Oasis of the Seas 9/24/11 review

[daveky]

Just got home from my Oasis sailing and still soaking in all we did this past week.

First, all I can say is "fantastic ship". Many activities thru the week to keep you busy from the early morning to 2 am. With this ship, it's all about the "ship". We did the eastern with 3 ports but the ship was the focal point of the cruise.

Flew in the day of the cruise (even though it was hurricane season) and luckly no weather problems. Gathered our luggage from the airport at 11:50 am and stepped outside and caught a taxi right over to the pier. No traffic problems, pulled right in and the porters were right there to collect my luggage. Then headed into the terminal to check in, boy they have the checkin thing down. No major lines, just go thru security and right on into checkin. I really like where they take your picture for your seapass right there where you get your seapass, love the mini cam. Saves alot of time. From stepping out of the cab on to the ship probably no more than 15 minutes.

After checkin went for lunch (based on cruise critic comments) went to Park Cafe for lunch. I wish they had this on the other ships. I got the roast beef sandwich and my fiance' had them made her a salad from scracth. Also loved the 3 bean and potato salad.

Then went to the room to unload our carryons, throw everything in the safe, book a few excursions and head back out to explore. BTW, booked a boardwalk view statement and will comment on it later.

Went up to the pool bar to get a drink and walk......around the ship. Watch the people do the zip line, signed up too late as it was time to go to the mustard drill. After mustard drill went down to the cabin where our luggage was there, hung everything up and went to dinner. We had the main dinner seating time 6pm and met our our dinner guests and waiter staff. After dinner, went to explore more of the ship and the venues. Stopped in Dazzles as they have a live band. I thought they were good but not alot of people there and went on to the Promenade. Stopped by the Schooner Bar above the Guest Relations desk as this is usually one of our favorite places. Then onto checkout the Casino, On Air, Boleros, Jazz on 4, Blaze, Opal Theater and so on. I have never seen so many places offering variety of music and entertainment as I have seen on this ship. And all of them were busy. No shows booked the first day.

Well, around 1am off to bed as the next day was Nassau. Having never been to Atlantis we booked the excurision where you could explore the Atlantis aquarium, shark aquarium, the water slides and lazy river and the beach. Overcast day but really enjoyed the resort.

Got back on the ship in the evening, went to dinner then off to our first show. We scheduled HairSpray and it was fantastic. I have never seen so many quality entertainers in one RCCL show. After the show just enjoyed the ship, made our donation to the casino, went dancing and on to bed around 2am.

Next day was at sea, slept to 9am then off to breakfast in the Windjammer. One thing I can say about this ship. Typical WJ, seating and traffic can be a problem but hey you're on vacation and I always enjoy myself.

Off to explore the ship, went off to checkout the menus for the specialty restaraunts as we wanted to try something different. Decided on Giovannis and booked it for that evening. Went on to the Coach store (mmmmm) then lunch at Park Cafe (love that place)

Went on to the casino for the afternoon and got into the blackjack tournament. Got lucky an came in 2nd place. Had another drink and went and got ready for dinner. Fantastic food, well worth the money.

Evening started with the Aqua Theater show, very good, then again onto explore the ship spending time at Dazzles as the DJ played music that evening. Stayed up again until 2am and then onto bed as St Thomas was next.

Well woke up the next day checking my mail on my TV (took me acouple of days to figure out I had mail) LOL and because of engine problems would not be into St Thomas till that afternoon but they would be staying till around 7pm. We had tickets to St John's Trunk Bay, decided to get our money back as we had been to St John's before and just get off the ship in St Thomas and shop (I believe that was more of my fiance's idea). Had a nice day at St Thomas, but got back on the ship for 6pm dinner then later on our show at the Comedy Club, saw the first comedian, then skipped out to the Opal Theater as they had a group for Celebrity Showtime for the Motown Revue and we're big Motown fans. They performed Temptations, Four Tops, Stylistics and it was a very good show.

Next day was at St Martin, and we did my fiance's favorite which is go to Orient Bay Beach and spend most of the day, then back to downtown for shopping and back to the ship.

Had dinner and then back to explore the ship, some casino, karaoke in the On Air theater, drinks at Schooner Bar. Then 70s night with CD Richard Spacey and cast. All I can say is fantastic. This was done in the Promanade, then up to Dazzles for more 70s music.

Next day was a day at sea, slept till 8am then up to Johnny Rockets for of all things breakfast. Really a nice breakfast, eggs, pancakes, sausage, etc. Morning at the pool, lunch at Johnny Rockets (got to have that milkshake), then go checkout pictures to buy for the week, really love had they have your pictures in one photo album in the carousales with the new face picture recogniztion software and you don't have to hunt for your pics.

After another nice of running around on the ship, having dinner went to On Air to hear kareoke and they had fantstic performers. Then on to Quest. WOW is all I can say. Have been to many of them before but had a blast. CD Richard Spacey did a fantastic job. After Quest, they had a DJ performing up at the Solarium.

Last day at sea was just that. Laid back, went to casino, pool, a few more purchases and really spent the day and evening visiting saying our goodbyes to friends we had made and people on the ship who had served us and we had made friends with. No scheduled shows this evening, just the usual On Air, Dazzles, Schooner Bar then on to bed.

On debarkation, we used the vallet service, was led of the ship from the Comedy Club at 7:45, went thru customs without a hitch, caught a cab and at the Delta terminal by 9am. Went thru security and caught our 12:45 pm flight home (and all the luggage made it too).

I skipped alot of things we did as I felt I could be rambling on. Several comments on the Oasis:

It's a different style of cruising, as you can see from the RCCL ships I've been on, it's all about the ship, and what a ship.

I booked a Boardwalk balcony and really enjoyed it but will book and oceanview next time. As others have commented, you don't see the ocean alot on this ship and I feel an oceanview balcony the next time is for me.

As for Oasis/Allure versus the rest of the fleet, I feel I will alternate. I will sail Freedom/Voyager class ships for more of "usual" cruising feeling I'm use to book will sail Oasis/Allure also because there are so many things to do on this ship that's not on the others, a different experience.

On this ship be prepared to stay up late, most things such as Quest, 70s party, etc are scheduled much later than they are on the other ships. We we're up till 2am most nights, but because of less ports, was able to sleep later to compensate.

In closing, I'm empressed of all of the things there are to do on this ship, On Air - karaoke and the tv's showing ballgames, Boleros and the live band and salsa dancing, this place was rocking each night, Jazz on 4 place was packed each evening, Dazzles, Schooner Bar, Central Park, Rising Tide bar and so on. Everynight, even a 2am, people out everywhere just sitting, talking having a great time.

Looking forward to Allure next year. BTW, sorry no Compass copies here. That's my downfall here is keeping up with paperwork.

Happy cruising.

 

Dave

[Tralynn222]

Great Review, thanks for sharing. We'll be on her in 5 days and so excited!

[Jan_In_Maine]

Thanks for the review - We will also be on her in 5 days!!

 

Tralynn222 - We have a lovely thread going for our cruise - you're more than welcome to "stop by" and join in on the fun!!! Jan

[didicruiser]

Thank you for the review. I love reading about everyone's opinion.:)