I was a bit concerned about feeling overwhelmed on a ship of over 6K. What I found were many smaller areas where people could gather that I never felt like there were that many people on board. The spaces on board are very well done and thought out. I would absolutely cruise on another Oasis-Class ship after this experience.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Embarkation was very smooth. 3 of the 8 of us had Expedited Boarding and we were all able to partake in that very short line. From curb to ship was no more than 20 minutes and the terminal didn't feel overly full.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
This would be excellent except for some meh meals in the main dining room. Could have been what I chose (the sole is not a repeat food) in some instances but the service was top notch from our team. Samba and Chops REALLY hit it out of the park for our two specialty dining experiences. Windjammer for breakfast while crowded at times served up very solid choices and the staff in there cleared tables quickly to ensure room for all. The Solarium was a great spot for a light lunch. Bar service was top notch in every location we tried (and I think that might have been just about all of them!) Cafe Promenade makes a great coffee and has good sandwich options that my family enjoyed.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Pools are crowded on sea days (this is not surprising). FlowRider was used by 2 of the 4 in my family and they really enjoyed it. Zip line is fun but VERY short. Loved the Merry Go Round on the Boardwalk. Trivia, brain teasers, sing that lyric etc. sessions were lots of fun especially if Michael was involved.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Changes to dialog & acting was made to Mama Mia that pushed the envelope a bit too far. I (early 50s) and my teen daughters (16 & 19) found to be unnecessary and actually made my daughters uncomfortable. Didn't realize there were changes until my brother in law who saw the show last December as well noted the changes from Dec 2018. ReVoiced was excellent; Blue Planet was good; family comedians were good as well.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
There aren't enough positive adjectives to share about the staff. Ivy in Cafe Promenade knew me and my coffee order by Day 2 (seriously - she's good!) Our dinner team (Vanzyl, Edwin, Rosemarie) were phenomenal. All bar staff we encountered were energetic and fun to talk to - and quick to serve you.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Because the ship is so large it did take me a bit to get my bearings. All was clean and well-maintained even though a dry-dock is upcoming.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
Bed & pillows very comfortable. Lacking USB outlets and plugs anywhere near the bed which I assume will be addressed in the dry dock. Sofa comfortable. Omar, our cabin steward, kept our room in tip-top shape.
Ship tip
Bring toiletries! There is an all-in-one soap dispenser in the shower and nothing else! Bring shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc.
I'm sure this is a great spot for someone. However, this port stop was added and Honduras (where I really wanted to go) was taken away because the ship's propulsion issue. I didn't get off the ship because I've been to Nassau many times and had no interest in exiting the ship for the Straw Market or Atlantis.
Another port where I have been and there wasn't anything I really wanted to do. My husband and daughter had their shore excursion cancelled due to weather that didn't actually come in so that was very disappointing for them.
Due to another ship being unable to leave the port/dock the day prior we could not get in as the port was closed due to high winds. This was the only other stop I was very much looking forward to being at to get to Maya Chan Resort . Hopefully on another trip.
This was the smoothest process - shockingly quick and easy. While waiting for a cab to get to FLL the Sheriff working the taxi line was our final bit of entertainment. She was great!
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