Oasis of the Seas 9/17-9/24 Review

[steeners81]

This review is going to have a lot of pictures. Also I have copies of the menus, cruise compass, and kids daily planner (except the first day) and I will attach them at the end of each days review. I am hoping to get this done in a week but I do have a trip to Disney in 2 weeks and another cruise in 4 weeks so it’s a busy month and may take more time.

 

So a little background on us. I’m Christine, 30, from NJ. This is my 13th cruise (6 on Celebrity, 3 on RCCL, 2 on NCL, 1 on carnival, and one on premier). I was traveling with Cody, 23 and my bf, and this is his 12th cruise (1 on princess, 1 on carnival, and 10 on RCCL).

 

I am diamond and he is emerald but we didn’t really take advantage of many of those perks during the cruise. We met on the liberty of the seas 2 years ago (so yes sometimes those onboard romances do work :D). We were also traveling with Codys family, his mom , his grandma , and his grandfather .

We had booked this cruise Sept 2010 to celebrate his grandfather’s birthday on this ship. We had decided to keep it a surprise from them and surprise them the first night at dinner. You would think it would be easy to keep that a secret for a year but it wasn’t.

 

After packing, repacking, then dumping everything out of my suitcase and packing again I was ready to go on Friday morning. I was flying on JetBlue out of Newark airport to Fort Lauderdale. I usually fly on Spirit so this was like first class accommodations to me. I could move my legs and I got a free soda and snack and a TV! Yeah I was living the good life for 2.5 hours. Plus the plane came in a little early, shocking! SO after getting off, finding the bf, getting the luggage we headed to the hotel. Since he lives outside Fort Lauderdale we chose to stay closer to his house ( His grandparents were under the impression I was flying down and we were driving straight to Tampa to visit friends so we couldn’t stay at his place). We chose to stay at Hampton Inn in Plantation. It was a really nice hotel, very reasonably priced, and close to were I wanted to go for dinner. If you are ever in the area and like BBQ try Smoky Bones restaurant, great food. After dinner we decided to go to see Lion King 3D (along with cruise aholics we are both Disney fanatics), so not worth it save your money. Finally it was time to head back to the hotel and attempt to sleep.

 

I woke up around 5:30 on Saturday very excited. I think I said I want to get on the ship about 1000 times. We repacked all the bags then my bf watched me pace for about an hour because when I get excited I can not sit still. Finally it was time to head out, we were waiting until his family left and gave them about a 30 minutes head start and then we got to his house. We dropped off his car and had a family friend drive us to the port ( about a 15 minute drive). The we pulled up to port and saw her

 

We arrived at 11am. Check in was the easiest I have every encountered. A Porter took our bags right out of the car for us and we went right into the terminal.

Security was no problem we had one family in front of us and then we were through. Once you get through security there are tables with the health questionnaire on them to save yourself a little time you can fill them out there. I was surprised how organized the check in was. The sort it by deck and then by status. Luckily there was no one on the diamond line for our deck ( deck 6) so that went quickly. As we were waiting to get our seapass cards they started calling pinnacle and diamond plus member to board so we knew we would have to wait ( His family was Diamond). Once diamond was called and we knew they were on the ship we went and got our welcome aboard photo taken.

 

We then headed up the stairs and got to hear the first ding of our seapass cards ( who doesn’t love that sound), walked through the gangway and we were on the ship. Our first stop was to the dining room to make sure we were all sitting at the same table. We weren’t which was not surprising since between RCCL and our travel agent they managed to make planning this cruise a nightmare. The final straw was when they decided to charge my bf cc $150 for no reason then kept changing their story about why they charged it. Finally they agreed they shouldn’t have charged his but should have charged mine and when I tried to disagree they refused to talk to me. Finally after hours on the phone and many emails they realized they were in the wrong but just a heads up to people check your credit card statements every once in awhile. So back to the story…the Matre D was wonderful and got all of us seated at one table ( table 985) and I walked away shocked at how easy that was. Then we were off to Giovannis for lunch.

[steeners81]

We decided to avoid the windjammer and have a nicer lunch the first day. We got there around noon and only a few other people were in there. The service was excellent and the food was delicious I highly recommend this place.

The meal started with bread

 

And a dipping sauce the consisted of olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, parmasean cheese and pepper

I think we both could have made a meal out of that

For an appetizer we decided to try the Focaccie alla Giovanni

 

I am not a mushroom fan but the side with the prosciutto on it was delicious

Then we moved on to the pasta dish, Cody had the mushroom risotto

It was very umm mushroomy but Cody said it was delicious.

I had the Taglierini ai Calamari, Capesante, pomodorini e pesto

It was so good I am not even sure if I offered to share

[Bazoo]

So far so good, I look forward to the rest of your review and thanks for taking the time to do it...I set sail on Oasis in 4 months, 14 days, 7 hours 22 minutes...haha

[steeners81]

So far so good, I look forward to the rest of your review and thanks for taking the time to do it...I set sail on Oasis in 4 months, 14 days, 7 hours 22 minutes...haha

 

lol not that your counting or anything

[LBumb]

great start

[Bazoo]

lol not that your counting or anything

 

Haha. Your photos are already making me drool...

[steeners81]

Then for the entrée I had the Gamberoni alla griglia, pomodoro ripieno al riso, zucchini gratinate

Once again it was wonderful.

And Cody had the Bistecca di Manzo alla griglia, patate fritte all’olio di tartufo, salsa al Barolo o Burro di Gorgonzola

Which he liked.

I had order the Chocolate Rum and Hazelnut filled Cannoli but the waiter brought out some sort of chocolate cake so I ended up getting two desserts. The chocolate cake was just ok but the cannoli was unbelievable.

 

Usually I am not a huge fan of the pay restaurants but this was worth it. We were actually planning on going back one day for lunch but ran out of time. I think I would have just gone back and paid for paid for that cannoli.

 

After lunch we were originally going to head to our cabin and hide out til dinner so we wouldn’t run into his grandparents but his grandmother was sick and staying in their cabin so we decided to do some exploring. We headed to our cabin real quick to drop off our bags and were shocked to see three of our bags already there. That’s when I realized that the bag missing was the one I had packed the power cord in. I was really hoping I would not get called down to the naughty room.

[steeners81]

After lunch we were originally going to head to our cabin and hide out til dinner so we wouldn’t run into his grandparents but his grandmother was sick and staying in their cabin so we decided to do some exploring. We headed to our cabin real quick to drop off our bags and were shocked to see three of our bags already there. That’s when I realized that the bag missing was the one I had packed the power cord in. I was really hoping I would not get called down to the naughty room.

A little about our cabin. We had cabin 6530, an ocean view balcony, which was as far to the front of the ship as you could get. Our bed was by the closet which was a pain. I started to leave my clothes out on the couch because it was easier. I thought there was adequate storage for 2 people but three people would have been pushing it. Our cabin was very quiet except when porting or leaving then there was some banging noises but nothing to loud. We also met our cabin attendant Marta at this time. She was great we requested ice and 2 cruise compasses every night and never had a problem. I also liked that she gave out a business card with her name on it. I have a terrible memory so it was nice to have something to reference when trying to remember her name.

 

 

 

A few pics of the room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like having the light switches next to the bed, it was very convenient when you both fall into bed and neither of you want to move to shut the lights off.

[yarlenna]

Wow! Thanks for the pictures.

[co2stay]

Anxious for more! Nice job so far.

Thanks for taking the time to do the review.

[steeners81]

So after we quickly unpacked all the bags we had we went off exploring. First down to the royal promenade.

 

I love this but most people I talk to don’t get it. Guess that shows I am a cruise geek...and I am ok with that.

 

I know most people were wowed by the size of the ship in the royal promenade but I didn’t really feel the size of the ship until I got up the the pool deck . In the center of that deck there is a spot you can stand where you are looking down on Central Park and have a pool area on either side of you in the front and the back. That’s when I had my Wow this is a big ship moment.

 

The we decided to walk the jogging track around the ship to take some pics of the sign but could only get halfway around due to the gangway.

 

 

After walking around we decided to head to the rock climbing wall. So out to the boardwalk we went

 

Past the horses

[steeners81]

At this point I started to remember I am a cyclist I have no upper body strength but I was not going to chicken out.

The wall

Cody climbing the wall

There are no pictures of me on the wall because I am came down quicker then him and I would not do it again. I found out after I was done that I made it past the first bell but was concentrating so hard on how to get up I didn't realize. Oh well there is always next time...or not. Also during the week both rock walls were open and I never saw much of a line.

So after attempting to climb the wall what’s the next most logical thing to do do? Relax…nah we went to zip line. When we got up there there was no one there it was great. When you zip line you can have no jewelry on, all hats and glasses must come off and nothing in your pockets. I had never ziplined before but since we are doing it in Jamaica wanted to try it first on the ship

 

Cody zip lining

 

Me zip lining

 

Just want to state it again if you want to zipline or climg the rock wall do it when you get on the ship there was noone there.

 

After zip lining we decided to head back down to the cabin before the muster drill to see if my bag came yet. As we walked down the hallway I saw the attendant rolling it down the hallway so I quickly took it from her ecstatic that I had my surge protector and that I did not have to go to the naughty room. So I quickly unpacked and then we headed to the muster station. Our muster station was in the gym and they really pack you in there. You no longer have to bring life vests and the safety demo was done on the TV screens. They scanned your seapass cards to check you in so they know if you do not go to muster. Please go to muster on time because if you don’t the rest of us who had the common courtesy to get there on time are forced to wait. Stepping off my soap box now, thank you.

[steeners81]

After muster we had to choose which sail away party we wanted to go to. We had a choice of one by the pool deck or the dreamworks party at the aquatheater. We chose the aquatheater. Ok here is the first con I felt on the ship. I am a very active person I like to get involved in activities and love sail away parties. On this ship it is to big so there was no sailaway where they did all the normal song and dances. You could stand up and dance in your aisle (which we did) but it wasn’t the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After the show we quickly ran back to the cabin got changed for dinner and headed to the dining room. We passed the cupcake cupboard and I really wanted one but figured I should wait until after dinner. They had pricing for reg size cupcakes and mini cupcakes but I was in there every day and never saw a mini cupcake.

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t worry there will be many pictures of cupcakes to come

[NHFirst Timer]

Good Morning!

 

Great pictures and review!

 

Glad you are having a wonderful time and I hope the weather is great.

 

My wife and I were on the August 13th cruise.

 

Was wondering, if you had a moment, I was looking for a picture of the passageway heading towards the Solarium outside the elevators on the Beach Pool side. Have not as of yet been able to find one

 

Many thanks in advance for considering this request!

 

Sincerely,

 

NHFirst Timer

[steeners81]

Good Morning!

 

Great pictures and review!

 

Glad you are having a wonderful time and I hope the weather is great.

 

My wife and I were on the August 13th cruise.

 

Was wondering, if you had a moment, I was looking for a picture of the passageway heading towards the Solarium outside the elevators on the Beach Pool side. Have not as of yet been able to find one

 

Many thanks in advance for considering this request!

 

Sincerely,

 

NHFirst Timer

 

Are you talking where they had the padded lounge chairs? Not sure what you are looking for.

[Lynne95]

Fun fun fun!

[addicted2]

Loving your review and pictures. Keep it coming!!!

[NHFirst Timer]

Right below the overhanging hot tub on the right

 

Just looking into the passageway leading to the Solaruim

 

Elevators would be on the left!

[steeners81]

Right below the overhanging hot tub on the right

 

Just looking into the passageway leading to the Solaruim

 

Elevators would be on the left!

 

I don't think I have a picture of that...what you could do is go on to the roll call for a cruise coming up and ask one of them to take a pic of it for you

[steeners81]

So we get to dinner give the waiter our number and she looked confused. We proceed to walk around the whole dining room looking for our table asking all the waiters if they know where this table is and no one has any idea. Finally we are brought back to the matre d who informs they never bothered setting up our table and they were going to get right on that. At this point we see his mother and grandfather (his grandmother was to sick to come do dinner) come in so we duck so they can’t see us hoping that we will still be able to surprise them at the table. Finally a few minutes later we look and see they are still standing with a waiter looking for the table. We go over and surprise his grandfather then try and figure out what is going on. Once again we are walked around the dining room searching for the table they are supposed to be setting up. I this point I am fuming because Codys grandfather uses a walker which he left outside the dining room and it is not easy for him to walk. Finally they put us at a table for four and put a chair on the end and assure us that they will have a bigger table for us the next night. The whole ordeal took 30 minutes. Remember when I said changing the tables was to easy…

 

 

For dinner tonight we had the Vidalia onion tart

 

 

Watermelon gazpacho

 

 

Spinach salad

 

 

Pork

 

 

Steak

[steeners81]

Strawberry Pavlova

 

 

Savarin

 

 

Sugar free pudding

 

The winner of the night was definitely the pork and the strawberry pavlova. I don't even care for pork and I thought it was delicious.

[NHFirst Timer]

Thanks for checking!

[steeners81]

Tonight menu

 

 

 

 

[steeners81]

So after dinner we had a busy night. I had booked the comedy show at 9 and the Oasis of dreams at 10:45. I would not recomend this I was exhausted by the end of the night.

 

So first we ran up to his families cabin to surprise his grandmother, she was sleeping at te time and at first thought she was dreaming. The we headed down to the comedy club for the show.

 

 

Outside the club

 

 

This was taken from the back row so you can see it is not very big

 

Not a great pic but this is on the ceiling

[dagored]

Excellent! Keep it coming.