New Cruisers Tackle Oasis (6/8-6/15/13)... A Photo Review

[S.A.M.J.R.]

We went to Cafe Promenade for lunch (Dominic, our waiter from Chops the night before was bussing tables), and were able to catch the "Move It, Move It" Parade. In hindsight, Sorrentos or Globe & Atlas would have been a better place to catch this.

 

 

 

 

We then shopped around for a while. I wasn't impressed with the selection of RCI/Oasis gear. They even had a 50% sale for ONE HOUR ONLY (That they repeated on another day), but I couldn't find anything I liked.

 

As part of their "Make A Wish" promotion, they had a mile walk around the track. A $10 donation got you a T-shirt. So we did the walk and spent a lot of it talking to our 'escort', Debbie about life on the ship. They do 7 month contracts, and RCI moves them from ship to ship.

 

After our walk, we found seats in the Aqua Theater for the Comedy Dive Show. It's the same talent from Oasis of Dreams, but just presented differently.

 

 

 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

More from Splish Splash...

 

 

 

 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

This was the 2nd formal night and "lobster night" in the MDR. This time we were seated on the 5th floor. (sorry, didn't get any food porn tonight).

 

On the way back to the room, there was a group trying to take a picture, so I offered to take the picture for them. They returned the favor.

 

We changed clothes, then went to Frozen In Time in Studio B. I'm a "tech" guy at heart and love seeing how things are done. Before the show, the RCI anchor was being projected on the ice.

 

 

The anchor was "rotating" and there was 'depth' to it, so it looked like a three dimensional image. That's pretty cool. Then I looked up to see the projector.

 

 

Oh, they're projecting on a mirror and it's reflecting down to the ice. Even cooler. But wait, the image on the mirror doesn't look right. It's only half of the image. There's a second projector and mirror on the other side.

 

 

Each projector is only showing half the image. But wait, the anchor is rotating and perfectly in sync. :eek: It's the geek in me, but I was really impressed by what it takes to keep both projectors in perfect sync and aimed exactly right on the ice.

 

On to the show. It's based on the writings of Hans Christian Anderson.

 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

The featured four of his stories. The Snow Queen...

 

 

 

The Red Shoes...

 

 

 

The Ugly Duckling...

 

 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

More Ugly Duckling...

 

 

 

They take two pairs of kids around the ice on these swans. They have seats next to the ice marked "Children Only".

 

 

Then it was time for the Sand Artist. It's been said before, but it's just amazing. Pictures don't do it justice.

 

 

The Little Mermaid was the next story

 

 

 

There were a couple falls early on, but the skaters recovered.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Last but not least was 'The Emperor's New Clothes'...

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then the curtain call.

 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Finally for the night, we went back to the Opal Theater where some of the stars from Hairspray put on a little concert. A lot of songs from Chicago (the group, not the show) and others from the 70s.

 

 

 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Day 6-Cozumel (Happy Anniversary!)

 

We got up and had another room service breakfast on the balcony. We had independently booked a Dolphin Swim Adventure at Chankanaab (1/2 price) months ago.

 

 

We got off the ship and saw a line forming for Chankanaab.

When they went to take our tickets, we found out it was for the excursion booked through RCI. We found our way to the cab stand and got in a cab to the park. $11 for both of us. When we got to the park, I only had $20s, Anna only had a $10, so the driver accepted $10.

 

They had our names at the check in counter, so we got our wristbands for admittance into the park. At the check in desk for the Dolphin Swim, we were told to come back at 10:15 for that bracelet.

 

We saw where the dolphin swims happen, and there were already people swimming...

 

We made our way over to the snorkling beach.

 

 

On the way there, we passed kayak rentals and snorkling gear rentals. We found two seats under shade and went out in the water. It's not a direct beach and requires going down stairs into the water.

 

 

Signs say life jackets are required, but I saw others without them, so I tried. Although I was able to float, it just wasn't working for me. I got back on shore and saw a desk with life jackets. I left my DL as a deposit and I was off. The life jacket made things SO much easier.

 

The fish were definitely used to humans.

 

 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

One more fish...

 

 

Here's the snorkling area...

 

 

It's hard to tell from that photo, but they have buoy's with markers that match the park maps.

 

 

Under the buoy's are concrete statues...

 

 

 

.

 

If you can "free dive" while snorkling, I'm guessing these are only about 10-15 feet down. The pictures are from the surface.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

There were also three cannon (cannii?)...

 

 

Soon enough, it was time for our Dolphin Swim.

 

 

There are lockers for free, and since you're not allowed cameras during the dolphin swim, we put the camera and our money in a locker. The rest of our stuff we left on the beach.

 

They'll take pictures and offer you a CD with whatever pictures you choose from your group. The pricing is based on how many people in your party. If you're by yourself, it's $99. For two people, it's $119. For four it was $179. Duplicate DVDs are $10. If you have two couples, you can tell them you have four in your group and you want a duplicate DVD. That would be $190/two couples... $95 each instead of the $120.

 

We ended up with 54 pictures of the two of us. Here's some of them...

 

 

 

 

 

Since we had booked indepently (they had put us with a cruise excursion for the Dolphin Swim), we also got a "Manatee Interaction" which was just "petting" a manatee while the instructor led him by us feeding him lettuce.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

After the swim, we picked out our pictures and bought a couple T-Shirts, then went back to the beach. We snorkeled for a while, then dark clouds came up. We went to get a snack and the heaven's opened up while we ate.

 

We decided that would be a good time to leave since we had reservations at 150 Central Park.

 

We were put in a cab with another family of three. We didn't know if we should pay the price for two or for five. We went ahead and paid the $11 rate for two.

 

Of course, they drop us off across the street from the pier at another shopping area. That worked out fine because we got the 'Cozumel' charm (a dolphin) from Diamonds International for the charm bracelet.

 

We did some more shopping back at International Pier and end up picking up a painted baseball bat and a whip for Jon, and a dress for Becca.

 

We get back on board and get ready for our Anniversary dinner.

Edited June 20, 2013 by S.A.M.J.R.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

What can I say about 150? WOW. That's it.

 

Here was the menu...

 

 

Their signature martini was SOOO good...

 

 

We also had them open the champagne Anna had won at the meet and mingle. We thought we'd have a bunch left, but we ended up finishing it off.

 

The bread is brought out with unsalted butter, and there's a salt container on the table with salt from different parts of the world. I remember Iran, Australia, Washington State, and Italy.

 

 

The next six courses...

 

Falafel

 

I forgot to take a picture of the stew.

 

Pan Fried Gnudi

 

Mahogany Black Cod

 

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Beef Two Ways

 

Milk Chocolate Cremoso (with an added touch)

 

After dinner, our waiter offered to take our picture. How could we refuse?

 

 

[basketrn]

My favorite was the one about the toilet flushing!:eek::D Hey, weren't you doing the 10:00 dolphin swim at Chankanaab? Or were you the ones who didn't show? :p

 

We were the 1pm dolphin swim...which ended up being 2pm...they were so behind.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

We were the 1pm dolphin swim...which ended up being 2pm...they were so behind.

 

Yea, I thought it strange when they told us to show up at 10:15 for our 10AM swim. I wonder if the cruise excursions were running behind. Because the excursion they joined us with didn't show up until ~10:20-10:30. :p

[S.A.M.J.R.]

After dinner, it was time for Come Fly With Me.

 

My tip for seating in the Opal theater... go on the lower level, but don't step down to the blue seats. Go in the first row of the orange seats. I wish we would have done this for Hairspray and Summer Breeze.

 

The show was amazing. Gymnasts, aerial acrobatics, singers, dancers, this had it all! There wasn't a plot to this either, but it was VERY entertaining.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

After the show, we made our way to the Viking Crown Lounge

 

 

Jim J. Bullock and Nancy Hill were doing a cabaret show singing Broadway songs. I only recognized one, from Les Mis, but it was very entertaining.

 

 

Then it was time for bed. Why is it, by the time you get used to late nights & mornings, it's almost time to get back to normal? :p

[Canadian Tyler]

Great pictures and review! Really enjoying it. Have seen some pictures that I haven't seen before - nice for a different perspective.

Didn't know Jim J. Bullock was a performer on the ship either, interesting!

[joand452]

Did Jm J. Bullock sing any serious songs? We saw him in Hairspray during our March 2012 cruise, then the cabaret night in the VCL. He has a really nice voice, but I remember that he didn't sing any "serious" songs, just some parodies. I don't remember the name of the girl who played Tracy, but it definitely wasn't her. I'm glad to see he's back on the ship. He did a really nice job.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Great pictures and review! Really enjoying it. Have seen some pictures that I haven't seen before - nice for a different perspective.

Didn't know Jim J. Bullock was a performer on the ship either, interesting!

Thank you for the compliment. Jim J. is on board until Sept. 1 (or 21, I don't remember which). The cast board & leave together on 7 month "tours". So he'd have 7 months off than could be back with the cast that starts April 1 (or 21) if I do my math right.

 

We got a chance to talk with him during the backstage tour. VERY nice guy.

 

Did Jm J. Bullock sing any serious songs? We saw him in Hairspray during our March 2012 cruise, then the cabaret night in the VCL. He has a really nice voice, but I remember that he didn't sing any "serious" songs, just some parodies. I don't remember the name of the girl who played Tracy, but it definitely wasn't her. I'm glad to see he's back on the ship. He did a really nice job.

I only recognized one Broadway song Nancy sang. I know they both did a parody (individually, but tied together), and I think he did another one. The rest I believe were show songs, I know they mentioned the show's names, but I didn't recognize them.

 

They (Jim & Nancy) both made comments about their composer being in the VCL that night. I don't know who that was though. :o

Edited June 21, 2013 by S.A.M.J.R.

[Zhane's mum]

Great review, thanks for sharing

[Dragonkeper]

Finally for the night, we went back to the Opal Theater where some of the stars from Hairspray put on a little concert. A lot of songs from Chicago (the group, not the show) and others from the 70s.

 

 

 

 

The woman in black and white, singing is my cousin. My family and I will be seeing her when we get on the Oasis in August.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

The woman in black and white, singing is my cousin. My family and I will be seeing her when we get on the Oasis in August.

Cool! She's got an amazing voice!

[Dragonkeper]

Cool! She's got an amazing voice!

 

I will let her know that you said that. :D

[A Pisces]

S.A.M.J.R. Is that the end of your review? I have been checking back everyday, and some times twice a day, looking for more, I hope all is good with you!

 

What about the space center, how was that tour?