World's Largest Cruise Ship Ready To Sail
Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 5:36 am
Oasis of the Seas, larger than life on the ocean's horizon Friday morning, swaggered into Port Everglades, sounding her horn as a crowd of onlookers at John U. Lloyd State Park beach let out a cheer.
``Wow!'' cried one early riser, joining revelers with binoculars and blankets to greet the 225,000-ton megaship. `It's so amazing!'' shrieked another. ``It's huge.''
The world's largest cruise ship was accompanied by a flotilla of small boats and doused by water cannons as she headed into her new home port.
At the park, Marsha Scharf, of Chesterfield, Mo., rubbernecked from the beach and thumbed through a text message on her cellphone. ``TJ says `Can you tell which ship we are?' '' she laughed to her fiancé, Tom Smyka, who stood next to her clicking pictures with a digital camera.
Scharf said her son, Timothy J. Scharf, had sent the text message from onboard the Oasis, where he has been working since August as the IT manager. ``It's his 33rd birthday,'' she said.
Dana Steinberg, a retired merchant marine from Hollywood, arrived early at John U. Lloyd Park Friday to behold the mammoth ship, which has seven neighborhoods, including a Boardwalk reminiscent of Coney Island. The ship has not one, but two rock-climbing walls, an ice-skating rink, and 24 specialty restaurants among an array of entertainment and activities. The ship's theater will feature a 90-minute production of the Broadway hit Hairspray, which the cast has been practicing during the crossing.
``It's the largest in the world,'' Steinberg said. ``I've never really been on a cruise, but I love ships.''
Joy Rodeberg, 13, played along the beach with her sisters Sarah, 15, and Rebecca, 8, as the Oasis grew larger on the horizon. ``My dad told me about it: It's the world's largest ship,'' said Joy, toting a welcome poster.
The Oasis, carrying crew and construction workers, braved high seas and hurricane force winds in the North Atlantic Ocean, which stretched the journey from its shipyard in Turku, Finland to Fort Lauderdale to 14 days -- two days longer than planned. But Royal Caribbean officials say the giant ship performed excellently in the rough seas.
Now that the ship is in Port Everglades, workers will put the final details on the vessel. Perhaps the biggest job is the installation of some 12,000 shrubs, plants and trees to give Central Park, the first of its kind park-at-sea, a leafy, green ambiance.
Miami-based Royal Caribbean plans a private performance by pop singer Rihanna on Nov. 19, followed by a national television debut on ABC's Good Morning America Nov. 20 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The ship will sail on several promotional cruises with travel agents, journalists and guests before making its first revenue cruise Dec. 1.
The naming ceremony is slated for Nov. 30 during a fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit Make-A-Wish Foundation, which provides treats to children with life-threatening illnesses. Tickets for the event begin at $750 per person.
not to brag or anything... haha.... 
