Noobie needs advice, please!

[MericaAR15]

Hey all, I'm trying to plan a cruise for my wife and myself, and I'm in completely over my head.  I don't want to book something I will not be satisfied with or regret later, so I'm hoping to defer to the experts on this board.

 

We've only been on one cruise 10 years ago with Carnival; we were not impressed (poor choice of traveling companions, no balcony, felt like the Walmart of the Seas).  I think we've decided on the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Oasis of the Seas.  We definitely want an ocean view with a balcony, but my main concern is location.  Specifically, I do not want to be in a noisy area with a lot of foot traffic above or below. 

 

With that in mind, I believe I am looking at decks 10 or 11 as being ideal.  I am trying to decide if the $200 premium for a large 80 sq ft balcony mid-ship is worth it or not over a standard ocean view 50 sq ft balcony towards the aft of the ship.  Is there anything I should be aware of while making this decision?  I don't think we're subject to sea sickness, and I'm hoping the ship is large enough that it will be a moot issue.  I don't really know how we'll react one way or another to motion on this ship.

 

A few random questions for ya'll:

1.  Can we book drink and food packages later, or do they have to be decided upon during cabin booking?  We probably want an alcoholic drink package, but they kind of hide the pricing info on this stuff.  I have not been presented with this info yet.

2.  How do we track price changes, and how is this handled?  I believe I read that you can get a refund if it drops.

3.  Do you have any pro tips or perspectives I haven't considered?  I'm sorry, I know I'm pretty ignorant on cruising.  I really want my wife to have a great time.

 

Thank you so much!

 

[Clarea]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

It would not be worth $200 to us for a larger balcony.

 

You have until 72 hours before the cruise to purchase items using the Cruise Planner on Royal's website.

 

Make all possible entertainment reservations as soon as you see them become available in the Cruise Planner.

 

Watch your price by using Royal's website to make a mock booking int he same exact category that you booked.  If the prie is lower and it's still not past final payment date, contact whoever booked your cruise and request a price drop.

[Biker19]

9 minutes ago, MericaAR15 said:

1.  Can we book drink and food packages later, or do they have to be decided upon during cabin booking?  We probably want an alcoholic drink package, but they kind of hide the pricing info on this stuff.  I have not been presented with this info yet.

2.  How do we track price changes, and how is this handled?  

1. You can book anything in the planner at any time after cabin booking - you won't know the price ahead of time.

2. Keep checking the planner.

[MericaAR15]

Thanks for the reply, Clarea.

 

I was booking directly on RC's site, so I'm assuming I would contact them directly if the price drops.

 

Any input on Aft versus Mid-Ship on such a large vessel?

[MericaAR15]

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

1. You can book anything in the planner at any time after cabin booking - you won't know the price ahead of time.

2. Keep checking the planner.

 

Thanks for the info!  Stay safe, biker bro.

[CruisinCampbells]

17 minutes ago, MericaAR15 said:

 

1.  Can we book drink and food packages later, or do they have to be decided upon during cabin booking?  We probably want an alcoholic drink package, but they kind of hide the pricing info on this stuff.  I have not been presented with this info yet. 

2.  How do we track price changes, and how is this handled?  I believe I read that you can get a refund if it drops. 

3.  Do you have any pro tips or perspectives I haven't considered?  I'm sorry, I know I'm pretty ignorant on cruising.  I really want my wife to have a great time. 

 

 

 

Not worth it for the slightly larger balcony....

1.    Yes, you can book all of the other add on's after the initial cruise is booked. 

2. . I tracked the change of price by running ghost bookings periodically. I actually had saw a big enough drop that I called them up and had them add on the gratuities (another perk for question 1), and it didn't cost me any more than my initial first booking. 

3.   I used to work on ships.... 15 years ago. Things have changed. I also have cruised a few times in the last 6 years. I'm heading out in a couple weeks for my first family cruise. I have learned a lot of what's changed, and different perspectives from the multitude of cruise vlogs on youtube. (but don't pack everything they all recommend, or you'll need a crane to get it all onto the ship! LOL).

Edited October 11, 2019 by CruisinCampbells
formatting

[MericaAR15]

2 minutes ago, CruisinCampbells said:

 

 

Very helpful, thank you CC!

 

You all are so quick to respond with info...it is much appreciated.

[Clarea]

23 minutes ago, MericaAR15 said:

Thanks for the reply, Clarea.

 

I was booking directly on RC's site, so I'm assuming I would contact them directly if the price drops.

 

Any input on Aft versus Mid-Ship on such a large vessel?

 

Yes, contact ROyal directly about price drops.

 

We prefer being near one of the statir/elevator lobbies.

[MericaAR15]

Well, I just booked room 11708 with the standard balcony.  I guess the cost savings can go towards the drink package, and I will check frequently for price drops.

 

I suppose I'll now need to familiarize myself with the online planner.  Thanks again, everyone!

[BensonFan711]

28 minutes ago, MericaAR15 said:

Hey all, I'm trying to plan a cruise for my wife and myself, and I'm in completely over my head.  I don't want to book something I will not be satisfied with or regret later, so I'm hoping to defer to the experts on this board.

 

We've only been on one cruise 10 years ago with Carnival; we were not impressed (poor choice of traveling companions, no balcony, felt like the Walmart of the Seas).  I think we've decided on the Eastern Caribbean Cruise on the Oasis of the Seas.  We definitely want an ocean view with a balcony, but my main concern is location.  Specifically, I do not want to be in a noisy area with a lot of foot traffic above or below. 

 

With that in mind, I believe I am looking at decks 10 or 11 as being ideal.  I am trying to decide if the $200 premium for a large 80 sq ft balcony mid-ship is worth it or not over a standard ocean view 50 sq ft balcony towards the aft of the ship.  Is there anything I should be aware of while making this decision?  I don't think we're subject to sea sickness, and I'm hoping the ship is large enough that it will be a moot issue.  I don't really know how we'll react one way or another to motion on this ship.

 

A few random questions for ya'll:

1.  Can we book drink and food packages later, or do they have to be decided upon during cabin booking?  We probably want an alcoholic drink package, but they kind of hide the pricing info on this stuff.  I have not been presented with this info yet.

2.  How do we track price changes, and how is this handled?  I believe I read that you can get a refund if it drops.

3.  Do you have any pro tips or perspectives I haven't considered?  I'm sorry, I know I'm pretty ignorant on cruising.  I really want my wife to have a great time.

 

Thank you so much!

 

Oooooo.....my FAVORITE kind of post!

 

Walmart of the Seas....lol....yep!  That's how I understand Carnival to be.  They're the cheapest in the game, and so....yeah.

 

Anyway, let's talk about Oasis.  First of all, I love Oasis; she's my favorite ship by far.  Let's go through some of your concerns one by one:

 

Deck 10 or 11 is great.  Both are sandwiched between other passenger cabin decks, though if you're toward the aft stairwell, I'd go for 11 over 12.  The reason for that is that Dazzles is located on Deck 9 by the aft stairwell.  If you're sensitive to noise, you may or may not be able to hear something from there.  Personally, I've found that the rooms in Oasis are pretty quiet....I was on Deck 3 under the casino and heard absolutely nothing on the second week of my back to back (hey....I paid almost nothing for that week; totally worth it)

 

1. Food and drink packages - you will have to select your dining option (early seating, late seating, or MyTime), but none of those are an additional fee.  You can book specialty dining and beverage packages through the cruise planner after booking (it could take 1-2 days to pop up on Royal's site).

 

2. Personally, I recommend doing some research and getting a TA.  They'll handle rate changes for you.  If you want to go through Royal, then you can cancel and rebook up until the final payment date.  However, it will be on YOU to monitor, not the cruiseline.  I have a TA do it, so I'm not sure if it freezes once you make your final payment or not.  If it does, I would personally hold off on final payment until the last day to be able to cancel and rebook.

 

3. Oasis is a BIG ship, but she's wonderful.  Prebook your shows, and anything else you want to do.  Anything can be cancelled and refunded.  The shows onboard are free, so if you don't go, no big deal.  I booked shows for every night of my trip, and only went to about half of them.  I'm a cruise geek, and I personally go on YouTube and watch ship tours before I sail so that I'm not totally disoriented when I get there.

[John&LaLa]

If you are looking at the big hump balcony, I'd go for it. They are considerably larger than std balconies. I'm not a fan of the location on forward hump, but they are convenient to all the forward venues. Spa, solarium, theater, etc...

[MericaAR15]

Awesome info, Benson.  Really appreciate it!

 

I did just book through RCI, but I don't mind doing the legwork myself...it's kind of fun, actually.  I will definitely prebook shows that we're interested in, and I selected MyTime dining.  So glad to hear you enjoyed Oasis and it's relatively peaceful in the cabins.  We're on deck 11, as you suggested.

 

Nice kitty btw haha.  We have a couple ourselves.

[MericaAR15]

3 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

If you are looking at the big hump balcony, I'd go for it. They are considerably larger than std balconies. I'm not a fan of the location on forward hump, but they are convenient to all the forward venues. Spa, solarium, theater, etc...

 

Ah, the devil's advocate arrives!

 

I'll have to make due with standard, I guess.  The larger balcony was really appealing, but there was actually a $300 difference between the aft-standard and the mid-larger.  That should cover a decent portion of the drink package, which I know we'll need.  I mean, we're leaving our kiddo with the grandparents for a reason 🙂

[John&LaLa]

7 minutes ago, MericaAR15 said:

 

Ah, the devil's advocate arrives!

 

I'll have to make due with standard, I guess.  The larger balcony was really appealing, but there was actually a $300 difference between the aft-standard and the mid-larger.  That should cover a decent portion of the drink package, which I know we'll need.  I mean, we're leaving our kiddo with the grandparents for a reason 🙂

 

There is a reason they call them hump balconies. Just sayin.

 

Plus, I thought you said it was $200.

Maybe you can RoyalUP 

Edited October 11, 2019 by John&LaLa

[MalteseMama2]

If you can afford the extra $, I would book a suite. That way you have a balcony and access to the suite lounge. On Oasis class ships the Suite Lounge is very open with the Coastal Kitchen, an alternate lunch & dining spot. You would need reservations for dinner ( maybe lunch, I don’t remember) but there is no extra fee. You would also have access to a limited selection of wine, beer & soda at no extra cost from 11:00 am to 11: pm, a happy hour with lots of different drinks available and a separate suites only area in the Solarium. 
There are many other perks, such as having a concierge to help make reservations and problem solve for you. 

you also don’t have to be in one of the really pricey Aqua Theater or Crown Loft suites. A Grand Suite will do.

 

[SilkySal]

It you have a little time before your ship leaves, you may want to check out the Roll Calls via the site below! Click on the Oasis, find your specific cruise week, and chat with your fellow cruisers, who can answer a lot of your future questions and/or concerns!! Happy cruising!! Cheers!!

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/21-royal-caribbean-“meet-mingle”-roll-calls/

 

 

[CORKY_Q]

48 minutes ago, BensonFan711 said:

 

 

2. Personally, I recommend doing some research and getting a TA.  They'll handle rate changes for you.  If you want to go through Royal, then you can cancel and rebook up until the final payment date.  However, it will be on YOU to monitor, not the cruiseline.  I have a TA do it, so I'm not sure if it freezes once you make your final payment or not.  If it does, I would personally hold off on final payment until the last day to be able to cancel and rebook.

 

You DO NOT have to cancel and re-book.  Up until Final Payment Date (not the date you made final payment if you do that early) just ask for the price drop. The amount you paid in excess of the new rate will be refunded to the credit card you originally used. You will keep your cabin and same reservation number and you will keep any benefits that were applicable at the time you originally booked. Any reservations you have made through Cruise Planner will remain

. (DO NOT CANCEL.) 

 

Sea ya!

Edited October 11, 2019 by CORKY_Q

[LeeW]

Various things you can prebook will appear at various times in your Cruise Planner.  Usually spa first, then internet options, then drink packages and excursions and last probably onboard activities.  Last can be as late as 60 days precruise but ours are generally around 120 days out.  Anything you pay for can be cancelled and rebooked if the price drops, so watch DAILY (I just checked prices for my next 4 cruises a few minutes ago).  For example, drinks can range from $48-$72/day/person on this ship.  Show times can be a pain to select - each show is generally offered on two days with some overlap.  So you need to plot out when they are available before you actually book them.  Shows are all free, unless you want to pay extra for a cast meet and greet.  

 

Assuming you are cruising next year, watch Nov 28-29 for next likely sale.  But prices will move up and down constantly.

 

You don't have to take ship shore excursions.  These tend to have a lot of people who show up late, big buses and cost more.  Check the port boards on Cruise Critic for recommendations on what you might want to do.  If going to Cozumel and mainland ruins the ship excursions are a good idea.  These include 45 minute rough ferry and an hour or two each way on a bus with little time at the ruins.

 

Positive attitude toward cruise is important - if you are planning on enjoying it, you will.  You cannot do everything.  Don't try.  You cannot eat everything.  Don't try.  You probably won't even see all the shows.  No big deal.  Have fun planning and enjoy the cruise!

[MericaAR15]

20 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

There is a reason they call them hump balconies. Just sayin.

 

Plus, I thought you said it was $200.

Maybe you can RoyalUP 

 

HAHAHA hump balconies!   That's hilarious.

 

I thought it was only a $200 difference, but that was actually for a mid-standard vs mid-large.  The extra $100 is from having an Aft room.

 

20 hours ago, MalteseMama2 said:

If you can afford the extra $, I would book a suite. That way you have a balcony and access to the suite lounge. On Oasis class ships the Suite Lounge is very open with the Coastal Kitchen, an alternate lunch & dining spot. You would need reservations for dinner ( maybe lunch, I don’t remember) but there is no extra fee. You would also have access to a limited selection of wine, beer & soda at no extra cost from 11:00 am to 11: pm, a happy hour with lots of different drinks available and a separate suites only area in the Solarium. 
There are many other perks, such as having a concierge to help make reservations and problem solve for you. 

you also don’t have to be in one of the really pricey Aqua Theater or Crown Loft suites. A Grand Suite will do.

 

 

I would LOVE a suite, but this is really just a "cheap" getaway for us.  If we enjoy this cruise as much as I think we will, we will probably look into possibly getting a suite next time.

 

20 hours ago, SilkySal said:

It you have a little time before your ship leaves, you may want to check out the Roll Calls via the site below! Click on the Oasis, find your specific cruise week, and chat with your fellow cruisers, who can answer a lot of your future questions and/or concerns!! Happy cruising!! Cheers!!

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/21-royal-caribbean-“meet-mingle”-roll-calls/

 

 

 

I will check that out.  Thanks a lot, fellow Hoosier!  Cheers!

 

20 hours ago, CORKY_Q said:

You DO NOT have to cancel and re-book.  Up until Final Payment Date (not the date you made final payment if you do that early) just ask for the price drop. The amount you paid in excess of the new rate will be refunded to the credit card you originally used. You will keep your cabin and same reservation number and you will keep any benefits that were applicable at the time you originally booked. Any reservations you have made through Cruise Planner will remain

. (DO NOT CANCEL.) 

 

Sea ya!

 

This is awesome info, thank you so much!

 

19 hours ago, LeeW said:

Various things you can prebook will appear at various times in your Cruise Planner.  Usually spa first, then internet options, then drink packages and excursions and last probably onboard activities.  Last can be as late as 60 days precruise but ours are generally around 120 days out.  Anything you pay for can be cancelled and rebooked if the price drops, so watch DAILY (I just checked prices for my next 4 cruises a few minutes ago).  For example, drinks can range from $48-$72/day/person on this ship.  Show times can be a pain to select - each show is generally offered on two days with some overlap.  So you need to plot out when they are available before you actually book them.  Shows are all free, unless you want to pay extra for a cast meet and greet.  

 

Assuming you are cruising next year, watch Nov 28-29 for next likely sale.  But prices will move up and down constantly.

 

You don't have to take ship shore excursions.  These tend to have a lot of people who show up late, big buses and cost more.  Check the port boards on Cruise Critic for recommendations on what you might want to do.  If going to Cozumel and mainland ruins the ship excursions are a good idea.  These include 45 minute rough ferry and an hour or two each way on a bus with little time at the ruins.

 

Positive attitude toward cruise is important - if you are planning on enjoying it, you will.  You cannot do everything.  Don't try.  You cannot eat everything.  Don't try.  You probably won't even see all the shows.  No big deal.  Have fun planning and enjoy the cruise!

 

Thanks for taking the time to post all of this, it really helps.  We definitely want to check out the shows and will develop a plan.

 

I was wondering if there would be price drops around Black Friday time frame; I will be sure to check daily for price fluctuations. 

 

Attitude is everything!  We have no plans to do it all; in fact, we're going for the opposite of that.  We probably won't do more than 1 or 2 excursions, if we even do that many.  Although we can't eat/drink everything, we plan to have a bunch of fun trying!  That will probably be my favorite part of the cruise lol.

 

 

Thanks again, everyone.  This has been really helpful and will greatly assist with the pre-trip research and planning.

[MalteseMama2]

10 hours ago, MericaAR15 said:

 

HAHAHA hump balconies!   That's hilarious.

 

I thought it was only a $200 difference, but that was actually for a mid-standard vs mid-large.  The extra $100 is from having an Aft room.

 

 

I would LOVE a suite, but this is really just a "cheap" getaway for us.  If we enjoy this cruise as much as I think we will, we will probably look into possibly getting a suite next time.

 

 

I will check that out.  Thanks a lot, fellow Hoosier!  Cheers!

 

 

This is awesome info, thank you so much!

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to post all of this, it really helps.  We definitely want to check out the shows and will develop a plan.

 

I was wondering if there would be price drops around Black Friday time frame; I will be sure to check daily for price fluctuations.

 

Attitude is everything!  We have no plans to do it all; in fact, we're going for the opposite of that.  We probably won't do more than 1 or 2 excursions, if we even do that many.  Although we can't eat/drink everything, we plan to have a bunch of fun trying!  That will probably be my favorite part of the cruise lol.

 

 

Thanks again, everyone.  This has been really helpful and will greatly assist with the pre-trip research and planning.

2 years ago I saved several $100.00s because I called my TA on Cyber Monday to check prices. Last year we found the costs of our booked cruises were more than what we had originally planned to pay. But now I call every year just in case! 

[Ren1216]

Welcome!

 

You've gotten some great suggestions and advice so far!  It's been 3 years since our last cruise and a lot has changed.  I've been re-learning the ropes in prep for our upcoming January sailing.  This will also be our first time on an Oasis class ship (we'll be on Harmony).  A few things that I didn't see mentioned yet, based on your inquiry and replies...

 

1)  Even though it's called My Time Dining, from what I'm reading, you'll still want to make reservations.  Seems silly, but apparently that's how it is.  I have read several times about people waiting 15-30 mins even with reservations.  Still,  sounds like it's the way to go.  Not sure if this is accomplished through the Cruise Planner or once you board.

 

2)  Drink Packages...  Pricey!  So be prepared.  Can't tell you the cost for your sailing but the Deluxe Beverage Package, which includes alcohol, for my sailing is currently $57 per day (best price I've seen so far, was $65 a few days ago, so definitely keep watch). An 18% gratuity is automatically added at the time of purchase.  That's about $471 for one person.  And something new since the last time I sailed with RC... if I want this pkg, everyone else in my cabin must also purchase it.  Even if they don't want it or don't drink (though I've read that if you call RC, they'll allow the second person to purchase just the Refreshment pkg, but nothing less).  For this reason, I won't bother with the alcohol pkg any longer, my husband doesn't even drink enough to make the Refreshment pkg worth buying.

 

My opinion on $300 for the larger balcony -- that amount of difference in balcony size isn't such a big deal.  Location would be the higher priority to me.  Now that you've made the reservation, while keeping watch on your own category for price drops, watch the one with the bigger balcony as well.  You can always upgrade if the price hits an amount that makes it worthwhile.

 

Best wishes for a fantastic cruise!

[katiel53]

For us, we wouldn't spend the extra money for a larger balcony.  We choose deck 10 or 11 on all Oasis class ships as it is high enough to be away from noises and between cabin decks so no noise from above either.

 

We prefer to be near the aft elevators as the ship is huge and there is a lot of walking onboard.  It seems the majority of things we do are located near the aft end of the ship.  The dining rooms are back there, the casino is there, as well as the shows in the Aqua Theatre. The specialty restaurants, Chops, Giovanni's and 150 are not far from the aft elevator.

 

We once stayed all the way aft and it was a pain for us to have to walk down the halls all the time as opposed to having a cabin right off the elevator.  We have 3 more cruises on Oasis class ships and they are all in the same area and even being the first cabin off the elevator, we've not had any noise problems. 

 

I did learn though that choosing Starboard is better for us as we like to look at the goings on in port and most times the Starboard side is facing the port while the port side faces out.  I know this isn't always the case as sometimes the ship backs into a port, but that's what we've noticed.

[vacationlover_mn]

Random advice... I love Oasis class 🙂. I really recommend midship, decks 6-8, by the stairs.  This central location lets you easily move around the ship.  I love deck 7, and I’ve found it to be quiet.  On Oasis class, we’ve always had the normal balcony, and find it fine.  However, when we’ve had connecting rooms, we do sometimes get boise from the neighbors...

[parsec0298]

22 hours ago, vacationlover_mn said:

Random advice... I love Oasis class 🙂. I really recommend midship, decks 6-8, by the stairs.  This central location lets you easily move around the ship.  I love deck 7, and I’ve found it to be quiet.  On Oasis class, we’ve always had the normal balcony, and find it fine.  However, when we’ve had connecting rooms, we do sometimes get boise from the neighbors...

I'll echo this.  We were on deck 8 on Symphony and we loved being just around the corner from Central Park.  We would typically end our night by finding a chair and listening to the relaxing piano or classical guitar music they have.  It was a great way to unwind at the end of each exciting and packed day.  We have the exact same room on Harmony in January.

 

As for the balcony size, you're basically talking about whether you are able to fit a lounger which can lay flat, or just a regular lounge chair with footstool.  We found that the regular chair was plenty and if we wanted to lay down we went to the Solarium.