ARandomTraveler

They assigned me a time and a restaurant for night 1 with my unlimited dining package. 150 Central Park at 5:30pm, which I changed, but I definitely had a reservation.

Meh. Those beaches are just ok (haven't been to Labadee). I think you should consider paying for the water park on Cococay with kids that age. They're going to have to walk by it in order to get to the free pool and free beaches and they'll likely be disappointed if they can't go in, since every other day of your trip is going to basically be a pool and beach day already. Just my 2 cents. Not the most fun itinerary. Also, the water in Cococay had jellyfish and lots of seaweed in it when we were there 3 weeks ago. It's nice beach to relax at when you're an adult. Not much fun for kids.

If the airfare and hotel made it so I had to pick the Oasis out of New Jersey, I'd just wait an extra year and take the cruise when I could afford the better vacation.

I saw them weighing people for the zip line on Symphony. They had a bathroom type scale right at the top of the stairs. I would guess they do something similar for iFly

Oh ok - yes Symphony has this.

Yeah it's definitely going to be high priced this late in the game (you're cruising next month), but next time you sail, if you book 5 or so months in advance you'd get a way better deal.

The hotel I referenced above (Hampton Inn Miami/Brickell-Downtown) was a better price than what you're getting, and it had a free shuttle to the port, plus free breakfast. The caveat is that you have to book the hotel further in advance. I stayed there for 2 nights for a Thanksgiving cruise and with taxes and fees, paid under $600 total. I didn't take the free shuttle because there was too long of a wait for it, with so many people wanting to get on it. I paid for an Uber and it was under $20, got me to the port in about 10-15 min.

I was just on Symphony 3 weeks ago, but with your description, I have zero idea what the heck you're talking about, even though the pool is freshly in my memory.

I always have to fly to the port so that never factors into my decision. I always just pick the ship and itinerary that looks best to me, and then I can price shop the hotels and flights to that one place (vs picking the ship based on which port is cheapest to get to). So if it were me with the 2 options you gave, I would hands down choose Harmony out of Miami. I wouldn't even consider the one out of New Jersey. First off - who wants to start a warm Caribbean vacation from a cold location (if given a choice)? Second, the Oasis itinerary is garbage! Cococay is ok, but it's the best option out of the whole itinerary, which isn't saying much. I just cruised out of a Miami 3 weeks ago. Stayed at the Hampton Inn Miami/brickell-downtown. It's an average hotel, with average prices for that area of Miami ($250-$300/night if you book several months early, but closer to $450/night if you book last minute). They have free breakfast. It's very close to the free metro-mover. It's about 2 blocks from a CVS, and there's tons of restaurants on the same street as the hotel. Anything closer to south beach is gonna cost you around $1,000/night or more, so to me, $300-ish per night was cheap for the area. I usually have to pay closer to $600/night when I cruise out of Puerto Rico, which is my favorite way to sail the southern Caribbean, and next summer my hotel is $800/night (but that's because I'm going to Singapore and choosing to stay in the Marina Bay Sands). So it's all relative. I guess if you're used to driving and having that part of the trip be free, $300 might seem like a lot, but I thought it was a bargain, and would much rather pay the $300 and take a better cruise, than pay $0 and take a cold-weather start to Nassau and Cococay. (Of course flights are another cost, but I'm just using the hotel portion for simplicity).

Hmm. When I bought a root beer float they needed my drink package, but maybe they used the dining package when we got the milkshake.

I used UDP on symphony, but if you want a root beer float or a milkshake, that falls under the beverage package (refreshment and deluxe)

It seemed like the solarium on symphony was enclosed. Have you been on Symphony? I'm trying to figure out if that's what people mean when they say "enclosed"

Add another one to your list, there are actually 5 (Quantum, Odyssey, Anthem, Ovation and Spectrum)

You do have to wait until you board, but you don't have to go to a restaurant. They'll have a bunch of kiosks set up on the promenade where staff will have iPads to make the reservations for you. You can't miss them; they're right when you walk onto the ship. You can also go to a restaurant and do it I think (assuming someone will be at the front desk in the restaurants, which they may not be since most of them aren't usually open).

#4, hilarious 🤣🤣🤣

I had a burger at Johnny Rockets on Symphony and it was quite good. I'd eat there again. Fries weren't that great but that's ok because it kept me from overeating them. Coco Cay totally overrated.

I'm sailing on a Quantum class ship for the first time next year too (the Spectrum, which wasn't on your list but I'm pretty certain it's a Quantum class ship). I haven't had a desire to sail on a quantum class ship primarily because it seems like the whole ship is indoors, and for me, cruising is all about being outside in the sun. I booked the Spectrum, not for the ship, but for the itinerary, but after I booked it I watched a YouTube video and man does that ship look really nice! It does look like it's mostly indoors, but a very nice, fancy ship. I think it's brand new (or was launched just before the pandemic, and then sat for a couple years unused). I'll be interested in visiting the new, exotic ports for 12 days, but now I'm also looking forward to the ship.

Not sure about Oasis, but on symphony, one side of the bed had a wall outlet and the other side had a phone. I didn't realize until day 3 or 4, but the phone had a USB outlet on it that I was able to use to charge my phone. Shower had one dispenser on the wall that was a combination soap and shampoo. Sink had a bar of soap.

I agree, if only for the fact that I don't trust my knowledge of other countries laws, especially for things that are so different from my own country. Heck, camoflauge clothing is illegal in some countries (Barbados is one of them). I really have no idea if CBD is considered illegal in other countries, but it's not illegal in the United States on the federal level as long as it comes from the hemp plant.

It was nice, but mostly an extension of the pool deck with a beach added to it. And the beaches aren't even the best (though I wouldn't say any beach in the Bahamas is my favorite). I enjoyed my day there, but am surprised that so many people list is as one of their favorite ports. Lots of available loungers and umbrellas, nice sunshine and beach sand, a great pool, but mediocre "festival" food, very little to do outside of lounging and very basic water activities, zero culture (which is fine, that's not what the island is for), and the water isn't that nice compared to some of the other islands I've been to (Aruba, Antigua, Barbados, the west side of Jamaica on seven mile beach, St Lucia to name just a few of the islands with my absolute favorite beaches because of the crystal clear, warm and calm water). It's fine, but it doesn't even make it in my top 15 list. Obviously lots of people like it though because they have whole itineraries where that's the only place they go.

CBD is not the same as THC (the "drug" in marijuana). I've forgotten which items or which levels of each substance are legal vs illegal in other places because where I live (Colorado) you can walk into a store about every 200ft and buy any or all of it any time you want and nobody cares.

I have no arguments about any of the items on your list. I'll add (in no particular order, and I KNOW there will be little to no agreement with my list): 1) Suite Lounge 2) Lounger next to the pool 3) coco cay None of these things are bad, just not as exciting and great as you'd think based on reading cruise critic, at least to me.

Normally I'm an advocate for passports (it seems like all Americans would have one just like most of us get driver's licenses, it's so easy and inexpensive to get one), but I agree that this cruise route is very little risk of being left behind and needing a passport to fly home. I's apply for the passport anyway, but if they don't get it in time, no big deal.

First of all, concierge lounge is overrated (in my opinion). Second, you can still use the concierge lounge if you book a suite. Are you sailing a specific cruise line just so you can get some free drinks and sit in one room on the ship? Does it really make you feel that important and appreciated? And do you actually need someone to make you feel important for your vacation to feel special? There's way too many other things to do on a ship to cancel a whole cruise over this. But to each his own. Just another reason why it's a waste of money for people to chase tier status. The benefits could change at any time, and all of those benefits can be purchased if you really want them anyway.