Not an Oasis Review, but a Preview?!?!

A pre-view, really? Sure, why not.

My Oasis of the Seas vacation begins on Saturday. It is me (43/M) and my girlfriend (37/F). We were on the Oasis in Sept. 2011 and on the Allure in Sept. 2012 and absolutely loved it. She cruised a lot with her family as a kid and I did the same with my family when I was younger. Can you imagine being with someone that didn't like to cruise? Can you imagine? Well, I dated a girl for 5 years that was afraid to fly so taking a cruise was not even an option. Ugh.

But I digress.

I went on a few NCL cruises as a kid with my family and loved it. The first cruise my girlfriend and I went on together was the Norwegian Dawn in 2006. We had a blast but she said "your have to try Royal Caribbean". So the following year we went on the shiny new Liberty of the Seas. Oh. My. God. I have nothing against NCL, I loved every NCL cruise I went on and I was bummed when I Iearned about the SS Norway tragedy and the ultimate fate of the ship. I loved that ship.

However the first time I stepped on the Liberty of the Seas I knew that I was about to become Loyal to Royal. There is just something different about this line. The ships are the best, the Royal Promenade, the staff, the nightlife, it's just perfect for me. I will probably never sail on Carnival or HAL. I will give Celebrity a try at some point and I would definitely try NCL's Epic, Breakaway or any of their new ships coming out however Royal is where I plan to spend almost all of my future vacations.

We have a Junior Suite guarantee booked for this cruise and we will turn Diamond after this trip. We have done 4 Freedom class cruises, 2 on the Explorer and as I said this will be our 3rd Oasis class trip. We are planning to do the Explorer again in March for probably the last time since the sparkling new Quantum will be replacing the Explorer in NJ. Once the Quantum arrives we plan on doing the Quantum every March and then either the Oasis or Allure in September every year. Ideally I would love to do a back-to-back on the Oasis every year however I just don't have enough vacation time at work right now. Maybe in a couple of years.

Like the last two years we will fly to FLL the day before the cruise, rent a car at Avis and then stay at the Hyatt Pier 66. I will always fly in the day before ever since a flight delay a few years ago almost made us miss our Liberty cruise. No need for that stress.

Once we get down there we usually pick up 2 bottles of wine and a case of bottled water and some Gatorade for the stateroom. I know people say the ship's water tastes fine but I think it tastes like purified toilet water. Ok, maybe not that bad. I lived in NYC for 12 years and drank the excellent tap water everyday however on a cruise ship I try to avoid it unless I have to drink it in the MDR or in a specialty restaurant.

Side note - I used to bring a big bottle of vodka and sneak it on in my rum runners along with some mixers for Bloody Mary's, screwdrivers, etc. However we prefer to do our drinking in the bars, pools, lounges, nightclubs so I feel like we ended up drinking more just because we had it in our room. So now we just bring the wine.

Anyway, we like the pool at the Hyatt and I love that there is an Avis right in the hotel. We will go out to dinner with my GF's best friend who lives in Fort Lauderdale and the next morning I just give the car keys to the guy at the Avis in our hotel and then we jump on the Avis shuttle to the cruise ship. It is so convenient.

Just because of personal preference we will do/not do the following:

WILL:

-go to pool/beach every day

-participate in just about every trivia, scavenger hunt, game show type of event

-stay on the ship in Falmouth

-go to Nellie's Beach in Labadee

-go to Nachi Cocom in Cozumel (see side note at bottom)

-go to Chops one night and Giovanni's Table another night

-attend Love and Marriage game show

-attend and participate in Quest

-go to comedy club one night

-send funny notes/questions to CD for morning show

-stay out late on most nights

-sleep late most mornings and miss breakfast

-have a Trainman breakfast special one day (provided I wake up on time!)

-spend many hours in Vintages, Schooner Bar, Dazzles, Blaze, VCL, On-Air Club, Rising Tide Bar

-spend some time in casino (usually by myself if GF goes to bed early)

-hit Cafe Promenade late night for ham and cheese croissants

-have many roast beef sandwiches at Park Cafe (extra au jus please)

WILL NOT: (again, nothing against these, just personal preference):

-attend any shows (besides Quest and Love & Marriage)

-go to Jazz on 4

-attend any parades

-go to Johnny Rockets (always get stomach pains)

MIGHT:

-do the flowrider, rock wall, miniature golf

-go to gym every day (I say this every year)

-try crab legs at Seafood Shack (RevSmith suggestion)

-go to Boleros, Champagne Bar, Globe & Atlas, Sorrentos

-visit ship's medical facility (see same side note as Nachi Cocum)

I plan on doing a trip review when I get back and (hopefully) include pictures. I have never tried to upload pictures to CC so I may have to do some research first on how to do it. I just created an account with photobucket so that's a good start I guess.

I have read so may incredible reviews and live reports from Trainman, Radio, Gambee, SailorJack and others that I feel I owe it to CC to do a full review.

Ok, the side note - this is the third year in a row that I made reservations and paid the deposit for Nachi Cocom. And I still have never been there. Last year we were out late the night before Cozumel with a great, fun couple from Philly. I think we just talked (and ate) in the Cafe Promenade from 1 am to 3:30 am. So we ended up waking up late and were just too lazy to get off the ship and go to Nachi.

Katy bar the door.

Oh man, I'm cringing just writing this part. Two years ago (the first time I reserved Nachi) we woke up early, went to windjammer for breakfast and then all of a sudden I had the most excruciating pain of my life right by my left kidney. Yup, I had a kidney stone. The pain came on like a light switch. I couldn't stay still. I remember trying to stand in the bathroom in our room and just trying to grab the towel rack as hard as I could. I think I bent it. A short time later I was in the medical facility. I will never forget that feeling when the morphine kicked in and the pain went away. The worst pain I have ever had was finally gone. Obviously we didn't go to Nachi and instead I spent the day/night on painkillers in bed (and missed lobster night!). I can report that the staff in the medical facility was fantastic and took good care of me. So now after two years I return to the Oasis...aka, the scene of the crime (or stone).

We are determined to make the third time the charm and actually make it to Nachi this trip. Please no stones!

LMAO...........you have too much time on your hands dude. Whatever you're smoking, please pass it over.

You should absolutely try the Flowrider. Personally, we prefer stand up to boogie boarding, but some folks really enjoy the boogie boarding :) Also, if you go in the morning, there are no lines and the sports staff is amazing and very helpful. Look for Tam (RCCL sports staff) at the Flowrider. He is a friend of ours and will help you learn. Tell him Edna and Frank sent you to get Flowrider lessons from him :D

You should absolutely try the Flowrider. Personally, we prefer stand up to boogie boarding, but some folks really enjoy the boogie boarding :) Also, if you go in the morning, there are no lines and the sports staff is amazing and very helpful. Look for Tam (RCCL sports staff) at the Flowrider. He is a friend of ours and will help you learn. Tell him Edna and Frank sent you to get Flowrider lessons from him :D

Will do. Thanks for the tip!

Trip pre-view, I love it!:D

You named several of my FAVORITE trip reviewers, I look forward to hearing your detailed post-cruise (or "live from") posts about your upcoming adventure. I plan to do the same on my upcoming first-ever cruise on Oasis in December!!

Have SO much fun, we're doing this route in a few weeks!!! First time on Oasis for us!!

:)

i hope you have a great cruise

Hope to see you onboard on Saturday!!! Did you sign up for the Meet and Mingle by any chance??

We are still awaiting our W assignment too!!! Dying to know where will be laying our head for the week!!

Have a great cruise!!!!!

Hope to see you onboard on Saturday!!! Did you sign up for the Meet and Mingle by any chance??

 

We are still awaiting our W assignment too!!! Dying to know where will be laying our head for the week!!

Ahh, I didn't sign up. I'm usually not awake for the early morning meet and mingles!

Still no room assignment for me either.

Ahh, I didn't sign up. I'm usually not awake for the early morning meet and mingles!

 

Still no room assignment for me either.

Big group of us from the Roll Call meeting at the Wipe Out Bar - 16 Aft after sail away! You guys should come join us!

Here is to getting some cabin assignments SOON! :eek:

Big group of us from the Roll Call meeting at the Wipe Out Bar - 16 Aft after sail away! You guys should come join us!

 

Here is to getting some cabin assignments SOON! :eek:

Wipe Out Bar after sail away, I will be there! Well I just have to convince the GF who usually likes to be on our own balcony for sail away. Of course as of now we have no idea where our balcony is!

Thanks for the Preview! Definitely do sorrentos, champagne bar and boleros! Hope you have a great cruise!!!

What a great thread....I look your list of do's and don'ts and maybes!

With such a great personality and a wonderful disposition I am sure you and the friends around you will have a great vacation trip....

We will visit Oasis next May for our 50 wedding anniversary trip. Plan to spend a few days in Key West before time to board the ship.

Keep us posted....

Ahh, I didn't sign up. I'm usually not awake for the early morning meet and mingles!

 

Still no room assignment for me either.

Silly wabbit. It's not early. It's at 11:15 a.m. in Dazzles on Sunday!

Silly wabbit. It's not early. It's at 11:15 a.m. in Dazzles on Sunday!

Interesting. I may have to pop in for this.

Have a great cruise!

Have a GREAT time on the BIG O the bestttt ship!! ugh on kidney stone my husband has had several good to know they have morphine in case of emergency :(

I slept from 2am- 4am and then had a hectic morning getting to FLL but all is good now.

1-A friend of mine was supposed to pick us up at 5:30 am for our 7:05 flight, however he overslept and didn't get to us until 6 am. We were at the airport at 6:30 and almost didn't make it on. Thankfully a porter rushed our luggage downstairs and we sprinted to the gate. Whew.

2- This one is my fault and only a bit scary. I was so busy at work yesterday that I forgot to print the boarding passes. Well actually, the boarding passes were never emailed to me. That is the first time I didn't receive my boarding passes via email. Anyway, I log onto United's website and it says we have no reservation! Well a simple phone call to United cleared that up. They said it was a computer problem. This was all happening as I was waiting for my friend to pick us up. Whew#2

3- Only 3 of our 4 pieces of luggage arrived. The 4th one was put on a later flight. United said they would deliver it to my hotel today. I hope so, it is my garment bag with my suit and all my pants and button down shirts.

4- Another minor one but now it seems that someone was out to mess with me. I get to Avis and look at the preferred board however my reservation is not there. Come on, what is going on here? When I booked the car months ago it was with my old Royal Caribbean Visa which has now been replaced so I had to go to the counter and give them the new card.

Now I'm in my room at the Hyatt Pier 66 and we have a great view of the cruise ship terminal. Does anyone know what time the Oasis pulls in? I think I read 5 am but I'm not sure.

Wow, right after my last post the bell hop called and said my bag arrived! WHEW #3. Maybe everything is starting to fall in place.

Now I just need my junior suite room assignment!

What a morning!!

Log into RC - I just got my assignment!!! Good luck - hope you got something good!!!! :D

We are looking forward to cruising along with you (alas, virtually!). We stayed at the Hyatt Pier 66 and I agree that I loved that pool. It was a good reason to go two days early and have time to relax poolside.

We rented a car but had to return it to the airport. Did you rent it for pick up at the Hyatt, too? That may be a good option if we go early. We will be on the Oasis in 201.

I have my fingers crossed that you will make it to Nachi this time. I want to see pictures!

What a morning!!

 

Log into RC - I just got my assignment!!! Good luck - hope you got something good!!!! :D

Yes, you are right! Finally. Although it is too late to print my luggage tags and use my nifty Cruise Critic luggage tag holders.

I did the same kind of thing before my Oasis cruise:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1222861

We are looking forward to cruising along with you (alas, virtually!). We stayed at the Hyatt Pier 66 and I agree that I loved that pool. It was a good reason to go two days early and have time to relax poolside.

 

We rented a car but had to return it to the airport. Did you rent it for pick up at the Hyatt, too? That may be a good option if we go early. We will be on the Oasis in 201.

 

I have my fingers crossed that you will make it to Nachi this time. I want to see pictures!

I rented it to pick up at the airport and then return it at the hotel.