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Oasis 5/28-6/4/11 - rants, raves & ramblings, a review

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Familygoboston Great Review Rare

Familygoboston

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Familygoboston - Thanks, it is. I'm a bargain hunter also. Problem was, last August when I was planning this year's cruise, the prices were sky high for ALL the ships! :eek: Then I spied a price drop on this May 28th cruise (and DGS's school let out May 25th). It was $1500 cheaper than same Oasis western sailing in June. It was, at least at the time, even cheaper than May 29th Freedom western sailing. The clincher was a D4 3rd person rate of (only!) $699 (remember, I'm used to paying PEAK sailing time prices). The icing on the cake came prior to final payment when a senior discount reduced the total by almost $500 and lowered the 3rd person to $583. So my advice to everyone is to keep checking prices, you never :D

 

Have a great cruise!

 

~ Judy

I totally hear you! I have a 14 and a 16 yo in HS, so you just can't pull them out:( makes me crazy to pay rack rates so I cheat a little;) Last year I booked an Africa trip for the day school ended( got 7 days for price of 6 and their "shoulder " prices for going before July) The only problem... I knew I was gambling on having no snow days:eek: Luckily , last year it paid off- no snow days! This year 4 snowdays!!! But no trip planned so I was in the clear!

Glad you DGS was out early and could enjoy his Allure cruise!!

Sounds like you lucked out because most kids aren't out yet, and therefore they weren't filling!

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mac_tlc "Live from...." Rare

mac_tlc

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Judy,

Enjoying your review. Spectacular sunset photos ! We wil be on the Oasis on 8/6, Western. Still undecided about the Falmouth stop.

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review.

 

mac_tlc

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uksimonusa

uksimonusa

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Day 3

 

This was our first time at Labadee. RCCL had a ferry across from the ship at the dock that provided free one-way transportation to Columbus Cove. We took this, saving the walk to the tram. The day was overcast but enjoyable and Labadee is very scenic. Does anyone know anything about the history of this old stone building there?

 

 

We didn't do the Aqua Park but DGS enjoyed the water play area next to the Adventure Ocean area as well a dip in the ocean.

 

~ Judy

 

Thanks for a great review and pictures, I wonder if the ferry from the pier is new?, we were last on Labadee in March and no ferry then, would be great to save that long walk from the pier to Columbus beach in July. Anybody know if this is a permanent thing?

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Cruising89143

Cruising89143

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Thanks for a great review and pictures, I wonder if the ferry from the pier is new?, we were last on Labadee in March and no ferry then, would be great to save that long walk from the pier to Columbus beach in July. Anybody know if this is a permanent thing?

 

We were at Labadee last August and again in January and they had the ferry over to Columbus beach both times.

 

Judy, great review and photos. Thanks for taking the time to share. :)

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suzw

suzw

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Judy,

Great review and great pics, Ive been hearing a lot of people on the boards talk about "lovebugs" the day of departure all over balcony and pool deck...did you experience anything like this? I know they swarm in florida in may and september.

thanks

Suzanne

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liberiben

liberiben

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Judy,

Great review and great pics, Ive been hearing a lot of people on the boards talk about "lovebugs" the day of departure all over balcony and pool deck...did you experience anything like this? I know they swarm in florida in may and september.

thanks

Suzanne

I know I am not the OP, but I was also on this sailing and had no bug problems at all. Saw a fly or two in the food areas from time to time, but that was it.

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fairweather

fairweather

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I'm with everyone else, Judy. Love your review and pictures. You hit just the right balance between info and photos. Who took the pix? They have a good eye for composition and picking interesting subjects.

 

Your cabin and location sounds just right for our family. Would you mind sharing your cabin #? We are doing FOS this year but want to do the Oasis soon. It's never too early to start planning and jump on any discounts.

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FloridaPalms

FloridaPalms

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Thank you all for the compliments. I am so glad you are enjoying this review and my ramblings and wish you all great cruises!

 

I'm with everyone else, Judy. Love your review and pictures. You hit just the right balance between info and photos. Who took the pix? They have a good eye for composition and picking interesting subjects.

 

Your cabin and location sounds just right for our family. Would you mind sharing your cabin #? We are doing FOS this year but want to do the Oasis soon. It's never too early to start planning and jump on any discounts.

 

Thank you. DGS took the Small Wonders pictures and I took the rest. It was cabin 6678 and we had the greatest room steward!

 

~ Judy

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FloridaPalms

FloridaPalms

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Day 5, at Sea

 

The morning greeted us with sunshine but, being Floridians, we avoided the pool scene by going to Studio B so DGS could ice-skate. Helmets are now required to be worn by all and I required DGS to wear the optional elbow pads (but allowed him to forego the optional knee pads). He doesn’t get to ice skate in Florida so he really looks forward to this on our RCCL cruises. I hail from Brooklyn, NY, and used to love to ice skate in my youth, especially at Rockefeller Center at Christmastime. Unfortunately at my age, bones are not so forgiving - so I just watched. But there were a lot of daring adults who ventured onto the ice for the first time and who, despite numerous falls and guaranteed sore buns tomorrow, had a blast! So don’t feel embarrassed to try ice skating at sea.

 

iceskate1.jpg

 

 

Today was Lunch at Giovanni’s table which I had pre-booked online. We ordered salads which were excellent and I ordered the Risotto pasta which I didn’t care for. DH had Veal Meat balls as an entrée and DGS and I both had Grilled Jumbo Shrimps, which was excellent. For dessert, DH had Zuppa Inglese (Layers of Italian custard with brandy infused berries & tradional sponge) and I had Torta al cioccolato amaro (Flourless Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Mousse Ice Cream & Galliano berries). Both were deliciously yummy! DGS had left early to go up to the sports deck & arcade but our most attentive waiter graciously offered to provide us with whatever dessert DGS might like. We told our waiter he loves Cannoli. Surprisingly, our waiter darted across to Park Café to get a salad bowl to put the Cannoli in. He gave us both kinds, the Ricotta and Marsala and the Chocolate Rum and Hazelnut filled Cannoli which DGS relished back in the cabin at the end of the night and refused to share with us.

 

DGS wasn’t interested in the afternoon activities at the club so we went to see the day's movie, Dreamworks Megamind 3D, in the Opal Theater at 2:00 pm. Very good 3D effects.

 

It was Win a Cruise Bingo day. Like on every previous cruise, I tried. And, like on every previous cruise, I lost. I did cut my losses somewhat by finally getting picked as commissioner. You get to check out the guy’s balls, … er … bingo balls, and he gives you a nice froo froo drink. They had a special on the hand held machines – buy two get third one free. I saw a lot of people taking advantage of that special (or was it the other way around?).

 

Tonight was formal. I was much happier with this night’s professional pictures. DGS loves to dress up and I love how guys look in a tux. Here’s one taken on the Royal Promenade.

 

Robbie20110601a.jpg

 

 

Dinner was what some refer to as “Lobster” night. I had Seafood Salad appetizer and Cream of Asparagus soup, both very good, as well as the “lobster” - Fisherman’s plate (broiled lobster tail and garlicky shrimp). First lobster tail was very good but the second one was not. DH had the prime rib, very good. DGS was still full from lunch (and whatever else he may have eaten) so barely touched his Angus. Desserts were Dessert Sampler and Cherries Jubilee. Yum!

 

The Headliner this week was Mosaic and we had reservations for the 9:30 show. DH had to bow out, his back was hurting, so DGS was my escort for the evening. The music these guys can make without instruments is amazing! You might remember them from America’s Got Talent a couple of years back. The first half of the show was excellent but IMHO the second half was too jazz focused. All in all though, it was a pretty good show.

 

mosaic.jpg

 

 

Fiona was waiting to greet us outside the beautiful Opal Theatre after the show.

 

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fiona1.jpg

(I like Fiona – she makes me feel thin.)

 

As a former New Yorker and a Florida University gator fan, I loved this statue and the New York Times Headline "Alligator Found in Subway Sewer"!

 

robbiegator.jpg

 

Any NYers out there old enough to remember when they actually sold tiny baby alligators at the circus when it was in town? And yes, there was many a mom who would then flush them away!

 

~ Judy

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FloridaPalms

FloridaPalms

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Day 5 continued

 

We wandered about the ship a little and headed for the Boardwalk. It has an eerie beautifulness when it’s empty at night. The carousel wasn’t running but that didn’t stop DGS from enjoying it. I think he sat on every animal!

 

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boardwalknight.jpg

 

robbiecarousel.jpg

 

Then we headed in toward the Promenade stairs to get DGS’s nightly fix of Sorrento’s pizza and ran smack into the 70’s Disco Street Party! Yes the Promenade was packed but that was no different than the voyager or freedom classes. Actually, there seemed a little more room to maneuver and we easily worked our way from the Focus staircase to Sorrento’s where we just had to stop and watch Cruise Director Richard Spacey. I must say he really knows how to put on a show!

 

 

spacey1.jpg

 

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I usually forget who the CD is while I’m still on a cruise. And no, that’s not from old age! :p I just don’t find them that memorable. But Spacey seems to be everywhere and is someone you won’t easily forget. The first night of our cruise, he had warmed up the Hairspray audience with his zany pre-show video “A Day in the Life of a Cruise Director”. On the last day of our cruise, he did his history of dance routine prior to the start of Come Fly With Me. In between, I saw him at lots of venues, such as the Love & Marriage show on Day 3 and Quest on Day 6. The guy is crazy funny. I can see where he would get to you if you cruised often with him. But for us, he was a very enjoyable novelty.

 

~ Judy

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