Cruise Review: Oasis of the Seas – Gigantic + Enormous = Ginormous
During a recent Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines (RCCL) familiarization tour of the Oasis of the Seas, I had the opportunity to see and experience one of the most magnificent ships in the world. She is a floating city in every way. Here are just a few facts that help prove my assertion . . . on any given seven-day cruise more than 8,000 people call the Oasis home, she has 24 different dining experiences, countless entertainment venues, over a dozen shops and stores, and state-of-the-art water and sanitation systems that are more efficient than most of the land-based versions. The only ship larger by just a few inches is her sister ship Allure of the Seas.
The terminal in Fort Lauderdale was specifically designed to accommodate the huge numbers of passengers on both the Oasis and Allure. According to our RCCL hosts, under optimal conditions passengers can go from drop off at the curb to boarding the ship in 15 minutes. Of course the 80 +/- check-in stations have a lot to do with that degree of efficiency.
To say the Oasis of the Seas is a big ship is like saying the Sears Tower in Chicago is a tall building. To prove my point, I turned to my gifted research assistant Sasha Google to find how many servicemen and women live on an aircraft carrier. Okay, are you ready? An aircraft carrier is home to approximately 5,000 men and women on any given voyage. The Oasis of the Seas has a passenger count (double occupancy) of 5,400 and a crew of 2,700. To take the comparison one step further, according to Wikipedia, the actual mass of the Oasis is approximately that of the American Nimitz class aircraft carrier. Wow!
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Although our tour only lasted about three hours, we covered a large portion of the ship. The accommodations range from interior economy steerage-grade rooms to luxury two-story loft suites costing (Are you sitting down?) . . . low season $23,000 and high season $35,000 for a seven night cruise. You will be glad to know the cost is for the entire suite, not per person and can sleep four people. However, two of guests will have to sleep on a pullout sofa, unless . . . well, never mind. The fact is for mere mortals such as myself and those reading this blog, there are very affordable options for the entire family. The trick to finding the best price is to plan ahead and book early.
The ship has too many features to mention in a short blog, but here are a few highlights. For starters, it has seven distinct neighborhoods including Central Park (a place to stroll through lush greenery with lots of shops and restaurants), Boardwalk (open air complete with a carousel, a hot dog joint, and more restaurants and shops) the Royal Promenade (just like a mall with all the amenities), the Pool and Sports Zone (self-explanatory), Vitality of the Sea Spa & Fitness Center, and the Youth Zone (fun place for all ages from newborns to teenagers). Within those neighborhoods are a long list of other activities and eateries including an indoor skating rink, the open-air aqua theater, zip lining, rock climbing, a flow rider, a three-story dining room, and umpteen other dining options (some at no additional charge while others cost extra).
Here are my unbiased lists of the ship’s pluses and minuses . . . First the pluses: 1) unbelievable choice of activities for the entire family, 2) although she is ginormous, the electronic kiosks located near the elevators and stairs will help you navigate easily around the ship, 3) entertainment options at no additional charge are aplenty. And now the minuses: 1) I don’t like the way cruise lines nickel and dimes passengers (when they say all-inclusive, they should mean it) 2) the food on the buffet at the Solarium was mediocre at best (I am sure the food at the other venues is better, but we did not have time to partake), 3) smoking is still allowed in certain parts of the ship, and the smell permeates into many of the nonsmoking area as well.
Overall it’s a great ship, which offers good value for all of its passengers. There are enough “free” dining options that you would not have to spend another penny at the pay-as-you-go dining venues. In addition, there is a plethora of onboard entertainment options for everyone, regardless of age. The Oasis and Allure are both based at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, and alternate between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. I have spoken with several people who went on the Oasis or Allure, and everyone said they would sail on them again, which is the best endorsement of all.
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Mike Cooney, Cooney World Adventures – In 2008, Mike and his wife Catrell decided to sell virtually everything they owned to take their three teenage sons on an around the world trek. Their year long odyssey included six continents, 22 countries and more than 61,000 miles. They have traveled to nearly 50 countries, and now own and operate a full-service travel agency. They use their first hand travel knowledge to help others experience exciting adventures too. Contact Mike and Catrell at www.cooneyworldadventures.com or call 407.477.5833. |
Originally Published on July 11th, 2011
