What weighs 225,000 tonnes, measures 1,187 feet long and carries 6,296 passengers? Royal Caribbean Cruises’ Oasis of the Seas, that’s what – the largest cruise liner ever built and quite probably the most expensive (it cost £800 million to build). This leviathan of a vessel features a football-pitch-sized open space called ‘Central Park’, which has its very own micro-climate, and is overlooked by 254 of the ship’s cabins, each of which have their own balconies. There’s a unique ‘roving’ bar called Rising Tide which literally moves between three of the 16 decks, an enormous AquaTheatre (modelled on the Amphitheatre of Ancient Greece) which doubles as the biggest floating pool on the seas by day and a spectacular aqua show venue by night. There are 24 restaurants, a casino, surf simulators, rock climbing walls, an ice rink and a full-sized carousel. And if you’re a little on the claustrophobic side (provided you have the means, of course) you can travel throughout your cruise holidays in a loft style apartment cabin.
The Oasis of the Seas is likely to maintain its claim to the title of biggest ship in the world for some time to come. As yet, competitors like Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and Carnival Cruises, have yet to breach the 5,000 passenger level. But one thing is certain: all the cruise lines are seeking to attract families and younger travellers with the bigger vessels in their fleets especially, most of which come crammed with magnificent facilities and activities. Tempting cruise deals are available on all if you book at the right moment, and with vessels of this calibre, you’re never, ever going to be bored whilst you’re aboard.