With a staggering $1.4 billion price tag and set to debut this December, Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas is the most expensive cruise ship in the world. With that title, some may argue it’s also one of the biggest gambles in the world.
Oasis of the Seas isn’t only the most expensive cruise liner, it’s also the tallest and largest – stretching 1,184 feet from stem to stern. The 18-deck cruise ship will have a crew of roughly 2160, and will accommodate 5,400 passengers.
“It’s in the DNA of our company, about every 10 years, to take more or less a fresh sheet of paper and create the greatest cruise ship in the world,” Adam Goldstein, the CEO of Royal Caribbean International told Forbes.
Ticket prices are also higher for the Oasis of the Seas; the average ticket price is $1000 per person for seven nights, which is over double the line’s overall average of $490.
Building a ship of this magnitude is a huge gamble in this slumping economy, though it’s hard to remember a ship that has garnered this much attention and admiration in the travel media. While that will undoubtedly provide an initial boost to ship’s bookings, it could be challenging to keep 5400 people booked every week at $1000 each.