A ship of this size and imagination required lighting that could accommodate its visionary design and range of attractions, while delivering the low-maintenance reliability and performance demanded by 24/7, indoor/outdoor use. Seeking this balance of features, lighting designers Christopher Vlassopulos of Royal Caribbean and Michael Riotto Design (New York) turned to Elation Professional to put this revolutionary cruise ship in lights. Over 200 lighting fixtures from Elation, supplied by FUNA International, are installed aboard Oasis of the Seas - from IP-rated LED architectural fixtures in its outdoor areas, to moving heads and colour-changing LEDs in its discos, lounges and retail space.
Vlassopulos, says, "With seven themed zones and 50-plus venues featuring state-of-the-art technologies for entertainment, we paid very close attention to both architectural and show lighting design. The ship is 24/7, multipurpose and multi-use, running 12 hours a day or more. You need things that are compact and reliable. We choose the best products for our specific needs, and have a good relationship and solid history of support (with Elation) that's very important to Royal Caribbean."
The majority of lights used aboard Oasis are LED fixtures. Elation's IP66-rated Design LED 108IPS RGB colour-changing fixture was used in a number of outdoor areas, including the Boardwalk family-oriented amusement environment; the Pool and Sports Zone, where it adds colour to the ship's Flow Rider Surfing Simulators; and the AquaTheatre to light up dramatic diving shows at night. Indoors, Elation's Opti RGB colour-changing par-like fixture adds atmosphere to entertainment venues ranging from Boleros Latin club to Comedy Live comedy club, while the company's Impression LED moving head energizes Dazzles dance lounge.
The fact that LEDs have low energy requirements and run at a cool temperature was in keeping with Oasis' lighting designers' goal of making the ship as revolutionary from a 'green' standpoint as it is in all other aspects of its design. "The cruise ship can be the model for the new lean and mean green-building age," Vlassopulos says. "Through such things as the employment of LEDs and other low-power, low-heat components, ships set an example of how to build in cost savings all the way down the line."
(Jim Evans)
