Good News/Bad News
Hull Number 1363 (soon to be known as Oasis of the Seas) has just completed her sea trials and is now back at her berth in Turku. Most of the trials were a terrific success. The ship performed her various tests very well and everyone is very excited.
BUT, we had one nasty surprise early this morning. I previously mentioned that we were thinking of adding an aerostat to the ship and were doing a test to see if it was practical/desirable. It required a lot of temporary rigging but they managed to put a test balloon on the ship. Here is a picture of the ship leaving Turku with the aerostat attached.
Then this morning, something happened and the balloon broke free. It ended up in the water and we are now taking steps to recover it and determine what happened. This is precisely why we do such tests (and why I don’t take credit until we know whether or not they are successful).
The experience onboard during the sea trials was amazing. I look forward to writing about it soon.
Filed under: Chairman
I’m awaiting a response from Gregory Johnson as per our meeting three weeks ago on my business plan to make name entertainment a part of your brand
Thanking you in advance
Michael Hyman
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Forgive my ignorance but what does an aerostat do? What’s it’s purpose?
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mon fils François Cantin travaille sur l’Oasis of the Seas. Il est ingénieur en mécanique de marine.
Sa mère, Maud Lirette
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She may not be complete yet but that is one beautiful picture. I look forward to reading about the sea trials.
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Sorry to hear about the aerostat. Great try though, and that kind of out-of-the-box thinking is what makes Royal Caribbean such a great company and cruise line.
I remember when Voyager of the Seas came out, there was a great extension of the casino on the Royal Promenade called Spinners. I thought it was the coolest thing with that giant roulette wheel. I was very sorry to see it go, and I think now it’s just a perfume shop. What a pity.
Maybe someday you might elaborate on what happened to Spinners and why it wasn’t repeated on subsequent Voyager Class ships. I’ve also been curious why the unique design of Voyager’s Vault nightclub was never repeated.
As always, thanks for the interesting updates!
Ernie
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The aerostat (not a blimp) is much bigger than I would have expected! Very anxious to hear what happened with it and perhaps, what it’s intended purpose was…
Counting the many days until our Oasis Cruise 9/2010! Have to do one more Freedom cruise this September first! We are loyal Royal Caribbean cruisers and are enjoying the behind the scenes of this blog.
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My LTA friends would like to know more about your aerostat test. Could you identify the make and model and perhaps show the launching/tow station?
very respectfully,
A. H. Robbins
CDR USNR (Retired)
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[...] Royal-Caribbean-CEO Richard Fain in seinem Blog vermeldet, hat die Oasis of the Seas die erste Testfahrt erfolgreich beendet. Ein Experiment ging allerdings [...]
Good Day Richard,
You may hav heard of me throught the Cruise Industry as the 13 year old Cruise Bloger. Since age 11 I’v posted comments, and was apart of anther cruising blog. I don’t have a particular favorite line…. I simply say “each line is diffrent”, and I have cruised aboard Royal Cairbbean, & always I’m impressed with the Decor, Service, and ofcourse the general inovation. My high expectations are always exceeded, and I have enjoyed every aspect about your ships. My favorite class is the Freedom class, before was Voyager, Briliance, & the list goes on.. As 1/2 Sweedish I enjoyed cruising aboard with Captain Espen Been of Norway . My dreams came true during the Bridge Tour, as I got a real point of view standning around the moniters, and navigational equipment. I have always aspired becoming a cruise ship captain, & my heritage says it all. Living in Ft.Luaderdale Florida I have the ability to cruise without traveling to port, and I am currently booked aboard the Oasis of the Seas, for a 4 day voyage the first days a December 09′. Will there be a documentary movie on Oasis, & Allure construction? I have a blog of my own although I frequently don’t blog due to other obligations.
Pleas get back to me”- It would mean the world. Thank you,
Jake Silverberg
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Hi Richard,
My fiancee and I are going on Oasis of the Seas for our honeymoon in October 2010. We are so excited.
However, we have been disapointed with the response to a queston we asked our travel agents and then your customer service. This is regarding it being our honeymoon and I was wondering if I could send you the question? I understand you are a busy man but both myself and my fiancee would greatly appreciate your help.
This should contain my email address if you could email me.
Thank you,
Anthony Murray
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I love the innovative features from RCCL – but this blimp idea is just way over the top. Please take the blimp loss as a true sign to scrap the idea. I can’t wait to get on Oasis next year – hopefully it won’t look like the boat is walking along the water holding a balloon. I have a feeling all the other boats will laugh at us.
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Hi Richard,
I’m sorry for the aerostat but I’m happy to hear the good news.
I can’t wait to sail in this beauty on May 1st 2010.
I’ve already sailed on Freedom of the seas and it was amazing. I just can’t wait!!!!!!!
Keep up the good work!!!
Belen Rosenberg
Rosario, Argentina
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Hi Richard,
I would like to know if you have already decided who is going to be the captian and the cruise director for Oasis of the Seas…
Hope you can answer me.
Thanks.
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Interesting comments about Oasis of the Seas, Myself and my eldest daughter are booked for Jan. 23/10, we will both be celebrating our birthdays on the Oasis, that in itself will be the most memorable birthday present we have ever or will ever receive. Anxiously awaiting to board the beautiful new ship. Really enjoy reading everyones messages to you. Bye for now, see you soon
Janet Pushee – Georgetown, Ontario Canada
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Have you ever heard of Spell Check?
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Some you win……
Some you lose. And the so-called “blimp” that made its debut on Oasis of the Seas last week, while Royal Caribbean International’s megaship undertook its sea trials, was definitely a loser. Quite literally. Apparently the vague idea is that th…
Hi Richard,
I am booked to sail on the Oasis in Nov. 2010 along with friends and family. I have been very excited about the Oasis and booked the cruise just because of the ship. However, now seeing and reading about this new “attraction” on board, the aerostat “blimp”, I have become disappointed in RCCL. This “blimp” is a little cheesey. The ship is going to be so amazing and beautiful and now you will ruin it with a “blimp” tagging along behind it. I hope you guys reconsider this aerostat, if not, I will be reconsidering my cruise.
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My husband and I have the Royal Suite on an August 2010 cruise of the Oasis. It is for our 5th anniverary and we will become Diamond members during the cruise. We booked this cruise last August while on the Navigator in Rome. We have been watching the building of the ship all along. My question is when may we expect to see some picutres of the Royal Suite, not the Royal Loft which is smaller in square footage. We love sitting on our balcony at the end of the day, enjoying a drink and relaxing.
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[...] water. It turns out that the failure was noted by Richard Fain, Chairman of Royal Caribbean, on his blog on June 12th. All I can say is, boy, are we behind the times! Bookmark It [...]
Love the airship onboard
Cannot wait to have a flight in it when will it be open for the public
Super idea
Johnno
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You should look at this other balloon called a Sky Doc, from what my brother (who’s in the Navy) has told me, it’s a far superior aerostat to most and can fly in a hurricane even.
http://www.floatograph.com/skydoc/
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