Oasis class ship heading for Asia in 2018

[roquejo]

http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Mega-cruise-ship-to-begin-making-stops-in-Japan-in-2018

[loubetti]

Certainly no surprise with this announcement. I always figured an Oasis class would be going Asia.

[The Grumpus]

Hmmm... wonder which one. If you go by their past actions, seems like it would be the 4th. one.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

It would make sense for Oasis IV to be the one - since she is so early in her construction the desired modifications can be made in the shipyard so that she (like Ovation) launches ready for the Asian market - less bars/lounges/specialty dining - more shopping and a larger casino.

[Biker19]

I'm a bit dubious. The article says that as of now there's no ports in Japan to accept such a ship. It will be Bermuda/Quantum all over again. The Asian itineraries for 2018 will be out a year from now - even if the article is correct that RCI is looking at the feasibility now, by next year things could change. Does Oasis fit in the Suez?

[TravelerThom]

...Does Oasis fit in the Suez?

Yes. Oasis easily meets draught and beam maximums. The Suez Canal Bridge is 230 feet above water, so Oasis would have to telescope its mast, but still easily doable.

 

Thom

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

I'm a bit dubious. The article says that as of now there's no ports in Japan to accept such a ship. It will be Bermuda/Quantum all over again. The Asian itineraries for 2018 will be out a year from now - even if the article is correct that RCI is looking at the feasibility now, by next year things could change. Does Oasis fit in the Suez?

 

The article doesn't have me convinced. I'll believe it when Royal confirms or itineraries are released.

 

Well actually I just reread the article. Maybe once Oasis 4 debuts, one will go to Asia, but I don't see it happening before that.

Edited March 7, 2016 by OfTheSeasCruiser

[nelblu]

I booked 2 cruises on Oasis in the 1st q of '17, because it was supposed to go to China. Guess what, it's going to Port Canaveral.

[roquejo]

I'm a bit dubious. The article says that as of now there's no ports in Japan to accept such a ship. It will be Bermuda/Quantum all over again. The Asian itineraries for 2018 will be out a year from now - even if the article is correct that RCI is looking at the feasibility now, by next year things could change. Does Oasis fit in the Suez?

 

We already brought that up to Radiance's captain last Feb during the welcome back party. He was Oasis of the Seas captain for 6 years and he just transferred back to Radiance. So many of you might recognize him.

 

He did said that fitting in Suez might be a problem (even in Panama canal, it won't fit at the moment until they have finished expanding it) so the Oasis class will just sail around the Horn instead towards Asia.

 

There is a clamor among the crown and anchor members to bring Oasis to Australia and Asia during his talk and he said he will bring it up again to head office.

Edited March 8, 2016 by roquejo

[Ashland]

It would make sense for Oasis IV to be the one - since she is so early in her construction the desired modifications can be made in the shipyard so that she (like Ovation) launches ready for the Asian market - less bars/lounges/specialty dining - more shopping and a larger casino.

 

I was on Mariner and saw how the Asianation (?) was done...whatever Oasis ship it ends up being they certainly won't need more shops....as all the highend shops onboard were empty....however those $10.00 table bargains in the Promenade put any black Friday frenzy to shame...it was a mad house :eek:

[riclop]

http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/Mega-cruise-ship-to-begin-making-stops-in-Japan-in-2018

 

Not new news.

[TravelerThom]

...fitting in Suez might be a problem (even in Panama canal, it won't fit at the moment until they have finished expanding it) so the Oasis class will just sail around the Horn instead towards Asia...

The expanded Panama Canal will handle Oasis length, beam and draught, BUT the Bridge of the Americas is still sitting there with air clearance of 201 feet above high tide. There is a lot of tidal variance and it MIGHT be possible to to sneak the Oasis through at extreme low tide, but I've never seen that claimed.

 

I see NO reason why Oasis class could not easily go through the Suez canal (and under the Suez Canal Bridge) - far larger (not taller) oil tankers do regularly.

[MADflyer]

RCI had responded yesterday to that report, clarifying that they have no definite plans to send an Oasis class ship to the region.

 

http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/13940-oasis-to-japan.html

 

As ports around the world want to compete in the developing cruise market, most are opting for Oasis class standards. Just because Miami and Curacao will soon have RCI Oasis class ports, that does not mean the ships are moving into those ports directly.

 

While RCI have been somewhat on their own for the early years of Mega-ships, Aida, Costa, Disney, Dream, MSC, NCL and Princess all have ships on order in the 'mega' class now.

Edited March 8, 2016 by MADflyer

[CRUISEFAN0001]

The expanded Panama Canal will handle Oasis length, beam and draught, BUT the Bridge of the Americas is still sitting there with air clearance of 201 feet above high tide. There is a lot of tidal variance and it MIGHT be possible to to sneak the Oasis through at extreme low tide, but I've never seen that claimed.

 

I see NO reason why Oasis class could not easily go through the Suez canal (and under the Suez Canal Bridge) - far larger (not taller) oil tankers do regularly.

Are you sure?

 

We've been considering a Panama Canal cruise, and the new specs we've read were 180 ft wide and 1150 ft long for the channel locks - meaning ships would have to be smaller than that to clear. Oasis is 208 feet and 1,186 long.

 

Just sayin'.

Edited March 8, 2016 by CRUISEFAN0001

[CRUISEFAN0001]

UPDATE:

 

We've been considering a Panama Canal cruise, and the new specs we've read were 180 ft wide and 1400 ft long for the channel locks - meaning ships would have to be smaller than that to clear. Oasis is 208 feet and 1,186 long.

 

Just sayin'.

 

[TravelerThom]

Are you sure?

We've been considering a Panama Canal cruise, and the new specs we've read were 180 ft wide and 1150 ft long for the channel locks - meaning ships would have to be smaller than that to clear. Oasis is 208 feet and 1,186 long...

No, I am not absolutely sure; just what I read on the internet:cool:

 

Wikipedia:o says that the new lock chambers are 427 m (1,401 ft) long, 55 m (180 ft) wide, and 18.3 m (60 ft) deep. The Canal de Panama website http://micanaldepanama.com/expansion/faq/ says the new locks have a capacity to handle vessels up to 49 meters (160 feet) wide, 366 meters (1,200 feet) long and 15 meters (50 feet) deep. Significant disagreement, but both sites give a length longer than Oasis at 1186 feet.

 

I have Oasis beam at waterline as 47m (154 ft), max beam other than bridge wings as 60.5m (198 ft), and bridge wings as 213 ft. If that waterline beam is correct, that part should fit into the locks, but I admit that I don't know enough about the beam at various points above waterline to know if it will clear. However I think that's pretty much a moot point, since I don't think Oasis will fit under the Bridge of the Americas.

 

Thom

[CRUISEFAN0001]

No, I am not absolutely sure; just what I read on the internet:cool:

 

Wikipedia:o says that the new lock chambers are 427 m (1,401 ft) long, 55 m (180 ft) wide, and 18.3 m (60 ft) deep. The Canal de Panama website http://micanaldepanama.com/expansion/faq/ says the new locks have a capacity to handle vessels up to 49 meters (160 feet) wide, 366 meters (1,200 feet) long and 15 meters (50 feet) deep. Significant disagreement, but both sites give a length longer than Oasis at 1186 feet.

 

I have Oasis beam at waterline as 47m (154 ft), max beam other than bridge wings as 60.5m (198 ft), and bridge wings as 213 ft. If that waterline beam is correct, that part should fit into the locks, but I admit that I don't know enough about the beam at various points above waterline to know if it will clear. However I think that's pretty much a moot point, since I don't think Oasis will fit under the Bridge of the Americas.

 

Thom

No worries. The length should be OK, but the width appears to exceed the 180 foot new size. An extremely tight fit even if it could make it. In addition, there are height considerations which could also be a problem fitting - even the Quantum and Liberty size ships could have issues from the standpoint of height.

[Expat Cruise]

I believe that the plan is already in place. The fourth Oasis Class will go to Asia. But Royal wants the positive public relations of doing the press release so it is timed around the Seatrade Cruise Global.

 

If I am right I we will all know within the next week.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

I believe that the plan is already in place. The fourth Oasis Class will go to Asia. But Royal wants the positive public relations of doing the press release so it is timed around the Seatrade Cruise Global.

 

If I am right I we will all know within the next week.

We'll see if that happens.

 

The only "rumors" were around it happening in maybe 2018, and they were only "rumors".

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

We'll see if that happens.

 

The only "rumors" were around it happening in maybe 2018, and they were only "rumors".

 

And I'm going to add that, IMO, Oasis 4 will head to the states and either Oasis or Allure will be the one heading to Asia.

[MADflyer]

Miami seems to think they will have Oasis Class ships home-ported there from the Fall of 2018. That would seem to fit the timing of the Oasis IV arriving following a inaugural Barcelona season in the summer of 2018.

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article35465178.html

 

As both Oasis and Quantum classes are rumored to be going to 6 ships each, it would seem there are many possible scenarios.

[jakethecruiser]

Great choice!!!! But usually the Oasis is in the Caribbean

 

 

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[CRUISEFAN0001]

Miami seems to think they will have Oasis Class ships home-ported there from the Fall of 2018. That would seem to fit the timing of the Oasis IV arriving following a inaugural Barcelona season in the summer of 2018.

 

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article35465178.html

 

As both Oasis and Quantum classes are rumored to be going to 6 ships each, it would seem there are many possible scenarios.

From what is in that article...it sounds like multiple Oasis ships are potentially moving to Miami as their U.S. home port once a new terminal is approved and built (2018 perhaps).

 

With 4 in the fleet by that time, and 1 already planned for moving north to Port Canaveral, the location of the 4th one could be Ft. Lauderdale or some other place. This all adds to further speculation until any formal plans are announced.