!! Oasis !! 9 Days Medley Cruise ^_^ The Ultimate Review and Complete Pictorial Guide

[Yorkvillain]

Conclusion and Score to come.

 

Can't wait to hear that score.

[brady.bunch]

Say it ain't so!! It's over? 😢

[BugsyCruiser]

Another excellent review from you my friend! I as well can't wait to hear your conclusion and score. :)

 

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[sonicbuffalo]

Great review Gambee.......very cool perspective....I'll have to see the Book of Mormon's broadway production. Afterall, I've read the book. It's the least I can do! :D

[Suzieanna]

Pinoccios name is Charles and his dad is a member of CC :D

[3happyferrets]

Being a physician I have had many chats with ships' physicians over the years. You have to remember that many elderly people cruise and they bring their medical issues along with them. Even those who are very stable will sometimes get into trouble from the dietary, sleep, and activity level changes. Those changes create a fair amount of stress on the body. I always have to make sure that my mother has diuretics to use on cruises or her ankles swell with fluid from the dietary changes and amount of salt in the food.

 

 

 

Medical issues rearing its head for a few is a sad reality of what is a very happy vacation for the vast majority of cruisers.

 

 

Right. I'm a nurse in the vacation capital of the world so I get it. And even seemingly healthy people can have issues. And it's probably like at Disney, where things happen but they don't want it to be really known, not only because it's a downer on other's vacations but also because, I imagine, out of respect for the deceased and their family. I know if I were in that situation I wouldn't want to be the subject of ship gossip. I guess that's just a part of life, but I still feel bad for their families.

 

 

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[rodenboy]

Can't believe it's come to an end! I almost feel like I've been in there with you! Already looking forward to the next review!

[dpostman]

I think we should all chip in and send Gambee on another cruise so we can spend a week reading about it.;)

 

I honestly think that in 2 years from now, I'll have more vivid memories of Gambee's last cruise than mine :p

 

dp

Edited April 23, 2016 by dpostman

[perfect match]

Oh, no! I don't want this cruise to come to an end! :eek: But I guess it is OK since there is another one coming up real soon. :o

 

I will be back for the conclusion and score for thos cruise and waiting patiently for the next one. :cool:

Edited April 23, 2016 by perfect match

[M313M]

I've really enjoyed your review, even though I have not posted on it before. My daughter and I will be cruising for our 1st Royal cruise on the Harmony in Nov., so getting to see the Oasis ships through all of your pictures and details has been great.

Funny thing happened at work today...a guy walked into the kitchen with one of the Royal soda mugs. I asked him which ship he went on...he starts telling me he did a 9 night just recently and they stopped in Puerto Rico for the first time. I almost burst out "you were cruising with Gambee!" [emoji3]

 

 

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[gambee]

I've had a rough week and reading your review and seeing the pictures has kept me excited about sailing on her May 14 and my outlook happy. Thanks so much [emoji4]

 

 

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I hope your week gets better, I am glad that I helped in a way :)

 

Have a great cruise!

[gambee]

I saw it on a YouTube video of " Cruise Ship Diaries" it was about the Divina. I remember because I thought it was very interesting, and wanted to remember to tell my family the next time we cruised.

 

Ooooo that's right, but I think I saw it about a costa ship.

[gambee]

Hi Gambee...great review!

 

Didn't you say that a friend of yours named Sarah also cruised with you and your Mom? What ever happened to her...or am I incorrect?

 

Yeah. Her husband joined the military and they moved to NC. She is actually having her first child next week :)

[gambee]

Amazing review. It's funny as it feels sad seeing day 9 and 10...it's like we were on the cruise with you and then it gets to the end. Thanks so much for sharing. I've seen your reviews in the past and they stand out.

We were just on Allure so neat to compare. (Recent posts of the parade looks very similar).

 

Glad you enjoyed it, thank you for following :)

[gambee]

Thanks for another awesome review Gambee! Congrats on starting the PT program and on your US citizenship, too! I have been fortunate enough to sail on the Allure and Oasis and will one day sail on Harmony when my son is tall enough to ride all the slides (he is 5 now). Hopefully the prices will decrease in a few years, too. I have been disappointed in the nickel and diming on RC (with all the mainstream cruise lines really) and was shocked when I bought 2 frozen daquaris on Oasis and the bill was $28!! I have not been too pleased with all the fake 'sales' RC runs, too. I stick to mostly Carnival and NCL as of recently...am sailing on the Getaway on May 8 and considered the Escape on May 7-would have been fun to meet you!

 

I also want to say I can only hope one day that my son and I will have such a close relationship as you and your mom do! I'm a single parent and raising a child on my own is the toughest thing I have ever done, but also the most rewarding.

 

I look forward to your Escape review! :D

 

Thank you for your kind words :)

 

Have a great cruise aboard Getaway, we hope to have another great cruise aboard Escape :)

[gambee]

Say it ain't so!! It's over? 😢

 

Yup, but one more coming soon :)

[gambee]

Great review Gambee.......very cool perspective....I'll have to see the Book of Mormon's broadway production. Afterall, I've read the book. It's the least I can do! :D

 

You really should, that show is to die for. I could not stop laughing :D:D:D

[gambee]

Pinoccios name is Charles and his dad is a member of CC :D

 

Maybe he read the review? :D

[gambee]

Can't believe it's come to an end! I almost feel like I've been in there with you! Already looking forward to the next review!

 

Thank you for following along, can't to have you on the Escape one :)

[gambee]

I think we should all chip in and send Gambee on another cruise so we can spend a week reading about it.;)

 

I honestly think that in 2 years from now, I'll have more vivid memories of Gambee's last cruise than mine :p

 

dp

 

I vote for that one :D:D:D

[gambee]

I've really enjoyed your review, even though I have not posted on it before. My daughter and I will be cruising for our 1st Royal cruise on the Harmony in Nov., so getting to see the Oasis ships through all of your pictures and details has been great.

Funny thing happened at work today...a guy walked into the kitchen with one of the Royal soda mugs. I asked him which ship he went on...he starts telling me he did a 9 night just recently and they stopped in Puerto Rico for the first time. I almost burst out "you were cruising with Gambee!" [emoji3]

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

 

Lol, apparently that sailing was full, I am glad both mom and I were able to experience that.

 

I hope you have a great time aboard Harmony :)

[gambee]

Just got home from work. I will finish the conclusion section first thing in the morning and post it as soon as it's ready.

 

[marty1950]

Hi Gambee. Thank you for another fantastic review. We also love the Oasis and Allure. Can't wait for your review if the Escape. Gary;)

[Buccaneergirl]

Thanks for such a great review! I have really enjoyed reading it and am sad that it is done.

We sailed Escape last November and loved it, so I am anxiously awaiting your review. Dh is big into beer and he was in heaven in Escape's brew pub and having the UBP helped too.😊 There were 29 beers on tap and 59 in bottles....lots to try!

[gambee]

Conclusion, Rating and Final Thoughts







Food 8/10




The food aboard the Oasis of the Seas was good for the most part. We went to Izumi, Chops, Sabor and Vintages. My favorite was vintages, with exceptional food as always. Chops and Sabor were good, but not great. Izumi on the other hand was a disappointment. I thought it was overpriced and the food was below average. I am quite certain I won’t be going there again.




The main dinning room was average. On formal night it was great, but on the other occasions it was just average. I would completely skip it for lunch, as there are far better options out there.




I think the ship really makes up with the other free options such as; Park Cafe, Solarium, Windjammer, Dog House, Jonny Rockets (for breakfast), Wipeout Cafe, Room service (except for breakfast) and the promenade cafe. I am sure that if you look, you will find something that you will love. We sure did in several of these places.




The twin O sisters are not known for their excellent food, as is Celebrity and Disney per say. However, they sure offer good food for most people out there, we truly enjoyed most of our meals.







Cabin 8/10




The rooms aboard Oasis are average size. I have been in much smaller and larger rooms. Overall, I found the Oasis of the Seas room to be adequate for a 9 day voyage. There is enough storage, and space to share for two people.




The shower water pressure is absolutely amazing, and it is one of the things that I missed the most once I got home. The balcony size is among the best that I have seen in the industry, especially after the shrinkage of the Breakaway class and the royal/regal class. As you know balcony space is crucial for both mom and I.




I have a really hard time complaining about cabin specifics. I guess the TV from our second room never worked properly, if you can call that a problem. And the A/C on the first room never reached a cold enough temperature. And I guess if I have to I will say that the decor and color pattern is not my favorite.




The only reason this is a 8/10 is because Disney has spoiled me forever. Their cabins are just ridiculous! Had I not sailed Disney, this would be a 9 cabin.







Cabin TV System & Internet 10/10




The internet aboard the Oasis of the Seas is just astonishing! And we had the lower end one. At $10 a day, and speeds that rival a low speed DSL connection there is nothing to complaint about. RCCL has knocked it outta the park. Both mom and I were incredibly happy with the internet connection. If I could have a connection like this on all my cruises, I would purchase it on every single voyage!

 

Just a heads up, you can purchase the $20 a day (faster internet) ahead of your cruise from $14 a day. Seems like a good deal to me. I read that today on a CC news article.




The TV system is as well very impressive. I found most of the programing entertaining, with plenty of variety for everyone. There are a few channels for foreign cruisers as well. I have to admit, that the Dreamworks channel was my absolute favorite, with movies running around the clock. It is perfect for kids and Gambee :D.




I only had one complaint about this system, and it was the lack of being able to order room service for breakfast on the same day. Then again, being that the breakfast room service food was the worst I've ever eaten. I really felt no need to take off points.







Pools, Jacuzzis, & Adult-Only Area 10/10




The Oasis of the Seas has 5 pools and 10 oversized jacuzzis. There are more than enough water features to keep everyone cool and relaxed. We never encountered a situation in which the Lido deck was overly crowded, and every time we were looking for loungers we found them with ease.




This solarium is my favorite adult only area on any ship to date. The area is just huge, and with a roof having partially opening it's always sunny and breezy. Add to that two huge jacuzzis, a medium size fresh water pool, a buffet (although not always good), and you have a recipe for complete relaxation.

 

This was by far our favorite area of the Lady O!







Activities (for Adults) 10/10




There is just so much to do in Oasis, from the Flowrider, ice skating, rock climbing, zip line, mini golf etc. Who can get bored on this ship? There is something for almost everybody. In addition, there are parades and all the activities that are usually planned on most mainstream cruise lines.




My only issue here is that most of the competitions and game shows are held in the larger theaters. It is the only way to do it since you have around 6k people on the ship. I have to say that I enjoy them more when they are held in smaller areas. I also noticed that many of the activities that I wanted to attend were after 11pm, and by then I was usually too tired to stay awake.







Shows 9/10




I had a really hard time comparing Oasis and Allure here. I really disliked Cats, but then again, I never saw Chicago (they changed production already on Allure). The water show was better on the Allure, and the Ice shows I enjoyed equally.




Where Oasis really stands out is with "Come Fly with Me". This is the best show that I have seen on a cruise ship, EVER! It is a not miss for anyone sailing on Lady O.




As far as the Headliner shows, I guess Oasis had a slight edge over the Allure, but overall they both lacked in WoW.




9 is a fair score considering that come fly was my favorite ever. Had that show not been there, the score would be around 7.







Bars & Lounges 8/10




The Oasis has lots of bars and lounges, including the first ever levitating bar at sea. The bars are well attended and most bartenders are friendly and provide great service. You won’t ever wait more than 5 minutes for a drink.




I will say that I really miss the Viking Lounge. That bar was our favorite one on the Allure of the Seas. It is a real shame that they decided to make it a restaurant for the suites. The view from up there was quite relaxing, and they always had great music.







Ship Decor & Elegance 8/10




Oasis has a nice mellow decor to them. Nothing really stands out, but the ship is very pleasing to the eye. It has warm colors, great art collections, a modern look and nice open spaces. Oasis was kept immaculate, with people cleaning her around the clock.




I still think that Celebrity, Disney and MSC, take the price here. Those ships are just stunning!







Unique Area—Central Park & Boardwalk 10/10




Oasis just like her sister ship both have a central park, and a Boardwalk. Both areas are just stunning, with restaurants surrounding them. We enjoyed both areas, but found that we missed the connection with the ocean on Central Park. I believe that this is the reason why we did not spend much time there. However, the fact that they have these two incredible areas on a ship is just remarkable!




You can also add the aft Aqua theater, and the ice skating rink to the unique features of the ship.




I rated Oasis 1 point higher than Allure. But the only reason that I did this, is because after 10 cruises I have come to realize that this class of ships is impossible to beat. Sure, there will be 270, North Star, bumper cars, Go Karts, rope course, Waterfront, etc. But there will never be a central park, a boardwalk, and a mall in the same ship. I think the only ship that will beat Lady O or Lady A will be Harmony.







Service 8/10




Service aboard the ship was mostly great. The specialty restaurant, with the exception of Izumi, were all well served. The main dinning room, also had good service, although the waits to be seated on my time Dinning are a bit annoying. I suggest you go there early or just get the classic set time seating.




What really made for us were the room stewards, they were the best that we have ever had. The second best was on the Allure of the Seas. For some reason, the crew and staff on this big girls really feel proud of their ships.




The buffet is well attended and the tables are cleaned quickly after people leave. The bar service is quick and efficient, and very friendly (with exceptions of course).




I wish that our room situation would have been solved earlier. But in the end all that matters is that it was resolved, and we were happy with the outcome. The overall rating did take an additional point off due to RCCL inability to apply their own policy with efficiency.










Score & Conclusion 89 out of 100




Was this our favorite cruise ever? You bet! But I think it was partly due to the fact that we had 5 ports and 9 total days. Otherwise, I think that the Allure and Oasis stand with nearly equal scores and experiences. I am not even sure if I will ever be able to find a ship that will surpass the Oasis class.




Some people say "they are too big", but quite honestly, you don't feel the size of the ship. My only recommendation is to make sure that your room is near the elevators. Also try to consider whether you spend more time FWD or AFT, and book accordingly.




These big ladies offer something very special, something that I have not felt in any other ship to date. I am not sure how to even explain it. I guess the best way of putting it is that they feel like you're part of that WoW experience that RCCL keeps advertising :D.







Just a quick recall of scores:




Oasis of the Seas 89%

Disney Dream 89%

Allure of the Seas 86%

Carnival Breeze 83%

NCL Breakaway 78%

Celebrity Silhouette 77%

Carnival Victory 74%

MSC Divina 70%

NCL Sky 62%







While Oasis tied the score with the Disney Dream, the overall experience was better on the Oasis. I think I should add a new category called "Fun Level", LoL.




P.S. Don't forget to read my Norwegian Escape Review next month. I plan on starting it on May 14. I would love to see Norwegian get into the 80's range.







Thank you for being a part of this review.










Until Next time! ^_^