Oasis Review (Aug. 31-Sep.7) WARNING: LONG, DO NOT READ

[Yorkvillain]

DAY 6

 

The day got started with another breakfast delivery before 9 AM when we specifically checked off 9:30-10 AM on the order form. It's not a big deal but just something to keep in mind if you do the same. I mean, I didn't really feel like a victim because my bacon arrived 38 minutes earlier than I was expecting it.

 

Our remote control and clogged shower issues we had earlier in the trip were now a distant memory. From here on out it seemed like it was, shall I say, smooth sailing (terrible, I know). We didn't have any other issues with our stateroom, that is until Day 6 when oh yeah, the toilet wouldn't flush. Minor inconvenience, right? I'm sure there are a few thousand Carnival cruisers right now thinking "Why do you need a toilet that flushes?" Thankfully our stateroom attendant was right outside the door and he made a quick phone call to a plumber who came and fixed it right away.

 

After noting in my preview that I reserved and paid the deposit the last two years for Nachi Cocum and then subsequently not getting off the ship (including my legendary kidney stone two years ago), I am happy to report that we indeed did get off the ship and spent the day at Nachi. I guess going to bed early every night had finally paid off.

 

Nachi was fantastic. We never made it to the pool with the swim-up bar but that was only because we were enjoying the beach and the beautiful water so much. I rented a waverunner for a half-hour and had a blast out there in those crystal clear waters. The food wasn't bad although we didn't eat as much as we could have.

 

Here is their website if you are thinking about going there someday. I highly recommend it. They only take 100 visitors a day and it is all-inclusive.

 

http://www.cozumelnachicocom.com

 

 

I had to do this.

 

Looking up at our private palapa (natural umbrella)

 

The menu. Ignore the prices since it is all-inclusive.

 

 

Somewhere in this picture is me on the waverunner.

 

We returned to the ship and participated in two more trivia contests. We did not win the Elvis trivia however we did prevail in the 'movie tunes' trivia. And of course we won MORE document/passport holders which we once again gave away to the couple that graded our paper. This time we were unsuccessful in trying to buy their friendship as this couple simply gave a polite "thank you" and went on their way. I felt so used.

 

Day 6 was also the opening night of the NFL season and since Courtney was tired and just wanted to read her book on the balcony, I decided to make my way over to Studio B to watch the Broncos-Ravens game. Excited that football was back, I moonwalked over to the casino after the game where I played poker for a few hours and recorded another solid win. With Friday night's win at the Hard Rock and now tonight's victory on the ship, this vacation was turning into a pretty lucrative trip.

 

NEXT UP: Day 7 - A final Beef on Weck splurge and how I saved face in the Flowrider pool.

[MrFunInTheSun]

Great review, pictures and commentary! This helps bide my time before boarding the beautiful Lady Allure in November.

 

Thanks so much for sharing your cruise adventure with us!

[AZ Karaoke Girl]

DAY 5

 

Day 5 was a day at sea so of course the pools were jam packed. It was a little windy however my alligators did a superb job of holding my towel in place:

 

 

I'm not a FL Gator fan but I love these gator clips. Great idea. My TA gave me a set of terry cloth wraps that are designed for holding the towels on the beach chairs but I kind of like this idea a little better. Loving your pictures. I was on the Allure this past May and now booked on the Oasis for next May.

[Yorkvillain]

DAY 7

 

I wanted to go the whole week without going to the Windjammer once however we ended going three times including a late morning/early afternoon visit on Day 7. The pools were crowded of course as everyone was trying to get that last bit of color before heading back home. There were plenty of chairs at the pool all week as long as you didn't mind going up one flight to deck 16. Besides one minor wipeout where I slammed my head against the wall, I held my own on the boogie board on the starboard-side Flowrider.

 

 

This kid was making the adults look pathetic.

 

I actually took these 2 photos on day 1 while still at Port Everglades. You can tell by the big crane in the background. Did you think the crane was maybe the Quantum's North Star?

 

 

There was sports trivia in the afternoon where we lost by 1 question. I really need to brush up on my cricket, polo and curling knowledge if I ever want to seriously consider winning this event. After trivia, we went to the Park Cafe for the final time where I had no problem inhaling two more Beef on Wecks, bringing the grand total for the week to 6.5. The ".5" was when I finished one of Courtney's earlier in the week. I don't think 6.5 is too piggish for a seven-day cruise, especially when you consider that I ate 17 ham & cheese croissants on our second Liberty cruise a few years back. I didn't even know those little ham & cheese croissants existed until the final day of our first Liberty cruise. We are not coffee drinkers so we just assumed that the Cafe Promenade was only a coffee shop and wouldn't have anything we would like. Loney and Monalisa from Panama however turned us on to these and I had to suffer thru several long winter months thinking about those tasty little treats before returning to the Liberty the following year.

 

For dinner on Day 7, we went to the MDR where each and every night I had the salmon and crabmeat gratin. One of the nights they had escargot which was just as good, if not better. You can put anything under that melted butter sauce and I'll eat it.

 

 

I had some camera and white balance issues for these two photos.

 

 

 

We talked with our waiter Reggie for awhile and he was excited because his contract was up and he was flying home to the Phillipines the next day. He said he was probably returning to the Oasis in nine weeks. Of course, this got my wheels spinning, "Hmmm, would I like to work every day for six months and then have nine weeks off? And how many cruises would I go on in those nine weeks?!?!"

 

Alot of people like to take pictures with their waiter and assistant waiter on the final night of their vacation. However, Reggie pulled out a camera and wanted a picture of us!?! I thought that was a little strange but he was great and we had some nice things to say about him and our stateroom attendant in the guest satisfaction survey.

 

After dinner we put our luggage out and then went to the improv show that was in Studio B. It was really funny and raunchy, just the way I like it.

 

NEXT UP: Parting Thoughts

Edited September 12, 2013 by Yorkvillain

[Yorkvillain]

FINAL THOUGHTS

 

While I didn't do everything I said I was going to do in my preview, I absolutely love the Oasis class and plan to spend many, many more vacations on them. It's incredible that the largest ships in the world also feel the least crowded. I mean, 25 minutes from the hotel to the Royal Promenade? I remember as a kid sitting in the Miami cruise ship terminal for hours during the check-in process. And those ships were so much smaller back then.

 

If you have any anxiety about going on the Oasis or Allure, please don't. At least try it once.

 

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

 

-Our Junior Suite was a connecting room, however we barely heard our neighbors throughout the week. And when we did, the sound was minimal. I wish I could say the same for our connecting balcony room on the Allure last year. It sounded like there were 20 people in there and we heard the door constantly slamming all week. I blame it more on the passengers in that room that week then the actual room. In the Junior Suite, the connecting door was near the balcony while in the balcony room the connecting door was near the front door.

 

-Why can't a stateroom refrigerator ever be cold?

 

-The WIFI was very good. I probably logged on in my stateroom for about 15 minutes a day. It was pretty fast and easy to log on/log off. The WIFI on the Explorer was decent too but you had to go to a hot spot like the Cafe Promenade, VCL, etc.

 

-The electronic coupons are great and it is so convenient not to have to fill out the old paper ones and carry them around with you.

 

-Incredibly, we never once made it to Vintages, Blaze or the VCL. This just blows me away since we love Vintages and the VCL. We pretty much went to Vintages every day on the Freedom and the Liberty and I think that is because on the Freedom class, Vintages is right on the Royal Promenade. On the Oasis class, it is in Central Park where we only went when we were going to the Park Cafe, Chops or Giovanni's Table. There are also more options on the Oasis class so that could be a big reason too. And because we never made it to the VCL, I am less worried about the Quantum possibly not having a VCL.

 

 

One final photo: like some cruel twist of fate, he is my plane that I was about to board to go home with the Oasis in the background.

 

 

 

NEXT UP: The Explorer of the Seas in March.

[A&L_Ont]

I was wondering if you tried the Flowrider :) Did you meet Tam? Sorry to hear that your stand up surfing was not as successful as the boogie boarding. Some folks catch on much quicker (the very young whose bones knit much faster) that others. It took us a while to finally get it, but once we did, we were hooked :D

 

Sounds like you had a wonderful cruise. Thanks for the review and we agree 100% about the Solarium, it is MUCH too warm. We prefer the Freedom class for just that reason, the Solarium is cooler, bigger pool and nicer to spend time in. :p

 

We were on Oasis the week prior and rented the flow rider form an hour and Tam and Caesar were there to observe us, I actually tried Tam's short board, he offered it up, towards the end and it is a totally different ride, but I stayed on it.

 

Don't know if you be Ollie or not, but he is the best in attitude and the best flow rider in the RCI sports desk staff in the fleet IMHO. In the Flow Show he jumped in from the wood rail onto the flow rider. There was also a girl named Anna Marie that rode on a waiters tray, during the show. Big shouts for her too.

 

Yah, flow rider addict here.

Andrew

[A&L_Ont]

FINAL THOUGHTS

 

While I didn't do everything I said I was going to do in my preview, I absolutely love the Oasis class and plan to spend many, many more vacations on them. It's incredible that the largest ships in the world also feel the least crowded. I mean, 25 minutes from the hotel to the Royal Promenade? I remember as a kid sitting in the Miami cruise ship terminal for hours during the check-in process. And those ships were so much smaller back then.

 

If you have any anxiety about going on the Oasis or Allure, please don't. At least try it once.

 

 

RANDOM THOUGHTS

 

-Our Junior Suite was a connecting room, however we barely heard our neighbors throughout the week. And when we did, the sound was minimal. I wish I could say the same for our connecting balcony room on the Allure last year. It sounded like there were 20 people in there and we heard the door constantly slamming all week. I blame it more on the passengers in that room that week then the actual room. In the Junior Suite, the connecting door was near the balcony while in the balcony room the connecting door was near the front door.

 

-Why can't a stateroom refrigerator ever be cold?

 

-The WIFI was very good. I probably logged on in my stateroom for about 15 minutes a day. It was pretty fast and easy to log on/log off. The WIFI on the Explorer was decent too but you had to go to a hot spot like the Cafe Promenade, VCL, etc.

 

-The electronic coupons are great and it is so convenient not to have to fill out the old paper ones and carry them around with you.

 

-Incredibly, we never once made it to Vintages, Blaze or the VCL. This just blows me away since we love Vintages and the VCL. We pretty much went to Vintages every day on the Freedom and the Liberty and I think that is because on the Freedom class, Vintages is right on the Royal Promenade. On the Oasis class, it is in Central Park where we only went when we were going to the Park Cafe, Chops or Giovanni's Table. There are also more options on the Oasis class so that could be a big reason too. And because we never made it to the VCL, I am less worried about the Quantum possibly not having a VCL.

 

 

One final photo: like some cruel twist of fate, he is my plane that I was about to board to go home with the Oasis in the background.

 

 

 

NEXT UP: The Explorer of the Seas in March.

 

Loved your review and sense of humour. We sailed on her the week before you and are back in November. 1 week on 10 weeks off... not as good of a rotation as your waiter. Can't wait to return.

 

Glad to hear you tried flow riding. I took a few lessons and got bit by the bug. In just over a year I have gotten pretty good at it. The women dig bruises, but DW doesn't really care. They can't see a stiff neck though.;)

 

We will try Nachi (sp?) when we get to Cozumel next time. Always thought about it never got there.

 

As per your random points, why is the fridge always warm? Now for one of my own. Why are the people in speedos and thongs the ones that shouldn't be?

 

As stated earlier loved your review and by your personality would gladly sail with you, or have you as my table mates.

 

Andrew

[JohnGaltny]

Reading, subscribibg, laughing, snorting etc.

[LTyler]

Great review i think u love Oasis as much as me u should try super bowl cruise on her u would love it!!

[SnappyNappi]

Day 5 was a day at sea so of course the pools were jam packed. It was a little windy however my alligators did a superb job of holding my towel in place.

I have dolphins and pink flamingos that I picked up at Walmart to hold our towels - very tropical for cruising (No college affiliation with our clips, but if I could find a Nittany Lion, I'd consider it...) We love those silly little clips. :)

[SnappyNappi]

York,

Thanks so much for taking the time to give such a great pictorial review of your trip. I hope you will do another review of your Explorer trip next March. DH and I are doing Bermuda on Explorer this October and then again next October (before she leaves us to go to Florida) - then we are already booked on Quantum for February 2015. Hope to see you and Courtney onboard one of these days. You guys sound like a lot of fun!

 

Happy cruising to you!

[JohnGaltny]

So I actually came back and read everything and you are my official # 2 reviewer (after only Sailor Jack of course). Or maybe you're #1A. ;) LOL

 

I write these little screeds also so I know how hard it is to remember everything and I'm nowhere near as detailed as you and Jack. I tend to lose things to my medicated states (Jack Daniels and scopolamine are a potent combination).

 

Now going back to find your other stuff. Darn you Red Baron for not linking them in your signature.

 

Great job!!!!

Edited September 12, 2013 by JohnGaltny

[windjamming]

JohngaltNY, you don't get away with that. Your reviews are definitely in that same rarified air as both SailorJack and Yorkvillain. Your review cracked me up, but more importantly, inquiring minds want to know how you got a gorgeous Norwegian woman you just met to model for you?!

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[JohnGaltny]

Thanks Windjamming.

 

I think I'll try to get Sailor Jack, Yorkvillian, Foxgoodrich and myself on the same cruise and see what happens then. Lord help us all when the reviews start from that cruise.

 

What do you say York???

Edited September 12, 2013 by JohnGaltny

[Yorkvillain]

We are huge RCCL fans and are sailing on the Oasis with my in-laws to the Eastern Caribbean in December. I feel like there is a ton I should be doing as far as planning and preparation (other than shopping which I have covered ;), but because of a grandmother recently put on hospice and a Disney trip I am planning for my niece in November which has required a lot of coordinating between family members, my cruise has gotten little to no attention.

 

I am loving the TRs to help us see what we need to be sure to try to do once we are on the ship, but there are not enough pre trip reports (and yours covered too little of the planning aspect for me :) here, so I am making a direct plea.

 

I'd really really appreciate any suggestions you have for what we should be doing as far as planning and preparing for our trip which is just about 3 months out now. The last RCCL ship I was on was the Explorer of the Seas (LOVED IT), and as excited as I am about the Explorer, I am also nervous about being overwhelmed by the size. My in-laws have never cruised before and are looking to me to take care of everything for them....perhaps why I have been in shut down mode a bit remembering the last time I took a trip with them :eek:, but I need to get on the ball.

 

We tried booking excursions a few months ago and the one we were excited about in St Maarten was cancelled because it isn't being offered on our sailing for some reason.

 

Well you have come to the right place. Just search Oasis or even Allure reviews, trip reports and 'Live" reports. Radio, Trainman-2 and Gambee have some fantastic reviews.

 

Other than that, search Oasis videos on youtube. And please don't be overwhelmed by the size. There is so much to do but at the same time you are going to do and go to what you like best. Like in my preview when I said that Jazz on 4 doesn't appeal to us so we never go there. But for people that love jazz music, they love that venue. Other people don't like trivia but we love it.

Edited September 12, 2013 by Yorkvillain

[Yorkvillain]

Loved your review and sense of humour. We sailed on her the week before you and are back in November. 1 week on 10 weeks off... not as good of a rotation as your waiter. Can't wait to return.

 

Glad to hear you tried flow riding. I took a few lessons and got bit by the bug. In just over a year I have gotten pretty good at it. The women dig bruises, but DW doesn't really care. They can't see a stiff neck though.;)

 

We will try Nachi (sp?) when we get to Cozumel next time. Always thought about it never got there.

 

As per your random points, why is the fridge always warm? Now for one of my own. Why are the people in speedos and thongs the ones that shouldn't be?

 

As stated earlier loved your review and by your personality would gladly sail with you, or have you as my table mates.

 

Andrew

 

Thanks Andrew. The warm fridge drives me nuts. And I agree with you about the speedos and thongs.

[Yorkvillain]

York,

Thanks so much for taking the time to give such a great pictorial review of your trip. I hope you will do another review of your Explorer trip next March. DH and I are doing Bermuda on Explorer this October and then again next October (before she leaves us to go to Florida) - then we are already booked on Quantum for February 2015. Hope to see you and Courtney onboard one of these days. You guys sound like a lot of fun!

 

Happy cruising to you!

 

Thanks. I can't wait to go on the Quantum and I also can't wait for the new cruise ship terminal at Cape Liberty.

[Yorkvillain]

Thanks Windjamming.

 

I think I'll try to get Sailor Jack, Yorkvillian, Foxgoodrich and myself on the same cruise and see what happens then. Lord help us all when the reviews start from that cruise.

 

What do you say York???

 

John, Windjamming is right. Your reviews are tremendous as well.

 

I'm in! We should all write a review for the same cruise and then have the Cruise Critic readers vote for the best. The winner will get a Royal Caribbean document/passport holder.

[JohnGaltny]

and I have 30 or so Key Chains I can add as incentive. LOL

 

Plus I have enough admin warnings to share them with you three.

Edited September 12, 2013 by JohnGaltny

[relaxatsea]

Thanks for your great review!

I loved your photos and sense of humor!!

[Yorkvillain]

and I have 30 or so Key Chains I can add as incentive. LOL

 

Plus I have enough admin warnings to share them with you three.

 

Haha. I would love to hear the admin warnings stories. That could be a great thread on it's own.

[MonaCK]

Thank you for your wonderful review, Yorkvillan! It was informative, funny, and an absolute joy to read.

[wildweston]

Thank you your review was great, you crack me up ! I bet your work mates actually missed you :)

[Yorkvillain]

Thank you for your wonderful review, Yorkvillan! It was informative, funny, and an absolute joy to read.

 

Thank you your review was great, you crack me up ! I bet your work mates actually missed you :)

 

Thank you Mona and Wild, glad you enjoyed it.

[cruiseclues]

Great Review...What happened to the Rock Salt (usually all over the hummelweck buns)? :):):):)

Edited November 2, 2013 by cruiseclues