Is Oasis REALLY That Great?

[hoosiercruising]

We went on the Oasis of the Seas last summer. I was apprehensive due to the size (and cost!). We went with four teenagers. We loved the ship...it is unbelievable. Central Park is beautiful, the food was terrific, the pools, casino, entertainment....everything was great.

The only downside were the ports and how many days we were at sea. The Falmouth port is horrible....I wish I had done more research and booked an excursion to a beach or something. However, that was my own fault for not doing more research.

I would love to go on the Oasis again, but we are booked for the Liberty (February) and the Navigator (spring break)....the cost is just so much lower for those boats that it is hard to justify the Oasis or the Allure.

[TravlGrl]

I haven't encountered line issues other than the elevators at certain times but I've had the same issue on other smaller RCI ships and other cruise lines. With that said, I won't discount that persons opinions because it's her view of the experience of the ship and how she felt.

 

Thank you, cruisingator. Why discount anyone's experience? Just soak it in and make a decision.

[janetz]

We loved the Oasis. The shows are some of the best at sea. Service was excellent. We never waited in a line and never went to the windjammer. So much to do and very well laid out.

Everyone has their own opinion, likes and dislikes. If a poster asks they should expect the negative and the positive views. No need to bash the negatives. Be respectfull to each other. ;)

Yes, for us the Oasis was wonderful!

[daveky]

As you can see from my cruising history, I have sailed many times with RCL and all their classes of ships several time and experienced the evolution of their ships. Sailed the Oasis for the first time last year and had a great time. As other posts have commented on, it's a different crusing experience and may not be for everyone. I have decided not to choose one class over another, but enjoy the differences and book the cruise, islands, price and ship based on what I'm in the mood for as all of their classes are unique. Enjoyed last year going down to Serenade from the Freedom/Voyagers class which I have sailed many many times, then went on the Oasis in the same year and had a great time on both. Competely different experiences, but had a great time on both.

 

Dave

[tomko2]

Two more days and we will be on the Allure for the first time. Five nighter going to Labadee & Falmouth. We were at both stops in early December so will spend the Falmouth day on board learning more about the ship.

We have booked 4 shows and have reservations for 150 Central and Giovanni's. Considering adding Chops once we get on board.

Have a balcony on Deck 11 so we will have our sea views.

 

Questions:

: is the menu at 150 a la carte or fixed? Any recommendations?

: can you buy a pass for the termal beds for the week?

: D+ and we usually go to the CL and D Lounge on alternate nights to meet people etc. Have read rave reviews about the CL but little about the DL; is there a crowding issue?

: love looking at the artwork on the ships and think I have traisped up and down every stair case and hallway on every ship we have been on, does the Allure have similar displays?

:Does the Starbucks accept your regular Starbucks card?

:how to they handle the Muster Drill?

:Does anyone know the names of the Casino Host and Casino Manager? (hoping Lee is there).

:Who is the current Concierge?

:since we have reservations for the shows is there a special line?

 

OK, I think that covers all my questions. :o

 

All suggestions, tips, recommendations welcome and appreciated.

Kathy:)

:

[MrsB05]

You could have just done an open booking and not committed to any cruise. Not sure why the C&A rep didnt suggest that... Maybe they work on commision:eek:

 

You can do an open booking but the deposit is not refundable if for some reason you are never able to go. I know that would be unlikely but we figured why risk it, especially since it's not a big deal to switch it to another cruise; either one before or one after the September 2013 sailing.

[janetz]

You can do an open booking but the deposit is not refundable if for some reason you are never able to go. I know that would be unlikely but we figured why risk it, especially since it's not a big deal to switch it to another cruise; either one before or one after the September 2013 sailing.

 

 

 

Please tell me how I can gave your Nation Of Why Not Icon. I love it. :)

[janetz]

Never mind :D

[ALSEAU]

Thanks Wilda, in case Phillies already knew that, I didn't. I was wondering how that worked. I guess I was to lazy to look it up. Thanks again.

 

 

I don't know if it is my settings but I find that I can only do that with a max of three quotes. If I do more it just retains the last three.

[ALSEAU]

Phillies- not sure if you are aware but you can use the "multi-quote" button (the button in the middle) and continue to hit multi-quote until the last post that you wish to quote...then hit the "quote" button on the bottom left. All of the posts will show up...much easier than going back and doing it over and over again for each post you want to respond to. Unless you are trying to get your post count up;)

 

Should have posted this against this post. Less confusing.

 

I don't know if it is my settings but I find that I can only do that with a max of three quotes. If I do more it just retains the last three.

[DMickey28]

We are doing a cruise at the end of March and trying to decide which ship. We haven't cruised since 2008 (we had kids!) and we will be going without the kids. We have done Navigator, Adventure and Freedom. We LOVED Navigator and Adventure, our two favorite cruises but we really disliked Freedom. I felt that it was just like the Navigator or Adventure but with a TON more people and not much more public space.

 

Now I am worried that Oasis/Allure is going to be like that. We really didn't like the crowded feeling of the Freedom class.

[TravlGrl]

We are doing a cruise at the end of March and trying to decide which ship. We haven't cruised since 2008 (we had kids!) and we will be going without the kids. We have done Navigator, Adventure and Freedom. We LOVED Navigator and Adventure, our two favorite cruises but we really disliked Freedom. I felt that it was just like the Navigator or Adventure but with a TON more people and not much more public space.

 

Now I am worried that Oasis/Allure is going to be like that. We really didn't like the crowded feeling of the Freedom class.

 

You're going to get varying opinions as we've all been on different sailings at different times, etc. For us, Oasis was too crowded with too many people (and I've been notably slammed and flamed on this thread after I was asked to give examples, as I'm not forthright with negativity on CC) BUT Freedom was not. Freedom didn't feel crowded at all for us, yet it did for you. The majority of people love Oasis (I did not) but they also love Freedom (you did not), so you've got an interesting decision to make. Is your goal more about relaxation or is it more about participation in activities? That could make a difference.

[Cruising89143]

We are doing a cruise at the end of March and trying to decide which ship. We haven't cruised since 2008 (we had kids!) and we will be going without the kids. We have done Navigator, Adventure and Freedom. We LOVED Navigator and Adventure, our two favorite cruises but we really disliked Freedom. I felt that it was just like the Navigator or Adventure but with a TON more people and not much more public space.

 

Now I am worried that Oasis/Allure is going to be like that. We really didn't like the crowded feeling of the Freedom class.

 

I have spent five weeks between the two ships and they have been the least crowded ships out of almost 50 cruises. The Freedom actually felt much more crowded than either Oasis class ship. I suggest giving it a try.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Aquahound]

We are doing a cruise at the end of March and trying to decide which ship. We haven't cruised since 2008 (we had kids!) and we will be going without the kids. We have done Navigator, Adventure and Freedom. We LOVED Navigator and Adventure, our two favorite cruises but we really disliked Freedom. I felt that it was just like the Navigator or Adventure but with a TON more people and not much more public space.

 

Now I am worried that Oasis/Allure is going to be like that. We really didn't like the crowded feeling of the Freedom class.

 

I have been on the Freedom and both Oasis and Allure. Like TravlGrl, I've been flamed for making the smallest little complaint in past threads. However, like you, I found Freedom more crowded than Voyager Class, mainly because it's a bigger ship with the same elevator compliment as Voyager. They were impossible to wait for at times.

 

That said, unlike TravlGrl, my experience on Oasis was that of wide open spaces and virtually no waits for elevators. I found it leaps and bounds less crowded than Freedom. So no, don't think Oasis will be that bad based on your Freeom experience. Oasis is not like Freedom and is a totally different design.

[TravlGrl]

I have been on the Freedom and both Oasis and Allure. Like TravlGrl, I've been flamed for making the smallest little complaint in past threads. However, like you, I found Freedom more crowded than Voyager Class, mainly because it's a bigger ship with the same elevator compliment as Voyager. They were impossible to wait for at times.

 

That said, unlike TravlGrl, my experience on Oasis was that of wide open spaces and virtually no waits for elevators. I found it leaps and bounds less crowded than Freedom. So no, don't think Oasis will be that bad based on your Freeom experience. Oasis is not like Freedom and is a totally different design.

 

*Applause* for not being inflammatory for having a different experience. Must be something in the water down there in Key West. :)

[Aquahound]

*Applause* for not being inflammatory for having a different experience. Must be something in the water down there in Key West. :)

 

Thanks Tara. :) That stuff in our water is called rum. ;)

[TravlGrl]

Thanks Tara. :) That stuff in our water is called rum. ;)

 

*On my way!* :D

[Phillies14]

Sorry but Cruise Critic boards are a small sampling of cruisers and extreme negatives should be taken with a grain of salt. For every negative comment there are thousands who feel just the opposite and should not be a factor in someone trying out a ship for the first time. If you want to say the same about extreme positive comments then that is your prerogative.

This is one of the best posts I've seen in a long while explaining one over the top negative response with hundreds if not thousands of excellent responses regarding a cruise and or ship and crew, thank you SP....K.O Near Philly:):)

[Phillies14]

Phillies- not sure if you are aware but you can use the "multi-quote" button (the button in the middle) and continue to hit multi-quote until the last post that you wish to quote...then hit the "quote" button on the bottom left. All of the posts will show up...much easier than going back and doing it over and over again for each post you want to respond to. Unless you are trying to get your post count up;)

Thank you Cathy for the tip!...K.O. Near Philly;)