Oasis Trip Report June 19-26, 2010

[swwake]

LOL, that sign at the Sunset Bar explains the topless woman we saw sitting casually at the bar last time we were there.:D My son (then 14 years old) was trying SO hard to purposely avert his eyes, it was funny!

Seriously? I thought the European style was only on the French side of the island. I thought the sign was a joke.

[MomtoCCC]

Great review! It's not very often that I see another "Kellye" spelled the same way I spell it. I keep reading your review and wishing I was the "Kellye" that was with you - lol...Looks like you had a good time.

[christinalvt]

Susan, you ought to be a travel writer! Either that, or write a book on your adventures, you write so well. Your comment about "bodies rolling down the beach" after the plane went over had me almost falling off my chair laughing so hard. The imagery!

 

Christina

Edited July 15, 2010 by christinalvt

[rolotumasi]

You're review has been really great I look forward to reading your adventure.

 

Would also like to thank you for posting on our meet and mingle page. Very nice of you. John

[camreesmom]

As you can see, Foo was enjoying a Cloud 9,

 

I have to ask......what's a Cloud 9?

 

Loving your review! I tried keeping a diary on our Spring Break cruise on the LOS and did good for about 3 days and lousy the rest of the time.

[swwake]

Great review! It's not very often that I see another "Kellye" spelled the same way I spell it. I keep reading your review and wishing I was the "Kellye" that was with you - lol...Looks like you had a good time.

That's interesting. Yeah, Kellye is my cousin. I don't know where they got the spelling for her name, but I like it. I always said she's one of a kind - but maybe not!

 

Susan, you ought to be a travel writer! Either that, or write a book on your adventures, you write so well. Your comment about "bodies rolling down the beach" after the plane went over had me almost falling off my chair laughing so hard. The imagery!

 

Christina

Aww thanks for the compliments. I'm usually quite a stickler for grammar and spelling, and I like to think I'm funny, though corny at times. I once had an English professor in college who told me I wrote very well and asked if I had plans to be an author. When I said "no", he responded "good, there's not much money in writing". I would imagine it's very hard to make much money in that field. However, I did read a cruise travel book that was utterly horrible. Maybe you're right! If only I had the time...

 

You're review has been really great I look forward to reading your adventure.

 

Would also like to thank you for posting on our meet and mingle page. Very nice of you. John

Thank you - and you're welcome. I hope y'all have a fantastic cruise in January. Say hi to the ship for me!

[swwake]

I have to ask......what's a Cloud 9?

 

Loving your review! I tried keeping a diary on our Spring Break cruise on the LOS and did good for about 3 days and lousy the rest of the time.

I don't remember exactly what's in a Cloud 9 at that bar. I looked it up, but there are numerous recipes and none look like that one. It was the special of the day and I think it had rum and some pineapple, with probably some grenadine or cranberry for the pink color. The first sip was horrible, but it grew on me. Keeping a travel journal is difficult, I agree. It worked for me in Disney World in '08, but that was because we slowed down every now and then. It seems like on a cruise, we only slow down to sleep.

[swwake]

Sorry I won't have time for an update tonight, but...

 

Check out my new ticker!!

[christinalvt]

Sorry I won't have time for an update tonight, but...

 

Check out my new ticker!!

 

I'm already looking forward to your Liberty review!:)

[Jerzgirl79]

Did I say it already THIS REVIEW IS GREAT!

 

I think I want 2 go 2 Maho Beach. How much was the cab fare? Was there a fee for the beach?

 

I'm sailing this saturday and I've been checking ur review each day! Just Great!!!

[mcfaddensfarm]

Seriously? I thought the European style was only on the French side of the island. I thought the sign was a joke.

 

Yeah, I had thought the same thing about the sides...guess it doesn't matter. We walked up to the bar at the end of our visit to the beach, to catch our cab and it was one of those things where you kind of do a double take. She was just sitting there at the bar, topless. I was joking with my son, asking if he wanted to get his picture taken with her so he could brag about it to his friends back home, lol. He got all indignant with me and refused to look in her direction. (I'm sure when I wasn't looking he was furtively sneaking a peek....):p

Edited July 16, 2010 by mcfaddensfarm

[jjtt]

Did I say it already THIS REVIEW IS GREAT!

 

I think I want 2 go 2 Maho Beach. How much was the cab fare? Was there a fee for the beach?

 

I'm sailing this saturday and I've been checking ur review each day! Just Great!!!

 

 

Enjoy Jerzgirl79, we leave in five weeks for Oasis. Leave some of the sun and fun for us! :cool:

 

I agree Susan's review and pictures are great. It makes you think you are with her onboard the ship. :rolleyes:

[swwake]

I'm already looking forward to your Liberty review!:)

Haha - I'm not sure I'll do a review for that one. On second thought, I'll go ahead and post my review here right now.

 

Liberty of the Seas, Oct 28-31

Oct 28 - We got on the ship and rode the Flowrider.

Oct 29 - We stayed on the ship and rode the Flowrider.

Oct 30 - We rode the Flowrider all day.

Oct 31 - We got off the ship.

 

Summary - It was a great cruise!

 

;)

 

Did I say it already THIS REVIEW IS GREAT!

 

I think I want 2 go 2 Maho Beach. How much was the cab fare? Was there a fee for the beach?

 

I'm sailing this saturday and I've been checking ur review each day! Just Great!!!

You definitely need to try to see Maho. It was great, even in the rain. Cab fare is $8 there, $7 back to Philipsburg. Have a wonderful trip!

[rileha2]

Haha - I'm not sure I'll do a review for that one. On second thought, I'll go ahead and post my review here right now.

 

Liberty of the Seas, Oct 28-31

Oct 28 - We got on the ship and rode the Flowrider.

Oct 29 - We stayed on the ship and rode the Flowrider.

Oct 30 - We rode the Flowrider all day.

Oct 31 - We got off the ship.

 

Summary - It was a great cruise!

 

 

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to go to Schlitterbahn for your family vacations (granted they aren't open much of the year including October)? They have a Flowrider.

[swwake]

Wouldn't it be cheaper just to go to Schlitterbahn for your family vacations (granted they aren't open much of the year including October)? They have a Flowrider.

Schlitterbahn doesn't allow stand-up surfing :(

[rileha2]

Schlitterbahn doesn't allow stand-up surfing :(

 

You need to bring your family out to San Diego to Wave House. They have both a Flowrider and Flowbarrel. They have leagues, competitions. It is pretty hardcore.

[swwake]

You need to bring your family out to San Diego to Wave House. They have both a Flowrider and Flowbarrel. They have leagues, competitions. It is pretty hardcore.

I have a friend who lives in SD and told me about that. I don't think we're good enough for the Flowbarrel, but I'd love to visit San Diego again to try them. If we get out that way, we definitely won't miss a trip to Wave House!

[kirkwash]

Hello Susan

The best review ever. I have a favour to ask please go on a Med cruise before Sept 2010 on Independence of the Seas and do a review of it so I know what to expect. :o

Yes before you ask off course I will pay for your cruise, flights, on board spends , casino chips , excursions . Not sure if I could stretch to flow rider time and bar bill though. :):):)

 

Stuart

[Miss Dot]

Thank you so much for posting the reviews...love them. Maho beach is where my husband has been wanting to go...can not get much info from ppl on it. So if we get off the ship early, we can catch a taxit to the beach, then catch a taxi back to Phillipsburg...did they let you off near the ship for shopping, or did you have to catch another taxi after shopping?

Also, I noticed in one of your pictures can of soda...I am a soda drinker and like fountain drinks...which is what we had on our last RCC cruise, Carnival has can drinks...do you know if with the soda card we would get fountain or can sodas?

Thanks again for everything, looking forward to October now!

[swwake]

Hello Susan

The best review ever. I have a favour to ask please go on a Med cruise before Sept 2010 on Independence of the Seas and do a review of it so I know what to expect. :o

Yes before you ask off course I will pay for your cruise, flights, on board spends , casino chips , excursions . Not sure if I could stretch to flow rider time and bar bill though. :):):)

 

Stuart

Be careful, Stuart. I may take you up on that. Alcohol bill doesn't run too high when you ride Flowrider all day, and Flowrider lessons are cheap relative to the cruise, flights, etc. :) We were just talking about a possible Independence cruise tonight, but sorry it won't be before Sept 2010 :(

 

Thank you so much for posting the reviews...love them. Maho beach is where my husband has been wanting to go...can not get much info from ppl on it. So if we get off the ship early, we can catch a taxit to the beach, then catch a taxi back to Phillipsburg...did they let you off near the ship for shopping, or did you have to catch another taxi after shopping?

Also, I noticed in one of your pictures can of soda...I am a soda drinker and like fountain drinks...which is what we had on our last RCC cruise, Carnival has can drinks...do you know if with the soda card we would get fountain or can sodas?

Thanks again for everything, looking forward to October now!

I haven't gotten to that part yet, but they took us to Philipsburg for $7 after Maho Beach. It was about 20 minutes to get there. Then we strolled casually through Philipsburg and walked back to the ship (really about 10 minutes). I don't even think you have to get off the ship early to go to Maho. The flights don't really start coming in until noon.

 

Soda - I don't remember which picture, but I have heard you can ask certain bartenders for can drinks. You may be able to get them from room service also. The soda card is about $40 per person (adult). We found it worth it for my husband, and I snuck a coke every once in awhile on his card too.

[swwake]

A note about the taxis at Maho Beach – you need to plan for a bit of a wait here. Talk to the “guide” at Sunset Bar & Grill about hailing a cab for you. We waited 20-30 minutes for our cab.

 

For $7 per person, the cab (van) took us to downtown Philipsburg. We hopped off the cab and found our way to another outdoor market similar to St Thomas. The girls shopped for a few minutes, then we made our way into the town. I just loved how cute Philipsburg is, with the cobblestone streets.

 

 

 

This shot was along the beach.

 

It continued to rain off and on while we were in Philipsburg. It’s interesting that this didn’t dampen our spirits. I remember being in Barbados in the early 80s and it rained all day at that port and all I remember is the rain. The rain didn’t take away from St Maarten at all. We just thought it was very quaint and pretty.

 

We stopped in a shop and bought a couple of pretzels, which were really good. We noticed that the native currency was the “FL”. We asked about that, and the clerk said that is the “Floren”, or Dutch currency of the Netherland Antilles.

 

Here’s a photo of the beautiful Oasis from Philipsburg’s beach.

 

About the beach – I would say that this beach was very nice, so close to the ship. We had thought about going to Orient Beach, and I’m sure it’s beautiful, but I would say that if you’re looking for a beach, where there are other activities (shopping, local culture, bars) within reach, the beach right there near the pier is just fine.

 

Caitlin had promised to bring some Caribbean sand back to some friends, so she partially filled an Evian bottle with some sand, only to be confiscated and trashed when we went through security to board the ship. Not surprising, and I did warn her, but a word to the wise.

 

Also, there are inexpensive water taxis (I think $6 per person for all-day round-trips) to and from the ship and Philipsburg. We didn’t choose to take the water taxi, as we preferred to walk and explore.

 

We walked back to the pier. It’s scenic and just a nice stroll.

 

Near the pier, after the point where you have to show your ship’s room key (in this case, Carnival or RCI), there are lots of nice, modern shops. There was also a pavilion with a steel drum band, which I stopped to watch for a bit. I just love steel drums.

 

Next up – back onboard – Flowrider again(?) and evening activities

[charliegirlac]

Loving your trip report Susan! Thank you so much because it must be a lot of work! Your attention to detail is fantastic. If you can remember can you list some of the prices for the food and drinks at Maho? Or even round abouts? You said they were pricey so I am just trying to figure out how much cash to take - oh and was is in USD?

 

Thanks again!!!

[swwake]

Loving your trip report Susan! Thank you so much because it must be a lot of work! Your attention to detail is fantastic. If you can remember can you list some of the prices for the food and drinks at Maho? Or even round abouts? You said they were pricey so I am just trying to figure out how much cash to take - oh and was is in USD?

 

Thanks again!!!

It's not so much work - stress relief for me - and I get to relive a fantastic vacation. I found the menu for Sunset. http://www.sunsetsxm.com/food_dinnerlunch.php

 

Burgers $9-$12. Hot dogs $6. Includes fries. I guess this is about what you'd pay in an airport. But the food was pretty good. And you can't beat the view!

[swwake]

Back at the beautiful Oasis

 

From our balcony – isn’t St Maarten gorgeous?

 

Here is one more, and you can tell we were a little behind the first hump – this photo looking toward aft.

 

Unfortunately, we didn’t choose to ride the Flowrider this afternoon. I think it was about 4:30 when we got back onboard.

 

Since we didn’t do the Flowrider, two days in a row, we decided we wanted to do another group lesson. We went to sign up, and they were sold out for the rest of the cruise. So we put 1-2 of us on a waiting list and they told us to check in at the sports desk any time we were up that way.

 

I can’t remember what we did before dinner. After dinner, we had reservations for the ice show, Frozen in Time. I don’t have any pics. I think maybe they didn’t allow photography, but I’m not sure. The show was pretty good. It was a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. I believe there were 6 or 7 of them depicted. I remember the Snow Queen, the Red Shoes, Little Mermaid and Ugly Duckling. The skating was impressive, but there were quite a few bobbles and falls. The costumes were great. I think the music was pre-recorded.

 

Everyone mentions the sand artist. Before the cruise, I thought maybe this was someone who built sand castles on the ice or something. But it’s actually a lady who uses her hands to “draw” artwork on a glass or acrylic window/table. It looks like there is a light projected on the table from below, and a camera projects this onto a big screen for the audience to see what she is doing. She is very talented and moves very quickly. It is truly amazing what she can do.

 

I should also mention that in Studio B there is a bar along one of the back walls. So, for those who would like a cocktail during the show (or Quest), it’s available.

 

There are sections of the Frozen in Time show where the skaters actually come up into the aisles in the audience, and at one point they pull some kids from the audience. I’m sure this is a very cool experience for the kids.

 

After the Frozen in Time show, we walked through the Royal Promedade and caught part of the 70s dance party. A few photos.

 

There’s Cruise Director Richard Spacey as the Indian from the Village People.

 

And again as Austin Powers

 

The dance party was lots of fun, with great music and a fun vibe. We stood at Sorrento’s and had a great view, but this was one of the few times we felt it was crowded on the ship.

 

Next – late night on Oasis, and Thursday At Sea

[amethyst365]

thanks Susan,

still reading with eagerness and looking forward to the next one! When you went to the ics show - was it really cold inside? do you have to take warm clothes with you to see this show? thanks.