Page 23 - Explore Magazine Spring 2016

gigantic arm that features a viewing pod on its end and
which reaches up 90 metres above the ship and sometimes 21
over the side for the daring. RipCord by iFLY is a skydiving
simulator where you don a snazzy pair of blue overalls and
groovy goggles and fly on a tunnel of wind. The FlowRider
is a surfing and boogie-boarding simulator complete with
rushing water, pumping music and a fan zone. There’s no
end to the fun for the entire family on the ship.
For relaxing, my favourite spot on the ship is the adult’s-
only Solarium. Located at the bow of the ship, this multi-
level glass-roofed area has a cascading swimming pool,
multiple whirlpools and more sun loungers than you can
shake a stick at. It’s peaceful, sunny and spacious and the
attentive waitstaff in the Solarium Bar are always on hand
to top up your beverage, be it a healthy smoothie or a piña
colada – nothing was ever a problem. The Solarium also has
its own restaurant.
I was amazed at all the areas on the ship where you could
tuck yourself away and relax in peace. The unique design
of Ovation of the Seas means you never feel like you’re
amongst 5,000 people. From removing the traditional
1,500-seat main dining room and replacing it with four
smaller restaurants, to having two nightly entertainment
venues instead of the one theatre, the ship has been
designed to disperse people. These features ensure that
you never feel crowded or unable to find some “me-time”.
Then there’s the food. There are 18 dining venues on
offer, not to mention the bars – one even being two
robotic barmen! For your dining pleasure, there are four
complimentary restaurants for breakfast, lunch and
dinner. Then there’s a Kung Fu Panda Noodle House
for casual Asian food during the day. And the Solarium
Restaurant for adults only. And Wonderland, an amazing
molecular gastronomy experiential restaurant. And Jamie
Oliver’s first restaurant at sea, Jamie’s Italian. Even the
Windjammer Buffet has had a major makeover including
fitting a permanent wash station where diners must wash
and dry their hands before entering the Buffet dining area.
Extremely high levels of hygiene and safety standards are
observed on Ovation of the Seas.
Another interesting feature is at the stern of the ship. Here
you’ll find Café @Two70, a multi-level, conservatory-style
room featuring panoramic floor-to-ceiling glass windows
across the back of decks five, six and seven. It houses a
marketplace-style café, the ship’s library, modern furniture
and art plus a very well stocked bar. There are so many
places to find peace and quiet during the day here. By
evening, find a seat and be amazed by the state-of-the-art
Vistarama LCD screens where any type of backdrop can be
created to suit any show that is being performed. From the
inside of a circus tent, to being amongst a green bamboo
jungle, the use of technology to maximise space and your
experience is astounding.
The highlight of Ovation of the Seas for me – apart from rows of stationary multi-coloured butterflies. It looks pretty
the food and technological advances on board – was its but then you discover if you touch the butterflies they start
collection of modern art. I’m no connoisseur of art by any flying all over the screen then return to where they came
means – I’ve seen the Mona Lisa and I know a Van Gogh from after about 20 seconds. Around every corner of the
when I see one – but this was something else, something ship I found more modern art to amaze and amuse me.
special. The artwork is all over the ship and I would often I know that after experiencing Ovation of the Seas for
find myself walking down the stairs and having to stop myself, any type of traveller will enjoy this amazing ship.
as something caught my eye. I’d walk past the Schooner New Zealand has seen nothing like her before, so get
Bar and almost trip over as I’d seen something new in the on board when she graces our shores and give her the
Explorer piece that hangs on the wall there. standing ovation she deserves. I know I did.
I discovered the Flutter Wall, which has to be seen to be *Ovation of the Seas begins her inaugural cruise season in
believed: it’s a massive black LCD screen with rows and New Zealand this December.

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : SPRING EDITION