Trying to pick a ship

Im on the same page.

The only reason Im ever going to get on another Oasis, Quantum, or Icon ship, is because I set the absolute ridiculous goal of sailing every ship in the RCI Fleet.

Ship choice depends on what you are looking for, what you want and what each offers. Some large ships in my opinion can go without me. I have no desire for them but there are a few that are well designed and the design is compatible with what we are looking for. Many of the smaller ships have a better feel in my opinion. I figure if I want an amusement park I will go to 6 flags or Disney. A ship does not need to be an amusement park. It needs to have the features that you want. Take a good look at each ship. Check out the features and the deck plans and go from there.

And here I thought it was Clint...(j/k)...this post, along with everything else in my life, brought to you courtesy of the BIG RED ONE, since 67-68 anyway...after that, its all gravy....

Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome...the Motto of SEALS, Marines, and Firefighters...

I refuse to be a lemming, and allow something as simple as a 100yd walk ruin my vacation experience!

What you did to avoid elevator waiting sounds like such a simple thing, but watching what folks do onboard over many cruises tells me most cruisers don't do that. And that can include not only newbies, but folks who have been around the block a few times...that level of "independent thinking" can go a long way towards adding enjoyment to a cruise, and can apply in a lot of areas...starts with deckplans, and exploring the ship,, then thinking about your plans for the day/evening and how to do it so it suits YOU....crowd avoidance, and that good ol "cruise within a cruise" is a real thing, for lack of a better description...it might take a little effort, but I guarantee its worth it...

Any of the Oasis Class Ships - Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, and Wonder - are rather well designed, in that for the 6,000(ish) people on board, there are 24 elevators - 12 fore and 12 aft. While the 250:1 ratio doesnt sound great, it actually is. The only Time i ever waited for an elevator was when the theatre let out...and then I didnt wait, because I walked to the Aft Elevators.

I just got off Oasis and have sailed on Anthem. We NEVER waited for an elevator on Oasis. While a much larger ship, we never really felt crowded.

I do NOT believe there is a perfect answer to your question. What I like, you may not, and what you like, I may not be comfortable at all. You have already experienced something you like, and something you did not like. Stay with what you enjoyed - and maybe - experiment with similar ships with those characteristics.

I have my favorite line, but I do not like all the ships my line offers, so I tend to stay away from those I care for the least. I recently tried a ship from a totally different cruise line, and was VERY impressed. The ship, the style, the crew all seemed to fit my 'cruising desires' perfectly.

Staying with one cruise line earns you loyalty points/levels. BUT, if just starting, you are in a perfect position to explore - and enjoy - decide to stay with, or decide to stay away. Whatever you choose, it is your decision. There are hundreds of ships, multiple cruise lines, and thousands of folks that are happy with their particular cruise line of choice. Best wishes in your future cruises.

YOU pick, YOU explore, YOU enjoy. Best wishes in YOUR cruising adventures.

Wish I could help, but we've not sailed on RCCL.

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum!