Fizzlewicket’s Adventure on Oasis of the Seas

[Gig103]

Oh, and something I can't wait to experience myself is the sheer size of the Oasis class... It really comes through on the pool deck, which looks about as wide as the ships I've been on, but there are two of them, plus a garden and boardwalk in between (all the way down)!

[OhboyOhboy2016]

We are on board now and I can attest to the accuracy and insight of this thread.

 

Don't forget to watch the Good Morning show on the RCL channel each morning. Drew and Hugo are hilarious!

[Fizzlewicket]

Thanks for the comprehensive ship tour! I board Allure soon and I'm getting very excited!

 

How much were mixed drinks on the ship? I know you said on Liberty you bought a package, but how about this time?

 

Since my wife did not drink much on the Liberty, we did not get the drink package this time. We limited drinks to around 5 for the entire cruise and she did not even get that many. She was very satisfied with just the soda package and Starbucks coffees. I honestly did not keep track of the cost of the drinks, but more of the overall on board credit in general.

[DJLDRUMS]

It can be noisy if you up high, close to the pool deck. However, if you are a few decks down, it should be less noisy than a Boardwalk balcony.

 

January...? the location and weather will work out. We had an "inside" balcony in July and sitting on the balcony didn't afford us much breeze. The heat seems to just stay place in those type balconies. But works good drying wet bathing suits on the balcony chairs !

[A&L_Ont]

It had a bar close by (but Carlos brought us all our drinks) …

 

Carlos is the best. Last time were there we had a group of 30 and Carlos was our waiter for the day. He looked after all of us with top notch service. The food was good, the drinks were cold and the water ocean was warm. It could not have been better.

 

This is a great review Fizzlewicket

[mickeychicky]

This was the BEST DARN REVIEW I have ever read. It did take my whole lunch hour and 2 breaks to read thru it but it was awesome. I have been dreading packing for yet another cruise, this time on Oasis, but now I am truly motivated and can now start my pre-cruise organization!!!

 

As I was reading thru I did jot down "a few" questions, if anyone can answer. I've only been on one other RC cruise, which was Freedom, and maybe some of the questions didn't apply to Freedom.

 

Starbucks Kiosk: can you use your Starbucks card onboard or do you have to do OBSA or OBC (if you have one)? Hoping yes, so that I can load up my Starbucks card with $$ and use that instead.

 

Cafe Promenade: it's been a while, forgive me. All these items are complimentary?

 

Solarium Bistro is listed under the "Complimentary Dining" section of the dining brochure but yet there is $20 charge showing on the Dining Cruise Planner when you log in to purchase/make reservations on your cruise. ??

 

And then just the opposite listed for Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar - it shows in my dining brochure as "Specialty Dining" but show a $0.00 in the Cruise Planner. ??

 

The Grande, American Icon Grill and Silk are what use to the Opus Main Dining Room, just split into three levels, correct? So are these part of the new Dynamic Dining plan and do we have to make "reservations"? I have dining room reservations on every night but it never asked me where I wanted to eat. It just says "My Time Dining". I am COMPLETELY confused now.

 

Johnny Rockets: free breakfast/lunch? even though I can't find that on their website?

 

Tapas: is this complimentary?

 

The Solarium: can anyone use that area? (adult age) That might be where we spend our time instead of the overcrowded public pool area that has no chairs probably.

[Fizzlewicket]

Starbucks: Yes, you can use your Starbucks card to pay for items and drinks there.

 

Cafe Promenade: Food and regular coffee is complimentary. Specialty coffees are for fee.

 

Solarium Bistro: Breakfast and lunch are complimentary. For dinner, it turns into a for fee restaurant.

 

Sabor: This is a Al A Cart restaurant so there is no cover charge. You will pay for your meal after you eat there.

 

MyTime dining will be at the American Icon Grill on deck 3.

 

Johnny Rockets offers a complimentary breakfast, but lunch and dinner are for fee.

 

Tapas is for fee.

 

The age restriction of the solarium is 16.

 

And finally, thank you for the wonderful compliment and enjoying the review.

Edited March 4, 2016 by Fizzlewicket

[brillohead]

I'm currently on Oasis and will answer some of your questions, with my answers in red below. Some things I don't have personal knowledge of, so I'll delete those items.

 

 

 

 

Cafe Promenade: it's been a while, forgive me. All these items are complimentary?

 

Every single food item is free here; ditto for Sorrentos. Up on Deck 8 in Central Park you'll find the Park Cafe, which is also complimentary, as is Boardwalk Dogs on Deck 6 and the Wipeout Cafe on 15 aft.

 

 

Solarium Bistro is listed under the "Complimentary Dining" section of the dining brochure but yet there is $20 charge showing on the Dining Cruise Planner when you log in to purchase/make reservations on your cruise. ??

 

Breakfast and lunch are free in the Solarium Bistro. Dinner has a charge.

 

 

And then just the opposite listed for Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar - it shows in my dining brochure as "Specialty Dining" but show a $0.00 in the Cruise Planner. ??

 

Sabor is different here than other ships - you pay per item ordered (like in a land-based restaurant) rather than a flat cover charge for the entire meal. So there is no charge on the Cruise Planner because they don't know how much you're going to order, but there IS a charge for both lunch and dinner there.

 

I've heard that the portions are very large, and many people will share an order of guacamole (made fresh at your table) and chips, then share one entree, and still everyone is full.

 

 

The Grande, American Icon Grill and Silk are what use to the Opus Main Dining Room, just split into three levels, correct? So are these part of the new Dynamic Dining plan and do we have to make "reservations"? I have dining room reservations on every night but it never asked me where I wanted to eat. It just says "My Time Dining". I am COMPLETELY confused now.

 

Dynamic Dining was intended to be incorporated on the Oasis class, but was scrapped after they had already done the renovations to the dining rooms. They offer Traditional Seating in Silk and Grande, and My Time Dining in American Icon. The menus and dress code are the same in all three venues.

 

Since you're signed up for My Time Dining, you'll be in American Icon on Deck Three, and since you already have reservations for the dining room each night, you don't need to do anything other than show up at your appointed time. There's a line on the left for people with reservations for MTD, and a line on the right for people with MTD who didn't make reservations.

 

 

Johnny Rockets: free breakfast/lunch? even though I can't find that on their website?

 

Free breakfast, cover charge for lunch or dinner. Oasis is the only class that I know of to offer breakfast at JR, it's not a fleetwide offering so it's not on the website as such.

 

 

The Solarium: can anyone use that area? (adult age) That might be where we spend our time instead of the overcrowded public pool area that has no chairs probably.

 

Yes, anyone age 16+ can use the Solarium. However, in my experience this week, you're more likely to find an unclaimed chair in the pool deck area, as there are four of them to choose from.

 

It's also semi-glassed in ceiling-wise, so it's been a lot hotter / less breeze than the pool deck, plus it's much harder to find dependable shade because the glass covering is angled and not regular, so you can be under glass one minute, fall asleep, and a few minutes later half or more of your body is in direct sunlight and you're burned to a crisp without even knowing it.

Edited March 4, 2016 by brillohead

[mickeychicky]

Thank you Fizzlewicket & brillohead!!

 

Onward to packing....

[twisterfreak2280]

Can I order the guacamole at Sabor to go? I love the idea of snacking on my balcony while reading

[Freehike]

Can I order the guacamole at Sabor to go? I love the idea of snacking on my balcony while reading

 

Yes

 

 

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[jagsfan]

Unbelievably wonderful to have so much good information at our fingertips. I learned things I missed when I sailed on Oasis before that I'll put in good use in June.

Thanks for the memories....yours, which are now mine.

 

 

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[Mary521]

Great review!! Thank you, now just the long wait until Jan 2017

[3happyferrets]

This is awesome! Ready for May!

 

 

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[KNtheRD]

awesome review - pleasure to read - one of the best (and I've been reading for years!!!). Makes me excited for my next cruise!!!!!!

[goncruzn]

This was such a great review. Thank you so much for writing it and including those great pictures. I was on the second sailing for Oasis when it first debuted and reading your review has helped me with finding out what changes have been made over the past 7+ years.

 

I'm even more excited now to sail on her . . . I just wish I didn't have to wait so long!

[webecruzin2]

Thanks so much for posting such a wonderful, indepth review!

DH and I really enjoyed reading through it together.

You've given us a lot of great info for our sailing on the Oasis in May

It will be our first time on this class ship and your review really has us psyched now, especially about the food!:D

[Grand PooBah]

Having sailed Oasis 4 times, and 1 time on Allure, and with Harmony coming up in November, I can't tell you how much I enjoyed every part of your review. Even though were just on her in December, it was like being there all over again (I can only wish). We love Oasis class. Once again, a huge thank you, and particularly for the video of the music in Central Park. We enjoyed that so many evenings. :):)

[3happyferrets]

Can't wait until May! Thank you!

[kicker]

And right before you exit the casino and enter in to the MDR areas, there is a floor to ceiling art display. It's very impressive if you ask me.

 

 

Going forward from the art display, we find ourselves at The Grand dining room.

 

 

And as you can see right down the hall to the right of the enterance is Izumi.

 

 

We had a fantastic and very entertaining meal at the hibachi portion of Izumi on the second night. I ordered the lobster and steak and my wife ordered the chicken and steak. Both were very delicious. And the fried rice was extremely good. I normally am not a fan of fried rice or rice in general but I ate to heaping bowels here. And for dessert, I cannot recommend enough the Assorted Mochi Ice Creams. One was Mango flavor, another was Green Tea flavor and finally one was Strawberry. The Mango one was good. The Green Tea one was ... well ... strange but edible. But the strawberry one was pure deliciousness. I would have been able, I would have got all of them in Strawberry flavor. Others at our table, those who were enjoying this dessert also agreed about Strawberry being simply the best.

 

Kudos to our Chef for the smiles, laugher, and a most excellent meal.

 

 

Just a note, at our 530pm reservation on the night we were there, there were 2 seats open at our table and about 4 seats open at the other table, so there might be a possiblity of grabbing some seats without a reservation.

 

 

1). Where do I send the check? You should get paid for one of the greatest reviews I ever read (or maybe Royal would like to offer a free cruise?:rolleyes:

 

2). Not sure if you have a typo above. I think I would enjoy heaping bowls of rice. However, not sure I'd want to go there if I'd end up with heaping bowels.:eek:

 

Seriously, thanks for a great review.

[Fizzlewicket]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate the continued positive feedback.

 

Looking back there are plenty of spelling errors and corrections I should have made, but the posts are locked out after only a short time.

 

After reading a lions share of reviews, I learned the hard way with my Liberty and now this Oasis tour/review that these require a lot of time and effort to create. (I would like to blame Gambee (in a good way) who's Allure review started my interest in cruising and also my interest in documenting my cruises.) But all in all, I believe they provide a excellent learning opportunity for others and it is just plain fun to share the cruise experience with people who love cruising.

 

Now, the planning begins for our 25th anniversary cruise in 2 years ... I'm thinking southern this time.

Edited April 11, 2016 by Fizzlewicket

[Fizzlewicket]

Now ... Back into the shadows as I continue to lurk some more .... (Que the sinister music for dramatic effect)

[Nayola]

My husband and I will be on the Oasis in September. Because of your review, I am now planning on going on the Falmouth Food Tour!

 

I so appreciate all of the Cruise Critic contributors who take the time to write such in-depth reviews. They really help :-)

[BLAMBKY]

As we head back out to deck 15 and continue to the sport deck, we find the Wipeout Café. This is another place to have a complimentary breakfast or lunch. They served the meals from a small buffet and had just the basics, but had everything you might need to fill a hungry belly.

 

 

 

 

Lunch is served!

 

 

 

And here come the hungry peoples.

 

 

There also are ice cream machines here.

 

 

 

 

Are these the only ice cream machines or do they have others around the ship?

[Ourusualbeach]

Are these the only ice cream machines or do they have others around the ship?

 

The ones in the wipeout cafe were the only ones that I remember seeing.