Curious if Allure or Oasis is chaotic...

[Disney_Junkie]

Planning another cruise and strongly considering either the Oasis or Allure. However, since both ships have broken records for passenger capacity, is it chaotic?? Is it difficult to walk around freely without bumping someones arm or shoulder?? Are there any specific places that are crowded??

[Cruising4theFirstTime]

No, it really doesn't feel crowded except maybe for the muster drill. :)

[kruzerci]

Not at all. Most people agree in saying that Oasis and Allure are incredible in that they carry record numbers of passengers, yet rarely feel crowded. The neighborhood concept works wonders in spreading out the passenger load. There were several times throughout the week we felt ourselves wondering "where is everybody?" ;)

[1992cruiser]

Ships feel less crowded than the smaller ones. So much to do, it spreads people out all over the ship. Casino gets a little crowded until people lose their money.

[Clarea]

Planning another cruise and strongly considering either the Oasis or Allure. However, since both ships have broken records for passenger capacity, is it chaotic?? Is it difficult to walk around freely without bumping someones arm or shoulder?? Are there any specific places that are crowded??

The only place that felt crowded to us on Allure was Windjammer.

[Femme64]

The only time I found it crowded was during the parade, which they have in the main lobby, other than that the ship has so many different venues that everyone is everywhere never concentrated in one place, except during the parade. Love it!!!

[jackaboo]

The only time I found it to be crowded was just after the muster drill, and just after shows in the theatre(s) when everyones charging in the same direction.

 

Ship is huuuge so many spaces to spread out in

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Our only crowded times were:

 

A) Immediately following the muster drill. This was a "shoulder to shoulder" as everyone was released at the same time. We were in the comedy club, they had another batch in Studio B, and I think more in Blaze.

B) Final sea day. This wasn't shoulder to shoulder, but the whirlpools in the Solarium were fairly crowded. Still no problem finding lounge chairs though.

[thrifty99]

I have sailed on Oasis twice and Allure once. I find them to be less crowded than any other ship (and I was expecting the opposite).

 

Only places/times I have found crowded:

 

- during the Safety drill when everyone is going to / from their areas.

 

- "At sea" days the seating areas closest to the pools are always crowded. But there are plenty of chairs once you move away from directly next to the pools.

 

- During the parades on the Promenade.

 

- Meal times near the key dining areas

 

Note that these places / times are crowded on ANY ship.

 

Other than above, I never felt the ship was "crowded" and definitely was never bumping into people. There are so many areas to spread out in.

[caneguy]

I agree with all of these posts. Just got off Oasis and did the Allure twice last year.

 

See my current review by clicking the link

[BillOh]

Planning another cruise and strongly considering either the Oasis or Allure. However, since both ships have broken records for passenger capacity, is it chaotic?? Is it difficult to walk around freely without bumping someones arm or shoulder?? Are there any specific places that are crowded??

 

Read lots of reviews and you will feel many people find the ship less crowded than they thought, or less crowded than some smaller ships. I will add that many people here are compulsive planners so planning helps. Learn your way around before getting on the ship helps and knowing alternative routes is a tension saving technique.

 

I will also say Royal is very conscientious of crowds on this ship. Between my first visit in 2011 and my 2nd in 2013 I saw things they were doing to help alleviate crowding.

[BillOh]

No, it really doesn't feel crowded except maybe for the muster drill. :)

 

Where did you muster? Again, as I said in the post above, planning helps. I was on Deck 12 both times and the Muster was in the Aqua theater. I learned the 2nd time to get there early, get seats in the back row on the aisle. When it was over, we were the first out of there and within 5 minutes I was on the port bridge wing deck 14 in my sailaway spot.

[BillOh]

The only time I found it to be crowded was just after the muster drill, and just after shows in the theatre(s) when everyones charging in the same direction.

 

Ship is huuuge so many spaces to spread out in

 

I'm becoming a broken record, but planning really helps here too. The only time for Chicago I could get was a time that it ended at almost the exact time our 2nd seating of dinner started. I talked to the waiter the night before, he said, "No problem." He also recommended, we get there early, get an aisle seat in the balcony and we would make it no problem. He was right. Also, if you come out of a show many people go for the closest elevator. Usually the 2nd closest bank is less crowded, or if you need to go up and the other end of the ship, do the lateral walk first then take the elevators at the other end.

 

Also speaking of the balcony. IMO Blue Planet is best viewed from the balcony because so much is aerial.

Edited April 9, 2014 by BillOh

[golfer1966]

Planning another cruise and strongly considering either the Oasis or Allure. However, since both ships have broken records for passenger capacity, is it chaotic?? Is it difficult to walk around freely without bumping someones arm or shoulder?? Are there any specific places that are crowded??

 

 

I too felt that the ship was going to be very chaotic with so many people. A friend of mine went and talk about it and how awesome it was so we booked. I AM SOOO GLAD WE DID. The only time I felt over crowded was after the Muster Drill. There are so many other things to do on the ship that the people are so spread out that we really didnt feel crowded at all. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to be honest.

[Disney_Junkie]

Everyone thanks for your responses! Definitely gave me a piece of mind in my consideration and after reading a few reviews about Oasis and Allure, I feel comfotable booking now. Thanks again everyone!!

[JasonV1]

I think that the promenade has something to do with this. The only real (bad) choke point on the whole ship is when you exit the theater after a large show, and on Oasis class boats the exit feeds into the Casino (assuming you exit on deck 4) or the promenade, both of which can accept large number of guests rather easily (especially the promenade, which runs the entire length of the ship between the elevators on deck 5).

 

There are so many pools and hot tubs, and so much deck space, that even on sea days it is rarely super crowded. Even if it is crowded on deck, and pools aren't your thing, head to deck 14 forward (take the left forward stateroom corridor, you'll see a sign) and go to the sun deck. Not many people visit that area and there are always chairs available (no shade through).

 

If you want shade but some peace and quiet, go to the rear of the jogging track (deck 5, use stairs going down on the right or left of the aqua theater OR enter the track from the spa or doors in the promenade) and have a seat in the chairs there. This is another area that only the joggers typically know about (or Oasis class veterans). Unless the aqua theater is in use it is usually very quiet down there.