**Semi live** Oasis of the Seas February 26-March 5 2023

[LATTELOVE]

37 minutes ago, wrldtrvllr said:

rehearsal for the aqua show day 1

Dinner last night was for us no change from the old menu with the exception of my trying the spinach and artichoke dip—which actually did have discernible artichoke (unlike some previous experiences at bar food places).  Service also was typical for us, not bad at all.  1 hr 20 min ish for the meal for our table for two. Hot food was hot, cold food cold. 

 

Day one No show in main theater (movie instead) but comedians and aqua show occurred as scheduled. 
 

Today was Coco Cay. First however we played some pickle ball (including playing with a woman who has a goal to learn something new this trip as she celebrates a birthday north of 70!). We very much enjoyed their company and hope to see them on the pickle ball court throughout the week. 
 

 

Great weather as we hoofed it to south beach. (Might take tram next time—but we misunderstood the beach towel arrangement. They had announced towels would be on the gangway (or so I thought they said). Turns out not the case today, but you can get them on the island. Only being aware of towel stand near the pool, we walked to it first. Turns out there’s a towel stand in south beach as well…this is also relevant because they wanted us to return towel to where we checked it out—next time we’ll take towels off the ship I think)

South beach 

 

The Day beds are in this direction from the free loungers. The cabanas are behind the photographer here. We were in the free area about 50 yards from the bar. The bartenders came around frequently or it was a short walk. On the other side of the cabanas (150 yards?) was the snack shack where they have their crispy (fried) chicken sandwich, burgers, dogs, premade Caeser salad, Greek or green salads for lunch. More selection at the food place closer to the ship but I prefer the beach at south beach. 
 

 

Very jealous of you today,

You all made it to Cococay and it looks like you had

a beautiful day there.  

 We just came back from a cruise on 

Wonder Of The Seas. Our first stop was Cococay,

but we did not make it in due to rough seas.

Glad you all made it.

 

[sandym718]

58 minutes ago, wrldtrvllr said:

It’s perfect for us. It is a hike from aft stairwell but we’re ok with that. Deck 9 is nice middle location vertically. We personally only take the elevators for disembarkation with luggage so being only 5 decks up from dinner and shows, and about 5 decks below pool/sports deck/solarium works out well. 
 

we like to cross the ship on 8 (Central Park) so deck 9 is convenient for that. 

Thank you!!

[Russ Lomas]

Looking forward to reading more.  We are on the cruise March 12th on the same itinerary as well.  If you were able to post a photo of  the stand-up flowrider hours, it would be very much appreciated.  They post it at the desk by the flowrider (the one in the app is usually not accurate).  This way, I can try to plan out how much time my wife (and children) will be flow-widowed on the cruise.

[TwinMamainMN]

We are boarding the day you leave. Our first time in Miami so we are leaving Wednesday to explore the Keys, Everglades, and Miami before we board. We have 2 ocean facing balcony cabins as we are traveling with our 3 kids. We love South Beach at Coco Cay also. Calm and relaxing. Have a wonderful cruise!

[mets123]

On 2/26/2023 at 4:24 PM, wrldtrvllr said:

Planning on posting a semi-live review of the Oasis of the Seas.  We will be sailing from Miami to the Western Caribbean Feb 26-March 5 2023 with ports of call in Coco Cay, Cozumel, Roatan, and Costa Maya.  For what it’s worth, this will be our 32nd cruise, 9th since the Restart, 8th time on Oasis (3rd since they added the *bleep* purple slide). We’ve never stayed in a suite, never bought the key, never dined in specialty dining (unless it was comped)…we are in the pay less and go more often camp. We enjoy cruising for it’s simple ease. 

 

We tend to fly to FLL when sailing from south Florida, tend to stay at a hotel with a free airport shuttle and then Uber/Lyft to appropriate port the next morning.  Terminal A in Miami for Oasis class ships.  (Thrice we’ve flown in the day the ship sails and while that appeals in many ways we have decided that’s too stressful—a coworker recently missed a holiday Celebrity cruise due to the day of departure flight being delayed—ship was still in port when they arrived but the manifest was closed and they were out of luck).

 

We try to sign up for an early arrival time (check in online or via the app 45 days before sailing).  This trip our Uber picked us up at 0930, we arrived to our check-in line at 1030 and were on board by 1045.  Fare= $43 plus tip for a comfort Uber. They stage right next to FLL so will arrive very quickly (5 min) to hotels near FLL.

 

In Miami you first check in (show passport and set sail pass, confirm picture etc). After this, boarding can back up at the X-ray machines.  This seems to be intentional to regulate the flow up the escalators to actually board the ship. By this point you don’t need passports, etc… just set sail pass in paper or electronic form right as you board.  (In contrast to Port Everglades terminal 18 where the X-ray screening is before the official check in).  Miami doesn’t appear to give a priority nod except to pinnacle, suites and the Key. Today though, no delays and we moved quickly through security and on to the ship. 

 

For us, initial priorities include exploring the ship, muster station check in, finding our dinner dining table, and lunch at the windjammer.  Room access generally opens at 1:00.  

 

On the first day we tend to go to the windjammer right as it opens at 11:00, attempting to beat the crowd 😂. Of course there are many other lunch venues open—Park cafe, solarium bistro (opened at noon on this cruise), and el loco fresh being our other top choices though the boardwalk dog house, sorrentos pizza, and cafe promenade are also “free” lunch locations.

 

Sea pass cards (room keys) are outside your room (on the door).  A coworker on a Disney cruise earlier this month found her room had been occupied by another family who apparently didn’t check the room #, names on the cards, etc, giving the room steward unnecessary additional work to remake the room on turnaround day!  Drinks/activities can be accessed before the rooms are open by showing your set sail pass or app.

 

We prefer traditional dining to have the same staff each night and a predictable schedule (part of our avoidance of making too many decisions while on a cruise ship!). Dining table info generally shows up on the app once on free Royal Wi-Fi and/or is on your sea pass card. I like to scope out the location so that when the doors open we can walk right in and don’t have to wait for an escort to the table. 

 

Show reservations, dinner reservations, etc can be made pre cruise online or upon arrival.  If you’re not a planner just go in the standby line to shows and my time dining—it’s nothing to stress over.
 

Luggage shows up outside (or sometimes inside) your room sometime that afternoon…ours was there by 1:30. 

 

We often get boardwalk balcony rooms since usually they are less $ than the ocean view. Also people watching is a plus. Close to the end gives a pretty good view of the rock climbing wall, aqua show rehearsals (and the actual show), games on the boardwalk, etc.  People frequently complain about the noise or the lack of privacy (people can see you on your balcony 😱). It is noisy on the balcony at times, mostly “white noise”, but movies/sporting events are pretty loud, and of course the aqua show is very loud, BUT inside the cabin with the balcony door locked it isn’t a much of a problem. The balcony is still a nice place for morning caffeine, weather check, etc.  Frequently similar price as inside room.  Occasionally I prefer the white noise over hearing too many details of people’s lives on an ocean balcony.  We’ve enjoyed Central Park balconies as well…really aren’t in the room enough to stress over location/type of room/etc. 
 

looking aft:

looking forward:

 

Today the ship is parked bow towards downtown—I’m hoping/assuming this means we will go to the turnaround area on sail away. Previously that has provided great views of downtown/sunset/fireworksetc. Last time (December 2022) we were aft towards downtown and did not use the turnaround…

 

Shows for the week:

Carnival celebration setting sail

 

 

The shows in the Royal Theater seem very skimpy. I've never seen the fly in headliners perform on two different nights. When the Oasis sails out of Cape Liberty, there's different entertainment every night.

 

Also, is there an omelet station in the WJ? There was none last season when she did the sailings from Bayonne.

 

[wrldtrvllr]

5 hours ago, mets123 said:

The shows in the Royal Theater seem very skimpy. I've never seen the fly in headliners perform on two different nights. When the Oasis sails out of Cape Liberty, there's different entertainment every night.

 

Also, is there an omelet station in the WJ? There was none last season when she did the sailings from Bayonne.

 

It’s back!

[hazeleyes46]

20 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

That's worse!!!😮

Oh no lololol

[hazeleyes46]

14 hours ago, wrldtrvllr said:

We’re on deck 9. I imagine 11329 will be better—less slide interference. That was the case for 11729 when we had it and thought it was very nice. 

Ahhh ok, enjoy 🙂

[wrldtrvllr]

11 hours ago, Russ Lomas said:

Looking forward to reading more.  We are on the cruise March 12th on the same itinerary as well.  If you were able to post a photo of  the stand-up flowrider hours, it would be very much appreciated.  They post it at the desk by the flowrider (the one in the app is usually not accurate).  This way, I can try to plan out how much time my wife (and children) will be flow-widowed on the cruise.

[akcruz]

42 minutes ago, wrldtrvllr said:

It’s back!

 

Is this just pre made omelets or order your preference?  Another who is on the March 12th sailing, thanks for the review getting us all even more excited.

[wrldtrvllr]

13 minutes ago, akcruz said:

 

Is this just pre made omelets or order your preference?  Another who is on the March 12th sailing, thanks for the review getting us all even more excited.

Made to order

[DallasGuy75219]

14 hours ago, wrldtrvllr said:

Dinner last night was for us no change from the old menu with the exception of my trying the spinach and artichoke dip—which actually did have discernible artichoke (unlike some previous experiences at bar food places).  Service also was typical for us, not bad at all.  1 hr 20 min ish for the meal for our table for two. Hot food was hot, cold food cold. 

I'm on this sailing as well.  I'll add my 2 cents about seeing MDR changes in place, at least for dinner the first 2 nights.

 

Do I like having fewer choices? Of course not, but I was able to find something I wanted.

 

Sunday:

Krabcakes and caesar salad (served at the same time)

Strip steak

Key lime pie

 

Monday:

Beef carpaccio

Chicken parmesan

Tiramisu

 

No temperature issues with anything I got.  Overall I didn't see much difference in quality/presentation from prior cruises.  Chicken parm was pretty tasty but would have been even better with more red sauce.  Tiramisu was mostly marscapone (that was too watery) and not enough lady fingers.

 

Service was faster overall than before the changes.  Out in less than an hour both nights without me rushing through dinner.  Of course I'm cruising and eating by myself so not waiting for the slowest eater at the table. Obviously I can't tell if fewer selections and no special orders are speeding things up in the galley, but waiters are definitely moving faster.  I see a lot fewer waiters bringing out food on carts full of plates and more bringing out fewer plates at a time on trays, so that obviously speeds things up.  Yes they are working harder but who isn't understaffed at work and having to work harder at their jobs nowadays?

 

Overall, recent changes (MDR menu changes and once a day steward service) are very similar to changes at Carnival even before COVID.  And Carnival has continued to cut even deeper after COVID.  So nobody likes change, but folks these changes are not the end of the world.

[LATTELOVE]

2 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

I'm on this sailing as well.  I'll add my 2 cents about seeing MDR changes in place, at least for dinner the first 2 nights.

 

Do I like having fewer choices? Of course not, but I was able to find something I wanted.

 

Sunday:

Krabcakes and caesar salad (served at the same time)

Strip steak

Key lime pie

 

Monday:

Beef carpaccio

Chicken parmesan

Tiramisu

 

No temperature issues with anything I got.  Overall I didn't see much difference in quality/presentation from prior cruises.  Chicken parm was pretty tasty but would have been even better with more red sauce.  Tiramisu was mostly marscapone (that was too watery) and not enough lady fingers.

 

Service was faster overall than before the changes.  Out in less than an hour both nights without me rushing through dinner.  Of course I'm cruising and eating by myself so not waiting for the slowest eater at the table. Obviously I can't tell if fewer selections and no special orders are speeding things up in the galley, but waiters are definitely moving faster.  I see a lot fewer waiters bringing out food on carts full of plates and more bringing out fewer plates at a time on trays, so that obviously speeds things up.  Yes they are working harder but who isn't understaffed at work and having to work harder at their jobs nowadays?

 

Overall, recent changes (MDR menu changes and once a day steward service) are very similar to changes at Carnival even before COVID.  And Carnival has continued to cut even deeper after COVID.  So nobody likes change, but folks these changes are not the end of the world.

Just off Wonder of the Seas 2 weeks ago.

Not a fan of the new menus.  

For us it's all about the food.

The selections of hot items at the Windjammer and main

dining room are not as appealing.

Where's the big Paella in the Windjammer day one.

Duck dinner at the MDR. (gone)

Escargot, Shrimp cocktail, French onion soup,

Used to be every night.  Not anymore.

Charges for a second small labster tail $16 now. 

(Lobster night if you want a second tail)

The WOW is gone,  Sad.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 28, 2023 by LATTELOVE

[DallasGuy75219]

17 minutes ago, LATTELOVE said:

The WOW is gone,  Sad.

If you're foodie, the WOW now costs more... either in a specialty restaurant or on Celebrity.

[wrldtrvllr]

Noticed on this sea day they are still serving breakfast (as well as lunch) in windjammer at 1 pm and the dining room has brunch with both breakfast and lunch choices—their eggs must not be $7.00 a dozen…

[DallasGuy75219]

22 minutes ago, wrldtrvllr said:

Noticed on this sea day they are still serving breakfast (as well as lunch) in windjammer at 1 pm and the dining room has brunch with both breakfast and lunch choices—their eggs must not be $7.00 a dozen…

I imagine the nasty powdered 'scrambled' eggs in the WJ are cheaper than whole eggs.

[Sea Dog]

Thanks for the review as I will be on the March 12th sailing. Question, how is the bourbon selection on board? Any Makers or other brands besides the usual?

[LATTELOVE]

Very true.

We tried some of the new restaurants on Wonder.

Very good food there.

Sadly, that's what we expected on this cruise,

not anymore.

 

[wrldtrvllr]

Enjoyed a relaxing sea day. Fantastic weather.  
 

Ventriloquist show was fun. (Kevin Johnson).  Amazing watching the aqua show folks workout earlier—for instance climbing a rope with arms only, legs outstretched not touching rope—and I’m thrilled if I get to ring the bell on the rock climbing wall!
 

Noticed another thread commenting on elevators—Royal offered a $20 pp obc Day 1 for participating in a trial/survey of a new elevator system, which I guess is like msc and perhaps others use—you select your floor and then are directed to which elevator (a,b,c etc) will stop at your destination. No buttons inside for kids to push—sounds like this system will be on Icon. Sounds good to me once I age out of stairs and of course we appreciated the $40 for a few minutes of our time. 
 

Cozumel tomorrow—

[PompeySailor]

42 minutes ago, wrldtrvllr said:

Enjoyed a relaxing sea day. Fantastic weather.  
 

Ventriloquist show was fun. (Kevin Johnson).  Amazing watching the aqua show folks workout earlier—for instance climbing a rope with arms only, legs outstretched not touching rope—and I’m thrilled if I get to ring the bell on the rock climbing wall!
 

Noticed another thread commenting on elevators—Royal offered a $20 pp obc Day 1 for participating in a trial/survey of a new elevator system, which I guess is like msc and perhaps others use—you select your floor and then are directed to which elevator (a,b,c etc) will stop at your destination. No buttons inside for kids to push—sounds like this system will be on Icon. Sounds good to me once I age out of stairs and of course we appreciated the $40 for a few minutes of our time. 
 

Cozumel tomorrow—

Nice easy $40 👍🏻
 

MSC elevators are beautiful on the 3 ships we have experienced with 2 more soon.

There are two dedicated elevators that if you are in Yacht Club can override all other floors arrival

 

Just tap wristband on the sensor by the relative two priority elevators and Bobs your uncle, skips every floor 

 

Floor choice is made prior to entry on the other 4 or 6 available 

 

Never seen any queues at the elevators on MSC

YMMV

Happy Days!

 

Edited March 1, 2023 by PompeySailor

[Bgregg32]

Have you seen ppl use/get the WOW bands that is now available? 

[Biker19]

7 hours ago, Bgregg32 said:

Have you seen ppl use/get the WOW bands that is now available? 

Welcome to CC.

Very few reports of Wow bands being used - not generally available on the few ships on which it may be possible to use them.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

20 hours ago, LATTELOVE said:

For us it's all about the food.

you should sail on Princess (Regal Princess and newer) or Celebrity for food. That's what we do.

 

RCI - for fun activities and entertainment, and Princess for food.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

10 hours ago, PompeySailor said:

MSC elevators are beautiful on the 3 ships we have experienced with 2 more soon.

There are two dedicated elevators that if you are in Yacht Club can override all other floors arrival

 

Just tap wristband on the sensor by the relative two priority elevators and Bobs your uncle, skips every floor 

 

Floor choice is made prior to entry on the other 4 or 6 available 

 

Never seen any queues at the elevators on MSC

however, those in steerage class were complaining about 10+ minute wait for the elevators.

[Donsyb]

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

Welcome to CC.

Very few reports of Wow bands being used - not generally available on the few ships on which it may be possible to use them.

They are available on Oasis