DESTINATIONS — CRUISE
The allure of Oasis A
With Allure of the Seas sailing from Barcelona for the first time this summer, Hollie-Rae Merrick checked out sister-ship Oasis to see what’s in store
Europe for the first time. In fact, when it arrives in its new home port of Barcelona in May, it will be the first time this mammoth ship has sailed anywhere outside the Caribbean. So to prepare UK agents for Allure’s grand arrival, Royal Caribbean International sent sister ship Oasis of the Seas for a brief visit to Southampton to show agents what the world’s biggest class of cruise ship has to offer.
I Oasis of the Seas spent just
two weeks in drydock in October receiving a makeover, which focused mainly on the dining propositions on board. The world’s second-largest
n just four months’ time, Allure of the Seas will sail from
ship returned to service with additional restaurants, faster internet provision, new shops, and additional suites. Its sister ship Allure will undergo the same makeover this spring ahead of its season out of Barcelona. It was my first time on Oasis
and I was eager to explore the additions, as well as to find out more about some of the existing features that sets this vessel apart from others. I joined the ship with a handful of agents, and spent a day exploring every corner. It is impossible to see all of
Oasis in just 24 hours – there is enough to keep passengers busy for weeks – but we made a valiant attempt to fit in as much as possible.
The ship is divided into seven
distinct neighbourhoods, each with unique features and experiences: Central Park, Boardwalk, Royal Promenade, Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Centre, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone. My favourite was the Boardwalk with its colourful carousel and amphitheatre-style AquaTheater, where acrobatic shows and water displays attract crowds of people most evenings.
l DINING There will be 20 dining options on board by the end of the year, which will give passengers plenty of food for thought. The ship’s main dining room has been
remodelled to fit the line’s new Dynamic Dining concept, which will be rolled out across as much of the fleet as possible. On Oasis, the main dining room, Opus, will remain in place until late 2015, when the redesigned space will begin running as three high-class restaurants: The American Icon Grill, Silk and The Grande. The ship will gain Izumi, a sushi and teppanyaki restaurant, and Coastal Kitchen, a dining area for passengers staying in suites. Also new will be the Alice in Wonderland-inspired venue Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine. The whimsical venue will stimulate all of diners’ senses with a theatrical and imaginative menu.
15 January 2015 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 79
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