Oasis of the Seas Western 2/16/13 w/ cruise compass, and menu pics.

[LAatl]

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the first day we actually slept in...when I say, 'slept in' I mean 8:30. We met at the MDR for breakfast and then went back to the room to pack. We wanted to get off the boat early and on Tuesday, signed up for the earliest time to get off and NOT carry your own luggage. This info will be left on your bed Monday and needs to be left in the room for your steward by Tuesday. We signed up for the 7:15-7:45 time. The rest of the day we didn't do anything scheduled. Again...there is tons to do on this ship. You get what you want out of this vacation and we wanted rest!

If you choose to leave your luggage outside that evening, make sure to leave stuff to wear the next day and whatever you'll need that night. You don't have to put out your luggage until between 7-11 pm. So, if you like to change after dinner, then wait till you go to bed and put everything else out.

The rest of the day was just spent hanging around with the family until we went to dinner.

[spooner11]

Enjoying your review and photos, great job. :) We have Oasis booked in a few weeks so this is giving us lots of information.

 

We are waiting to book our specialty restaurants once we board but I read that Oasis has a special where you can book three specialty restaurants together and it works out cheaper this way. Do you happen to know where you can go the first day to find out about this and to book this package?

 

Also is the MDR open for lunch on embarkation day?

 

The first couple of days as we were walking through Central Park and there was a guy trying to sell it to us. We didn't have any intention of getting it, so just kept walking.

[LAatl]

We sat outside the British Pub for a while during the day and caught the rehearsal for the final flash mob and the kids got a pic with King Julian.

 

 

Then off to dinner...

 

The lentil soup was great, and our servers brought the tapas plate for everyone to munch on...

 

Here's the scallop app...

 

Here's my SIL and niece...

 

Here's our server, Dean, with my niece...

 

More food porn in a minute since they only let you post 6 pics at a time...

[LAatl]

This was the after-dinner shooter called the 'safe journey' and it was delicious, as usual!

 

 

MIL had the strawberry souffle, BIL had the key lime pie, DH had the apple strudel and I had the pear crisp. I wouldn't order it again...

 

 

 

And here are the boys with Dean and Sidney (best servers ever!)

 

After dinner the adults went to the casino for our last deposit and then back to the room to go to bed for the evening. After we got ready for bed, we put our suitcases in the hall and that was the last we had to worry about them until after we docked.

[LAatl]

Pulling back into dock at daybreak!

 

 

I've been on several cruises and I can tell you this was the easiest I've ever experienced...

There is no breakfast served in the MDR and no Room Service on Disembarkation day. However, if you are a C&A member, you can wait in the Opal Theater and they have coffee, tea, juice and water and pastries to eat while you're waiting.

We waited here to give Tony a chance to get in our rooms early since they have so much to do to get ready for the next cruisers that would be there in a few short hours.

By 7:15 we were making our way off the ship and into the docking area. The luggage was very organized into groups that you match with the luggage tags they give you the last day for your luggage. We found a porter who was able to get 11 people's suitcases onto one cart...and we tipped him well, because he waited through the line with us until we got done with the customs people. This was a simple procedure and within 45 minutes, we were finished with our passports and grabbing the shuttle back to the parking facility. This is an amazing feat with over 6,200 passengers on board. I can tell you that as we were making our way through the line for customs, the line behind was getting much larger. So, keep in mind that if you choose a later time (we chose the earliest) this might not be the case.

This was a wonderful cruise experience and although, we may not cruise Oasis class ships again...we'll definitely be back on RC. Now, to research the posts on our next NCL cruise in Sept!!!!

Feel free to ask questions for those who haven't been on board yet. I'll do my best to answer!

[arom729]

I've been checking back with your review the past couple days, as we were on this sailing, too. That's us, actually, behind you in your Jamaica picture at the tables. :) Also, I'm pretty sure we may have caught one of your songs at rock-a-rokie in the hallway. It caught our ear and we stopped to listen a bit! Great job! Nice review, too.

Edited March 1, 2013 by arom729

[A Pisces]

You did an Amazing job with your review! Thank you so much, for taking the time to post this for us!

[SF]

Glad to hear you had a great time and thanks for a super review and all those fabulous pictures. :)

[RealDeal]

Thanks for all your hard work. As previously mentioned, we'll be on Oasis in May & this is really helpful.

 

I'm curious: How did Oasis compare to your NCL cruises?

[RoeC]

Although last time we sailed we went to Ocho Rios....however, I swore I would never go back to Jamaica after that. The port at that time there was no fenced in area to speak of....we were harassed by locals trying to either braid my hair, sell us drugs and everything in between. They didn't take no for an answer and actually followed us down several blocks. I have never felt so unsafe in my life...and I'm from New York...

[LBumb]

great review

[portofrome]

Thanks so much for your review.

[cruisingbajan]

Let me add my voice to the great review choir.:)

 

I also have a question. Was the free taxi coupon for one way only?

 

Thanks

[maggieq]

We just got back from the Oasis yesterday. We heard about the bad weather and not being able to dock in Labadee from the staff. We were lucky to have great weather up until the last day; which wasn't that bad. Staff said our cruise was the best overall weather week since October?

 

We enjoyed our cruise.

 

First time in a Central Park Balcony and would not get one again. 1. You can hear the music from the pool deck...while trying to nap. 2. We like to wake up and look outside at the ocean.

 

Saw the comedy show. Good but not as good as our last one on the Allure where we wanted to see them again. Headliner - BF liked him but I didn't. For these ships, you need to start hiring some top talent RCCL. Come Fly with me - Great as usual.

 

Went to Giovannis table - disappointed for the first time. service was not good at all. Went to Chops twice and it was ok.....maybe we have to give these restaurants a break for a while?

 

We didn't hang out in the diamond lounge on this cruise as it was not in Blaze. We stuck to the concierge lounge; which just isn't the same.

 

All in all a good cruise that went way to quick. The weather was great. Counting down the days until Barcelona...

[LAatl]

I've been checking back with your review the past couple days, as we were on this sailing, too. That's us, actually, behind you in your Jamaica picture at the tables. :) Also, I'm pretty sure we may have caught one of your songs at rock-a-rokie in the hallway. It caught our ear and we stopped to listen a bit! Great job! Nice review, too.

That's so funny that you're in the pic. I see you behind my SIL. Guess I need to ask if I have your permission or if you want me to pull it down. We had a great time...hope you did too.

[LAatl]

Thanks for all your hard work. As previously mentioned, we'll be on Oasis in May & this is really helpful.

 

I'm curious: How did Oasis compare to your NCL cruises?

This was my first on RC. I've been on several on NCL, but not the same class ship. I can say that I loved the fact that we were at the same dining table and had the same servers every night. And I thought the food was better on Oasis, but just slightly. I'm not a food snob and I'm pretty easy going. I think if I were to rate them, I'd put RC slightly ahead of NCL.

[LAatl]

Although last time we sailed we went to Ocho Rios....however, I swore I would never go back to Jamaica after that. The port at that time there was no fenced in area to speak of....we were harassed by locals trying to either braid my hair, sell us drugs and everything in between. They didn't take no for an answer and actually followed us down several blocks. I have never felt so unsafe in my life...and I'm from New York...

Like I said in the review...we weren't even planning on getting off the ship in Jamaica because your last taste was exactly how it was the last time we were there. But, since we didn't dock in Labadee, everyone wanted to get off the ship for a bit. I can tell you, that those locals are not allowed inside the gated port area and we felt perfectly safe. I wouldn't have ventured outside the gates though.

[LAatl]

Let me add my voice to the great review choir.:)

 

I also have a question. Was the free taxi coupon for one way only?

 

Thanks

Yes, the coupon was only good for one-way from the dock to the Forum. They are supposed to charge only $8 for every 4 people so the cost isn't that bad.

[LAatl]

We just got back from the Oasis yesterday. We heard about the bad weather and not being able to dock in Labadee from the staff. We were lucky to have great weather up until the last day; which wasn't that bad. Staff said our cruise was the best overall weather week since October?

 

We enjoyed our cruise.

 

First time in a Central Park Balcony and would not get one again. 1. You can hear the music from the pool deck...while trying to nap. 2. We like to wake up and look outside at the ocean.

 

Saw the comedy show. Good but not as good as our last one on the Allure where we wanted to see them again. Headliner - BF liked him but I didn't. For these ships, you need to start hiring some top talent RCCL. Come Fly with me - Great as usual.

 

Went to Giovannis table - disappointed for the first time. service was not good at all. Went to Chops twice and it was ok.....maybe we have to give these restaurants a break for a while?

 

We didn't hang out in the diamond lounge on this cruise as it was not in Blaze. We stuck to the concierge lounge; which just isn't the same.

 

All in all a good cruise that went way to quick. The weather was great. Counting down the days until Barcelona...

I agree...I like to see the ocean when we cruise. I love sleeping with the door open and listening to the water. Our next cruise, on NCL, we have our first suite, but it's right under the pool area, so I'm hoping we don't hear kids and chairs scraping all day.

 

I agree about the Comedy show. It was funny, but I honestly thought the opening guy was the funniest. My son saw Come Fly With Me and said it was great. We didn't get to see it.

 

Sorry you were disappointed with Giovannis. I thought the service was outstanding. Maybe it was because we went at 6 and they weren't that crowded. Chops was where we thought the service was slow, but the food was outstanding. But, I haven't been on RC so these restaurants were new to me.

 

As for your next cruise...I'd love to do one overseas. Keep us posted on that one!

[LAatl]

I recognized you last night as soon as you came into Chicago's. Thanks for trying...I wish you would have stayed 10 more minutes, as a table opened up after that. I hope you and your wife try to come out to another show. I think you'd like the music. My calendar is on my website and I hope to see you soon!

[LAatl]

We are scheduled for the Allure this September and are planning to drive down as well. How long did it take and do you have any suggestions as resting points or driving straight through?

 

Any help will be appreciated.

I recognized you last night as soon as you came into Chicago's. Thanks for trying...I wish you would have stayed 10 more minutes, as a table opened up after that. I hope you and your wife try to come out to another show. I think you'd like the music. My calendar is on my website and I hope to see you soon!

[rpettus]

I recognized you last night as soon as you came into Chicago's. Thanks for trying...I wish you would have stayed 10 more minutes, as a table opened up after that. I hope you and your wife try to come out to another show. I think you'd like the music. My calendar is on my website and I hope to see you soon!

 

We will stop to see you again. But in the meantime can you tell us about the issue with the parking arrangements at the port?

 

I personally love karaoke and will definitely see if the Allure has the same venue where you can sing along with the band.:cool:

[LAatl]

We will stop to see you again. But in the meantime can you tell us about the issue with the parking arrangements at the port?

 

I personally love karaoke and will definitely see if the Allure has the same venue where you can sing along with the band.:cool:

firstly, I'm pretty sure the ships are identical except the names of certain places. As far as the parking...we brought a rental car down and were supposed to park at Premier Parking's main lot. The three vehicles got calls the day before the cruise and were told we needed to park in the overflow lot. The next morning, we pulled in and it's a fenced in area behind a club with no signage...just people in uniform. We presented our receipts and told that they didn't care what my email from the company said, we had to pay 8 more dollars. I got on the phone with the manager and was told that I was free to call a 'higher up' and if they said it was ok, we wouldn't have to pay more. The shuttle was already there and the people were getting on.

 

Then we were told that we had to leave our key in case they had to move the cars. I said I was uncomfortable with that and was told, again, if I wanted to park there, they needed our keys. The three cars left the keys (I didn't realize that the valet key was the key fob, and not the key as it was a rental). I locked the car and gave her the key. When we got back the following Sat., my car was where we parked it (because although they could enter the car, they couldn't start it) however, it was unlocked and our firearms (that we drove down with and couldn't bring on the cruise, so we left in our glove box) were stolen from the car. There was NO forced entry, the pocket on the back of the front seat was ripped from them trying to find other things and the idiots left an open bag of gloves and a candy rapper that the police took into custody. After getting off the cruise and spending 3 hours with the police filing a report and going through the interviews, the police said that it was either an inside job or best-case scenario, they left the car unlocked allowing someone else access...since one of the workers admitted that he unlocked my car and was in it after we left and may or may not have locked it again.

 

It was a nightmare and my insurance company is trying to recoup the $1760 in loss. They're trying to say that they aren't responsible for valuables taken from a vehicle...and I would agree if my car had been broken into with a broken window or something because that's in the fine print...but the key was in their custody and the key was used to enter the vehicle to steal my property.

[angelin269]

This was the after-dinner shooter called the 'safe journey' and it was delicious, as usual!

 

 

MIL had the strawberry souffle, BIL had the key lime pie, DH had the apple strudel and I had the pear crisp. I wouldn't order it again...

 

 

 

And here are the boys with Dean and Sidney (best servers ever!)

 

After dinner the adults went to the casino for our last deposit and then back to the room to go to bed for the evening. After we got ready for bed, we put our suitcases in the hall and that was the last we had to worry about them until after we docked.

 

Really enjoying your review. It's great. I am wondering if you were allowed to keep the shot glass?

[LAatl]

If you have the 'all-inclusive' package (which they are now raising from $385 for the week to $446 for the week), then you don't get to keep the glasses. If you purchase the shots each evening, you do. They also have a sale in the promendade the last full day by the British Pub, selling their martini and shot glasses.