Taller, heavier, wider and longer than any other passenger ship ever built, the much anticipated cruise liner, the ‘Oasis of the Seas’ has finally set sail for Miami today. Costing almost £1bn, the magnificent 1,200 foot ship was commissioned by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and will begin carrying passengers from December 2009. The ship can carry up to 9000 including crew and boasts facilities such as an ocean front theatre, 21 swimming pools, an aqua park, an ice rink, an on board ‘Central Park’, nightclubs, casinos, over 24 restaurants and the first ever cupcake shop at sea. Five times the size of the Titanic, the ‘Oasis of the Seas’ is one perfectly and beautifully designed ship.
Once the reserve of the very rich or very old, the popularity of cruises is at an all time high and nowadays there are cruise deals to suit every taste and every budget. Not all of us are going to be able to afford the five star luxury of the ‘Oasis of the Seas’ but there are still some fantastic deals to be had. If you’ve never been on a cruise before, there are a few things to pack along with your holiday clothes to ensure your trip is as enjoyable as possible;
Sea Sickness Pills: Nowadays, most of the huge liners like Oasis of the Seas have built-in motion stabilizing devices to prevent boat movement. However, there will always be some movement in very rough seas which will mean an uncomfortable trip for those prone to nausea. Pack some decent travel sickness pills and you’ll never need to worry.
Money: Regardless of the fact many luxury cruises are now all inclusive you’ll be surprised just how often you need a bit of cash particularly for excursions, tips and presents.
A Good Book: You will never be short of things to do on board, but having a good book to hand is often a God-send when your energy levels are dwindling. When you’ve been active all day you need to relax at some point.
Smart Clothes: There are some five star cruises that may ask that you wear smart clothes the whole time outside of your cabin and even the most casual of cruises will expect you dress smartly on at least some occasions, like evening dinner. It always pays to take at least two good outfits so you have something smart to change into should the need arise.
Walking Shoes: At 1200 feet, no other cruise ship comes near to the ‘Oasis of the Seas’ but even on a modest sized ship you’ll find that you’ll cover a great deal of distance over a day onboard. Of course, a good pair of shoes will come into their own on excursions on land and you’ll never regret packing them after a good few hours on your feet. It’s something that people often forget to bring and regret it almost straight away.
Whether your budget stretches to ‘Oasis of the Seas’ or a more modest cruise you can expect the experience of a lifetime so don’t forget to pack that camera!
