If you have been following our coverage of the launch of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, you know there has not been anything this big hit Florida since hurricane Charlie. Oasis gets a lot of press for being the largest cruise ship in the world. But it is the little things aboard the ship that will separate her from the pack in the long run.
First, let's start with pricing.
This one is going to cost you a starting price of somewhere around $150 per person per day to start. Luxurious two-level loft suites and others will cost a bunch more as you might expect. The opening prices though, are not all that much more (if at all) than cruise prices were a few years ago, before economic woes drove prices down.
I would love to compare the price of this ship to some other ship but there is no other ship on planet Earth like it. Royal Caribbean's Freedom and Voyager class ships with the Royal Promenade give us a glimpse of what Oasis is all about and probably served as seed for the ideas one sees aboard but that's about it.
Strategy for booking, three must-do's:
- Use a travel agent. You REALLY need someone in your corner on this one, way too many options to go it alone and make it someone who has actually been on the ship. Unlike a traditional ship this one is very different and the idea I had in my mind of what it would look like in person was dramatically different than the actual experience.
- Book as far in advance as possible. Today I see Oasis sailing in September 2011 with prices starting at $729 per person. That is a fabulous value.
- Book a group if you can. There is not just safety in numbers, there is a better value too.
This ship is so over-the-top, radically different that it has simply reinvented the cruise experience.
Sure, it is a ship that floats, goes through the water to places where people get on and off and all that but the resemblance to a traditional cruise ends right there. Beginning with embarkation at Port Everglades new Pier 18, a 90-station check-in magic show that gets guests on board in as little as 7 minutes from curb to buffet, this ship does it her way.
Actually, the experience begins well before the sailing date when guests are able to book reserved seats for nightly shows, alternative dining restaurants (there are a bunch of them) and shore excursions from home on their computers. A reader understandably concerned about the 5000 passengers on the ship all trying to get to the show at the same time asked me how the cruise line would be handling that. The advance registration system takes care of that for all those concerned. Some seats will be held for walk-ins without reservations but savvy guests will take full advantage of the pre-registration capabilities for Oasis and lock in their seats in advance.
Onboard, dining options are plentiful with many included in the cruise fare such as the new Seafood Shack on the Boardwalk, just steps from the Aqua theater where you can also find a fresh donut , corn dog or ice cream. Royal Caribbean signature Windjammer Buffet is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on deck 15 along with the Opal dining room, a three level masterpiece of organization and culinary distinction. Prompt room service is complementary except in the middle of the night when mostly just kids wasting food ordered it anyway so they charge a small fee to keep costs down. I have no problem with that; seems fair to me as does a small fee for Johnny Rockets, a great hamburger, fries and a shake place on the Boardwalk open for lunch and dinner.
Here is a primer on the different areas of the ship
The Boardwalk
Johnny Rockets- Extending the signature "eat-ertainment" hours, a diner breakfast menu will be introduced. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; $3.95 breakfast and $4.95 lunch and dinner cover charge.
Ice Cream Parlor-An 1950s-style ice cream venue serving classic sundaes and 15 different kinds of ice cream mixed with toppings to order on a frozen slab. Open throughout the day Ala carte pricing.
Donut Shop-A classically styled shop with casual snacks available all day. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Boardwalk Bar-Full scale bar with specialty drinks tailored to the area. Also serves salads, sandwiches, and other quick food. Very popular, this overlooks the Aquatheater too
Seafood Shack-The indoor/outdoor casual family restaurant will bring the surf style of beach side amusement parks to the Boardwalk, serving a variety of seafood, as well an extensive beverage menu of non-alcoholic cocktails and over-sized desserts. Open for lunch and dinner; $7.95 lunch and $9.95 dinner cover charge.
The Royal Promenade
Mondo Cafe/Coffee Bar- A new addition to the Royal Promenade will feature coffee, sandwiches and pastries native to countries such as Italy, Spain and Cuba. Steps from Boleros and open around the clock, it is sure to be popular after an evening on the dance floor. Open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.
Sorrento's Pizza- signature New York style pizzeria features the read-to-go items introduced not long ago on the Freedom class ships and made to order pizza's just for you. Open for lunch, dinner and late night (but not 24 hours, that's Carnival)
Cafe Promenade- our personal favorite ":quick" place to eat on other ships on the opposite end of the Promenade from Mondo Café (see above), this one continues the Seattle's Best Coffee as a centerpiece for pastries, sandwiches, fruit shakes and a menu that evolves throughout the day. Take a glance over there whenever you walk by.
Central Park
150 Central Park- with an additional fee of $35 per person, this promises to be the most exclusive dining venue o the ship featuring multi-course meals paired with wines and an extensive wine list. I bet we will hear "Don't eat all day if you are going here for dinner" comments right off the bat.
Giovanni's Table- Open for lunch ($10) and dinner ($15), the casual Italian eatery (think Olive Garden at sea) serves family style pizza, salads, pastas, and I bet there's a breadstick around someplace
Chops Grille-signature steakhouse with a $25 per person cover charge. Popular on all other ships in the fleet, I bet some of the new offerings on this ship give it a run for the money, literally.
Vintages- also a signature offering on other ships in the fleet, this one will have an extensive tapas menu (that alone will make it a busy place) as well as a selection of cheeses at this popular wine bar with a la carte pricing.
Park Café- A casual dining choice providing a high level of variety and flexibility, Park Café will be an indoor/outdoor gourmet market with walk-up counters. From freshly prepared salads and made-to-order sandwiches, to paninis, crepes and hearty soups, guests will order directly from the chefs behind food stations. European pastries, sublime chocolates and decadent fudge will round out the offerings. Open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.
Pool and Sports Zone
Solarium Bistro-Located in the Solarium, the contemporary bistro will offer health-conscious dining for breakfast and lunch in a casual setting. In the evenings, Solarium Bistro will transform into a romantic and intimate dining setting for specialty healthy-fare dinner and dancing under the stars. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; dinner has a $20 cover charge.
The Wipe Out Café-The casual self-service buffet will offer a variety of options from pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches and fresh salads to quick snacks and desserts, for young cruisers on-the-go. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center
The Vitality Café-Located at the entrance of the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, the Vitality Café will feature healthy snacks, sandwiches, wraps and fruit, in addition to refreshing juices and smoothies from the Vitality spa menu for the calorie conscious guest. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
More Oasis Dining Options
Opus Dining room-The three-level main dining room will revive the grandeur of the 1920s and feature French art deco design. Catering to guests' varying preferences, the newly introduced My Time Dining and My Family Time Dining, as well as the traditional main and late seating options will be offered. My Time Dining provides guests with the option to enjoy the dining room ambiance with Royal Caribbean's renowned Gold Anchor Service whenever they wish during dining hours. Guests choosing My Time Dining will not have a pre-assigned table, but will be seated in the ships main dining room and will order from the same traditional dinner menu. My Time Dining guests can make daily reservations for specific seating times or choose to walk in. My Family Time Dining accommodates parents and children by offering an expedited 40-minute dining service for young cruisers, ages 3-11. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Windjammer Marketplace-Offering great flexibility for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this next generation of the popular self-service buffet area will feature multiple islands, each serving a variety of different menu options
Izumi-The new Asian cuisine restaurant will feature a sushi bar and hot rock cooking, as well as other Asian fare in a more formal setting. Open for lunch and dinner;Ala carte pricing.
Room Service-guests wanting to enjoy a meal in the comfort of their staterooms will be able to choose from the complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, as well as the recently introduced Dine in Delights menu, which offers name-brand culinary options ranging from the Original Johnny Rockets hamburger to Ghirardelli Chocolate Cookies. Open 24 hours a la carte pricing for Dine In Delights and $3.95 service charge for in-room deliveries between 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Sorry kids, no free steaks at 3am.
Long-time Royal Caribbean fans will like signature eateries, Sorrentos Pizza, Chops steakhouse and the Promenade Cafe (personal favorite) offering service 24 hours a day with a menu that changes appropriately as the day goes on. We had some "Sunflower seed Granola bars" that I seriously doubt had anything really healthy for you in them, they were just too good.
We often talk about what there is to do on the ship, often remarking that there is no way you can do everything there is to do.
That's on a normal ship.
On Oasis the activities are range from rock-climbing, Ice Skating to serene spa experiences for not just adults but for kids too (in their own area) and everything in-between. I was impressed with the way they have organized everything from activities to dining availability to even how to find your stateroom though interactive boards located by elevators. The stateroom televisions offer even more information and the ships daily newsletter in easy to read format, makes carrying around the days events in your pocket a breeze.
Also a breeze was getting on and off the ship
Royal Caribbean had promised that the new Pier 18 at Port Everglades was fully capable of disembarking 5000 passengers and putting another 5000 passengers on the ship with no problems. I have to admit a bit of skepticism, especially when the cruise line said the goal was to get guests on the ship 15 minutes after they arrived at the port.
We have waited much longer than that, up to several hours on a recent MSC cruise and are always prepared to kill some time. We will bring along books to read, music to listen to or just plan on doing some people watching as we sure do see a lot of them on what is called "turnaround day" by the cruise lines. That's when the ships come in and actually do turn around in at the port, dropping off the old guests and picking up new ones.
Arriving at the port we were pleased with how very clearly marked the directions to Pier 18 were. It took just a few minutes from the first security checkpoint (pictured) to parking. Inside the new, bright terminal we found the promised 90 check-in stations fully manned, trained well and highly efficient. Our total time from arrival to actually stepping on the ship was 7 minutes.
If you have sailed from Port Everglades before, you will notice a big difference in the embarkation experience. These improvements are hard to miss. In less time that advertised to complete the embarkation process we were on the ship and I had my cupcake from the Cupcake Cupboard
Getting off the ship was even easier. The huge expanse of space that makes up pier 18 is quite capable of handling the crowd as are the attentive Royal Caribbean shore-side staff members who have all the answers for any questions one might have.
While this was simply a one-night preview cruise, we were able to experience the ship fully. No reports on ports of call yet for you but those will be coming soon as will a general consensus of opinion from guests aboard on the week-long experience. We have several guests on most sailings in the next 6 months who will be reporting on their experience and I'll pass that along too.
Surprises
- The Central Park neighborhood was way more impressive than I thought it would be. I never thought I would say it but a balcony not pointed at the ocean but inside to a lush and serene garden could be equally relaxing. Located not far from the Spa, a weeks worth of treatments and that balcony location could be just what the doctor ordered for many. I wish I had that in my bag of tricks when I quit smoking
- Embarkation and Disembarkation totally blew me away at how fast and efficient it was.The cruise line had promised on the ship in 15 minutes. I was impressed that it only took 7.
- I studied deck plans, researched and read everything I could get my hands on before boarding but none of it prepared me for the actual experience. Pre-oasis I had a hard time describing to someone who had never cruised how big the ships (in general) were. On Oasis, it is totally NOT the size of the ship that blows you away, it's the layout and design and how it all works together. I felt as though I had never been on a ship before, it was amazing
Stay tuned for more reports from Oasis in the next few days from our onboard reporters and photographers.
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