Oasis-Class Cruise Ships: Everything You Need to Know

Royal Caribbean set out to make the largest cruise ships in the world to ever sail the seas, and with the Oasis class, they succeeded.

Oasis-class cruise ships are five times the size of the Titanic, with a whole range of activities on board that you may have never dreamed to find on a ship. They’ve been surpassed by Icon of the Seas now for size, but they’re still some of the most impressive ships in the world.

You don’t need to be intimidated by their size because the Oasis-class ships have revolutionized cruising.  So, read on to learn everything you need to know about the Oasis-class cruise ships before going on your next cruise.   

What Ships Are Part of the Oasis-Class?

There are five Oasis-class ships – Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. A sixth ship, Utopia of the Seas, is set to debut in May 2024.

Here is a table of the launch dates for each of the Oasis Class ships in order:

Ship	Launch Date
Oasis of the Seas	December 5, 2009
Allure of the Seas	December 1, 2010
Harmony of the Seas	May 29, 2016
Symphony of the Seas	April 7, 2018
Wonder of the Seas	March 4, 2022
Utopia of the Seas	May, 2024
TBC	2028

How Big Are Oasis-Class Ships?

Oasis-class cruise ships are some of the biggest in the world, just behind the Icon class, with an internal volume of between 225,282 and 236,857 GT. Each ship is between 1,184 and 1,188 feet long and can accommodate between 6,680 and 6,988 guests.

To see how Oasis-class ships compare to others in the Royal Caribbean fleet in terms of size, be sure to check out my guide: Royal Caribbean Ships by Size.

And to learn more about the difference between the Oasis class and the Icon class, check out this guide: Icon Class Vs Oasis Class.

Where Do Oasis-Class Ships Sail From?

Oasis-class ships sail mostly around the Caribbean and the Bahamas, including Royal Caribbean’s private island ‘Perfect Day at CocoCay’, but there are also some cruises available in the Western Mediterranean.

• Oasis of the Sea sails from Fort Lauderdale and Miami during winter months, and either Rome or Barcelona in the summer.
• Allure of the Seas is similar to sister ship Oasis – she has summer cruises sailing from Barcelona and Rome, and in the winter she sails from either Miami or Port Canaveral.
• Harmony of the Seas sails from Galveston in Texas year-round.
• Symphony of the Seas is always based on the US east coast, either from Fort Lauderale or Miami in Florida, or Cape Liberty in New Jersey.
• Wonder of the Seas sails out of Port Canaveral all year round.
• Utopia of the Seas will also sail out of Port Canaveral throughout the year.

The Oasis-Class Neighbourhoods

With the Oasis-class, Royal Caribbean introduced the idea of neighbourhoods by making distinct themed areas on the ship. Regardless of which Oasis-class ships you decide to cruise on, there are seven neighbourhoods that are named the same and have almost identical shops, bars, restaurants, and activities.  

So, let’s take a look at what you can expect…

1. Boardwalk

The Boardwalk on the Oasis-class ships is a high-energy neighbourhood reminiscent of Coney Island and other fun piers and boardwalks worldwide. 

This neighbourhood is the perfect area for families looking for an escape or anyone young at heart. With classical carnival games, a wooden carousel and Johnny Rockets hamburger bar, you might forget that you’re on a cruise ship at all. 

At the end of the Boardwalk, you’ll find the amphitheatre-style AquaTheater where performers showcase their incredible skills, diving from the very top of the ship into the deepest pool at sea.

2. Central Park

Central Park is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of your Oasis-class ship and decompress. It’s a quiet area full of greenery where you can read a book, meander through the flower gardens or go shopping at high-end shops.  

Within Central Park, you’ll find speciality restaurants like Chops Grille and 150 Central Park, offering world-class dining. If wine tasting is on your to-do list, don’t forget to check out Vintages for wines from around the world. 

With full-size trees more than 10,000 plants and flowers, Central Park is the place to go if you are wanting to unwind and connect with nature.

3. Entertainment Place

Imagine this being the theatre district of the cruise ship. This neighbourhood is the place to find all the nightlife. Jazz On 4 offers live jazz and blues in a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge that feels like it was pulled directly from the Prohibition-era Chicago.  

There are also karaoke sessions and a comedy club at On Air Club. But the crown jewel of Entertainment place is the performances offered in the Main Theater.

Would you rather catch a performance on ice? Look no further than Studio B. Feeling lucky? Head over to the Casino Royale. 

4. The Royal Promenade

I remember being shocked when I first saw a car on a cruise ship on my first cruise on Allure of the Seas. But with a ship as big as this, there’s room for plenty more.

The Royal Promenade is the heart and soul of the Oasis Class cruise. With restaurants, shops and bars, this high-energy neighbourhood offers entertainment for the whole family. 

Keep an eye open for costumed performers, parades and live musicians throughout the neighbourhood.  Several Guest service kiosks are located here too, should you need any help.

5. The Pool and Sports Zone 

The Pool and Sports Zone is the perfect place for adventurers and families. Here, you’ll find four types of pools, two FlowRider surf simulators, mini-golf, an adults-only Solarium and courts for soccer, volleyball and basketball.

Wanting something even more heart-poundingly fun? Try the zipline that sends you flying over 95 feet above the Boardwalk! This neighbourhood is also where you’ll find the Splashaway Bay or H20 Zone waterparks.

The first Oasis-class ships didn’t have waterslides or the Ultimate Abyss dry slide. These were added to Oasis of the seas during a refurbishment in 2019. The plan was to refurbish Allure of the Seas in 2020, but this was postponed. As of yet, we’re not yet sure when Allure will get these extra facilities.

6. Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center

The spa is a must-stop for everyone looking for some rest and rejuvenation at sea. Get everything from massages, acupuncture and facials. There are also fantastic steam rooms and saunas. 

Travelling with teens? The Vitality Spa even has a separate spa, the Y spa, for those aged 13 and over to get some pampering.   

If you want to keep your exercise routine or try out some exercise classes, definitely stop in at the fitness centre. In this state-of-the-art gym, you can join a group exercise class or do your normal workout on the sea. 

7. The Youth Zone

Our last neighbourhood is the Youth Zone. This neighbourhood is a great place for kids to make friends on the cruise. There are educational activities, games and events, all designed with individual age groups in mind. 

Royal Caribbean has an award-winning Adventure Ocean program for kids aged 3 to 17. There are also programs for babies and toddlers from 6 months old to 36 months old. 

Be sure to take advantage of this neighbourhood to get some alone time to do all the fun adult activities on the ship. Royal Caribbean even has a late-night ‘party zone’ for kids, so you can leave then until 2 am while you spend your time in the casino or nightclub.

Are All Oasis-Class Ships the Same?

The Oasis-class ships are all very similar to each other, but not exactly the same. There are some differences like how the water park looks, which restaurants are available and which shows you can see in the theatre.

The newer Oasis-class ships tend to have more features. Royal Caribbean’s plan was to upgrade the older ships like Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas to bring all of the Oasis-class ships in line.

However, while Oasis of the Seas was indeed upgraded in 2019 with the Royal Amplification program, the plans to upgrade Allure of the Seas in 2020 were put on hold due to the global pause.

Allure of the Seas is therefore a little different to the other Oasis-class ships as she is lacking some of the features like waterslides and the Ultimate Abyss Dry Slide. postponed.

Suggested read: Allure of the Seas Vs Oasis of the Seas

If you want to try out the Bionic Bar and have your drink poured by a robot bartender, then choose Harmony, Symphony or Wonder, as this also isn’t available on the older Oasis-class ships.

Likewise, the newest three Oasis-class ships also have virtual balconies. This is basically an inside cabin with a large TV screen to give the illusion of a balcony.

The newer ship Wonder of the Seas has some extra facilities that you won’t find on the other Oasis-class ships. These include the Suite Class Neighbourhood, which is a VIP area only for guests staying in Suites, an underwater-themed adventure playground and a new cantilevered bar called The Vue.

Suggested read: Royal Caribbean Suite Perks

How Are Oasis-Class Ships Different From Other Royal Caribbean Ships?

You may be wondering how the Oasis-class ships differ from other Royal Caribbean ships you may have sailed on before. Let’s take a quick look at the major differences in Royal Caribbean’s ship classes. 

Oasis Class Vs Quantum Class

Quantum ships are notably smaller than Oasis-class ships, carrying 1,500 to 1,800 fewer guests. They have different facilities with Quantum featuring the skydiving simulator, North Star observation capsule and bumper cars but no zip line, waterslides or carousel.

The cabins on the Quantum ships are slightly larger than the Oasis class cabins, but we are talking less than a 10% difference, so you’re unlikely to notice. 

You can catch off-Broadway shows on both ships for entertainment, but the Oasis-class ships also offer the AquaTheater, where you get the most incredible aerial and underwater performances.

Unique to Quantum-class ships is the SeaPlex. Activities here include bumper cars, roller skating and circus school.

Read more: Quantum Class Cruise Ships Guide

Oasis Class Vs Freedom Class

Now let’s take a look at the Oasis-class ships and the Freedom-class ships and see what differences and distinctions might sway your choice in a cruise ship. 

Freedom-class ships are 31% smaller than Oasis-class ships, with space for around 4,500 guests compared to around 6,600 on Oasis-class. They’re older too, being built between 2006 and 2008, whereas new Oasis-class ships are still being constructed presently.

Despite the smaller size and advancing age, the Freedom-class ships, Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Sea and Independence of the Seas do still have a lot to offer, especially since undergoing the ‘Royal Amplification’.

Highlights that have been added to Freedom-class ships include the SkyPad virtual reality trampolines, The Perfect Storm waterslides, an escape room and a laser tag arena.

With the Freedom-class ships, there are fewer dining options and less in the way of nightlife than on the Oasis-class ships. You could almost eat at a different place every meal on the Oasis-class ships, while on the Freedom-class you will most definitely be repeating dining spots. But that’s okay, especially if you prefer not to shell out extra for speciality dining.

Another difference between these classes of ships is the price.  Freedom-class ships offer a much cheaper cruise fare than the Royal Caribbean Oasis Class. This is important if you are trying to stick to a tight budget. 

Final Thoughts 

Many people see the Oasis Class ships as the best Royal Caribbean cruise ships, due to their size and amenities, although that might change with the new Icon-class ships. The neighbourhood setup has changed the game in cruise ships and has made cruising so much more fun. 

The only downside is cruising on Oasis-class ships is that the ticket prices tend to be higher than the smaller ships, particularly with newer ships like Wonder of the Seas. But, I think it is well worth the price considering the ships have more amenities than you could possibly explore in one cruise. 

Related Posts:

• The Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Adults
• The Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Kids
• Royal Caribbean Ships by Size
• Royal Caribbean Ships by Age