New Cruisers Tackle Oasis (6/8-6/15/13)... A Photo Review

[Cruisin'BusyBee]

T/U so much for your review; always helpful reading these :)

Question: how much is the dining package? Also, can u choose the restaurants or is Gio/Chops/150 the only choices?

 

C/BB

[S.A.M.J.R.]

T/U so much for your review; always helpful reading these :)

Question: how much is the dining package? Also' date=' can u choose the restaurants or is Gio/Chops/150 the only choices?

 

C/BB[/quote']

There were three packages to choose from.

 

The dining package we had was the Central Park Package (Giovanni's, Chops, 150 Central Park). It was $70pp (that basically made Giovanni's "free").

 

According to my notes, the Choice Dining Package is also $70. It includes Giovanni's, Chops, and Izumi OR Solarium Bistro.

 

The Chef's Dining Package is $150, includes 150 Central Park, Chops, and the Chef's Table with the Wine Pairing.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

I almost forgot, we did play mini golf on the first night

and we ran into our first (slightly) rude teens. We were on the last hole and lining up our shots and two teenage boys walked right between us and the hole. OK, no big deal. They stand just off the hole, look around, then walk right back "through" our shot. They were just oblivious. I looked at them and said "Really guys?" and at least got an apology.

 

No, it wasn't that big a deal, but come on? Twice?

 

Day 2-At Sea

I woke up about 5:30, couldn't get back to sleep, so I threw some clothes on and went exploring. Of course, you have to start at the top, right?

It was very peaceful as most folks were still in bed. However it was also VERY windy. So much so, as I was walking on Deck 16, my ballcap flew off my head. Fortunately, it went down to the "mid" pool deck among loungers and not over the side.

 

There is a game room

with available games

.

 

However, I neglected to take note of what deck the game room was on. I think it was 12. It was just off the forward elevator lobby.

Edited June 18, 2013 by S.A.M.J.R.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Likewise, I also found the Library, I believe on deck 11.

Of course, when you get into the elevators, you know what day it is...

Unless you find the elevator that someone "forgot" (and yes, this picture was also taken on Sunday):

.

We also found one elevator that had no day plate. RCI is slacking.

 

On the promenade are two of the Coke Machines.

But I don't think RCI picked a good place to put them. As you can see, they're right at the entrance to the forward elevator lobby. If more than 3-4 people are in line (which happened a couple times), it made it a little difficult to get to the elevators.

 

I also found these interesting...

There were Braille signs all over the ship. Each stateroom even had one. Since they were all but clear, they blended into the wall they were mounted on.

[RoeC]

looking forward to the review, but let me tell you the fish picture made my day....

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Sorry, not many pictures here...

 

I got back to the room and Anna got up shortly after. We made our only visit to the Windjammer. It was around 8:30 and tables were VERY easy to get. We went out to the pool deck shortly after 9 and there were PLENTY of chairs, even next to the pool. I guess the chair hogs were still in bed.:p

 

We went to the port shopping presentation to get our coupon book. While it’s a thick book, most of the discounts are “$x off if you buy such and such”, however there are some “no purchase necessary” free items we’ve marked and we hope to get. We’re just not big shoppers. We ended up leaving before the presentation was over. Because we had to get to the Meet & Greet of course.

 

It was in Dazzles, and I think we had 30+ signed up ahead of time, but less than two dozen showed up. Which was good for us, because Anna won one of the raffles… RCI pen, sling bag, 30 minutes of internet, free bingo game, and a bottle of champagne! Everyone got an around the neck “credential holder” (I don’t know what else to call it). There was space for sea passes, our name tags, and it had a pen.

 

We had lunch at the Solarium (hard finding a table), then back to the room to rest before seeing Hairpray. For some reason, they opened the doors late and a line had developed. It went from the entrance to the Opal Theater (deck 4) and wrapped into the Casino. Once we got in, we went to the balcony... do NOT sit in the first row of the balcony. While it's normally a good seat in other theaters, it's not on Oasis. The railing is right at eye level when you sit down and will split the stage.

 

Before the show started Amy came out and did an auction for two seats at the Captain's Table. The winning bidder spent $300. Proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish foundation.

 

The show was amazing! Jim J. Bullock (Too Close for Comfort, Alf, Ned's Declassified) was Edna.

 

After the show, we found some frozen drinks (Mango Lava Flow for me and frozen Bahama Momma for Anna)

and lounged around the pool.

Edited June 18, 2013 by S.A.M.J.R.

[sailingawaysoon]

Awesome review (especially the food porn), can't wait to see more!

[S.A.M.J.R.]

looking forward to the review, but let me tell you the fish picture made my day....

Thanks. It's like he knew the paparazzi was around. :D

[S.A.M.J.R.]

OK, this should be the last post with a single picture. I have PLENTY, just none of them fit here.

 

This was the first formal night and for MTD, we said we'd be willing to sit with another group. They put us with a set of grandparents from Texas (Dwight and Paula) and their Grandkids (Kayla and Coy-celebrating HS graduation). Another grandparent and grandson (8th grade) joined us all to make it 8. The Texas family became "that family" that we kept running into.

 

I do want to comment on “Formal” night. I did see a handful of people in tuxes. Many more in suites or at least slacks and dress shirts. Everyone looked very nice. I did see two gentlemen being seated in the MDR wearing jeans and T-Shirts. I don’t know if I would have noticed them if not for the fact that I was looking at how people were dressed because of all the controversy on Cruise Critic. Their attire did not affect my dinner whatsoever.

 

After dinner, we changed into comfortable clothes and went to Oasis of Dreams. I didn't bring the camera because I thought camera's weren't allowed. Turned out, it was no FLASH photography. That's OK, I make up for it later. :D

 

Once back in the room, we have another visitor...

 

[RoeC]

Thanks. It's like he knew the paparazzi was around. :D

 

 

If you would send me a copy I would really appreciate it...I just know that if I am having a bad day and I look at it, all will be good in my world roebachab@aol.com

 

On another note getting this much further in, I am enjoying the review immensely. We sail on her July 6th and I am counting down the days...

[iCruise717]

Nice pictures! I have no food porn pictures :mad: Probably for the best though since I would love some of those desserts right now!

[basketrn]

Now, the light switches... one of the comedians described it as a Rubic's cube... There are four switches just inside the door. One is a 'Master' switch and will turn off every light. Of the next two, one turns on the lights over the pictures (accent lights) and the other does the 'main' overheads. These two operate as 'buttons', press once for 'on', press again for 'off'. The bathroom switch operates like a normal switch (up for 'on', down for 'off'). I can't remember the Master switch, we didn't use it.

 

There were also two switches next to the bed (the side away from the balcony) that controlled the picture lights & overheads. A switch between the bed and the balcony controlled the light on the balcony.

 

I was on our cruise...the comedian was soo funny with the light switch joke! Also the shower and relating it to opening a can of biscuits :)

[DreaAST]

Great review! Thanks for posting lots of pics! :)

[UNV-IT!!!]

That yatch you. Saw is the model A yatch owned by a Russian billionaire. It was an estimated cost of $300 million to make

[S.A.M.J.R.]

I was on our cruise...the comedian was soo funny with the light switch joke! Also the shower and relating it to opening a can of biscuits :)

My favorite was the one about the toilet flushing!:eek::D Hey, weren't you doing the 10:00 dolphin swim at Chankanaab? Or were you the ones who didn't show? :p

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Nice pictures! I have no food porn pictures :mad: Probably for the best though since I would love some of those desserts right now!

Yea, Anna emailed me wanting to know what I thought we should do for dinner. My answer... "Windjammer or Main Dining Room?"

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Nice pictures! I have no food porn pictures :mad: Probably for the best though since I would love some of those desserts right now!

 

Thank you. That's a compliment coming from you. :o I was impressed by yours also.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Day 3- Labadee (don't cry over a spilled Labadoozie)

 

Hey, I slept in... 5:50! Grrr... but, once I'm up, I'm up. I can see the mountains of Haiti from the Balcony though. I type up my notes from the day before and wake Anna up before room service gets delivered. We're a lot closer to Labadee by that point...

 

Pretty soon, there's a knock at the door and it's breakfast! Eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, fruit, toast, and cereal. I'm happy.

 

We can see Nellie's beach (and was wondering what cabana ours was going to be)...

 

And Columbus Cove where the kiddos play on the inflatables...

 

All of a sudden, I draw a total blank... do we need to bring towels to the cabana? Or are they there? I simply can't remember. Just in case, we go to deck 15 to get some towels, then down to deck 5 to get change (tip money) from guest services. A) We didn't need towels and B) tip to future cruisers... do this kind of stuff the night before. :p

 

We go down to disembark, and while I had my Seapass, I left my drivers license in the room. Anna had hers. Who spent the last 14 months reading CC? We finally got off the ship, no thanks to me.

 

The crew at this point was unloading a lot of lumber. I don't know if it was for repairs or what.

 

Edited June 19, 2013 by S.A.M.J.R.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

As we walk down the pier, of course we have to stop and take pictures of the lovely lady (and the amazing ship)...

 

Now, you'd think you'd walk through this gate, right?

It's the one with the 'Welcome Sign'. Well, you'd be wrong. In fact, there are signs saying "Do Not Enter". You need to go through THIS one...

This picture was taken walking back ONTO the ship at the end of the day. The gates are open in the morning. Not a big deal, I thought it was funny.

 

We head to the information building and ask about the cabanas, they call over Willie with his cart and we get in. He stops at Barefoot Beach to find out what cabin we're in, and then we're off to Nellies. He hands us over to Regis, our attendant for the day, who escorts us to our cabana... #5!

 

Here's the view...

Of course, there are towels there (6 of them), a cooler with bottled water, two cushioned chaise loungers, and a cushioned couch and footstool. Heaven!

 

We had already sunscreen up, so we grab a couple mats and get into the water.

Edited June 19, 2013 by S.A.M.J.R.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

The water temperature was absolutely PERFECT! It was great to just lay on the mats and relax... and that's exactly what we did. Anna got out before me and by the time I climbed back to the cabana, she had Regis brings us Labadoozies! Have I said I love my wife? :D

 

We enjoyed most of the drinks, then got back in the water. About 11:20, Regis told us lunch was ready. So we put the drinks in the cooler to stay cool, and Regis gets us to the Barefoot Beach buffet.

 

Here's what we settled on...

Anna had a burger, salad, corn on the cob, and jerk chicken.

I had all that, plus the shrimp skewers and the greek salad. We left the baked potatoes, beans, and hot dogs at the buffet.

Cookies and two kinds of cake for desert.

Filling AND yummy!

Edited June 19, 2013 by S.A.M.J.R.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

Of course, we HAD to "work off" that filling meal, right?

.

After soaking up some rays, I got my Labadoozie out of the cooler. Ice had stuck all around the outside of it. I brushed off what I saw then set it down on the table to grab my kindle. CRASH! There was ice stuck to the bottom of the cup and it fell to the deck, spilling the remainder. :(

 

Anna let me have the rest of hers. :D

 

And that was most of our day... just lounging, either on the water or in the cabana. I even managed a short nap in the cabana, out of the sun.

 

Here's a closer shot of Columbus Cove, which was right behind our cabana...

 

The view of Nellie's beach (Hillside Cabanas directly behind me)...

 

And the hillside cabanas...

As you can see in the picture, we had water shoes on, and I'm glad we did. I'm sure the sand and pathway were hot.

 

[cruzegurl104]

This is a WONDERFUL review!!! Thanks so much for all of the great pics! We're doing the Western Caribbean route in September, and also have a cabana reserved for Labadee. Geesh, can I go tomorrow??? :D Looking forward to more!!:)

[S.A.M.J.R.]

About 3, we decided to head back to the ship. Regis got Willie to give us a ride in the cart. Cabana DEFINITELY worth it.

 

 

We showered, then went to Wipeout Cafe for some frozen yogurt (I had forgotten about the stands in the middle of the pool deck), then up to deck 14 for sailaway. It was VERY windy again.

 

Remember that lumbar I mentioned earlier?

It was going somewhere, I don't know where.

 

C&A had a special champagne Sail A Way on the Helo deck

King Jullian from Madagascar showed up too. We didn't stay long. The wind was too strong.

 

It was another MDR night, and our first disappointment on the cruise. But, you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out about it. ;)

[S.A.M.J.R.]

This is a WONDERFUL review!!! Thanks so much for all of the great pics! We're doing the Western Caribbean route in September, and also have a cabana reserved for Labadee. Geesh, can I go tomorrow??? :D Looking forward to more!!:)

 

Thank you for sticking around for it. More pictures to come... Frozen In Time, Splish Splash, Food Porn, and MORE!

[jennyau]

Your review is wonderful, thank you. We're going to be first time cruisers next February doing an 11 night Pacific on the Radiance out of Sydney...but you are giving me a wonderful idea what it is going to be like! Thank you

 

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