Is Oasis REALLY That Great?

[99florida]

We just sailed on the Oasis and having sailed well over 20+ times, I'm glad that I had given it a try. It definitely has everything and then some. However, it felt more like a floating 5 star hotel than a cruise ship. Central Park was my all time favorite area with 150 Central Park dining experience not be be missed. Personally, I prefer the Radiance class ships with the teak wood and for larger, I would go with the Freedom Class at most. Just too big but again my opinion and our boys are older therefore no need for the boardwalk (very cute) as it's more in line for grade school children. Where was the Oasis class 10 years ago when we would have been truly addicted. I recommend for any family that have small children. They'll go non stop.

[abhb]

Loved it! Would do it again in a heartbeat.

[Towncar T]

I'd say you should go, just to see for yourself. On here, you will get opinions as widely separated as a politician's promises and his delivery!!

 

We went on Oasis last year and, whilst we are glad we went, it is unlikely we will go again. We found the ship to be too big. Didn't manage to eat even once in the Windjammer because of the masses of people, and really hated having to pre-book nearly every show we wanted to see.

 

Anyway, we've switched to Celebrity now anyway.:)

[IWORK2CRUISE]

We had put off sailing on the very large ships because the smaller ones were so comfortable and so much fun. Previously, our largest was the Voyager Class.

Well, we were on Oasis in December and found that we liked many features more than we thought we would.

The "neighborhoods" help to control the crowds that we had feared and the escalators used to disembark at port stops are genius.

 

The ship was so beautifully decorated and well appointed. Although quite large; we found it easy to get around.

The dining options are quite good with the exception of the Windjammer. This was a let down for us as we love the action stations for dinner that we experienced on other ships. The salad bar was also quite limited which was a big disappointment for us. Also, many people love the made to order omelets for breakfast in most Windjammers. They don't have them on Oasis & Allure.

My husband did discover that they have made to order omelets at Johnny Rockets.

 

We loved the Park Cafe for the fresh, warm roast beef sandwich and the fresh, made to order salads. Unfortunately, they are only open in the daytime. We thought we could grab some delicious salads one evening and found that they were closed.

 

We never had a problem getting deck chairs.

 

We loved the shows but don't really understand the reservation system as you are still not gauranteed a seat unless you show up early. What's the point here? We arrived 10 minutes before our 1st reserved show and didn't have a seat. Go really early.

 

Would we do it again? If the time and price were in align, yes. However, not a priority.

 

We don't have a cruise booked for 2012 yet but we hope to! Maybe we will try the Freedom class or return to one of our favorites like Jewel of the Seas.

[FloGaleRNTX]

I would love to sail on this class of ship, but the price is twice what I pay on others. I won't do the zip line, the climbing, or the specialty restaurants! For me, the Voyager class has everything I need. Of course, I do not travel with teenagers, so can see why "bigger" ships might be more important.

 

Barb

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

I would love to sail on this class of ship, but the price is twice what I pay on others. I won't do the zip line, the climbing, or the specialty restaurants! For me, the Voyager class has everything I need. Of course, I do not travel with teenagers, so can see why "bigger" ships might be more important.

 

Barb

 

Even without trying the zipline, the climbing wall, the FlowRiders, or the specialty restaurants, passengers on Oasis and Allure still have a fabulous entertainment selection. The theater shows, the dive shows, the ice skating shows, the Comedy Club. the Jazz Club, the Prominade parades, and more can occupy so much time. The casino is the largest at sea as far as I know.

 

There are various lounges such as the Boleros Lounge (too smokey for my taste), but a hopping place when the band is playing. The Wave Bar travels up and down like an elevator and has a great view. There is a Champagne Bar. The Dazzles disco can be extremely popular when the band is playing certain special shows such as the country and western show that was standing room only as was the "Big Band" show played by the ship's orchestra.

 

If you are in a Grand Suite or higher or are Diamond Plus Crown and Anchor or higher, Oasis and Allure have a spectacular Concierge Lounge.

 

In short, even if you never once step foot on the sports deck or in a specialty restaurant, there are still many compelling features on these two ships.

[didicruiser]

I am going on the oasis in February and I'm really looking forward to it. However, I doubt that I will go again. I feel that it is something to be experienced.

The size of the ship isn't a concern for me but I hate the idea of waiting on a line for 30min to get into a show that I reserved.

I booked an aft Broadway Balcony as this type of room in unique to this ship.

[Langley Cruisers]

...I think it's an experience that an avid cruiser should do once. But my overall impression after sailing the Allure 2 weeks ago was NEVER AGAIN!...

 

...We went on Oasis last year and, whilst we are glad we went, it is unlikely we will go again....

 

 

Wow, I thought I was the only one! Went on Oasis and had a good time with the family unit, but I will never cruise this class again. Just didn't love it enough, and there were too many negatives, for me. I've voiced them here before and people disagreed with me, so suffice it to say that since you asked for opinions, OP, mine is that it was the least favorite of any of our cruises.

[Iluvcruising2]

I've never been on the Oasis-class before.

 

One day I must try.

 

I think I would like it, but I wouldn't know till I tried.

[ALSEAU]

....we are seniors. We decided to go once to see what a mega ship would be like & one of my daughter-in-law wanted us to do a reconisence.

I LOVED it BUT....

we made sure we had show reservations & saw a show everyday....fabulous !

we originally had a balcony room & I kept reading on these blogs how small they were. About a month before we left, a 'suite guarantee' catagory came up so we upgraded. We were given a JS on the hump with an extra large balcony.

we belong to Club Royale so we played a lot in the casino. Host was fabulous. Free drinks in there, a bottle of wine to the dining room & I hit a $2400. jackpot !

we had breakfast a Johnny Rocktes on the patio & 'people watched' people on there balconies :O)

we had lunch in the windjammer I sat next to the window where you are at the same level as the zipline & watched people as they left the paltform....some needed 'encouragement !

we went to the character breakfast eventhough we did not have kids with us & thoughly enjoyed it !

we had the great roast beef sandwiches in central park that people talk about. What I didn't know was that at the same place, they make custom chopped salads & have a huge basket of bags of assorted potato chips you can help yourself to !

we got their iphones that not only let you call each other but have a built in gps so you can just 'see' where the other person is. It also has the 'cruise compass' in it so you do not have to carry the paper around.

 

Needless to say.... I cannot wait to go back. It is a bit pricier than the other cruises & I will not got back without a JS again ! so.....it will be awhile :O(

 

Since you got two iphones can you tell me what your total cost was? And did you experience any problems with them?

[will work to cruise]

We sailed her last June. Had a good time, but not worth the cost. We are going back to the smaller ships with the better service and itineraries at much lower rates.

[RoyalDiamond]

Oasis..twice. Allure...once. Oasis booked again next year! Obviously, we love them. The entertainment is absolutely TOP NOTCH. The diving shows, Hairspray is broadway quality, Come Fly With Me is fantastic, etc, etc, etc,. The casino is HUGE with one side non-smoking (this actually works....the smoke doesn't seem to drift over because the place is so large!). WHO CARES about the Windjammer being crowded? There are PLENTY of other eating options, and we only went to the WJ twice the entire week! Crowds on the ship were few and far between....only during parades or other events for a few minutes. We never waited more than 30 seconds for an elevator....seriously! There are so many elevators that waiting isn't an issue. On other ships, they can take a while. (of course, I SHOULD be using the stairs....LOL). Numerous pools, deck chairs, etc. I don't care if it sails the same itineraries over and over. If it's OASIS, I'm there! I'm booking for the SHIP, not the ports. (LOVE Labadee, though!). Yes, it does have a few negatives, just like ANY ship. The walk around the outside promenade/jogging track doesn't have the best views, for example. But, there are many "secret" places to go...like the aft areas on decks 11 and 12 (I believe its 11 and 12) which have lounge chairs and NEVER anyone there! Oasis is worth it!

[TravlGrl]

I think it's an experience that an avid cruiser should do once. But my overall impression after sailing the Allure 2 weeks ago was NEVER AGAIN! (i'm sure most people will disagree with me, based on the reviews of the Oasis class ships on CC).

 

I'm in agreement with you. Oasis was the worst cruise and ship experience of my 14 cruises. However, I think the OP should perhaps give the ship a whirl and see what she thinks first-hand. For me, it was awful.

[Cruising89143]

I am going on the oasis in February and I'm really looking forward to it. However, I doubt that I will go again. I feel that it is something to be experienced.

The size of the ship isn't a concern for me but I hate the idea of waiting on a line for 30min to get into a show that I reserved.

I booked an aft Broadway Balcony as this type of room in unique to this ship.

 

 

I have never waited 30 minutes in line on either ship. We arrive about 30 minutes prior to the show when they are opening the doors to the theater and walk right in after they scan our SeaPass. Those that "don't" make reservations are the ones that have to wait.

[Shippy]

We had put off sailing on the very large ships because the smaller ones were so comfortable and so much fun. Previously, our largest was the Voyager Class.

Well, we were on Oasis in December and found that we liked many features more than we thought we would.

The "neighborhoods" help to control the crowds that we had feared and the escalators used to disembark at port stops are genius.

 

The ship was so beautifully decorated and well appointed. Although quite large; we found it easy to get around.

The dining options are quite good with the exception of the Windjammer. This was a let down for us as we love the action stations for dinner that we experienced on other ships. The salad bar was also quite limited which was a big disappointment for us. Also, many people love the made to order omelets for breakfast in most Windjammers. They don't have them on Oasis & Allure.

My husband did discover that they have made to order omelets at Johnny Rockets.

 

We loved the Park Cafe for the fresh, warm roast beef sandwich and the fresh, made to order salads. Unfortunately, they are only open in the daytime. We thought we could grab some delicious salads one evening and found that they were closed.

 

We never had a problem getting deck chairs.

 

We loved the shows but don't really understand the reservation system as you are still not gauranteed a seat unless you show up early. What's the point here? We arrived 10 minutes before our 1st reserved show and didn't have a seat. Go really early.

 

Would we do it again? If the time and price were in align, yes. However, not a priority.

 

We don't have a cruise booked for 2012 yet but we hope to! Maybe we will try the Freedom class or return to one of our favorites like Jewel of the Seas.

 

Your reservation is good for up to 15 minutes before the show. After that they let the lines of people in that did not make reservations.

[Big_G]

We were recently on Jewel and took advantage of the reduced deposit/OBC offer to book our next cruise. We just booked "anything" since we can easily change it. We ended up with a September 2013 7 night on Oasis. I really had no intention of taking this cruise, but, am now wondering if we should give it a whirl and see what the hub bub is all about.

 

Or switch it to something on one of the smaller ships (which we do like; Radiance Class, especially).

 

What does everyone think?

 

OP,

I would ignore the 'never go backs' and 'worst cruise ever' posts. After eighteen cruises on various lines, those words have never crossed my lips. Usually when it comes to reviews, the extreme negatives are more of a reflection on an individual event that happened to someone or the individual themselves. The Oasis class is a different style of cruising and can only be evaluated by experiencing it yourself. Go for it.

[Shippy]

Since you got two iphones can you tell me what your total cost was? And did you experience any problems with them?

 

 

 

You need a phone for each person you want to stay in touch with. When you pick them up, they program them just for your party so you cannot call (or spy ) on anyone else.

We had no problems but you do need to be sure & charge them every night.

I thought them well worth the price. They offered the 'regular phones' for $25. but for the extra $5 it was a no brainer.

[Cruising89143]

We loved the shows but don't really understand the reservation system as you are still not gauranteed a seat unless you show up early. What's the point here? We arrived 10 minutes before our 1st reserved show and didn't have a seat. Go really early.

 

The reservation system is in place to space out the crowds. If they did not have a system in place, you could have up to 3 or 4000 people trying to show up at the same show. This way only a certain amount are reserved for a certain show. Very smart idea IMHO.

[TravlGrl]

OP,

I would ignore the 'never go backs' and 'worst cruise ever' posts. After eighteen cruises on various lines, those words have never crossed my lips. Usually when it comes to reviews, the extreme negatives are more of a reflection on an individual event that happened to someone or the individual themselves. The Oasis class is a different style of cruising and can only be evaluated by experiencing it yourself. Go for it.

 

OP -- Likewise, I would ignore a post like this one telling anyone to ignore the negative posts. People have great experiences and poor experiences, and most are somewhere in the middle...but to ignore feedback isn't going to serve anyone well. You'll never know and get to create your own experience unless you cruise this class of ship on your own. You might fall in the middle, or determine it was your best cruise ever, or (hopefully not!) find it was your worst cruise.

 

And for this poster, don't assume anything. You know what that means, right?

[MJonTravel]

Did a B2B on Allure in October. The cruise was like none I've ever taken. The experience is different (not better or worse) than any ship I've sailed on. I will cruise on Allure (and/or Oasis) again and I look forward to it. I'll also cruise on Monarch, Majesty, Radiance, Enchantment, etc. again. :D

 

In all sincerity, the level of service and care we received on Allure exceeded my expectations. Perhaps some of that is because these were our first cruises as Diamond Plus, but I don't think so. I would recommend a room with an ocean view if you can get one. It's easy to lose your connection with the sea on this ship unless you have direct access to a view of the water! And that may be the only drawback (in my mind) of the whole experience.

 

You can read my review from the link in my signature line if you want. But I'll tell you, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a cruise on either Oasis or Allure to anyone. I truly believe that everyone should try it at least once.

[ALSEAU]

You need a phone for each person you want to stay in touch with. When you pick them up, they program them just for your party so you cannot call (or spy ) on anyone else.

We had no problems but you do need to be sure & charge them every night.

I thought them well worth the price. They offered the 'regular phones' for $25. but for the extra $5 it was a no brainer.

 

What features does the additional $5 dollars provide?

[ALSEAU]

This thread is a great venue for past cruisers to express their likes and dislikes. Everybody has an opinion based upon their own experience. The only opinions I always disregard are those from people who have not had the experience but are willing to share their speculations of what their feelings would be if they tried it.

 

There truly is not a one size fits all cruise ship or cruise. If there was I don't think RCI would take the economic risk to build ships like the Freedom and Oasis class. They recognized that folks like a variety of choices. The good news is that as a result there are things when being compared to past experiences that we like and/or dislike. Not a bad thing but what RCI expects.

[TravlGrl]

This thread is a great venue for past cruisers to express their likes and dislikes. Everybody has an opinion based upon their own experience. The only opinions I always disregard are those from people who have not had the experience but are willing to share their speculations of what their feelings would be if they tried it.

 

There truly is not a one size fits all cruise ship or cruise. If there was I don't think RCI would take the economic risk to build ships like the Freedom and Oasis class. They recognized that folks like a variety of choices. The good news is that as a result there are things when being compared to past experiences that we like and/or dislike. Not a bad thing but what RCI expects.

 

Well said, and true!

[curiouscat]

I too at first was skeptical about sailing Oasis but my my RCCL sales rep talked me into it.... told me had to experience it for myself and it does help to explain to clients. This was my 19th cruise with over 10 being on RCCL... My husband was not able to sail with me so I took my 80 yr old mom...

 

My experiences were mostly positive and so was my mom's who is 80 but still mobile(albeit a wee bit slower). I loved the Promenade,parades,Boleros,Central Park(especially Vintages).Loved riding a carousel on the ship with my mom... brought us back to our childhood days. Loved the tides bar and the shows,bar none, Vegas caliber quality.

 

Things I didn't like were no promenade for walking with views of the sea, very little sea views around the ship... yes it is a floating Vegas hotel IMHO. Didn't care for the MDR so specialty restaurants more the norm than MDR.

 

Other than that we had a blast.... I think it is something you need to experience if you can. And I was really surprised my Mom liked it. She still raves about it and she is for the most part a Celebrity cruiser.

 

And yes I'll be going out again on the Allure someday as Hubby wants to go....:p

 

CC

 

PS those that expressed their not liking the cruise it would be helpful to know what your dislikes were so the OP could see if that is something they may not care for....another persons treasure is another persons junk...:D

[TravlGrl]

I too at first was skeptical about sailing Oasis but my my RCCL sales rep talked me into it.... told me had to experience it for myself and it does help to explain to clients. This was my 19th cruise with over 10 being on RCCL... My husband was not able to sail with me so I took my 80 yr old mom...

 

My experiences were mostly positive and so was my mom's who is 80 but still mobile(albeit a wee bit slower). I loved the Promenade,parades,Boleros,Central Park(especially Vintages).Loved riding a carousel on the ship with my mom... brought us back to our childhood days. Loved the tides bar and the shows,bar none, Vegas caliber quality.

 

Things I didn't like were no promenade for walking with views of the sea, very little sea views around the ship... yes it is a floating Vegas hotel IMHO. Didn't care for the MDR so specialty restaurants more the norm than MDR.

 

Other than that we had a blast.... I think it is something you need to experience if you can. And I was really surprised my Mom liked it. She still raves about it and she is for the most part a Celebrity cruiser.

 

And yes I'll be going out again on the Allure someday as Hubby wants to go....:p

 

CC

 

PS those that expressed their not liking the cruise it would be helpful to know what your dislikes were so the OP could see if that is something they may not care for....another persons treasure is another persons junk...:D

 

I learned long ago that to do that on Cruise Critic means to subject oneself to massive flaming to the point that threads get shut down because cheerleaders just can't understand that not all cruises are perfect, and start going on the attack. It gets ridiculous. Since the OP didn't ask for specifics, I don't plan on going into specifics and being a Debbie Downer about it. I WILL give generalities though -- long waits in line for the elevators, long waits in the Windjammer, long waits and no seating at Park Cafe, very few views of the water unless I was in my cabin (we had a balcony), long pizza lines (don't even get my DH started on that one :)), long waits to pay in boutiques, long waits to exit the ship in port, and long waits to get back on ship in port. This is all compared to 13 other cruises where waits are inevitable, but not like what we experienced on Oasis. It felt like much of our time was spent waiting in line. The best way for me to describe how I felt is to describe my dislike for large shopping malls or Costco on a Saturday. Oasis felt like both to me.

 

Hopefully that's enough feedback without giving specific scenarios. We sailed late September 2010, by the way, if that matters. Still, I think the OP should try it if the budget is right.