:
The era of the megaship didn't sink with the Titanic; in fact, it was just picking up steam. Shipbuilders have been engaged in a battle for size supremacy for more than a century. And in September, Royal Caribbean took delivery on the next biggest thing: the Oasis of the Seas, a floating city for more than 5,400. It's nearly five times the weight of the Titanic and 89 feet longer than the supercarrier USS Ronald Reagan. Judging by history, this Caribbean queen's reign won't last long.
:
Before air travel, ocean liners competed for speed. The 790-foot Mauretania was the longest, fastest thing afloat, with six steam turbines that were good for 68,000 horsepower and 28 knots (32 mph).
:
The 882-foot Titanic was a no-expense-spared folly, harboring the era's most advanced engine tech. Its propellers were spun by 59,000 horsepower from the 29 boilers and 159 furnaces, pushing the luxury barge at 21 knots toward its Oscar-winning rendezvous with an iceberg.
:
This 1,031-footer faithfully crossed the Atlantic until 1968, when declining demand and climbing pressure from the airline industry made it too expensive to operate.
:
Like the Queen Elizabeth, the 1,035-foot France couldn't outrun the jetliner. It was nearly junked until Norwegian Caribbean Lines retrofitted it as a party boat in 1980, breathing new life into the struggling cruise industry.
:
Originally slated for 80,000 gross tons, plans ballooned as rivals launched larger ships. Final stats: 151,400 gross tons and 1,132 feet. But at 30 knots, she's no sea cow.
:
Measuring in at about 400 yards long and 50 yards wide, the Oasis will be almost 50 percent larger than Royal Caribbean's current record-breaking behemoths, the Freedom class. Rising higher than 200 feet above the waterline and spanning 16 decks, the vessel will cost an estimated $1.2 billion, a price tag that will ultimately be recouped in vacation reservations and overpriced trinket sales.
:
It takes a lot of fuel to move 220,000 gross tons of cruise ship, and fuel costs money. The Oasis will rely on three Azipod propulsion units: electrically driven pods that are reportedly 10 percent more fuel-efficient that conventional propulsion systems.
:
The Oasis' numerous neighborhoods will feature distinct atmospheres and themes. The Boardwalk neighborhood is geared toward family entertainment, and is modeled after seaside piers: It will feature a number of one-of-a-kind amenities, like the world's first carousel at sea, and the largest freshwater pool found on a ship, which is converted into a fountain light show in an amphitheater at the end of the day.
:
The Central Park neighborhood features an open-air, public thoroughfare that's longer than a football field. Serving as the ship's "town hall," patrons will find all of the comforts of suburbia transplanted onto a nautical setting, with outdoor dining options, galleries featuring original artwork and tropical foliage in themed garden spaces.
:
When the ship officially enters into service in 2009, Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas will be the largest vessel of its kind. A sister ship — the Allure of the Seas — will follow soon afterward, in 2010.
:
Not content with just casinos and nightclubs, the 1,181- foot Oasis has seven themed neighborhoods. Three 27,000-hp electric propeller pods pull the boat along at 24 knots. Each pod rotates 360 degrees, letting pilots make 1-foot adjustments in port. It's also virtually unsinkable. (Sound familiar?)
أكثر...