How a fleet of floating cities mastered the art of massive scale

Countries & Cities · Published 1 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: With a mass comparable to an aircraft carrier, the Oasis-class ships are engineering marvels. These vessels don't just sail; they navigate complex internal ecosystems, featuring tropical parks and boardwalks, all while maintaining stability in seas exceeding 12 metres.

The Oasis-class, a fleet of six Royal Caribbean International vessels, redefined maritime scale. The class began with Oasis of the Seas and Allure of and the Seas, delivered in 2009 and 2010 by the STX Europe Turku Shipyard in Finland. These ships significantly surpassed the earlier Freedom-class in both length and width, with Oasis of the Seas alone being 8.5 metres wider and approximately 70,000 tonnes larger in gross tonnage.

Engineering these giants required unique solutions for stability and navigation. To prevent excessive draft, designers utilized a wide hull. The ships' propulsion relies on three 20,000 kW electric Azipods, which allow for steering without traditional rudders. The sheer mass of these vessels is immense; their estimated displacement of 100,000 tonnes is roughly equivalent to that of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier.

The class has evolved through successive iterations. While Wonder of the Seas held the title of the world's largest cruise ship as of 2022, the newer Icon-class has since taken that lead. However, the Oasis-class remains a benchmark for complexity, featuring split structures with five-deck high outdoor areas like Central Park and the Boardwalk. Newer vessels like Harmony of the Seas introduced advanced features like the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, while the sixth ship, Utopia of the 2024, represents a move toward greater energy efficiency, requiring 25 percent less energy than the class's first vessel.

The fleet's expansion has faced both logistical and global challenges. While the third ship, Harmony of the Seas, was built by STX France following a lack of financial support from Finland, plans for a seventh vessel were briefly halted in 2020 due to the pandemic. A new agreement now aims for a seventh ship to join the fleet in 2028.

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