oasis of the seas cruise reviews

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Oasis of the Seas Deck Plans & Reviews

Oasis of the Seas

Activities & entertainment

• Central Park
• Challengers Arcade *
• CruiseCritic Meet and Mingle
• Dance Classes
• Dance Parties
• Fitness Classes *
• Spotlight Karaoke
• Casino Royale *
• Central Park Library
• Oasis Dunes
• FlowRider (2)
• Whirlpools (4)
• Rock Climbing Wall (2)
• Waterslides (3)
• The Perfect Storm
• Splashaway Bay
• Royal Promenade
• Royal Escape Room
• Running Track
• Scavenger Hunts
• Sports Court
• Sports Tournament
• Vitality Spa *
• Vitality Fitness Center
• Wine Tasting *
• The Ultimate Abyss Slide
• Adventure Ocean
• Teen Spaces
• Conference Center
• Guest Services
• Shore Excursions *
• Diamond Club
• Suite Lounge
• Art Gallery *
• Picture This *
• Retail Shops *
• Next Cruise *
• Royal Theater
• AquaTheater
• Comedy Live
• Deck Parties
• Demonstrations
• Entertainment Place
• Game Broadcasts
• Poolside Movies
• Wellness Lectures
• Main Dining Room - Main
• Izumi - Asian *
• Park Cafe - Cafe
• Starbucks - Coffee Bar *
• Windjammer Marketplace - Buffet
• Cafe Promenade - Pastries
• 150 Central Park - Farm-to-Table *
• Boardwalk Dog House - Fast Food
• Johnny Rockets - Diner *
• Sugar Beach - Candy and Ice Cream *
• Wipeout Bar - FlowRider Bar *
• Trellis Bar - Garden Bar *
• Globe and Atlas Pub - Pub *
• Giovannis Table - Italian *
• Boleros - Latin Bar *
• Schooner Bar - Nautical Bar *
• Rising Tide Bar - Novelty Bar *
• Sorrentos - Pizza
• The Lime and Coconut - Pool Bar *
• Solarium Bar - Pool Bar *
• Solarium Bistro - Bistro
• Chops Grille - Steakhouse *
• Vintages - Wine Bar *
• Bionic Bar - Robotic Bar *
• Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade - Sports Bar *
• Portside BBQ - Barbecue *
• El Loco Fresh - Mexican
• Coastal Kitchen - Suite Restaurant
• Room Service *
• Excellent 119
• Very Good 41
• Terrible 22
• All languages ( 226 )
• English ( 214 )
• Spanish ( 6 )
• Italian ( 2 )

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Oasis of the Seas Super Guide: Tour, Review, Tips, and Things to Know

Oasis of the Seas — or what Royal Caribbean likes to refer to as the original “game-changer” — is a nickname is well-earned. The ship is the first of the Oasis-class vessels in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, representing the largest cruise liners on the planet. In fact, outside of this class of ships, there is nothing that even comes close to the size.

Coming in at more than 225,000 gross tons and over 1,180 feet long after a recent refresh in late 2019 (the ship was originally built in 2009), it can carry 5,600 passengers at full occupancy and squeeze in nearly 7,000 when totally full. (Some rooms can carry more than two passengers).

And with that size comes opportunity. On every cruise ship space is a limiting factor as to what you can put onboard. But with a ship the size of Oasis of the Seas, you can have more of everything. That includes more spots for entertainment, more restaurants, more pools, and more things to do.

Combined, that makes Oasis-class ships like this one different from anything else in cruising. That means even if you’ve sailed other ships — including other types in the Royal Caribbean fleet — you haven’t had the same experience as sailing on Oasis of the Seas.

We recently had the opportunity to sail aboard Oasis. Below, we provide a full guide to sailing on the ship, including a tour, tips, things to know, and our full thoughts.

In This Article...

First Impressions & Ship Highlights

When you step aboard Oasis of the Seas, we think the first impression you’ll get is “big.” Having sailed on plenty of large Royal Caribbean ships in the past, Oasis still stands out as having a massive size.

Public areas throughout the ship, including the Royal Promenade, are wide and spacious — almost cavernous. While other ships in the fleet have a similar promenade setup, the size and space provided on Oasis is like nothing else.

This size extends to nearly every aspect of the ship. We found balconies on cabins to be larger. The casino is larger. Bars are larger. Restaurants are larger. Whirlpools and pools are larger.

In other words, if you’ve ever felt cramped on a cruise ship, then things are different on Oasis of the Seas. And as you’ll see below, that space also provides an opportunity to pack more onto the ship for an experience that’s like nothing else.

Design/Feel If you’ve sailed Royal Caribbean before, then the design of Oasis of the Seas will feel familiar. Much of the design and style you find across the fleet is found on Oasis as well. In other words, it’s nice and modern without feeling stuffy.

Of course, the design will vary based on where you are around the ship. The pool deck? It’s bright and colorful with multiple waterslides, tropical-colored casitas, and an upbeat vibe. The Solarium? It’s more modern and “classy” in design with a quieter atmosphere that feels more refined.

The Boardwalk at the back of the ship has the feel of a carnival, complete with a carousel and two 10-story slides winding down from the top deck. Central Park — complete with thousands of plants — is a quiet spot to relax among greenery and muted colors amid the otherwise active ship.

It’s actually difficult to give an overall definition of the design style as it varies so widely from spot to spot across the ship. Some areas feature lots of glass, chrome, and wood tones. Others are clean, white, and modern. But if you’ve ever sailed the cruise line before, then it will definitely feel like “home.”

Activities on the Ship With so much space on Oasis of the Seas, you’d expect there to be plenty to do. That’s absolutely right. In fact, we think it’s a good thing the ship normally sails longer itineraries as just a few days isn’t enough to experience everything.

Let’s begin with the massive pool decks at the top of the ship. Starting at the back, you’ll find the dual FlowRiders, offering standing waves. Right nearby is the Ultimate Abyss, a dry slide that takes you spinning down to the Boardwalk below. There’s also the basketball court and mini-golf course. One unique activity here is a zipline that will carry you across the open split in the ship and over the Boardwalk.

Moving forward there is a Splashaway Bay for kids, along with three different pools, and multiple waterslides. At the front of the pool area is the Solarium. This adults-only area is one of our favorites. It’s large, beautiful, offers great views, and provides plenty of sun without having to worry about the wind.

Unlike other ships, Oasis has a split in the middle allowing for more open-air spaces even on lower decks. This includes Central Park on Deck 8, which features a winding path through trees and plants. There are plenty of places to stop and sit, and each side is lined with a number of restaurants and shops. There are also bars where you can have a drink and enjoy the scenery.

On Deck 6 there is the Boardwalk, an open area at the back of the ship. Here you’ll find Playmakers (a sports bar), as well as video games, TVs showing sports, and a pool table. There’s a large carousel, as well as a number of small shops and spots to eat. At the very end of the Boardwalk area is the Aqua Theater, which is flanked on either side by two rock walls.

There’s just as much to do indoors. The Royal Escape Room gives you 60 minutes to launch an Apollo mission — complete with a very authentic 1960’s NASA Mission Control — by solving puzzles with clues around the room.

Kids can play in Adventure Ocean, which features a number of high-tech activities for them to enjoy. The Music Hall is a cool multi-level spot to watch bands perform in the evening and also features a pool table to enjoy during the day.

Inside you’ll also find the Main Promenade, featuring a bars and shops. There’s also Spotlight Karaoke and Boleros whether you want to sing… or just listen to the professionals do it.

Of course, cruise staples like the casino and spa are on the ship and likely larger than you’ve seen on any other ship. Oasis of the Seas also offers a jazz bar, comedy club and even an ice-skating rink. Yes, you can ice skate in the middle of the Caribbean.

Entertainment Royal Caribbean always places a big emphasis on entertainment, and Oasis is no different. As mentioned above, there are a number of music and comedy venues for passengers to enjoy. And the ice skating rink — while offering a chance for passengers to skate — is used primarily for ice shows.

Of course there are also the things put on by the crew during the day, including everything from fitness classes to trivia to sports competitions.

In the main theater you’ll find the major production shows, which most recently was a production of CATS. For Broadway fans, it’s a can’t miss.

But when it comes to entertainment, we think the Aqua Theater is a must-see.

The theater is something completely unique to Oasis-class ships. It features a pool with a floor that moves up and down. Sometimes it is fully up and performers can walk on the water. Other times it is down and they can dive in from above. There are fountains to spray water, diving platforms, lights, and more.

Shows here feature swimmers and dancers doing moves in the pool. Performers fly over the audience. Divers jump anywhere from five to 60 feet above the pool. Slackline performers bounce and flip on their lines above the water. And a performer even walks a tightrope over the audience. It’s all set to music and lights, it’s high energy, and there are no lulls.

Let’s put it another way — if you are on an Oasis-class ship, you can’t miss the show. If you haven’t sailed an Oasis-class ship with the Aqua Theater, then just know that you are definitely missing out on something special.

Food & Beverage What’s a cruise without a bite to eat and something to drink? You will not be disappointed on Oasis of the Seas. Given the size, there are numerous restaurants, covering all types of cuisines and atmosphere.

Of course the main dining room and Windjammer buffet are staples for most people during your cruise. These spots are included with your fare, making them popular. Other included meals are El Loco Fresh (Mexican food), the Solarium Bistro (smaller buffet), Boardwalk Dog House (hot dogs), Park Cafe (small eats and breakfast), and Sorrento’s (pizza).

However, while there are a number of spots that serve small bites and snacks, most meals outside the dining room are specialty restaurants that carry an extra charge.

What you’ll find onboard includes everything from cheap eats like Johnny Rockets to fine dining like Chop’s Grille and 150 Central Park. While restaurants are located around the ship, a number of higher-end specialty dining spots line Central Park. This includes Giovanni’s Table.

Just want something tasty without having to dress up? There’s Izumi Hibachi if you want Asian food. There’s also Portside BBQ, serving Texas-style BBQ up on the pool deck. And Playmakers makes an appearance. The sports bar serves food including burgers and Poke nachos to enjoy while you watch the game.

As for bars, there are plenty all over the ship, so it’s never too far from a drink. Two that will definitely catch your eye are Bionic Bar and Rising Tide.

Bionic Bar features no bartender, but you still won’t forget who serves your drink. Instead of human bartenders, there are two robotic arms that make drink orders. Place your order on the electronic tablet and watch as they gather ice, dispense ingredients and shake everything up.

Rising Tide is one bar that you can’t miss — literally. It’s in the middle of the main promenade. It looks like an ordinary bar, but as you enjoy your drink, the entire platform that it is on rises up several decks like a huge elevator. You can choose to get off in Central Park, or complete the ride back down.

Photo Tour of Oasis of the Seas

What We Liked About Oasis of the Seas

During our sailing aboard Oasis of the Seas, we became big fans of the ship. To us, it’s the perfect mix of relaxation while also having so much to do that you can’t get bored, even on a longer cruise.

For instance, two of our favorite spots on the ship were the Solarium and Central Park. The Solarium offers plenty of space and feels a world away from the rest of the ship. It’s nice to be able to relax quietly without tons of music or huge crowds.

Central Park is like nothing else seen on a cruise ship. It’s a legit park. We found ourselves enjoying breakfast in the park each morning from the small café located there. It’s the perfect way to start the day.

But when you’re ready for something to do, there’s no end to your options. You can sing karaoke, ice skate, zipline, go down a waterslide, watch a game at Playmakers, watch some of the most amazing shows you’ll see anywhere (not just on a cruise ship) and then do it all again the next day.

In short, the ship offers anything you could want on a cruise — all delivered in a massive package.

What Could Be Improved

Where was the ship lacking? When it comes to the actual ship itself, we felt very little. Despite the revamp in late 2019, some areas did feel a little dated in design, but nothing that stopped you in your tracks.

While there are some people who aren’t fans of the size of the Oasis-class ships, our view is the complete opposite. To us, bigger is better.

In fact, the only real complaint we had during our cruise is that we felt there weren’t enough included spots to eat. There seems to be a trend to include the dining room and buffet, but other spots that serve actual meals — rather than snacks — are an extra charge or only open for lunch.

We will always argue for more included options when it comes to dining.

Oasis of the Seas Tips & Things to Know

During our cruise, we picked up a few tips and learned some things about sailing aboard Oasis of the Seas.

The Solarium Is a Can’t Miss Given its location at the front of the ship, the Solarium isn’t hard to find. But it can be easy to miss. Since it’s at the front, you don’t have to go by it to get anywhere else. Our advice? Definitely check it out. It’s one of our favorite spots on the ship if you’re looking to get away and have some quiet time to just relax.

Check the Door Markers for a Direction Hint Cabin hallways can be confusing to navigate. They are long, have no windows, and you can’t tell if you’re coming or going. Door markers provide a hint. On Oasis of the Seas they are circles, and if you look closely, you’ll see a small arrow on the outer edge. This points forward so you know if you are heading to the front of the ship or toward the back.

The Best Seat for the Aqua Show In the Aqua Theater is a performance you don’t want to miss. It’s like nothing else you’ll ever see as performers dive, dance, fly over the audience and more. With a sunken stage, however, it can be a little hard to see everything from the regular seating. That’s why if you’re able, try to stand one deck up against the railing in front of the rock climbing wall. From this raised vantage point you can see the pool stage perfectly.

Enjoy an Open-Air Breakfast in Central Park Officially, Central Park isn’t listed as a spot serving breakfast. But there is Park Café, serving lighter fare like muffins, croissants, fruit, and the like. We’d suggest grabbing something here and then finding a table in the park (there are a number around). Early in the morning it’s extremely calm and quiet in this part of the ship, making it a wonderful place to eat a relaxing breakfast.

Explore the “Small Wonders” Around the Ship As you walk around Oasis of the Seas, you’ll see little viewing stations here and there. Some look like a large spyglass and others look like binoculars on a stand. These are called Small Wonders. Look inside each one and you’ll see something unique. We won’t ruin the surprise for you about what’s inside, but it’s definitely worth checking out. Kids especially will love trying to find them all over the ship.

Bionic Bar? It’s Neat for One Drink Bionic Bar is definitely attention-grabbing. Who can pass up watching robots make cocktails? And if you’re interested, then definitely order up a drink and check it out. It’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else. But in our eyes the novelty wears off pretty quickly. It’s not likely the sort of place where you’ll sit and have a few drinks like you would at a pool bar.

Suites Are Ridiculous Think of a suite on a normal ship and you might think essentially a balcony cabin with some more space. Not on Oasis of the Seas. Royal Caribbean revamped the ship in 2019 and has some of the wildest suites you’ll ever see. The favorite one that we saw is above the captain’s bridge and offers 180 degree views in the bedroom as it juts out the side of the ship. There are also some of the most luxurious spots you can imagine… if you have the money.

A Secret Arcade Passage for Teens Have a teenager? The teen hangout area is cool, with video games, music, pool tables, and lounge areas. Also, there is a secret passage to get there. In the arcade, tucked in a corner is a game called King’s Passage that looks like an old ’80s style arcade machine. Beat a level or two on the game and it unlocks the door. The machine swings open revealing a passage between the arcade and the teen lounge.

Best Burger? Check Out Playmakers There are a number of spots to get a burger on the ship including Johnny Rockets and the buffet. But if you want the best? Head to Playmakers. It’s an upcharge, but you’ll get one of the biggest burgers you’ll find anywhere. If you’re eating here but don’t want something that heavy, we also suggest the poke nachos, featuring tuna. They are delicious and won’t weigh you down as much.

Reserve, Reserve, Reserve… But Try to Go Anyway if You Don’t With shows and restaurants around the ship, Royal Caribbean is pushing for people to reserve to manage crowds. You can do so through the Royal Caribbean app on your phone. It’s a good idea to reserve as you don’t want to be caught out as the venue fills up. Even so, there will be times that you forget. That’s ok. Head to the venue anyway. If there is space the staff will do their best to accommodate you.

Getting Around is Surprisingly Easy On a ship the size of Oasis of the Seas, you might think that getting around would be difficult. While it can take some walking, actually navigating the ship is surprisingly easy. It’s well laid out where just about every deck offers a clear path from one end of the ship to the other. There aren’t a lot of obstacles or dead ends that mean you have to move up a deck or two to continue on your way.

Snag a Casita Early One of the popular spots on the ship are the casitas on the pool deck. These small covered areas offer a couple of loungers, a charging port, and some shade on sunny days at sea.

During our trip aboard Oasis the casitas were available on a first-come, first-served and filled up quickly. We’ve seen other ships where there is a reservation system and a charge attached. So things might be different on your trip. Even so, it’s a good idea to snag one early if you want to have some shade.

Final Thoughts on Oasis of the Seas

To us, there is just something different about Oasis-class ships such as Oasis of the Seas. If you’ve sailed Royal Caribbean before, but not on its biggest ships, then you haven’t experienced all that the cruise line can offer.

Expect the ship to seem almost overwhelming at first given the size. It can take a few days until you feel like you’ve seen all the areas available to passengers. Even so, after some time it becomes familiar. The great thing is that with so much size there is the perfect space for everyone and so many things to do.

In short, if you have an upcoming cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas, then just know that it should be something special — even if you’re a seasoned cruiser.

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Are there smoking areas? If you have no phone, does that make things difficult?

Yes, there are areas designated for smoking. On our recent cruise, it was pool decks 15 and 16 on the port side. Also, smoking was allowed in the casino when playing.

If you don’t have a phone, don’t worry. There are ship maps and schedules available.

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Honest Review of Oasis of the Seas

If you’re searching for a family trip report from the Oasis of the Seas, we’ve got you covered! My extended family and I recently traveled on Royal Caribbean’s beautiful Oasis of the Seas cruise ship. Our group of sixteen included toddlers, kids, teens, adults, and seniors.

So, no matter who you plan to sail with, this review of Oasis of the Seas will provide plenty of tips and insight on the ship and its activities. The Oasis of the Seas review below will follow my family on our 7 night Eastern Caribbean cruise itinerary where we visited Labadee, San Juan, St. Thomas, and CocoCay. I’ll share information on and pictures of the fun excursions we experienced.

This post will also include information on the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas rooms, suite perks, restaurants, and more! So, continue reading the review of Oasis of the Seas to discover everything you need to know about one of the largest Royal Caribbean ships in the fleet!

My husband, two kids, and I (along with my brother-in-law’s family) had originally booked a cruise through Royal Caribbean a few years ago. However, that trip was canceled due to the Covid pandemic. Luckily, we were able to use our Future Cruise Credit on this Oasis of the Seas cruise a couple years later.

In addition to our original group of 8 people, my sister’s family agreed to join us on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas. Plus, we had three grandparents who decided to book the cruise as well. So, our final party of sixteen included 3 seniors, 6 adults, 2 teenagers, 4 young kids (ages 4-9), and 1 toddler.

Royal Caribbean Eastern Caribbean Itinerary

I knew we wanted to cruise on one of the Oasis class ships, and the Oasis of the Seas turned out to be our best option compared to her sister ships due to dates and prices. We were all looking forward to our Eastern Caribbean itinerary since it offered stops at both of Royal Caribbean’s private islands: Labadee and Coco Cay. Plus, we had always wanted to visit St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands.

My sister and I really lucked out in finding three staterooms right beside each other. She and I both wanted to cruise in junior suites for the added space. However, my sister didn’t want to pay the extra cost for a junior suite for her two teenagers. She was able to book a junior suite right next to mine. She also booked the room on the other side of her, which was one of the oceanview balcony cabins.

Even though our three cabins were not adjoining rooms on the inside, we were able to open the balcony dividers outside. This meant our three rooms enjoyed one long balcony which we could freely move between.

Cruise Planner

Right after booking the cruise, we began researching activities, excursions, and entertainment options available onboard the Oasis of the Seas. The Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner is a really helpful tool that allows you to book extra items for your trip. Some of the additional things you can purchase for your cruise include

• Drink packages
• Internet packages
• Dining packages

You are required to pay for these extras when you book them, but you are also able to cancel an item before your trip if you change your mind. Our group initially booked the extras listed above, but we kept an eye on the prices as they tended to fluctuate a lot. This was especially true during the Royal Caribbean Black Friday Sale.

Many of the extras went down in price, so we were able to cancel and rebook for the discounted prices. If you’re wondering if the Wi-Fi on the cruise is worth the price, I highly recommend checking out my article on the Royal Caribbean Internet Packages .

Checking In

Once we got closer to the cruise dates, we were able to complete online check in for our trip. This opened up at midnight EST 45 days before our cruise. My sister and I chose to stay up until 12:00 AM when check in opened because we really wanted to book an early port arrival time. Once check in opened up at midnight, we skipped all of the check in forms EXCEPT the port arrival time selection.

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Luckily, we were both able to choose the 10:30 AM port arrival time. We then finished the rest of the online check in process the next day. Note that other members of our travel group forgot to check in at midnight, yet they were able to grab an 11:00 AM port arrival time the following morning.

Upgrade Opportunities

Although we were completely content with the junior suite we had originally booked, my husband and I had been looking forward to seeing our Royal Up options. Roughly 30 days before our cruise, I received an email from the Royal Caribbean RoyalUp program. This email listed various suites that we could bid on for the cruise. Many of these suites were WAY outside of our budget even when bidding the minimum.

However, we were able to bid on a few of the suites in the email. Unfortunately we did not win any of our bids and ended up cruising in the junior suite we had originally booked. This worked out really well for us, though, since we were able to enjoy the connecting balconies with our other family members. You can read about the full process in our post on the Royal Up Program .

Booking Shows

Since Covid, Royal Caribbean had been requiring guests to book their onboard entertainment on embarkation day once they were physically on the ship. Since I am a huge planner, this policy really stressed me out! Luckily, our Oasis of the Seas sailing became one of the first to return to the pre-Covid booking options.

Around 30 days prior to our sail date, we were able to book entertainment like Cats, Aqua 80, and the Frozen in Time ice show. Additional entertainment options like the Comedy Show opened up about a week before sailing. If you plan to attend these shows, I highly recommend booking them as soon as you can. Most of them booked up fairly quickly. 

The reservations are free to make, and they basically allow you to by-pass the line if you arrive at least 15 minutes early. If you aren’t able to make reservations, you can get in the standby line before the show. At 15 minutes to show time, they open the doors for anyone to enter the theater. So, those without reservations can come in and choose any available seats.

Pre Cruise in Miami

Our Oasis of the Seas cruise was scheduled to set sail from Port of Miami. We all decided to fly down to Florida the day before the cruise to be safe. Since flight schedules and prices were better to Fort Lauderdale, we flew into this airport rather than into Miami International.

My sister scheduled ground transfers through SAS Transportation to pick us up at the Fort Lauderdale Airport and drive us to our Miami hotel. This turned out to be a really easy process as our driver was on time and the Mercedes Sprinter Van was roomy and comfortable.

Intercontinental Hotel Miami

We booked reservations at the Intercontinental Hotel in Miami since it sits super close to the cruise port. After checking in just before lunch, we were all a bit bummed to learn the hotel pool and pool restaurant were under construction.

Instead of swimming and eating by the pool as planned, our large group decided to explore Miami’s Bayfront Park since it is an easy walk from the Intercontinental. We grabbed a late lunch at Landshark Bar and Grill. Then we let the kids run around in the park to burn off energy.

For dinner that night, we decided to order from a food delivery service. We enjoyed our meals outside near the pool since tables and chairs were available. Then the kids played on the large lawn space where the Intercontinental had outdoor games like a giant Connect 4, basketball, etc.

Packing List

After dinner, we went back up to the room to shower and get ready for embarkation day. I had printed our luggage tags after online check in, so I attached them to all of our bags. I also packed our embarkation day carry-on bag. We like to board with a backpack since it’s easy to carry. Inside our embarkation day backpack, we pack:

• ZipLock bag with kids under garments (since they board with swimsuits under clothes)
• prescription medications
• seasickness remedies
• chargers for electronic devices
• identification
• dollar bills
• luggage tags

Note that you will want to bring plenty of cash with you on your trip. We brought about $200 in smaller bills to tip people throughout the week. Before the cruise even started, we had tipped our driver to the hotel, driver to the port, Intercontinental bellman upon arrival, Intercontinental bellman while leaving, and the porters who handle luggage at the port.

Day 1 Embarkation Day

We were so excited that embarkation day had finally arrived! Our shuttle service was scheduled to pick us up an hour before our port arrival time, so at 9:30 AM. Since we were suite guests, we were technically allowed to arrive an hour before our scheduled 10:30 time slot. We ate a quick breakfast at the hotel and hopped in the shuttle at 9:30 for the roughly 15-minute drive to the Port of Miami.

Terminal A where we embarked is only a couple miles from the Intercontinental Hotel. However, traffic in Miami is crazy, so it took a while to arrive. Our driver dropped us off with the porters at the terminal. They checked that all of our bags held luggage tags. Then we joined the line for the suite guests to wait for the terminal doors to open.

At 10:00, the doors opened and the suite guests were escorted to an elevator that took us to a separate security line. This was a really fast process that took less than five minutes. Then, we walked right into the suite waiting area. This large room consisted of plenty of seating options, refreshments, and restrooms. A Royal Caribbean employee came over to our large group and checked in each party using her tablet. We didn’t even have to get off the couch.

At around 11:00, the Royal Caribbean crew members opened the doors to the gangway. The people inside the terminal formed a line to prepare to board the ship. After showing our digital Sea Pass cards from the app, we were permitted to walk onto the ship. Passengers board on Deck 5, which is the Royal Promenade. There were plenty of crew members at the entrance who greeted us as we entered, and they offered assistance if needed.

Once we were in the Royal Promenade, we saw clearly marked signs for the muster stations. We had watched the safety drill in the app that morning at the hotel and checked the boxes to confirm our participation.

Note that I watched this video prior to embarkation day, but the confirmation at the end didn’t appear until boarding day. Our first task once onboard was to check in at our muster station. This took less than a minute as the crew member just scanned each member’s digital Sea Pass card.

After completing the safety check, we took the elevators up to Deck 16 to enjoy lunch in Windjammer. Although this buffet gets quite crowded during peak times, our early embarkation day lunch was fairly calm and peaceful. My kids love to swim on embarkation day since the pools typically aren’t crowded at all.

So, after lunch, we grabbed seats by the pool, and the kids swam and enjoyed the water slides. While the kids and dads swam, my sister and I walked down to the Main Dining Room to request a table together at dinner. We were directed to different areas and then never did find a crew member to take our request.

I wish we had called Royal Caribbean prior to our cruise to make this request, but I assumed it wouldn’t be an issue since our reservations were all linked in the app anyway. It turned out NOT to be an easy fix, which I’ll discuss more below. So, my sister and I headed back up to the pool deck to watch the kids swim and enjoy our favorite Oasis of the Seas cruise beverage – the Strawberry Blonde.

The kids were still enjoying the pools at 1:30 when staterooms were supposed to open. So my sister and I left the husbands and kids again and went to check out our rooms. Surprisingly, our luggage had already started to arrive. So, we were able to unpack and organize right away.

Our stateroom attendant stopped in to say hello, and we asked him to open the dividers between the balconies. We loved the large closet in the junior suites as it provided plenty of space for a 7 night cruise. We also enjoyed our spacious balcony and spent tons of time out there each evening before bedtime. For a more detailed review of our stateroom, you can check out our post on Royal Caribbean Junior Suites .

Main Dining Rooms

We had signed up for early dining prior to the cruise, but we headed down a bit earlier than the 5:30 dining time to inquire about a table for seven of us. Unfortunately, we learned that the dining room wasn’t going to be able to grant our request. My family of four had been assigned to sit with two strangers in the dining room.

This made no sense to me since we clearly had family members linked to our reservation. I don’t know why they assigned us to a table with people we didn’t know, but the crew member told us to go to the dining room on Deck 5 to see if they could help us. Fortunately, they were able to accommodate our group of seven, but they made it clear it wasn’t a permanent solution.

The Oasis of the Seas dining rooms are lovely, and the food tasted great, but we didn’t really love the main dining room experience. The portions were tiny, and the service felt rushed, although our waiter was super sweet. The dining room experience on this ship left us wanting more, so we left dinner and went to Sorrento’s in the Royal Promenade.

Most of us ordered slices of pizza to eat since we were still hungry after our dinner. We never did go back to the main dining room for the remainder of the trip. I wanted to give them another shot because I know the first day can be so hectic. But, the great thing about the Oasis ship is there are plenty of other dining options available!

Day 2 Sea Day

Our first full day on the ship was one of our sea days. We didn’t really have any set plans for this sea day, but this was the first formal night of our cruise.

We started our sea day with breakfast at Windjammer. Although it was a bit crowded, it offered the most variety for the wide range of preferences in our group. Windjammer offers open seating, and we were always able to find a table for the seven of us who dined together. The teenagers loved Windjammer, and I’m pretty sure they ate almost all of their meals there each day.

My husband is allergic to dairy and gluten, and he was always able to find food there too. And the younger kids loved the diverse options and desserts. After breakfast we headed to the pool deck to swim. The weather was extremely windy so it wasn’t super hot outside. We were grateful for the Sports Pool since it’s heated. After swimming for a couple hours, we went back to the room to change into dry clothes for lunch at Windjammer.

Sports Deck

After lunch, our group decided to split up. My sister and I put our little ones in their strollers and walked the jogging track so they would nap. My husband and older daughter met up with other family members on the Sports Deck where they played on the basketball court and on the miniature golf course.

In addition to the sports deck, sea days are full of fun entertainment venues and activities. Some of the other kid-friendly activities we experienced on sea days and throughout the cruise included:

• Ultimate Abyss (dry slide)
• escape room
• ice-skating rink

Additionally, our mid-December cruise also offered several holiday activities throughout the week. There were options for holiday crafts, Christmas games, and holiday entertainment. We also enjoyed viewing all the Christmas decorations set up throughout the ship. For an extensive list of activities to enjoy on the ship, check out our post on the Best Free Things to Do on the Oasis of the Seas .

Formal Night

Prior to the trip, my family and I went back and forth about whether or not to participate in formal night. To us, dressing fancy on vacation seems like a chore. I also didn’t want to mess with packing formal attire and footwear. So, we compromised and wore somewhat dressier clothes that weren’t quite formal, and I’m so glad we did! While touring the Royal Promenade, you’ll see lots of cruisers decked out in formal wear for the photo sessions that are set up.

Other than that, the majority of the people I saw were wearing just nice vacation clothes: Polo shirts and slacks for men and sundresses for women. We spent our formal night dinner at Windjammer, and it was actually quite pleasant. We had our pick of tables, and the buffet wasn’t crowded at all. After dinner we spent time enjoying the Boardwalk neighborhood. The kids loved the carousel and the small climbing section near the AquaTheater.

Day 3 Labadee

The ship was scheduled to arrive in Labadee at around 7:00 AM, so we ordered from the room service menu the night before. This process was super simple. We just specified the quantity of each item and hung the menu on our stateroom door. After eating, we loaded up our backpack with sunscreen, snacks, and sand toys and headed off the ship. 

Months prior to our cruise, I booked beach bungalows at Columbus Cove to enjoy at Labadee . I had originally reserved one bungalow, but I added a second one after more family members joined our cruise party. Each bungalow held 8 people, so two of these cabanas worked perfectly for our group. We received tickets and instructions for our bungalows in our stateroom on the first day of the cruise.

The instructions specified that the bungalows were first come first serve. So, we tried to leave the ship early to secure two bungalows that were next to each other. We ended up getting off the ship at around 9:00 and taking the tram to Columbus Cove. There was only one other family at a bungalow at this time, so we had plenty to choose from. The bungalows came with towels, water, floating mats, and a server. This allowed for a relaxing day in the water and on the sand.

After enjoying Columbus Cove for a few hours, we decided to head back to the ship for lunch. We had plans to watch the World Cup at 2:00, and we wanted to eat and change into dry clothes prior to that. The line for the tram was really long, so we decided to just walk back to the ship. The walk took about 15 minutes, but we were able to see more of the island and take lots of pictures.

Playmakers is one of the specialty restaurants onboard the Oasis of the Seas. It sits on the Boardwalk near the carousel. Even though the food costs extra here, the prices are really reasonable. We had planned to watch the World Cup at Playmakers since they have large screen televisions. My brother-in-law ended up reserving the sofa area in front of the big screens for around $100. This included appetizers and beverages (including some alcoholic drinks). 

The ship was also playing the game on the large screens in the AquaTheater, but the atmosphere in Playmakers was much more fun! After the game ended, we headed back to the room to shower and get ready for dinner. We skipped the main dining room on this night and opted for the buffet again. Since we were all exhausted from our day in the sun, we grabbed some wine from Vintages and enjoyed it on our balcony before heading to bed that night.

Day 4 San Juan, Puerto Rico

Our ship wasn’t scheduled to arrive in San Juan until around 4:00 PM, and we had booked the Aqua 80 show for 7:00. So, we weren’t exactly sure how to fit in an excursion in San Juan. We had several plans on this day, and it was difficult fitting in everything we wanted to experience.

Central Park

We started our morning by eating breakfast at Windjammer. Then we hung out by the pools on the ship so that the kids could swim. We really wanted to try El Loco Fresh for lunch, but the line was always extremely long. So, we headed to Park Cafe to grab food instead.

Our staterooms were located on Deck 8 near the Central Park neighborhood, so Park Cafe turned out to be a really convenient dining option for lunch and breakfast.

Boardwalk on Oasis of the Seas

The World Cup was on again during Day 4, so my husband and brother-in-law reserved the private space at Playmakers again. The little kids enjoyed the appetizers at Playmakers, but then they got a bit bored of the game.

We had planned to let them ride the carousel or buy some treats from Sugar Beach to keep them occupied. However, neither of these activities was available at this time. So, we grabbed some milkshakes from Johnny Rockets, which they devoured. They also enjoyed walking around the Boardwalk and playing in the small climbing feature near the AquaTheater.

Coastal Kitchen

Since we had booked a junior suite, we were able to reserve the Coastal Kitchen ( Oasis of the Seas suites restaurant) for dinners. We originally did not do this because my sister’s name was technically on the reservation for the ocean view balcony room and NOT on the junior suite. However, the concierge team in Coastal Kitchen assured us they could make it work.

My sister’s junior suite had three names on its reservation, so they were willing to let my sister attend dinner instead of my teenage niece who was actually on the reservation. When we checked in, they just asked for her room number. After seeing her suite had 3 guests in it, they didn’t require identification for the three people.

We had an amazing experience at Coastal Kitchen! Not only did Coastal Kitchen provide excellent food, but it also offered excellent service. The servers were all really attentive and great with the kids. They brought coloring papers and crayons, did magic tricks, made balloon animals, etc.

We had reservations for the Aqua 80 show at 7:00, so our 5:30 dinner was really cutting it close. We ended up having to skip dessert to arrive at the theater 20 minutes before the show started to secure seats. The theater had a separate line for guests with reservations, so we were able to walk right in and grab our spots.

Shortly after this, they opened the doors for anyone to enter, so we made it just in time. The Aqua 80 show was amazing, and I highly recommend you watch the aqua shows on any of the Oasis class ships . My brother-in-law and I had both watched the show online and agreed the videos didn’t do it justice. Every single member of our family absolutely loved this show!

As mentioned above, we didn’t really have time to book any excursions in San Juan. But I was adamant that we had to get off the ship and at least walk around. I had read that the Old Town area decorated for Christmas, so we were hoping to tour the streets and see some of the lights.

By the time we left the Aqua 80 show and debarked the ship, it was after 8:00. Since the kids were getting sleepy, we walked a block or two and then turned around to head back to the ship. We got some really great photos of our group in San Juan, but we didn’t see the Christmas lights we had hoped for. However, once back in our room balconies, we were able to see the Christmas decorations as we pulled away from the port. On a side note, we also counted nine shooting stars from our balcony that night!

Day 5 St. Thomas

Our ship was scheduled to arrive in St. Thomas early in the morning on Day 5. We ate our room service breakfast outside on our balcony while enjoying the music being played at the port.

We planned to debark the ship at 8:30 and hire a taxi to take us across the island to Coral World and Coki Beach. We easily found a taxi driver after debarking the ship and were able to ride together in one shuttle. I believe it was $15 per person (including kids). Our taxi in St. Thomas looked more like an open-air bus. The bench style seats were located in the back of a pickup truck with bars and a canopy.

The pickup truck itself had a backseat, so the driver allowed some of our family members to ride in the air conditioning with him. You get beautiful views of the island on the roughly twenty-minute drive to Coki Beach, but the ride is wild! The roads are super narrow with lots of twists and turns.

Our driver was great about announcing good photo ops as we passed by certain places. He even slowed down almost to a stop to give us the opportunity to take pictures. When we arrived at Coki Beach, the taxi driver instructed us on where to walk to find Coral World. He also gave us his card and asked us to call him when we were ready to return back to the ship.

Coki Beach is a really small beach in St. Thomas. Although we didn’t snorkel, I noticed lots of other people in the water wearing snorkeling gear. So, I’m guessing it’s a great spot to see fish and sea life. The water was warm and clear during our December visit. We noticed lots of seaweed on the sand, but it wasn’t really in the water.

We were not asked to pay an entrance fee at Coki Beach, but we did ask for chairs. The beach attendant was super friendly and set them up for us. We gave him a decent sized tip because he also took the time to show us where to order food, rent umbrellas or snorkeling gear, etc. We were approached several times to buy different items or services from vendors. They were always really friendly and didn’t press when we said no. After spending an hour or so on the beach, we took the short walk over to Coral World.

Coral World

I had called Coral World prior to our trip to reserve a “Dolphin Moment” for twelve of us. Even though they typically only allow eight people in each group, Coral World was really accommodating and shifted their schedule for us to enjoy this dolphin experience together. After checking in, we walked over to the dolphin section of Coral World. Our guide greeted us and was super friendly and informative.

Coral World provided a locked storage bin to place our personal items during the experience. They also offered water shoes, showers, and restrooms if needed. We watched a short video to prepare us for the dolphin experience, and then we were led to a platform to stand during the interaction. We were able to stand about knee-high in water during the dolphin experience. The two guides did a great job of answering questions and keeping the kids entertained.

Some of the activities included in the interaction included:

• Petting the dolphin
• Giving hand signals for tricks
• Feeding fish to the dolphin
• Getting splashed by the dolphin

We also had a great photo op with the twelve of us looking at the camera while the dolphin jumped up in the air behind us. Overall, this was a really great experience that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. Afterwards, we visited the gift shop and purchased pictures from the experience.

We had planned to spend some time touring Coral World after our dolphin interaction. However, the park was much smaller than I had anticipated, so there really wasn’t much to see. We ended up walking around for about ten minutes before walking back over to Coki Beach.

Frozen in Time Ice Show

We called our taxi driver when we were ready to go back to the ship, and he arrived within ten minutes. The St. Thomas port is really lively and entertaining and may be one of my favorite ports we have visited. Once back on the ship, we showered and got ready for dinner. We had reservations at Coastal Kitchen again on this night.

We were just as impressed with Coastal Kitchen on our second visit as we had been on our first. After eating, we walked down to Studio B for the Frozen in Time show on the ice rink. Since we had reservations, we were able to enter the room early and grab our seats. This show was an interesting one. The kids seemed to enjoy it a lot, but the adults were very confused the whole time.

Frozen in Time features ice skaters acting out different stories from Hans Christian Anderson. There is no talking, so I wouldn’t have even realized the premise except for the title of each story being displayed on a small screen.

The music that went along with each act kind of put us to sleep too. I think it would have been a better show had the characters been dancing to popular songs. Instead, we found it to be really strange and boring, and we definitely would not sit through it again.

Day 6 Sea Day

We woke up and enjoyed breakfast at Windjammer on Day 6 of our trip. Then, we headed to the heated pool to let the kids swim. My brother-in-law wanted to participate in the belly flop competition. This event was scheduled to take place at the Sports Pool, and it was a really entertaining show.

After spending several hours at the pool, we went back to the room to change into dry clothes. I wanted to pack so that I didn’t leave it all to do on Day 7 when we were at CocoCay. My husband took the kids to the Sports Deck to play mini golf while I got our luggage as organized as I could.

Chops Grille

My niece and my brother-in-law share a birthday, which took place on Day 6 of our trip. So, we made reservations to celebrate at the specialty restaurant, Chops Grille, before the cruise. We arrived early for our reservation to let Chops know about the birthdays. At the end of our meal, they brought out a special dessert for each birthday guest. 

I had read mixed reviews about Chops prior to our trip, but we all enjoyed the food. That is, except my toddler niece and my four-year-old. So, after dinner we took the two little ones to Sorrento’s to get pizza. After eating at Sorrento’s, we had one of my favorite experiences of the whole trip.

We pressed the button to get on an elevator, and the doors opened to a man sitting at a piano inside. We climbed on the elevator, and he started playing Kiss the Girl from The Little Mermaid. It was a really fun and special moment that the kids loved!

Day 7 Perfect Day at CocoCay

I think CocoCay was the port we were all looking forward to visiting the most. And it didn’t disappoint! We arrived at CocoCay at around 10:30 AM just after Freedom of the Seas. My brother-in-law had booked an Overwater Cabana at the CocoCay Beach Club prior to our trip, and my sister had booked a Beach Club Cabana.

Each cabana held eight guests, so we were all able to enjoy the Beach Club and the two cabanas. We had the Overwater Cabana on the end of the dock, and it sat right across from our Beach Club Cabana. So, the kids enjoyed floating on the mats from one cabana to the other without having to walk. And of course, the slide on the cabana was a huge hit!

The attendants brought each cabana a platter of every appetizer on the menu. After snacking on appetizers for a while, we each ordered an entree for lunch from the Beach Club menu. Later in the afternoon, the attendants brought a tray holding all of the desserts from the menu. Needless to say, we ate a ton that day!

This port was the perfect end to our vacation as we all had the best time on the island. We hated to say goodbye, but we finally headed back to the ship around 4:00. For our full guide to the island, check out our CocoCay Review post where we discuss the pools, beaches, and activities available.

We showered and got ready for dinner, which was at Coastal Kitchen again. Since our reservations weren’t until 7:00, we took time to finish packing so that we could place our luggage outside our room by 10:00 that night. After dinner, we spent time on our balcony one last time before calling it a night since we had to be up early the next day.

Day 8 Debarkation Day

The morning of debarkation, we had to vacate our rooms by 8:00 AM. We headed up to Windjammer buffet around 7:45 and ate breakfast. We had chosen a debarkation time of 9:00, but we were finished with breakfast by 8:15. The line to get off the ship was massive, so we went to the Main Dining Room on Deck 5 since it was our designated waiting area.

Most of the tables and chairs were set up for the new guests to arrive, so people just kind of sat on the floor or stood until they received the text stating it was their turn to disembark. At 8:30 ish we realized the line was barely moving, so we opted to get in the line thinking that by the time we made it to the front, it would be 9:00.

This turned out to be a smart plan as we finally made it off the shop just after 9:00. We had reserved a shuttle to pick us up and take us to the Loews Miami Beach Hotel after the cruise. The driver loaded our luggage, and we waved goodbye to the Oasis of the Seas.

Is Oasis of the Seas a Good Ship?

Overall, we had a great time on the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship . It was our first time taking a major vacation with a large group of family and friends. The ship offered plenty of fun activities for all age groups, and the variety of restaurants and bars was appreciated.

Other than the Aqua 80 show, we wished there had been more quality entertainment offered. Although, we did enjoy the live music in the Royal Promenade and other areas. My family’s stateroom was the perfect size for us, and the other suites we were able to see on the ship looked even more amazing!

In summary, we would book another Oasis class ship again. I found that I was constantly comparing the ship and experience to our past cruises with Disney Cruise Line. If you’re interested in our comparison, we recommend checking out our post on Royal Caribbean vs Disney Cruise Line .

For information on everything we packed for this trip, check out our Printable Cruise Packing List post. In that article, I list all the items we packed for the vacation. You can also grab a copy of the free printable! Do you have a review of Oasis of the Seas Comment below to share your experiences with the ship!

Shari is an experienced planner and organizer for Disney vacations, cruising, and U.S. travel. Her family vacation information, reviews, and tips provide insight for moms and dads everywhere. You can read more about her story, including her journey through breast cancer, in the about me page.

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Wow! Shari this is an excellent blog. I am a 1st time cruiser and will be going on Oasis of the Seas-Mar 31. Your advice and suggestions are great. I wish I would have found your blog earlier in my planning but so glad I did find it. It helped so much with my last minute questions, especially about check in and booking shows. We have the new Hide Away Beach booked for CocoCay! Thanks again

I’m so glad you found the information helpful! You’re going to absolutely love sailing on Oasis! CocoCay is beautiful, and I bet the weather will be amazing there in March/April. Hope you have a great trip!

What date did you sail….I’m concerned it may need refurbishing….went on in 2018 and loved it.

We were on Oasis last year, and the ship looked great! I think she was refurbished in 2019, so you must have just missed the updates.

Hi. We have sailed on 2 Disney Cruise ships. We are getting ready to do another cruise finally. We are a family of 5 and my kids are little older now. My husband wants to stick to Disney but I am torn between Disney and maybe trying Royal. Any thoughts on the differences? We have done the 5 night on the Magic and the 7 night on the Fantasy. I worry because I read so many things that say once you go on a Disney cruise nothing else comes close.

Hi Anne Marie. I have sooooo many thoughts on this! I’m going to write a post comparing the two, and I’ll add a link to it here once it’s complete: Royal Caribbean vs Disney Cruise . I’ll try to briefly give a comparison though. If your kids are older, I think they will really enjoy the Royal Caribbean Oasis-class ships. The two teens and older elementary aged children we traveled with had a great time! They would all gladly cruise with Royal or Disney again. The main difference between the two brands for my husband I was the level of service. Disney just completely outshines Royal in this department. If you can swing a suite on Royal, I highly recommend it! The only time we felt Royal matched Disney’s level of service was in the Suite Lounge and in Coastal Kitchen (the suite restaurant). If the suites aren’t an option, I would just go in knowing the service may not be the same and that the vacation is a little less relaxing than one with Disney Cruise Line. That being said, the kids had a blast and loved every minute of it! Hope that helps!

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Oasis of the Seas

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International |

Find a Cruise on Oasis of the Seas

with a cruise advisor

The 6,771-passenger Oasis of the Seas saw an extensive refurbishment in late 2019, unveiling the line's first dedicated karaoke venue, a live music space with a large dance floor, brand-new dining options (including a barbecue restaurant), three waterslides, new bars and more. 

While this ship is not for those seeking secluded spaces, most cruisers say the seven distinct onboard neighborhoods make up for that. The behemoth ship features designer boutiques and larger staterooms than other ships in the fleet.

Like other Royal Caribbean vessels, Oasis of the Seas offers four cabin categories: Interior, Ocean View, Balcony and Suite. Interior rooms average about 150 square feet, while Suite category cabins can span anywhere from 287 to 1,524 square feet and include added amenities like Jacuzzis and expansive balconies.

While recent cruisers were impressed with the ship's abundant amenities, they noted that with 2,109 crew members, there aren't many tailored onboard experiences – especially when the ship is filled to capacity. Oasis of the Seas caters to those looking for nonstop onboard action.

Oasis of the Seas sails from Miami , Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Barcelona and Rome to destinations in the Bahamas , the Caribbean, Europe and the Mediterranean. The ship also offers transatlantic voyages.

U.S. News Insider Tip: On Oasis-class ships, stop at Vitality Café for protein shakes and fresh juices. – Skye Sherman, Contributor

Pros & Cons

Major refurbishment completed in late 2019

Ship can feel crowded

• Expert Rating » 4.0
• Traveler Rating » 4.3
• Health Rating » 4.7

Oasis of the Seas ranks # 8 out of 25 Royal Caribbean International Cruise Ships based on an analysis of expert and user ratings, as well as health ratings.

• # 8 in Best Royal Caribbean International
• # 11 in Best Cruises for Groups
• # 16 in Best Cruises for Families
• # 25 in Best Affordable Cruises
• # 27 in Best Cruises to the Mediterranean
• # 29 in Best Cruises to the Caribbean
• # 33 in Best Cruises to Europe

Oasis of the Seas offers a wide range of accomodation options. Browse cabins to find the stateroom that suits your needs.

Oasis of the Seas contains 15 decks. Find out which features are available on each Oasis of the Seas deck.

Traveler Reviews

A ship’s traveler rating is provided under license by Cruiseline.com , which manages one of the largest databases of cruise reviews and ratings by travelers. A total of 4093 guests have reviewed Oasis of the Seas , giving it a rating of 4.3 on a scale of 1-5.

Cruiseline Travel Rating:

Reviews by traveler type.

Ship Photos

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas Cruise Review & Guide

This Oasis of the Seas cruise ship review and guide will provide an overview of the ship, what to expect, and tips for making the most of your trip.

In the past year, I have taken two Western Caribbean and one Southern Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean. My most recent trip was a Western Caribbean itinerary on the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship.

When trying to choose a cruise itinerary, the decision often comes down to the quality of the ship. However, it can be very difficult to understand the quality of each ship without honest reviews from real passengers.

If you are considering a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas , this guide will help you decide if it’s the correct ship for you.

After booking a cruise, I try to understand everything about the ship so I can maximize my time on board.

I have a goal to hit all the best bars, restaurants, shows, and activities which can be hard when there are so many options on these mega ships.

If this is your situation, this guide will help simplify the onboard experience and help you plan your trip.

TLDR – If you are trying to decide to take a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas or are already booked, keep reading for all the tips and information you might need.

Some links on this blog are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through them. All opinions are my own, and I only recommend products and services I personally use and believe in. Thanks for your support!

Overview of the Oasis of the Seas

Cruise Line – Royal Caribbean

Class – Oasis

Size – 1,186 Feet Long

Capacity – 5,400 Passengers

Crew – 2,400

Maiden Voyage – 2009

Latest Refurbishment – 2019

Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas Tips

1. Book Your Specialty Dining in Advance : The Oasis of the Seas offers a variety of specialty dining options, from upscale steakhouses to international cuisine.

To secure your preferred dining times and venues, make reservations before your cruise using Royal Caribbean’s online booking system. This ensures you won’t miss out on the best culinary experiences.

2. Reserve Your Shore Excursions Early : To ensure you get to experience the excursions you want, book them well in advance. Popular excursions can fill up quickly, and booking ahead will also help you avoid disappointment.

3. Stay Organized with the Cruise Planner App : You can check daily schedules, make reservations, and even chat with fellow passengers. Download and familiarize yourself with this app before your cruise to make the most of your time onboard.

4. Don’t Miss the AquaTheater Shows : The ship’s AquaTheater is an incredible venue featuring high-diving acrobats and synchronized swimming. These shows are veryvpopular, so arrive early to secure a good seat.

The AquaTheater shows are a highlight of any Oasis class cruise vacation.

5. Enjoy the Adults-Only Retreat : The Oasis of the Seas features an adults-only area known as the Solarium. It’s a serene retreat with comfortable loungers, hot tubs, and a peaceful atmosphere.

If you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing space to unwind, head to the Solarium. It’s perfect for couples or anyone seeking a break from the more bustling areas of the ship.

Staterooms and Suites

There are four categories of rooms on the Oasis of the Seas – interior, ocean view, balcony, and suite.

The interior, ocean view, and balcony rooms are basically the same, with varying levels of exposure to the outside (nothing, window, or balcony).

The rooms have enough storage, a small couch, a vanity, and a small bathroom. These rooms are nothing special and are very small, as with most cruise ship cabins.

That said, they are sufficient for good sleep and you won’t be spending much time in your room anyway.

If you opt for the suites, the rooms are much larger and more luxurious. The suites range from a junior suite which is a larger balcony room, to multi-level suites that include a butler.

Suite guests also get access to a lounge, pool deck, and complimentary dining room.

Complimentary Dining

On any cruise ship, there are some dining options included in your cruise fare and others that cost extra. On the Oasis of the Seas, there are a variety of complimentary options ranging from buffets to grab and go. You could easily spend one week on the ship without spending a dollar on food.

Main Dining Room – Complimentary table service restaurant with multi-course meals. The food is typically good quality and the service is great.

Windjammer – The main buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is fair to good, but is one of my top choices for breakfast and lunch.

Dog House – Grab and go hot dogs with a variety of toppings

El Loco Fresh – Mexico buffet with tacos, burritos, and quesadillas

Solarium Bistro – Smaller buffet that is often a less-crowded alternative to the Windjammer

Park Café – Grab and go sandwiches, salads, and snacks for breakfast and lunch

Café Promenade – Grab and go sandwiches and pastries

Sorrento’s – Wood fire pizza and antipasti, this is one of my favorite included dining options on the ship

Oasis Class Signature Dining

As mentioned above, cruises have complimentary and extra-cost dining options. For the paid dining options, some restaurants require a cover charge and others charge a la carte.

For the best dining experience on the Oasis of the Seas, I recommend purchasing the 3-night or unlimited dining package.

The complimentary food on board is good, but the signature dining is much better.

Chops Grill – Classic steakhouse

150 Central Park – Fine dining restaurant with a variety of meat and seafood options

Giovanni’s – Italian pasta and entrees

Izumi Sushi & Hibachi – Two-part restaurant with live hibachi or table-service sushi

Portside BBQ – Grab and go BBQ classics

Playmakers – Sports bar with classic bar food

Johnny Rockets – the same diner food you will find at the restaurant on land (note- breakfast is complimentary)

Bars & Venues

One of the advantages of a mega ship like the Oasis is the variety of bars and entertainment venues on board. Below are the most popular places to grab a drink or a casual show.

Schooner Bar – My favorite bar on board with views of the promenade and a nautical theme

Globe and Atlas – English-style pub in the promenade

Bionic Bar – Futuristic robot-powered bar

Rising Tides Bar – Floating bar that moves between the 5 th and 8 th deck

Lime & the Coconut – Pool bars

Blaze – Comedy club and night club

Spotlight Karaoke – Karaoke bar

Music Hall – Common venue for live music and dancing

Boleros – Latin-themed bar

Onboard Entertainment

One of my favorite aspects of the Oasis of the Seas is the quality of entertainment on board. Each night, there is a headline performer in the Royal Theater. This is standard on all Royal Caribbean ships and the acts range from musicians to magicians to dancers.

In addition, there are other entertainment options available for reservations each day. There are ice skating shows that include dancing, music, and tricks in Studio B. In Blaze, there is hilarious adult comedy.

The best show on the Oasis of the Seas is the aqua show which takes place at the aqua theater at the back of the boat.

During my sailing, the show as Aqua80, a high energy show to the best 80’s music. There are dancers, swimmers, tightrope walkers, and high divers. This show was better than some shows I’ve seen in Vegas, and it is truly amazing it can happen on a cruise ship.

On the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship , there are three normal pools and a kids pool on deck. Even with this many pools, they still get very crowded on sea days. If you want a good chair, I recommend getting there before 8 am.

One of my biggest complaints about the ship is that the smoking area is directly behind the main pool. Unless you are a smoker, it is super gross to sit in a cloud of smoke by the pool.

In addition to the pools, there are two surf simulators, a sports court, and mini golf on the pool deck. There is again no shortage of things to do on this cruise.

Royal Caribbean Service

A lot of this guide is about the physical cruise ship. However, equally important is the service on board. I am consistently blown away by the high standard of service on a ship with so many passengers.

The crew always strives to go above and beyond, working to meet any request you might have. Here are my top three favorite service moments on our cruise:

• Sam, the bartender at the Schooner Bar who remembered our before-dinner drinks each night and made them perfectly
• The room service staff that delivered complimentary continental breakfast to our stateroom in the morning
• Jake, the chef at Izumi who fed and entertained us at the Hibachi table

Oasis of the Seas Vs. Harmony of the Seas

In the past year, I have sailed on two Oasis class ships. The Oasis of the Seas was the first ship in the class in 2009 and the Harmony of the Seas is a newer version that launched in 2016.

If you are trying to decide between these two ships, the simple answer is you can’t go wrong with either. Since they are in the same class, both ships are basically the same size with the same venues and amenities.

The main difference between the two ships is the dining on board. For example, the Oasis has Giovanni’s and the Harmony has Jaimie’s for the Italian restaurant.

The Oasis has Playmakers, and Harmony does not. The Oasis has El Loco Fresh on the pool deck and the Harmony has Mini Bites.

Although the Harmony is newer, the Oasis was amplified in 2019, so both ships have similar modern décor and rooms.

Planning Your Oasis of the Seas Cruise

• Try different restaurants for lunch each day- there is so much variety so don’t get stuck in a rut
• Get the drink package if you plan to drink 5 or more drinks a day
• Try at least one specialty dining restaurant
• Book spa services, drink packages, and Wi-Fi before your cruise for exclusive deals
• Bring cash tips to reward exceptional service (and get rewarded with even better service)

Oasis of the Seas Reviews

Here are some Oasis of the Seas reviews from other cruisers. You will see there are some pros and cons of the ship, but it’s overall a great choice for a cruise vacation.

“I loved the Oasis…… lots of very nice features. We enjoyed the water slides, the shows, and the many venues and activities….. My biggest complaint was the crowds.” Cruise Critic

“Unbelievably attentive staff. Everyone from Royal Caribbean will go out of their way to accommodate any concerns you may have.” Cruise Critic

“The ship is very nice as was the staff. The food was mediocre at best.” Cruise Critic

Read more reviews

Summary of this Oasis of the Seas Cruise Guide

Rooms – Standard for a cruise. If you splurge for a suite, there are many amazing options. If you get a standard interior or balcony stateroom, they are small, but big enough and comfortable for your trip. The rooms don’t make or break the ship.

Dining – I love how many dining options there are on the Oasis of the Seas. You could easily have enough variety with the complimentary food options. For the best experience and quality, take advantage of the signature dining.

Entertainment – The shows and entertainment on board are fantastic. I could go to the aqua show each night. The entertainment definitely sets the Oasis apart from competitors.

Activities – There are so many great things to do on the ship. From activities such as mini golf, the ultimate abyss slide, and the Flowriders to organized events such as game shows and BINGO, there is no shortage of fun things to do on board.

The Ship – Although the ship is on the older side, the recent refurbishment makes it competitive with the more modern ships. The layout, facilities, and design of this ship are all great.

Should you go on an Oasis of the Seas cruise? YES! If you are considering a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas, I say go for it.

The ship is full of fun things to do, great dining, great entertainment, and you cannot go wrong with the Royal Caribbean standard of service.

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Lauren is the creator of The Traveling Moore blog. She's travel obsessed, having been to nearly 50 countries and all 7 continents. She has a full time corporate job, and loves showing others that it's still possible to travel the world with limited PTO hours. Lauren is also travel hacking obsessed, finding every way to travel more often and more luxuriously.

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Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas Review

More than your average mammoth vessel, oasis of the seas left us awestruck in so many ways. but is it worth the added expense.

Updated June 3, 2015

Rivaling the Queen Mary 2 as the world’s most famous cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas arrived on the scene in 2009 and left jaws agape. Only the launch of a twin sister a year later—Allure of the Seas—could possibly steal any thunder from the debut of the world’s largest cruise ship.

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

About Our Cruise

All things to all people, is bigger better, cabin overview, our cabin: superior ocean view with balcony, cabin amenities, other cabins, dining overview, opus dining room, windjammer marketplace, solarium bistro, chops grille, giovanni’s table, 150 central park, johnny rockets, seafood shack, wipe out café, in-room dining, drinks overview, café promenade, starbucks coffee, vitality spa café, viking crown lounge, mast bar, sky bar, pool bar, sand bar, wipe out bar, solarium bar, rising tide bar, trellis bar, boardwalk bar, schooner bar, champagne bar, globe & atlas, vitality at sea spa and fitness center, other recreation, shows & entertainment, casino royale, other venues, kids programs, ship communications, internet facilities, dress codes, laundry facilities, general health & safety, smoking policy, general policies.

Allure actually tops out at 2 inches longer than Oasis, but we’re not going to quibble here—Oasis of the Seas is the megaship personified. Weighing in at 225,062 tons, Oasis and Allure are 45 percent larger than the next largest cruise ship (Norwegian Epic). The extra tonnage allows for a number of innovative features found on no other vessels, along with more pools, more restaurants, and more bars. The sheer bounty of activities and amusements was key to Oasis and Allure becoming “must-ride” ships during their first years at sea, allowing Royal Caribbean to charge a premium for itineraries that are virtually identical to ones offered by other cruise lines. So successful have these heavyweights been that a third, slightly larger Oasis-class ship is under construction for a summer 2016 arrival (there’s also an option for a potential fourth ship).

For now, Oasis and Allure alternate on seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises out of Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades. Three destinations are visited on each itinerary, ports that had to be adapted to handle these mammoth vessels. We hopped aboard Oasis of the Seas to get a feel for what it’s like to ride this floating resort.

Editor’s note : In October 2014 Oasis of the Seas went through its first dry dock, to address normal maintenance issues, but also to make substantial changes to the dining, retail and entertainment offerings. The Tony Award-winning musical “Cats” has replaced “Hairspray” in the Opal Theater. Retail options Cupcake Cupboard, Willow, and Pinwheels have been replaced by Kate Spade, Michael Kors, and Britto, respectively. The library on Deck 11 is being replaced with a new dining venue. A number of cabins have been added in various locations around the ship, and bandwidth for WiFi has been improved. Changes to dining aboard Oasis of the Seas are addressed on page 3 of this review.

It’s not hard to arrive for a cruise aboard Oasis of the Seas without a few built-in expectations. For instance, that the boarding process for a ship that carries 5,412 passengers (at double occupancy) can’t help but involve crowds and lines. In fact, the boarding process went smoothly—our wait to check in at the custom-built Fort Lauderdale terminal was no more than 2 minutes, and less than 10 minutes after check-in our numbered group was called for boarding.

We thought we might struggle with directions for the first few days, but there are excellent interactive screens at all elevator/stairwells, and Royal Caribbean has divided the ship into four color-coded quadrants: port/forward, port/aft, starboard/forward and starboard/aft. There are just two elevator banks, but these seemed to handle the demand well.

Another assumption was that such a huge vessel would have all the elegance of an apartment complex set adrift. But as we explored Oasis that first day, we discovered the “neighborhoods” conceived to help break up this megaship into different experiences, catering to a broad range of audiences, tastes and moods. There was the Royal Promenade, an interior shopping mall occupying a three-deck-high atrium within the ship (a feature that will be familiar to those who’ve sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom- and Voyager-class ships). A floating bar rose and descended within the atrium, like a space-aged hovercraft. More revolutionary was the Boardwalk area, an open-air neighborhood occupying the aft section of Deck 6, flanked by eight-story walls of cabins rising on either side. There was a traditional wooden carousel, ice cream and donut shops, and a toy store setting the Coney Island ambience. But best of all was Central Park, a lushly landscaped garden with 12,000 plants, vines, flowers and trees—yes, live trees—at midship on Deck 8. Almost the length of a football field, the park had winding pathways, benches, multiple dining and drinking options, and somehow managed to convey the feeling that we were anywhere but at sea. Amazing.

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The ship’s entertainment is as good as it gets at sea, including the licensed-from-Broadway production of the musical “Hairspray”—shorter, but otherwise admirably close to the original. The outdoor Aqua Theater is home to dive extravaganzas that we rank among the coolest things on the ocean. Most of Oasis is family-friendly, but there are extensive activities for children and teens, infused with DreamWorks characters such as Shrek.

Oasis is a great choice for families. The ship’s unusually diverse range of cabin size (many sleep six) is a boon for large, multi-generational families and other groups looking for a single ship that will satisfy a wide range of budgets and agendas. From zip lines to surf riders, ice skating to wine tasting, there is something for everyone (keep a close eye on the daily newsletter to keep track of all the goings-on).

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Not everything was plus-sized. Our cabin was pretty conventional in girth and features, though heady suites are available for those who want to splurge. We were surprised that the ship’s main buffet option, Windjammer Café, was considerably smaller than similar venues on smaller ships. The comedy club was so small that we never secured a reservation for a show. But although certain areas of the ship seemed limited in capacity, there’s no denying the extent of dining and entertainment options available.

By our count, Oasis of the Seas features 17 dining options, plus snack shops. Not all of these are included in the cruise fare—nine require an upcharge ranging from a few dollars to $95 for a chef’s table evening with wine pairings. This is one ship where your cruise fare is only the start of the buying opportunities, and plugs to spend on dining, drinking, shopping, shore excursions and more are rampant—you can even buy ads in the daily newsletter to commemorate a traveling companion’s birthday or special occasion. We didn’t like sitting in the Boardwalk area to enjoy the calm and fresh air, only to have it interrupted by the ship’s Shopping Director, thundering over the loudspeakers to command us to attend a morning lecture. Frankly, the spending push is excessive. The trade-off was that most of the splashy activities and entertainment offerings were included. Still, don’t expect that your cruise fare is going to cover the cost of your entire vacation.

You can’t get around the sheer size of Oasis of the Seas, but what amazed us was that, throughout our cruise, we only felt overwhelmed when we looked at the daily schedule and tried to make choices between the many and varied activities and entertainments. Crowds were managed well at ports. Both the design team and the cruise director’s staff deserve kudos for putting a lot of thought into how to make the traffic flow, for the most part, seamlessly.

Still, crowding does occur. The four main pools—each themed to a different audience—were usually packed, along with the loungers alongside. For the big shows, "Hairspray" and the Aqua Theater, people arrived early to get the best seats. Yet for every location that was busy, other places were surprisingly uncrowded. The Solarium Deck usually had free loungers (and the plunge pool here was rarely occupied). The ship’s wine bar Vintages was usually deserted, and the menu of tapas here—with a surcharge—was a nice alternative to crowded restaurants. And Central Park—well, we can’t say enough about how appealing this space was. One drizzly afternoon we were delighted to discover a barrel-full of umbrellas parked at the doorway into the park.

We found that the dining options included in the fare were strictly average aboard Oasis of the Seas. While there were many additional restaurants available with a surcharge, most weren’t significantly better. Accommodations were comfortable, but also fairly average for newer, mass-market ships. However, the bevy of activities (most of which did not involve surcharges) was impressive at pretty much any hour of the day—many times we found ourselves having to make choices. And entertainment offerings were first-rate and diverse. For a multi-generational family holiday, these ships are hard to beat.

The distinguishing factor is—truly—size, and Oasis of the Seas is an architectural and engineering marvel. Dedicated cruise fans owe it to themselves to take a gander. But the ports we visited felt like a mere sideshow to the gee-whiz features on board. This isn’t unusual on larger ships, but a cruise on Oasis is about the ship, not about exploring the Caribbean.

While this first cruise was an eye-opener, would we sail on an Oasis-class ship again? Probably not. We enjoyed ogling the conceptual and engineering prowess that created Oasis of the Seas but cabins are more expensive than those on the newest ships from Norwegian, Princess and Celebrity. If we wanted thrill rides, we’d head to Orlando. For dazzling shows, you can’t beat Vegas. And when we want to see the Caribbean, we look forward to a smaller ship that doesn’t block the view.

On Oasis of the Seas there are a staggering 24 different types of cabins to choose from, including a few unusual cabin styles you won’t find anywhere else at sea. Given the wide range of price points, you’ll want to spend some time perusing the options.

Let’s start with the four basic categories. Interior cabins range from the “Smaller” Interior (150 square feet) to Family Interior units, which spread 274 square feet and can sleep six, a nice option for families that might otherwise book adjoining units. Units with no view represent 18 percent of the ship’s overall accommodations, but there are also Promenade cabins, which have a bowed window facing the Royal Promenade, the ship’s indoor mall. Outside cabins encompass the typical ocean view cabins, but also units with views onto the amusement-themed Boardwalk or tree-lined Central Park areas inside the ship (we’re guessing that the difference with the Promenade units being that they offer natural light). There are four different types of Balcony cabins, ranging from the Superior Oceanview with Balcony (what we stayed in), to balconies overlooking the Boardwalk and Central Park neighborhoods, to Family Oceanview with Balcony. Most of these are also available as accessible units, which offer more floor space and wheelchair-friendly bathrooms.

The Suites are where Oasis of the Seas really goes to town. There are Junior Suites that encompass 287 square feet and have an 80-square-foot balcony, along with Grand and Royal Family suites. On a future cruise we look forward to trying the Loft Suites, two-story cabins found on decks 17/18 with two-deck-high windows (note that some of these face the Sports Court—the ocean is in the background). Also intriguing are the AquaTheater Suites, which occupy the “wings” that overlook the pool where acrobatic shows are performed most nights. There’s a Presidential Family Suite that can accommodate up to 14 people, while even larger are the Royal and Royal Loft suites.

Measuring 182 square feet, our cabin was pretty average in size, but we liked the subtle wood (veneer) and sea-themed décor. The limited space was effectively utilized, and there was even room for a proper couch. Our king-sized bed was very comfortable, with fresh white linen bedding, however the comforter was showing its age, with filling bulging in various spots. On either side of the bed were tiny nightstands with built-in reading lamps, providing adequate light for reading in bed. A small, bright red splotch stained the carpet next to the bed.

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We found storage space to be a bit limited for two. There’s one main closet with sliding doors, but there’s little space between the bed and the closet. There were sufficient hangers on two rods, as well as a shelves, one of which contained a small safe (not large enough for a laptop). Bath robes were not provided. Next to the desk is another storage unit with two shelves. The desk itself has three drawers. All in all, the room’s storage space is okay for two people, but three people sharing could be tight.

There was a heavy sliding door for the balcony, which opened and locked shut easily. On the balcony were two chairs and a small table. The sides of the balcony are lined with milky glass doors, which can be opened upon request (e.g. if your family is in the next room). At just 52 square feet, the balcony is not really large enough for sunning.

We found the compact bathroom to be slightly more generous than on some Royal Caribbean ships, though it’s still too small for two people to occupy it at the same time. The shower cubicle was slender but adequate, a pod with rounded sliding doors. The sink counter was a bit low, and there was little in the way of storage space for travel kits. We found the shampoo provided in the wall dispenser to be ineffective but, on request, our cabin steward brought bottles of shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap and moisturizer; these were somewhat better. Towels provided were thick and plush. There was a full-length mirror on the wall next to bathroom.

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Generally we didn’t hear much from the hallway, but the sound of the door slamming in the cabin next to ours was quite audible—in fact, on the last night, as bags were being set out for pickup, we heard doors slamming all around. Announcements from the bridge could not be heard in the cabin, but announcements about port shopping lectures and Bingo sessions were quite audible inside the cabin (and everywhere on the ship).

Opposite the couch was a desk/dresser and vanity, with three outlets (110 volt) on top of the dresser, plus a European-style 220-volt outlet. The decent sized flat screen TV was interactive, mounted on the wall and adjustable to face the bed or couch. The remote didn’t communicate well—we had to punch buttons two or three times to change channels. This was especially frustrating when dealing with the TV's “message” box for our cabin, which was cluttered with (mostly) sales pitches from the spa, shopping venues, etc. There were nine to delete on the first day alone—a thankless task.

There was one main lighting system for the entire cabin that turned on next to the bathroom with additional switches on either side of the bed. There was also lighting on either side of the mirror above the desk. We really liked that there was a dim nightlight on in the bathroom at all times.

We found it unusual that there were no life vests stored in our cabin. The cabin manual said these were kept at muster stations.

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We did not stay in the rest of these cabins, but we have summaries here provided by Royal Caribbean. Note that photos below have been provided by the cruise line and not our reviewer.

Smaller Interior Stateroom Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, private bathroom and sitting area. (150 sq. ft.)

Interior Stateroom Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long private bathroom. (172 sq. ft.)

Promenade Stateroom Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long and private bathroom. Bay view window overlooking Promenade. (193 sq. ft.)

Family Interior Stateroom Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long. Sofa converts to double, two Pullman beds, private bathroom and sitting area. (274 sq. ft.)

Ocean View Stateroom Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, private bathroom and sitting area. (174 sq. ft.)

Central Park View Stateroom Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, sitting area, and a private bathroom. Central Park view bay window. (194 sq. ft.)

Boardwalk View Stateroom Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, sitting area, and a private bathroom. Boardwalk view bay window. (187 sq. ft.)

Family Ocean View Stateroom Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long. Sofa converts to double, two Pullman beds, private bathroom and sitting area. (272 sq. ft.)

Central Park View Stateroom with Balcony Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, central park view balcony, sitting area, and a private bathroom. (182 sq. ft., balcony 50 sq. ft.)

Boardwalk View Stateroom with Balcony Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, boardwalk view balcony, sitting area, and a private bathroom. (182 sq. ft., balcony 47 sq. ft.)

Family Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long. Sofa converts to double, two Pullman beds, private bathroom and sitting area. (290 sq. ft., balcony 81 sq. ft.)

Junior Suite with Balcony Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long. Private bathroom with tub, sitting area with table and sofa. (287 sq. ft., balcony 78 sq. ft.)

Grand Suite with Balcony Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long. Private bathroom with tub and two sinks, marble entry, large closets, sitting area with table and sofa. (371 sq. ft., balcony 114 sq. ft.)

Royal Family Suite with Balcony Two bedrooms with two twin beds that convert to Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, two Pullman beds. Vanity with chair in each bedroom, living area with double convertible sofa, marble entry, entertainment center, two bathrooms - master bath with tub. Private balcony with table and chairs. (575 sq. ft., balcony 246 sq. ft.)

Owner's Suite with Balcony Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long. Private bathroom with tub and two sinks, marble entry, large closets, living area with table and sofa. Private balcony with table and chairs. (569 sq. ft., balcony 246 sq. ft.)

Crown Loft Suite Two deck high stateroom with panoramic views. Master bedroom and bath on second level. Bedroom has two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long. Bath has a shower for two. Bath with shower on main level. Private balcony with chairs, dining area with dry bar, table/desk. Living room sofa converts to double bed. (540 sq. ft., balcony 98 sq. ft.)

AquaTheater Suite with Balcony - Deck 10 Two bedrooms with two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, two Pullman beds. Vanity with chair in each bedroom, living area with double convertible sofa, dining room, marble entry, entertainment center, two bathrooms - master bath with tub. Expansive balcony with table and chairs. (659 sq. ft., balcony 648 sq. ft.)

AquaTheater Suite with Balcony Two bedrooms with two twin beds that convert to Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, two Pullman beds. Vanity with chair in each bedroom, living area with double convertible sofa, dining room, marble entry, entertainment center, two bathrooms - master bath with tub. Expansive balcony with table and chairs. Deck 9. (720 sq. ft., balcony 716 sq. ft.)

AquaTheater Suite with Balcony - Deck 8 Two bedrooms with twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long, two Pullman beds. Vanity with chair in each bedroom, living area with double convertible sofa, dining room, marble entry, entertainment center, two bathrooms - master bath with tub. Expansive balcony with table and chairs. (820 sq. ft., balcony 803 sq. ft.)

Sky Loft Suite Two deck high stateroom with panoramic views. Master bedroom and bath on second level. Bedroom has Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long. Bath has a shower for two. Stairway to second level. Bath with shower for two on main level. Private balcony with dining area. Dining area with dry bar. Living room sofa converts to double bed. Closets on each level. (724 sq. ft., balcony 376 sq. ft.)

Presidential Family Suite with Balcony Stateroom can hold up to 14 guests, must have at least 8 to book. Two Master bedrooms with Two twin beds that convert to a Royal King, measuring 72.5 inches wide by 82 inches long. Two Master baths with tubs. Two bedrooms with convertible twin beds/Pullman beds, one bedroom contains bathroom with shower. Guest bathroom with shower. Balcony with a whirlpool, dining area, and bar. Dining room with dry bar. Living room sofa converts to a double bed. (1,165 sq. ft., balcony 489 sq. ft.)

Royal Suite with Balcony Grand entrance with doorbell. Master bedroom with Queen bed and sitting area. Master bath with tub, shower, two sinks and bidet. Living room sofa converts to a double bed. Guest bathroom with shower, entertainment center, dining room with dry bar, piano. Private balcony with Jacuzzi and dining area. (1,284 sq. ft., balcony 345 sq. ft.)

Royal Loft Suite Two deck high stateroom with panoramic views. Master bedroom and bath on second level. Bath has a tub, shower, two sinks and bidet. Stairway to second level. Bath with shower on main level. Private balcony with whirlpool and dining area. Dining area with dry bar. Living room sofa converts to double bed. Closets on each level. Stateroom can accommodate up to 6 guests. (1,599 sq. ft., balcony 874 sq. ft.)

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As befits a megaship, Oasis of the Seas offers more restaurants than any other cruise option, some of them included in the fare and some involving cover charges. In addition to the ship’s main dining room and primary buffet, Opus Dining Room and Windjammer Marketplace , there were eight sit-down restaurants involving a surcharge, plus nine other venues offering snacks and lighter meals, ranging from ice cream and cupcakes to pizza and tapas; some of these also involved additional fees, described below.

But other restaurants involving an up-charge seemed okay, without being truly special. Some presented food that was a cut above what we tried in the Opus Dining Room, while others didn’t even aim that high. Two restaurants are found aboard Oasis that aren't on any other ship. Solarium Bistro —though available as a breakfast/lunch option on Allure of the Seas—is open each evening on Oasis with a menu of sophisticated fare against a backdrop of glass and stars. And on the Boardwalk is Seafood Shack , an open-air fried fish venue.

The specialty restaurants—most of which surround Central Park—do have a more quiet, relaxed atmosphere, and a couple represent a nice change-of-pace from Opus. Some of the venues book up quickly following embarkation, so it’s worth making reservations at the start of your cruise, especially if you have a larger party or want to dine at prime time, around 7-7:30. It’s also worth researching the dining packages Royal Caribbean sells, each shaving about 20 percent off your dining tab for three preselected restaurants.

Editor’s note : In October 2014 Oasis of the Seas went through its first dry dock, and substantial changes were made to the ship’s dining offerings. New menus are set to be introduced in March 2015, along with Royal Caribbean’s “Dynamic Dining” concept. Among the changes:

The three-story main dining room (originally called Opus) is now three separate dining options: American Icon Grill (comfort food), Silk (pan-Asian), and The Grande (classic dishes and formal wear). As part of Royal Caribbean’s Dynamic Dining plan, there will no longer be set seating times, or a “main” dining room.

Windjammer Marketplace, the ship’s crowded buffet option, has been expanded, taking over the space originally occupied by Izumi on Deck 16. Izumi has been moved to Deck 4 and features a teppanyaki menu.

Seafood Shack has been converted into Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar. The adjacent Boardwalk Bar is now Sabor Bar.

The former library has been converted into a new restaurant, Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine.

The Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 17 has been converted into Coastal Kitchen, a California-Mediterranean venue that is reserved for suite guests only.

Encompassing three decks, Opus is an impressive space designed to seat 2,800 guests at a time. Round tables for six to twelve people are spread evenly about the room, and lining the walls are rectangular tables for two or four, covered with white linens. Between the table spread and the overall layout of the room, it’s elegant. But it is also huge and, in accommodating two seatings each evening, the operation mimics that of a big banquet hall, with servers rushing about, plates and glasses clanging.

For dinner, guests may choose from set dining times—6 and 8:45 p.m. on our cruise—or My Time Dining, which allowed seating any time between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. nightly. We made our booking about six weeks ahead of departure and My Time seating was full; we requested to change from the 9:30 seating after boarding, but our request could not be accommodated. Breakfast was available in the Main Dining Room daily, and lunch was offered on sea days.

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There’s a nice selection of breads nightly but, as elsewhere on the ship, even though meals in the main dining room are included in the cruise fare, expect an upsell on things like bottled water. Filet mignon and lobster appear on the menu but they carry a surcharge: $14.95 and $29.95 respectively, or $37.50 for the surf and turf combo. Inexplicably, these items also trigger a 15-percent gratuity, even though guests are already paying a $6.80-per-day gratuity for dining room staff.

Our dinners here were decent, but nothing spectacular. In addition to six “classics” that appeared on the menu nightly—fillet of salmon, Manhattan strip steak, linguini pomodoro, etc.—other options were nicely varied, a half-dozen choices nightly that included a vegetarian dish nightly, as well as options that were gluten- or lactose-free. We had a number of good appetizers including a flavorful smoked chicken breast with green apple, walnuts, grapes and blue cheese dressing; a lovely “Roman” salad of artichokes, peas, tomato and prosciutto in a warm bacon-balsamic vinaigrette; and a perky little ceviche of shrimp, scallops and lobster. Entrées we liked included beef tenderloin which was cooked just as ordered (medium rare) and—though it arrived disheveled—a fillet of sole with a lemon beurre blanc. Less appealing was the chef’s “inspiration” another night, a pasta that was overcooked and burdened with a flimsy sauce. Desserts were also inconsistent: A low-fat panna cotta was surprisingly rich and tasty, but lemon merengue was disappointingly sweet for our taste.

The breakfast menu covered the basics well, and there’s an “express breakfast” station, with a buffet set-up. The menu listed individual fruits offered, but we asked if a fruit plate was possible—our waiter pulled together a generous assortment from the buffet, all ripe and tasty. We also ordered oatmeal, and requested nuts, raisins and brown sugar. The waiter went to buffet again and assembled a dish of pine nuts, pecans and walnuts—we appreciated the personalized service. The coffee was decent, and served in an oversized mug.

Our lunch here was just okay. The salad bar, assembled by servers, is a great option, and with several meat toppings one can easily assemble a hearty lunch in a bowl. The “express lunch” area also includes heated items, but they didn’t look too special, so we ordered fish enchilada off the menu—it came with guacamole that was pasty and not fresh, the fish tasted fishy. It wasn’t worth ordering. Other lunch items that looked more appealing included a harissa-charred barramundi fish, palm sugar grilled chicken on an Asian salad, and a tomato risotto with prawns and scallops. For dessert our waiter suggested we try his two favorites—a caramelized banana mille-feuille with ocean ice cream and a praline chocolate crunch lathered with Nutella. We found both way too sweet and rich to finish.

With seating for 736, Windjammer is the ship’s second-largest dining venue, but it is smaller than the buffet restaurants aboard Royal Caribbean’s (smaller) Freedom-class vessels. While there are more breakfast and lunch options on Oasis, we think this venue is not well equipped for the number of people who arrive for the first two meals of the day. Although Windjammer was crowded the times we visited, it wasn’t a circus—there seemed to be a concerted effort to escort arriving diners to tables before they surveyed the buffet. This meant we spent less time wandering around looking for a seat.

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The food selection was mostly unsurprising, but some of it was decent and we particularly liked some of the international fare on offer. This included such dishes as Malaysian coconut chicken, cauliflower and green pea curry, tandoori chicken salad, pappadams, stir-fried beef, spring rolls, and a spinach and gruyère tart. More conventional offerings at lunch and dinner included grilled sea bream, chicken Marsala, beef Guinness, teriyaki salmon, and there was a station that featured roast sirloin of beef and other meats carved to order. Desserts are also displayed on an island, and the choices are many: cheese cakes, chocolate cakes, mousse, tiramisu and panna cotta, along with no-sugar and low-fat dessert options.

For breakfast, Windjammer offers various egg dishes, French toast, pancakes, donuts, bread, cold cuts, cereals, and fresh fruits. For Asian guests, there were soups and rice-noodle dishes. There are multiple drink stations with juices, water, soda, and flavored waters, along with a vending machine selling coke products.

Smack dab next to Windjammer high on Deck 16, Izumi is an informal Japanese-themed restaurant decorated with stereotypical bamboo, kimonos, and calligraphy. Open for dinner nightly and for lunch on sea days, the menu features sushi, salads, soups, and other Asian specialties. There’s a cover charge of $5 per guest ($3 at lunch), and all food is a la carte, starting at $2 for two pieces of sushi, or from $4 for rolls. While individual items are modestly priced, we recommend budgeting about $25 per person for dinner (not including drinks), and maybe about half that for lunch.

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Although you can order a la carte for dinner, there are also a few combo plates that shave a few dollars off the meal price. These included a soup and appetizers, and ranged $15 to $23 for a complete meal. The dinner menu included hot rock entrées—on which diners can grill their own meat—and hot pots (shabu-shabu), a kind of soup. These were good options for those who don’t care for sushi or sashimi. Izumi carries the ship’s standard drink list, but also features several sakes that could be ordered by the glass or bottle.

Perched on Deck 15 overlooking the Solarium, this venue is almost two restaurants in one setting. By day, breakfast and lunch are served from a buffet counter. It’s not as large a selection as what’s available at Windjammer Marketplace, but the emphasis is on healthier fare. At breakfast there were a few hot items, such as turkey bacon and scrambled eggs, but the focus is cereals (mostly packaged), fruit and yogurt. At lunch, we found various salads, couscous, fruits, soups, and a few hot, healthy dishes. For dessert, there were fruits, yogurts, and cookies. It was a nice, semi-al fresco atmosphere offering fresh air and sunlight—our one complaint was that chairs were a little clunky to move in and out of.

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Unique to Oasis of the Seas, Solarium Bistro converts to a dinner venue after dark, with a $20 surcharge for dining. As with the other meals the dinner menu promises lighter preparations and leaner proteins, and we were looking forward to it. But the dishes we tried were disappointing, lacking in subtlety or finesse. We tried the Mexican shrimp bowl, with a crustacean buried in tomato salsa; the promised avocado was almost undetectable. The cauliflower and leek soup was a puree, topped with toasted almonds; we liked that it wasn’t loaded with cream, but rather than letting fresh vegetable flavors take the spotlight the soup was heavily salted. A salad of beets and spinach was okay, if conventional. Other starters on the menu included ratatouille in a baked eggplant, turkey rissoles, yellowtail tuna sashimi, chicken minestrone, seafood bouillabaisse and various salads.

For our entrée we found the salmon to be fairly decent, crusted with wheat germ and citrus flavors and sitting on a parsnip-spinach coulis. Other entrée options included char-grilled pork tenderloin, peppercorn seared bison tenderloin, Muscovy duck breast on lentils, and chipotle-spiced basa fish fillet. Desserts were presented on the buffet counter, and we choose sampler plate—none of the desserts we tried stood out as anything special.

The room, surrounded by glass and other hard surfaces, offers poor acoustics for an intimate, romantic night out. The clunky chairs were covered with fabric at night, which presumably helps mute the clatter, but despite the restaurant being barely a quarter full when we dined, it was loud.

Royal Caribbean’s steakhouse has been a bit hit-and-miss for us on other ships, and on Oasis our meal at Chops Grille was marginally satisfying, but the service really missed the boat. There’s an upcharge of $30 to dine here, which doesn’t sound unreasonable for a quality steak dinner, but remember: You’ve already paid for a meal at the main dining room so the steakhouse should be at least a cut above. It wasn’t.

We arrived right at our 9 p.m. reservation time and waited several minutes to be acknowledged at the front desk, then waited for a table to be set up. It’s a comforting room, with subdued lighting and wood accents, suitably he-man. After receiving the menu from the host, we decided on our order but then waited for more than 10 minutes to be greeted by our waiter. When the upbeat chap finally arrived we were welcomed to “the best steakhouse on the highs seas.” Despite the languid pace until now, suddenly everything shifted into overdrive, as though our distracted waiter was determined to process us as quickly as possible. Dishes arrived in swift succession, dressings were spooned onto salads heavily (right as we were saying “not too much”), and there was a push for the wine list’s more expensive selections.

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The list of entrées includes the usual steaks, broiled veal chop, mixed grill, herb-crusted jumbo shrimp, Alaskan halibut and pan-fried barramundi. We asked for the waiter’s steak suggestion and before the words were out of our mouth he recommended the filet mignon, which we ordered. He hurried off to the kitchen and barely two minutes later was back with the starter—beefsteak tomatoes, red onion and blue cheese. The tomatoes were hearty and beefy, the red onion ephemeral, but it was satisfying in its simplicity. It didn’t take long to finish this appetizer, and no more than a minute after the plate was taken away, another waiter brought our steak. The filet was slightly overcooked—we ordered medium-rare—but, egregiously, the meat was not a melt-in-your-mouth cut, as the best filet mignon would be. It was certainly edible, but nothing we’d make a detour for at home. The accompanying broccollini was fair, the stems undercooked and minimally seasoned. When our hefty baked potato arrived, the waiter was ready with condiments. We asked for “just a little” butter but he forked in several tablespoons worth. His suggestion: “You can pour some out.”

There’s not a lot of competition on the high seas when it comes to steakhouses, but if you’re going to promise the best, you’d better at least strive for Morton’s or Fleming’s quality (believe it or not, we find Carnival comes closest of the mainstream lines). Our food was adequate but not special, the service was rushed and inattentive—we felt like our table was the least-important one in the room. As the waiter brought the bill he said, “the service is up to you.” Actually, the service was up to him; the tip was at our discretion (Royal Caribbean says the $30 surcharge includes the gratuity)—we didn’t feel compelled to leave anything extra. In fairness, our waiter may have lacked some finesse and training. The restaurant overall was not properly staffed for the level of business, though not all the tables were booked. Whether this was an anomaly or not, we don’t know, but our experience at Chops was less than satisfying.

A trattoria-style Italian restaurant on Oasis of the Seas, Giovanni’s Table is located along tree-lined Central Park. With tables both inside and out the venue has an easy-going atmosphere that is popular among many guests. While the food isn’t terribly special, and the service we experienced was spotty, it’s a satisfying meal overall that justified the $20 surcharge. Giovanni’s is also open for lunch on embarkation day and sea days with a similar menu, and a $15 cover—actually, it would be a great spot for lunch on the first day.

A mouth-watering display of freshly cut prosciutto on the way to our table set the tone for a menu of pastas and Italian specialties like pan-seared sole, beef tenderloin, osso buco, and veal meatballs. Our waiter brought a basket of Italian bread and a plate for olive oil, reduced balsamic, and a grate of fresh, moist parmesan for dipping the bread.

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For an appetizer we had the scallops, two served in the half-shell and topped with dollops of almond and red pepper mixtures. A lentil and root vegetable soup was deliciously robust, almost meaty-tasting. The risotto with forest mushrooms was served perfectly al dente—the flavor was warmly nourishing. For entrée we ordered the grilled lamb chops. They weren’t great cuts and arrived slightly overcooked, but the dish was reasonably satisfying with the chops surrounding a tasty vegetable caponata and sautéed spinach. The dessert, however, was a loser—a singular cherry in a thick cream atop Jell-O. The waiter noticed our disappointment and was ready to replace it, but we were already stuffed.

We found the service slow, paced to lovers staring in each other’s eyes (or maybe, as at Chops Grille, we had another waiter spread among too many tables). A couple dishes were delivered only after picking up an empty plate that had been sitting a little too long; our wine order was briefly forgotten. But lots of diners here seemed to be having a good time, and the outdoor tables are lovely set against the park—a nice, easy atmosphere.

Facing tree-lined Central Park, this is one of the most elegant restaurants at sea, providing a refined menu, confident and attentive service, and an intimate atmosphere that is perfect for date night out. With seating for a mere 50 guests, it is the smallest dining room aboard Oasis of the Seas, with lush décor and voluptuous high-backed armchairs that reminded us of something out of Alice’s Wonderland.

There’s just a single, six-course tasting menu—actually, two different menus: one for the first four days of the cruise, the second used for the latter part. The courses are prepared with great care and detail using produce from small South Florida farms, by a dedicated kitchen and chef not shared with any other venues. There’s a $40 cover charge for dinner, and wine pairings are $75 (that's six glasses, but couples can request to share). Whichever way you go, we found the splurge well worth it.

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Dinner began with a basket of breads accompanied by a sampler of six salts from around the world, each with their own distinct flavor. The first course of the Heirloom Menu was a delightful salade composée of multi-hued carrots (from Swank Farms, the menu announced) with pickled fennel, radish, olive and micro greens. This was followed by a robust, smoky tomato soup (Borek Farms), anchored by a dollop of house-made organic ricotta. The third course was a pair of divine scallops, perched atop brown rice and a smear of butternut squash—these would have made a fine entrée. The chicken that followed was superb, a sliced breast sitting over a ragout of dark leg meat, with a trio of lighter-than-air gnocchi gilding this succulent dish. Roasted lamb loin came next, served with chickpeas, preserved lemon and yogurt—another dish that stood well on its own. The menu wrapped up with a basil panna cotta, rising from a tarn of strawberry consommé, a pistachio biscotti propped on the side.

The meal was excellent, adventurous—there wasn’t a single course we would have changed. We did find the service a tad rushed, and we’d suggest alerting your waiter ahead of time to a leisurely evening, if that’s what you prefer. In addition to the wait staff being spread a bit thin, we also didn’t need the big upsell on bottles of wine and water.

Although we had no problem securing a table after we boarded, we recommend making reservations for 150 Central Park online ahead of your cruise (several evenings later in the week were completely booked). And although we loved the Heirloom Menu, we were sorely tempted to try a second visit to sample the Hearth Menu, which featured such items as cauliflower soup, pan roasted pompano, duck confit ravioli and beef filet. Ah, next time.

Situated right where you’d expect, on the Boardwalk, Johnny Rockets is familiar turf for anyone who’s been to any big-city mall. The chain offers burgers, hot sandwiches, and breakfast with a dose of retro diner charm, and the atmosphere is replicated right down to the (non-operable) nickel jukeboxes on each table.

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From around noon till midnight daily, there’s a surcharge of $4.95 per person for meals, including dessert. Shakes and other drinks are extra ($3.95 for our root beer float), so we’d budget about $10 a person. We’re not sure why someone would opt for a meal at something as ubiquitous as Johnny Rockets, but we have to admit: We sat down, the 60s and 70s tunes pulsing gently in the background, and by the time our waitress brought over plates of fries and onion rings and squirted the ketchup into a smiley face, we felt happy to be here. No food item will take you by surprise—it's a half-dozen burger options along with sandwiches, hot dogs and a chopped salad—but it was all delivered quickly by an utterly charming waitress. And the root beer float? Some things just take you back to the best of childhood.

Johnny Rockets is also open for breakfast daily (perhaps to ease the crunch at Windjammer) and there’s no upcharge for the meal. Fried or scrambled eggs with sausage or bacon, omelets, pancakes, French toast—the selection wasn’t robust. We’d also say breakfast wasn’t finessed quite as well as the standard burger-and-fries menu, but it wasn’t crowded and it was al fresco.

Unique to Oasis of the Seas, Seafood Shack is an outdoor fish house opposite Johnny Rockets. Completely open-air, it has a boardwalk-y ambience, which is appropriate (given the location), and decorated with nautical flotsam and jetsam like buoys and surfboards. The menu is even stenciled onto a wood kickboard, surfer-lite music plays in the background. There’s an a la carte fee to dine here—appetizers are (mostly) $2.50 to $4.95 and entrées are (mostly) $4.95 to $11. The exceptions are Alaskan crab legs, served as an appetizer for $11.95, and the lobster feast, which includes two 6-oz grilled lobster tails for $18.

It’s rare that mass-market ships bring any non-frozen fish (or meat) aboard during embarkation, so what caught our eye on the menu was being urged to “Ask about our Fresh Catch Specials.” The special was dover sole, deboned at the table for $11—not a bad price, but fresh, we asked our server? “We bring it onto the ship frozen each week,” she said. Hmmm. If that was “fresh” how were the other items brought aboard?

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Tortilla chips and salsa arrived with the server, and we ordered the “grilled catch of the day,” which turned out to be sole served with mashed potatoes, corn and peas, with a lemon beurre blanc. It was surprisingly similar preparation to what we had in the Opus Restaurant a couple nights later (without a surcharge and with slightly different accompaniments). A cone of Cajun potato wedges came on the side. Other entrée possibilities included a fried seafood basket with popcorn shrimp, calamari and fish fingers, a grilled Cajun platter and grilled jumbo shrimp; there were a couple burgers and barbecued baby back ribs available for the non-pescatarians in your party.

Seafood Shack never seemed very full, even just before and after shows in the nearby Aqua Theater were scheduled. While we found the open-air seating pleasant, loudspeakers from the video screens at the theater could be loud.

Designed to serve as a utilitarian relief valve for the too-small Windjammer, Wipe Out Café is a limited-option buffet on Deck 15 for breakfast and lunch, open till 5:30 p.m. each day. It was great for kids, preoccupied by diversions on the Sports Deck, but we mostly steered clear. There are no tables inside the café, but limited seating was available next to the ping pong tables.

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At breakfast the limited selection included eggs cooked to order, with a short list of fillings for omelets—ham, cheese, pepper and mushrooms. Our order took about 4 minutes one morning, but this was shortly after opening; the wait appeared to be longer as the morning wore on. Fresh fruit, cereal, oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, French toast, hash browns, and breakfast meats were also available. For lunch the menu shifted to burgers, hot dogs, fries, pizza slices and small selection of sandwiches and chips.

Another relief valve for Windjammer, we like Park Café mostly for its location (Central Park) and a few variations on the usual buffet spread. For breakfast this included a bagel station with various spreads—cream cheese flavored with sun dried tomato and roasted garlic, with salmon, with apricot and craisins, etc. There’s also a make-your-own bagel station, with fresh salmon, cheese, tuna salad, and cold cuts. There were also packaged cereals, muffins, pastries, sliced and whole fruits, as well as breakfast sandwiches stuffed with scrambled eggs.

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For lunch there was a salad bar along with several sandwiches, served cold or focaccia style with packaged chips. We ordered “today’s special”—turkey, avocado and cheese—though the waitress said it was served every day. The dessert counter offered cookies, cheesecakes, profiteroles, tarts, and sugar-free options.

Only complaint: Park Café was popular throughout the day, and at prime breakfast and lunch hours there was usually a shortage of tables.

Located in the Royal Promenade, Sorrento’s offered pizza—both whole pies and by-the-slice—against a clichéd Brooklyn backdrop of faux brick, garage doors and Sinatra references. We’re sure somebody felt right at home and, being open till 3 a.m. nightly, this was the spot to satiate late-night hunger pangs.

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By-the-slice options usually included cheese and pepperoni, along with daily specials like Florentine, rustica or Mexican. There was a make-your-own station, arranged like a salad bar, where one could concoct their own recipe. Ingredients were a bit limited—ham, chorizo, shrimp, mushrooms, potatoes, olives, sliced tomatoes and arugula. Pizzas were turned around in 15 minutes. There wasn’t a great seating area here, so most guests took their pies elsewhere (to-go containers were available).

There are lots of other food options on Oasis of the Seas, though most involve a surcharge. At the Cupcake Cupboard we found an array of colorful creations, loaded with frosting—flavors such as chocolate mint, bubble gum, red velvet and turtle. We’ve had Royal Caribbean’s cupcakes on other ships and find them less-than-subtle, though admittedly they hit the spot for some. Cupcakes are priced $2.75 each, and gluten-free and sugar-free are also available (by advance order only). Cupcake Cupboard offers cupcake-decorating classes—we’ll try it someday, but the $22 charge for a one-hour lesson seems steep to us ($15 for kids age 4 to 11).

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Out on the Boardwalk is the Ice Cream Parlor , with cups and cones starting at $2 for a single scoop, and a long list of toppings available for 25 cents apiece. Shakes, floats, sundaes and banana splits range $3.75 to $4.95. Opposite the ice cream is Candy Beach , where several dozen different candy varieties are dispensed, at 75 cents per ounce. Nearby is the Boardwalk Donut Shop , where very basic frosted donuts are offered, at no charge. We tried one, with sickly-sweet gloppy icing oozing from the top—we couldn’t finish it. (We had to ask: Why charge for cupcakes and not for donuts? We were told the cupcakes have a lot more frosting, and they’re made fresh onboard; the donuts are brought on board in bulk, before the cruise.)

A few other food options are worth mentioning, at venues described on the next page. In addition to coffee drinks, Café Promenade has a deli case with light snacks—croissants, walnut bread, scones, cookies and small sandwiches—available at no charge throughout the day and evening. The Vitality Café at the entrance to the spa had a small selection of more nutritious fare, also at no charge—wraps, sandwiches, fruit plates and yogurt. The Boardwalk Bar also had sandwiches and prepared salads, at no charge, along with bags of popcorn for $1.50 (most cruise ships offer popcorn for free).

At the Champagne Bar toasts with caviar, sour cream, diced onions and capers were put out at cocktail hour. Best of all was the tapas selection at Vintages , which included Spanish fare such as gazpacho, octopus salad, Serrano ham and Manchego cheese, with a small upcharge. We could have made a very satisfying meal out of those tapas.

Although there are plenty of options for dining on Oasis, there is also room service available, albeit with a somewhat limited menu. Breakfast can be ordered using a door tag left out before 3 a.m., or by calling room service. Delivery times for breakfast are in 30-minute increments between 6:30 and 10 a.m. Options included four varieties of packaged cereal, yogurt, a fruit plate and whole fruit (apple, banana, orange). Hot selections were limited to scrambled eggs or scrambled Egg Beaters, with sides of bacon, sausage or hash browns and baked tomato available. Apple or orange drink, coffee, tea and milk were offered while the baked items included wheat or white toast with butter and jam or pastries. Real, fresh-squeezed orange juice, mimosa, bellini and bloody Mary were also available, with a surcharge.

The standard room service menu was a little more diverse and included a soup of the day, fruit plate and Caesar or Mediterranean chicken salads. Sandwiches available were baguette with smoked salmon and cream cheese, turkey and Swiss cheese Panini and a steak sandwich served with fries. Entrées included fried honey-stung chicken, hamburger, spinach and artichoke dip with corn chips, breaded fillet of flounder, and cheese or pepperoni pizza. Desserts available were a cheese plate, chocolate and pear tart, raspberry cheesecake or cookies. A late night service charge of $3.95 was assessed for orders placed between midnight and 5 a.m.

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We ordered breakfast for an 8:30-9 a.m. delivery. A call came to our room at 8:06 saying breakfast was on the way, the knock on the door came at 8:25. Our fruit plate included kiwi, pineapple, cantaloupe, a slice of orange and red grapes—a smallish portion, but nicely presented, as was the plate of pastries. But we also ordered Raisin Bran with a banana and there was no milk (apparently we were expected to check it off on the order form); the server offered to retrieve a carton for us and came back about 10 minutes later. Coffee was delivered in a carafe with creamer and sugar.

We ordered lunch one afternoon and were told to allow 30 to 40 minutes for delivery. But there was an attempt to deliver our order about 15 minutes later, when we were out of the room. A phone call came when we were back inside and redelivery was made a few minutes later, exactly 35 minutes after the order was placed. The sandwich was described as turkey and Swiss cheese Panini served on ciabatta bread, but it was prepared with crisp French bread—with the tomato and lettuce the sandwich was literally taller than it was long. We didn’t mind the bread substitution, but it was hard to eat, with the contents spilling out the sides with each bite. There was a side of cole slaw sweetened with pineapple. In a bowl on the side were packets of ketchup, mayo and mustard, along with salt and pepper. A glass full of ice was brought for our drink; the can of soda was delivered at room temperature.

We could barely keep track of all the drinking options aboard Oasis of the Seas, with an ambience and crowd for just about any mood. Including four pool bars and three coffee bars, there were 20 options to choose from, not counting bars found at a few of the restaurants. Some of our favorites, described below, included the Latin dance club Boleros , the tapas and wine bar Vintages , the quiet Trellis Bar in Central Park, and the audacious Rising Tide , a bar that floated above an indoor fountain in the Royal Promenade.

The ship’s standard drink list included wines from all over the world, with an expanded selection available at certain venues, such as Vintages and 150 Central Park. About two dozen wines were available by the glass, ranging from Castle Rock chardonnay, Peter Lehman shiraz and Beringer White Zinfandel for $7, to Clos de Bois merlot ($9) and Ferrari-Carano chardonnay ($16). All of these were available by the bottle, while the Champagne Bar had a good selection of bubbly, by the glass or bottle.

The beer list was fairly rudimentary, including the usual domestics like Budweiser and Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, Coors Light and Miller Lite ($4.25, or $5.25 for 16-ounce aluminum bottles) plus Blue Moon, Samuel Adams and Sierra Nevada ($4.75-$5.75 each). International beers included Beck’s, Coronoa, Dos Equis, Heineken Kirin Light, Pilsner Urquell, Red Stripe and Stella Artois. An expanded list was offered at the pub Globe & Atlas.

There were plenty of mixed drink options, along with special offerings at a number of bars, with prices ranging $5.75 to $10.25, though more extravagant cocktails could be concocted. Various drink packages could be ordered that offered the potential for slight savings: The soda package was $45.50 for seven days ($31.50 for age 17 and under), the beer package was $45 per day, the Premium package was $55 per day (including drinks priced $6.25 or less, except bottle water, soda and coffees), and bottled water and bottled juice packages were also available.

A 15 percent gratuity was added to all drink purchases, including drink packages. The ship’s drinking age is 21.

Open 24 hours, this was the main coffee shop for early morning java, located in the Royal Promenade. There was the ship’s brewed coffee, along with coffee drinks available for a surcharge. We didn’t try these, so we can’t compare it with the competent Starbucks offerings a few hundred feet away, but the main distinction here was the availability of liquor shots. Prices ranged $3.25 to $3.85 for 12- and 16-oz cappuccinos, mochas and chai lattes. Iced coffee drinks were available ($3.75 to $4) along with spiked coffee drinks for $6 and up. There was also a machine for fresh squeezed orange juice ($3.95 to $4.95).

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There was a deli case here with different food offerings through the day, mirroring the cold selection available at other buffet stations. There were sandwiches, bagels with brie cheese, croissants, cinnamon rolls, cookies, brownies and scones—all of these were free. There are tables and chairs, but the ambience was less cozy than our coffee shops at home.

Located at the other end of the Royal Promenade, this was the first dedicated Starbucks outlet at sea, and we found most of the standard Starbucks coffee drinks on offer. Tazo tea and chai lattes are also available, along with Frappuccino drinks; prices were a little higher than we normally pay for Starbucks, starting at $2.85 for a tall (12-oz) cappuccino, $3.65 for a caramel macchiato, or $3.95 for a frappuccino. The cappuccino we tried was pretty comparable to the Starbucks we enjoy at home.

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Located at the entrance to the spa, this bright spot was convenient for those coming off a workout, offering the same coffee drink selection as Café Promenade—it’s the first spa café we’ve seen where liquor can be added to drinks! But there was something here that wasn’t found elsewhere on the ship: smoothies that could be made with your choice of various fresh fruits and vegetables, including orange, apple, carrot, celery, beets, cucumber and ginger ($4.25 to $6.25); muscle builder, fiber fuel, l-glutamine and other powders could be added as well.

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The seating area was a bit sterile for our taste, and completely lacking in natural light—not a great environment to enjoy the offerings. But we loved our carrot-orange-ginger juice, taking it out to Central Park to enjoy. There’s a small selection of sandwiches and fruit available, as well, at no charge.

Now this is a room with a view. Perhaps higher above the sea than any other cruise ship bar, the Viking Crown Lounge is located on Deck 17, just above the Windjammer buffet. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping ocean views, as well looking over some of the ship’s pool areas. The handsome lounge has a more sophisticated atmosphere than most other bars on the ship, and the live entertainment included easy listening and jazz. This venue was sometimes deserted (especially during the day when it was a good spot for playing cards), but when there was a 20-percent off “happy hour” every table was taken. The ‘tini we had was crisp and cold—perfect.

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These four bars are located next to the pools, two on Deck 15 and two on Deck 16. They had the same drink menu, but the upstairs pair—Mast and Sky—were less busy, and a lovely hangout as the sun began to set.

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Located between the FlowRider surf simulators, the Wipe Out Bar is a good spot to enjoy the brave antics of would-be surfers strutting their stuff. To accommodate for the fact that lots of kids tend to hang out in this area, the Wipe Out offers juice and soda in addition to its extensive drink list.

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We liked this spot on Deck 16, which we found was overlooked by many guests. Located right above the Solarium deck and restaurant, there were lots of lounge chairs, most of which were shielded from sun. Frozen drinks were popular here, but the ship’s standard bar menu was also available.

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Located on Deck 8, Dazzles is a two-level dance club with live music aimed at an older crowd. Behind the bandstand is a huge window overlooking the Boardwalk. With oversized black-and-white photos of Hollywood glamor icons, it’s a very comfortable venue to sit and listen to a live band (or have a private function). Every night, Dazzles has a live band play tunes from the ‘60s to the ‘90s, and everybody can get on the dance floor to show off their moves. But the space seemed oddly underused and, unlike Viking & Crown, it did not get busy during happy hour (when drinks were 20-percent off).

Rock and roll, oriental belly dance Note that the upper level of Dazzles is one of two designated smoking areas inside the ship.

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Perhaps the most audacious bar concept on the seven seas, Rising Tide looks like a hovercraft out of a sci-fi movie—and that’s before it even takes off from the Royal Promenade. When the bar is open, every 15 minutes waist-level glass doors on either side of the bar close and the venue rises three floors to Central Park, where one may disembark or stay aboard for the slow descent back down. As the bar rises, a fountain emerges under the bar that can be viewed in the Royal Promenade.

Rising Tide also serves drinks (though we noticed plenty of guests who just came along for the ride), offering the ship’s standard drink menu, and the local special—a blue lychee martini. There are “singles” events several times a day, so it’s also a good place to find a date.

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This lovely spot is located outdoors amid lush Central Park. There are just a few high tables and chairs, as well as some bar stools. Margaritas, martinis, mai tais and other smart cocktails are available, along with beer and wine.

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Doubling as the wine bar and a meal option for tapas, Vintages is located in Central Park, offering tables both inside and out in the park. It’s a great spot for a pre-dinner glass of wine. The bar is full of plush sofas, comfortable chairs with pillows, all surrounded by wines in temperature-controlled coolers. A range of wines from around the world were offered, in regular-sized glasses, or in a smaller portions. Vintages also offers wine seminars, with times and prices available upon request.

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What we liked was the small-plate tapas served daily till 1 a.m., priced $2 to $4 apiece. The Spanish menu included everything from tortilla de patatas (potato omelets), gazpacho, croquetas with rice, potato, chicken or crab, paella, pata negra ham, Iberian sausages, sardines smothered in marinara sauce, and a half-dozen desserts. A number of the items were available as part of combo platter: 5 tapas for $8, 7 for $11 or 8 for $13, plus dessert.

With lovely seating out in the park, a couple could make a fine, informal meal out of the combo platters. Vintages was overlooked by most guests—we felt it was worth discovering.

This is the outdoor bar located on the Boardwalk, between the carousel and the Aqua Theater. It was little used, except just before and after shows at the theater. In addition to the ship’s standard drink menu, some food items were available at no charge (“from Johnny Rockets,” a sign said, but they didn’t appear to be). Popcorn, however, was extra—$1.75 a bag.

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Overlooking the Royal Promenade, the Schooner Bar will be familiar territory for Royal Caribbean regulars—its the line’s trademark sailing-themed bar with nautical decor, glass tables, blue armchairs, and a piano in the center of the room. There’s a long martini menu, various margaritas, iced tea, wine, and beer. Most of the ship’s trivia contests took place here—several daily, each themed around a different subject—and live piano music nightly.

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The Latin-themed bar offered fun drinks and a dance floor to match. Boleros is decorated in bright orange and red tones, features comfortable leather armchairs, and it would be a wonderful place to hang out at night if not for one great flaw: Boleros is one of just a few places inside the ship where smoking is allowed. In fact, the smell at Boleros was so intense that smokers and non-smokers alike will quickly become uncomfortable in it. Day and night, the lounge was the smoker’s hub. We suspect the ventilation is not adequate for its use.

With its Latin focus, Boleros offers lots of rum and tequila-based drinks like caipirinhas, mojitos, and wines from that region. Boleros hosts the occasional live band and is a great spot to dance, with salsa dance lessons and competitions held on some nights.

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Three guesses as to what was served here? Champagne was available by the bottle and by the glass, along with a short list of more intrepid concoctions—Moscow Mule, Gin Basil Smash, Cucumber Fizz, etc. It was a pleasant environment when there wasn’t anything loud like a parade going on, and in the evening a spread of toasts, caviar and fixings were put out.

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This was primarily the ship’s sports bar, with TV screens lining the walls. We stopped by to take advantage of the nightly happy hour and a trivia contest had just concluded—the bar went from jam-packed to completely empty in a matter of minutes. Other events scheduled here included the requisite towel-folding demo and karaoke sessions as well as trivia.

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The old-style English Pub in the Royal Promenade offers a quieter place for a drink. The room is covered with dark, wooden panels, wood furniture, maritime accents, and comfy leather armchairs. The pub has the largest beer list of any venue on the ship, and in addition to its selection of international beers, the Bow and Stern also offers cocktails, wine, and liquor. Beer prices start at around $4.25, while cocktails begin at $5. Every night, the Globe & Atlas hosts a live musical act with the occasional sing-along.

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Located on Deck 4, Blaze is the dance club on Oasis of the Seas, and mostly attended by younger adults (no one under 18 is allowed, though a couple early evenings there were young adults sessions announced in the daily newsletter). Red leather chairs and benches with high backs decorate the club, and an oval bar dominates the room. The dance floor is decent, and there are plenty of seats if you don't feel like getting up.

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Tucked away on Deck 6 forward, the Vitality at Sea Spa offered an array of body treatments. From facials and massages to skin care, salon services and acupuncture, there was something appealing for just about any cruiser. There was a Thermal Suite that featured heated ceramic loungers, an aromatic room, sauna and steam rooms, rain and fog showers.

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Managed by Steiner Leisure, which oversees spa facilities on a majority of cruise ships today, prices are a bit higher than we find at most mass-market land-based resorts. Prices started at $119 for a 50-minute Reflexology or Swedish massage and ranged upwards to $199 for a 75-minute bamboo massage. The 50-minute couples massage was $269 (per couple) and the 50-minute couples rasul scrub was $95. Facials started at $125 for the 50-minute Try-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial; the Men’s Urban Cleanse Facial was $129. There were treatments designed for kids, and the salon offered hair, nail and waxing services. A seven-day pass for the thermal suite was $99, or $179 per couple. Starting from the first day, specials emerged, ranging from 15-minute bonuses to discounts on combo packages. A 15-percent gratuity was automatically added to the bill for all treatments.

The Fitness Center was located on Deck 6 and a stairwell lead outside to jogging track on Deck 5. In contrast to most cruise ship fitness facilities, there were only a few windows providing natural light. In addition to free weights, there were dozens of cardio and resistance machines, but we found some of the equipment in need of repair. We mounted one cycle and the seat wouldn’t stay locked in place; a second bike was okay, but the RPM was off; on a third the mechanism ground a bit. A fourth (!) bike seemed to work fine. Another day we tried the “Expresso” bikes that have a video game-like screen showing your route and other riders; we weren’t sold on the technology, but especially not when the bike kept pulling to the right (off the road) and after about 20 minutes the gears started slipping.

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There were lots of instructors around the gym, but they didn’t go out of their way to assist (personal training sessions were $55 for 40 minutes, or $85 for an hour). There were several free classes available, including stretching and Fab Abs, along with “complimentary wellness seminars” such as How to Increase Your Metabolism and Detox for Health and Weight Loss that ended in pitches for pricey products. Yoga on the ship’s helipad was $12 per class, spinning classes were $15, and the Gravity Group was $30. The Fitness Center was open till 1 a.m. nightly.

Oasis of the Seas has four distinct pool areas, each with a different theme and all located on Deck 15. They’re decent sized pools (the water weight alone is said to be 2,300 tons), but when the sun was out and the ship was at sea, they were very crowded. Each of the pools has whirlpools and showers for rinsing.

The Main Pool is located on the starboard side and. Around the pool are a lot of lounge chairs and sun chairs, and this is the one pool with a transfer chair for those with limited mobility. The Beach Pool is designed to look like a beach, with water lapping up along faux sand and lounge chairs placed in the shallow water. Parasols are distributed evenly through the spot. On sea days the Beach Pool was the most crowded, and loungers were at a premium. Offering three lanes set up in the morning, the Sports Pool is designed for those who like to swim laps. But later in the day, this pool was just as busy as any of the others. Each of these pools are 4-feet 9-inches deep at their deep end.

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The kids-oriented H2O Zone  features shallow pools for toddlers and babies, along with deeper areas for older kids, topping out at 3-feet 5-inches deep. Interactive sculpture fountains have geysers and sprinklers and look like a lot of fun (we restrained impulses to jump in). One of the pools is a whirlpool with glass walls—this was popular. The Baby Splash Zone had a pool that was 2 inches deep; swim diapers were required under a bathing suit. Fair warning: the area is almost always loud and crowded, but we loved the child-sized loungers available in this area.

There’s also The Solarium, an adults-only lounge area with a plunge pool and whirlpools (see “Decks,” below). Located just outside the Solarium are two large, half-moon shaped whirlpools cantilevered off the side of the ship. They’re built into nooks that extend 12 feet out from Deck 15. There are two televisions located at these whirlpools showing sports events, but we found the ocean view to be a lot better.

Most of the ship’s other recreational activities are concentrated around the Sports Court, located on Deck 15 aft and overlooking the Boardwalk. The actual Sports Court is set up for basketball and soccer, and wrapped by a glass wall. The crew organizes soccer and basketball tournaments and everybody’s invited to participate. Nearby are six Ping Pong tables, and table tennis was popular (as well as being the one recreational activity shielded from the elements). Oasis Dunes is the ship’s miniature golf course, with nine holes for play.

The star attraction accessed from this deck is the FlowRider , surfing simulators that are exclusive (at sea) to Royal Caribbean’s newer ships. Oasis of the Seas has two of these wave machines—one for boogie boards, one for stand-up boards. There’s a minimum height requirement of 52 inches inches for boogie boards, 58 inches for surfing. For those who’ve never surfed before, it’s a challenge to get the balance right. Aside from the height issue, we saw all ages trying it out—and everyone takes a few spills before getting the hang of it (the bar next door isn’t called Wipe Out for nothing). So Royal Caribbean requires FlowRiders to sign a waiver before jumping on a board, releasing the cruise line from damages due to injury.

Tip: Soon after embarkation, spring for one of the first available lessons on FlowRider. Many cruisers don’t try out the surf simulators until the second or third sea day, and then lines can be long. A lesson speeds the learning, and the lines to ride later in the cruise won’t be as frustrating. One-hour lessons are $60 for a group session with 4 to 8 others. Or you can rent the FlowRider (with private instructor) for $480 per hour—a good option for families.

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Royal Caribbean was the first to bring Rock Climbing Walls to sea, and Oasis was the first ship to have not one but two walls. The climbing walls are located below the FlowRiders, accessed from the Boardwalk. There are multiple routes on each wall offering varying degrees of difficulty. Although a line was solidly in place after the first couple days of the cruise we never saw the second (port side) wall open. Loaner climbing shoes are provided; socks can be bought or rented. Royal Caribbean’s liability waiter had to be signed here but, ingeniously, the pad containing the waiver also covers the FlowRider and Zipline, so we only needed to sign once for the whole cruise.

The first Zipline at sea stretches across the Boardwalk, from one end of the Sports Court the other. While it pales in comparison to the speed and length of some of the ziplines we’ve tried in the Caribbean, it is a bit scarier than we expected—the first step is a doozie! Open-toed shoes are not allowed, and neither are cameras or other paraphernalia. This is definitely worth trying on embarkation day, while everyone else is getting their bearings—there was essentially no line that day, but almost always a wait thereafter. The line moves relatively quickly—about one rider per minute (the whole ride takes barely 5 seconds)—and we never saw more than about two dozen in line.

Other diversions: Behind the Aqua Theater are two Shuffleboard courts with equipment. These aren’t discovered by most guests, so they weren’t used much during our cruise. In Studio B, the Ice Skating Rink is open for guests when the ice show is not performing or in rehearsal (times are listed in the ship’s newsletter). Loaner ice skates are provided; full, long pants and socks are required.

Owing to its size, there are lots of outdoor areas on Oasis of the Seas, catering to various interests. Offering splendid views across the bow of the ship, the Solarium on decks 15-16 was not enclosed, as the name implies, but mostly covered by glass. It was probably the least crowded sun deck on the ship. Kids age 15 and under were not allowed, so it stayed fairly quiet, the music was subdued. Lounge chairs are distributed over two levels, as well as cushioned chairs with ottomans, some of which are shaded. We were always able to find empty loungers, even on sea days.

There is a plunge pool here (with a fountain in the center it wasn’t conducive for much beyond lolling), along with two hot tubs sequestered between ersatz palms—all saw little traffic during our cruise. On either side of the entrance to the Solarium are half-moon shaped whirlpools cantilevered 12 feet off the side of the ship.

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Circuiting most of the ship, Deck 5 has the ship’s 2,200-foot-long jogging track—2.4 laps equals a mile. Most of the track is enclosed by the ship’s lifeboats, but the very aft portion of the deck is open to the view (located just behind the Aqua Theater, this was a nice little hangout). Along the track are motivational signs, to inspire you to run a little longer, but we found that the narrowness of the track causes congestion, with slower walkers and runners often in conflict.

Above the Solarium, Deck 17 is another sun deck, but during the day it's designated for Royal Caribbean gold card members only. There are huge beach chairs, sun chairs and lounge chairs, and a bar. It’s very quiet, even on sea days. After 6 p.m. the area is opened to all, and nicknamed Cigars Under the Stars.

The Boardwalk is located on Deck 6 aft, and represents one of the neighborhoods on Oasis. The three most popular features were the Aqua Theater, Johnny Rockets and the rock climbing walls—other aspects made this area feel like a money pit. The carousel, however, is free to all. On Deck 8, Central Park is another outdoor neighborhood on Oasis, with some 12,000 plants and a piped-in chorus of bird and cricket sounds. Most of the specialty restaurants are located around Central Park, along with the art gallery, but you won’t find much sunshine here. The main sundeck is at the very front of Oasis, on Deck 14 . There are some lounge chairs and two binoculars, as well as a nice view down to the helipad. Deck 16 is the sundeck directly above the pool areas. Sun loungers and chairs are all around this deck, and two small bars are in the middle, so nobody has to go far to get a drink.

Oasis of the Seas offers what may be the richest entertainment schedule at sea. This is, in part, due to sheer size of the ship—there are several big venues, and live music going on in multiple settings at virtually all hours of the day—but Royal Caribbean has done an excellent job of catering to the diverse range of guests on board. Deck 4 is designed to be the primary evening entertainment hub, with the casino at one end. The main showroom here, Opal Theater , seats 1,394 in a comfortably broad, raked arc offering great sightlines throughout, and cup-holders at every seat—only the front row of the balcony is partially obstructed (by a railing). We found the Opal’s acoustics to be terrific, and the sound mix at the performances we saw was great, not overdone.

The marquee show at Opal is “Hairspray,” an abbreviated 90-minute version of the Tony Award-winning musical. With a cast of 21 singers and dancers and a 5-piece live band, the show is scaled down slightly from Broadway, but otherwise comparable to the touring version. It’s an entertaining tribute to R&B set in Baltimore, with a sly undercurrent of both racial and sexual politics for good measure—all-in-all, a refreshing change of pace from the usual Motown tributes occupying most cruise ship showrooms, and well-suited for all ages. Also playing in the Opal Theater was “Come Fly With Me,” a 45-minute musical review of (loosely) air-themed songs. Designed just for Oasis, it’s a big show, with a prop plane coming onto the stage at one point. It has a slick Vegas feel, with a couple showstoppers where the staging, performances and concept gelled beautifully.

Editor’s note : The Tony Award-winning musical “Cats” has replaced “Hairspray” in the Opal Theater.

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Note that, with just three performances of “Hairspray” and “Come Fly With Me,” seating capacity in Opal is not adequate should everyone onboard want to attend. We didn’t have a problem getting into either show without a ticket, but advance bookings (free on embarkation day) are recommended.

Unique to Oasis (and Allure of the Seas) is the Aqua Theater , a 720-seat outdoor venue that faces aft—a pool is the stage, with diving boards towering above. The 35-minute headliner is “Oasis of Dreams,” a breathtaking Cirque du Soleil-meets-Esther Williams water spectacular. Ignore the show’s airy-fairy storyline and enjoy the acrobatic display by 16 gymnasts, aerialists and divers, all wearing skimpy little bathing suits that show off toned physiques. There were just four performances during our cruise, at least two of which were standing-room-only. The seats are comfortable, interspersed with some benches; note that the first three rows are designated as a “splash zone.”

Another Royal Caribbean specialty is Studio B , an ice rink located down on Deck 3. Though open for ice skating sessions at select times (see “Other Recreation,” above), Oasis has a 12-member team of skaters who perform “Frozen in Time,” an ice show based around the tales of Hans Christian Anderson. The Ugly Duckling, the Red Shoes, the Emperor’s New Clothes and other stories are brought to life in whimsical fashion, with an enthusiastic reception from the audience. There were five performances during our cruise; the venue has a 775-seat capacity.

Other performance venues of note included Comedy Live, for standup shows, almost all of which were designated for age 18 and up. We looked forward to sampling the acts—two comedians performing in succession—but we were unable to secure an advance reservation, and were instead advised to join the standby line at least 45 minutes before showtime. Although there were 15 performances scheduled during our cruise, the venue seats only 120, meaning only about one-third of the ship’s passengers could attend all the shows combined. The last night of cruise the comedians were moved to the Opal Theater, and it was still filled to the rafters. Our advice: Get a reservation before embarkation. One other venue worth checking out was Jazz on 4 , which featured a decent singer backed by a three-piece combo. The sound was good, but we weren’t lured in for some reason.

With 523 slot machines and 24 table games, the Casino Royale is huge—and busy. Aside from size, we didn’t find too much that made it different from other casinos at sea, though we did spot a Baccarat table, which seemed pretty unusual. The starboard side of the casino is a smoking area, while a discrete area on the port side offered slot machines in a relatively smoke-free environment.

The casino bar in the casino will make you any drink you want, but the drinks aren’t free for gamblers like they are in Las Vegas. But the more you play the slots, the more points you can earn towards various rewards (as small as a key chain, or, if you earn enough, dinner at Chops Grille).

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Oasis of the Seas has a pretty small Library tucked away on Deck 11. Whether because the shelves weren’t full to begin with, or everything was cleaned out on the first day, we found the shelves less than half-full on the second day of the cruise. Just above on Deck 14 and somewhat larger, Seven Hearts was the game room, and also doubled as the ship’s main internet station. “Self led Bridge play” was scheduled for an hour or two most days of the cruise, and there was a small selection of common board games such as Scrabble and Checkers. Located in the middle of the Boardwalk, the Carousel was pretty to look at, but didn’t see a lot of action.

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Located almost at midship in the Royal Promenade, the Explorations Desk was where shore excursions could be booked. We liked that this was built around a clocktower, and although we would have expected that the design would have impeded organization and traffic, it was an approachable collection of freestanding desks that were staffed up as needed. The Guest Services Desk nearby was open—and busy—at most hours of the day. Staff behind the desk worked diligently to keep the line moving, but a lack of stanchions (ropes) to keep the line orderly was a problem the times we were here.

There are several venues available for groups, starting with the Pinnacle Chapel , an airy and attractive facility on Deck 17 that can accommodate at least 50 guests, comfortably seated. Nearby is the Pinnacle Lounge , another private meeting space (and opening unto the Viking Crown Lounge next door). A more traditional Conference Center is located on Deck 3—four conference rooms accommodating from 50 guests (seated theater style) up to 120. The rooms can be combined for a total of 4,424 square feet of meeting space.

Royal Caribbean offers one of the cruise industry’s most extensive kids programs, and Oasis of the Seas has all the bells and whistles, broken down by age bracket. Pre-teens were accommodated on Deck 14 forward, while the teen area was on Deck 15 aft. There was even an informal program for 18- to 20-year-olds. An open house was hosted for families on embarkation day.

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Starting with the youngest cruisers, the Royal Babies and Tots Nursery handles children age 6 months to 36 months, at an hourly rate of $8 per child, till midnight daily. The nursery stocks a basic supply of essential childcare items, but parents need to bring diapers, bottles and milk, food, sippy cups and an extra set of clothes. A Fisher-Price toy lending service was available (great for keeping luggage to the essentials). Parents were allowed to leave the ship for shore excursions, and in-cabin babysitting services were also available.

Children age 3 to 11 are handled at the Adventure Ocean facility with its own science lab and theater, and corresponding activities scheduled for three sub-groups: Aquanauts (age 3-5), Explorers (age 6-8) and Voyagers (age 9-11). Individually they participate in scheduled, age-appropriate games and science experiments. Hours vary (the facilities were open longer on sea days), but generally activities were scheduled between 9 a.m. and 2 a.m. There was no charge for kids, including meals, though a fee of $6 per hour applied for children 11 and under participating in the late-night activities (10 p.m. to 2 a.m.). Children 8 and under had to be signed in and out by parents; with parental consent Voyagers were allowed to sign themselves in and out.

Teens age 12 to 17 have their own parent-free space on Deck 15, the Living Room , a lounge with Wii, a music studio, reading materials and internet stations (teens received a reduced rate of .30/minute). Many activities took place around the ship—Sports Deck, Scavenger Hunt, etc. There was a dedicated disco for teens only, Fuel , with Scratch DJ 101 sessions and a different party theme each night (Miami/Latin, Vegas, etc.). Fuel was designated for age 12-14 from 10:30 to 11:45 p.m., and after midnight the older teens took over. Note that a curfew for all public areas of the ship was in effect after 1 a.m. nightly for guests age 17 and under, unless accompanied by an adult.

There were two arcades: the Kids Arcade at Adventure Ocean and the Video Arcade located next to the Living Room.

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It’s not just the biggest cruise ship, Oasis is also the biggest shopping mall at sea. While most of the wares on offer were pretty typical for a mainstream cruise line, the number of guests aboard allowed Royal Caribbean to think a little more broadly than usual.

The main shopping area ran through the Royal Promenade on Deck 5 and started with Regalia , a watch and jewelry store, featuring such brands as Tag Heuer, Tissot, Longines and Sophia Fiori. At Focus we found a decent selection of consumer-grade cameras from Canon, Pentax, and Nikon, including underwater cameras. Port Merchants carried an array of sundries, liquor, snacks, and ship souvenirs, while Prince and Greene offered cosmetics and perfumes, and Willow offered clothing, predominantly women’s apparel. Just upstairs from the Champagne Bar was the photo gallery, where we could peruse the handiwork of the ship’s crew of photographers. Eight-by-tens were $19.95 each, but there were various packages available, up to and including a bound photo book of 34 photos for $149.95.

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As befits a location facing Park Avenue (or so we might think), Central Park had the ship’s two high-end shops. There was a Coach store—a first for any cruise ship—with the leather goods beautifully displayed just like at a mall at home. Next door is the Parkside Gallery which has a better-than-average selection of art pieces for sale. Several art auctions were conducted during our cruise. Next door to that is Picture This , a small studio for portrait photos.

In the Boardwalk area shops aims for whimsy, and includes kid-friendly Pinwheels , with plush toys and a Pets at Sea set-up, something like Build-a-Bear (the stuffed animals were $22 each, or $32 with one set of clothing). Next door, Star Pier had active-wear and accessories from Puma, Quiksilver, and Swatch. And of course, in keeping with the Coney Island flavor, there was a Zoltar animatronic fortune-teller machine, dishing out sage wisdom for a buck.

Overall, we found service to be disciplined and pleasant. Oasis of the Seas is a big machine to run, and management seems able to inspire consistently good service from crewmembers, especially in the restaurants. But on some occasions the strain of catering to so many guests showed.

We wanted to switch from an assigned seating time for the main dining room and went to Opus the first afternoon to request the change. A hostess told us My Time dining was full but she would put us on the waitlist for a change, and to check back later. When we did, a host told us there was no waitlist and wanted to know who had told us of one; he then called the hostess by phone and engaged in a verbal debate that escalated into accusations. On at least two other occasions we overheard crew conversations that shouldn't have been shared with guests.

We also found that dining in the specialty restaurants was sometimes poorly paced—either too slow or (usually) too fast. In each instance we felt that the number of servers in the venue was inadequate for the level of business. This was a particular problem at Chops Grille, where an inexperienced waiter rushed us through our meal in careless fashion.

The ship’s newsletter, Cruise Compass, arrived in our room each evening, containing detailed information on the following day’s schedule. There were so many activities to keep track of that it was easy to miss out on some events. On the first day of our cruise, a document called The Planner was available at the “box office”—a reservation desk set up at Studio B during embarkation—providing an overview of the major shows and events taking place throughout the cruise. Picking up The Planner, and making reservations for shows, are essential first-day duties to get the most of an Oasis of the Seas cruise.

The amount of printed marketing materials delivered to our cabin was somewhat less than normal, in contrast to the deluge we typically receive on a cruise. However, our interactive TV had a “message” box, and a plethora of communications flooded our way, demanding for attention—there were nine messages to delete on the first day alone!

Internet access aboard Oasis of the Seas left something to be desired. Three internet stations, known as the iCafe, had a collection of PCs for surfing the web. The first two, on decks 7 and 9 forward, seemed like afterthoughts—a couple of spare areas near elevator shafts that weren’t quite big enough for an inside cabin. How claustrophobic and unappealing! At least the station on Deck 14 aft—inside Seven Hearts, the game room—was more open. The basic rate for internet access was .65 per minute, but packages were available that brought the per minute rate down—60 minutes for $35 (.58/minute), 100 minutes for $55 (.55/minute), etc. In the Teen Zone, the basic rate was .30 per minute.

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WiFi was available ship-wide for those who brought their own laptops, but we found the service clunky—at least three times we were charged for a minute then kicked off; a charge for another 3 minutes appeared on our bill despite having purchased a package. When we stopped by the main iCafe to correct our bill an attendant never seemed to be present, even during scheduled hours (the Guest Services desk later took care of the overcharges).

It’s also possible to access the internet from interactive cabin TVs, a system we didn’t try out.

Editor's Note : After our cruise, Royal Caribbean upgraded the WiFi system on Oasis of the Seas. An unlimited internet package was also made available—$179 for the duration of the cruise.

There were three dress codes recommended, though minimally enforced. The dress code for Casual evenings (four nights of our cruise) was dresses or slacks and blouses for women, sport shirts and trousers for men. There was one Smart Casual night of the cruise: dresses or pantsuits for women, jackets for men. Two nights were designated as Formal and the suggested dress was cocktail attire for women, suits and ties or tuxedos for men (tuxedo rental can be arranged through Royal Caribbean in advance of the the cruise).

Bare feet, shorts, tank tops and caps were not permitted in the Opus Dining Room and all specialty restaurants.

There are no self-service laundry rooms aboard Oasis of the Seas. Washing, pressing and dry clean service were available at typical hotel rates.

A Muster Drill was held prior to embarkation, and the crew checked cabins to make sure they were vacant. Key cards were scanned at the entrance to each muster station, and the safety briefing was conducted primarily via a video presentation, followed by a live demonstration on how to wear life jackets. Lifeboats are located on deck five.

The Medical Facility is located on Deck 2. The facility was staffed from 8 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. daily. There were hand sanitizing stations positioned at entrances to most restaurants.

On our cruise, Oasis of the Seas was designated as non-smoking, except for specific areas, including cabin balconies. But Royal Caribbean revealed a more restrictive smoking policy, effective January 1, 2014. Smoking will no longer be allowed on guest balconies. Designated outside areas on the port side of the ship will be set aside for smokers; smoking will not be allowed in the Boardwalk or Central Park areas of the ship. E-cigarettes will be allowed only in designated smoking areas. Guests found to have been smoking in cabins will be subject to a $250 cleaning fee.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

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BIGGER. BOLDER. GAMECHANGER.

Oasis of the seas.

The original gamechanger is running up the score again — loaded with all new adventures in the biggest Royal Amplified reimagining ever.

Beyond the first of its class, Oasis of the Seas® was also the ship that launched a vacation revolution. And now this Oasis Class favorite will introduce even more new thrills for couples and kids of all ages, upgraded ways to soak up the sun or enjoy the shade, more delicious dining options than ever to elevate date night, and buzzworthy new spots to light up every evening. 

Make Room For Thrills

There are so many game changing adventures to choose from onboard the Amplified Oasis of the Seas® — where will you wander next?

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A NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN SCENE

Find new thrills on every deck, like The Perfect Storm℠ waterslides and the tallest slide at sea, Ultimate Abyss℠. Grab bold bites to go at El Loco Fresh® and the first Portside BBQ℠, or cheer on your favorite team at Playmakers℠ Sports Bar & Arcade. This is the Amplified Oasis of the Seas® — and the adventure has never been bolder. 

PLAY IT UP BIG

This isn’t just changing the game. It’s changing how you play. From adrenaline-soaked thrills on The Perfect Storm℠ waterslides to our most drenchworthy Splashaway Bay℠ aquapark yet. Plus a cool new glow-in-the-dark laser tag faceoff where you’ll battle for control of a mystical frozen city. A space-age puzzler in the latest Royal Escape Room. The tallest slide at sea, Ultimate Abyss℠. And totally interactive, completely redesigned spaces for babies, kids and teens of all ages.  

EVEN MORE ON THE MENU

When the options are this good, there’s no such thing as too many. That’s why we’ve added even more possibilities to our seemingly endless selection of best restaurants — so you can take that family dinner or date night to the next level. Now you can grab crazy good Mexican fare at El Loco Fresh® or game-day favorites at Playmakers℠ Sports Bar & Arcade. See how we put our own spin on a backyard favorite, with pitmastery perfection at the new Portside BBQ℠. And we’ve got you and your sweet tooth covered at Sugar Beach℠. 

ADVENTURE FROM DAY TO NIGHT

Rally your special someone and get down all day and all night at over a dozen of our best bars, plus some bold new contenders. Turn up the Caribbean cool with couples’ cocktails poolside at the Lime and Coconut®, or grab a beer at Playmakers℠ Sports Bar & Arcade. Rock out on the dance floor to the best cover bands in the biz at Music Hall. And end the evening on a high note with a duet at the new Spotlight℠ Karaoke. 

discover tWo ways to play

Rev up your summer on the biggest ship to sail Europe — Oasis of the Seas ®. Be awestruck by the Colosseum in Rome one minute, then wander along the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona the next. Or, wander the white sand beaches in the Bahamas and take flight on a zip line over Labadee's coastline.

TROPIC LIKE ITS HOT

When the temperature drops, you can explore the vibrant shores of the Western Caribbean on a 7 night adventure onboard Oasis of the Seas®. Cruise to Perfect Day at Cococay to conquer the tallest waterslide in North America and grab a drink at the largest freshwater swim up bar in the Bahamas. Make it a romantic escape for two, or bring the whole family along for the thrills.

EXPLORE WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISES

MED ABOUT YOU

Sail from  Rome or Barcelona onboard the wow-worthy Oasis of the Seas® to Western Mediterranean shores. Soak up sun-filled days along Palma de Mallorca’s beautiful beaches. Admire the life-like details of Michelangelo’s David in Florence . And savor authentic Neapolitan pizza in Naples . Kickstart your weeklong adventure onboard Oasis of the Seas. If you’re a Crown & Anchor Society member, prepare to be swept away on an epic journey onboard our upcoming weeklong President's cruise .

EXPLORE MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO DISCOVER THE ORIGINAL GAMECHANGER

One-of-a-kind thrills and weeklong discoveries await you on  Oasis of the Seas ®. Show off your wave-taming skills on two FlowRider® surf simulators. Or plummet 10 stories down the Ultimate Abyss SM . Plus indulge in delicious dining options for the whole family and lively bars to elevate date night. Your boldest adventure yet is calling.

Check out our guides for additional tips on a memory-maxing vacation onboard the world’s boldest ships.

MEET THE WORLD'S BIGGEST, BOLDEST SHIPS 

These engineering wonders take home awards every year for their cutting-edge design, first-of-their-kind attractions, world class dining and accommodations, and unforgettable experiences. From the tallest slide at sea, to culinary concepts that take guests from Japan to Italy to Wonderland, the world’s largest cruise ships are full of adventures guaranteed to wow every kind of explorer.

EXPLORE OASIS CLASS

THIS IS A DAY UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Conquer the tallest waterslide in North America and snap a shot from up to 450 feet up in a helium balloon . Grab a drink at the swim-up bar and soak up the scene in the largest freshwater pool in the Bahamas. Or get a taste of Bora Bora with your own overwater cabana . When you sail onboard Oasis of the Seas®, adventure is always on the itinerary.

THRILL- SEEKERS WANTED

If you’re into adrenaline-amping experiences, you’ll find plenty of bucket list worthy thrills to conquer on Perfect Day at CocoCay — Take on the twists and turns of Thrill Waterpark with record-breaking slides and adrenaline-pumping rides.

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Elevate Your Vacay

Level up your lounge game at Coco Beach Club®, an exclusive retreat where you can sip cocktails while drifting along the disappearing edge of the infinity pool. Or experience a bit of Bora Bora with the first Overwater Cabanas in The Bahamas.

EXPLORE COCO BEACH CLUB

DIG IN TO DELICIOUS

Whether you fill your day with high-energy thrills or lots of laid-back lounging, eventually you’re going to work up an appetite. Fortunately, Perfect Day at CocoCay offers tons of delicious dining options to satisfy all your cravings.

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Level up your lounge game at Coco Beach Club®, an exclusive retreat with Overwater Cabanas and an infinity pool. Or crank the party vibe way up at Hideaway Beach℠, the ultimate adults-only beachfront paradise fueled by DJ-spun beats and craft cocktails.

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CRUISE SHIP OASIS OF THE SEAS REVIEWS

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Cruise review: Oasis of the seas

The Oasis of the seas – first sighting!

I woke up Sunday for my early morning coffee and found the the Oasis of the Seas looking at me through the trees which was a truly wonderful feeling.  I remember once in New York, we could see only a small slice of the Hudson River between buildings from our hotel but still happened to be paying attention as the Norwegian Jewel passed by on its way to the pier where we would board later that day.  First glimpse of the ship you’ve been studying for months makes it all real.

Onboard by 11!

Breakfast is included at the hotel and wasn’t too crowded as early as we ate, however considering practically the entire hotel is there to cruise, it probably does get a bit crazy a bit later in the morning.  Three shuttle times were available 9:45, 10:30 and 11:30. We chose 9:45 as we always try to board as early as possible. The shuttle driver was prompt and very nice.  The drive is incredibly short and you are literally dropped off at the door.

Porters take your checked bags as you exit the shuttle.  Then, in our case, we were through security, checked in and waiting with a boarding number of 1 in probably 10 minutes.  Absolutely amazing efficiency.  Keep in mind our boarding number was only number one in terms of those of us left after those with disabilities, Crown and Anchor priority, and of course the serious casino players. We’re Platinum on both Carnival and Norwegian but only Gold with Royal as this is only our third time sailing with them.

Believe it or not, boarding began by 10:45 and we were on board before 11am.  That is unheard of for us, as we tend to favor New York and Baltimore as our departure ports and consider it a victory of we board prior to noon. It’s likely more due to sailing from a fantastic and newer terminal in Florida than anything Royal Caribbean does differently, but suffice it to say that the combination of both will not disappoint when it comes to boarding.

Internet package

Once on board I stopped to chat with the internet staff.  Having purchased the soda package/WiFi combo a few months ago, I wasn’t sure if that include the streaming internet or just regular.  My intention was to upgrade if necessary, but it turned out surf and steam is included when you buy the combo in advance. So that was good.  Typically the difference in the two speeds is $5/day.

Speedy luggage

The rooms were ready at 1pm which is typical although what wasn’t was the fact that our luggage beat us to the room!  In 30 some cruises, that has never happened.  Typically it’s at least an hour or two after getting in the room that they are delivered and we are unpacking when its time for the muster drill and sailaway.  This cruise, however, we were on board, had lunch, explored and unpacked by shortly after 2pm!  That was a record that I can’t imagine ever being broken.

Room/Cabin location

Not sure of the category system with Royal Caribbean right off hand, but I believe it was considered a Super Oceanview with Balcony.  Something like that anyway.   The room was nice enough, but certainly nothing special.  Decent storage, shelves, etc. Outlets were fine, and I believe there were three on the desk which is more than usual. I had heard Royal likes to confiscate power strips, though mine still got through.  It might be such that surge protectors aren’t allowed on board, but regular ones are fine.

The balcony was very nice size but the view was limited slightly by some supports for Deck 15. I would have almost considered it an obstructed view, but it might not be worth that description. Probably only a dozen cabins with these supports exist on Deck 14 under the bulge area below the Windjammer.  I thought, on booking, that it had been a great location to still be available, perhaps thats why. We always try to stay one deck down from the pool deck for easy access during the days. On this ship that separates you greatly from Decks 4/5/6 and the Promenade, Dining Rooms and Boardwalk.  Thankfully we only had to walk up to 14 from 5 a couple times, which isn’t as bad as it might sound.

Twenty four elevators is more than adequate most times.  But peak hours and especially the dreaded post muster drill rush really put a strain on them.  Another good reason to choose Deck 14 aft is quick access to the Wipeout Cafe and the arcade’s coke machine.

Getting around

For the size and complexity of the ship, it’s really not difficult to learn your way around.  It’s still a ship after all.  Forward/aft, starboard/port, and decks. We had a handle on it fairly quickly.  In a nutshell: Central Park extends between the forward and aft elevators on 8, Promenade extends between the elevators on 5, Boardwalk is aft from the aft elevators on 6, night clubs, ice skating and casino are on 3. Main Dining Rooms are aft on 3,4 and 5, pools, sports and Solarium are on 15 and Windjammer is 16.  Most of the rest is cabins, so once you find yours and your relationship to the stairs/elevators you’re good to go.

Central Park/Park Cafe

Our first meal on boarding day was at Park Cafe. Having read review after review endorsing the roast beef sandwiches there, we had to try for ourselves. They did not disappoint! They are small, but not as much as anticipated, so getting two each right off the bat might have been a little overkill. They come with either regular or spicy mustard or horseradish.  Absolutely worth visiting and good for boarding day lunch as it’s not super crowded.

They have a good selection of other sandwiches as well as pre-made and made to order salads. Bags of chips are available, which we thought unusual for a ship. If you can grab a table outside, the atmosphere is wonderful.  Inside it’s rather diner like. Central Park itself is beautiful and unlike anything else you are likely to see at sea. Unfortunately we rarely had occasion to visit unless going to Park Cafe. It’s worth seeing at night too, even if you have to go out of your way do pass through.

If you’re inclined to pay extra for food you’ll probably visit more often as many of the specialty dining venues are located in Central Park.  That’s not something that appeals to us though.

The pool deck is a little confusing at first since there are 4 pools.  The beach and main pools are probably the most utilized.  There is also an awesome kids area and a sports pool where they have games, exercise and such. We spent the bulk of our time in the vicinity of the beach pool. I loved the abundance of nice shaded areas on Oasis.

My son and I are not sun worshipers by any means and do our best to stay out of it unless actually in the pool.  Prime areas on other ships are in the direct sun and space in the shade is mostly tables, smokers or afterthoughts.  One thing that took a little getting used to was the presence of lifeguards. All the time! If the pool is open, there is a guy standing there watching. You get used to it but it’s weird at first.  Even the less than 4ft deep adults only Solarium pool has one.

A nice difference from New York cruises is that all the deck chairs aren’t gone at 8am on sea days. I’ve been up very early all week and practically no one shows up at the pools until after 7 and even they are few. As with most everything else on the Oasis, it never seems crowded.  You may not always get the exact area you want, but you can find a place to set up shop for a few hours.

The Solarium is beautiful but unfortunately only for those 16yrs+.  We walked through a couple of times but didn’t press our luck by settling in.  It seemed to be warmer in there to me and for that reason I might steer clear of it anyway, but we’ll have to see about that in the future.

This is more or less the hub of activity, so in that respect its the place to be.  The downside though, is that its basically a shopping mall, and one where you can’t afford anything at that. But that aside, its the home of the Promenade Cafe and Sorrento’s which are places you’d likely want if not need.

I used the soda machines at Sorrento’s several times a day.  The pizza there is ok if you absolutely need a pizza fix.  I would place it above Norwegian’s and below Carnival’s.  My favorite part of Sorrento’s is the antipasti corner.  Olives, salami, cheese, peppers, bread and other little things.  There was never a line during my visits even when the pizza line was well out the door.

Promenade Cafe

Promenade Cafe, astoundingly, seemed to be the only place, on a ship with nearly 6000 passengers, to get coffee in the vicinity of 6am.  I still say I had to have been missing something but perhaps not.  Seemed a little wacky to me.  I was up between 5:30 and 6 most mornings for sunrise and it was always quite busy.  Sure, you’ve got Starbucks, I’m not sure what time it opens, but in case you haven’t gathered by now, I’m not paying for something I can get for free. There is also room service which begins at 6am I believe.  Thats only practical if you’re whole cabin is up at that time though.

Guest services

Guest Services is here as well as the photo and shore excursion areas.  Two Dreamworks parades are held here through the week.  I only saw the first.  It was entertaining, but not so much to make an effort to see the second.

The Boardwalk is a cute little area and home to the Aqua Theatre and Johnny Rockets among other things. While the show at the Aqua Theatre wasn’t all that impressive, the venue is very nice and in my opinion should be utilized more often. Our sailing was over American Thanksgiving when several football games are televised. A lot of people gathered there that afternoon enjoying the action on the big screens.

The weather was beautiful, seats are plentiful and a bar is nearby.  What more could you want? I believe movies were shown there at least a few evenings. Also in the Boardwalk is one of the best places on the ship for breakfast, Johnny Rockets.  The menu isn’t extensive, but all the basics are covered and the quality and service are excellent. We ate there twice and sat outside on the Boardwalk, which provides a really nice atmosphere. If Windjammer chaos isn’t your thing, Johnny Rockets is a great no fee alternative.

This venue gets a bad rap online, but we were actually impressed by the selection and quality of the food available.  Crowds might be an issue at peak hours, but it was always fine during our visits.  My only problem with the Windjammer is its hours.  They open too late and close mid day between lunch and dinner.  There are two relatively separate sides to the restaurant and I can’t imagine there would ever be a reason for one of them not to be open.  Other food venues are available around the ship, and during peak hours that’s wonderful. Not everyone follows the schedules of the masses though.  This is likely just my Norwegian bias surfacing though, as I am used to the Garden Cafe being available for a snack whenever you want something.

Soda Machines

If you are a heavy soda drinker like me, you’ll love this addition.  To my knowledge they are only available on Oasis class.  I have purchased the soda package for years and am accustomed to stopping at bars all day every day for Pepsi or Coke.  That isn’t a problem as long as they aren’t too crowded, but recently with all the freebies being pushed by Norwegian the crowds have increased.

There are only 7 of the machines on the Oasis. Two in each side of the Windjammer, two on the Promenade at Sorrento’s, and one in the arcade on 15.  Keep in mind the limited availability of the Windjammer, so only 3 of the 7 are available 24hrs and maybe half of the drink selections were available at any machine.  Ice was also sporadically available.  And even considering all of that, these things were great for me and Royal definitely gets points for providing them.

Main Dining Rooms

The food and service at the Main Dining Rooms were fantastic.  We did early seating dinner and experienced no issues all week.  There is nothing really all that different from other lines though. Well, it differs from Norwegian in that you have the same servers every night, which is always nice.  The food was outstanding and portions were a little bigger than usual in my opinion too.

Entertainment

Surprisingly I score Royal Caribbean fairly low on entertainment.  Cats was by far my favorite of the shows.  The family comedy show on the last night would be second. The skating show would be next.  Followed distantly by the Aqua Theatre show and Come Fly with Me.  They were ok and certainly not bad by any means.  Its just that by listening to Royal Caribbean fans brag about their product, I had come to expect more.

Reservations

One thing you might find of interest is that the advance reservation system means little to nothing in reality.  Two or three times we went to shows at different times/dates than we were supposed to have.  They simply scanned our cards and let us in.  Very weird. They didn’t even scan cards for the ice show and Cats at all.

Comedy club

Mentioning the comedy thing brings up another Royal complaint.  The presence of a permanent Comedy Club on Deck 4 could have been fantastic.  However it is only for those 18+!  Why not offer early family shows and late adult shows like Carnival and NCL?  They did have a family show at the main theatre the last night, which was great.

Jogging Track

I have mixed feelings about the track.  For serious runners/walkers it’s great and actually much better than any other ship I’ve sailed. I say that because it’s uncrowded.  If you just want to get your miles in for the day, its perfect.  However, if you are used to areas like Deck 7 of the Norwegian Jewel class where you can loop the ship while feeling at one with the sea, well, it’s not like that.  You can’t see much of the ocean except for the aft area and a handful of other small places.  Otherwise, you are behind low hanging life boats.  Compared to the track on the Norwegian Breakaway though, where you try to wind through very crowded public areas, it’s very nice.  So, as with most things, it just depends on your perspective.

Plenty of good options for things to do can be found in Cozumel.  Our main objective this visit was to get a cab to Chankanaab Park for a sea lion show and encounter.  The price wasn’t bad and it seemed a bit more interesting than the routine (and more expensive) dolphin encounter.  Royal Caribbean offers a shore excursion to do the dolphin encounter at the same place that includes a buffet lunch with an open bar.  We chose to skip excursion and venture out on our own because a buffet lunch is the last thing you need on a cruise and the sea lions were way more appealing to us.  A cab for 3 was $12ea way and the encounter was $59ea.  All in all a very reasonable investment in my opinion, provided you don’t buy the photos!  Much like the cruise lines, they really gouge you on photos.  I believe he said a single digital photo was $35 or you could get all of them (a bunch) for $300 something. Insane I thought.  As my son preaches, just enjoy and appreciate the moment rather than determining to get the perfect photo.  So that’s what we did.

Falmouth Jamaica

After studying this port a little in the 2 or 3 weeks the cruise line gave us prior to the cruise, we decided not to do much since most of the attractions were either in the Ocho Rios or Montego Bay area.  It’s not our practice to stray that far from the ship.  We did get off and walk around the little touristy area they created for cruisers though.  It was nice enough.  No one was pushy or aggressive from what we could see. Nice time walking around the shops there although I don’t believe we bought anything.  The Margaritaville had a nice pool area for some reason, so that could potentially be a nice atmosphere later in the day.  As is our usual, we were much too early for anything to be going on.

Labadee Haiti

Debarkation

Other options are available if you are still in vacation mode at the end or have a late day flight, but the self-assist walk-off gets you on your way the quickest.  We were up at 5:30am and I noticed at that time that a line was already forming in the Promenade to disembark.  By the time we finished packing, had breakfast (Windjammer is pretty much your only option this day) and got back down to Promenade to leave it was just before 7 and we literally walked right off the ship.  However, as you aware, you’re not done yet at this point.

Unfortunately it was almost another hour until we were through Customs and exiting the building.  That was the only significant queue the entire week.  So thats not a bad trade off I guess.  All in all the time involved with debarkation vs. New York wasn’t all that much different.  Its just in New York, you’re stuck on the ship for the line and in Port Canaveral your line is in the terminal.  Not a big deal.  We were back to the hotel for the car, packed the cooler with ice from the hotel and were on the road by 8:05am.

Oasis of the seas

Overall the cruise was fantastic, as are most in my opinion.  Not every thing was as we are accustomed, but its good to experience new things.  Royal Caribbean excels in many areas.  They must do something right when you can sail on a ship with 5000 or 6000 passengers and hardly ever notice a crowd.  That aspect alone was wonderful.  The food was great all around and Royal quite possibly beats the other lines in that area, at least it did on this ship.  Entertainment was good, just not great. Cats is, as described, a very polarizing show. People tend to either love it or hate it.  I really enjoyed it while the rest of my family gave up before intermission.

The Oasis of the Seas class are absolutely incredible ships and offer areas unlike you’ll find anywhere else at sea.  So Royal Caribbean gets a win there as well.  One thing we did learn this sailing, though, is while having all those things available was very nice, its not a perfect fit for everyone.  I don’t think our cruise could have been any better to be honest.  But, would I be just as happy on the Norwegian Gem, absolutely.  My cruise needs are minimal and can easily be provided on a smaller ship.  That said, the Oasis ships are certainly something that any serious cruiser simply must see.

So those are my thoughts after a week onboard Oasis of the Seas.  I’m sure I missed plenty that I will think of as soon as this goes up.  If there is something else you would like to know about specifically, please let me know and I’ll do my best to answer.  Thanks for reading along.

Having just got back from my first Royal Caribbean cruise I was so happy when Michael offered to write this post for us! I have caught the Royal Caribbean bug and am keen to learn about other ships. I’m amazed at how many things we found that were the same (windjammer being closed too much and the promenade being full of things you can’t afford). I wish the Independence of the seas had soda machines as I think that is a feature I would use a lot. I hope you’ll write for us again Michael as I honestly feel like I’ve learnt a lot from this post, I’d love to cruise on the Oasis! Thank you millions!!

About Michael: You can find Michael on Twitter/Instagram @spridlewv (I definitely recommend you do!) As he said in the post, he’s been on over 30 cruises and I certainly hope he will write for us about his next! You can find him on twitter here and Instagram here .

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The 6 best cruise ship waterslides and watery fun zones

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Call it the Battle of the Waterslides.

In the last few years, the big boys of the cruise industry — Royal Caribbean , MSC Cruises , Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line — have been locked in a game of one-upmanship when it comes to waterslides and watery fun zones on vessels.

In addition to such over-the-top, new attractions as go-kart tracks and roller coasters , the brands behind the biggest megaresorts at sea have been packing the top decks of their vessels with even more over-the-top watery allures.

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Royal Caribbean, for instance, added an 800-foot-long “water coaster” to the back of its 3,386-passenger Navigator of the Seas just a few years ago. It’s one of more than two dozen giant waterslides the line has added to more than half a dozen ships in the last seven years.

Royal Caribbean also plans a record six waterslides on its next new ship, Icon of the Seas, which is scheduled to debut in January 2024.

But as recently as early 2016, Royal Caribbean didn’t have a single waterslide on any of its vessels.

MSC Cruises also has gone big with giant water parks in the past seven years, with as many as four waterslides on more than half a dozen of its newest vessels. Norwegian has loaded up its most recent ships with giant water parks, too — some have as many as five waterslides!

Not to be outdone, Carnival, an early adopter of waterslides on ships, has added sprawling water park areas with multiple waterslides to almost every vessel in its fleet.

A brief history of water attractions at sea

In the beginning, there was the pool. As watery cruise ship attractions go, it has long been the staple — something found on nearly every cruise vessel going back to the 1970s.

But as early as 1978, at least one line was spicing up its Lido decks with a little waterslide fun — little being the operative word. That’s the year Carnival added a single slide into the pool on its 728-passenger Festivale — a slide so small it’s now hilarious to think it was touted as an attraction.

Often cited as the first waterslide ever on a cruise vessel, the Festivale slide was of a sort that was found at backyard pools at the time. The cruise industry was still in its infancy, of course, and ships were orders of magnitude smaller than they are today. Festivale measured just 32,697 tons, about one-seventh the size of today’s biggest cruise vessels.

Carnival, the so-called Fun Ship line, would go on to become the early leader in waterslides at sea. The 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy, which debuted in 1990, was the first cruise ship with a significant waterslide. It measured 115 feet in length.

Related: A beginner’s guide to picking a cruise line

Just six years later, in 1996, Carnival would make news with the unveiling of a 214-foot-long corkscrew waterslide on what then was called Destiny. (The ship currently sails as the Carnival Sunshine after being rebuilt in 2013.) At the time, Destiny was the biggest cruise ship in the world.

In more recent years, Carnival has gone into waterslide-building overdrive. The line has added full-blown water park areas with waterslides, watery play zones and other features to all but four of its 25 ships. All but one of Carnival’s ships (Carnival Luminosa) now have at least one waterslide.

One of the Carnival water parks, on the line’s 5-year-old Carnival Horizon, even has Disney-style theming revolving around Dr. Seuss characters.

Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean only began going big with waterslides on ships in the past decade or so. Many of the newest vessels from the brands have massive water park areas. Some of the brands are retrofitting big waterslides onto older ships, too.

Additionally, family-focused Disney Cruise Line now has major water attractions on all its vessels.

Where you’ll find the biggest waterslides at sea

If your idea of the perfect cruise ship is one loaded to the gills with waterslides and watery fun zones (plus all sorts of other over-the-top attractions), you’ll want to stick to the biggest floating megaresorts operated by Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC Cruises and Carnival.

At Royal Caribbean, that means the giant Oasis-class vessels , which include Wonder of the Seas — the world’s largest cruise ship. At Norwegian, you’ll find the biggest waterslides and water parks on the line’s relatively recently built Breakaway Plus-, Breakaway- and Epic-class ships. At MSC Cruises, the new Seaside-, Meraviglia-, Meraviglia Plus- and World-class vessels have the line’s big water parks.

Big lines that have steered clear of the water-park-at-sea trend include Princess Cruises, Holland America and Celebrity Cruises. Geared more toward couples than families and typically drawing an older demographic, all three of these lines have stuck to a more subdued feel for the outdoor areas of their ships. The top decks of vessels operated by Princess, Holland America and Celebrity still mostly revolve around traditional swimming areas with pools, hot tubs and lounge chairs.

Ready for a splashy, top-deck thrill? These are the most spectacular watery attractions at sea.

The Perfect Storm

Where you’ll find it: Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas.

This isn’t just one giant waterslide; it’s a whole complex of waterslides, each one among the most exciting you’ll find anywhere on the world’s oceans.

The Perfect Storm is found on four of Royal Caribbean’s massive Oasis-class vessels — Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas — as well as the smaller Liberty of the Seas and Voyager of the Seas. The complex includes two four-deck-high racer slides called Cyclone and Typhoon, where you can do side-by-side speed tests with your travel partner.

On the four Oasis-class ships, there’s also a third, Champagne bowl-style slide called Supercell. It’ll swirl you around a big basin before plummeting you “down the drain” into a plunge pool. On Liberty of the Seas, a third slide called The Tidal Wave sends you screaming down a steep hill on an inner tube to a nearly vertical incline. Zooming upward, topping out and dropping back, you’ll get a blissful moment of complete weightlessness.

Note that Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas also has a waterslide area called Perfect Storm — but it’s completely different. More on that in a moment.

The Blaster

Where you’ll find it: Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.

The Blaster is the Big Daddy of waterslides at sea. At 800 feet, it’s the longest ever built on a cruise ship. Added to Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas in 2019, it’s a seemingly endless stretch of yellow and orange tubing that winds around the back deck of the vessel like a snake.

A true sight to behold, The Blaster is so long because it’s what’s known as a water coaster. It features water jets that propel you up, down and forward — extending the ride — as you careen around the ship’s basketball court and surfing simulator in an inner tube. At times, you go flying over the side of the ship, over open water (not that you have much time to take in the view).

Royal Caribbean has named the area on Navigator of the Seas where The Blaster is located the Perfect Storm — the same name used for waterslide areas on six other ships — but the area is completely different than what you’ll find on the other vessels. In addition to The Blaster, the Perfect Storm area on Navigator of the Seas includes a headfirst mat racer slide called Riptide — the first of its kind at sea.

Where you’ll find it: Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream.

Leave it to family-focused Disney Cruise Line to come up with the coolest watery family attraction at sea. AquaDuck is a water coaster, like The Blaster on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, and is found on Disney’s two Dream-class ships. But don’t expect anything too white-knuckle. The ride is relatively gentle by water park standards, mainly because it’s designed for kids of all ages (and their parents, who can ride along on inner tubes for two).

While AquaDuck is slightly shorter than The Blaster at 765 feet in length, it has a bigger presence, thanks to its prime location encircling the main pool area. If you’re lounging up top, it’s hard to miss the massive, clear acrylic tubing of the ride, which is held up by 46 giant white stilts.

In addition to AquaDuck, the two Disney ships with the attraction (Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream ) have a relatively small, kid-friendly waterslide next to the centrally located Mickey’s Pool. Dubbed Mickey’s Slide, it’s held up by a giant Mickey hand, which is delightful. Both ships also have a watery play zone for toddlers called Nemo’s Reef. Plus, Disney Fantasy has a watery fun zone with water jets, geysers and bubblers called AquaLab.

Note that Disney’s newest ship — Disney Wish — has a water coaster attraction similar to the AquaDuck called the AquaMouse. The big difference: Riders will see animated shorts while riding up the ramp at the start of the ride.

Carnival WaterWorks

Where you’ll find it: Nearly all Carnival ships.

When it comes to waterslides on ships, cruise giant Carnival is still the undisputed king. The Fun Ship line began adding them to vessels way back in 1978, and there’s now at least one waterslide on every ship in the Carnival fleet — something no other line can say.

Indeed, on all Carnival ships, there’s now not just a single waterslide but a whole water park area. Called WaterWorks, these areas vary in size and features from vessel to vessel, but they typically have one or two big waterslides, a watery play zone with interactive water features and a large continuously filling dump bucket that periodically soaks everybody within range.

You’ll typically find the biggest Carnival water park complexes on the newest Carnival ships, such as Mardi Gras , Celebration and Carnival Venezia . All three have three waterslides — one more than most Carnival ships.

Aqua Park (Norwegian Cruise Line)

Where you’ll find it: Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Joy, Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore.

Norwegian Cruise Line began going big with waterslides in 2010 when it debuted Norwegian Epic. And boy, did it go big! Norwegian Epic offers three monster waterslides, including the thrilling Epic Plunge — a 200-foot-long tube ride that ends in a swirling bowl. Epic Plunge is part of Norwegian Epic’s Aqua Park, the first water park on a Norwegian ship. Norwegian has since added Aqua Parks to six more new vessels, including its biggest ship, the 4-year-old Norwegian Encore .

Norwegian’s Aqua Parks vary in size and attractions from ship to ship, but some of them, such as the one on Norwegian Breakaway, have as many as five separate multistory waterslides. Yes, you read that right: Five waterslides on a single cruise ship!

On Norwegian Breakaway, the lineup includes twin free-fall slides that drop passengers nearly straight down several stories; two side-by-side twisting racer slides; and a family-friendly slide with a more modest drop. For sheer variety, the complex is hard to beat.

Aqua Park (MSC Cruises)

Where you’ll find it: MSC Seascape, MSC Seashore, MSC Seaview, MSC Seaside, MSC Meraviglia, MSC Bellissima, MSC Grandiosa, MSC Virtuosa, MSC Euribia, MSC World Europa.

Fast-growing MSC Cruises has joined the waterslide wars in the last few years — and in a massive way. Each of the 10 ships the line has unveiled since 2017 offers a full-blown water park on its top deck that’s packed with waterslides and other watery fun.

On North America-based MSC Seaside, the Aqua Park has four waterslides and a children’s play area with interactive water features. The waterslides include two massive, 525-foot-long dueling slides that extend over the sides of the ship. The top of the Aqua Park on MSC Seaside is also home to the liftoff point for a zip line that soars 344 feet across the top of the vessel.

Other MSC Cruises water parks at sea include the winter-themed Polar Aqua Park on MSC Meraviglia, which offers a suspended-in-the-sky ropes course in addition to four waterslides. There’s also the Aquaplay area for the little ones.

A handful of ships even have virtual reality waterslides that involve riders wearing virtual reality headsets as part of the experience.

In all, 14 of MSC Cruises’ 22 vessels now have at least one waterslide on their top decks.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• What to pack for your first cruise

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And when you do spend on dining, you should use a credit card that will maximize your rewards and potentially even score special discounts. Thanks to temporary card bonuses and changes due to coronavirus, you may even be able to score a meal at your favorite restaurant for free. 

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Final frontier: william shatner wants you on deck in antarctica.

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Calling all Trekkies. Captain Kirk needs crew — but not for the USS Enterprise. And instead of Andoria, the destination is sunny Antarctica.

“There are specialists who will be among us on the boat that will be able to explain the mysterious continent,” an eager William Shatner told The Post. The “Star Trek” star, who turns 93 this month, will be just one of 260 passengers on Space2Sea ’s first Antarctica voyage. Astronauts Scott Kelly and Chris Boshuizen will also be on board.

The 10-night trip, scheduled to set sail Dec. 19, is presented by Future of Space, an organization whose mission is to bridge the divide between Earth and space.

“Space2Sea Antarctica is a curated event destined for one of the last untouched frontiers,” Daniel Fox, Future of Space’s co-founder and “Chief Visionary” told The Post. “We set the stage for like-minded explorers, adventurers and influential leaders in the space and non-space sectors to come together.”

Why the White Continent? Fox says it’s the only place, besides space, humans haven’t really explored. Shatner, host of History’s hit show,“The UnXplained,” agreed. “The whole place is cloaked in mysterioso,” he said.

Plus, there are penguins. Fox has a friend who has been visiting Antarctica for 35 years and believes “with all his heart” that if they live streamed these tuxedoed cuties 24/7 in prisons, the violence levels would drop significantly. And why Captain Kirk?

“Shatner embodies the spirit of discovery, even if he isn’t an explorer-explorer,” said Fox, who met the legend last year at SXSW and started planning the trip shortly after. “He’s inspired generations to boldly go.”

For the ship, Future of Space is chartering a new luxurious expedition vessel that boasts 132 all-veranda ocean-front suites, two custom-built six-person submersibles, and perhaps most importantly, SpaceX’s Starlink Wi-Fi.

Because they’re offering so many bells and whistles, in addition to access to A-listers (at least when it comes to the cosmos), Fox said he expects the trip to sell out by summer. Rates include a pre-departure hotel in Buenos Aires, a roundtrip charter flight to the port, all meals (including 24/7 room service and wine), a keepsake parka and complimentary muck boot rentals — a must in a place covered in penguin poo.

While the ship’s cheapest room, the $35,500 (based on double occupancy) veranda suite, is sold out, there are still $37,500 rooms available. They all feature walk-in closets and heated wardrobes. The most expensive suite, a $91,500 two-story oasis with its own glass-enclosed solarium, is also taken (probably by Captain Kirk). But still up for grabs is a penthouse with floor-to-ceiling panoramic views. It’s just $60,500.

Of course, you’re paying a premium to mingle with Captain Kirk and Kelly. According to Fox, “The ship is small and intimate, so our guests will feel like being on a private yacht with them, while at the same respecting their space.”

Like most celebs, Shatner will have an entourage in tow. “I’m bringing my three daughters and a couple of grandchildren,” he said. “They’ve mentioned we’ll have stormy seas from the point of South America to Antarctica, but apparently Christmas week, which is when we’re going, is the quietest.”

“It’s a very established boat that’s done this trip many times with many people, so we’re in the hands of experts.” William Shatner

The cruise will depart from Ushuaia, and the itinerary includes a total of three sea days.

The rest of the time passengers are promised an array of experiences including kayaking and cruising around in a Zodiac. The ship’s 24-person expedition crew will also host “seaside chats.”

Of course, the highlight of the trip will be the landings. Scheduled stops (everything is dependent on weather in Antarctica) include these hot spots: Half Moon Island, Deception Island, and Elephant Island where Ernest Shackleton’s crew were stranded for 128 days. Shatner, who did his homework, isn’t too worried about being on the next Endurance or Titanic, though: “It’s a very established boat that’s done this trip many times with many people, so we’re in the hands of experts.”

And if you have a hankering to see Endurance — which sank in 1915 but was finally found in 2022 — try to convince the crew to take you down in one of the ship’s submersibles.

Unfortunately, those excursions aren’t included in the rate. Fortunately, the submersibles weren’t designed by Stockton Rush.

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