Live From Oasis of the Seas 2/18-2/25!

[jam19872016]

8 minutes ago, Celandine said:

So excited to catch you live! I have been binging your past reviews the past few weeks! Love your pics and commentary! It’s helping me cope with my super long wait until my cruise! Plus the Oasis is on my bucket list 

Thanks for your kind words! Must be a slow week on Netflx if that's what you're binging 🤣. 

 

Definitely recommend an Oasis class ship it's such a unique experience and not nearly as crowded as you would think based on the number of passengers.

 

[jam19872016]

Ummm...where did the bears go?

 

[Celandine]

2 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Thanks for your kind words! Must be a slow week on Netflx if that's what you're binging 🤣. 

 

Definitely recommend an Oasis class ship it's such a unique experience and not nearly as crowded as you would think based on the number of passengers.

 

 

well I actually found you from your Carnival Cunard review as I booked my mum on the QE to Alaska this August, I loved sharing your review with her! And I get a little obsessive with cruise reviews when I finally have something in my own calendar lined up, and the amount of menu and food pics you post are better than many shows! Plus my fav channel to watch is the food network lol

Edited February 23 by Celandine

[jam19872016]

This is where Royal makes their money after giving out drinks and cruises.

 

 

 

[jam19872016]

4 minutes ago, Celandine said:

 

well I actually found you from your Carnival Cunard review as I booked my mum on the QE to Alaska this August, I loved sharing your review with her! And I get a little obsessive with cruise reviews when I finally have something in my own calendar lined up, and the amount of menu and food pics you post are better than many shows! Plus my fav channel to watch is the food network lol

QE was such a special trip. I really hope the stars align again someday and I'm able to sail on Cunard again.

 

I also really enjoyed Alaska and would love to do that again. I just can't describe how beautiful it was there. I never really got it on reviews, it's something you have to experience. 

 

I also enjoy food network, if you can believe that 😆. 

[jam19872016]

Buffalo chicken crunch roll. 

 

[colesc15]

16 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

This is where Royal makes their money after giving out drinks and cruises.

 

 

 

You used to be able to get 24 wings and an appetizer and still be under the$20 dining credit.. Now, dining package is nearly double and gets you half the food. 

[jam19872016]

Truffle burger.

 

[jam19872016]

20 minutes ago, colesc15 said:

You used to be able to get 24 wings and an appetizer and still be under the$20 dining credit.. Now, dining package is nearly double and gets you half the food. 

 

My biggest issue is how few combinations you Gan get for under $20. Burger and dessert? Nope.

 

Nachos and burger? Nope.

 

Even if you drop down to 12 wings, there is nothing else you can order except fries.

 

I still had plenty of food, the portions here are borderline obscene just wish my options weren't as limited.

[colesc15]

1 minute ago, jam19872016 said:

 

My biggest issue is how few combinations you Gan get for under $20. Burger and dessert? Nope.

 

Nachos and burger? Nope.

 

Even if you drop down to 12 wings, there is nothing else you can order except fries.

 

I still had plenty of food, the portions here are borderline obscene just wish my options weren't as limited.

Agreed. About a year or so ago, waiters even flat out said if you hit the $20 they'll just close the tab and open a new one. None of that anymore. Burger and fries feels like the best deal but still silly.. Burger and playmaker fries is $11.99 but if you order just fries, like $8. Can't tell me the burger is only $3. Lol. 

[jam19872016]

20 minutes ago, colesc15 said:

Agreed. About a year or so ago, waiters even flat out said if you hit the $20 they'll just close the tab and open a new one. None of that anymore. Burger and fries feels like the best deal but still silly.. Burger and playmaker fries is $11.99 but if you order just fries, like $8. Can't tell me the burger is only $3. Lol. 

I really like that campfire cookie but my options were limited of I ordered that. Oh well.

 

I'm reminded why I spend these prices when I went through the jammer earlier. It just doesn't look very appealing. 

[jam19872016]

Casino points list for instant certificates. 

 

 

They have qr codes you can scan to see the list of cruises available at each level...I must have looked up the wrong list precruise as none of the interesting options are on this list. Bummer.

[exlondoner]

18 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

Casino points list for instant certificates. 

 

 

They have qr codes you can scan to see the list of cruises available at each level...I must have looked up the wrong list precruise as none of the interesting options are on this list. Bummer.

Could you sneak in a photo of, say, a Junior suite, just for comparison?

[jam19872016]

If I was doing a B2B I could probably grab one on turn around day, but at this point they are all lived in and I would feel weird taking a photo. Here is a picture I grabbed off the internet of a Junior Suite on this ship.

 

 

Looking towards the balcony.

 

 

 

[exlondoner]

Thank you. 350 sq. ft, would you say?

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, exlondoner said:

Thank you. 350 sq. ft, would you say?

287 inside and a 78 sq ft baclony so in total, yes.

[exlondoner]

Just now, jam19872016 said:

287 inside and a 78 sq ft baclony so in total, yes.

Hmm, think I might have to go up a level to compare with QG on Cunard. Any photo?

[KroozNut]

On 2/15/2024 at 12:48 PM, Itchy&Scratchy said:

imho, Falmouth is rather boring and nothing to write home about (it's literally a fishing village outside of a pretty port area)*, but we enjoy both Labadee and CocoCay as they are - a wonderful beach destination. Both are beautiful.

 

 

*We walked around the first time we were at Falmouth. Nice, but didn't want to do it again.

Falmouth is a wonderful port, you just have to know what to expect, and what to do (i.e., do your homework). We had a great time there!

[jam19872016]

15 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Hmm, think I might have to go up a level to compare with QG on Cunard. Any photo?

The next size up is a one bedroom grand suite. 371sq ft and 114 sq ft balcony.

 

 

 

I edited out the second picture, as I saw it was for a two bedroom suite.

 

A six day cruise in January 2025, low season, starts at $3,975 PP. Not sure how that compares to QG pricing.

Edited February 23 by jam19872016

[jam19872016]

9 minutes ago, KroozNut said:

Falmouth is a wonderful port, you just have to know what to expect, and what to do (i.e., do your homework). We had a great time there!

I just want to be able to walk around without being hassled. And I want to be able to purchase an tour without being scammed or feeling like my safety is in jeopardy. O man, that reminds me I wanted to post my experience last time I was here. Let me dig into the archives from my last trip to Ocho Rios in 2018.

[exlondoner]

14 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

The next size up is a one bedroom grand suite. 371sq ft and 114 sq ft balcony.

 

 

 

I edited out the second picture, as I saw it was for a two bedroom suite.

 

A six day cruise in January 2025, low season, starts at $3,975 PP. Not sure how that compares to QG pricing.

Yes, that would do nicely. Does it have dining perks in the nicer restaurants or do you still pay more?

 

Don’t know how the pricing compares either, because we are in pounds. 7 days on QA in August 2026 in a Q4 is £2969.

Edited February 23 by exlondoner

[jam19872016]

4 minutes ago, exlondoner said:

Yes, that would do nicely. Does it have dining perks in the nicer restaurants or do you still pay more?

You have to pay still. You do have a suites only dining room which is very intimate and is generally regarded as having higher quality food. Some say better than specialty. I got to dine there one time, in the very early days of the pandemic recovery when an exception was granted and it was indeed an amazing experience. I was traveling with someone in a suite (who was solo) so she was allowed to bring me in as a guest, although typically I would say that is not something allowed.

 

You also get complimentary room service and in suite dining from the MDR. The food is generally ok from the MDR, it really is the atmosphere and slow service so I would imagine in suite dining would be lovely although I am not sure how hot the food would arrive.

 

There are bigger rooms that include specialty dining, but they cost quite a bit more than just buying the dining package.

[KroozNut]

20 minutes ago, jam19872016 said:

I just want to be able to walk around without being hassled. And I want to be able to purchase an tour without being scammed or feeling like my safety is in jeopardy. O man, that reminds me I wanted to post my experience last time I was here. Let me dig into the archives from my last trip to Ocho Rios in 2018.

Umm, we're talking Falmouth here, not Ocho Rios. But thanks anyway.

 

[jam19872016]

1 minute ago, KroozNut said:

Umm, we're talking Falmouth here, not Ocho Rios. But thanks anyway.

 

I will concede that I have not given Falmouth a proper chance, but as they are separated by just over an hour, I think it would be fair to say my experience here would be pretty similar.

[jam19872016]

Copied and pasted from my 2018 Vista review.

-----------------------------

 

 

I did the 6 day cruise on the Breeze for my first cruise on Carnival. Instead of Jamaica, it stopped in Key West. I don't care for aggressive locals, and Jamaica has some of the most aggressive I have come across in many cruises. Second only to La Romana, DR. My day in Ocho Rios is gonna sound pretty bad, but to tell the truth I had a good time. It was an adventure. For sure, an adventure most would call a nightmare. Therefore I have to highly recommend a Carnival excursion, a trusted online vendor you book with ahead of time, or stay on the ship. Seriously, don't bother trying to make this a DIY port day. You will leave disappointed and harassed.

 

We didn't have a concrete plan of what we wanted to do but wanted to go to mystic mountain (we did not know the name of the place before visiting, just a description). We asked a friendly looking lady inside the port area because we didn't want to be pressured by the taxi drivers. She was nice and very helpful. Then things turned...interesting.

 

I was wearing M's lanyard which she had decorated with her VIFP pins that she has collected on her cruises since turning Gold. The information lady asked what they were and I told her. She then asked for one. I told her they were not mine to give out, trying not to be rude but sort of surprised she would ask for one. M volunteered they were hers and gave her one. They are hers to do with what she wants, but no way would I give mine out. I am not sure why she even wanted one they are of no value to her, but hold a sentimental value to us. She thanked her and said she would always remember the nice lady who gave it to her.

 

 

We headed off the ship without grabbing a bite to eat, because we wanted to visit the place we visited on our last trip - Oceans Eleven. It is right near the port so it was a short walk. It seemed to have a better atmosphere last time, a little livelier. I also don't remember all the bees, but they were pretty bad. It seemed to have been just near the water, I was sitting further in later so M could connect to the WiFi from Margaritaville and there were no bees.

 

I ordered the curry chicken.

 

 

I was not overly impressed with it, but that was my own fault. I wanted to try something curry so bad that I did not even bother to consider what I was ordering or that it would be full of bones. I don't really care for bones in my food, it sorta grosses me out. The top pieces were 90% bone with a little sliver of meat. Then there were some that had a lot of small bones throughout. The pieces that were mostly meat, were superb.

 

M enjoyed her plate, some sort of stuffed chicken breast that she has been craving since our first visit here and I think overall the food here is pretty good and crazy cheap. Island time is not just an expression, the one part of the experience that remained the same was it was seriously 45 minutes from the time we ordered until our food arrived.