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Cruise ships have returned to New York harbor for the first time in 17 months as the Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas rolled in on the Hudson River last night. 

The 1,187ft vessel, which was the worlds largest when it was built in 2009, has arrived back in New York for the first time after Covid-19 shuttered the cruise ship industry ahead of its first post-pandemic voyage on September 5.

Oasis of the Seas will embark on a series of seven-night itineraries to destinations including the Bahamas.  

All passengers - vaccinated or not - are required to have a Covid-19 test before coming on board as the cruise industry seeks a safe return to business as normal. 

And cruise ships have had to get a Conditional Sailing Certificate, which included simulated voyages, from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to return to sea. 

Cruise ships have returned to New York Harbor for the first time in 17 months as the Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas rolled in on the Hudson River last night

The 1,187ft vessel, which was the worlds largest when it was built in 2009, has arrived back in New York for the first time after Covid-19 shuttered the cruise ship industry ahead of its first post-pandemic voyage from Cape Liberty in early September

All passengers - vaccinated or not - on the Oasis of the Seas (pictured rolling in on the Hudson River last night) will be required to have a Covid-19 test before coming on board as the cruise industry seeks a safe return to business as normal

The CDC in May said the certificate would allow cruise ships to return to sailing with restricted passenger voyages - it was not clear if Oasis of the Seas would be cruising at full capacity. 

The first Royal Caribbean ships returned to service on August 14 with departures from the Caribbean to Miami and Seattle to Alaska the first to return after the pandemic.

The Oasis of the Seas, which was built over three years in Turku, Finland, has the capacity to house 5,400 passengers and 2,394 crew. 

The CDC in May said the certificate would allow cruise ships to return to sailing with restricted passenger voyages - it was not clear if Oasis of the Seas, which was seen entering New York harbor last night, would be cruising at full capacity

The Oasis of Seas - seen sailing down the Hudson River to New York Harbor last night - has marked the return of the cruise ship industry following a 17 month hiatus

The Oasis of the Seas, ((pictured rolling in on the Hudson River last night) which was built over three years in Turku, Finland, has the capacity to house 5,400 passengers and 2,394 crew

The £800m vessel boasts a music hall, portside barbecue, and an ultimate abyss, as well as 20 restaurants and 11 bars and lounges.

Spread across its 16 decks is an outdoor park with more than 12,000 real plants and trees, an 82-foot long zip wire, and the largest pool on the seas. 

Weighing 225,282 tonnes, the ship is longer than London's The Shard is tall, and at 208ft wide, larger than the wingspan of a Boeing 747 - and boasts a music hall, portside barbecue, and an ultimate abyss. 

Oasis Of The Seas: The ship really does have everything that you could possibly need from stern to bow

One of the pools on board the Royal Caribbean International's cruise ship Oasis of the Seas, which was the world's largest when it was built in 2009

Entertainment: Oasis Of The Seas boasts a 750-seat arena and high-diving performance venue

A two story crown loft suite with 2-story window and balcony on board Royal Caribbean International's cruise ship Oasis of the Seas docked at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida