Getting Close
Also, getting excited. Last night, the ship reached a peak speed of 24 knots. She has now traveled 4,700 nautical miles since leaving Turku and has a “mere” 1,200 to go to reach the pilot station outside Port Everglades. This requires less than 18 knots of speed. Captain Bill says he intends to slow down to save energy soon, but he wants a bigger cushion first.
Meanwhile, preparations continue onboard and onshore. Anticipation is unbelievably high and I am surprised (and delighted) by the level of interest.
One conundrum we face is that we want everything to go smoothly from the moment our first guest steps aboard but we need the shakedown cruises to prepare the ship. Shakedown cruises are important both technically and operationally. Technically, for example, this will be the first time the ship operates in a warm climate and the air conditioning needs balancing which can only be done with the heat load of real people present. Even the theatre sound system needs to be balanced with the acoustical absorption of real bodies in place. Operationally, will people gravitate to Boleros or Dazzles? We can simulate these things fairly well in advance, but there is no substitute for real experience.
All of that is what we normally do during our shakedown cruises and our travel agent partners normally understand that. But here, the vessel will be under unusual scrutiny and we want to present her as complete as possible even during the shakedown. While there is no perfect solution, we do have a group of people – the crew – who are more than willing to sacrifice themselves and pretend they are guests.
So Lisa Bauer opened the Cupcake Cupboard, the Donut Shop and the Ice Cream Parlor and with everyone on a sugar high, proceeded to try out the various venues onboard. There were the normal glitches, but overall, it went amazingly well. The dining venues were a big hit and seemed to manage the flow very well. There were some surprises related to the concentration of guests in different bars and these will require adjusting deployment of personnel. The Casino had a very good night (all profits to the Crew Welfare fund). Regarding the shops, Lisa said: “I am thrilled with what Starboard has done onboard with the stores. The quality of the merchandise, as well as the merchandising, is truly transformational.” Lisa herself participated and bought the first item sold by the Coach store. (This was probably the world’s most expensive purse. She paid hundreds of dollars for the bag, but we had to build a store for her to buy it in and that cost hundreds of thousands.) The IT systems are some of the most sophisticated systems ever installed on a cruise ship and our IT team has been working non-stop to get them up and running. To minimize issues, we actually built the entire system on land in Chicago earlier in the year, tested it and then dismantled it for shipment to Turku. That has really helped make sure it works properly, but is an enormous job and no such IT project goes without a hitch.
BTW, the OED says the first use of the term “knot” dates back to 1633 and derives from the knots in a rope that was originally used to determine a ship’s speed without GPS. One way of measuring a ship’s speed was to throw a line overboard and count how many knots slipped through your hands within a fixed time. Sailors used the rope trick to measure speed and distance. Interestingly, the actually term “nautical” doesn’t come from the term “knot” but rather from the Greek word for sailor (ergo “astronaut” or “cosmonaut”). A nautical mile is 1.15 “normal” miles or 1.85 kilometers.
Filed under: Chairman
The blogs,twitter and The Oasis website are fantastic.
I think they have educated the public in all phases of the building and preparation required in such a huge undertaking. I will be at John U Lloyd to watch The Oasis as she enters the harbor on Friday.
We are booked on the inagural cruise and can’t wait.
I would have liked to go to the naming ceremony, but I understand it is private.
Thank you for the wealth of information and see youu soon!
Loyal to Royal,
Joe
[Reply]
Mr. Fain ,
What a beautiful ship. I have cruised several times on Carnival and am getting close to being a platinum guest but after seeing the Oasis of the Seas I am seriously considering taking my next cruise with Royal Caribbean.
Best Regards,
Herb
[Reply]
Sounds absolutely WONDERFUL. I just wish I was sailing on her soon. Patience, Mary, Patience.
[Reply]
I have so enjoyed following your blog. Congratulations to you and your team on an amazing feat of engineering and hospitality! My son and I are coming all the way from South Africa to join you on the inaugural cruise on 5 December! Well done to all and mazeltov!
[Reply]
We are currently booked on the Feb. 6 departure….can’t wait to see the ship and all her beauty. We have enjoyed watching your cruise to Port Everglades! See you soon…….
[Reply]
I want to be that first guest who walks on board this beauty. We are traveling down to Southern Florida this Saturday the 14th. I hope we get to see her at least to take a picture. I am working on getting a ticket!
Where will the boat be docking?
[Reply]
I so want to be that first guest who walks aboard this Beauty. We are working on a ticket, but would love to at least come when she is docked to take a picture. My family will be in Southern Florida on the 14th, Where will the Oasis be docked?
Regards, Allyson Richardson
[Reply]
As we wait with eager anticipation for our rendezvous with Oasis on December 1-12, I think it’s worth saying again just how much I’ve been enjoying reading this blog, and seeing the wonderful videos of the ship’s building and (now) coming of age. It has really given us all a greater understanding of what’s involved in creating something like this, and (I’m sure) an even greater appreciation of the achievement!!
As these ships get bigger and bigger, I’m sure it becomes more and more difficult to have everyone meet the officers and executives (even on a ship half or a third this size, it’s hard to imagine how the captain can shake THAT many hands!) and perhaps it gets tiring to even just listen to the gushing complimentary remarks from all the happy and delighted guests.
That said, thanks again SO much for both building these amazing new ships (it really doesn’t seem like SO very long since the revolutionary Sovereign of the Seas, where I was on for the second maiden voyage!) and for advancing the state of the art in the cruise industry in such a dramatic and exciting way.
I do hope we’ll have the opportunity to meet you onboard and thank you in person!
[Reply]
Speaking of high tech haven’t heard any more about the communication phone that was gong to be available for rental.
Is that being tested and have you decided on a price yet? Will it be priced as a single phone or a set? I can see this as being used by guests in the same stateroom (not cabin) or between guests in different staterooms.
[Reply]
I wish your countdown clock would state what day and time that is. Sorry i cannot ifgure out when 2 days, 14, 43 is. Is that Thursday, 8:00 p.m.?
Have your developers create a quick app. Thanks.
[Reply]
what time does it arrive in port everglades
[Reply]
Hi there,
It’s a great blog – but…..you need to do something with your PR folks – I am the one with more RCL Cruise credits in my house, I have always made the reservation on MY Credit Card….yet, the coupons for future credits on cruises were addressed to only my husband. Since we are a two income household, and my next cruise was going to be an all girls cruise…..I just may have to travel with a cruise line that treats women with more respect.
[Reply]
And, we are both members of the Crown & Anchor Society as well. Thanks
[Reply]
Every person that has ever boarded a cruise ship should read the information that you are putting out on this blog. I think it’s unfortunate that more people don’t know about this ship and its many venues. I am especially glad to hear that Ken Rush is going to be the Cruise Director. I think that Lisa’s posting is the first official announcement of that. He was on both Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas when I sailed on them. I am sailing on Oasis on the Feb. 20th sailing and I hope both he and Captain Wright will still be on board.
Once again I would like to thank not only you but Captian Bill Wright, Adam Goldstein, and Lisa Bauer for putting out so much informative information.
[Reply]
I would like some info on the inagural events this Friday 11/13. Nobody at RC has been able to give me any info on the events and the tour that is taking place.
Please let me know where I can find some details since it is not on this website…..thanks.
[Reply]
RCCL – Everyone is so excited to see the Oasis make her debut. We have been on over 35 cruises, over 12 of them on RCCL. We look forward to boarding the Oasis very soon. Best Wishes for a successful launch
[Reply]
The video player doesn’t work.
PS: Great ship.
[Reply]
Congratulations on all that you and your team have accomplished… and for keeping us more up to date than we recall ever having happened with a ship launch. We are excited about our “soon to be” opportunity to board the ship and experience all that we have watched develop in pictures and in the written reports…. smooth seas for you until you reach your home port.
[Reply]
I read with special attention all is done on ship.Iàm happy to know that`s the new and the biggest ship of the world.Congratulations to all crew members. I should like totake a cruise with you but I have not the money for. A gift of your company like a cruise for two persons would be appreciated and that`s a dream of my life, I never did. For your info. Iam 77 years old and Iàm in good health. I leave in Quebec City;Canada.Thanks to take attention to this message.Have a good day and a nice temp, Lionel.
[Reply]
This ship is wayyyy exciting and I’m looking forward to booking my first ever cruise on a Royal Caribbean ship, and the Oasis especially! We book a Royal Family Suite a few years ago on Freedom but had to cancel at last minute due to a family death. Can’t wait to actually get on board one of these baby’s!!
[Reply]
Hi,my name is Matheus from brasil.I just want to say for Richard D. Fain and all the royal caribbean´s menbers that the Oasis of the Seas will be the future of the seas,she´s just amazing.I have followed its development since the day was put the first piece on the drydock.The Centarl Park,the Rising Tide Bar and the studio B,seems to offer lots of fun,all the ship is beatiful.I think that royal caribbean will be now the most famous cruise company in the world.To finish I just want to say one more thing,Royal Caribbean could now try to make one vessel to about ten thousand people or more, because I think the trend is to ships became ever larger and more innovative.
I`m fanatic for ships, and I want to one day be able to design ships like these, or maybe put my ship design to turn reality.I have only sixteen years, but with many dreams, maybe one day I work with you to build a new larger vessel of the world.Thanks to show the world that the impossible can become possible, continue on this way Royal Caribbean.And never forget this words “the sky is the limit”.
[Reply]
I am without words to describe the ship.This is something the world had never seen before and think it will be good for the development of ever larger ships and more features.Who knows until one day make a city inside a ship.
[Reply]
I’m also waiting for Friday morning to arrive. I’ll be down at the port enterence , with I’m sure many friends waving her in. It is an exciting time for RCCL, Port Everglades , and Fort Lauderdale. It will be interesting to see her interiors when ahe is splashed onto the TV screen. Can’t wait for my December 5 th. voyage , that will cap off all the excitement I’ve had for the past two years. It will be a wonderful Holiday vacation.
[Reply]
Mr. Fain,
I would love to be one of those warm real bodies helping out to make the best even better. Just say the word and I can be there in less than an hour. Hats of to everyone at RCI for continuing to create the best ships afloat!!
[Reply]
just curious…will you be videotaping the public areas of the OASIS during one of the daily video segments on the website???
it would be exciting to see a glimpse of the ZIPLINE seeing as it is the VERY FIRST one on a cruise ship. SHOW US SOME FOOTAGE PLEASE!!! the drawings on the website i’m sure do not really do it justice.
it would also be interesting to see features like the surf pool and the amphitheater.
please update with real photos or video footage if possible.
thanks!!!
[Reply]
Our excitement is mounting!..
We are looking forward to being among the first to experience
the OASIS of the SEAS,Nov.27-29.
[Reply]
Wow………This really is exciting……we are looking forward to booking a cruise in early 2010…… aboard Oasis…………as we are leaving in 2 weeks on a 12 day cruise aboard Jewel of the seas………But we will be looking forward to sailing on her big sister Oasis
[Reply]
Love to know more about the captain. How do you find out about his bio?
[Reply]
Hi, my name is Anders and I have followed this website closely from the moment I heard about it the first time! Since Oasis of the Seas left Turku and sailed under the Storebealt bridge in Denmark I have seen all the videos that where put on this website everyday. I am really sad that this will end soon, because it have been a great way for me to follow the development of the ship this last few days near “the end”.
One of my biggest dreams is to have a trip onboard Oasis of the seas, and hopefully I will have saved enough money in a few years to actually go.
(It’s the trip by plane that cost the most).
Thank you for this great website and all the efforts you have put into making this! Please take good care of Oasis of the seas on till it will hopefully one day be my turn to take a cruise on this amazing ship!
I have been writing a lot about the Oasis of the Seas on my personal blog, and it is quite popular here in Denmark (a lot of hits from Google), so expect to see a lot of Danes on the ship soon.
Best Regrads
Anders Nielsen
Denmark
[Reply]
Hi!!!
I am a big fan of Royal Carribean and am very excited to see the new ship. Can you provide a time when you will be sailing into Ft. Lauderdale? I would like to go and see the ship as she enters through the channel.
Thanks and congratulations!!!
John
[Reply]
I just wanted to let you know that your internet marketing campaign really works well. I am from Eastern Ky. I work in the mining industry. One day a news story just caught my eye about your ship. I grew up fascinated with another very large ship I wont mention here out of fear of bad luck. But something about the Oasis of The Seas has captivated me. I have watched every update from the captain. I have read everything I can get my hands on. I have viewed all the photos and talked nonstop since they left Finland. Keep in mind, I’m not going on vacation. I have to work at least until next August. So stop and think about that for a second. You have captivated a miner with very little time after work to view stuff. You have snared a person not even planning a vacation. There is something about this ship. It draws people to it.(Which is a good thing for RCC lol) I just want to say I hope one day I get the pleasure of taking my family on this cruise ship. I have never been on anything bigger than a bass boat lol but I am fascinated by these floating palaces. So thank you, and just wanted to let you know that the video updates are drawing people in. The return in dollars will be evident for the time you have invested in this site. Sincerely, Nicholas Fleming
[Reply]
Thanks to RCCL for making Labadee, HAITI part of the historic inaugural voyage of the largest cruise ever to sail the oceans.
If your confidence in Haiti could be shared with others to change for the better the mis-perceptions of our beloved country.
Thanks again.
[Reply]
TO CAPTAIN WRIGHT–
WELCOME HOME NEIGHBOR!! YOUR SHIP LOOKS MAJESTIC-
WATCHING THE MORNING MANUEVERS FROM THE BALCONY.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
BEST OF LUCK AND BEST REGARDS,
DANIEL SAMET
[Reply]
Thanks for the Captain Bill’s video blogs. The Lady is safely at her home port now so take a good care of her. It was truly exciting to follow her first voyage and the growing wow factor. Well done Royals!
[Reply]
Thanks to Capt Bill and crew for getting the big girl home safe.
Kindest Regards
Tim
[Reply]
I am so excited to be able to sail on this incredible ship Nov.27-29. It’s like having my first child. You can’t wait to see what they look like and experience all their wonders. I am certainly going to enjoy every minute of my time onboard the Oasis of the Sea to explore and get to know your beautiful baby! My clients are anxiously awaiting my report. See you soon!
Kare Bense
Air Land & Sea Travel
[Reply]
A pity your PR guys have stopped the daily Oasis video. Why? They built up a following of Oasis lovers at considerable expense and now seem to have dropped them, which is definitely a bad idea. Every ship should have a daily video on the web.There is always lots to say and it provides your ship-lovers with something to Word of Mouth about
[Reply]
It’s great fun to be watching the progress of this ship through photos, videos and blogs. I’ll be on the inaugural sailing on December 1st with my 96 year old mother who “hates ships”. I assured her that this will be unlike anything she has done before. Her experiences include the Buckner (a military transport ship which we sailed between Seattle and Tokyo, then again between New York and Europe) in the 50’s and 60’s and her last sailing The SS United States in 1964. I’m sure the Oasis of the Seas will change her concepts of the ocean liner and cruising. I have sailed several times on Royal Caribbean ships and have greatly enjoyed those experiences. I can only imagine that the Oasis of the Seas will raise the bar and be the gold standard for what the cruise experience should be. Fifteen days and counting…
[Reply]
I would like to find out about going on Dec 1 Haiti cruise
[Reply]
My boyfriend and are are booked for a May 22, 2010 cruise. Can’t wait. We are coming to the Port to see her on Thanksgiving weekend. Is there anyway to tour the ship? If not I’ll be content to admire her beauty from the dock. Thank you Mr. Fain for all of your informattive blogs. I personally did not like cruising until I went on Freedom of the Seas this June and now I am “Loyal to Royal” too. I love crusing thanks to your crew on Freedom! Thank you again!
Respectfully,
Mary Sharon Mercer
[Reply]
I hope everyone has a safe trip and a good time. And I hope that they have enough life boats for everyone on board the ship. We would not want another repeat of the “Titanic” disaster.
[Reply]