On the Open Seas

For years and years I have resisted hopping on board a cruise ship to take in the sun and see what these floating hotels have to offer. There are several reasons for my hesitation including the fact that I hate the beach, hate the heat, and it is on a boat. I have been terrified of boats since my parents dragged me on one, kicking and screaming I might add, to speed around Lake Barkley in Kentucky after they promised that we would not be going fast. Since then, I haven't been fond of getting on boats. Alas, I will get on slow moving marine devices such as those that have a paddle wheel or peddles.

However, I have been intrigued with Royal Caribbean since they invented the mega-ship over ten years ago when they introduced Voyager of the Seas. The ship, then the world's largest and currently tied for 10th largest cruise ship, fascinated me with the indoor Royal Promenade and ice skating rink. After briefly losing the world's largest cruise ship title to the Queen Mary II, Royal Caribbean introduced the 3 Freedom Class of ships starting in 2006 to retake the title of world's largest. But now Royal Caribbean has outdone itself yet again. Late last year Oasis of the Seas was launched and is currently the world's largest cruise ship. Her sister sets sail this December. These ships are over 75,000 gross tons larger than the 2nd largest cruise ships. There is room on board for over 6,000 guests and over 2,000 crew members. Yes, Oasis and her sister Allure are massive. Royal Caribbean holds 9 of the top 11 spots for largest cruise ships. The only non-RC ships in the top 11 are the Norwegian Epic (5th largest) and Queen Mary II (6th largest).

So, being not easily impressed, I decided one evening to break my cruise hymen and booked a cruise on board Oasis. Inside stateroom, hell no! I purchased a balcony suite on the top floor and can't wait! We are sailing to the Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. I can't wait until they open up restaurant reservations for my cruising, which happens 90 days prior to sailing, so that I can be sure to eat at the over 15 specialty restaurants I want to when I want to. After all, I will be fighting with 5,000 or so others to not eat simply eat in the dining room.

You might ask, why not sail on the new ship. Well, there are two reasons. I don't particularly think that a ship that is brand new with over 2,000 crew members that have no idea what they are doing on a massive ship is such a great idea. I'm pretty sure she will need to some time to work out her kinks. The other reason is that her maiden voyage, which sets sail the day after we set sail on Oasis, visits ports in Mexico which I care not to visit. As Charlotte says after refusing to eat the food in Sex and the City The Movie, "It's Mexico."

That's all for tonight! In my next issue, why Norwegian Epic will be my next cruise. Off to the grocery store!