BBC News reporter Emma Simpson calls the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas “Las Vegas on Water”. The ship was launched in December 2009 and can carry 5400 passengers double occupancy.

The ship is entertainment of water. It includes a 700 seat amphitheater and is a quarter of a mile long. Also on board you will discover that it has a carousel.

Captain Bill Wright has the honor of commanding the largest passenger ship afloat today as it mostly sails from Florida to the Caribbean and back.

The biggest challenge for Royal Caribbean is not navigating the high seas but navigating the global economic downturn. The ship was on the drawing board a bit over six years ago and back then no one saw the troubled financial times ahead.

Not only do Royal Caribbean need to keep the Oasis of the Seas full of passengers in the years ahead but they also have another mega cruise ship the Allure of the Seas which is the sister ship. The Allure of the Seas will make its debut on December 1, 2010.

Some of the entertainment options on board include the Casino Royale, Studio B, featuring ice shows, Opal Theater which is a 1380 seat venue and the Blaze Nightclub.

The Oasis of the Seas mostly sails for seven nights from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and then visits St. Tomas, St. Maarten and the Bahamas.

There is a special nine night cruise departing Fort Lauderdale on 30 December.

Visit the Royal Caribbean page on this site for more information about booking a cruise.