For decades Fort Lauderdale and Miami have been duking it out to be the largest cruise liner port in the world. Until this Friday the 13th Miami held the title. They were the home of the Sovereign of the Seas, at 73,192 gross tons and 882 feet there was no doubt that the Royal Caribbean liner was the monarch of the oceans. But today the arrival of the Oasis of the Seas, another Royal Carib ship, at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades wrested the title away from Miami.
The Oasis of the Seas is 225,282 gross tons (by comparison Titanic was 46,329 gross tons) and is 1,181 feet long, draws 31 feet and towers 236 feet above the waterline. Oasis’s crew of 2,165 will cater to up to 6,296 passengers (5,400 double occupancy) on 16 decks. The accommodations include two-story loft suites and luxury suites measuring 1,600 square feet. The ship cost $1.5 billion, the GDP of some small countries.
Naturally in order to handle a ship of this magnitude Port Everglades had to build the world’s largest single-ship terminal. The old terminal where the Oasis will be berthed was completely inadequate at 67,500 square feet. The new terminal covers 240,000 square feet.
Needless to say, locals and tourists flocked to the port to witness the ship’s arrival.
It’s difficult to see, but one of the high rise condos is dwarfed by the ship as it enters Port Everglades. You can see it better on the video as the ship leaves it astern.
The ship is massive
Filling the turning basin of Port Everglades
Preparing to turn the ship toward her berth
In time-honored tradition the tugs and fire boats give a water cannon salute
Once inside the port the ship starts to turn towards its berth
One More Good Adventure 