Bit of a Blog : Oasis of the Seas : B2B : Barcelona – Rotterdam : September 18th '14

[Clarea]

Played CC golf this morning. Thanks 'funnel' for organising. Came 4/5.

 

Currently waiting for 'Captain's Corner' to start. There won't be any 'news' but I live in hope.

 

CC slot pull later. Didn't have too much interest pre cruise.

 

Checking my schedule earlier seems I missed the Comedy Club I'd prebooked. From what others have told me I've not missed much. Should I go next cruise? Pity they don't deliver tickets to the room..... would've been a memory aid.

We enjoyed the comedy show. I believe they have a good number of performances of the same two comedians. You can try the standby line one night if you have time. There is usually an additional comedy performance in the main theater one night, no reservations needed.

[NorbertsNiece]

We enjoyed the comedy show. I believe they have a good number of performances of the same two comedians. You can try the standby line one night if you have time. There is usually an additional comedy performance in the main theater one night, no reservations needed.

 

From what I've heard they're playing to half empty houses.... Many non English speakers.

 

Have come to zip line to meet a roll call friend to capture the moment but she's been held up somewhere. Will see if I can get someone else later......

 

Chandelier in MDR is looking for new home......

[Folk Singer]

For those of you new to my blogs I’m a lady of uncertain age with an addiction to cruises. I have 3 grown daughters, a son-in-law, two little grandsons and a granddog. I booked this B2B on the 9th April….. when the itineraries were released…. That’s in 2013….. so 527 days out…… whilst I was on the phone with my TA the prices were going up……. Originally I booked the same inside room (L) on deck 12. After final payment, with various price drops in play I am in a D2 Oceanview Balcony, same room for both legs, for less than £150 extra including my Diamond discount.

 

I’m flying in the day of the cruise with BA from Heathrow. I’m usually adamant about allowing at least one day pre cruise but I decided to tighten my belt a tad this trip. I’ve pre-booked a transfer to the port with Resorthoppa. Coming home I’ve pre-booked a cab to pick me and some roll call members up; I’m taking the train from Rotterdam Centraal Station to Brussels then Eurostar to London, my home town. I love train rides! In Rome and Naples I am with roll call members with RomeInLimo. We are going to the Vatican City and the Colosseum in Rome with pre-purchased tickets for entry, and Pompeii/Sorrento/Positano in Naples. I’ve been to Ravello for a long weekend previously and love the area.

 

For the first cruise I’ve booked 150 Central Park for the first night, Solarium Bistro the 2nd night and Giovanni’s table for the last sea day evening. I have the Royal Replenish Package pre-reserved for both cruises. For the 2nd cruise I’ve booked MTD each night at 615pm….. the system wouldn’t allow me to just book the first night as I’ve done previously. I’m happy to wing the other nights but find the first night MDR scrum difficult. I believe muster will be 530pm and sailaway 7pm. We’ll see. I know which MDR menus I like and will happily dine elsewhere including WindJammer. I had thought about not using the MDR at all for dinner on either cruise…. I just love the rack of lamb….. rare….

 

We had to wait a long time for show reservations to go live on the planner. I’ll be seeing Hairspray, the last performance on the 2nd cruise. ‘Oasis of Dreams’, ‘Come Fly With Me’ and ‘Frozen in Time’ also for the 2nd cruise. I have Headliner tickets for both cruises but I’ll decide on the day if I’ll go. And a ticket for the Stand Up Comedy Show.

 

I’ve been posting the occasional teaser about this blog being different to the previous ones.

 

This is where you come in. I’ve never sailed Oasis class before. It’s down to you to tell me where to go and what to photograph to prove I’ve been there, done that. I will NOT be going on the Flowrider (replaced hip). As well as writing the blog I will be compiling an Oasis guidebook for free distribution here. I’m aware that post-drydock there will be changes and hope to enlist the help of people on the TA and after to fill in the gaps. I expect to find out as much as I can about what is definitely happening as I know the anticipation is great.

 

I have a friend I had hoped to visit in Malaga but she’s going to be visiting in the UK then; my favourite shop is in the main shopping district unless you can come up with something more exciting. Another friend, met on CC then on a cruise, was on the Oasis TA coming over. I am also putting myself in your hands as to what to do in Vigo. I’ve been there before and went to the beach, toured the town in a taxi and watched my eldest daughter eat oysters. Tell me where to go / what to do. I’ll do it / eat it / wear it. There is a budget of €50 for each day.

 

So here’s the deal. I will post info as previously. Whether you’ve been on Oasis or not you HAVE to set me tasks. I’ve avoided as much info on Oasis as I can so it will all be new. Be creative & imaginative and give me a super 12 days.

 

Since my return from Legend 11 weeks ago I have lost 19lbs. On purpose. I am less camera shy. Let’s do this!

 

 

 

Ok waiting and reading away.

[emmy]

From what I've heard they're playing to half empty houses.... Many non English speakers.

 

Have come to zip line to meet a roll call friend to capture the moment but she's been held up somewhere. Will see if I can get someone else later......

 

Chandelier in MDR is looking for new home......

 

 

Hey Linda I will turn on the OASIS webcam aimed at the zipline and look for you :) :) any idea of time you will be there??

[Clarea]

From what I've heard they're playing to half empty houses.... Many non English speakers.

 

Have come to zip line to meet a roll call friend to capture the moment but she's been held up somewhere. Will see if I can get someone else later......

 

Chandelier in MDR is looking for new home......

The beginning of the transition to Dynamic Dining perhaps?

[NorbertsNiece]

Went to WJ for lunch. Big mistake. HUGE.

 

Most unpleasant dining experience ever. And no GF desserts other than jelly/jello. Bah humbug.

 

Back in room. Need $$ for CC slot pull. Safe has error message showing. Sigh.

[NorbertsNiece]

Lovely maintenance man arrived promptly and reset the box. Tipped him a couple $$, grabbed boa for ID and legged it to casino.

 

Left room key in room.

 

No one showed for slot pull.

 

There are no slot machines that accept euros.

Edited September 22, 2014 by NorbertsNiece

[janeyzee]

 

Deck 7 is now a destination for me! I love flamingos and I will go search the walls to find them. Thanks for the tip.

[Clarea]

Lovely maintenance man arrived promptly and reset the box. Tipped him a couple $$, grabbed boa for ID and legged it to casino.

 

Left room key in room.

 

No one showed for slot pull.

 

There are no slot machines that accept euros.

Well, at least we found out about Euros in the slot machines.;)

 

Maybe you should skip the zip line today.

Edited September 22, 2014 by clarea

[NorbertsNiece]

I am fuming.

 

Cruise 1 ends today.

 

Seems my CC will have already been charged and it's almost 430pm. I wanted to pay in cash as I have $$ available. Waiting to vent my fury with a member of the financial team. Figured I had till much later today to do this.

Edited September 22, 2014 by NorbertsNiece

[MADflyer]

I am fuming.

 

Cruise 1 ends today.

 

Seems my CC will have already been charged and it's almost 430pm. I wanted to pay in cash as I have $$ available. Waiting to vent my fury with a member of the financial team. Figured I had till much later today to do this.

 

I have no idea if related. When I left the Legend last week they had been running approval charges on my CC every day and they were all listed as pending charges by the CC provider on their website.

 

Oddly the approval pending charges have all disappeared, but the actual charge from Legend has not posted.

[NorbertsNiece]

Yeah. If she'd used the word 'authorised' I would've understood. She said 'charged'. All explained as authorised.

 

Decided to pick up my cupcake of the day and took a large decaf cappuccino with me. There's a cupcake decorating class so not serving others. My sweet tooth is screaming 'feed me!!!'

 

Am sitting in 'On Air' where there's a visual trivia quiz. Not playing. Actors / actresses in movies. Know all the answers. Lol.

[Ourely]

Went to WJ for lunch. Big mistake. HUGE.

 

Most unpleasant dining experience ever. And no GF desserts other than jelly/jello. Bah humbug.

 

Back in room. Need $$ for CC slot pull. Safe has error message showing. Sigh.

 

I am sorry to hear that you had a bad experience in WJ: i am joining Oasis tomorrow and therefore curious to know the specific problems you encountered. I have never been a fan of WJ but my husband likes it so I am looking to add to my argument for eating elsewhere!

[Sunny AZ Girl]

 

Met separately with 2 different staff members. I have a lump on my head from banging my head on that brick wall with regards to dry dock although I've been invited back in the next week by one. The other found my gentle questions uncomfortable and I didn't want to push them.

 

 

Thank you for asking the questions about the changes. I wonder what the big secret is? I guess it will be a waiting game to see if we will be displaced from our primo B1 cabin (11329) in May! Will they at least let you know when the new deck plans will be released? It seems strange that they are holding out releasing them when the cruises affected are being actively booked....unless of course they are "winging it" and actually have no idea what the final product will look like themselves!:D

[ckrobyn]

Yeah. If she'd used the word 'authorised' I would've understood. She said 'charged'. All explained as authorised.

 

Decided to pick up my cupcake of the day and took a large decaf cappuccino with me. There's a cupcake decorating class so not serving others. My sweet tooth is screaming 'feed me!!!'

 

Am sitting in 'On Air' where there's a visual trivia quiz. Not playing. Actors / actresses in movies. Know all the answers. Lol.

 

GF cupcakes??? Awesome!!!! :p

[NorbertsNiece]

GF cupcakes??? Awesome!!!! :p

 

$3 to appease my sweet tooth which I have just done. Key Lime flavour mnomnmomn

 

More info:

 

2150 crew staying on board. 1500 contractors coming on to work 24/7

 

How do I get on the helipad? We saw a video this morning with people there.

 

I fell asleep during the consecutive cruiser talk. Motion of the ocean today. Be at Studio B 945 with seapass card. Lunch will be served. i needed a meeting for that.

[Clarea]

$3 to appease my sweet tooth which I have just done. Key Lime flavour mnomnmomn

 

More info:

 

2150 crew staying on board. 1500 contractors coming on to work 24/7

 

How do I get on the helipad? We saw a video this morning with people there.

 

I fell asleep during the consecutive cruiser talk. Motion of the ocean today. Be at Studio B 945 with seapass card. Lunch will be served. i needed a meeting for that.

My understanding was that the helipad was open to guests by invitation only. I've read that they sometimes invite certain levels of C&A folks there for sailaway. Never happened for us on Allure, but maybe Oasis is different. I'd mention to LA if you get a chance.

[Bobal]

My understanding was that the helipad was open to guests by invitation only. I've read that they sometimes invite certain levels of C&A folks there for sailaway. Never happened for us on Allure, but maybe Oasis is different. I'd mention to LA if you get a chance.

 

Platinum and above were invited on for sailway from St Maarten last month. They said then that you could only go on the helipad by invitation.

[NorbertsNiece]

There's a special offer on internet today..... 30 minutes continuous access from time of purchase for $10.

 

Back to disembarking in Civitavecchia.

 

 

Impossible to get a full pic of her!!

 

Please bear with me..... I have many pics of beautiful places but no time to Google image search for their names.... some pics were taken from a moving van..... I just know I found it to be overwhelmingly awesome.....

 

 

 

 

 

The bridge dates from 1AD and the dome is of the oldest synagogue..... there are 80 synagogues in Rome. Some facts I can retain.....

 

[Spring]

Linda, was this your 1st trip to Roma?

[NorbertsNiece]

The French Embassy and a market..... I love market shopping..... no time today.....

 

 

 

 

 

Still uploading pics..... have the TV on..... watching 70's disco night..... loving the music.... doesn't appear to have been a Cruise in Review DVD..... wouldn't they be plugging that by now? Was wondering whether my Caribbean foray had been captured....

[PompeySailor]

The French Embassy and a market..... I love market shopping..... no time today.....

 

 

 

 

 

Still uploading pics..... have the TV on..... watching 70's disco night..... loving the music.... doesn't appear to have been a Cruise in Review DVD..... wouldn't they be plugging that by now? Was wondering whether my Caribbean foray had been captured....

 

The beautiful Pantheon :)

Did you make a wish at the Trevi Fountain?

[NorbertsNiece]

Ah.... the Trevi..... you'll have to wait see...... I'm just back from the Comedy Club.... knew I shouldn't have gone.... hate that kind of humour that feeds off the physical attractiveness or otherwise of the audience...... and I was too scared to get up and leave..... as some did.... for fear of being picked on....

 

Another fact I remember from this morning..... Oasis nearly always docks Starboard side to port..... she'll turn around if necessary.

 

Ourely : do come to the roll call unofficial meet at 3pm at the pool bar.... can tell you all then.... I'm the one with the pink boa.....

 

Ron : yes, many times to Italy but first time to la bella Roma!

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

I am humbled by the presence of Raphael's tomb.....

 

 

 

 

 

Whenever I'm out and about I'm always looking up and around.....