Cruising Returns to New York City with Royal Caribbean and Oasis of the Seas

Cruising in the New York City area resumed this month with the largest cruise ship to ever sail in the region.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas set sail from Bayonne, NJ on September 5 on its first regular cruise in 18 months. Because Royal Caribbean allows unvaccinated children under the age of 12 onboard, Oasis of the Seas first completed a simulated voyage and received a Conditional Sailing Certificate from the CDC.

This is the first time an Oasis-class ship has sailed from the New York area. Prior to the pause in cruising, Royal Caribbean based its Quantum-class ship, Anthem of the Seas, at the port.

As one of the largest ships in the world, Oasis of the Seas offers a wide variety of entertainment, dining, and accommodation options. The ship underwent a massive $165 million refurbishment in late 2019 that included the addition of an all-new pool deck, several eateries, a water park, and the tallest slide at sea.

Highlights of Oasis of the Seas include:

The Perfect Storm: an action-packed trio of high-speed waterslides.

Ultimate Abyss: An exhilarating 10-story dry slide that shoots you down from the top of the ship to the Boardwalk in seconds.

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade: Located on the Boardwalk and with 80 big-screen TVs, this bar is the place to catch a game. For those uninterested in sports there are plenty of arcade-style tabletop games and arcade classics to keep people busy. There’s even an Owner’s Box VIP area for special events.

Music Hall: Dedicated to live music, cruisers can enjoy a revolving roster of cover bands at this roomy venue.

Reimagined Resort-Style Pool Deck: The new pool deck has a Caribbean vibe, with lots of seating options including hammocks, in-pool loungers and casitas. You’ll also find the new-to-Oasis The Lime & Coconut bar and the Splashaway Bay kids aqua park.

Reimagined Adventure Ocean: Royal Caribbean’s signature kids’ program now offers an interactive, personalized, and immersive experience that enables young cruisers to customize their “adventure.” Teens will love Social298, a “maxed-out” lounge just for teens complete with the latest gaming consoles, music and movies, as well as The Patio, a teens-only outdoor deck.

Itinerary
Oasis of the Seas offers seven-night cruises from Cape Liberty in Bayonne to The Bahamas, including time spent at the cruise line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Sailings operate through October.

All cruisers eligible to be vaccinated must be fully vaccinated to get onboard Oasis of the Seas. Children younger than 12 must undergo testing and follow other health and safety measures.