Just Off – 3/27/10

[gonole1972]

(33 cruises – My wife and I are late 50’s along with another couple)

The ship is the destination! Overall A++ ship, crew, food and entertainment.

Random Highlights and comments:

• Don’t Miss the following shows – Aqua Show; Ice Show; Come Fly with Me; Belly Flop Contest in Aqua Theatre. (Hairspray is well done and great voices and dance but theme of the story not of our liking)

• 150 Central outstanding! Different – has 2 set-menus. Loved the matching wine package for $75.

• Giovanni’s – OK but we like Portofino’s much better. Giovanni’s VERY loud when all tables filled – hard to hear conversations across the table. Restaurant Manager said RCCL were trying to get a place in between 150 Central/Portofino’s/Chops so families could have a go-to place that was not as formal and $15. Reminded me of Maggiano’s – family style dining.

• If you want to go to Windjammer – watch for crowded times on TV screens - Try alternates. i.e. Breakfast in Main Dining Room has 2 choices – 1 is buffet and almost same items as upstairs and 2nd is the usual sit and serve menu. Also Solarium is very nice for breakfast but adult only.

• Our Junior Suite was very nice and comfortable. Plenty of closet space. (deck 14)

• Comedy show was good and enjoyed the Club venue.

• Embarkation, debarkation, parking outstanding! On in 15 minutes (at 11:30am) after parking; and off and gone 15 minutes after self-assist at 7am. 3 minute walk from lot to check-in.

• Ship very well designed and after 2 days easy to get around. Didn’t even refer to mapping on TV screens by Sunday.

• Best walking/jogging track at sea! Gym great but can get crowded by 9am on sea days.

• Most beautiful spa and best head-to-toe massage on a ship ever - $99! (ask for Melissa)

• Casino very nice. However, they are having some computer problems with 3 Texas-Holdum tables so glitches would crop-up. FYI - Have to have cash to play Hold-um; not like Poker Pro where you charged to your Sea-Pass.

• “single odds “ at craps – hard to win with those odds

• Catamaran Sail and Snorkel in St. Thomas was very good. Guided underwater tour by crew was excellent.

• This was our first time trying MTD. Worked well and requested and got same waiter/asst every night we dined. Suggestion – if you can’t make it to Chops you can order a filet any night for $14.95 and they will bring it up – was excellent!

• They did enforce 30 minute rule of pool chairs. Chairs hogs beware! And they policed kids in Solarium pools and Jacuzzis.

• The kid’s water pool area was a big hit with the kids I saw many there ALL day long.

• Fun to watch flow rider and also big hit with all ages who gave it a try.

 

 

Overall one of our best times at sea. We all agreed we will go back to Oasis/Allure many more times just for the joy of the ship. My wife and I are looking forward to taking our grandchildren (ages 1-5) on this amazing ship. I heard from many parents that their kids were in heaven for 7 days. I must have overheard a 100 Dad’s and Mom’s saying their kids were telling them to go away – “we are having too much fun.”

[suzw]

Hi....does "self assist" mean you carried your own luggage off? We would like to get off as early as possible....thanks

Suzanne

[gonole1972]

yes self assist is carry off on your own. It started at 6:15am

[tarajean1962]

Thanks for the review! :D It's stuff like this that keeps me alive waiting until January!

 

Tara

[onefishtwofish]

Thanks for the great review! We're going on June 5th and looking forward to it! :D

[bayou cruiser]

Can you tell me about the spa package massage? Was it a daily special for $99 on a port day or could you book that upon boarding?

[toras]

I was on the same cruise. The only response I have to your points is that disembarkation wasn't smooth for the regulars. They said in the info video that no announcements will be made, watch the screen in the waiting area. Well the screen stopped working at #32, and someone had to announce "1 to #38 can go now". 5 minutes later "1 to #55" - so of course it was all jammed up.

 

Oh and also our St. Maarten Sail and Snorkel was refunded as the water was not good for snorkeling. Some people went on it anyway for the sailing.

 

Agree it's a fabulous ship and easy to get around in spite of the size!

[sportsphotos]

Here is you ship Leaving port

 

[CruiserTK]

Do the comedians differ in the Comedy Club from one day to the next, or are the shows repeated throughout the seven days? Or, phrased another way, are the shows repeated throughout the seven days, or are there new shows each evening or every couple of days?

[gonole1972]

Can you tell me about the spa package massage? Was it a daily special for $99 on a port day or could you book that upon boarding?

 

I had the massage the afternoon we were in St, Martin and booked the day before in person. I think the price was the same the entire cruise,

[gonole1972]

Do the comedians differ in the Comedy Club from one day to the next, or are the shows repeated throughout the seven days? Or, phrased another way, are the shows repeated throughout the seven days, or are there new shows each evening or every couple of days?

 

Same comedians and shows repeated every night.

[CruiserTK]

We always enjoy the comedians in the main theatre. Were there any scheduled for the evening performances in the main theatre?

[gonole1972]

We always enjoy the comedians in the main theatre. Were there any scheduled for the evening performances in the main theatre?

 

None - all shifted to Comedy Club

[D&P Cruisers]

Gonole 1972

 

Were all three Texas Hold-um tables no limit or did they have a limit hold-um table.

 

Thanks

[gonole1972]

Gonole 1972

 

Were all three Texas Hold-um tables no limit or did they have a limit hold-um table.

 

Thanks

 

1-2 no limit on all tables. However they will change the table if enogh people ask for a different game. Only change requested was a 2-5 no limit on a couple of nights.

[JeffersonSea]

1-2 no limit on all tables. However they will change the table if enogh people ask for a different game. Only change requested was a 2-5 no limit on a couple of nights.

 

You mentioned it was cash only...how did that work? We've played the poker pro machines on other ships, and it just charged your sail card. Did you have to give someone cash? Put it directly in the machine?

[gonole1972]

You mentioned it was cash only...how did that work? We've played the poker pro machines on other ships, and it just charged your sail card. Did you have to give someone cash? Put it directly in the machine?

 

The Poker Machines on the Oasis are different than any other ships. They have a terminal at the top of the table and you insert your Sea Pass and then cash in a slot for the amount you wish to bank (limit $50-$300).

 

At the end of the night you can cash out - you get a slip - then you go to the cashiers to get money. Or keep the slip with your current balance and insert it the cash slot any other time you want to play.

 

In talking the Casino Manager they said they went to cash since people were putting large amounts on ther Sea Pass, thus their credit card, and not paying their creidt card bill. Sounds like the Sea Pass route was too easy for many people to exceed what they reasonably should have been wagering.

 

Thus cash only. However, if you are short of cash you can go to the Cashier's Window and using a credit card get cash -- and paying a 3% fee. RCCL's protection there is that the credit card company wouild stop any "over your limit" request.

[JeffersonSea]

The Poker Machines on the Oasis are different than any other ships. They have a terminal at the top of the table and you insert your Sea Pass and then cash in a slot for the amount you wish to bank (limit $50-$300).

 

At the end of the night you can cash out - you get a slip - then you go to the cashiers to get money. Or keep the slip with your current balance and insert it the cash slot any other time you want to play.

 

In talking the Casino Manager they said they went to cash since people were putting large amounts on ther Sea Pass, thus their credit card, and not paying their creidt card bill. Sounds like the Sea Pass route was too easy for many people to exceed what they reasonably should have been wagering.

 

Thus cash only. However, if you are short of cash you can go to the Cashier's Window and using a credit card get cash -- and paying a 3% fee. RCCL's protection there is that the credit card company wouild stop any "over your limit" request.

 

Wow. Sounds like a pain, but I guess I can understand their side too. I'm guessing there's an ATM in the casino? I hope so...I don't want to have to be running up and down stairs searching for one to play. I don't know if you played or not, but I'm thinking it would be annoying to be playing while people are constantly putting money into the table while games are going on.

 

DW and I are both poker players, but are going to try and play just a little this trip...just too much to see and do on the ship.

 

Thanks for the info!!

[sogdoc1]

I have only played at regular tables in casinos. How does the poker work on the ship? Do they have regular tables with dealers or is it some kind of electronic system without dealers? Are you playing each other or the computer/dealer?

[JeffersonSea]

I have only played at regular tables in casinos. How does the poker work on the ship? Do they have regular tables with dealers or is it some kind of electronic system without dealers? Are you playing each other or the computer/dealer?

 

We've played the electronic tables in Vegas and on Carnival. Everything is the same as normal, except no dealer. The table takes care of everything, dealing, chips, etc.

 

Each player has a screen with your cards, chip count, and other info. To look at your cards, you cup your hands over the cards and the corners flip up to show you what they are. (so no one else at the table can see) Then to bet, you just tap the various denominations. ($1, $5, $10, etc to get a betting amount)

 

The other cards and information are on the big screen in the middle of the table. Here's a pic of one...

http://www.alibaba.com/product-tp/105922876/Electronic_Poker_Texas_Hold_Em_table/showimage.html

 

We're not big fans of them, we like having a dealer, real cards, real chips, etc. But it's better than nothing, I guess.

[sogdoc1]

Thanks, I have never seen them before.

[Into the Sun]

You did a fantastic job with your review. We sailed on 3/06 and had the best time ever.

Also did the self assist and so much easier than the waiting for the numbers to be called. Of course we were at the Airport way to early but we are use to that. Our friends took our luggage with them as they drove home. So we only had to deal with our carryons in airport. So much easier.