Having just returned from a cruise aboard the Jewel of the Seas I can think of nothing worse than a larger ship! The J of the S was crammed with the biggest and most grossly obese Americans I have ever seen who seemed to spend the entire cruise going from one restaurant to another all day ! UGH ! To think there could possibly be 5000 of these bladders of lard on one ship fills me with horror. No thanks Jessica

Other worries... all these passengers trying to get a tender at ports, and surely as this ship is so big there will be even more tender ports on her cruises? And, can you imagine 5,000 passengers flooding small ports like Dubrovnik, OR A cARIBBEAN ISLAND when say, Indepndence of the Seas - the 2nd biggest ship was in, and perhaps Queen Mary and Ventura as well. ! This will spoil cruising and sight-seeing for everyone now... its just too big , enough is enough!

Having had 9 cruises on various ships,I don't like the idea of these massive ships.Though the Oasis looks impressive (220,000 tons), both I and my wife agree that we don't like the concept of these "floating theme parks". Last year we cruised on the Navigator of the seas (140,000 tons), and although it was magnificent to see, we much prefer the smaller ships of no more than 70,000 tons. Instead of an atrium, the Navigator has a "Royal Parade" which we found to be a five deck high waste of space. On the smaller ships, there would have been several public rooms and bars to suit & seat everyone on board. Indeed, one of the major complaints of the passengers on the Navigator, was that there is just nowhere to sit and relax in the Royal Parade, especially if you happen to be second sitting at dinner as most of the few seats were taken. I can understand the economics. Just as with the airlines, bigger means more profitability, but I feel that the customers that put the cruise industry where it is now, are being forgotten in favour of attracting families,which means that it will no longer be the tranquil holiday it used to be. I also feel that with the current economic downturn, that the cruiseship owners will catch a cold, as these families will no longer be able to afford to cruise and it will prove difficult to fill these huge ships. What is required are more child-free small & medium ships to cater for the people who cruise traditionally. Or at least a selection of child-free cruises.

I cruised on the Independence in July.Although my wife and I had a great time, we both agree that we prefer the more relaxing, intimate feel of a smaller ship. Royal Caribbean seem to be siding more towards the family orientated cruise experience; obviously they feel there is a major untapped market here. Only time will tell if they are right. The one big plus when cruising on these very large ships, is the fact that you are assured top quality entertainment when onboard. The personal touch suffers big time though.

I am always impressed with any new ship which has brought the sights of the world in reach of so many and larger ships means that more people can appreciate the BEAUTY OF CRUISING

If i want to go on holiday in shopping mall, I can just go to my local one in Essex, and I am sorry to say that this is how I felt on Navigator. Far too many people crammed onto a ship, No sea veiws from any of the bars except the big one at the top which was rammed with people all the time. However for family fun I think these mega resort ships will be very popular, but not for real cruising. Also Navigator tended to roll a lot on a clam sea so god only knows what Oasis would be like on a rough sea, i.e. the Atlantic. No I will stick to real ships thank you.

I Went on Independence of the Seas in June 2008 and after my previous experience with the Navigator I thought the IOS was too big. Very crowded in the buffet restaurants and the theatre was not big enough to accommodate everyone. Just too many people, so I will definitely be giving the Oasis a miss.

I personally think the larger ship is too big and people will stop wanting to go on this ship like myself. I think Royal Caribbean will loose customers and they will go to other cruise lines which is a shame. I think the ships are getting too big. I have been on several cruises but find the smaller ships much better and more friendly. This new ship is far too big and speaking to others in their opinion they must agree. Please please don't go any bigger but keep the smaller ones coming.

Certainly not impressed. Call me old fashioned but the smaller the ship the more I like it. Will never go on a ship with more than 1000 passengers. Give me an 'old tub' anytime

i sailed on the maiden voyage of the independence it was great until breakfast when there were just not enough seats in the windjammer loads of people wandering around with trays and nowhere to sit, our friends went on the third voyage and the weather was bad which meant everybody was inside all day, just not enough room unlike me on my 6th cruise with Caribbean they are cruising again sometimes big is not always beautiful derek surrey 31.08.08