Oasis of the Seas first revenue cruise on September 5th

[nelblu]

Disembarkation was a breeze.  Had tag # 33 for 8:15.  Got on line on ship at about 8 and at street in about 10-15 minutes,  Bags easily identified and Customs used facial recognition with no documents presentation or any questions asked what is the $ value of purchases.  Loved it.

[luckyinpa]

ive never been to the cape.  compared to the manhattan terminal how long is the walk from the ship , thru customs, to your car? 

 

also with limited capacity i guess it probably is not relevant but i'm curious if suite em/disembark priority is in effect? 

[Rysyonok]

Thank you so much to everyone who kept us informed! Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

 

Does anyone have copies of dailies they can post perchance? The first three days did appear in this thread, but I must have overlooked days 4 through 7.

[nelblu]

3 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

ive never been to the cape.  compared to the manhattan terminal how long is the walk from the ship , thru customs, to your car? 

 

also with limited capacity i guess it probably is not relevant but i'm curious if suite em/disembark priority is in effect? 

To parking lot or taxi, Uber. Etc.

 

if you have a mobility issue, RCL wil provide wheelchair manned by staff and take you to your destination as indicated in first sentence. Need to pre reserve via RCL. 
 

If one can walk a few blocks it should be no problem.  Garage and taxi are pretty near the exit from terminal. 
  
if you are driving and have your own wheelchair it should be no problem. Either a companion can wheel or a RCL staff will wheel u out. 
 

ps. The process applies on embarkation also.  But you need to pre reserve with RCL. 

Edited September 12, 2021 by nelblu

[nelblu]

Here’s a sight early this am in honor of 9/11. 

[luckyinpa]

how was cococay? empty? worth paying for anything extra like a bed or cabana? or empty enough that it didnt matter. 

[nelblu]

14 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

how was cococay? empty? worth paying for anything extra like a bed or cabana? or empty enough that it didnt matter. 

Not really empty, but plenty of chairs and umbrellas to go around.   The Oasis Lagoon pool had a lot of action, especially at the swim up bar.

 

I stayed at the Harbor Beach area which seemed applicable to everyone, and the loungers were set apart to stay with the social distancing.  Maybe other can comment on the other areas.

Edited September 12, 2021 by nelblu

[cnssu123]

17 minutes ago, nelblu said:

Not really empty, but plenty of chairs and umbrellas to go around.   The Oasis Lagoon pool had a lot of action, especially at the swim up bar.

 

I stayed at the Harbor Beach area which seemed applicable to everyone, and the loungers were set apart to stay with the social distancing.  Maybe other can comment on the other areas.

We were at chill island and splash pad. Plenty lounge chairs, IMO it’s better not enjoy the low capacity Island and not pay anything extra. 
 

splurge later when things back in more action and if you want to avoid crowds and fight for chairs etc 

[Saltdog]

6 hours ago, nelblu said:

Disembarkation was a breeze.  Had tag # 33 for 8:15.  Got on line on ship at about 8 and at street in about 10-15 minutes,  Bags easily identified and Customs used facial recognition with no documents presentation or any questions asked what is the $ value of purchases.  Loved it.

 

Ditto on that. I had #55 for 9:30, I got up at 8:15 or so and noticed everything was running early, probably by 45 minutes. My number was the next group to be called. 

 

I haven't read through everything yet, but I thought the rule was people had to be seated in order to take off their mask? Or was that just in unvaxx'ed areas?

 

I had a fantastic time (first solo cruise in 30 years!), the smaller capacity was noticeable and delightful. Likewise, I heard numbers in the mid 2000's range for pax. It was GREAT to be on a real vacation again and socializing with new people, including the casino bar staff.

 

Between the 5 D+ drinks and Casino Prime status, the only bar tab I had was a couple of discounted (Ultimate Dining Pkg) bottles of wine, and now have a free cruise certificate. Might actually go back in  a month or two. 🙂

 

Lastly, as I sit here, just had that wonderful feeling I was still floating on the ship, despite this being one of the calmest water cruises I've been on (seas were actually near flat yesterday afternoon). 

[luckyinpa]

did anyone on this trip have UDP. i cannot find it for my october trip

[MisterBill99]

6 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

did anyone on this trip have UDP. i cannot find it for my october trip

 

I'm on Oasis next week and I see it available for purchase. Maybe it's sold out on your sailing.

Edited September 13, 2021 by MisterBill99

[MisterBill99]

Did they enforce the scheduled check-in time in the terminal? I've read reports from people sailing from other ports that they were able to arrive early and were allowed to board. I have 2pm and can board an hour early since I'm in a suite, but even earlier would be nice.

 

Also, were they still giving out free cloth masks? I'm pretty sure they did on the test cruse, but wondering about the pay sailings.

 

Thanks.

[cnssu123]

6 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

Did they enforce the scheduled check-in time in the terminal? I've read reports from people sailing from other ports that they were able to arrive early and were allowed to board. I have 2pm and can board an hour early since I'm in a suite, but even earlier would be nice.

 

Also, were they still giving out free cloth masks? I'm pretty sure they did on the test cruse, but wondering about the pay sailings.

 

Thanks.

We had 11:30 and were able to check-in at 11.

yesterday people reported that they are allow to check in as early as 1 hour before.

 

They provided cloth mask in the cabin

Edited September 13, 2021 by cnssu123

[nelblu]

8 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

Did they enforce the scheduled check-in time in the terminal? I've read reports from people sailing from other ports that they were able to arrive early and were allowed to board. I have 2pm and can board an hour early since I'm in a suite, but even earlier would be nice.

 

Also, were they still giving out free cloth masks? I'm pretty sure they did on the test cruse, but wondering about the pay sailings.

 

Thanks.

Yes, I had 11:30 and was early and able to embark at 10:30. 

 

I had CP balcony and was provided with 2 masks in cabin.  Also, masks are provided at guest services and needed one when I forgot to wear it and a nice staff member took me to teh Starbucks kiosk and I was given a mask,  

[livinginyellow]

15 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

how was cococay? empty? worth paying for anything extra like a bed or cabana? or empty enough that it didnt matter. 

I also wanna note that not one of the overwater cabanas were being used. Many were talking about how much of a shame it was, since we all would have paid (less) to use them - and obviously how overpriced they were (I think they were around $2k a day) for this cruise. 

[livinginyellow]

8 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

Did they enforce the scheduled check-in time in the terminal? I've read reports from people sailing from other ports that they were able to arrive early and were allowed to board. I have 2pm and can board an hour early since I'm in a suite, but even earlier would be nice.

 

Also, were they still giving out free cloth masks? I'm pretty sure they did on the test cruse, but wondering about the pay sailings.

 

Thanks.

Contrary to other responses, we had a noon check-in time and they wouldn't even let us get in line at 11:59. It wasn't a big deal to us, as we had gotten there before 11 and had just sat in the car on our phones. Once noon rolled around though, we were through the check-in process and onboard in a matter of maybe 20 minutes! 

 

And yes we had two packaged in our room waiting for arrival - they were the paper/plastic kind though (think the blue ones that they wear at the doctor's office - just, these ones are RCL branded). I think the cloth ones are for suites. They had them around the ship though - I forgot to put mine on when going to the bathroom in the MDR and they handed me one right away when I tried to go back in. We also asked a stateroom attendant for some extras and used those on Coco Cay so our normal ones didn't get wet.

[luckyinpa]

2 minutes ago, livinginyellow said:

I also wanna note that not one of the overwater cabanas were being used. Many were talking about how much of a shame it was, since we all would have paid (less) to use them - and obviously how overpriced they were (I think they were around $2k a day) for this cruise. 

 

wow thats nuts. i'm sure they even made money at half that price. i guess the staff there got the day off. 

 

i really wish they had the ship tour running. id love to do it

[luckyinpa]

5 minutes ago, livinginyellow said:

Contrary to other responses, we had a noon check-in time and they wouldn't even let us get in line at 11:59. It wasn't a big deal to us, as we had gotten there before 11 and had just sat in the car on our phones. Once noon rolled around though, we were through the check-in process and onboard in a matter of maybe 20 minutes! 

 

And yes we had two packaged in our room waiting for arrival - they were the paper/plastic kind though (think the blue ones that they wear at the doctor's office - just, these ones are RCL branded). I think the cloth ones are for suites. They had them around the ship though - I forgot to put mine on when going to the bathroom in the MDR and they handed me one right away when I tried to go back in. We also asked a stateroom attendant for some extras and used those on Coco Cay so our normal ones didn't get wet.

 

i didnt know you had to wear masks on the island. thats a bit nuts. you can sit in a football stadium shoulder to shoulder without one. 

[nelblu]

16 minutes ago, livinginyellow said:

Contrary to other responses, we had a noon check-in time and they wouldn't even let us get in line at 11:59. It wasn't a big deal to us, as we had gotten there before 11 and had just sat in the car on our phones. Once noon rolled around though, we were through the check-in process and onboard in a matter of maybe 20 minutes! 

 

And yes we had two packaged in our room waiting for arrival - they were the paper/plastic kind though (think the blue ones that they wear at the doctor's office - just, these ones are RCL branded). I think the cloth ones are for suites. They had them around the ship though - I forgot to put mine on when going to the bathroom in the MDR and they handed me one right away when I tried to go back in. We also asked a stateroom attendant for some extras and used those on Coco Cay so our normal ones didn't get wet.

Too bad that they did not allow you earlier than the scheduled time.  
 

I had a couple balcony and got 2 cloth masks. Also got cloth masks as replacements at both GS and Starbucks kiosks. All white with RCL logo. Never noticed paper or plastic masks.  

[nelblu]

48 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

 

i didnt know you had to wear masks on the island. thats a bit nuts. you can sit in a football stadium shoulder to shoulder without one. 

No masks wearing on island. Only wore masks when to get food. Which was a semi enclosed area. 
Some people take serious precautions

[luckyinpa]

the aqua show isnt avaliable to book on my app for my oct. cruise. does this mean it's sold out or they hold back some reservations for onboard . i'm assuming once you get to the dock that counts as on board and you can make reservations then?

 

actually no entertainment is available to book. is this the norm?

[Biker19]

14 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

actually no entertainment is available to book. is this the norm?

Yes, on board only for now.

[livinginyellow]

28 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

the aqua show isnt avaliable to book on my app for my oct. cruise. does this mean it's sold out or they hold back some reservations for onboard . i'm assuming once you get to the dock that counts as on board and you can make reservations then?

 

actually no entertainment is available to book. is this the norm?

Actually, a lot of entertainment wasn't available to book ASAP - some of it didn't appear in the app until the day before it was on (i.e. comedy, etc.) I wouldn't worry about it and just keep a close eye on your app once onboard.

 

(Also on dock didn't count for me - I tried to make a reservation in the terminal and it didn't really work until I was on the ship). Don't worry, there aren't too many offerings right now, so a lot of offerings repeated - towards the end,  it was super easy to make reservations, so you will see everything you want! 

Edited September 13, 2021 by livinginyellow

[livinginyellow]

3 hours ago, nelblu said:

Too bad that they did not allow you earlier than the scheduled time.  
 

I had a couple balcony and got 2 cloth masks. Also got cloth masks as replacements at both GS and Starbucks kiosks. All white with RCL logo. Never noticed paper or plastic masks.  

To be very clear - the white and blue RCL logo ones were NOT cloth (I am referring to the ones that we also received in the rooms, which were the same ones that staff members were wearing all throughout the ship). If we want to get really specific, they were polypropylene, which is a type of plastic.

[livinginyellow]

2 hours ago, nelblu said:

No masks wearing on island. Only wore masks when to get food. Which was a semi enclosed area. 
Some people take serious precautions

Yes, no masks on the island, but you need one to get on/off the ship. We then kept it in our bag, but there is still a chance it could get wet since we were on the beach and in the pool all day. I never stated they were required, but it is not a bad thing to have 'serious precautions' these days, so please make sure you aren't poking fun at people who have different precaution levels than you, as that is not very polite.