gatour

Love the review so far. 7 days is to short to fully experience an Oasis class ship much less 3 days. Thus our upcoming 14day B2B.

Very fair review.

Yes, they do. And thanks for the reminder, I need to buy a gift card as a stocking stuffer for my wife for Christmas for our upcoming cruise.

Back in college, I worked at a resort. There was a central stores area, where all incoming items were stored. Then once or sometimes twice a day a "pull" order would come in for each restaurant/bar on property. Those items would then be delivered to each individual restaurant/bar.

Based on number of people staying and time of year, you could make an educated guess on the amount to order. However sometimes you would have an unexpected "run" on a particular item. You then were out until the next day. No special orders could be delivered, because the delivery people were not available.

Cruise ships also have central stores and probably operate the same way for the bars etc.

gpb: agree totally w/you re: OSheehans (wife mentioned the blender several times & u had to wait a LONG time for service, to eat.)

 

Also agree w/you re: logistical problems. Bars would run out of stuff & then have it the next day. Obviously, the "stuff" was located somewhere! Also saw the forklifts running constantly before we sailed. Also agree it was whoever was in charge....they either need a LOT of training or move to another position!

 

Again, it was still a cruise - food was good to superb - shore excursions were good/great.

 

I simply dislike hearing excuses from the crew....tell me the facts!

For those suggesting Cuba, keep in mind there are still certain restrictions on how travel to Cuba is accomplished. Look at the Fathom website to get idea of how you can take a cruise to Cuba. It is not just getting off the ship and go to the local beach or wonder around shopping. There is a strong cultural immersion aspect to it. Even as you travel from the home port to Cuba, and as you travel back to the home port.

RC may think there is a US market for that type of travel that would support that type of market for two ships (The Fathom and a RC ship TBD) or maybe not.

It did fail in the middle of the ocean.

For this particular issue, I am guessing they may have shut down the one azipod. The other was still operational, so she was able to make her way home (skipping a port of call)

Based on the excellent info provided by chen, and other running commentary. It should be fixed by sailing time today. Passengers have been given assurances that they are sailing on-time, and no one has posted any differently.

So, is she up and running normally now? :confused: We board in 13 days!!!

What happens when a ship is unable to sail?? Better question....What happens if this propulsion thingy fails in the middle of the ocean???:eek::confused:

I have never seen a sign about sheets being changed, only about re-using towels. And I have regularly stayed at Hilton's, Omni's and a Westin or two for up to a week.

A few years ago, I read that hotel industry practice was every three days, I am guessing the cruise lines are similar but I could also see them only doing it on turn-around day.

I imagine if there was an obvious issue, they would change them automatically, however I am sure if you leave them a note that would be sufficient, to get them changed.

INCORRECT. Oasis and Allure are different in regards to the actual Starbucks that are on board those ships. You CAN use Starbuck's gift cards at those locations. Earlier this year, my wife used her Christmas stocking stuffer Starbuck's gift card many times on the Oasis.

Everything you buy will be put on your seapass....EVERYTHING.

Bad question

While our last few cruises have been on RCCL and in the years past we did a series of RCC curises, I don't consider that we have "gone back to RCCL". We are just trying different experiences for different reasons. We can just as easily "go back" to Princess, Disney, and Carnival after our next cruise. Or even do another HAL or Cunard cruise

We do MTD.

Reasons

1. Early Traditional is too early

2. Late Traditional is too late

3. I find if we show up for MTD at around 6pm we will be seated between immediately and 7pm. As long as they level my expectations I can deal with this by going to a lounge and wait.

Love the review. We are long time cruisers, but did our first Oasis class cruise earlier this year.

Loved your comment about the "neighborhoods" That sums up my takeaway when we did the Oasis.

Had to laugh about your comment about what to do at 6am..."take pictures with no people in them"

I am an early riser while my wife is a late riser. Usually on one day of a cruise, when I wake up early I go around and take photographs.

A few cruises ago, my wife actually woke up early and joined me while I did photograph quest. One of her first comments was "Know I now how you pictures without people in them".

I must applaud you on the organization skills you displayed in herding a group of 20 people. I "arranged" a group of 14 for my parent's 50th anniversary cruise. However the extent of my organizing was telling everyone what ship and date we are sailing. Letting everyone know what time we should meetup for dinner in the MDR (Princess my time dining) and picking out the restaurant for the night before embarkation. Other than that everyone was on their own. Although I did gave them idea of what we would be doing in each port etc.

However unlike your group, most if not all my group had been on at least one cruise before.

Short Answer:

If a particular port of call is important to you, don't sail Sept/Oct.

If you want to sail a particular ship no matter its itinerary, sail at will.

The reasoning is because of supply and demand. Basic Econ 101 that you learn in college.

I remember a few months after the World Trade Center disaster, I took an impromptu trip to Walt Disney World. While I was driving down that Friday night, I got on my cell phone to Disney Reservations, and was able to book a room for less than $200/night, where a few months before the room would have cost over $300/night.

Also, cruises were going for $600/pp for the next several years. People were not traveling. Thus demand went down while supply remained the same. Cruise lines/Disney hotels reduced their prices.

Nowadays, people are feeling comfortable with their lives, and are willing to travelling more. Thus increasing demand. Thus an increase in prices.

Also keep in mind, besides the width of the locks in regards to ships transiting the canal. There is a height limitation near the Pacific side due to a bridge. While the new locks will take care of the width limitation for cargo ships and cruise ships. The bridge will still limit the cruise ships that have the ability to transit the canal. Cargo ships are not as tall, so the bridge is not as a big concern.

There is a definite overcapacity in regards to lifeboats by international regulations. I am not sure of the current number. The idea is that certain lifeboats may be unreachable or incapacitated.

Cruise ships generally sail with 105%, so the amount of lifeboat seats would be north of that figure.

what lifeboat capacity is the ship being at 100%

 

Did you ever count the lifeboats vs passengers I have there is a lot of extra capacity.

If you have the premium package, you get a discount on the wine pairing.

Assuming you meant other RCCL ships sailing seven days itinerary out of Port Canaveral. I believe I read somewhere that there will be a gap sometime in 2016, but there will at least one other RCCL ship doing seven days after that gap.

We had a Central Park Cabin more towards the aft. We found there was decent breeze when the ship was underway. When we took the Central Park garden tour which the head Horticulturist gives a couple times during the cruise, he mentions the wind that affects the plants towards the aft portion of Central Park.

During the day we did hear noise coming from above even with the balcony door closed. It wasn't obnoxious though.

Thanks for confirming what I thought. Storage was less on the Oasis class ships as compared to Freedom for similiar cabins

I really hope they incorporate more storage on Harmony. Allure's storage was noticeably lacking compared to Freedom class. Balcony cabins on Allure were 182 sq.' versus 199 sq.' on Freedom. More cabins, less space.

Perhaps they will do something like Quantum!

Tom

On the Oasis, I imagine Allure is the same.

Embarcation/Disembarcation at the beginning and ending of the cruise is on Deck 5

In ports of call it is Deck 2. In the elevator there is a button you push to go to the deck to leave the ship. Sometimes it took us to deck 3 where you then go down the stairs to deck 2. Other times it took us directly to deck 2. I imagine they use deck 3 during the "rush" hours.

It was done our cruise a few weeks ago. We were invited. Were are platinum C&A

In general there was a trivial game in the afternoon, and sometimes in the morning. In the afternoon there were activities for all age groups.

The zip line and rock climbing opened around 2pm

As a stocking stuffer last Christmas, I bought my wife a gift card for our booked cruise. She had no problem using it last week on board the Oasis.

I am just off the Oasis. With the closing of the Royal Viking Lounge, there is no indoor public space to sit/relax have a drink, etc with an Ocean view.

If that is important to you, have you considered a Freedom Class ship?