Cruise Diary page 15 of 30
Video Playing Now: Cruise News: 03rd November 2009
Tuesday 3rd November 2009
By Steve Read
OASIS of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship ever built, is in the North Atlantic today after a brief, unique and unforgettable visit to Britain.
The 225,000-ton ship sailed up the Solent to drop off 300 workers who had stayed onboard from the shipyard in Turku, Finland.
Many people who hoped to see the ship from Southampton Docks were disappointed – she only went as far as Lee-on-Solent before turning back into the English Channel.
Her arrival, some three hours later than expected, also meant it was getting dark by the time she came into view.
One couple drove from Belgium, crossed the Channel to Dover and drove to Lee-on-Solent to see the ship, then drove back the same day – a round trip of nearly 700 miles and 20 hours.
It was a striking sight. As night fell the ship’s hull – painted baby blue instead of the usual white – looked almost ghostly, especially as most of the cabin lights were switched off.
As she sailed away, the brilliantly-lit Aqua Theatre at the stern looked spectacular.
It was the only time Oasis of the Seas is ever likely to visit the UK. She is now on her way to her permanent home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from where she will do week-long Caribbean cruises.
I’m still disappointed that Royal Caribbean didn’t make more of yesterday’s visit.
There is plenty of time for the ship to reach Florida for her naming ceremony and pre-inaugural events, and she could easily have sailed further up the Solent to Southampton, Britain’s cruising capital.
Passengers on the P&O ship Arcadia had the longest view of the huge ship. They left Southampton just before Oasis of the Seas and followed her west along the English Channel.
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EARLIER on her voyage from the shipyard, Oasis of the Seas had to pass under the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark.
The highest point of the ship is 236 feet above the water, but the bridge is 23 feet too low.
To get through, her telescopic funnels were retracted and she went through at 20 knots – at that speed the shallow water underneath causes a vacuum effect which makes the ship sit a foot lower in the water.
She got through with just two feet to spare.
Hold your breath when you watch today’s video!
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