LIVE from Oasis of the Seas Transatlantic (with bonus Disney World) April 2024

[laurieal]

Welcome to Valencia!

 

 

 

 

Things have changed since the last time I was in Valencia back in 2022. Back then, the shuttle to the city centre cost €10 round-trip and had to be paid in cash to the people running the shuttles. 
 

Now, the same round-trip shuttle costs $25 USD and has to be purchased through RCI at the Shore Excursions desk. You could also get it on the day using your SeaPass card to pay. 
 

There was also a free shuttle you could take to the entrance of the port. From there, you could take a city bus or go on an adventure on your own. I have heard that all those shuttles are wheelchair accessible. 
 

I splurged for the $25 shuttle. Since my tour was at 11:00, I had purchased the 9:30 shuttle. They were checking tickets and distributing numbered stickers at the front of the theatre. 
 

 

Since there was no one with me, a lady from Shore Excursions took my ticket and went to get my number: 10. 
 

Since I need an accessible bus with a lift, I was told I would get on the first available one no matter what my number was.
 

 

An accessible bus was just arriving when I got there. A lady with a scooter was already there and got in first, but thankfully the bus driver was able to get her and me both in there. 
 

 

The lady with the scooter actually had number 1. She was supposed to leave on the first accessible shuttle, but apparently the ship was having issues with the elevators and deck 2 was locked so she couldn’t get to the gangway.
 

By the time they got it fixed, it was almost nine so she and I ended up on the same bus. She was from Canada, so I chatted with her and her husband the whole way and helped them get started on their Valencia journey. They had hoped to get a map from the port, but didn’t see any being distributed (I didn’t either). 

 

[little britain]

2 hours ago, laurieal said:

Should I ask a specific bartender in Schooner or should they all know how to make it?

Yes it’s a specific barman, not the roaming waiters… but I can’t remember his name… 🙄, it was Spanish sounding. And he was a he not a she! 

[laurieal]

20 minutes ago, little britain said:

Yes it’s a specific barman, not the roaming waiters… but I can’t remember his name… 🙄, it was Spanish sounding. And he was a he not a she! 

Excellent! It’s like a game of Guess Who 😊 

 

I’ll try to swing by tonight. 

[laurieal]

This review is temporarily on hold while I pack. 
 

(Ugh)

 

Let’s talk crystal blocks. Should I put mine in my checked luggage or carry on? 

[Rogueperson]

59 minutes ago, laurieal said:

 

Now, the same round-trip shuttle costs $25 USD and has to be purchased through RCI at the Shore Excursions desk. You could also get it on the day using your SeaPass card to pay. 
 

There was also a free shuttle you could take to the entrance of the port. From there, you could take a city bus or go on an adventure on your own. I have heard that all those shuttles are wheelchair accessible. 
 

I splurged for the $25 shuttle. Since my tour was at 11:00,

 

 

Wait a second.  You had a cruise sponsored excursion AND you had to pay for transport?!?!?

[laurieal]

3 minutes ago, Rogueperson said:

 

Wait a second.  You had a cruise sponsored excursion AND you had to pay for transport?!?!?

It wasn’t really an excursion. It was just a shuttle to and from the city centre, but we had to purchase it from the Shore Excursions people and we got a ticket/number like the excursions do. 

[Rogueperson]

6 minutes ago, laurieal said:

It wasn’t really an excursion. It was just a shuttle to and from the city centre, but we had to purchase it from the Shore Excursions people and we got a ticket/number like the excursions do. 

 my bad, you said your tour started at 11:00 so i thought you got it through Royal

[laurieal]

The shuttle dropped us off close to Pont dels Serrans and the Torres dels Serrans. 
 

 

You just need to cross the bridge and go through that door and you’re in the old part of Valencia. 
 

My tour met in Plaça de la Virgen, which was an easy walk from the shuttle drop off point. 

 

Here are some of my pictures from Valencia. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If was a good tour. I think we saw most, if not all, of the heavy hitters from the old city. Our guide was nice and fun. 
 

I will put this tour on the same level as Málaga accessibility-wise. It was an easy one with just a short bit on cobblestone. 

 

[laurieal]

 

Come on, Captain Ante! She’s beating us out of the port! Fire up another engine!

[Rogueperson]

4 minutes ago, laurieal said:

 

Come on, Captain Ante! She’s beating us out of the port! Fire up another engine!

 

Folks, Scarlet Lady has been lagging behind for most of this race but what is this?  what is this, she’s pulling ahead.  Scarlet Lady in the lead!!!!!!

 

 

[little britain]

8 minutes ago, laurieal said:

 

Come on, Captain Ante! She’s beating us out of the port! Fire up another engine!

Looked like we were on a collision course!!

[laurieal]

16 minutes ago, Rogueperson said:

 

Folks, Scarlet Lady has been lagging behind for most of this race but what is this?  what is this, she’s pulling ahead.  Scarlet Lady in the lead!!!!!!

 

 

I don’t like to see you taking the lead, but I have to admit it’s a pretty nice view. 
 

 

 

 

[laurieal]

The tour ended at the market. 
 

 

 

It’s a beautiful building, made even more beautiful by the presence of an accessible washroom. It’s in the basement and you need to ask for a key, which I knew how to do thanks to Duolingo. 
 

The other non-accessible washrooms require payment by credit card only. 
 

Being close to the market, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. 
 

 

I wanted to have the world’s best bocadillo. They can’t lie about that, so it has to be a true, verified fact. 

 

It was just as delicious as I remembered. The bread was like a crunchy baguette, and it had just enough meat and cheese inside. It’s the perfect sandwich. 
 

I ate my sandwich in the Plaça de la Reina, watching all the strange things that were happening around. 
 

 

That Pikachu had sound coming out of it. It was terrifying. 
 

I had one last look at the cathedral and I started making my way back to the shuttle. 
 

 

I had to wait three buses before the accessible one came, but it wasn’t that long of a wait since buses were coming one right after the other. There was a fair amount of chaos, though, with all three ships in port waiting for their shuttles in the same area. 

[laurieal]

Go, Team Oasis! Let’s get them!!

 

[laurieal]

Back on the ship, I went straight to deck 15. Yes, that’s not a typo. I went to 15. 
 

 

 

It was such a hot day and I needed some soft serve. 
 

 

I saw some seats I had not noticed before. One thing I loved about the Wonder was that they had all sorts of seating options, some of which I could transfer onto to get a break from my wheelchair. 
 

 

It’s next to the Lime & Coconut on deck 15. It’s too bad that it’s not in the sun, but I’m glad to know it exists. 
 

And then it was time to return to my stateroom for a much needed shower and some just as needed (but not as satisfying) packing. 
 

I didn’t quite finish, but I didn’t want to miss sailaway so I went up to 16 and got one last frozen mojito from my favourite bar.

 

 

Ade and Igli were wearing “Best Bartender” medals and I can only agree. Ade is going home tomorrow, but if you’re on Oasis soon Igli makes the better Papa Jac and please don’t tell anyone I said that. 

 

 

[Rogueperson]

@laurieal Yeah, you’re pulling ahead again…

 

 

 

Edited May 4 by Rogueperson

[laurieal]

I had dinner at the Windjammer. I got there around 19:00 and it was busier than last time I was there. I found a table in the back, but it was a bit too far from the food. When I went to get food and spotted a closer table, I decided to move my stuff. 
 

There was some wait at the more in demand stations. The ribs were particularly popular and had 5-6 people waiting in line for them. 

I started with my usual cheese and cheesy bread. The second cheesy bread was accidental; it was stuck to the first one. Also, bonus shrimp cocktail. 
 

 

For my main, I had the salmon en croute with the mashed potatoes and more cheese that I hadn’t seen on my first cheese run. 
 

 

The salmon was overcooked, but it’s buffet salmon and I expected that. It’s why I got the mashed potatoes. 
 

For dessert, I had the baklava and a couple of cookies. 
 

 

After dinner, I went to the headliner show FourEver in the theatre. I wasn’t planning on going after missing last night’s shows, but @little britain sold the show so well I had to check it out. 
 

 

It was a fantastic show. The singers were talented and the one doing most of the talking was very charismatic.

 

 

It took a couple of songs for me to get super into it, but as soon as they started Bohemian Rhapsody I was hooked. 

 

 

Perhaps one day I won’t cry during Bring Him Home, but today was not that day. And my final mention goes to Nessun Dorma, which was absolutely beautiful. 

 

After the show, I returned to my stateroom to finish packing. My suitcase is now outside, all the electronics that need to be charged are charging, and I am ready to go. 

[FionaMG]

Safe travels home tomorrow Laurie and thanks for another great live report. 😊

[little britain]

DH is loving you and cursing you for introducing him to Papa Jacs!!

- nice travelling with you.

- safe travels home 

LB x

[Ginlyn]

Fellow Canadian here.  I don’t post hardly at all but wanted to say how much I always enjoy your “lives”.  When are you cruising again?  DH and I just did the Panama Canal cruise on Radiance about two weeks ago and already I am missing cruising.  Safe travels tomorrow and I look forward to following you again in the future.  Ginny from the land/island of Anne of Green Gables 😜

[DelMom18a]

Laurie, it has been a pleasure reading your posts, thank you for sharing with us.  Have a safe trip home!

[Nebr.cruiser]

I've loved reading your posts.  We'll be on the Oasis in November--too long to wait!

 

[Rogueperson]

@laurieal

 

Not sure who won the race as I just woke up.  But we don’t have to disembark until 10:15.

 

[sgmn]

Thank you for a great travel blog. I really enjoyed reading it every day.  Wishing you safe and stress free travels home 

[laurieal]

Departure Info

 

 

 

Barcelona info provided by RCI