Beyond Expectations
Oasis of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern
Contributor Level:
Third Mate
Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Reviews: 5
Helpful Votes: 152
7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)
Sail date: July 02, 2017
Ship: Oasis of the Seas
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 6720
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 7 years ago
Review summary
RC did a phenomenal job. The Oasis of the Seas is more than a ship. The trip was more than a vacation. It truly was a wonderful time. I highly, highly recommend this boat to anyone. Take time to plan and do a little extra. It is worth it...Embarkation
Embarkation has changed some since my last cruise and is much easier. Drop off, and check in were a breeze. It was well organized and once we boarded, it was time to explore. I suggest, if you are going to drink, get the drink package. It made it so much better as we were all set from the time we got on.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
The main dining rooms were very nice, and the food was delicious. The selections each night were varied and had something for every palate. We got to try to many different types of appetizers and the entree selections were great. It was a honeymoon/birthday cruise and we were treated with champagne often. We also did the Chef's Table dining out first night. Although an up charge, if you are planing on any special celebrations, do it. I planned this cruise as a surprise for my bride on out honeymoon. YES, I surprised her with a cruise. This dinner was a great way to kick it off. The chef and wine sommelier were awesome and the food was fantastic. Afterward, we were invited to dine for lunch at another specialty restaurant on the house. A truly wonderful experience as the ship's Captain was also there dining for lunch. Scallop Carpaccio was delicious.....
Onboard Activities
Being able to pre schedule your shows and dining is a big hit with me. It made planning so much better. Our first show was Cat's. To be honest, I am not sure how it played on Broadway for so long. Maybe you should really research the characters and story, because you will not truly get it. Unless of course you understand cats, and they have there own mind. Most passengers said the same. A production of Spam A Lot or the Producers would have been better.
The Come Fly With Me and Oasis of Dream shows were very good and I would recommend them. We also went to the comedy club for that show and again, a good bet. The Cruise Director Tim Connor was great. Guy always seemed to be on his game. They did a special performance in the Promenade area for July 4th. One of the performers sang the national anthem and the ship cheered USA, USA.... A huge balloon drop and cupcakes for everyone. WOW.
One night they did a song and dance performance to the music of the 70's. So much fun. Oasis crew did a great job.
Entertainment
Lots of live music and cool bars on board. Please read the above for more. We were not able to do it all, but enjoyed what we did do.
Service and Staff
Overall service was very good. The only way I did not give 5 stars was because it was a little inconsistent. Many crew members were always on top of their job and some were not as friendly. I am sure they might get tired, but it is your job. Some bar staff were not well trained on all the drinks on the menu and took a long time to make. Our cabin steward was nice, but not as attentive as others in the past. Most officers I met were always willing to answer questions and the Captain seemed to be around at many places. The Spa staff was very good. Our dining staff did an excellent job and we had a great time with them as well as others in the dining room.
Ship Quality
This ship is beyond your expectations. It is not a cruise ship, but a beautiful city on the water. It is like being in a nice town, beautiful decor much like a 5th Ave. Central Park is hard to describe, but just know it is a wonderful botanical garden with live plants, upscale dining and shopping compete with Tiffany and Co. Hard to beat.
Then you have the Boardwalk area. Just think Coney Island at sea. The merry go round is a must. Huge rock climbing walls, flow rider and putt putt golf.... Fun stuff.
Cabin / Stateroom
We had an outside cabin with a balcony. WOW. Roomy and very nice. Being able to sit out there as you sailed or had room service breakfast while in port. Recommended. At night it was great to sit in the moonlight on the ocean and here the water passing by. Romance is here, do not waste. Trust me!!!!
Ship tip
Review the deck maps before hand. Plan your dining and shows ahead. There is a lot to do, do not try and do it all. But be selective. Take time for yourself. A massage, or a workout. Do room service in the morning before leaving for excursions. Plan each day when you get the daily activity sheet. Also, IF YOU PLAN TO DO PHOTOS. Buy the digital package and prints. You get all the photos you want, the CD to take and prints. A great bargain if you like photos. To be honest, I do not like taking photos, this changed my mind as there were great.
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Ports of call
I have visited Phillipsburg before and enjoyed it. You can take a water taxi over to the town and explore on your own or do the excursions. You will not have tons of time to do it all. I have done the Golden Eagle Sail and Snorkel. Recommended. This time I decided to shop and explore on my own. I went more away from the tourist areas into the town and had a good time. Many places to buy souvenirs here at great prices. I would suggest that. Also, I was able to get a few good buys on jewelry. We did go to a local spot for lunch, but to be honest, the service was very slow, even by island standards. Many of the merchants were very friendly. I went into one shop and met a young guy who believe it or not, lives close to me back home. His family has a business there and he was off from college to run it while they were on vacation.
The port is on the edge of Old San Juan. I skipped the many guys trying to get you into a loaded van to sit in heavy traffic and walked it on my own. Best decision. If you can walk hills in an old town, do it. I was able to make my way up to the Castillo San Cristobal. This place is amazing when you consider the time it was built and purpose. Of course in WWII it was improved, but still. It has great views of the ocean and the grounds surrounding it are nice and provide many photo spots. The town has many shops, residences and eateries. I went to a local place for lunch to enjoy some good bistec and mofungo... Take your time to explore walking as traffic is bad. LOL
The departure out of the port is nice as you get to sail past the San Fellipe Fortress. More chances for photos.
Labadee (Cruise Line Private Island)
Royal Caribbean has an exclusive port here until the year 2050. It is a beautiful piece of Haiti. The water is stunning in color and the mountains are rugged and majestic. There is a small village there accessible mainly by boat as there are very few roads. The villagers make their living fishing, farming and from the cruise line. Take some cash with you to trade in goods and for tips to the musicians.
I selected the speedboat and snorkel tour. It is best, as you are only in a small group, the boat goes fun fast and the snorkeling was better than the reviews. The water is so clear and the area you drop in is only about 5-6 feet deep. But you get lead into deeper and deeper water where the reefs and coral are easily seen. There are places where you can dive down 15-20 feet in between formations like going into a canyon. You eventually make your way to the edge where the drop off is about 40-60 feet into the bluest blue. Lots of tropical fish, so you might find Nemo. The guides were terrific. Once you are back in the boat, you speed away to Acul Bay where Columbus discovered the Haitian people. Once he left, it was near here where he lost the Santa Maria to a storm. Lots of history in this area.
There are so many excursions here, and I would say it is the best stop on this trip. It has it all, along with natural beauty from the water and island. The crew from the boat provides a great lunch on shore, so keep your appetite as the food was very good. A beach bar b que or burgers, ribs and chicken. This is the stop you dream of for cruises in my opinion. No pushy shop owners, just relaxing times and a few locals who appreciate you being there. One of our guides is born and raised there.
Disembarkation
I would like to say it sucked as I did not want to leave. But they did a good job getting us off with all luggage intact. This was my 6th cruise and only my first on RC. To be honest, it will hard to ever consider another line. Great trip, great memories. We are planning our next now.