We adore the Oasis and Royal Caribbean

This was our second time in a row going on the Oasis for our anniversary. We were new to cruising  last year and discovered we love it! Would not go shorter than 7 days because it's too sad to leave. We have seen some negative reviews once in awhile, but I often wonder if they were on the same cruise we were! We love how many restaurants are free and specialty ones also. We paid to eat at Chops for lunch and one dinner. Filet mignon cooked to perfection for both of us both times. And If they didn't  we know they would have apologized profusely and delivered the right steak very quickly.  Great restaurant and ambiance there! We ate at Giovanni's Table one night when it was windy and rainy and it was candle light by the paned window looking out at Central Park. Our MTD staff seemed very busy and handling a lot of people but we never suffered. They were very personable. Wish they had less tables to wait on though. But we still had a blast. The Centerpiece band in Dazzles at night is NOT to be missed.  Frank Sinatra homage in Jazz the last night was the cherry on top. What I DID not like , was how we had to wait 45 minutes on hot concrete in the hot sun, (almost passed out...no water) for the air conditioned buses to bring us to Orient Beach Rendezvous. Loved the beach but the bathroom and shower was not very nice. Lunch on that trip was good and pleasant to sit under little open side huts .Very pretty!  Overall we enjoyed that excursion but it started out by baking us in the sun so being in my 60s it  was hard to fully enjoy the sun on the beach. I was over done! Our favorite excursion is one many don't go to.Secret Sands Beach Exclusive in St Thomas . A ride in an open sided safari type shuttle through poor neighborhoods finally brings you to this quiet beautiful cove that is part of a preserve I think so only a certain number can go at a time. Maybe 60 ? Not sure but we love it there. Quiet and non commercial. Your great host has a cooler of sodas, water and fruit rum punch for free courtesy of RC. He appreciates tips at the end. We had him two years in a row and we enjoy the whole thing very much. So much in the compass every night that we check it out, discuss and highlight what we will do the next day. This year my husband strolled down to the Schooners Bar and participated in trivia games a few times. I took more naps. I cannot understand anyone who would not appreciate all the Royal Caribbean offers on her grand lady Oasis of the Seas. We did the Eastern Caribbean. Next April we go on the sister ship Allure for the Western Caribbean. We switched to outside balcony this year and will never go back. We woke up to Atlantis the first morning out our balcony window and ships went by in front of it all day long. One thing that needs to change is the play. CATS. The staff is incredibly talented but the play plot itself has people escaping all the time. My biggest complaint was the water coffee every morning. They used to use Seattles Best which was great. Somewhere I heard they downgraded. Big Mistake! I was counting on my coffee and can't afford to do Starbucks each day. But all said and done, our trip was fantastic. I did not expect to like Port Canaveral but it was awesome. We used Smart Two shuttle for a water bottle chilled and air conditioned ride to and from airport. No herding us like cattle as in FT Lauderdale. We loved Smart Two shuttle. Also eat at Flamingos in Port Canaveral before your next day cruising. Delicious food and drink.