What is the strange object near the Oasis of the Seas?”
The secret’s out: The strange spherical object that’s tethered to Oasis of the Seas and floating above the ship as it undergoes sea trials is indeed a trial balloon ride. According to cruise industry Web site Cruisebusiness.com, a project manager from STX Europe has told a Finnish newspaper that it’s meant to be a hot air balloon-style ride in which Oasis passengers can float skyward in a gondola or basket. Cruisebusiness.com quotes Turku-based Turun Sanomat as saying that the balloon is connected by a cable to the aft of the ship. It flies over 50 meters above the vessel. Via the cable, it can be lowered to its docking station on the upper deck of the ship. A gondola or basket will have space for a few passengers (check out our slideshow with actual pictures). Speculation about the balloon flying above the 220,000-ton, 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas was rampant yesterday af
