Just back from the Oasis of the Seas.... comparative review with DCL....

[Keith1010]

Thanks for sharing this review.

 

Keith

[cyclenut]

Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with us. It is the collective set of information shared by members that helps us all make choices that fit our interests. Nicely done.

 

I did want to comment about the shore excursion meeting place. I don't much care for the DCL way of meeting on the ship. I understand why the do it and for many it is better. Very orderly and little chance of missing important information. However, we often get into port much earlier than the first meet-up time. I like to get off the ship early and do a little shopping or exploring for later shopping. With DCL, you have to reboard the ship for the excursion only to be escorted back off. It is a waste of almost an hour of shore time. The way everyone else in the industry does it, you get off the ship when you want and then walk over to the excursion meeting place at the stated time. Easy and preferred by our family.

 

As for the live music, that surprises me. Did the shows have a live orchestra? I have not been on the Oasis but that is clearly part of the RCL experience on the other ships I have been on. I much prefer the RCL shows. The last time I say Disney Dreams on the Wonder I was put off by the track and noticed that the ensemble vocals were obviously part of the track. Disappointing. We had live music during the parades, out on the Promenade and in most of the club areas on board the Freedom.

 

Finally, on the cost. I understand that everyone has as different taste for food. I do prefer DCL food to RCL, but my wife is the other way around. We did not have a great experience at Chops and found Palo to be superior. That said, our shipboard charges on RCL were roughly comporable to those on DCL. We simply didn't experience the nickle and dimeing that you did. Of course, we didn't have the kids club charges, but in no way could we have made up a $1,000 difference. I guess it all depends on what you are after. I do agree that RCL provides many more opportunities for you to part ways with your money, but these are all optional.

[Gon2hwe]

We have been on Allure and Disney Dream. We are an older couple and decided to try Disney because we got a great Military rate last Dec. Comparing the two is a little like comparing apples and oranges. Each had it's great and bad points. Food on Disney was best to me with shrimp and crab legs on the buffet. Even rib eye steak at Castaway Cay. Entertainment goes to RC on Allure. Even though the show Chicago did seem pretty racy with a PG 13 rating. If we got another great rate we might consider Disney especially with our grandchildren, but I think RC really suits us better as adults. Disney is really the way to go if you have children under the age of 12.

[big al]

Thanks so much!

 

Yes actually our kids had a great time. I am not talking negatively about the cruise in front of them because I want them to remember a great time. You bring up a great point about the kids clubs - my son definitely would not want to be around kids way younger, and I was actually looking forward to this because I was thinking he was starting to "age out" of the Disney clubs. Turns out, there were a couple of counselors on the ship who sounded like they were less than patient with the kids. My kids report was that the counselors who were good were VERY good and the ones who weren't were terrible (sounds like a kids perception, huh?) They did love the carousel... I did catch a violinist in Central Park one night, but it wasn't on the schedule. There were 2 nights we were specifically looking for live music from 8:30 - 10:00 p.m. (when we picked up the kids because we didn't want to have to pay for overtime) and there was nothing. We went to the Schooner bar and played trivia - no music. Boleros had live music but it ended at 8:30. This is definitely one area where Royal can improve - program more family or parent-friendly activities for those parents who just finished dinner, and are either with or without kids looking for something to do until 10 pm. It just seemed like the main party started at 10 pm - we were surprised by that.

 

I found LIVE music everywhere on the Oasis & Allure....Boleros, British Pub, Dazzles, and the Viking Crown Lounge had live music every night...sure, sometimes the music starts at 9 or 10, but we found music everywhere..and the Schooner Bar DOES have a piano guy almost every night- you just have to check the schedual...also, I love DCL as well...in fact, DW & I are doing the Dream in Nov...but I do find that Disney is a cruise line mostly for kids with adult options, and RCI is a cruise line for families with options & activities for both young & old & in-between....I thought Hairspray & the Aqua show were the 2 BEST shows I've ever seen at sea...Sat Night Fever on the Liberty Of The Seas was also fabulous...all the Disney shows we saw on the Wonder were great, too...BUT, they were for kids, for sure....just my HO.....

 

Big Al

[Friend100]

...but I do find that Disney is a cruise line mostly for kids with adult options ....

 

Agree to this, and when DW and I cruised on Disney, we felt like big kids and fit right in :p

[jody]

Thanks for sharing your review and your experiences. We are trying Disney next year and definitely want to try out Royal Caribbean someday (but maybe not the largest ships). Your information was very helpful and gave us things to think about.

[slimkat]

Wow. Sorry to hear that your cruise wasn't as great as you thought it would be. I am also a DVC member and we were on board the Oasis on March 30th- the Easter week sailing. I have 8 year old twin boys and a son who turned five on this particular sailing. I have to say that our cruise was exceptional. To say that I enjoyed it woud be an understatement. I loved the Oasis so much that we purchased a next cruise certificate before we disembarked. This cruise was my 5th overall and the third cruise for my children.

 

I did a lot of research on these boards and elsewhere before our cruise so I was aware of the Sailaway Party that took place at the Aqua theater. It started about 5PM just as the ship was pushing back. Most, if not all, of the Dreamwork characters were there and my children enjoyed it immensely.

 

We attended the first character breakfast on the first sea day and all of the characters came by to each table for pictures. The only charcter who couldn't make to the tables was Gloria because the spaces between the tables were not wide enough. So the children lined up to take photos with her. That didn't take long at all.

 

As for the kids club I noticed immediately that they didn't have a pager system so my hubby and I took turns checking on them every hour or so. Inconvenient-yes. But it didn't ruin my cruise. Just considered my walk part of my exercise.

 

Live music always available in the evening at Boleros, the British Pub, jazz club and such. I found music everywhere. Enjoyed many evenings in Boleros. Loved the salsa and salsa lessons. Thanks Orlando!

 

Ricky, the cruise director, by far was my favorite cruise director of any cruise I have ever been on. He was energetic and fun and because of his energy I think it made the entire ship fun. I would totally book another cruise with him onboard. As for the "pro-gay" slant and ambiance of the ship? I didn't experience that at all. To tell you the truth I didn't even think of his sexual orientation. Don't think it would have mattered anyway. Love, love, love Ricky!

 

The cruise compass always had a ton of activities for us to partake in. My hubby would go one way, me in the other and the children would go to the clubs or stay with us. No problem. To be honest I need another week so I can finish up all of the activities I was interested in.

 

Lastly, the nickle and dime-ing. I don't see it as such because you do not have to purchase what is offered in order to have a fantastic cruise. I see it more as options. If I want to try the specialty cupcake or restaurant then I can do so. I mean people pay extra for Palo and Remy and some can't even get a reservation if they want to because there is limited space and times available. At least on the Oasis they have have several specialty restaurants so if you can't get into one you can try another. They even have Johnny Rockets so if Chops or Giovannis is a little too upscale for your kiddos they can also experience a different restaurant. But of course it is your option to do so.

 

So I write all of this to say that I loved my Oasis cruise. I have a Fantasy booked for next April. And we are in the process of researching another RCI cruise for next year sometime on either the Allure or the Oasis. Can't wait to go back!

 

Happy Cruising everyone!:)

[Xina143]

OP - maybe it wasn't your intention, but I got the distinctive impression that you were unhappy that the emcee or cruise director was gay. Why label him a "Queen?" That was (IMHO) quite unnecessary and added nothing to your review. Some of the best cruise directors on some of the best ships are gay - so what? Those kinds of descriptions ("queen") are disparaging, at the very least.

 

I was going to note that myself. I don't think that was necessary, and in fact was a huge turn off.

 

We just booked a Disney Cruise, and this was the first thread I read on the Disney board...kind of left a bad taste.

[LittleMissMagic]

This was an interesting review, and I enjoyed reading it, having not sailed either the Disney Dream or Oasis of the Seas.

 

I'd just like to point out that electronic dance music isn't necessarily "pro gay," but it's really popular right now. Did you happen to watch the Billboard Awards last night? It's on the rise in popularity right now, and all popular artists seem to be eager to put their spin on EDM.

 

I didn't agree with everything you said, but I'm not going to make a big argument because you have your opinions and I have mine. But I do understand exactly what you mean with the $1000 thing. I just got off a cruise with the Norwegian Epic, and I had a fabulous time, but I did pay a lot of additional fees for things, making my original quoted price quite different from the final (though I went on the cruise having done research and knowing it would be this way) by the time I added up specialty restaurant fees, excursions, spa services, and bar tab (though it's important to note that those additional expenses can be racked up on almost all mass-market cruise lines). I think a lot of people zone in on that original per-person price and don't consider those additional expenses when booking their cruise.

[jimdicap]

great review--lots of specifics and very helpful. We had the same discussion, and glad we chose Disney. We figured better safe than sorry since we have 2 toddlers. Thanks again!

[MMluvsWDW]

Thanks for the review. We are headed on our first Disney cruise in Nov 2014 and have cruised RCCL multiple times w/o kids. We love RCCL and have had great experiences as there is tons to do, but we have tended to stay out later. Now with 2 kids we will not be out "late" and I think Disney will be more PG.

[Ex techie]

OP - maybe it wasn't your intention, but I got the distinctive impression that you were unhappy that the emcee or cruise director was gay. Why label him a "Queen?" That was (IMHO) quite unnecessary and added nothing to your review. Some of the best cruise directors on some of the best ships are gay - so what? Those kinds of descriptions ("queen") are disparaging, at the very least.

 

 

100% agree. Very unnecessary comment.

 

IMO nope. dunnhorn was right to mention that he or she thought he was a "queen".

Straight or Gay doesn't mean you have to act in a way that makes you unappealing to some of your guests.

Sexuality should be left at your cabin door when you leave to work on a cruise ship.

Along with any personal problems.

 

Ex techie

[Ex techie]

No Guest should have a person in charge of the entertainment and environment they have to find themselves uncomfortable in.

 

The CD's overly expression of his sexuality (to be called a queen) should not over shadow his personality nor make him unapproachable to those that hold different and varied views.

 

He or She has to be approachable and try to be entertaining to Everyone.

 

Ex techie