There's simply nothing within the cruise industry that compares to the scale and pizzazz of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.
Since Oasis of the Seas launched in 2009, these large ships have revolutionized what you can experience on a cruise.
Not only are these ships massive, but they’re also intentionally designed with a large variety of activities, entertainment, and dining.
The Oasis class was the first to introduce the concept of neighborhoods, distinct areas that offer different amenities, separating crowds and making it harder to get lost.
Not only that, but Oasis Class ships also feature amenities like laser tag, zip lines, ice skating rinks, AquaTheaters, Boardwalks with carousels, the Perfect Storm water slide, the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, and an entire nature-filled neighborhood modeled after Central Park.
However, they aren’t all the same.
With each new rendition, Royal Caribbean seeks to improve and revitalize its ships.
In order of oldest to newest, here are all of the Oasis Class ships and what makes them unique.
Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by age — Newest to Oldest
Oasis of the Seas
- Inaugural sailing: December 2009
- Maximum passenger capacity: 6,780
- Gross tonnage: 226,838
Royal Caribbean launched Oasis of the Seas in 2009, starting the Oasis Class off with a bang.
At the time of her launch, Oasis of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world, featuring more amenities and activities than ever before.
She broke ground with seven distinct neighborhoods, becoming a destination in her own right.
In addition, she was amplified in 2019, adding new dining venues and bars, updating the pool deck to a Caribbean resort style, and revamping the kid’s programs and other activities.
Royal Caribbean invested $165 million in the amplification, ensuring that Oasis still feels fresh and luxurious even at 15 years old.
The first Oasis-Class ship mainly sails from Miami and Cape Liberty, offering Caribbean cruises.
In the summer of 2024, she will sail to the Mediterranean and begin 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises.
Read more: I've only sailed Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships: Will I be disappointed if I try other ships?
Allure of the Seas
- Inaugural sailing: December 2010
- Maximum passenger capacity: 6,780
- Gross tonnage: 225,282
Royal Caribbean didn’t hesitate to continue the popularity of its Oasis Class.
Allure of the Seas, the second Oasis-Class ship, was launched in 2010, just one year after her predecessor.
However, she is the only Oasis-class ship that hasn’t yet been amplified. She was scheduled to receive an amplification in 2020, but the global pandemic has delayed this plan.
This means that Allure (unlike the other ships) does not have water slides, the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, newer specialty restaurants, or an escape room.
However, she still features some exciting activities and makes for a unique experience as Royal Caribbean’s only “original” Oasis-Class ship.
Another unique aspect of Allure is her itineraries: she currently offers 3 and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral.
While other Oasis-Class ships mainly have 6 and 7-night sailings, Allure makes shorter cruises and sailings on weekends possible.
Harmony of the Seas
- Inaugural sailing: May 2016
- Maximum passenger capacity: 6,687
- Gross tonnage: 226,963
Harmony of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s most popular and well-known cruise ships.
She is the 3rd ship in the Oasis Class but ushered in new expectations with a set of enhancements to the Oasis-Class experience.
Harmony was the largest cruise ship in the world when she was launched in 2016, and was later revitalized in 2021.
She has the updated Oasis-class features like the Ultimate Abyss slide, three multi-story water slides, and an escape room.
Additional activities make for an adrenaline-packed cruise experience: an 82-foot zip line, two rock climbing walls, a mini golf course, a full-sized basketball court, an ice skating rink, and two FlowRider surf simulators.
The 3rd Oasis-class ship currently offers 7-night Western Caribbean cruises out of Galveston, Texas.
Symphony of the Seas
- Inaugural sailing: April 2018
- Maximum passenger capacity: 6,680
- Gross tonnage: 228,081
When she launched as the fourth Oasis-Class ship, Symphony of the Seas replaced Harmony of the Seas as an even larger cruise ship.
Not all ships within the same class are the same, and Symphony does a great job of proving how Royal Caribbean tries to improve each cruise ship.
For example, she was the first Royal Caribbean ship to have Hooked Seafood, an extra-cost restaurant with fresh New England seafood cuisine.
Symphony is one of Royal Caribbean’s most action-packed ships, perfect for guests who love a variety of different activities.
She was recently re-amplified in 2023 and currently offers 6 and 7-night Western Caribbean sailings out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
In May, she will home port in Cape Liberty, New York, sailing to Port Canaveral, Florida, Perfect Day at Cococay, and Nassau, Bahamas over 7-night cruises.
Wonder of the Seas
- Inaugural sailing: March 2022
- Maximum passenger capacity: 6,988
- Gross tonnage: 236,857
Much like her sister ships, Wonder of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world at her launch.
In fact, she was only recently de-throned in 2024 by Icon of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean continued to improve and change the Oasis Class with Wonder’s launch, adding unique features like the Mason Jar Southern restaurant, Cantina Fresca bar, and Vue bar.
Instead of the usual seven neighborhoods, she has an eighth addition: a Suites-only neighborhood at the ship's top.
The opportunities are endless.
Wonder of the Seas also has countless activities and a new underwater-themed playground called the Wonder Playscape.
This massive vessel sails 7-night Caribbean itineraries (both Eastern and Western) out of Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Utopia of the Seas (coming in 2024)
- Inaugural sailing: July 2024
- Maximum passenger capacity: 5,668
- Gross tonnage: 236,860
Royal Caribbean isn’t done releasing Oasis-Class ships.
Utopia of the Seas will launch in July 2024, sailing into the scene as the newest cruise ship and sixth Oasis Class ship.
Royal Caribbean’s upgrades aren’t over, either.
Utopia will be its first Oasis-Class ship to use Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), the cleanest fossil fuel to power ships today.
Use of LNG can reduce carbon emissions by 30%, sulfur emissions by 100%, and nitrogen oxide emissions by 85%.
Much like Allure of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas will begin by offering 3 and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.
Her inaugural sailing will begin on July 19th, 2024.
Unnamed (expected in 2028)
An order has been placed for a seventh Oasis Class ship, set to be launched in 2028.
Little details have been released, and the public does not yet know the name of the ship.
But Royal Caribbean has found a massive amount of success with its Oasis Class.
The ships have become a new standard in the cruise industry, a paragon of size and amenities.
Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO said that, “From the moment [the first Oasis Class ship] sailed, it has been an absolute huge success.”
“These ships deliver from every dimension. And the most important dimension is customer satisfaction.”
He says that the breadth and depth of these ships, as well as the unique neighborhoods, are partially responsible for this huge success.
Because there’s something for every individual, families can experience fun activities separately, and then come together in the evening for dinner or other events.
families can experience unique activities, there’s something for every individual
“It really is a winning formula.”
