and the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea.  It all combines to serve as podiums for high-diving, hair-raising aerobatics that AquaTheater audiences have come to love.

It is hard to put into words what AquaTheater shows are all about, but rest assured they are fun and tantalizing entertainment.

More than 20 dining venues

If you love to eat and try lots of different kinds of food, the Oasis class ships offer more dining venues than you can probably dine at in one cruise.

Royal Caribbean stuffed these ships with a great assortment of complimentary and specialty dining that offer something for everyone.

Italian, Hibachi, dry-aged steaks, fresh salads, Mexican are just a whole a few of the great options available.

Royal Caribbean may have added so many restaurants to Oasis class ships as a means of offering enough places for guests to eat, but the class has become a foodie's dream.

Picking the one for you

We think those new to cruising, or at least new to Royal Caribbean, will really love the Oasis and Quantum class ships because of everything they offer.

The reality is you cannot go wrong picking either class, but there are certain advantages each class offers that might have appeal for certain guests.

You should lean towards Quantum class if...

Cruising with teens

Bumper cars, Ripcord, dance clubs and more make the Quantum class a great choice for teens and older kids.  

There are a lot of great activities onboard and it seems to favor older children who want to do it all.

Where you live

If you live in the Northeast United States, Anthem of the Seas is in your backyard and not having to fly is a big deal. Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas serve China and Australia.

Not only does cruising from the a port near your home save money on airfare, but it allows for year-round escapes to the warm and exotic destinations.

Love tech

Quantum class ships offer RFID bracelets, robot bartenders, smart phone planning app, virtual balconies and other "gee-wiz" innovations.

In short, Quantum class ships are about packing in the latest technology that enhances the guest experience instead of defining it.

On the other hand, you should lean towards the Oasis class if...

Want more to do than you can do

The sheer amount of activities and events on Oasis class ships are staggering.  They even have a day time and night time edition of the Cruise Compass, because they cannot fit all the events in one Compass, like on other ships.

If you love variety of activities and want lots of choices, then the Oasis class ships are good for you.

Love getting physical

For those that like to "get out there" and do a lot, then the Oasis class is a great fit.  Two FlowRiders, two rock climbing walls, ice skating, zip lining, mini-golf, running tracks and more are available for those that need a good physical challenge.

The sports facilities on Oasis class ships are truly impressive because of many options there are and the unique opportunities available only on an Oasis class ship.

Need (or want) lots of dining choices

While the Quantum class ships are no slouch in offering great dining, the Oasis class ships just offer a ton of dining choices that cannot be overlooked.

Bars, restaurants and lounges are found all over the ship and that means plenty of variety.  Foodies or just those that are hungry will enjoy the great selection of restaurants that are in all likelihood too many to sample in just one cruise.

Your thoughts

Have you ever set sail on the a Quantum or Oasis class ship? What do you think of it? If you’ve sailed other ships, how do you think it stacks up to those? Any other tips to add or recommendations? If you have questions or thoughts, please share them below and we’ll try to respond!

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast Episode - Guide to Oasis-class cruises

In:
20 Apr 2016

Listen to the Show

There’s a colloquial saying, and even a song, that says, “go big or go home” and when it comes to taking a Royal Caribbean cruise, there is no bigger option than the Oasis-class ships. Royal Caribbean built these ships not only to be the largest cruise ships at sea, but to offer guests the widest range of entertainment, dining and accommodations available on a single ship.

If you are new to the Oasis-class or have not been to them in a while, this week’s episode is all about talking about what you need to know about Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships.

On this episode:
Running time:

Could Royal Caribbean have an Oasis class cruise ship based in Asia in 2018?

In:
07 Mar 2016

A new report seems to indicate Royal Caribbean is making plans to have one of its Oasis class cruise ships make stops in Japan in 2018.

The Nikkei Asian Review is reporting that Royal Caribbean will have an Oasis class ship call in Japan.  Currently, there is no indication which ports will see this ship, since no ports can currently handle a ship of that size.

Royal Caribbean is feeling out various ports, such as Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, in western Japan, on their willingness to make upgrades.

Royal Caribbean Cruises currently owns two Oasis-class cruise ships and is scheduled to take delivery of two more -- one this year and the other in 2018.

Royal Caribbean offering complimentary perks for neigborhood balcony staterooms on Oasis class ships

In:
26 Jan 2016

Beginning in November 2016, guests staying in Boardwalk or Central Park view balcony staterooms will be able to enjoy complimentary amenities such as free food, drinks and more.

The new EAT • DRINK • PLAY complimentary amenities offer guests in Boardwalk balcony staterooms

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

The new EAT • DRINK • PLAY complimentary amenities offer guests in Central Park balcony staterooms

  • Complimentary lunch for two at Giovanni's Table.
  • Complimentary bottle of red wine in your stateroom.
  • Private casino gaming lessons from an onboard expert.

The new EAT.PLAY.DRINK complimentary amenities for Neighborhood balconies on Oasis Class ships are available for sailings beginning in November 2016.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis class ships "revolutionized" the lifeboat

In:
24 Sep 2015

When Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas was being built, a new kind of lifeboat was needed to accomodate all the passengers and crew onboard.

Royal Caribbean had to construct a brand new type of rescue vessel that could hold 370 people.

Vacuum-molded from Fiberglass reinforced polyester, it is completely enclosed and has a profile reminiscent of the traditional railroad caboose. A catamaran hull provides increased stability in high seas. Twin diesel engines and twin propellers enable the vessel to move at a speed of six knots, and twin rudders allow excellent maneuverability.

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