When Oasis of the Seas begins sailing 7-day Caribbean itineraries from Florida's Port Canaveral, guests will have 37 different stateroom categories to choose from.
Rather than simply inside, oceanview or balcony cabins, Oasis and her sister-ship Allure of the Seas setting sail next year have some new cabin categories not before seen on other ships.
Loft staterooms are two level suites that have a unique layout featuring a totally separate sleeping and entertainment areas, double high floor to ceiling picture windows and, depending on the category chosen, can sleep from two guests up to 16.
Promenade view staterooms, technically an inside category, but with a window that looks out onto the Royal Promenade, a shopping, dining and entertainment venue have been popular on Royal Caribbean's Voyager class ships. Divided up into neighborhoods, Oasis offers similar staterooms looking out onto Central Park, a serene, upscale and lushly landscaped neighborhood and the Boardwalk, a high energy neighborhood featuring a more family-oriented area complete with zip-line rides, a working carousel, Johnny Rockets hamburgers and opening out to the Aqua Theater, a focal point of the ship and popular amphitheater located in the aft section of the ship.
The high-end category staterooms including Royal and Penthouse suites, offer the very latest in flat-screen televisions, upgraded amenities, extra large balconies, private jaccuzis and more. These are fun to look at, have sold out on many of the available sailings as high-end accommodations tend to do but the majority of guests will not book these, opting for traditional balcony, oceanview or inside cabins instead.
That might be a mistake.
The new Central Park and Boardwalk balcony staterooms, for example, offer views of their respective areas which just might be worth giving up a private view of the ocean and what the ship is passing by for some. Non-smokers will benefit greatly as these are totally non-smoking accommodations meaning an adjacent balcony or one up-wind when the ship is in motion with guests smoking will not be bothersome. Often priced lower than an Oceanview balcony stateroom, Central Park View and Boardwalk View can be a better value.
One of the concerns we had before experiencing the ship was the noise level from the public space area of the Boardwalk and Central Park. That was quickly put to rest when touring the staterooms by our Royal Caribbean tour guide who had guests stand on the balcony talking loudly while we waited inside the stateroom. Once the balcony door was shut and locked, the interior proved to be sound-proof in both areas. Sitting out on the balcony, Central Park was a more pleasant and serene experience than the Boardwalk area. A huge trade off for the quieter Central Park location is the ability to view events unfold in the AquaTheater from the balcony of a Boardwalk view balcony stateroom.
The close proximity of Central Park staterooms to the Vitality at Sea Spa, a huge well-staffed area offering enrichment seminars, Medi-spa and holistic spa services, out-of-this-world fitness facilities and classes, separate spa for teens and a beauty salon that promises to make you look as good as you feel. One could combine accommodations in the Central Park area with an intense array of services and treatments in the Spa for a fabulous week of relaxation and renewal.
We'll take a closer look at the Sea Spa and Fitness Center next
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