Viking Crown Lounge eliminated in Oasis of the Seas renovation

By Tom Stieghorst

The Viking Crown Lounge on Oasis of the Seas is no more.

A feature of every Royal Caribbean International ship since the 1970s, the Viking Crown Lounge has been remodelled into Coastal Kitchen and a new bar area for suite guests.

The Quantum of the Seas, scheduled to begin service in November, will be the first ship without the space. Instead, Quantum and sister ship Anthem of the Seas will have a North Star observation pod.

On Oasis, as on most Royal Caribbean ships, the Viking Crown Lounge is attached to one of the funnels. The circular space will remain but will be used for a new Suite Lounge and the Mediterranean-Pacific cuisine of Coastal Kitchen, which is also reserved for suite guests.

Royal Caribbean added 10 suites, including two large Grand Suites in the very aft of deck 11, during a dry dock just completed in Rotterdam, Netherlands. But it has also eliminated the midship Royal and Presidential suites on that deck, replacing them with smaller cabins.

New retail names joining Oasis include Kate Spade New York and Michael Kors. A gallery store for pop artist Romero Brito has been added, as well.

Oasis offered three European sailings, its first ever, prior to the dry dock. It will return to Fort Lauderdale to resume Caribbean itineraries starting Oct. 27.