The world's largest cruise ship sails into the UK for the first time

Longer than The Shard and wider than a Boeing 747 wingspan: The world's largest cruise ship sails into the UK for the first time

The world's largest cruise ship arrived in the UK today for the first time.

The £800m Oasis Of The Seas sailed into Southampton at 10am on Wednesday in dense fog, welcomed by a crowd of hundreds and helicopters circling overhead.

Weighing 225,282 tonnes, the 1,187ft ship is longer than London's The Shard is tall, and at 208ft wide, larger than the wingspan of a Boeing 747.

Passengers will be boarding all afternoon and it leaves Southampton for Vigo, Spain, and Fort Lauderale, Florida, tonight. 

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship is 40 per cent larger than any other vessel to ever dock in the UK, and has the capacity to house 5,400 passengers and 2,394 crew.

It is the first time the impressive ship, which took three years to build in Turku, Finland and launched in 2009, has visited the UK.

Oasis Of The Seas uses 2,350,000 litres of water every day and houses over 10,000 square metres of retail space, 37 bars and over 20 restaurants.

Spread across its 16 decks is an outdoor park with more than 12,000 real plants and trees, an 82-foot long zip wire, and the largest pool on the seas.

There is also a 750-seater arena, ice rink, surf machines, a high-diving performance venue and an elevating bar. 

Onlookers this morning were kept in good spirits despite the grey weather with free tea and bacon sandwiches offered by Royal Caribbean. 

It is a busy time for Southampton, with another Royal Caribbean ship, Quantum Of The Seas, expected to dock in just over a fortnight to be showcased.

The first in a series of new ships coming from Royal Caribbean International over the next few years, Quantum of the Seas will sail from Southampton to New York on 2 November 2014. 

In 2015 Quantum Of The Seas will become the newest ship from a global cruise line to ever be based in the Far East when it offers cruises from Shanghai starting in June 2015.

Dominic Paul, senior vice president of Royal Caribbean International, said: 'Today is an important milestone in the global expansion of the Royal Caribbean International business.

'We are marking a significant step change in our investment into growth markets around the world.

'The welcome of Oasis of the Seas to Southampton is followed next year by sistership Allure of the Seas sailing outside the Caribbean for the first time during a summer 2015 season based in Barcelona.

'These investments highlight our commitment to deliver the most innovative and architecturally advanced ships to Europe and are part of our ongoing effort to redefine the cruise sector.

'Our extensive investments into new ships, new technology and new ideas are increasing the appeal of the cruise sector around the world.'

shard - skorupka, odłamek, kawałek
wide - szeroki
wingspan - rozpiętość skrzydeł
cruise - pływać, odbywać rejs
sail - żeglować, wyruszyć w podróż (statkiem lub żaglówką)
dense - zwarty, zbity, gęsty (np. tłum)
fog - mgła
circle - koło; grono (ludzi), krąg (towarzystki)
vessel - okręt, statek
capacity - pojemność, ładowność
launch - lansowanie, wypuszczanie (nowego produktu)
square - kwadratowy ( w kształcie kwadratu)
retail - sprzedaż detaliczna
spread - rozprzestrzeniać się, szerzyć się
across - przez
deck - pokład (na statku); piętro (w autobusie,samolocie)
zip - świszczący dźwięk (np. przelatującego pocisku); energia, zapał
wire - drut, przewód
rink - lodowisko, ślizgawka
venue - miejsce (np. spotkania, koncertu)
elevate - wynieść, wynosić na wyższe stanowisko
onlooker - obserwator, gap
spirits - nastrój; duchy
despite - mimo (czegoś), wbrew (czemuś)
significant - znaczący, ważny, istotny
investment - inwestycja, wkład, zaangażowanie
growth - wzrost, rośniecie, rozwój
sailing - żeglarstwo
deliver - dostarczyć, doręczyć (np. toward do sklepu)
innovative - innowacyjny, nowatorski
architecturally - architektonicznie
effort - wysiłek, trud, staranie
redefine - przedefiniować
extensive - obszerny, rozległy, szczegółowy
increasing - wzrastający, rosnący, narastający
appeal - apel, wezwanie (o coś)

źródło: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2793859/oasis-seas-world-s-largest-cruise-ship-sails-uk-time.html