seatec - Finnish marine technology review 1/2010 | Page 9

ternational superstars Gloria Estefan, Daisy Fuentes and Michelle Kwan in the mix – presiding over the festivities. The celebration took place throughout the seven signature neighborhoods onboard the ship, culminating – of course – with the traditional Champagne bottle breaking ceremony. Promptly afterwards, there was a stunning fireworks display in the AquaTheater, the ship’s dazzling oceanfront theater. WHATEVER YOU WANT Marking the finale of 10 days of preview T he naming ceremony – or festival, re- the proud owner, Royal Caribbean Inter- ally – of the Oasis took place on 30 national, is fond of saying. As the position November, 2009, in Miami. of the queen of the seven seas warrants, There was an elaborate maritime the ceremony was far from grey: instead celebration designed especially for “the of the traditional godmother, the vessel word’s most revolutionary cruise ship,” as had seven celebrity godmothers – with in- sailings, Royal Caribbean spared no effort in order to properly launch the “most exciting product the industry has ever seen.” The name-giving ceremony coincided with a one-night inaugural celebration-fundraiser to benefit the non-profit Make-AWish Foundation. Again, it was a celebrities’ galore with such megastars as NBA legend Michael Jordan among the VIPs. Royal Caribbean has every right to be proud of the newest addition to the fleet, since it seems that the ship itself is a true testament to the imagination and innovation of its designers and builders. Oasis of the Seas introduces a plethora of unique industry “firsts” including the neighborhood concept – seven main themed areas providing guests with the opportunity to seek out experiences based on their “personal style, preference or mood”. Or to put it differe