OUT OF the mist she loomed like some huge leviathan of the oceans. But if the weather didn’t come up to scratch for yesterday’s first ever visit to Britain by the world’s largest cruise ship, then Oasis of the Seas didn’t disappoint.
Guests and celebrities mingled with cruise clients to spend just one day on board the Royal Caribbean giant floating palace before she departed for Florida late last night.
And joining those on board the 6,000-passenger vessel to enjoy a few hours of her hospitality were 20 winners of the Daily Echo competition to experience a memorable day on Oasis.
As well as lunch and a tour of the ship’s seven distinct neighbourhoods – including the first open park at sea Central Park and The Boardwalk with its Aqua Theatre and carousel – the Daily Echo visitors were surprised with the addition of dinner on board and a show in the ship’s dramatic Opal Theatre before disembarking.
Yesterday’s visitors were the first to experience the multi-million-pound changes that have taken place on board Oasis of the Seas during her dry-dock ‘refresh’ in the Netherlands.
The new look includes more suites and a complete change to the five-year-old ship’s main dining room, which has been replaced with three distinct restaurants: the American Icon Gril, which offers guests a take on the classic American road trip, Silk, a vibrant and exotic destination where the spices of the Far East bring new flavour through a Pan-Asian menu, and The Grande, where every night is formal night, offering elegant cuisine.
Hundreds of people lined the shores of Southampton Water to welcome the world’s largest cruise ship for the first time.
Helicopters circled Mayflower Park as Oasis of the Seas was led up towards the city’s western docks yesterday morning.
The vessel was in full view to thousands of people on the Isle of Wight and Hampshire as she made her way into port.
People came from far and wide to welcome the gargantuan Royal Caribbean vessel, dwarfing Red Funnel ferries as she docked in the Western Docks alongside Mayflower Park.
Spencer Routledge, 41, had travelled from Harrow in London.
He said: “We came down from London on holiday and I saw that the ship was going to come in so we thought we would come and watch.
“I have been visiting Southampton for years because I love its history, particularly the history linked to the Titanic.”
Rev Canon David McAlister, 74, from Scotland, and his daughter Wendy McAlister, 42, from Spain, also watched the ship arrive.
He said: “We decided to see the ship because we’re on holiday here. My wife comes from Southampton so we visit the city all the time. My daughter has done artwork on the Oasis of the Seas’ sister ship so it’s nice to see this one.”
Karen Harwood, a finance officer, came to welcome the ship into port with her colleagues.
The 52-year-old from West End said: “We work at the Dolphin Hotel and have come down to see the ship.
“We have visitors who stay in the hotel that have been on them so see the ships come and go all the time. I was very impressed with this one. It’s huge.
“It would be quite nice to travel on it.”
Bob Dean was preparing to sail on Oasis of the Seas last night as he travelled home to Fort Lauderale, Florida, after visiting family in the UK. The 70-year-old retired lead cruise technician had worked on the ship in Turku, Finland, before its launch in 2009 during his 30 years working on cruise liners.
He said: “I worked on the ship when it was built and I’m going to sail on it to go home. I came over to visit my family in Bristol and London and I decided I would sail back on this one.”
One guest on board yesterday had come to see for himself where his own creation will be staged. Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber visited the Opal Theatre, which will see the West End and Broadway smash hit Broadway staged for the first time at sea.
Speaking on board Oasis, Stuart Leven, Royal Caribbean managing director for the UK and Ireland, said the changes made to Oasis were part of an ongoing programme of innovation that included the arrival of Quantum of the Seas into Southampton at the end of this month.
Oasis of the Seas left Southampton last night for Vigo, Spain, before heading on to Fort Lauderale, Florida.
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