OACEIS

Going on Symphony in a couple of months, not thrilled about the ports. What kind of discounts are people seeing when they book spa treatments on board during a port day? Specifically looking at couples massages but will likely end up doing a few things. 

Keto cruisers here too! Our plan for this next trip is to use our drink package cups at the freestyle machine to fill up on diet/zero sugar mixers and bring to the car where we will order drinks on the rocks!

We purchased day passes to Barcelo in aruba through shore excursioner since we had a long day there, it was a great day and was able to watch the sun set since the hotel faces west. Great beach and pool and the food wasn't bad. St Maarten has a lot of good options, but when we were there it was right after the hurricanes. Took a catamaran to the French side, best water I have ever seen. 

edit- Also went to Zeerovers for lunch, off the beaten trail but excellent fresh caught seafood!

We did it in March, wayyy better than anything else on Labadee, will be going every time we go back. 

We got married embarkation day at Dazzles on Oasis. The pre wedding communication was a little lacking, but it ended up being a great experience. Food was above what we expected, the venue and on ship experience for our non sailing guests was amazing. The time wasn't as structured as you would expect but would absolutely do it again. Let me know if you have any questions!

This thread is toxic. TLDR: Most younger people's vacations are not influenced by the cruise director, but a good one will stand out. 

Millenial here, cruise once every year for vacation. Cruise director has zero impact on our cruises, and I couldn't tell you the name of one we had. As long as the events/location info is available through the paper cruise compass,  app, or TV in room we are good to go. 

In regards to the previous comment about the disco theme, I also believe the 70s nostalgia thing is incredibly played out and we avoid this event every time. Somebody who was a young adult in 1970 would now be almost 70 years old, not necessarily the type of dance party I would seek out. 

We do wish they would enforce dress code a little more, if we are going for a nice dinner (not windjammer) I would like the atmosphere to reflect this. 

The biggest attractions for us on the ship are specialty dining, good bartenders, pool area, and night life. We choose cruising to try new international destinations without being stuck with one we may not like. 

Can anybody tell me if the drinks offered at champagne bar on Oasis/Allure of the Seas are available somewhere on Symphony? With Bionic Bar taking its place we still hope to get our favorites like cheesecake or espresso martini!

Last year we watched the draft at Globe + Atlas pub on oasis, it was a great time! We are doing it again this year!

We are heading to St Maarten in about 15 days! We have never been there, and have been trying to get a recent update on a couple of activity options. We were considering Loterie Farm cabana, but today I see the Pinel Island excursion is now available.

From some youtube videos it looks like there was some progress made in recovery for both, but wanted to see if anybody visited recently to give us a good idea. Both seem somewhat expensive, our backup plan is hang out closer to the port.

Thank you!

I am going to piggyback off this... after watching youtube videos it seems like some of the staff pump up the fan and let you fly around 5-6 feet , while some just let you hover like 2 feet off the ground? Anybody able to describe their experience?

Do the benefits of booking onboard outweigh the potential price increases that may happen in two weeks?

 

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Reduced deposit benefit as we will be doing non refundable. I don't want to pay $1000 for 2 cruises at the same time as a vacation. We also check the prices over time if they drop.

Book Anthem for 2019.

 

Book Symphony for 2020.

 

Problem solved. ;-)

 

Haven't been on either one but I've got a cruise booked on each so I've done enough research to know both have a lot of plusses. For you since each would be a new ship experience it may come down to the importance of itinerary vs. cost/ease of departure port (is NY easier/less $$ for you to get to than Miami/FLL?).

That will be what we do one way or the other, probably booking the next 2 years on board. We live in the Midwest and have never been to the East coast, so seeing NY is also a plus. I think flights are comparable last I checked

You've spelled out what I know, I'd be tempted to try Anthem, I assume its still sailing of the NY area at that time?

New York, Canaveral, coco cay (likely under construction still), Nassau.

We need some help deciding our next cruise that we plan to book on board Oasis in 2 weeks. Does anybody have some good pros and cons of Anthem vs Symphony? Younger couple with no kids, sailed on Oasis last year and this year.

Anthem- Never been on Quantum class, 270 looks amazing, staterooms look great, seems more affordable than symphony for the room you get

Symphony- Playmakers and Hooks look like great new concepts, and the itinerary options are better.

Thoughts?

We only did Chops last time, and it was the best dinner we ever had until we went to Flying Fish at Disney a week later. It was the only one we did last time, but was enough for us to get the dining package and try the others this cruise.

I was not sure if they had this in the area where you get sushi as opposed to hibachi.

Do they still offer the hot rock as an option at Izumi on Oasis? We are embarking in 2 weeks and this is the only reason we would go there, do not see it on the menu anymore. Thank you!

Hi! I got married on Oasis 4/17/17. I can’t remember our photographers name but he was from India and was a wedding photographer there! He was super sweet and helped us a lot and got some really awesome photos! We didn’t go through royals wedding department, so we booked him through the groups department. Some of the places they brought us was kind of cheesy, the mini golf course, the bow overlooking the boardwalk. My favorite pictures are walking from the mini golf to inside (where there was no sun, we got married at 7 so pictures were around 5 so the sun was high) and in Central Park! But he did let me guide him some places I wanted to take pictures (wanted an elevator pic and in Dazzles).

 

If you have any questions let me know!

 

 

 

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We got married there the next week! Best pictures for us were central park and carousel

Radisson has a nice pool area, but they seemed a little unprepared for a port full of cruise ships and check ins. Not happy with their guest service overall.

Beach bar, swim up bar, hot air balloon, (real)over water cabanas! Adult fun!

40 days to go, No assignment for our W GTY yet. I check way too much!

We got married on the Oasis last year embarkation day. We chose a lot of the stations and it ended up resembling a buffet, quality food though! Since it was embarkation day we had a short window of time before non sailing guests had to leave so it worked out well.

It was a little hard to eat in Dazzles since the seating was a little broken up, cant imagine a traditional meal there

We got married last year on Oasis of the Seas embarkation day. Lots of bad communication before with planning but it all turned out pretty well in Dazzles. Let me know if there is anything I can answer

I forget her name, but the server in Globe & Atlas was really good!