Royal Caribbean International has revealed starting prices of £1,299 for Oasis of the Seas, the largest ship in the world, as it prepares to go on general sale next week.
The first lead-in price to be announced for UK holidaymakers covers a nine-night fly-cruise, including return flights from the UK and a seven-night Caribbean cruise. No early booking discounts are being offered, with Royal Caribbean expecting the ship to be its fastest-selling in history when it goes on sale on September 3.
Meanwhile, prices for a nine-night fly-cruise in a balcony stateroom overlooking the Central Park area in the centre of the ship start from £1,516 and prices for a nine-night fly-cruise in a loft stateroom start from £2,999.
Oasis of the Seas is almost 40% larger than any other cruise ship built to date and can accommodate more than 5,400 guests. It makes its first sailing on December 12, 2009, from Fort Lauderdale in Florida. The ship is already open to bookings from Royal Caribbean International loyalty club members who have taken at least ten cruises with the company.
Its inaugural season includes 19 consecutive seven-night sailings to the eastern Caribbean, with ports of call at Charlotte Amalie in St Thomas; Philipsburg in St Maarten; and Nassau in the Bahamas. From May 1, 2010, it will alternate this with a western Caribbean itinerary, calling at Labadee in Haiti; Falmouth in Jamaica; and Cozumel in Mexico.
The ship features an open air Central Park along the centre of the ship – the first such ‘park’ at sea – and the first carousel and amphitheatre at sea, as well as an improved Promenade of shops and restaurants. It also offers new two-level loft-style accommodation with floor to ceiling double-height windows and private balconies.