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

[DallasGuy75219]

18 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

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?

This was the selection at Schooner Bar

[Sea Dog]

2 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

This was the selection at Schooner Bar

Thank you. I’m not impressed with that at all.

[NoShoes2]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

Thank you. I’m not impressed with that at all.

 

The Gentlemen Jack is not bad...

[mets123]

1 hour ago, NoShoes2 said:

 

The Gentlemen Jack is not bad...

Neither is the Buffalo Trace.

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, NoShoes2 said:

 

The Gentlemen Jack is not bad...

 

7 minutes ago, mets123 said:

Neither is the Buffalo Trace.

I agree but compared to what I saw on Symphony this past September it’s not my preference.

 

[crewsweeper]

OOO!! There's Angel Envy, Woodfords, Old Forester, Wild Turkey.  Pretty decent bourbon selection for a ship!

[wrldtrvllr]

After morning pickle ball it was a taxi to paradise beach. For do it yourself-ers, here’s the official taxi fares. Flat fare one way for 1-4 people. 

 

Paradise beach can be booked as all-inclusive with or without reservations but can also be accessed walk up ala carte. $10 pp admission and the obligation to buy $10 pp in food/drink. You get access to pool, chairs, beach, clean rest rooms etc. 

 

 

We enjoy this day resort but unfortunately the sargassum was out in full force today. 

 

Had much better luck with that in December. Can’t control any of that, though the guys were constantly clearing the beach as best they could. This is looking off the paradise beach property towards the south. (Next major resort down is playa mia (not in view)).

Still a good beach day and a great way to vacation!
 

[csheldonbrown]

The app says there is supposed to be on ship Makers Mark, Bulleit, Bulleit Rye, Templeton Rye. . . I've never heard of Balcones Texas Bourbon/Rye or Tincup.  I like the selection on the Symphony shown above a lot better.  If that's the selection on the Oasis week of March 12th, guarantee the Buffalo Trace and Gentleman Jack will be gone in a day or two.  And if there is no Jameson on the ship for St Patrick's day - oh my extended family will be up in arms.  lol  

First-world problems - looking forward to my upcoming trip - I'll just likely be drinking mixed rum or vodka drinks. I saw on the boards last year that all bourbon was sold out on the ship after day 1 or day 2. 

[Sea Dog]

1 hour ago, wrldtrvllr said:

After morning pickle ball it was a taxi to paradise beach. For do it yourself-ers, here’s the official taxi fares. Flat fare one way for 1-4 people. 

 

Paradise beach can be booked as all-inclusive with or without reservations but can also be accessed walk up ala carte. $10 pp admission and the obligation to buy $10 pp in food/drink. You get access to pool, chairs, beach, clean rest rooms etc. 

 

 

We enjoy this day resort but unfortunately the sargassum was out in full force today. 

 

Had much better luck with that in December. Can’t control any of that, though the guys were constantly clearing the beach as best they could. This is looking off the paradise beach property towards the south. (Next major resort down is playa mia (not in view)).

Still a good beach day and a great way to vacation!
 

How was the food? Recommend anything?

[wrldtrvllr]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

How was the food? Recommend anything?

Had the volcano nachos with beef and chicken, guacamole, etc….my gall bladder didn’t deserve to be treated that way but it was enjoyable enough. Authentic Mexican beach food but probably nothing special. 

[hazeleyes46]

22 hours ago, Donsyb said:

They are available on Oasis

When did they start back with them? We went in August and they didn't have them. I LOVE them and with going to Cococay now with the swim up bar, they would be perfect to get a drink.

[wrldtrvllr]

Day 5

 

Radiance of the seas was with us in port but they had to tender in. 

We signed up for a Royal Caribbean excursion to Tabyana beach on West Bay. We did the same in December. West Bay has excellent snorkeling along a huge reef that is accessible from shore. Taxis are not regulated with posted fares on Roatan so we have stuck with the shore excursion so far.  Perhaps next time we will taxi on our own to west bay as I’m confident that wouldn’t be a problem. $20 for two round trip I was told for a shared ride and $60 for two RT for private ride. Plus $5 port fee. I’m not interested in sloths or tourist shops so am hesitant to be held captive to a group taxi.  The excursion planned got us transportation, a lunch of sorts, chairs and facilities. They have almost constant buses back to port so you can set your own time. A posted sign designates last shuttle back for each cruise ship. 

 

 

Snorkeling from the shore about 65 yards out is a big drop off where it gets about 30 feet deep??  Lots of living coral, fish, etc. closer to shore the coral is much shallower but spots are dead.  Vendors are plentiful at west bay but the resort and security keep them on the water side of the rope. Most politely took no thanks for an answer. 
 

Roatan time was one hour earlier than ship time whereas at this time of year Cozumel was same time as  ship/New York. My Apple Watch decided to change to local time but I had the phone set to not automatically change so no confusion. (Watch shouldn’t have changed though—glitch somewhere in the user I suppose). 
 

Tabayana is south of BananaRama where many of the excursions take folks (tabayana is much wider though still a narrow beach and is closer to the better snorkeling which is in front of the Grand Roatan. 
 

Overall a very nice day!

 

 

Edited March 3, 2023 by wrldtrvllr

[wrldtrvllr]

Also FYI, fortunately, the sea weed was not an issue in West Bay. 

[Donsyb]

23 hours ago, hazeleyes46 said:

When did they start back with them? We went in August and they didn't have them. I LOVE them and with going to Cococay now with the swim up bar, they would be perfect to get a drink.

In the last couple of weeks. I saw a post on FB from someone onboard now and they had them

[Donsyb]

23 hours ago, hazeleyes46 said:

When did they start back with them? We went in August and they didn't have them. I LOVE them and with going to Cococay now with the swim up bar, they would be perfect to get a drink.

Also the swim up bar at south beach doesn’t have electricity so I don’t think it would work there?

[ValerieJo]

11 hours ago, wrldtrvllr said:

Day 5

 

Radiance of the seas was with us in port but they had to tender in. 

We signed up for a Royal Caribbean excursion to Tabyana beach on West Bay. We did the same in December. West Bay has excellent snorkeling along a huge reef that is accessible from shore. Taxis are not regulated with posted fares on Roatan so we have stuck with the shore excursion so far.  Perhaps next time we will taxi on our own to west bay as I’m confident that wouldn’t be a problem. $20 for two round trip I was told for a shared ride and $60 for two RT for private ride. Plus $5 port fee. I’m not interested in sloths or tourist shops so am hesitant to be held captive to a group taxi.  The excursion planned got us transportation, a lunch of sorts, chairs and facilities. They have almost constant buses back to port so you can set your own time. A posted sign designates last shuttle back for each cruise ship. 

 

 

Snorkeling from the shore about 65 yards out is a big drop off where it gets about 30 feet deep??  Lots of living coral, fish, etc. closer to shore the coral is much shallower but spots are dead.  Vendors are plentiful at west bay but the resort and security keep them on the water side of the rope. Most politely took no thanks for an answer. 
 

Roatan time was one hour earlier than ship time whereas at this time of year Cozumel was same time as  ship/New York. My Apple Watch decided to change to local time but I had the phone set to not automatically change so no confusion. (Watch shouldn’t have changed though—glitch somewhere in the user I suppose). 
 

Tabayana is south of BananaRama where many of the excursions take folks (tabayana is much wider though still a narrow beach and is closer to the better snorkeling which is in front of the Grand Roatan. 
 

Overall a very nice day!

 

 

Was there an actual name of this excursion through RC?  Sounds like one we would like, just want to make sure to pick the correct one.  Thanks.

[LATTELOVE]

18 hours ago, wrldtrvllr said:

Day 5

 

Radiance of the seas was with us in port but they had to tender in. 

We signed up for a Royal Caribbean excursion to Tabyana beach on West Bay. We did the same in December. West Bay has excellent snorkeling along a huge reef that is accessible from shore. Taxis are not regulated with posted fares on Roatan so we have stuck with the shore excursion so far.  Perhaps next time we will taxi on our own to west bay as I’m confident that wouldn’t be a problem. $20 for two round trip I was told for a shared ride and $60 for two RT for private ride. Plus $5 port fee. I’m not interested in sloths or tourist shops so am hesitant to be held captive to a group taxi.  The excursion planned got us transportation, a lunch of sorts, chairs and facilities. They have almost constant buses back to port so you can set your own time. A posted sign designates last shuttle back for each cruise ship. 

 

 

Snorkeling from the shore about 65 yards out is a big drop off where it gets about 30 feet deep??  Lots of living coral, fish, etc. closer to shore the coral is much shallower but spots are dead.  Vendors are plentiful at west bay but the resort and security keep them on the water side of the rope. Most politely took no thanks for an answer. 
 

Roatan time was one hour earlier than ship time whereas at this time of year Cozumel was same time as  ship/New York. My Apple Watch decided to change to local time but I had the phone set to not automatically change so no confusion. (Watch shouldn’t have changed though—glitch somewhere in the user I suppose). 
 

Tabayana is south of BananaRama where many of the excursions take folks (tabayana is much wider though still a narrow beach and is closer to the better snorkeling which is in front of the Grand Roatan. 
 

Overall a very nice day!

 

 

Gorgeous beach, I love it.

Wished we were there!!!

[Itchy&Scratchy]

18 hours ago, wrldtrvllr said:

Taxis are not regulated with posted fares on Roatan so we have stuck with the shore excursion so far.  Perhaps next time we will taxi on our own to west bay as I’m confident that wouldn’t be a problem. $20 for two round trip I was told for a shared ride and $60 for two RT for private ride. Plus $5 port fee. I’m not interested in sloths or tourist shops so am hesitant to be held captive to a group taxi.

we usually go to the Infinity beach club which is adjacent to Tabyana beach. Before the pandemic we paid $15 for the RT per person, plus $20 pp for the beach club use per person over 6 yo. You get to use the pool, a beach chaise in the shade, and a rum drink. 

All in all, it wasn't bad at $35 pp, and us choosing the time to return. I found RCI beach excursions to be very limited time wise.

[wrldtrvllr]

11 hours ago, ValerieJo said:

Was there an actual name of this excursion through RC?  Sounds like one we would like, just want to make sure to pick the correct one.  Thanks.

Tabayana beach break. We did the one without snorkeling (approx $10-20 more for snorkeling which did give an earlier shuttle. Age limit on that is 65 (ridiculous IMHO so spouse couldn’t book that—plus we have own snorkel equipment anyway). Staff at Tabayana will guide anyone out to snorkel for tips only if that is more in anyone’s comfort zone. Also they rent equipment there for about $10. 

[wrldtrvllr]

Well, today turned into another sea day rather than Costa Maya. This is only the second time ever that we’ve missed a stop on a cruise—I imagine we usually are lucky.

 

We were refunded $11.47 each for port fees.

 

The issue today was wind. Sustained mid 20 mph and gusts to 36 according to the weather channel. Sunny skies, not a drop of rain, but windy enough that this is the first time I’ve seen the “sickness” bags brought out to the stair wells on an oasis class ship. Deck 16 and the forward part of the solarium were closed for a time. No pickle ball obviously. Winds calmed down as the day progressed and as far as I could tell all activities were open by midday. We enjoy sea days but we had planned on taking a taxi to Krazy lobster and enjoying another beach day in Mexico. Krazy lobster doesn’t charge for chairs, is pay as you go, and had decent food in the past.
 

Tonight is Royal night and interested to see if the “cold water” lobster tail is distinguishable from the usual lobster tail which historically has been hit or miss…have in the past ordered am extra tail but won’t be doing that with the new rules 🥲 .

[wrldtrvllr]

5 hours ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

we usually go to the Infinity beach club which is adjacent to Tabyana beach. Before the pandemic we paid $15 for the RT per person, plus $20 pp for the beach club use per person over 6 yo. You get to use the pool, a beach chaise in the shade, and a rum drink. 

All in all, it wasn't bad at $35 pp, and us choosing the time to return. I found RCI beach excursions to be very limited time wise.

Yes that looks like a nice place I would like to try sometime as well

[ValerieJo]

1 hour ago, wrldtrvllr said:

Tabayana beach break. We did the one without snorkeling (approx $10-20 more for snorkeling which did give an earlier shuttle. Age limit on that is 65 (ridiculous IMHO so spouse couldn’t book that—plus we have own snorkel equipment anyway). Staff at Tabayana will guide anyone out to snorkel for tips only if that is more in anyone’s comfort zone. Also they rent equipment there for about $10. 

Thank you.  The age limit leaves me out as well.  We also have our own gear. 

[DallasGuy75219]

On 3/1/2023 at 4:25 PM, wrldtrvllr said:

Paradise beach can be booked as all-inclusive with or without reservations but can also be accessed walk up ala carte. $10 pp admission and the obligation to buy $10 pp in food/drink.

Wow, I can remember when admission was $2-$3.  And nowadays I imagine $10 might get you one cocktail or two sodas.

[DallasGuy75219]

3 hours ago, wrldtrvllr said:

Tonight is Royal night and interested to see if the “cold water” lobster tail is distinguishable from the usual lobster tail which historically has been hit or miss…have in the past ordered am extra tail but won’t be doing that with the new rules 🥲 .

Seemed no bigger than the lobster they served in the past.  All 6 bites of it.

[ValerieJo]

9 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Seemed no bigger than the lobster they served in the past.  All 6 bites of it.

Wow!  Yours was double the size of mine.  Mine was all of 3 bites. ☹️