First-Time RCI Cruisers on Oasis 3-Day Oct. 21-24

[jpm1973]

Some random pictures from our walk around Nassau.

 



 

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

The escalator once you get back on board:

 

[jpm1973]

Once back on board we decided to give the zip line a try since it was opening up at 4 p.m. that day. The line to sign waivers and get your wrist band was pretty long, not surprising since in addition to the zip line the climbing walls and flow riders were opening up for the afternoon at 4 p.m. too. Even though we had completed the waivers online as part of checking in, we still had to wait to have them verified and then get a bracelet. All in all it took about 45 minutes to make our way through this line. While we were waiting I took a few pictures of the flow riders and the area around them.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 

The rock climbing wall was being well used today.

 

 

Once that was done we moved over to the actual zip line line, which wasn’t nearly as long thankfully. About 10 minutes later we were being geared up with a harness and helmet and reminded multiple times to make sure we had nothing in our pockets but our SeaPass cards. They were maniacal about this, but I guess that’s understandable since the zip line travels over Central Park and it would be bad to have someone down below hit by my phone or something else falling from a pocket.

 

The zip line ride itself was over in about 30 seconds - definitely the shortest zip line I’ve ever ridden but fun nonetheless. Unfortunately couldn’t get any pictures of Will and I since our phones were safely stored in our room, but I did get this picture later.

 

[jpm1973]

Once that was done we headed back to our room to grab phones and camera and wandered around the ship a bit more. Some pictures from deck 4, which I hadn’t gotten yesterday during our tour.

 

 

The nightclub; we never went so can't say how hopping it was.

 



 

 

Hallway/art gallery leading to the Casino. We frequently made donations to the casino.

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

[jpm1973]

 

 

 



 

 

 

Studio B - we'll visit this more later for the Quest. Also home to the ice rink and Frozen in Time ice show.

 



 

 

 

Izumi - the sushi/hibachi restaurant.

 

[jpm1973]

After wandering around inside we decided to check out the outdoor observation area on deck 14 forward. It was sunset time while we were up here so we took advantage and got some pictures of Atlantis in the distance and the sunset itself. Nothing better than a sunset on board a cruise ship!

 

 

The helipad at the very front of the ship. Do they ever use this? I suppose for medical evacs at sea maybe.

 



 

Atlantis in the distance.

 



 

 

Tonight's sunset.

 

[jpm1973]

Tonight was formal night so we headed back to the room to try to make ourselves a bit more presentable. We had 9 p.m. reservations at Sabor so we had some time, but wanted to visit the Suite Lounge beforehand for a snack and some drinks. We also figured we’d get a few pictures taken since we were dressing up a bit. What we ended up with:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had chosen 9 p.m. for dinner since we were supposed to leave Nassau at 8 p.m. and thought it would be nice to watch our departure. When 8:45 rolled around and we were still docked we figured we’d just head down and maybe catch the sail away from the Boardwalk. Although we were a bit early to Sabor it was mostly empty - I guess for formal night most people opted for more formal dining venues. For whatever reason I only got a picture of the margarita menu; I opted for the Simply Perfect and it was pretty darn close.

 

 

 

Sabor is an ala carte dining venue so instead of a flat charge you pay per item. They have a great tasting option for $20 which allows you to choose one small plate, one taco or quesedilla, one main, one side, and then the table side guacamole to start and the box of sweets for dessert. We chose the chicken-stuffed jalapeños wrapped in bacon; the tres quests quesedilla, the jalapeno-garlic tiger shrimp and Mexican rice. Everything was delicious - not a bad item on the table. And although I can't remember exactly what made up the box of sweets for dessert, there wasn’t much left when we were done with it so I think it was all pretty fantastic.

 

Somewhere during dinner the captain announced that our delayed departure was due to some paperwork that had to be done but we probably started moving a bit before 9:30.

 

Once dinner was done we stopped by the casino again to try our luck. Not so lucky tonight; we both walked out a bit lighter in cash than when we walked in. So it goes. By now it was about time for the Quest, which was set to start at 11:30. Neither of us had been to one of these but have heard some of the wild stories so we wanted to check it out.

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure how this one compared to others but it was pretty crazy at times - definitely saw more of some people than I ever cared to. We both left with our clothing in tact though at various points I did lose my belt and shirt; thankfully both made their way back to me. Unfortunately I did lose one shoe lace so I had to carefully make my way back to our room after with one floppy shoe. At some point I snapped a picture of a bunch of guys in their underwear and wearing bras and heels; in we'll leave that to your imagination though.

 

When we got back to our room we headed out to the balcony only to find it had started raining and was quite windy - looks like we’d be staying indoors! The ship was rocking pretty well too, so we both took some Dramamine and called it a night. This was our only towel creation on this cruise.

 

 

End of Day 2

[LuCruise]

Amazing pictures!

[nancronin]

Great review - thanks for taking the time to post! Nice pictures.

[widallas]

I agree -- great review, and the pictures are wonderful! Very jealous of your "suite" life, and your cruise....but the Oasis is so enormous, I'm glad you're giving all this info in case we ever get brave enough to try that ship or Allure...

[jpm1973]

Amazing pictures!

 

 

Thanks very much!

[jpm1973]

Great review - thanks for taking the time to post! Nice pictures.

 

 

Thanks for reading!

[jpm1973]

I agree -- great review, and the pictures are wonderful! Very jealous of your "suite" life, and your cruise....but the Oasis is so enormous, I'm glad you're giving all this info in case we ever get brave enough to try that ship or Allure...

 

 

Thanks for reading! This will likely be the one time we're ever in a suite like this - definitely an experience.

 

You definitely should give one of them a try - pretty incredible.

[usateg]

Hey Scott,

I posted on this thread earlier. My Mom & I are the ones in the picture of Bolero's that you took. I just wanted to take this time to say that I have been reading your review since the beginning & have highly enjoyed it. As we were on the same cruise I can relate to a lot of what you have been writing, etc. I had wanted to do an Oasis class ship since the beginning but the pricing was a bit high (& not so thrilled about the ports since I live in South Florida & we can practically go to the Caribbean whenever we want) so when this cruise came up & I had those days off from work already I jumped at the chance ("karma"). We too had & great time & actually were able to see all 4 shows in 3 days plus go snorkeling in Nassau(we never stop!). We were also lucky enough on formal night to go to Giovanni's Table for dinner. We walked in & there was a last minute cancellation.

Again, thanks for the review & looking forward to more :)

[TwoJ'smommy]

I am really loving the review and all of your pics. Thanks for sharing.

[jpm1973]

Hey Scott,

I posted on this thread earlier. My Mom & I are the ones in the picture of Bolero's that you took. I just wanted to take this time to say that I have been reading your review since the beginning & have highly enjoyed it. As we were on the same cruise I can relate to a lot of what you have been writing, etc. I had wanted to do an Oasis class ship since the beginning but the pricing was a bit high (& not so thrilled about the ports since I live in South Florida & we can practically go to the Caribbean whenever we want) so when this cruise came up & I had those days off from work already I jumped at the chance ("karma"). We too had & great time & actually were able to see all 4 shows in 3 days plus go snorkeling in Nassau(we never stop!). We were also lucky enough on formal night to go to Giovanni's Table for dinner. We walked in & there was a last minute cancellation.

Again, thanks for the review & looking forward to more :)

 

 

Thanks for following along and sticking with me! I know I've been a bit slow in posting.

 

I've always thought the itineraries the Oasis class ships do are a bit uninspiring but I suppose they are limited on which ports they fit into.

 

Sounds like you two made the most of the three days! We are already considering another cruise on Allure next December so hopefully we can see and do some of the things we missed.

[jpm1973]

I am really loving the review and all of your pics. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

Thanks for reading! Hope to finish up by the end of the weekend.

[usateg]

Hey Scott,

Yes we did make the most of the 3 days. Whenever we travel, we make the most out of every minute. Next year we are booked on the Harmony of the Seas Western Mediterranean so we will have a week to spend this time. I soo cannot wait for that trip. Hope the 2 of you do decide to do the Allure & will have more time to explore also.

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review:)

Thanks for following along and sticking with me! I know I've been a bit slow in posting.

 

I've always thought the itineraries the Oasis class ships do are a bit uninspiring but I suppose they are limited on which ports they fit into.

 

Sounds like you two made the most of the three days! We are already considering another cruise on Allure next December so hopefully we can see and do some of the things we missed.

[Royalty X]

You boys are adorable! Reading your review inspired me last night and I made my partner watch Oasis OTS on Mighty Ships, so he could see what I so desperately wish to sail on. We'll get there, one day. Explorer and Radiance are the next ones for us. I'm loving your review!

 

Mason :)

[jpm1973]

You boys are adorable! Reading your review inspired me last night and I made my partner watch Oasis OTS on Mighty Ships, so he could see what I so desperately wish to sail on. We'll get there, one day. Explorer and Radiance are the next ones for us. I'm loving your review!

 

Mason :)

 

Thanks and thanks for reading! The Oasis is definitely one of those ships you just have to experience...amazing. Will was never sold on cruising like I am but after this cruise he definitely likes these ships. Hoping to sail again sometime next year.

[jpm1973]

Day 3 - At Sea

 

Our last day started slowly and didn’t really accelerate at any point - no need since we were making a very slow trek back to Ft. Lauderdale. We woke up around 8:30 and took our time getting ready for the day. We planned to spend as much of it as possible on the outside decks, enjoying the last of the sun and sea before our short cruise ended.

 

Weather didn’t look too bad this morning - some clouds but still some blue to be seen. After we had put on our suits and packed up our stuff, we made our way to Starbucks for coffee and then to the Solarium Bistro for breakfast. We weren’t feeling like braving the mad crowds at Windjammer and that turned out to be a good choice - we overheard some people saying that it was so crowded they were turning people away.

 

The Solarium is a nice alternative for breakfast as they have some of the same buffet items and a few other unique, healthier choices. Once we had eaten we headed up to the Suite sun deck on 17 and were luck enough to snag another of the cabana areas. It was clouding up a bit more and starting to sprinkle a bit, but the clouds and showers would be short-lived as not long after it cleared up completely and stayed that way for the rest of the day.

 

Some random shots from today.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

Freedom of the Seas model

 

 

 

[jpm1973]

We spent several hours in the sun, reading and listening to music and just relaxing. At some point we stopped by the Wipeout Cafe for lunch - a burger for me, chicken for Will, and fries for us both. After a bit more time in the sun we decided to call it a day and head back to the cabin to shower. We had some time to kill before dinner so we took a walk around, checking out the running track and aft area on deck 5. I love the views of the water you get from here - a great spot to get away from the crowds and just enjoy the sound of the water or take a little nap.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

We had reservations in the dining room tonight at 7:30 so we made a quick stop in the Suite Lounge beforehand for a drink. We ended up in the same section with the same great waitstaff at dinner. Service again was excellent. Will had the chicken marsala; I started with the Caprese salad and then the lasagna for my entree. Dessert tonight was tiramisu and cheesecake - both excellent.

 

After dinner we made our requisite donations at the casino and then took one last walk around the ship since it was our last night on board. We stopped by the ice cream parlor on the Boardwalk and then decided to call it an early night. We packed up a bit and I enjoyed the last of the wine I had on our balcony before we headed to bed.

 

 

 

 

End of Day 3

[jpm1973]

Day 4/5 - Debarkation, Ft. Lauderdale, and Traveling Home

 

Since we had planned to stay over in Ft. Lauderdale one night and fly home on Sunday evening, we were in no rush to get off the ship. Our hotel would likely not have a room for us until afternoon, and we had no plans to see anything else in Ft. Lauderdale while we were there.

 

So we slept in a bit and took our time leaving the cabin. Will went down to Starbucks for coffee while I finished packing and a little after 9 we decided to head up to the Suite Lounge to wait before leaving the ship. There was no food or anything up there but the coffee machine was working. It wasn't at all crowded but there were a few other groups of people waiting as well. We pushed it as long as we could and finally started heading down around 10:45; we were the last to leave the lounge.

 

We definitely weren't the last to leave the ship, however, as there were plenty of people filing off after we did. Since we carried our bags we didn't have to go through that process and customs was a breeze. We were outside waiting for a cab in less than 15 minutes.

 

For our post-cruise stay we booked the Hyatt Regency Pier 66, just a short ride from the cruise port. When we arrived there were a lot of outgoing cruisers waiting for cabs so the lobby was a bit of a chaotic mess. Will checked us in but as expected no room was ready for us - they took his cell number and said they would call when our room was available.

 

We gave our larger bags to them to store and then we changed into our suits to spend our time waiting out by the pool. It was a beautiful day again so we figured we'd take advantage of the last bits of sun and warmth.

 

The pool area is quite large and very nice - two separate pools with a large whirlpool as well. There's also an outdoor bar/restaurant with circulating servers so you never have to get up if you choose not to. We spent a few hours outside and ordered some drinks and split a sandwich for lunch. Around 2:30 they called to let us know our room was available and since it was starting to cloud up a bit, we headed inside. We had a standard room with a balcony, with a view of the intercoastal waterway and the ocean in the distance. Pretty standard hotel room, but very nice.

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 



 

 

 

[jpm1973]

Oasis was leaving again that day for its next cruise around 5 and I wanted to take a walk to the beach near the channel to get some pictures. The weather was looking questionable, but we borrowed an umbrella from the valet parking service and took a walk. It was a bit further than I expected, but we were there within 20 minutes. We arrived just in time for the skies to open up for a bit, so that umbrella was put to good use!

 

The rain stopped in time for us to watch Oasis sail away, sadly this time we weren't on board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walked back to the Hyatt in a light drizzle and spent a few hours relaxing in our room before trying to figure out what to do for dinner. The hotel restaurants weren't appealing to us, so with the power of Yelp I found a place not too far a walk at another small hotel on the intercoastal - the Bahia Cabana.

 

The bar/restaurant here is right on the water with some great views. We had shrimp cocktail, conch fritters, shrimp and scallop ceviche and some fries. Everything was great, including the key lime pie for dessert. I was happy we had a bit of a walk back to our hotel after all that food!

 

The next day we had booked some treatments at the hotel spa since our flight home wasn't until 7 p.m. We both had opted for a massage/foot reflexology package, but that morning the called to let me know my therapist was out sick. I explained our situation and how we both wanted to be able to spend a few hours in the spa, and they called back letting me know they could work me in for a facial and manicure/pedicure combo. We both really enjoyed our services and the spa itself is quite nice, if not a bit small.

 

The hotel had given us a later check out time of 2:30 so after our spa time we went back to our room to finish packing. Since we had nowhere left to go we decided to just head to the airport and kill the next 4 hours there until our flight home.

 

We left right on time and landed back in Long Island around 9:40. After a short wait for our bags we were out to our car and heading home by 10:15.

 

Overall we had a great trip and thoroughly enjoyed our first cruise on Royal Caribbean. Having only sailed with Carnival, it was interesting to try something new and see how the two lines are similar, and different. A few comparisons:

 

Food

I know food is very subjective but in general I think the food itself on both Carnival and Royal Caribbean is similar. Where Royal excels, at least on the Oasis, is the number of alternative dining venues available, both free and for an extra charge. It was nice to have options here, especially since the Windjammer on the Oasis was always so packed. One thing we both absolutely loved were the Freestyle Coke machines. So nice to have options on drinks like this. One negative is that many times some of the machines would not be working. Also on a ship this size I think they could afford to place a few more of these around as well.

 

Cabin

It's hard to compare considering how awesome our suite on the Oasis was. Best cabin we've ever had by far. Steward service was great and very comparable to our experiences on Carnival. One area that Royal far outshines Carnival is in the extra perks available for those in suites. The lounge and Coastal Kitchen, private sun deck, full dining room menu available for room service are all awesome extras that really make the experience that much better. Of course the price tag reflects that, which is expected.

 

Would we ever book a suite on Royal again? Absolutely, but I doubt we'd ever be able to swing a room like this one on an Oasis-class ship again. Nor would I think the price would be worth it. The extra space and balcony were great, but in the end I'd rather spend less and cruise more often. I think Will feels the exact opposite. :-P

 

Entertainment

The only show we saw on this cruise was the Oasis of Dreams in the Aqua Theater. Really incredible, and nothing like this on any cruise we've ever been on. Can't comment on the other shows or make any comparisons with Carnival here. As far as activities on board, it seemed like there was a lot to keep you occupied if you looked, similar to our experience on Carnival. Of course there's no flow riders, rock climbing walls or zip lines on any Carnival ships, so in that respect the Oasis offered more options.

 

We're not big drinkers, dancers or night-lifers so can't say how things compared. We never went to the nightclub on board and only stayed out past midnight when we were at the Quest.

 

The Ship

There's no comparison here. Had we sailed on a smaller Royal ship maybe, but the Oasis is so far beyond anything we've experienced with Carnival that any comparison just isn't fair. We both loved all that Oasis offered and all the distinctive spaces within the ship. One negative for me though is that since the ship is so big, you can many times forget that you're actually on the water. I like to be able to look out and see that we are actually cruising. Again I think that's why Will loved this ship so much - he'd rather forget that we're on water. Even though the ship is huge we still felt a bit of movement, mostly on the second night when it was raining and quite windy. Nothing terrible, but definitely noticeable.

 

That said, we both would definitely love to sail another Oasis-class ship again. Three days was not nearly enough time to see and enjoy all the ship has to offer. We're looking at a five-day on Allure next December with two sea days that should give us a bit more time to explore.

 

Next up though we're on Enchantment for three days in February. Looking forward to seeing what the Royal Caribbean experience is like on a smaller ship. Thanks for reading!

[anandaindonesia]

Thank you. Looking forward to reading your next review. Keep cruising!

 

Sent from my SM-G7102 using Tapatalk

[GrooveInWhichWeMove]

Thanks for the review! I've never really looked seriously at RCI, but it sounds like it was a pretty great experience.