Oasis of the Seas Review
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Oasis of the Seas Review
Voyage #12
February 13th - 20, 2010
As a travel agent and a frequent guest of Royal Caribbean, I have to admit at first I
was a little leery about sailing on the Oasis of the Seas due to the amount of Guests and
the size of the ship. With a maximum of 6400 and around 2400+ crew members, the
amount of souls on board was enough to have second and third thoughts about it.
I will be the first to admit that I was wrong. Royal Caribbean and STX Europe did it.
Plain and simple, they did it.
Voyage #12
February 13th - 20, 2010
As a travel agent and a frequent guest of Royal Caribbean, I have to admit at first I
was a little leery about sailing on the Oasis of the Seas due to the amount of Guests and
the size of the ship. With a maximum of 6400 and around 2400+ crew members, the
amount of souls on board was enough to have second and third thoughts about it.
I will be the first to admit that I was wrong. Royal Caribbean and STX Europe did it.
Plain and simple, they did it.
Arrival to the port terminal is nothing more than easy. We did,
however, get to Port Everglades at 9:57 a.m. As no surprise to me,
people were still getting off the ship as well as guests already
dropping luggage and making their way into the terminal. I started to
worry that this, like Miami, may take awhile. Again, I was wrong.
I parked the car; and with a very short walk, we entered the
terminal after dropping our luggage with a porter. As we walked into
the terminal I was amazed. First, since there were many guests
entering, there seemed to be no one in the terminal. Royal
Caribbean had constructed the terminal so that when you check in,
you are actually checking in for your deck and area of the ship. You
are directed toward your area of check in by very pleasant guest
agents at the door. Not to say that not all guest agents are pleasant
there was something about the way these individuals conducted
themselves very quick and efficient, to say the least.
however, get to Port Everglades at 9:57 a.m. As no surprise to me,
people were still getting off the ship as well as guests already
dropping luggage and making their way into the terminal. I started to
worry that this, like Miami, may take awhile. Again, I was wrong.
I parked the car; and with a very short walk, we entered the
terminal after dropping our luggage with a porter. As we walked into
the terminal I was amazed. First, since there were many guests
entering, there seemed to be no one in the terminal. Royal
Caribbean had constructed the terminal so that when you check in,
you are actually checking in for your deck and area of the ship. You
are directed toward your area of check in by very pleasant guest
agents at the door. Not to say that not all guest agents are pleasant
there was something about the way these individuals conducted
themselves very quick and efficient, to say the least.
Moments later and a swipe of the credit
card, a smile for the camera, and your sea
pass in hand, you start your journey up the
stairs of this massive terminal. Yet before you
can proceed, it's time for a picture. If you have
been on the Mariner of the Seas, you can
remember just how easy it was to get your
photos while on board. The Oasis is the same
but even better. But we will get to that later.
With all the snow storms north of Atlanta, I
was not surprised that the terminal seemed so
empty. In fact, there were only two of us sitting
in the Diamond Plus section and maybe thirty
people in the suite area, which is very nice by
the way. We chit-chatted with Mark, our
Diamond Plus area coordinator, and talked
about past cruises and future cruises alike.
card, a smile for the camera, and your sea
pass in hand, you start your journey up the
stairs of this massive terminal. Yet before you
can proceed, it's time for a picture. If you have
been on the Mariner of the Seas, you can
remember just how easy it was to get your
photos while on board. The Oasis is the same
but even better. But we will get to that later.
With all the snow storms north of Atlanta, I
was not surprised that the terminal seemed so
empty. In fact, there were only two of us sitting
in the Diamond Plus section and maybe thirty
people in the suite area, which is very nice by
the way. We chit-chatted with Mark, our
Diamond Plus area coordinator, and talked
about past cruises and future cruises alike.
Around 10:36 a.m., we were told that they were ready to board the ship, suite guests first then
diamond and down the line from there. Lucky for us most of the suite guests were all together and
another boarding agent motioned us and we actually beat most of the suite guests on.
At 10:40 a.m., up you go three levels to enter the ship. Where is the promenade deck? There is
none, except for the jogging track. Wow! Now we have stopped, I knew it, crowded, too many
people, bad mistake. Nope. Everyone stops as soon as they enter the ship. The massive open area
of the Royal Promenade is breath-taking. The size, the colors, and where we entered the Rising
Tide Bar in her up position, there was a water fountain show streams from the bottom and from the
top as well. After a brief moment, people start moving again and then it happens: open space it's not
crowded at all. Mind you, we were first on with maybe nine hundred or so other passengers; but it
just doesn’t seem crowded.
We took a quick survey of where to eat by looking at the new interactive screens at each
elevator landing, which are totally cool, since they show you in graphics what the current flow of
traffic is in each open eating area. Off we go to the Windjammer Cafe on Deck 16. Nice and wide
open, the Windjammer has the usual selections available with a few extra items; and seating was
very easy to find.
diamond and down the line from there. Lucky for us most of the suite guests were all together and
another boarding agent motioned us and we actually beat most of the suite guests on.
At 10:40 a.m., up you go three levels to enter the ship. Where is the promenade deck? There is
none, except for the jogging track. Wow! Now we have stopped, I knew it, crowded, too many
people, bad mistake. Nope. Everyone stops as soon as they enter the ship. The massive open area
of the Royal Promenade is breath-taking. The size, the colors, and where we entered the Rising
Tide Bar in her up position, there was a water fountain show streams from the bottom and from the
top as well. After a brief moment, people start moving again and then it happens: open space it's not
crowded at all. Mind you, we were first on with maybe nine hundred or so other passengers; but it
just doesn’t seem crowded.
We took a quick survey of where to eat by looking at the new interactive screens at each
elevator landing, which are totally cool, since they show you in graphics what the current flow of
traffic is in each open eating area. Off we go to the Windjammer Cafe on Deck 16. Nice and wide
open, the Windjammer has the usual selections available with a few extra items; and seating was
very easy to find.
After visiting the pool deck, it was time to really start exploring this massive ship. I had heard
jokes about people wanting to use segways while on board though I could not imagine them
actually working. Besides, how much weight can you lose by riding around?
We then went down to Deck 8 to explore Central Park with its real garden, shops, restaurants,
and even an outside bar.
Central Park is great mind you, it’s February and not really all that warm outside. The walkway
is offset so you wind around the garden. The live plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers are
everywhere. I was actually starting to wonder when some birds would make a nest and start a
family. I am sure it is bound to happen sooner or later.
The Pool deck is divided up nicely with four pools including the H2O zone. With the Solarium
in the front, it is a nice place to unwind and even catch a quick bite. Breakfast, lunch, and
evening meals under the stars make this area of the ship feel as if you are again on a small
ship simply by the design and not to mention the size.
Seven days is truly not enough time to explore and enjoy the Oasis. My best advice: Try to
make a game plan on what you want to see and do, and book early for your shows and dinner.
They all tend to fill up fast and you will be disappointed.
I am not a real big show person, but the performance of Hair Spray was great; and the cast did
an awesome job. The Ice Show with the lighting, sound, and the show was great; though my
favorite is on the Mariner.
jokes about people wanting to use segways while on board though I could not imagine them
actually working. Besides, how much weight can you lose by riding around?
We then went down to Deck 8 to explore Central Park with its real garden, shops, restaurants,
and even an outside bar.
Central Park is great mind you, it’s February and not really all that warm outside. The walkway
is offset so you wind around the garden. The live plants, trees, shrubs, and flowers are
everywhere. I was actually starting to wonder when some birds would make a nest and start a
family. I am sure it is bound to happen sooner or later.
The Pool deck is divided up nicely with four pools including the H2O zone. With the Solarium
in the front, it is a nice place to unwind and even catch a quick bite. Breakfast, lunch, and
evening meals under the stars make this area of the ship feel as if you are again on a small
ship simply by the design and not to mention the size.
Seven days is truly not enough time to explore and enjoy the Oasis. My best advice: Try to
make a game plan on what you want to see and do, and book early for your shows and dinner.
They all tend to fill up fast and you will be disappointed.
I am not a real big show person, but the performance of Hair Spray was great; and the cast did
an awesome job. The Ice Show with the lighting, sound, and the show was great; though my
favorite is on the Mariner.
