Why I have to wait SOOO long to try the Oasis/Allure

[The Grumpus]

Then the ship shouldn't matter to you, so I don't understand the fixation with why Oasis/Epic doesn't sail your preferred itineraries. If its the ports that really matter, just find a ship that meets your needs. They do exist.

 

Okay this is NOT a flame...it's a legitimate question. If, unlike most of us, you DON'T consider Oasis/Allure to be the destination in and of itself, WHY would you want to even bother cruising them?? You seem to care a LOT more about the ports, so just go on any ol' ship to the ports you want to go to.

 

:confused:

For that matter, why even bother going on a cruise? If all that matters are the ports, seems like a waste of time going there on a ship... why not just stay at the ports and forget cruising altogether?

[sandytoes03]

I know what you mean. I wish Oasis went to some more interesting ports too. I want Oasis and the ports. I like about 4-5 ports on a 7 day cruise.

[fridaythe13th]

When I finally fit the Oasis or Allure into my schedule I will be going on her as my destination. Have been to the planned ports enough.:D

[Gonzo70]

To me, a cruise is about the destinations, aka ports of call not the ship. I don't care if the Oasis is considered a destination in itself, it really is NOT.

 

Perhaps to you Oasis is not the destination in itself, but it was conceived/built with the plan of it being the primary destination in mind. Most people sailing on Oasis will be going for the ship, not the ports. It doesn't mean many won't enjoy the ports, but the main reason for booking Oasis is to experience the ship itself. Many people will book Oasis just to experience Oasis. Other cruisers have zero interest in Oasis and dislike what it stands for. Fortunately there are plenty of other options out there. Everybody can find something that makes them happy. Just don't expect that Royal Caribbean will alter their plans and forgoe millions in revenue to suit your personal needs.

[FLACRUISER99]

I like sea days and I would not mind if they had 7 sea days :eek: on a 7 day cruise.

[negc]

You really can't expect RCI or any cruiseline to alter its traditional practices when introducing new ships just because you find the ports they have chosen to be old hat or same old -same old (especially when most of the ports that you suggest as alternatives seem to fit that description as well. As long as they can fill Oasis and Allure with passengers who choose to sail on them either because they want to be on the newest and biggest ships afloat or because they are new to cruising and the time-honored familar ports of call appear more attractive to them than some other less well-known or popular locations, the lines will continue to set their itineraries accordingly. Perhaps if you can afford to purchase your own cruiseline or cruise ship, you can set an itinerary that meets your specific tastes and interests, but be prepared to lose your shirt if the majority of the cruising public doesn't agree with your choices. RCI is a mass market line and sets its itineraries to suit the majority of its customers and prospective customers. If you want to visit less frequently-visited ports of call, they probably off such an itinerary on one of their ships, so do a bit of research and you will probably find what you want. But there is a trade-off between what they will offer on their newest ships and their older vessels. Over the decades, this formula has worked well for them. Don't expect them to change just because you don't like the offerings.:rolleyes:

[hazeleyez3]

I'm not so much complaining about it sailing in the Caribbean. I am complaining that there are only 3 ports of call. And those 3 ports of call are the lamest 3 ports they could conjure up.

 

And to those of you who would complain about not enough sea days:

STAY ON THE SHIP!!! Pretend like it's a sea day and stay on the darned ship. You can't pretend you're at a port of call, but it is sure easy to just stay on the ship and treat it like a sea day. So I really don't understand HOW anyone could complain about there not being enough sea days. That absolutely makes NO sense.

 

As you can see, I am actually quite bitter and angry about the situation... Sorry for my ranting. :o

 

Hmmm...treating a port day like a sea day:

 

• Casino isn't open
  
• Fewer activities
  
• Sometimes the dining room is not open
  
• Shops not open
  
• Sometimes you might want to see all the ports but just want one more sea day.
  

If you need more ports or want more interesting ones then go on another ship. Serenade and Adventure are port intensive and travel the Caribbean.

 

If you need to go on the Oasis/Allure than stop b****ing about the ports. It sounds like 3 days would barely give you enough time to truly experience the ship anyway.

 

If your family can't do many sea days on a resort-like cruise ship than maybe fly to the Caribbean and stay at a normal hotel. That would actually guarantee you would get there. You take a cruise you risk not being able to stop at a port and end up with...another sea day.

 

Life = not always being able to have your cake and eat it too.

[ehfl]

If you think logically for a minute, I believe you can figure out why the itineraries are not very exotic. You can't dump 5,000+ people into a port that's not ready to handle it.

 

The Oasis, for example, cannot tender, which limits ports. Also, all boarding must be done from the starboard side, which limits it even further. The Oasis requires deeper water...again, fewer ports.

 

If you want to go to exotic ports, then there are plenty of smaller ships. If you want to try a larger ship, as long as you have a good attitude, you'll probably have a lot of fun. Lots of choices either way.

[Aoumd]

I think the choice of Oasis/Allure's ports goes in the direction of, but way beyond, the "destination onto themselves" concept.

 

Somewhere -- I don't remember where -- I read that when RCI was looking into creating the Voyager class, they did a study which found that the overwhelming majority of Americans had never been on a cruise, and that RCI decided to actively pursue this market. The study influenced the Voyager class, and the direction RCI has gone since then.

 

I also remember reading (in Brian J. Cudahy's "The Cruise Ship Phenomenon in North America") that the Eastern Caribbean 7-night itinerary out of South Florida is called the "Milk Run" in the industry because it is so ubiquitous.

 

Put the two together, add the fact that experienced, repeat cruisers will have already been to the islands on the "Milk Run" (and it's western equivalent), and I think I can see that Royal Caribbean is using Oasis and Allure to dominate one particular, very large market they are going for: the first-time cruiser who has never been to these islands. And if they pick-up repeat cruisers who are interested in the ship (which seems to take "all things RCCL" -- Flowriders, Royal Promenades, etc. to the next level in its design), then that's extra gravy for them.

 

Simply put, they're trying to convert more of the general public into CC members like you and me :cool:.

 

On a related note, I don't think RCCL would ever completely foresake smaller ships. Cruise lines, I have noticed, like to brag about the variety of destinations they sail to, and they'll always need ships small enough to continue to serve parts of the world that cannot accommodate a bazillion-tonner.