Freedom vs. Oasis ? any suggestions, Oasis more crowded

[CCJack]

Deciding between Freedom and Oasis - both Western Caribbean. We have been on neither but have been on Voyager class seveal times. I am concerned about crowds on Oasis with 5000 people?? Can we expect more or less crowds/lines as compared to Freedom? Also, I am a bit concerned about the extra 3rd day at sea on Oasis, 2 days at sea is prefereable to us.... That said, it seems like Oasis is a ship you have to see. Any advice, particularly on crowds?

[silentbob007]

Oasis probably feels less crowded most times except for the buffet.

[Beth C]

I prefer having that 'extra' sea day... more time to relax and enjoy the ship. After visiting Labadee in December I said the ship could leave FL and dock there for the week and i'd be happy :) well maybe pull out and drive around every other night or so just so you could feel the ocean breeze ;) lol

 

In regards to the crowds - I experienced the worst over crowding on the Grandeur... for so few people (less than 1/2!) you were always bumping into someone or spending 1/2 your sea day searching for a deck chair.... this was NEVER an issue on either Allure or Oasis... only 'crowds' were the buffet at prime trough feeding time and directly outside the venues when the shows let out

[CCJack]

thanks... I have never been on a RCL ship that was not crowded in the buffet.... Seems like that is a problem they have not yet solved...

 

Thanks for the advice... it sounds as if Oasis not any more crowded than other ships...

[Sunkissed Mommy]

I never felt like there was a crowd on Oasis, except for the line for Park Cafe.

 

The Liberty (same as Freedom) felt a slightly more crowded.

 

As far as Sea Days- that isn't a problem on Oasis. There is plenty to do on that ship :)

[Big_G]

thanks... I have never been on a RCL ship that was not crowded in the buffet.... Seems like that is a problem they have not yet solved...

 

Thanks for the advice... it sounds as if Oasis not any more crowded than other ships...

 

I've never been on any ship regardless of the cruiseline that didn't have a crowded buffet at feeding time.

[Langley Cruisers]

I have agoraphobia and the two times I felt crowded on Oasis were after Muster Drill, and leaving shows. Otherwise the crowds are distributed throughout the ship and it was no big deal, "line"-wise.

[bajathree]

Oasis probably feels less crowded most times except for the buffet.

 

I prefer having that 'extra' sea day... more time to relax and enjoy the ship. After visiting Labadee in December I said the ship could leave FL and dock there for the week and i'd be happy :) well maybe pull out and drive around every other night or so just so you could feel the ocean breeze ;) lol

 

In regards to the crowds - I experienced the worst over crowding on the Grandeur... for so few people (less than 1/2!) you were always bumping into someone or spending 1/2 your sea day searching for a deck chair.... this was NEVER an issue on either Allure or Oasis... only 'crowds' were the buffet at prime trough feeding time and directly outside the venues when the shows let out

 

thanks... I have never been on a RCL ship that was not crowded in the buffet.... Seems like that is a problem they have not yet solved...

 

Thanks for the advice... it sounds as if Oasis not any more crowded than other ships...

 

...and on elevators at peak times.

[Familygoboston]

If you are cruising with " two boys" you might want to consider there are 2 flow riders on Oasis class, vs just 1 on Freedom Class and that seems to be where I saw most of the " boys" hanging out most of the week;) Much less waiting!

 

OTH- if ports are important to you, one of my disappointments on Oasis last week was that the ship is so large, it doesn't dock in the same places as other smaller ships calling on that port. These dock areas where further from the center and often required a taxi or shuttle to get to the main areas. Because of this when we did an excursion, and then wanted to head back to the ship, to change and maybe have lunch, we were unlikely to go back out again. On other cruises, we could go back out and walk around town after returning from an excursion. Just another consideration.

 

I concur with the others; least crowded ship I've been on! And all The infra structure ( embarking at FLL and ports) is built to handle the crowd, so you rarely wait anywhere!

[Bosjoe]

Oasis all the way. Been on it twice and never fealt overwhelmed with crowds except the buffet, but on oasis you have additional places to get food.

[willysgrandma]

I never felt crowded on the Oasis or Allure. RCCL has perfected the large ship experience - great embarkation and disembarkation and the only time I ever felt the crowds was as someone above said - after the shows, so we just sat until the theater cleared out.

 

I would do the Oasis again without hesitation over the Freedom (which I've also sailed on). The entertainment on the Oasis was outstanding.

[ZoeyVictoria]

We have been on the Oasis and the Allure a total of three times. Just off the Liberty today, and found the Liberty to be way more crowded than either the Oasis or the Allure.

[daveky]

Agree with the above posts, with the exception on Windjamer and the elevators at times, never felt crowded on the Oasis. Even though more people on the Oasis, everyone seemed to be spread out. Had a great time!!

 

Dave

[The Big Booper]

Oasis class is bigger then the Freedom class by 50 % but the crowds are spread out well.

 

Also, we noticed that there were stacks of unused lounge chairs scattered about all the Allure pool areas, try that on a smaller ship on a sunny day at sea.

 

Allure/ Oasis all the way.

[Shooraq]

Felt less crowded on the Oasis than when I went on the Liberty.

 

Love the diverse options for specialty restaurants Rode the carousel and the zipline (I did the FlowRider on the Liberty, so all set there.)

[Mack2]

Hi Shooraq!

<---- Mackadoody (although... my wife adopted my handle, and I post as Mack2)

 

I agree with everyone. We just got off Oasis this past November and I was never really bothered by any crowds whatsoever... Always a place to go, always a place to sit, never too much of a line anywhere... well, except for the $10 junk sale... Lot's of people climbing over each other for $10 junk.

 

But that wasn't my thing...