Ultimate Dining on the Oasis of the Seas - Tips?

[Project-College]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

I have purchased the UDP on our upcoming Symphony cruise. It states that "For ships with these venues, Teppanyaki/Izumi Hibachi is included, with a $10 surcharge." According to the menu, you will be able to pick 1 small plate (starters), pick 2 of the large plates (covers Rolls, sashimi and bowls and 1 dessert.

 

This is what I received with the 3 night dining pkg on Explorer this past November. 

 

All this for an extra $10 is not bad. I was very full with plenty to eat. I think you will be fine and will enjoy it very much.

Hope so BUT RCL told me that the 1 small and 2 large plates is 'sit in' only, not take out.

Again, I just want what I bought but as you say... we will see.

[CruiserNic]

I have the UDP booked for Oasis in November.  This is currently what my Cruise Planner shows. 

 

What's Included

• Unlimited visits to speciality dining restaurants every night of your sailing and lunch on sea days.
• For restaurants with a la carte pricing, you’ll receive a $35 food credit, with the exception of Port Side BBQ and Playmakers which will be $20.
• For ships with these venues, Teppanyaki/Izumi Hibachi is included, with a $10 surcharge, Chef's Table is included, with a $49.99 surcharge, and Dadong is included, with a $35 surcharge. These will be charged once onboard.

 

🤷‍♀️

[Motor City]

On the UDP 3 meal plan it says "40% off wine under $100 per bottle"  while dining in specialty restaurant...

Can you buy the first bottle and enjoy it during dinner,,,, say order a 2nd bottle and either take it back to your room or they store it for you, and you drink it the next night in the main dining room?

[xpcdoojk]

5 hours ago, Project-College said:

Just did not want to post a long one.... but here goes:

 

Ok, I just noticed that I had made a thread (‘Unlimited Dining Plan on Oasis: They can't change it after you bought it can they?????’ started June 30^th) about all the ‘fun’ I had with how RCL seemed to change the actual tenant of the commercial agreement/contract that I had entered into back in Sept. 2021 for an August Oasis sailing.

 

The transaction details, date, the goods or services sold, price, payment details, and how the agreement can be terminated all were identified clearly to both parties when I purchased the UDP but unfortunately, certain things changed on the RCL site, with respect to the UDP in June… and more importantly, RCL confirmed the changes.

 

Chief among those changes were how the ala carte credit was applied, specifically it was presented ‘at the time of sale’ as a $35 credit at ALL ala carte locations (Izumi, Izumi Saki & Lunch, Solarium Bistro) with the ONLY exceptions being Port Side BBQ and Playmakers where you receive a $20 food credit.

 

Now it lists “For restaurants with a la carte pricing, you'll receive a $20 food credit” for any a la carte restaurants.

 

For me, and especially for my boys, sushi was the driving force behind our purchasing, and I might add prepaying of over $1k, of the UDP so the $35 rather than $20 at Izumi was material.  Solarium dinner was so for me.

 

There were some minor other changes but what was argued with RCL for almost a month was that you can’t change the offer after the payment was accepted.  If they want to change the UDP for any new buyers, fine, but not for those who already bought it.

 

The first comment from RCL was that they can change and/or eliminate any parts of the UDP at any …. Where I stopped them and said not in the US.  Then they stated, if you don’t want it, cancel it, where I said that’s not how commercial law works and not a very good Customer Service Policy.

 

Some ships, including Oasis, have still allowed the $35, some no.  Some have made other ‘arrangements’, such as closing your bill and starting a new one so that you could get more than the $20.  One traveler posted that they would go with their kids and give them their order, so the total could be over $20.

 

A TA suggested I go to Guest Services if they limit to $20 at Izumi but NO WAY I am going to sit in those tremendous lines just to get a fix to something that I already bought.

 

Last comment/suggestion made to me was to bring the screenshot of the UDP, when I purchased it, which clearly states the $35 at Izumi (and $35 at Solarium which I wanted) but that is not a solution as that puts the pressure on the server… who has little control.

 

Another issue was I saw my Day One, 2 hr reservation (with restaurant location) when I bought the UDP then the location disappeared altogether and I was told later that I have to now book it once I arrive on ship… even though it was listed in my planner for over 3 weeks?  That’s not a killer, as I have to book all the others that way BUT why the change, again AFTER THE FACT?

 

Again, I plan to be understanding on the ship as to closures (show/food/etc.) should COVID show its %^%$# head, as that’s not RCL’s fault (I hope), BUT don’t do the two-step on me at the corporate level.

 

To put it a different ‘analogous way’, as I did to RCL on the call, I bought sneakers with laces, don’t tell me now that the laces are not part of the deal!

 

Some may find this petty but you have never seen my kids eat sushi!

The Hibachi/Teppanyaki grill is the only good reason to book Izumi… Sushi is MEH at best.  

 

That said, I am sure you should fight to enforce the commercial contract… that will make for some awesome vacation memories!!!!!

 

Enjoy your cruise.  I booked the UDP in 2020 on the Allure it was very nice.  The prices on my future cruises are double what I paid 2 plus years ago.

 

jc

[Sizzlechest]

8 hours ago, CruiserNic said:

I have the UDP booked for Oasis in November.  This is currently what my Cruise Planner shows. 

 

What's Included

• Unlimited visits to speciality dining restaurants every night of your sailing and lunch on sea days.
• For restaurants with a la carte pricing, you’ll receive a $35 food credit, with the exception of Port Side BBQ and Playmakers which will be $20.
• For ships with these venues, Teppanyaki/Izumi Hibachi is included, with a $10 surcharge, Chef's Table is included, with a $49.99 surcharge, and Dadong is included, with a $35 surcharge. These will be charged once onboard.

 

🤷‍♀️

 

They should address the sushi bar on the website. Is it a $35 food credit or not eligible? Other people have indicated that it is eligible based on past experience, but that text isn't clear.

[Project-College]

11 hours ago, CruiserNic said:

I have the UDP booked for Oasis in November.  This is currently what my Cruise Planner shows. 

 

What's Included

• Unlimited visits to speciality dining restaurants every night of your sailing and lunch on sea days.
• For restaurants with a la carte pricing, you’ll receive a $35 food credit, with the exception of Port Side BBQ and Playmakers which will be $20.
• For ships with these venues, Teppanyaki/Izumi Hibachi is included, with a $10 surcharge, Chef's Table is included, with a $49.99 surcharge, and Dadong is included, with a $35 surcharge. These will be charged once onboard.

 

🤷‍♀️

When you say 'Cruise Planner' you mean online in ur account not the Ap correct?

This is what it says online right now:

What's Included
Unlimited visits to speciality dining restaurants every night of your sailing and lunch on sea days.
For restaurants with a la carte pricing, you'll receive a $20 food credit
For ships with these venues, Teppanyaki/Izumi Hibachi is included, with a $10 surcharge, Chef's Table is included, with a $49.99 surcharge, and Dadong is included, with a $35 surcharge. These will be charged once onboard.

Your the first person to say the $35 is still in the Planner (online) so let me know?

[Project-College]

There also still seems to be a 'dispute' at RCL as to if the Solarium is covered for Dinner at $35 or simply covered in FULL, like Chops, Gio's, etc.

I have no problem if they want to UP it to being covered in Full.... BUT DO NOT eliminate it AFTER you said it was part of it!

[Project-College]

11 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

The Hibachi/Teppanyaki grill is the only good reason to book Izumi… Sushi is MEH at best.  

 

That said, I am sure you should fight to enforce the commercial contract… that will make for some awesome vacation memories!!!!!

 

Enjoy your cruise.  I booked the UDP in 2020 on the Allure it was very nice.  The prices on my future cruises are double what I paid 2 plus years ago.

 

jc

Thanks for the info.  Considering my kids have been luck to get 'Stop n Shop' Sushi lately... even a MEH Sushi would probably be better! 

[reallyitsmema]

14 minutes ago, Project-College said:

There also still seems to be a 'dispute' at RCL as to if the Solarium is covered for Dinner at $35 or simply covered in FULL, like Chops, Gio's, etc.

I have no problem if they want to UP it to being covered in Full.... BUT DO NOT eliminate it AFTER you said it was part of it!

 

Solarium Bistro has a few entrees that have an upcharge but otherwise there is not a service charge to eat in Solarium Bistro.  Anyone can eat in Solarium Bistro for no charge.

[Project-College]

1 hour ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Solarium Bistro has a few entrees that have an upcharge but otherwise there is not a service charge to eat in Solarium Bistro.  Anyone can eat in Solarium Bistro for no charge.

Dinner!  ... and the upcharge is the issue too!

[reallyitsmema]

2 hours ago, Project-College said:

Dinner!  ... and the upcharge is the issue too!

There is no fee for dinner in Solarium Bistro.  Why won’t you believe the multiple people who have told you that?

 

There are a few up charge items but those currently vary by ship. 

[Project-College]

1 hour ago, reallyitsmema said:

There is no fee for dinner in Solarium Bistro.  Why won’t you believe the multiple people who have told you that?

 

There are a few up charge items but those currently vary by ship. 

It's not a question of 'believing the multiple people...' it's a question of: ... that I was told by RCL, when I spoke to them at the time of purchase, that the 'charge items' can be purchased USING the $35 ala carte credit!  Sorry if I did not make that clear but when I bought the package I had 18 questions and that was one of them.

[Ourusualbeach]

19 hours ago, Project-College said:

Hope so BUT RCL told me that the 1 small and 2 large plates is 'sit in' only, not take out.

Again, I just want what I bought but as you say... we will see.

The issue is that the ships are inconsistent with many different Hotel directors ot F&B managers setting their own policies for things like this.  Couple that with agents reading from a script designed for the entire fleet and you get some minor inconsistencies.  My suggestion is to either just accept some variations and go with the flow or cancel the package and not stress about it.

 

I'm on the Ovation now and there are subtle differences in thr menus, particularly Izumi that you don't know about until on board.  It happens. 

[Sea Dog]

10 minutes ago, Project-College said:

that I was told by RCL, when I spoke to them at the time of purchase, that the 'charge items' can be purchased USING the $35 ala carte credit! 

Having been on these boards for many years I can tell you that answers coming from here from cruisers with experience will be better than any customer service rep from Royal.

[Sea Dog]

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I'm on the Ovation now

I did not know that. I hope you are having a great cruise! Drink one for me. Cheers!

[Sizzlechest]

Sorry if this is obvious, but what about ice cream at Sugar Beach?

[Ourusualbeach]

2 hours ago, Sizzlechest said:

Sorry if this is obvious, but what about ice cream at Sugar Beach?

Not included in the dining package. 

[Sunshine3601]

23 hours ago, Motor City said:

On the UDP 3 meal plan it says "40% off wine under $100 per bottle"  while dining in specialty restaurant...

Can you buy the first bottle and enjoy it during dinner,,,, say order a 2nd bottle and either take it back to your room or they store it for you, and you drink it the next night in the main dining room?

We have taken remaining wine back to our cabin.   Now we always opened the 2nd bottle had a bit then took with us.

[CruiserNic]

On 7/13/2022 at 7:09 AM, Project-College said:

When you say 'Cruise Planner' you mean online in ur account not the Ap correct?

This is what it says online right now:

What's Included
Unlimited visits to speciality dining restaurants every night of your sailing and lunch on sea days.
For restaurants with a la carte pricing, you'll receive a $20 food credit
For ships with these venues, Teppanyaki/Izumi Hibachi is included, with a $10 surcharge, Chef's Table is included, with a $49.99 surcharge, and Dadong is included, with a $35 surcharge. These will be charged once onboard.

Your the first person to say the $35 is still in the Planner (online) so let me know?

That was copy/pasted directly from the website in my Cruise Planner where I purchased the UDP.  🤷‍♀️

[George C]

On 7/12/2022 at 11:54 AM, scottnkim said:

Sushi was open for lunch with reservation last week, yes.

 

I thought it was only open on sea days , I don’t believe reservations are needed for Izumi, but needed for hibachi and there is a ten dollar charge for hibachi with UDP.

[jp2746]

On 7/11/2022 at 3:49 PM, George C said:

I love the UDP , they will make your first reservation but you can get it charged as soon as you get on the ship . I would make all reservations first day but there is no problem getting it changed. Most restaurants you get unlimited appetizers and desserts and one entree. Habatchi does charge a extra ten but I think it’s worth it , Izumi I believe you get a 35 dollar credit. While at sea most restaurants are open so you can have both lunch and dinner in specialty. I had no problems getting the times I wanted.

So you are limited to one entree in the specialty restaurants?  With boys, that is a deal breaker for us.  When we eat in the main dining room they always order two entree and eat all of it, and three deserts.  No food is wasted at our table!  But if you are limited to one entree it may not be for us.

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, jp2746 said:

So you are limited to one entree in the specialty restaurants?

Officially, yes, though you or may not get another included.