Royal Caribbean has announced plans for a $165 million revitalization project on Oasis of the Seas, marking the first Oasis-class ship to undergo renovations as part of the cruise line’s $1 billion Royal Amplified fleet enhancement program. Plans call for a reimagined, Caribbean-inspired pool deck with a Splashaway Bay kids’ aqua park and The Lime & Coconut bar; Music Hall, a venue first introduced on the line’s Quantum-class ships; the Perfect Storm trio of water slides; and the Ultimate Abyss, billed as the tallest slide of its type at sea.
The renovations will also add the cruise line’s first barbecue concept, Portside BBQ, and the dedicated karaoke venue Spotlight Karaoke.
The newly renovated ship will debut November 24, 2019, after a 63-day modernization project, sailing out of Royal Caribbean’s new Terminal A in PortMiami on a program of seven-night eastern and western Caribbean itineraries. In May 2020, the ship will reposition to New York City, becoming the largest cruise ship ever to sail from the New York area. The ship will sail from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey, on seven-night itineraries to the Bahamas, with visits to the cruise line’s newly revamped private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The reimagined Pool and Sports Zone on the top deck will get a number of additions, including the 10-story Ultimate Abyss dry slide, as well as The Perfect Storm, a trio of multistory waterslides known as Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell. There will also be a new Splashaway Bay for kids, with a Splash Pad for tots, three waterslides, water cannons, fountains, pools and twin drench buckets. These additions will join the ship’s already existing twin FlowRider surf simulators, nine-deck-high zip line and twin rock-climbing walls.
At the center of the top deck will be a new, Caribbean-style pool area, with an outpost of the signature bar The Lime & Coconut. The bar will be open day and night, serving up poolside cocktails, DJs and live music across two locations. Royal Caribbean has said that the pool area will also have a larger variety of seating and shade, including casitas, daybeds, hammocks and swing seats, as well as new whirlpools on the top deck and a refreshed Solarium for adults.
New Dining and Entertainment Options
The project will also add the cruise line’s first-ever barbecue restaurant, Portside BBQ, serving a menu inspired by barbecue across the United States, plus classic sides. Grab-and-go fare will be available from El Local Fresh, serving made-to-order tacos and burritos, quesadillas, mini salads and salsas. The Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade will anchor the lineup in the Boardwalk neighborhood, showing off 80 big-screen TVs, tabletop games, arcade classics, tournaments, an Owner’s Box VIP room, bar fare and beer. Sugar Beach will sell more than 220 types of candy, and it will also include a new walk-up ice cream window. These venues will join the already-existing Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table and Izumi.
For nights out, the new Spotlight Karaoke on the Royal Promenade will offer budding singers a chance to rock out on either the main stage or in one of two private rooms. The live venue Music Hall, which first debuted on Quantum of the Seas, will make its Oasis-class debut, offering a roster of live cover bands, a dance floor, pool tables and intimate loungers across two levels. Finally, another Quantum-class favorite will join the ship, the Bionic Bar, serving cocktails courtesy of two robotic bartenders. Remaining onboard will be Boleros, Schooner Bar, Blaze Nightclub & Comedy and English pub Atlas & Globe.
New for Families
The renovations will also extend to the ship’s spaces for babies, kids and teens, adding technology designed to offer interactive and personalized experiences. The Adventure Ocean area will receive a total makeover, with newly designed areas organized by activity type. Returning offerings include a nursery for the youngest travelers and a specialized area with programming for kids three to five years old. The ship’s teen hangout will have a “hidden” entrance, a gaming lounge, movies, music and a new outdoor deck.
Other new activities will include a new glow-in-the-dark laser tag game, Clash for the Crystal City, plus the new Royal Escape Room – Mission Control: Apollo 18, which tasks travelers with launching Apollo 18 to the moon by solving a series of mind-bending puzzles. The ship’s ice skating and mini-golf areas will remain onboard.
The renovations are part of the cruise line’s Royal Amplified fleet modernization effort, which will invest $1 billion across 10 ships in four years.
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