Oasis Refurb

[Ourusualbeach]

5 hours ago, crusinthrough said:

The Champagne / Martini bar could have been better if the menu had more options to include martini flights and entertainment.  The Martini bar on Celebrity ships is a big hit.  RC missed the mark. 

Not saying that the martini bar could not have been improved on Royal but both companies are catering to a different type of cruiser especially on the Oasis class vs the Celebrity ships.  

Edited October 14, 2019 by Ourusualbeach

[steamboats]

On the Med cruises (Symphony last year) the Bionic Bar was empty except for the first two days maybe. Noone was willing to pay the additional 10% Spanish VAT (plus 18% Service Charge - a total of 28% added to the marked price) for those drinks obviously. Might work better in the Caribbean.

 

steamboats

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, steamboats said:

On the Med cruises (Symphony last year) the Bionic Bar was empty except for the first two days maybe. Noone was willing to pay the additional 10% Spanish VAT (plus 18% Service Charge - a total of 28% added to the marked price) for those drinks obviously. Might work better in the Caribbean.

 

steamboats

 

But wouldn't the same apply to Rising Tide or Wonderland bar, etc. and their high end drinks

[Cruise a holic]

2 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

But wouldn't the same apply to Rising Tide or Wonderland bar, etc. and their high end drinks

We tried the bionic bar on the Quantum.  What a gimmick!  Also the drinks were horrible and served in a small paper cup- went on the Harmony and wouldn't try it again- what a waste that is.

[eroller]

1 minute ago, Cruise a holic said:

We tried the bionic bar on the Quantum.  What a gimmick!  Also the drinks were horrible and served in a small paper cup- went on the Harmony and wouldn't try it again- what a waste that is.

 

 

I agree.  It was a novelty.  Fine for one drink but not someplace I would want to hang out for any length of time.  I preferred the Champagne Bar.  Besides, nothing beats a human bartender with personality and generous pours!  

[Cruise a holic]

5 minutes ago, eroller said:

 

 

I agree.  It was a novelty.  Fine for one drink but not someplace I would want to hang out for any length of time.  I preferred the Champagne Bar.  Besides, nothing beats a human bartender with personality and generous pours!  

Would be great if the bionic bar was changed into a true Martini bar like on the Celebrity ships- (except the edge)  The ice top is fun and watching the bartenders prepare drinks a show! 

[eroller]

3 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said:

Would be great if the bionic bar was changed into a true Martini bar like on the Celebrity ships- (except the edge)  The ice top is fun and watching the bartenders prepare drinks a show! 

 

 

Agree 100%.  I love Celebrity's Martini Bars.  They are a show in themselves ... with human bartenders!

[steamboats]

3 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

But wouldn't the same apply to Rising Tide or Wonderland bar, etc. and their high end drinks

 

Yeah, but there you get a cocktail mixed by a real barkeeper and served in a fancy glas and not a plastic cup.

 

Rising Tide was always busy in the Med. Wonderland was empty as noone knew there´s a real bar you can go without going to the restaurants.

 

steamboats

Edited October 14, 2019 by steamboats

[lmp29]

After multiple cruises on the Anthem that has a Bionic Bar, I would have agreed with everyone that says that is a gimmick and a waste of space, but then on the Harmony this year in May I was surprised to find the Bionic Bar filled practically every night!  It must depend on the cruisers, though I wondered if the location onto the main promenade also made a difference.

 

[eroller]

8 minutes ago, lmp29 said:

After multiple cruises on the Anthem that has a Bionic Bar, I would have agreed with everyone that says that is a gimmick and a waste of space, but then on the Harmony this year in May I was surprised to find the Bionic Bar filled practically every night!  It must depend on the cruisers, though I wondered if the location onto the main promenade also made a difference.

 

 

 

I think location makes a big difference.  It's very central and open on HARMONY.  I did notice though on my HARMONY cruise it became less and less busy as the cruise went on.  I think the novelty wears off.  

[soremekun]

For Royal, the investment seems worth as they keep adding Bionic Bars to new ships.

Edited October 14, 2019 by soremekun

[MacMarauder]

23 hours ago, molsonschooner said:

I have never seen the Champagne Bar be very busy.  My granddaughter also loves Shirley Temples from the bionic bar

 

Yes, the Bionic Bar entertains small children so it's a winner in my book!  

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, steamboats said:

 

Yeah, but there you get a cocktail mixed by a real barkeeper and served in a fancy glas and not a plastic cup.

 

Rising Tide was always busy in the Med. Wonderland was empty as noone knew there´s a real bar you can go without going to the restaurants.

 

steamboats

 

I'm not disagreeing that bionic bar is a niche product, I just dont think the VAT has anything to do with it

[John&LaLa]

2 hours ago, lmp29 said:

After multiple cruises on the Anthem that has a Bionic Bar, I would have agreed with everyone that says that is a gimmick and a waste of space, but then on the Harmony this year in May I was surprised to find the Bionic Bar filled practically every night!  It must depend on the cruisers, though I wondered if the location onto the main promenade also made a difference.

 

 

Drink packages 😉

 

Where is the BB on Anthem

Edited October 14, 2019 by John&LaLa

[garnetpalmetto]

Just now, John&LaLa said:

 

Drink packages 😉

 

A very good point. If we hadn't had drink packages on this cruise, I doubt we'd have spent *quite* as much time at Bionic Bar as we did. But when you've got it, you're more likely to experiment and try more drinks on the menu and come up with your own.

[Biker19]

6 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

Where is the BB on Anthem

Deck overlooking Esplenade, nice view from there.

[John&LaLa]

I'm kinda bummed that my 2020 voyages with STAR perks or $18 drink pkgs arent on ships with a Bionic Bar

Edited October 14, 2019 by John&LaLa

[crusinthrough]

14 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Not saying that the martini bar could not have been improved on Royal but both companies are catering to a different type of cruiser especially on the Oasis class vs the Celebrity ships.  

 I agree.  Celebrity and RC should have different experiences.  My point is that the Martini bar isn't the issue.  The issue is the way it is utilized.  The Bionic bar is a one time novelty.  

[eroller]

2 hours ago, crusinthrough said:

 I agree.  Celebrity and RC should have different experiences.  My point is that the Martini bar isn't the issue.  The issue is the way it is utilized.  The Bionic bar is a one time novelty.  

 

 

I also agree the brands should have unique experiences, but I have no doubt that a Celebrity style Martini Bar would do extremely well on Royal.  They could brand it as something else of course, but the brands definitely borrow ideas from one another.  Wonderland is a great example.  It's an in-house creation, modeled off Qsine on Celebrity but taking it up a notch for Royal Caribbean.  

[steamboats]

13 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I'm not disagreeing that bionic bar is a niche product, I just dont think the VAT has anything to do with it

 

John,

 

on the Med cruises there were a lot of Europeans and first timers who didn´t book any packages. And buying an overpriced drink in a plastic cup is not what they like... Plus there might have been a language barrier too as not everyone might have understood the ordering process.

 

So it was the novelty effect on the first days and then it was more or less empty.

 

I watched... I had my drink and video on the pre inaugural (when it was for free) and even on that 2 nighter the bar was not packed.

 

steamboats

 

[Casino Comp Chick]

48 minutes ago, steamboats said:

 

John,

 

on the Med cruises there were a lot of Europeans and first timers who didn´t book any packages. And buying an overpriced drink in a plastic cup is not what they like... Plus there might have been a language barrier too as not everyone might have understood the ordering process.

 

So it was the novelty effect on the first days and then it was more or less empty.

 

I watched... I had my drink and video on the pre inaugural (when it was for free) and even on that 2 nighter the bar was not packed.

 

steamboats

 

In that video did you order a Bloody Mary while singing Spice up your life?

Slam it to the left

shake it to the right

Arrrrriiiiibbbbaaaaaaa!
 

Now I know what I will be doing in March....

🤣

Edited October 15, 2019 by Casino Comp Chick

[mac_tlc]

18 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

I'm kinda bummed that my 2020 voyages with STAR perks or $18 drink pkgs arent on ships with a Bionic Bar

I’ll have one for you on the Allure TA ——— westbound, when I’m sure they will add it. With the $18 package. 

 

mac_tlc

[Lloyd555]

Tweeted by Nick Weir.

 

[soremekun]

2 minutes ago, Lloyd555 said:

Tweeted by Nick Weir.

 

<picture intentionally removed>

Amazing photo.  I love the depth and 3-dimensional impact it has.

[jbethel11]

1 hour ago, Lloyd555 said:

Tweeted by Nick Weir.

 

Imagine how long it took to put up the scaffolding!