Hello everyone, I wanted to share my comments with you on the great uproar in the cruise industry these days … the new Royal Caribbean, Oasis of the Seas! She will be a home port in Ft Lauderdale throughout the year. My husband and I had the pleasure of spending two nights on board during a pre-inaugural travel agent / media outreach cruise. I have to tell you that I had my doubts about such a large ship … the largest at sea, 225,000 GRT (gross registered tons), above Freedom class ships at 160,000 GRT. This ship carries around 6,500 passengers plus personnel.
I thought, before crossing … too big, too many people, an eyesore that I really wouldn’t want to navigate. I thought … why would I need such a big boat?
Well let me tell you … I was WRONG! This is an innovative boat, it has more to do, more to see, more to experience and more to enjoy than I could in a week. And better yet, it’s easy to maneuver (unlike many boats where you have to get on and off and around to get where you want to go).
It has an ice skating rink, basketball court, miniature golf, two flow rider surf simulators, a zip line, a miniature golf course, two climbing walls, 5 swimming pools, a spa, a gym, a large indoor theater, a club comedy, a jazz club, a piano bar, a pub, a Spanish nightclub, a Royal Promenade with large parades, a water theater, casino, full-size carousel, shopping, shopping and shopping (candy store, Pets store at Sea (think Build-A-Bear), kid’s boutiques, teen boutiques, COACH, Prince and Greene, Willow, etc.), two game rooms, table tennis, a fabulous kiddy pool area, great clubs for children and teenagers and much more.
This doesn’t even include the two dozen places to dine. Yes, many of them charge a surcharge, but what a fabulous selection, from the must-have cupcake shop on the Royal Promenade, to the Johnny Rockets and Seafood Shack on the Boardwalk, to the Izumi Japanese and Sushi restaurant, to the very exclusive 150 Central Park. . I heard is absolutely the best with an amazing young chef preparing an indescribable multi-course meal. And I’ve never seen a buffet-style dining room as pleasant as the one on this ship. The Windjammer Marketplace, as they call it, has windows that look directly onto the boardwalk, zip line, basketball courts, and miniature golf. We sat at the end of the zip line and enjoyed watching the faces of those crossing the 10 decks outdoor zip line above the boardwalk as we had lunch.
THIS BOAT IS A DESTINATION ….
When I am lucky enough to return, I plan to take my children (15 and 12) with me, although I am sure I will never see them again. Did I mention the big teen club? It’s tucked away from the rest of the kids’ clubs and convenient to the sports deck, Wipe Out cafe (think pizza, hot dogs, and soft serve ice cream), and a large game room. It has huge beanbags to laze around (as teenagers like to do), it has a music studio, a play area, what looked like a yoga area, and even a shady outdoor gathering area.
My thoughts on what I’ll do when I can enjoy 7 nights … spend a day in each neighborhood. I loved the Boardwalk with the Aqua Theater where they will have shows with high level divers, synchronized swimmers and much more. The floor of this pool adjusts from being a dry setting to 18 feet deep. How cool is that? I also want to spend more time in Central Park. I didn’t even get a chance to stroll and have a drink at the Rising Tide bar that floats up and down between Central Park and the Royal Promenade. It looks like a giant surfboard from the new age! And don’t forget the adults-only sundeck with its own pool, two amazing hot tubs that are suspended over the side of the ship, its own “healthy options” buffet area, lounges and, of course, a bar.
And let me mention the accommodations on this ship … you have a lot more to choose from than before. Of course, the standard interior, ocean view, balcony and suites, but more. How about a balcony that overlooks the Boardwalk or Central Park, or perhaps an interior with views of the Royal Promenade? Maybe you prefer a suite … how about the new 2 level loft suites … they are amazing, especially the Royal Loft suite! I fell in love with the Aqua Theater suite that accommodates 8 guests. It has a large balcony overlooking the sea on one side and the Aqua Theater and Rock Climbing walls on the other. And there are even a handful of 6-person indoor ocean-view cabins for those of you with large families of young children. I think I heard there were 7 on board so be sure to book them well in advance. Go fast!
My recommendations when sailing … book your evening entertainment in advance, before boarding the ship. You can review schedules and options once you have reserved. You can do this from your interactive TV in your cabin, but why wait? Make sure you get what you want. I especially recommend it for the comedy club as it only seats 110 people per show. I also recommend that you don’t wait any longer to book your cruise. This boat is very popular because there is a lot of noise and prices have been going up. If you book early, with Best Cruise Buy, you will get the best selection of cabins, but you will also get the best rates because we continue to monitor those rates for you on a bi-weekly basis. If prices drop, we get you the lowest rates! No work is required on your part to be attentive. We pursue your best interests because we want to be the agency that you refer your friends and family to and the agency that you return to again and again. Don’t forget, we also offer the best available rates Royal Caribbean has to offer and then discount them all by giving you onboard credit to enjoy on the ship.
Enjoy our photos by writing to us. We will be happy to send the photos. You can also find our photos on our Facebook page. To link, go to the About Us page on our website. Let me know if you have any questions, I’ll be happy to discuss this boat with you at any time. Yes, the price is quite high in 2010, but it does not look like any other ship at sea! It’s on my to-do list now!
