The Oasis of the Seas was a ship that had, on this particular voyage, close to 6,000 passengers plus over 2,000 crew… Oh my! One would presume there would be crowds and congestion in the popular areas but this was not at all the case! Right off the bat the boarding process was smooth and expedient, as was every other outing and experience on board. This ship had so many places to go and so many things to do that the passengers are essentially distributed throughout.

Our Arrival
Upon boarding I noticed how beautifully the ship was finished and how many amenities there were: pools, surfing pools, a “sports” pool (with a current so you can essentially swim laps while staying in one place), jacuzzis, miniature golf, basketball courts, rock climbing walls and zip-lining, among many others.


Accommodations
Our Crown Loft Suite was amazing! Gone are the days of not having enough storage on a cruise! The cathedral ceiling is one of the first things I noticed when entering the suite. The wall of sliding doors at the rear of the suite was equally impressive, as was the view it offered when opened. This particular suite 1730 overlooked the Boardwalk with a birds eye view of the zip-line, the Aqua theatre and the ocean on either side.

The lower level of the suite was outfitted with a large closet and built-in drawers, a desk, a sitting area (sofa, coffee table and chair), television and coffee/tea mini-bar set-up, and a nice-sized bathroom. The loft upstairs housed our beds and nightstands, a suspended television, a large closet and a vanity area with drawers (including a safe) as well as a huge bathroom. The loft had a somewhat sheer curtain to offer some privacy as it overlooked the sitting area, as well as master controls for the lights and curtains for the sliding patio doors. The suite came with a valet to serve any other particular needs you might have.


Another perk for suite guests was the private service dining room “Coastal Kitchen” which was open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (reservations recommended), and was actually the piėce-de-resistance. Not having to stand in buffet lines and look for an available table in the Windjammer Cafe for breakfast or lunch was the icing on the cake. This feature made this cruise experience absolutely superb and seriously put this vacation in a whole other league.

Neighborhoods
Central Park
There were several distinct “neighborhoods”, such as “Central Park” which is nestled close to the center of the ship and on a mid-level, with a tree-lined walking path where you’ll find benches and street lamps as well as an unobstructed view of the sky (and at night, of the stars). You actually get the sense that you are on land in a charming park. There are an array of retail stores including Coach, and six dining restaurants/bars located on a path winding through “Central Park”.


We had the pleasure of dining at Giovanni’s Table and at 150 Central Park. They were really fine experiences, from both a culinary point of view and a service point of view. The food was superb and we felt the additional charges were justified and well worth it.


Boardwalk
Another “neighborhood” called the Boardwalk I liken to a mini Coney Island. There you can find a carousel, a hot dog place, Johnny Rockets, an ice cream parlor and cupcake place. It was definitely a fun area and a change of scenery which only enhanced this whole cruise experience.



We signed up for a cupcake decorating class which is offered at the cupcake store in the Boardwalk neighborhood. The class is 45 minutes long and they showed us who to decorate a cupcake in a shape of a frog.

After a few days of exploring, I was truly struck by how well designed the ship was. The arenas where the shows took place, as well as other destination areas, were easily accessible and concentrated more closely to the center of the ship, as opposed to being on the peripheries as had been my experience in the past. This translated to significantly less “travel” time to get to a desired location and made each destination much easier to access. Navigating around the entire Oasis was incredibly easy indeed.
Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade runs down the center of the ship for most of the length of the ship. It’s like a city street lined with shops like (Michael Kors, Kate Spade New York), as well as some very fine jewelry stores (Regalia Jewelry Store), and several restaurants and bars. The Rising Tide Bar was one of our favorite places on the ship. It is where we meet our new friends from Australia (Gina and John) during our cruise. It travels between the Royal Promenade and the Central Park neighborhood, which is directly above the promenade. When the bar is in the up position a lighted fountain with colorful lights take its place on the Royal Promenade.




Entertainment / Shows
Unsurprisingly, there were a plethora of shows: classic Las Vegas-style performances with awesome sets, singing and dancing, as well as an ice-skating show, an Aqua theatre show which had amazing water theatrics including diving and comedy shows, and Cats, the Broadway musical. It should be noted that it is important to schedule these events prior to boarding as they can book up. The shows that we saw were wonderful. The ice skating performance was delightful and polished, as was the water show, Oasis of Dreams.



I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the gym, which I found to be extremely well-equipped and appealing to use. In the past, I have found the gyms to be inadequate for the number of passengers, particularly on “sea” days. However, I was thrilled to find the gym thriving, with enough equipment and machinery or weights available on the occasions I went.
Another must-mention is the suite sundeck for suite guests where lounge chairs with deluxe cushions and bar service are available. Again, days “at sea” often equate to scrounging for free lounge chairs as most are often taken by the early morning. The suite sundeck fixed this problem with ease.
There were, of course, many other things I have not elaborated on but which were all highly enjoyable and impressive, such as the “behind-the-scenes” tour. All in all, this was such a wonderful cruise, and we enjoyed our Eastern Caribbean itinerary with stops in the Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten. I can’t wait for my next one!
Karilyn
Wow this is so crazy to me. I have read a few blog posts about cruises before, but I never knew what really existed on them! Central Park?! Crazy. I’m curious about the extras – you said dinner was extra at 150 Central Park. Are most of the shows included though? Some day I will have to go on a cruise and check it all out myself. I feel so anxious about being in one place that I can’t escape.. but seems like its so HUGE that that wouldn’t be a problem!
Carmen
All the shows are included in the price. The speciality restaurants (Chop, 150 Central Park and Giovanni’s) are an additional cost, but well worth it. The food in all the restaurants is delicious. It’s a huge ship and you never feel trapped. Plus, you get off the ship every other day on excursions.
Ashley
I am speechless!! There is a Central Park and Boardwalk on a cruise.. My mind is blown! I’ve thought about doing a cruise but honestly, I am quite scared.. This looks like it was an amazing experience though!
Carmen
I’ve been on several cruises and you have nothing to worry about. The Oasis being such a huge ship, you don’t even feel like your moving. Only a few times did we get a little seasick, but that was because we were on the 17th deck, and being so high up you do feel the ship rocking sometimes.
Estefania
The Oasis of The Seas is on the very top of my bucket list. I have seen in twice in person on the ports and the cruise looks humongous! I really hope a can plan a cruise on this ship soon.
Carmen
Hi Estefania, I hope you get a chance to go on it. It’s quite the ship.
Small Town Washington
It’s like a floating city. All I keep thinking about though is where does all the waste go? I know here the big cruise ships dump it into Puget Sound, not really down with that.
Carmen
Most of Royal Caribbean’s ships including the Oasis have a wastewater pulification system that cleans out all the waste. They say the water is so clean that its drinkable, but I wouldn’t want to try it.
KandC
Hi Carmen,
To be honest, we aren’t very big cruise people but after reading this article, we are definitely interested in trying The Oasis out!
Carmen
We weren’t either at first, but our first cruise with the family was on the Oasis when the ship came out in 2009. After being on the Oasis, there is no ship comparable in size or entertainment.
Tiana
This is REALLY cool! I’ve never been on a cruise but this is HUGE!!! I am looking at booking now!
Carmen
Hi Tiana, It’s the biggest ship I’ve been now, and there’s no comparison it’s the best. I’m working with a friend of mine who specializes in cruises only, and can get you a great rate when you do want to go. Here’s his website: http://www.cruisecheaper.net
Debbie @ Traveling Well For Less
Great photos and review. I LOVE Royal Caribbean, but haven’t been on the Oasis of the Seas yet.
Carmen
Thanks Debbie! I took so many great photos that it was hard only a few to use on my review. We love Royal Caribbean as well. I’ve been on several cruises with them. The Oasis has been the best ship so far we have been on.
Gina
Hi Carmen. Hope your well. I love the photos you have included and your article, it really was an amazing ship and a great holiday, all the better after we met you and Diane, Looking forward to cruisung again on the same ship. Would highly recommend it.cruising is the way to go. Value for m8ney.
Carmen
Hi Gina, I’m glad you like the article. As you stated, the cruise was even better after we met you both. We had a lot of fun with you guys, and hope it will repeat soon.
Matt Hochberg
Great write up! Thank you for sharing
Carmen Edelson
Thanks Matt! There is not better way to travel than in the Suite Class.