Oasis Review w/tons of pics 3/24-3/31-closest thing ever to a perfect cruise!!

[akcruz]

Where do you get the coupon book you mention above? I know my DD will loooooooooove a Pet at Sea.

 

If you are a member of the C&A your coupon book will be in your cabin when you board. Depending on what level you are the coupons do differ, sometime the actual coupon, sometimes the value.

 

You can go into Atlantis on your own for free and look around, eat and use the casino but you need a pass to go out and see the pools, aquariums and grounds.

 

Been doing research on this and it seems to be getting more and more restrictive. Latest reports are you can go to the casino, but not much more. Unless you have some type of pass you aren't going to see much.

[kag19]

Thanks akcruz!

[johneeo]

Thanx so much for this great review, as we are sailing in June.

 

Also, thanx for accepting me as a FB friend. I was on your wall, and got to see over 200 of your Oasis pix before I lost my connection.

 

Maybe tonight I can get back on and see the rest. Your pix are excellent, especially the ones of your smiling children, obviously having a blast of a lifetime.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

Loved your fish photos! Wow! That barracuda is scary looking, but I still can't bear to fish:D

I have some Atlantis questions for you...

We are debating between Blue Lagoon dolphin encounter or the Atlantis one that includes the aquarium ( but not the slides...my teen girls are not coaster queens:eek:)

Does everyone go over on one bus for the various excursions to Atlantis? It looks like quite a crowd!

How do they determine who is doing what nice you are here? Do they give you bracelets, how long does all this sorting out take?

Can you come back when you are ready? Or does the bus leave just once?

I agree with you, the whole port of call is so short and its such big bucks to do these excursions. But can't do Atlantis on your own and BL you CAN do on your own but with such a short time and a ferry it's risky!

Any thoughts about it would be appreciated! TIA ...looking forward to the rest!:D

 

The whole Atlantis thing is a bit of a pain, and here's why. My DM was not plannning on doing anything but sitting in a chair and reading, so she could have gotten a far cheaper package, but they would have forced her to go on a different shuttle at a different time (trust me, I tried EVERYTHING to get around that). So we just ponied up the money so she could go with us as a group, knowing the money was being wasted.:o

 

You get a wristband at the dock before you get on the shuttle, and they are different colors to determine what you can and can't do on the property. Everyone on our shuttle at 7:45am was doing the Atlantis Adventurer package.

 

As for going back to the ship, the shuttles leave every 30 minutes, the last one at 2:00pm, since you had to be on board by 2:30pm.

 

Hope that was all clear, it's kinda confusing and I just did it!!:D

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

Great review!

 

Corn dogs.... Snow cones?!?!? Why did I not find either of these when I was on Oasis or Allure before.... Guess I'll have to check it out in 11 days!!... Sounds like the perfect snack while waiting for a show at the aqua theatre!

 

Hmmm will they make an 'adult' snow cone??? lol ;)

 

 

Sent from my iPad2 using Tapatalk

 

They had corn dogs and snow cones every day during daylight hours, on the Boardwalk. Corn dogs were free, snow cones were not.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

Great pics/review.....

Was Embassy Suites on Seabreeze Blvd? I think my inlaws are staying there.... Aka Bahia Mar??????

Looks nice! I hope so for them ;)

 

No Embassy is on 17th.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

do you have info on the private boat you rented? a web link or anything?

thanks.

 

I have the info on my FB page as a link, several people have already asked for it. I don't thinik I can post it here, it would be advertising.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

I could see flying back and staying at that resort a few days, but I could see where a day with the kids it would be less than ideal.

 

Enjoying the review, I have no plans on going to Atlantis, but I feel like I got a good view through the pictures. The same with the fishing, I have no interest, but enjoyed the photos. I might have to make a stop at that mountain top and get a banana daiquiri though. Is that over near the Havenshead port? How did you get there?

 

We hired a lady with a mini van for 90 minutes to give us a tour, she took us up there, all I know is it is on top of a mountain with lots of tour buses stopping there.:)

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

Where do you get the coupon book you mention above? I know my DD will loooooooooove a Pet at Sea.

 

I'm a Diamond member and it was in my coupon book. If you want to see the full Pets at Sea experience, look at my FB, or if you arn't on FB I can post a few pics here if you'd like, just let me know, I took tons of pics in there.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

Great review. We'll be on the Oasis in September...our FIRST cruise :D I also learned some things from this review so thank-you!!

 

I didn't know you couldn't just go look around the Atlanis on your own...that was our plan lol - If we wanted to just look around, can we not do that?

 

My hubby LOVES fishing and I would love to suprise him with this. Please message me details (I couldn't figure out how to message you) -

 

You said you just drove around. Did you rent a car? If so, can you point me in the right direction?

 

We aren't into the touristy stuff (tours, shopping, etc...) and like to go off on our own. We like wildlife, exploring, scenery...that kind of stuff. Do you have any suggestions?

 

Thanks a bunch! Looking forward to more :)

 

Atlantis makes you pay to get in, don't believe anyone that tells you you can just walk in on your own, not true. That place is a gold mine.

 

You can either book an excursion thru the ship, try to show up the day of and book a day pass thru the hotel (about $40 pp cheaper, but it could easily be sold out), or try to book a room if the day you are there has no 3 night minimun as it did on my day.

 

We never rent cars, we just find a nice person at the dock with an air conditioned van to take us around. We have done that all over the world, it always works for us.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

You can go into Atlantis on your own for free and look around, eat and use the casino but you need a pass to go out and see the pools, aquariums and grounds.

 

Not true at times, they are now locking up on days when they are super full, like during spring break. They had a closed gate and guards, only those with wristbands were allowed to enter.

 

I'm sure if you really wanted to try to sneak in you could, but you couldn't do anything once you got in anyway.

 

Things were way different form the last time I was there, it used to be way easier to get in. Last time (2003) I paid a pool guy $100, he gave me some expired keys of someone who must have checked out, we showed those keys at the pool to get a wristband. I guess the hotel got wise and now things are way more complicated.;)

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

Your review is bringing back awesome memories of our Oasis cruise last fall! It was the best!

 

I have to respectfully disagree with you on St. Marten. Sounds like because you guys really didn't do anything FUN.....we rented ATV's and toured the whole island and had several hours at a beautiful beach! St. Marten is one of our favorites and it was because we had so much fun. I think the islands are what you decide to do and can have a huge impact on what kind of impression you will leave with. We are actually booking a Celebrity cruise for next Spring and going back to St. Marten.

 

Maybe if you go back, you can book an excursion. (Our ATV was $48 a person and it lasted 6 hours)

 

Glad to hear you had a great cruise!

 

I know tons of people that love it there, just not us. When I visit a new place I either get a vibe or I don't. That's just the way it is. It's a very beautiful place, just not my favorite. :)

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

Since so many people are asking for it, I'm going to try to post the fishing link, let's see if they let me?

http://www.fishingstthomas.com....

Ask for Captain David, he is the owner.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

 

Zip Line:

So DH and DS #1 did the zip line. DS #2 would have loved to do it, but you had to weigh at least 75 pounds, no more than 275, he is only about 58. Many people think there is a fee and a huge line, neither are true. We waited less than 10 minutes, on a sea day. Here is DH zipping.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

 

Here is DS #1 zipping.

 

A tip, do all your waivers on line before you cruise. We did, and that way you just walk up to the activity and do it. If you don't do it in advance, you must be present with your kids to do the waiver or they won't be allowed to go. Also, you will need both your seapass cards.

 

If you do it in advance, they just flash their sea pass and get right on.

 

One waiver covers the zip line, rock wall, flow rider and everything else tht might result in an untimely death!;)

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

 

DS #1 reaching the top of the rock wall.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

 

DH also reached the top and rang the bell.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

 

DS #2 reached the "kiddie bell".

 

As for the rock wall, a few tips.

 

1. You must be 6 years old to do it.

 

2. They have 2 walls, but #2 was often closed because when there is a show in the aqua area that rock wall usually has divers coming and going on a line, so they shut it down.

 

3. The wall gets super hot, and when that happens it is closed for safety (don't want kids with 3rd degree burns), so try to do it early or late in the day, not at peak sun times.

 

4. There was usually a 20-30 min. wait, depending if one or both sides was open.

 

5. It isn't required, but I suggest long pants rather than shorts, DH wore shorts and got a bit of road rash.:eek:

[Ocean Boy]

I might have to make a stop at that mountain top and get a banana daiquiri though. Is that over near the Havenshead port? How did you get there?

 

The area that you are thinking of by Havensight is called Paradise Point. That is reached by taking a tram up the side of the mountain. Mountain Top is centrally located on St. Thomas and requires a taxi or a tour. Considering what a taxi will charge to get you there and back you would be better off taking a "tour". You can get on one where all of the taxis are located. You don't have to plan anything ahead of time. Moutain Top does offer spectacular views or Megan's Bay as well as the British Virgin Islands. There is some shopping there and, of course, the daiquiris. In my opinion it is worth taking the trip.

 

Also, considering the cost of the tram to Paradise Point, you will see much more of the island for only minimally more cost by taking the Mountain Top tour instead of going to Paradise Point.

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

Flow Rider-We did it last year on Freedom, for some reason nobody wanted to do it this year?:confused:

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

 

Ah yes, the Day 6 Kiddie Pool Incident:

 

Uh, have you seen Caddy Shack?? Let's just say somebody left something in the pool, and it WASN'T a Snickers!!:eek:;)

 

This was DS #2's favotire spot on the ship, so he was a bit annoyed that it was closed. Plus, that means all the kids had to pile into the other kiddie pool (the rectangular one), so swimming that day was a bit cramped.:eek:

 

But I'm glad RCCL was on top of the Snickers Situation for everyone's safety (yuck!).

[PhoenixDawgCruising]

Let's discuss crowds at the pool.

 

Port Day (we swam before we got off at St. Thomas since our fishing didn't start until 2:30pm. This was around 11:00am, everyone else had already rushed off the ship.

 

[Lamar Cheeks]

wow, thanks for the great review and the pictures. really gives you an idea of what goes on for a ship we'd love to sail on.

 

quick question ... you didn't do the MDR, is it too big or was the food not all that appealing?

[johneeo]

 

One waiver covers the zip line, rock wall, flow rider and everything else tht might result in an untimely death!;)

 

I am sure it says something to the effect "should you be injured or die at anytime on your cruise, it is your stinkin' fault you mo-ron!"

[Langley Cruisers]

 

The Embassy Suites....

 

Ah ha, had to chuckle - I scrolled quickly down the first page, saw this, and thought "Central Park!" Alas, it was your hotel. The comparison is, indeed, as noted by others (yes, I've sailed Oasis).