For those that have sailed Oasis Class and Escape

[karnze]

We are in our mid 20's with a toddler, and planning a cruise with our friends without a child yet that have not cruised before. I originally was planning on booking a Royal Caribbean Oasis class cruise, thinking that would get them addicted to cruising. (That is my main goal!) -- Anyways the Escape has recently caught my eye. If you have sailed both ships, what would you say would be the best experience people in our situation, and for first time cruisers. I have personally only sailed RCCL and had a wonderful experience with them each time. For all I know I could be missing out on a whole other experience with NCL Escape. Any opinions of both ships welcome!

[danny6514]

Personally I found Oasis to be a much better ship in terms of layout, crowd control, and the number of pools, hot tubs. There were large hot tubs almost everywhere around the ship and I could frequent get into one that's not too crowded. Definitely can't say the same for the Escape.

 

However, we booked with NCL again (getaway this time) because of the value we get. For less money, I get a very decent cruise along with unlimited drinks. Also, on the Escape, we really enjoyed the ropes course, 24 hour pub, and the parties at night (glow party), we found those to be much more "mid-20s" fun.

 

Food wise, I may be very biased since I was sick the whole week on the Escape, but my partner and I found the main dining rooms on the Oasis to be superior to NCL by quite a bit. Since we had the speciality dining package, we had the luxury of trying out different restaurants which made up for the disappointment in the MDR. But since the promo is gone, unless you are planning to live in the haven or purchase the package yourself, you're stuck with the MDR, pub, and buffet. I just feel for the majority of cruisers, the change to ala Carte for all speciality restaurant just means paying much more now. Speaking of the buffet, we found that to be better on the Escape than Oasis. We really enjoyed the pasta, omelette stations.

 

Long story short, you can't really go wrong with either. If not having drinks package is a deal breaker (for us it was), then go with NCL and enjoy grabbing a drink whenever and wherever you want. But if you want to appreciate the actual ship itself, I find oasis to be a more magnificent ship. Again, strictly subjective and just my personal opinion. Happy cruising!

 

 

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Edited May 16, 2016 by danny6514

[karnze]

Personally I found Oasis to be a much better ship in terms of layout, crowd control, and the number of pools, hot tubs. There were large hot tubs almost everywhere around the ship and I could frequent get into one that's not too crowded. Definitely can't say the same for the Escape.

 

However, we booked with NCL again (getaway this time) because of the value we get. For less money, I get a very decent cruise along with unlimited drinks. Also, on the Escape, we really enjoyed the ropes course, 24 hour pub, and the parties at night (glow party), we found those to be much more "mid-20s" fun.

 

Food wise, I may be very biased since I was sick the whole week on the Escape, but my partner and I found the main dining rooms on the Oasis to be superior to NCL by quite a bit. Since we had the speciality dining package, we had the luxury of trying out different restaurants which made up for the disappointment in the MDR. But since the promo is gone, unless you are planning to live in the haven or purchase the package yourself, you're stuck with the MDR, pub, and buffet. I just feel for the majority of cruisers, the change to ala Carte for all speciality restaurant just means paying much more now. Speaking of the buffet, we found that to be better on the Escape than Oasis. We really enjoyed the pasta, omelette stations.

 

Long story short, you can't really go wrong with either. If not having drinks package is a deal breaker (for us it was), then go with NCL and enjoy grabbing a drink whenever and wherever you want. But if you want to appreciate the actual ship itself, I find oasis to be a more magnificent ship. Again, strictly subjective and just my personal opinion. Happy cruising!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Thanks so much for the insights! The drinks package sure does add value to the Escape cruise. I'm glad to hear that about the food, I don't think we would be getting a package. So mostly MDR and Buffett for us. You are right, it doesn't seem like either would be a bad choice. I have a feeling that their is nothing else like the Oasis class ships, but Escape is right there with it... IT sure doesn't make this decision easy :)

[Jenjer]

I have cruised Oasis, Allure, and Getaway (and others) getting ready for Escape but have not sailed her yet just her sister ship Getaway.

 

Food: MDR is better in RCCL but specialties are better on NCL. Buffett better on NCL. Lots of options and freestyle work for most people. The specialties do require reservations but the MDR is easy to get in without any reservations.

 

Shows: RCCL wins Escapes entertainment is less fix you have Brat Pack looks super cool and After midnight about 20's cotton club, just singing and dancing. Rccl you have a dive show and that is a not to be missed experience.

 

Nightlife. NCL wins its more of party boat for sure. Especially with all the free drink plans (unsure of the current promos but its something NCL keeps including in promos)

 

Pool: Oasis class wins for sure yes you have more people but it feels like you have more space for sure.

 

Spa: NCL wins nothing beats the thermal spa area for peace and quiet a relaxation but you either have to pay for it or book a spa room. RCCL's thermal spa is a joke compared to NCL

 

Both line require kids to be 3 and potty trained to check them into kids club. My kids did Disney when they where under 5 so I don't have personal knowledge of the 3-5 age group stuff.

 

Suite: NCL with the Haven wins hands down. I know Rccl has a new program but its basically a watered down version of NCL, no private pool and area.

 

Service is top notch on both lines so no issues there.

 

Since your child can not do many activities look at what activities you and your friends would like, water slides and ropes course; Escape......Flowrider; Oasis. We go back and forth between lines. Escape this year and Harmony next.

 

Also look at what you would like to do in port and see where each ship is going

 

IMO nothing beats the Oasis class its absolutely amazing. Rccl does a better job at space and people management IMO. We spend our weeks on Oasis class asking where did everybody go.

[CamaCama]

One thing to consider is that on Escape you can drop off your toddler, there is a designated 6 month to 3 year camp and it's drop off! It does cost $20 per session and there are 2 sessions per day, but I don't think any of the other lines/ships offer that. My daughter was 2.5 when we sailed on Escape and felt she was a bit too old for it (plus she didn't want to go and also ran a fever 3 days into the cruise so we didn't want to put the other kids at risk) so she only went once. Oasis/Allure are my dream ships lol haven't been yet but going in Nov this year so I can't compare... yet!

 

Check out my family review of Escape, link in my signature. :)

[karnze]

One thing to consider is that on Escape you can drop off your toddler, there is a designated 6 month to 3 year camp and it's drop off! It does cost $20 per session and there are 2 sessions per day, but I don't think any of the other lines/ships offer that. My daughter was 2.5 when we sailed on Escape and felt she was a bit too old for it (plus she didn't want to go and also ran a fever 3 days into the cruise so we didn't want to put the other kids at risk) so she only went once. Oasis/Allure are my dream ships lol haven't been yet but going in Nov this year so I can't compare... yet!

 

Check out my family review of Escape, link in my signature. :)

 

That was a great review. Thanks. Our boy will be about the same age when we are planning on cruising with him. So that helped. I'm so torn, but your pictures made Escape look awesome. Although the pool deck seems a little chaotic.

[aubreyc1988]

I've done Allure and Escape

 

Allure wins hands down.

 

Food: MDR on allure was better, but escape had better specialties

 

Entertainment: Allure, hands down, no comparison - best at sea

 

Casino: Allure wins this hands down as well - the open decks of 6-7-8 are really not the best design - the casino is on deck 7 and is open to 6-8 and the smoke flows everywhere, can even smell it in LeBistro

 

Bars: Escape wins this, very good selection of bars

 

Promos and Price: Escape wins this - Allure/Oasis is still VERY expensive, even years after the debut. I paid 1,400 per person for a Jr Suite on the Allure with no perks 2 years ago when it was Newer, Escape I paid 649 for a balcony with 2 perks, Beverage Package and Dining package

 

Pool Decks and Hot Tubs and Adult Only - Allure wins this too. Pool decks on Escape are chaotic, there are NEVER enough chairs, even far away from the pool, the staff doesnt always enforce the chair hog situation. Allure/Oasis has a nice Solarium adult only place, which also has pools and cantilevered hot tubs, in addition to the main deck pools and hot tubs. ONE plus the Escape does have in terms of pools is their slides, I did enjoy them

 

i can't really speak about the children areas, since i don't have kids, but hope this helps a little. Both are good ships, they are just different. If I could afford to sail on Oasis class every year, I would

[Yorkvillain]

In my mind this is a no lose situation. I love the Oasis class ships and I love the Escape. The pool deck is much better on the Oasis class however there are much more ocean views on the Escape.

 

CamaCama's review is a great start but also check out Gambee's recent Oasis review and current Escape review.

[lilybean]

I have done Allure, Oasis and just got off the Escape today with a 2 year old. The Escape was a nice ship, food was better than RCCL, but the childcare services on Allure and Oasis were 100 times better. The Escape nursery will not change diapers and only allow two hour time blocks and the area is quite small. The Allure and Oasis have toys you can check out, a huge playroom for free play and their nannies were amazing. You can drop them off for for the day and they will give you a phone to call you with any problems and the nursery is a nice sized room. There are larger public spaces on Allure and Oasis and they feature Dreamworks characters for the kids. I took my son when he was 14 months old and he loved it.

[hospital]

I've done the Oasis, Allure, Getaway and Escape. I would take Oasis & Allure any day. The Getaway was nice, but was not a fan of the Escape.

 

Pool area is so small that on sea days you don't have to worry about chairs as there is no room to get in the pool let alone find a chair. It was packed with 100's of people just standing in it.

 

Entertainment I found to be sub par. Brat Pack was good, comedians were okay, the cotton club show not so good. lots of people walked out. It was painful.

 

Game shows we all like them, however they play the most popular ones in the Atrium, there is NOT enough room in the Atrium to hold the amount of people that attend these shows. You have to get there 2 hours before to get a decent seat or stand. Can't enjoy a specialty coffee with dessert as the people attending the shows take all the chairs and sit on the tables.

 

Food is subjective, I liked the food on both Royal and Escape.

 

Rooms found the room on Escape to be okay but absolutely not enough storage for two people to store all their clothing.

 

Vibe- Loved it and try to book it everytime I cruise NCL

 

I still had a great relaxing time and I am cruising the Escape again in March with family and the Dawn this October, then back to RCL on the Harmony in April.

 

For me, I cruise for value first, itinerary second, cruise line that offers the first two. I started with NCL as I've gotten phenominal deals through CAS, that I couldn't pass up.

 

To me every cruise line has there signature, some you will like, some you will not, but just enjoy what you like and relax you're on vacation.

[riclop]

We are in our mid 20's with a toddler, and planning a cruise with our friends without a child yet that have not cruised before. I originally was planning on booking a Royal Caribbean Oasis class cruise, thinking that would get them addicted to cruising. (That is my main goal!) -- Anyways the Escape has recently caught my eye. If you have sailed both ships, what would you say would be the best experience people in our situation, and for first time cruisers. I have personally only sailed RCCL and had a wonderful experience with them each time. For all I know I could be missing out on a whole other experience with NCL Escape. Any opinions of both ships welcome!

 

I don't think there no comparison, OASIS CLASS!!!!!