'Oasis of the Seas' arrival: Giant cruise ship reaches Fort Lauderdale on Friday -- OrlandoSentinel.com
By Jaclyn Giovis, Sofia Santana and Cindy Kent, Sun Sentinel
November 13, 2009
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The world's largest cruise ship slid next to a dock at its new home at Port Everglades on Friday morning after hundreds of spectators lined beaches, rode boats and perched on rocks to watch the mamouth vessel come in from sea.
The $1.5 billion Oasis of the Seas, serenaded by five tugboats shooting streams of water, arrived without incident shortly after 8 a.m.
About 300 people at the south end of Fort Lauderdale beach endured temperatures in the 50s to watch the ship and its towering 16 decks slowly make its way into port. An occasional breeze gave the air an even crisper feel.
As the Oasis of the Seas entered the inlet, onlookers gasped in awe.
"This reminds me of the trucks that move whole houses," said Cindy Martinez, 24, of Fort Lauderdale. "This is like a moving building."
Written near the southern tip of the beach in red and blue paint was a 50-foot-long greeting: "Fort Lauderdale welcomes Oasis of the Seas."
