Live Cruising Review Oasis of the Seas 5/1/22 - 5/8/22 Lots of Pictures!

[Sunshine3601]

On 5/1/2022 at 1:45 PM, BennyBrun said:

Embarkation Day

 

If you want to buy a package onboard and have Diamond / Discount to use … for this voyage… you activate the free day first, then on the second day you buy the package and then they apply the discount!  This is a manual process if you have PRIME because the discount is 30%

Can I use diamond free day for 1st full sea day then buy pkg with prime discount for days 3 thru 7?   Does voom desk handle the prime discount?

[Sunshine3601]

On 5/2/2022 at 1:49 AM, SNJCruisers said:

Going to be on the Oasis for 12 days next month.  Had heard the 25.00 per day rate may be increasing to 30.00 per day.  Even at 25, that's 300.00.  Found a third party website offering parking at a hotel near EWR for 5 a day plus tax and fee, coming in under 70.00.  Add RT Lyft XL and it's still under 150 total, saving at least 150, 210 if the increase to 30 goes through.

What is the name of this lot?

[BennyBrun]

10 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

Speaking of Quest....have any of your inside minions given you an idea as to when it'll be reinstated?

I asked but they don’t know when.  They just say soon!

[Max and Ruby]

15 hours ago, BennyBrun said:

Day 2

 

For those that asked about buying internet package onboard … since 2/22 the price has been 10% off on cruise planner for surf and stream… so I waited to be onboard to buy my internet …

 

Day 1 I activated my surf Diamond coupon … I had no issues posting and I don’t need stream this trip.  I did use FB Messenger and it was not as smooth as stream BUT it’s personal so I really did not care.  If you use the Diamond coupon for stream $7.00 upcharge to your sea pass card!

 

Day 2 I purchased the Surf package prorated to 6 days and then went to the voom desk and ask them to apply my PRIME discount.  So it cost me about $93.00 for a week of surf Wi-Fi …. So if the cruise planner price drops below $90.00 then I will buy before I get on the ship… otherwise I will buy when I am onboard.  I hope this clears up the Diamond day/prime discount question.

This is so cool that you are posting Diamond deals/Diamond Club food pictures. This June cruise will be our first one as Diamond so I can plan ahead. 🙂

[BennyBrun]

9 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

He's down because Johnny Rockets was closed for both breakfast and dinner. 😄

JR is opening back up today for lunch from 11:30AM - 4 PM which I thought was odd since it’s a port day.  Portside BBQ is also operating from 11:30AM - 4PM.  Not serving dinner.  Very strange hours on this voyage.

[BennyBrun]

7 hours ago, perfect match said:

DH is originally from Brooklyn, so I knew he would like seeing the under side of the bridge, too! He doesn’t often want to look at pictures I find on CC, but he loved your bridge pictures.

 

Benny, I thought you were way too young to be having senior moments! 😂😱 DH and I have them far too often! 🤣

I am honored that he like my bridge pictures!  It was worth standing out in the bone chilling wind to grab the pictures.  As soon as we passed the bridged everyone ran inside 😂 

 

Hahahah… I am starting my senior moments early !

[BennyBrun]

2 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

Is Tiffany's closed for good?  Not being a fan of perfume- will not miss !  Enjoy looking in Tiffany's and the other boutiques.

I will ask about Tiffany’s.  I don’t know if it’s closed for good.  The shops on this ship is lacking selections.  It looks like they are randomly sticking shelves with items so fill it up.  The Island shop used to have all sorts of interesting beach themed items, now it’s got candy, food, cruise club items, logo items, it’s like a close out store minus the discounts!

[BennyBrun]

1 hour ago, mkmaj said:

Can I ask what part of NCL you feel is nickel and dime? I've mainly sailed NCL with a couple of Carnival and getting ready for a long postponed Anthem trip (covid). As I'm planning I'm really feeling the nickel and diming for Royal that I didn't necessarily feel on NCL.

Examples:

-Ever changing and ridiculously high prices for beverage/dining packages.

- previously included ifly and north star charge on sea days

- bite in the pub extra even with dining package 

- fast food type burger extra at JR

 

Not knocking RC at all, I just feel that snacks, drinks, specialty dining, and ship activities are all pretty well included on NCL (except Encore) so I'm wondering what I'm missing in comparison. 

This is not a knock on NCL as I believe that everyone is different and they like different things and a cruise line is no different.  This is just my personal feeling and observations.

 

Free at Seas offer.  Not really free at all.  Especially the beverage package where it comes out to $200 in gratuity per person but it does not include bottled bottle, wine selection is very limited and usually to the house wine and by house wine I mean their own brand, some liquor I would say is mid level tier.  They upsell you to the premium for another $25 a day plus gratuity to open up rest of the selections.  For beer drinkers and mix drinkers it won’t have a huge impact.

 

They do not allow you to bring wine for free / beverages onboard.  They charge a corkage fee for up to two bottles you bring onboard.

 

Specialty Dinning.  You are greeted with one appetizer one soup or salad and one entree no exception.  Everything extra you order is a la carte.  The extra jumbo shrimp at Le bistro / Cagney’s steak house is large shrimp at best.  I had servers tell me not to order that because it’s so small. 
 

Buffet.  The quality of food on NCL is not there.  They bring out chicken thighs, tilapia and all sorts of lower end meat dishes.  You won’t find steak type/ salmon/ grilled pork chops/ chicken breast on NCL buffet.

 

Casino Drinks.  You must be seated and playing and being served by a server for complimentary house drinks

 

All the “premium activities” cost money like the race track, laser tag.  There is no charge for most activities on Royal that teens / kids / even adults like to do.  Bumper cars, flow rider, ifly North Star on port days etc.

 

The shows on NCL is good but Royal’s entertainment is more diverse and better produced.

 

Again, my personal feeling and I know what I am getting into when I sail and sail I will be in three weeks for 10 nights around the British Isle and yes there will be a live review so you can see what I see onboard to judge for yourself!!

[BennyBrun]

28 minutes ago, Max and Ruby said:

This is so cool that you are posting Diamond deals/Diamond Club food pictures. This June cruise will be our first one as Diamond so I can plan ahead. 🙂

Glad to help with your planning.  The 30% discount on the internet is A PRIME benefit not Diamond benefit!

[mkmaj]

13 minutes ago, BennyBrun said:

This is not a knock on NCL as I believe that everyone is different and they like different things and a cruise line is no different.  This is just my personal feeling and observations.

 

Free at Seas offer.  Not really free at all.  Especially the beverage package where it comes out to $200 in gratuity per person but it does not include bottled bottle, wine selection is very limited and usually to the house wine and by house wine I mean their own brand, some liquor I would say is mid level tier.  They upsell you to the premium for another $25 a day plus gratuity to open up rest of the selections.  For beer drinkers and mix drinkers it won’t have a huge impact.

 

They do not allow you to bring wine for free / beverages onboard.  They charge a corkage fee for up to two bottles you bring onboard.

 

Specialty Dinning.  You are greeted with one appetizer one soup or salad and one entree no exception.  Everything extra you order is a la carte.  The extra jumbo shrimp at Le bistro / Cagney’s steak house is large shrimp at best.  I had servers tell me not to order that because it’s so small. 
 

Buffet.  The quality of food on NCL is not there.  They bring out chicken thighs, tilapia and all sorts of lower end meat dishes.  You won’t find steak type/ salmon/ grilled pork chops/ chicken breast on NCL buffet.

 

Casino Drinks.  You must be seated and playing and being served by a server for complimentary house drinks

 

All the “premium activities” cost money like the race track, laser tag.  There is no charge for most activities on Royal that teens / kids / even adults like to do.  Bumper cars, flow rider, ifly North Star on port days etc.

 

The shows on NCL is good but Royal’s entertainment is more diverse and better produced.

 

Again, my personal feeling and I know what I am getting into when I sail and sail I will be in three weeks for 10 nights around the British Isle and yes there will be a live review so you can see what I see onboard to judge for yourself!!

Thank you for the comparison, greatly appreciated! I'm looking forward to the enhanced food and entertainment experience 😀 

[BennyBrun]

3 minutes ago, mkmaj said:

Thank you for the comparison, greatly appreciated! I'm looking forward to the enhanced food and entertainment experience 😀 

I wouldn’t go that far 😆 it’s just more well rounded! 😆.

 

I am impressed with the Diamond lounge food offerings on the Oasis.  I just have to motivate myself to get up early to see what breakfast looks like!

[Max and Ruby]

25 minutes ago, BennyBrun said:

Glad to help with your planning.  The 30% discount on the internet is A PRIME benefit not Diamond benefit!

Yeah, I could not be that lucky!  I stay away from Casino!

[BennyBrun]

Day 3

 

I would strongly urge people to rethink about visiting the theme parks via Port Canaveral Stop!  We get in at 1:30 PM and all aboard is 8:30 PM.  It is like 90 minute ride each way to the theme park’s parking lot and will be another 30 minutes to clear security and get your foot inside the gate.  At best you will have less than 4 hours inside the theme parks.  It is really not worth the money and remember park admission is NOT included!  You will get a ride in may be two and it’s time to go back!

[BennyBrun]

Day 3 

 

Now next time in June I might buy the $19.00 transfer to Coco Beach to check out the surf shop!  That sounds doable.

[BennyBrun]

8 minutes ago, Max and Ruby said:

Yeah, I could not be that lucky!  I stay away from Casino!

It’s not you… the house is always luckier!

[mkmaj]

4 minutes ago, BennyBrun said:

Day 3 

 

Now next time in June I might buy the $19.00 transfer to Coco Beach to check out the surf shop!  That sounds doable.

We've done that before and it worked out well. They drop you off at the surf shop and it's an easy walk to beach and some restaurants. Beach chair/umbrella rentals are reasonably priced.

 

Are you staying on the ship today? Curious as to how the crowds onboard are at this stop? Our next cruise likely won't be beach weather so debating on what to do with the day.

[FionaMG]

17 minutes ago, BennyBrun said:

Day 3 

 

Now next time in June I might buy the $19.00 transfer to Coco Beach to check out the surf shop!  That sounds doable.

 

What sort of stuff are they offering for the Space Centre, Benny? 

[ecslady]

1 hour ago, BennyBrun said:

JR is opening back up today for lunch from 11:30AM - 4 PM which I thought was odd since it’s a port day.  Portside BBQ is also operating from 11:30AM - 4PM.  Not serving dinner.  Very strange hours on this voyage.

Those are strange hours.  Do you think it has to do with crew staffing? I've heard many ships are short staffed still.

[mac_tlc]

Here are some promises pictures of Coastal Kitchen when empty. Note that there are some two-tops that are not really close to others, although even the ones by the window are not as close as the ones in Luminae on E-class on Celebrity.

 

 

[mac_tlc]

And the pilot approaching for our arrival in Port Canaveral

 

 

[jimdalva]

On 5/1/2022 at 6:56 PM, BennyBrun said:

Day 1 Going under the Staten Island Bridge 

That is the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, you are correct that it links Staten Island to Brooklyn over the  Verrazano Narrows.

[lovelife]

57 minutes ago, BennyBrun said:

Day 3 

 

Now next time in June I might buy the $19.00 transfer to Coco Beach to check out the surf shop!  That sounds doable.

FYI:  Last week we waited too long to book the ship transfer to Coco Beach at $19.00 each and they were sold out.  Once off the ship there was a local transportation company that did the same roundtrip service for $16.00 per person and included several modes of transportation instead of the big buses.

[nextcruiseis]

1 minute ago, lovelife said:

  Once off the ship there was a local transportation company that did the same roundtrip service for $16.00 per person and included several modes of transportation instead of the big buses.

Do you recall the name of the company?

[lovelife]

Just now, nextcruiseis said:

Do you recall the name of the company?

It was a little stand at the bottom of the stairs.  I don't think they had a sign but I remember 888 on the shuttle buses. It was the only non-RCCL stand there last week.

[mac_tlc]

Making the turn into Port Canaveral. The pier at Jetty Park on the left.