Enjoy an Oasis at Sea on the Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas - March 2024

JulieVentures Ship Ratings

What is Great

What is Good

Needs Improvement

Introduction

Welcome to my review of the Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's magnificent flagship vessel. Before we dive into the details, it's important to note that this review focuses solely on the ship itself, rather than its ever-changing ports of call.

The Oasis of the Seas is a true marvel of engineering, standing as one of the largest and most innovative cruise ships in the world. Spanning 1,188 feet in length and boasting 18 decks, it offers accommodation for over 5,400 guests. From its bustling Boardwalk to its serene Central Park, the ship is a microcosm of entertainment, dining, and relaxation.

Ship Layout

The layout of the Oasis of the Seas is a testament to Royal Caribbean's commitment to providing guests with an unforgettable cruise experience. What sets this ship apart is its sheer size and the ingenious utilization of space, ensuring that passengers never feel crowded, even with thousands aboard.

One of the most striking features contributing to this sense of spaciousness is the Royal Promenade. Stretching down the center of the ship, this bustling thoroughfare is akin to a vibrant city street, lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. Its generous width and soaring ceilings create an open, inviting atmosphere that beckons guests to explore and unwind.

Adjacent to the Royal Promenade lies Central Park, an oasis of tranquility nestled within the heart of the ship. Here, lush greenery, winding pathways, and serene seating areas evoke the ambiance of a peaceful parkland retreat. It's a remarkable feat of design that brings the outdoors indoors, allowing guests to escape the bustle of the ship without ever leaving its confines.

Further aft, the Boardwalk offers a lively contrast to the serenity of Central Park. Reminiscent of a seaside amusement park, this vibrant neighborhood is brimming with energy, featuring attractions like a carousel, arcade games, and even a zip line. It's a lively hub of activity, perfect for families and thrill-seekers alike.

One of the most notable aspects of the Oasis of the Seas is that you don't need to ascend to the upper decks to experience open spaces. The ship's design seamlessly integrates expansive areas throughout its various neighborhoods, ensuring that guests can enjoy the feeling of freedom and spaciousness wherever they roam.

Bars are also a prominent feature aboard the Oasis of the Seas, scattered throughout the ship to cater to every taste and preference. What's particularly intriguing is that many of these bars boast unique themes, adding an extra layer of excitement to the onboard experience. Whether you're in the mood for a tropical cocktail by the pool or a sophisticated wine tasting in Central Park, there's a bar to suit every mood and occasion.

Room Review

During our voyage aboard the Oasis of the Seas, we booked a balcony room on deck 14, offering a picturesque view of the endless expanse of the ocean. 

Let's start with the positives: the balcony itself was a welcome retreat, where we could unwind and listen to the sounds from the ocean.

However, upon stepping inside the room, we encountered a couple of drawbacks. The bathroom, in particular, left much to be desired, with its cramped quarters making it a tight squeeze to maneuver. Additionally, the closet was situated in an inconvenient location, making it challenging to access the right side and retrieve our belongings easily.

One notable aspect of our room's location on deck 14 was its proximity to the pool area on deck 15. While this made for a convenient commute to the pool deck, it also meant that we were susceptible to some noise from the moving of chairs and activities above us. While it wasn't overly disruptive, it did detract slightly from the overall tranquility of our room.

In conclusion, our balcony room on the Oasis of the Seas provided a mixed bag of experiences. While we appreciated the ocean view and the convenience of its location near the pool deck, the cramped bathroom and inconvenient closet placement left us feeling underwhelmed.

Food Review

When it comes to dining aboard the Oasis of the Seas, the options are as diverse as they are abundant. Opting out of the main dining hall, we chose to indulge in the ship's specialty restaurants, thanks to the convenience of the unlimited dining package.  The food is fine in the main dining hall, but our experience on all cruise lines is that the main dining room can take up to two hours, and we would prefer to maximize our time. 

From the upscale ambiance of Chops Grill to the refined flavors of 150 Central Park and the authentic Italian fare at Giovanni’s Table, each specialty restaurant offered a culinary journey that tantalized the taste buds. Izumi delighted with its fresh sushi and Japanese delicacies, while Port Side BBQ served up hearty, mouthwatering dishes perfect for a casual dining experience.

For those seeking a taste of American classics, Playmakers and Johnny Rockets provided satisfying options, whether it's burgers, wings, or milkshakes.  Playmakers is always one of our favorites.  We love their wings and the tower of onion rings. Vintages offered a sophisticated dining experience with its diverse menu and elegant setting.

While the specialty restaurants were undoubtedly a highlight, the complimentary options for breakfast and lunch left something to be desired. El Loco Fresh and Boardwalk Dog House offered decent choices for Mexican food and hotdogs, respectively, but they didn't quite reach the same level of excellence as the specialty venues.

Sorrento’s, while serving decent pizza, fell short of rivaling the quality offered by other cruise lines. As for the buffet, Windjammer proved to be overcrowded and lacking in seating, leading us to seek out alternatives like the Solarium Bistro. Located in the adults-only area, the Solarium Bistro provided a quieter, more relaxed atmosphere, albeit with fewer food options. However, it was a welcome respite from the chaos of Windjammer, and even children were welcome to dine there, making it a family-friendly alternative.

One tip for people that purchase the unlimited dining plan.  In addition to getting to eat daily at the specialty restaurants, each person gets $20 per day to be used in the other restaurants that are not free, but not considered specialty restaurants.  A few examples are Playmakers and Port Side BBQ.  I have heard that you actually get $20 per day, per restaurant.  We did not test that during this trip.

Bars

The bars aboard the Oasis of the Seas offer a delightful array of libations and entertainment, ensuring that guests are never far from a refreshing drink and lively ambiance throughout their voyage.

One of the standout features of the ship's bar scene is the sheer abundance of options available. With numerous bars scattered throughout the ship, ranging from intimate lounges to lively poolside venues, there's always a spot nearby to quench your thirst. Whether you're craving a classic cocktail, a fine wine, or a frosty beer, you'll find a bar to suit your tastes just moments away.

During our trip, we found it remarkably easy to grab a drink, with minimal wait times even during peak hours. The ship's attentive servers, who frequently circulated to take drink orders, ensured that we were never left parched for long. While the service was prompt in terms of order-taking, we did notice a slight delay in receiving our drinks, particularly during busier periods. Nevertheless, the friendly and accommodating staff more than made up for any minor inconvenience.

For those with the drink package, it's worth noting that the 18% gratuity is already included in the package price. However, guests always have the option to tip extra for exceptional service—a gesture that's greatly appreciated by the hardworking staff.

Beyond just serving drinks, many of the bars aboard the Oasis of the Seas also offer entertainment to enhance the overall experience. From live musical performances to themed events, there's always something happening to keep guests entertained as they sip their favorite beverages.

Of all the bars we visited during our voyage, the Scooner Bar stood out as a favorite. With its charming ambiance and nightly piano performances, it provided the perfect setting for relaxing with a drink and enjoying some live music. Whether you're a fan of sing-alongs or simply appreciate the soothing melodies of the piano, the Scooner Bar is sure to become a cherished spot during your time onboard.  My husband was a big fan of the Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned.

Entertainment and Extra Curricular Activities

The entertainment and extra-curricular offerings aboard the Oasis of the Seas are as diverse as they are plentiful, ensuring that there's something for everyone to enjoy, whether you're seeking thrilling adventures or laid-back relaxation.

While we didn't manage to partake in all the entertainment options due to changes in reservations, one standout experience we thoroughly enjoyed was the Aqua 80 show at the Aqua Theater. With its mesmerizing performances, stunning acrobatics, and dazzling visuals, it provided an unforgettable evening of entertainment that left us in awe. The high production value and top-notch performances truly made it a highlight of our cruise experience.

The casino onboard the ship offered a decent selection of games, although we found it to be fairly average in comparison to other cruise ships.  It could also be very crowded at night.  The smell of cigarette smoke was also very strong.  There is a small separate casino designated as non-smoking, but we found that some of the machines lacked sound, detracting slightly from the overall experience.  It was much less crowded than the main casino.

As for the pools on the ship, the ship has multiple pools.  None of the pools are very big, but they did not feel overly crowded.  One exception would be the adults only pool.  It is a rather small circular pool and it could get very crowded on sea days.  In addition to the main pools, the ship features thrilling attractions such as a zip line and a large dry slide, offering exhilarating experiences for thrill-seekers of all ages.

For those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation, the spa onboard the Oasis of the Seas offered a tranquil haven of pampering and wellness. One of our favorite things to do on cruises is to do the Thermal Spa.  However, we found the Thermal Spa to be disappointingly small, with limited amenities such as only 4 heated seats, 2 steam rooms, and 1sauna, and no hot tub available.

Our teenager found solace and enjoyment in the teen club, although he noted that the scheduled activities were somewhat lacking, with the club functioning more as a social hangout than a structured program.

During sea days, the ship offers an abundance of extracurricular activities to keep guests entertained and engaged. From adrenaline-pumping adventures like rock climbing and wave riding to immersive experiences such as laser tag and escape rooms, there's no shortage of excitement to be had onboard the Oasis of the Seas.

Summary

In summary, we enjoyed the Oasis of the Seas and found it to be one of the best ships that we have sailed. It is a very large ship, and I know that some prefer the smaller ships, but we prefer the bigger ships.