Review: Oasis of the Seas

[juliet22]

This was our 2nd time cruising with RCCL for our large family reunion. The first time we cruised was 5 years ago on Freedom of the Seas. And lots of things have changed! I will try to hit some highlights that I and my family thought were important.

 

 

 

Food: By far the biggest disappointment of the entire trip. 5 years ago everyone remembers getting exceptional meals in the MDR, as well as the specialty restaurants. This trip was a completely different story. MDR was not exceptional. Some nights did have a good dish here and there (I enjoyed the lobster on night 6 and the lamb shank). Most of the seafood dishes were fishy. We all agreed that the food has really gone down in quality. Not to mention lobster and filet mignon were free 5 years ago, now you pay $25-30. Side note: drink machines were very fickle, hard to get it to work properly.

 

 

Specialty Restaurants: We went to the Japanese restaurant and had some sushi. Sushi was OK. Drinks were really slow cause there wasn’t a bar located there. Overall, not worth the money. I had family members that ate at CHOPS. Most agreed the steak restaurant on Freedom was better.

 

 

 

Pizza: It’s like frozen pizza. Don’t expect good quality for 24/hr pizza.

 

 

 

Other notes on food: Fries were really good, desserts were really good on almost all the nights in MDR, Windjammer was surprisingly good (better than we remembered).

 

 

 

Elevators: Cramped during peak hours. But ok overall.

 

 

Roaches: We found a few dead roaches in the hall. Yes I took a picture!see below

 

 

 

Gym: Horrible gym. All the cardio machine screens would freeze on me before I even set the resistance level. I tried 5 different machines and then gave up. My husband said that the weight machines were just as bad. I ended up sticking with hand weights and doing my own circuit workouts. I don’t remember having any issues with the gym on the Freedom.

 

 

 

Photos: Be careful!!!!!!!!!!! if you buy your cruise photos digitally. We got home and tons of our photos weren’t on our disc. I think in the end we were missing at least 10 photos. And we were missing all of my formal photos with my family. Still has not been resolved.

 

 

Entertainment: Was good for the most part. The comedians were hilarious. Casino was fun. Frozen was a bit corny. I did see Cats. The quality of the performance was good, but the show was just ODD. The storyline is very obscure. Not the show I would pick to present on a cruise. EDIT: As someone pointed out below the comedy club is TINY! And lots of people were turned away at the door. Reservations is the only way to go with this one.

 

 

 

H20 Zone: Before booking we were told that our toddlers could use the h20 zone. What we were NOT told was that if they wear a swim diaper they can only use a small portion of the h20 zone (a 10x 20 foot section that my son would never stay in). When the attendant came to tell us this I was obviously upset. Then she said he could use the rest of the h20 zone if we TOOK OFF HIS SWIM DIAPER. The whole h20 zone policy is ridiculous. So we just tucked in his swim diaper so they couldn’t see it. That’s what the swim diaper is for!!!!!

 

 

Ports: Had a great time at all the stops. Being solicited on Nassau was a bit annoying, but the paradise beach was nice.

 

 

Prohibition Night: They make it sound like you get all you can drink alcohol, but what you really get is premade jungle juice only. No bar at the event. So if you were expecting to get there and order your own cocktails you will be disappointed. The musicians were wonderful. Host was good. They did a lot of interactive games and dancing. If that’s your cup of “tea” (haha) you will enjoy it.

 

 

Good things: Wifi we bought worked flawlessly, embarkation was a breeze, beds and rooms were nice, daycare was great( not many toddlers on the ship so we got 20 hrs upfront to schedule as we liked), the cocktails made were made right and had a good amt of alcohol, stateroom attendants and MDR waiters were great, and guest services was great.

 

 

Other issues: They mixed up our rooms, the bathroom light never turned off, karaoke was only 1 hr long, the singles meet and mingle was always empty, online website/reservations IS AWFUL, smoking zone right next to the kids swim zone, oldies music night only lasts 45 minutes, and we didn’t get our preordered breakfast a few times.

 

 

 

And yes, they nickel and dime you for everything (esp Bingo!). So although the ship itself was amazing, there was a lot left to be desired. And it seemed harder on this cruise to meet people. The quality has dropped significantly since we last cruised 5 years ago. Yet to be determined if the next reunion will be with RCCL.

Edited June 22, 2015 by juliet22

[BillOh]

 

Pizza: It’s like frozen pizza. Don’t expect good quality for 24/hr pizza.

 

 

.

 

Did you know about the made to order personal pizzas available? Seems under mentioned frequently. It's usually about a 10 minute wait.

 

All your points seem valid, as I sure they are to you ;). I'll enjoy discussing.

Edited June 22, 2015 by BillOh

[juliet22]

Did you know about the made to order personal pizzas available? Seems under mentioned frequently. It's usually about a 10 minute wait.

 

All your points seem valid, as I sure they are to you ;). I'll enjoy discussing.

 

Oh man! I didn't! shucks :(

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

What sailing were you on?

[juliet22]

What sailing were you on?

 

Just this last weekend. June 13th-20th

[MarilynTX]

I agree with everything you've said.

 

My assessment is the entertainment was the best part of the cruise for me. Our room steward was very good. She was always near by. The food was somewhere below Luby's and above high school cafeteria. We definitely have better steak restaurants than Chops in Texas although it was the best meal of the cruise.

 

The crowds drove me crazy and I have cruised many times. Usually I get the rhythm of the ship and I know how to find the less populated spots on the ship. This ship was so big it took my 3 days to figure out how to avoid the crowds.

 

You couldn't see some of the shows (especially the comedy) if you didn't have a reservation. I had reservations but our traveling friends did not.

[juliet22]

I agree with everything you've said.

 

My assessment is the entertainment was the best part of the cruise for me. Our room steward was very good. She was always near by. The food was somewhere below Luby's and above high school cafeteria. We definitely have better steak restaurants than Chops in Texas although it was the best meal of the cruise.

 

The crowds drove me crazy and I have cruised many times. Usually I get the rhythm of the ship and I know how to find the less populated spots on the ship. This ship was so big it took my 3 days to figure out how to avoid the crowds.

 

You couldn't see some of the shows (especially the comedy) if you didn't have a reservation. I had reservations but our traveling friends did not.

 

Thanks for the reminder about the comedy club! It was tiny! We didn't have reservations, but one of our party stood in line 45 mins before the show and we got in.

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

What sailing were you on?

 

I guess 3 weeks can make a big difference.

 

I was on the Oasis from May 23-30 and thought the whole cruise was amazing!

Edited June 22, 2015 by OfTheSeasCruiser

[Sherri914]

I'm concerned about the "roach" situation.

 

The thought of bringing these things home with me totally gives me the heebie-jeebies! If it's true - if this is a roach in the picture (I couldn't see), then is it reasonable to assume they're in the cabins as well? That won't work for me. . . . I'm not silly enough to think that there will never be a bug in any restaurant or hotel where I'll stay or eat. But still - for every 1 you see there are probably 100 that you don't see. EW!

[juliet22]

I'm concerned about the "roach" situation.

 

The thought of bringing these things home with me totally gives me the heebie-jeebies! If it's true - if this is a roach in the picture (I couldn't see), then is it reasonable to assume they're in the cabins as well? That won't work for me. . . . I'm not silly enough to think that there will never be a bug in any restaurant or hotel where I'll stay or eat. But still - for every 1 you see there are probably 100 that you don't see. EW!

 

Hmm, sorry you couldn't see the photo! But yes, it is a dead roach in the photo. We found 2 of them by the elevators on the 8th floor (our room floor ewww) . This is right next to central park....not sure if that makes it any better. And it is true, for every 1 you see there are a hundred more!

Edited June 22, 2015 by juliet22

[juliet22]

I guess 3 weeks can make a big difference.

 

I was on the Oasis from May 23-30 and thought the whole cruise was amazing!

 

I don't think 3 weeks can make a difference, but people make a difference. People wanting different things out of their cruise experience. All I know is food is huge for us. Night 1 the cod was tasteless and the muscles were so fishy I couldn't eat them. Night 2 the lobster bisque was also fishy. I've made both clam chowder and lobster bisque and it was 100 x better. :( the food got slightly better towards the end of the cruise...but maybe I just knew what to order by then (not seafood!).

[Sitzmark]

I agree with everything you've said.

 

My assessment is the entertainment was the best part of the cruise for me. Our room steward was very good. She was always near by. The food was somewhere below Luby's and above high school cafeteria. We definitely have better steak restaurants than Chops in Texas although it was the best meal of the cruise.

 

The crowds drove me crazy and I have cruised many times. Usually I get the rhythm of the ship and I know how to find the less populated spots on the ship. This ship was so big it took my 3 days to figure out how to avoid the crowds.

 

You couldn't see some of the shows (especially the comedy) if you didn't have a reservation. I had reservations but our traveling friends did not.

 

Sorry, what is Luby's?

[BillOh]

Oh man! I didn't! shucks :(

 

Definitey better than the other stuff.

 

 

[Sherri914]

Hmm, sorry you couldn't see the photo! But yes, it is a dead roach in the photo. We found 2 of them by the elevators on the 8th floor (our room floor ewww) . This is right next to central park....not sure if that makes it any better. And it is true, for every 1 you see there are a hundred more!

 

I could see something - I just couldn't tell exactly what it was in the pic. But the color looks like one of the giant cockroaches we in the south like to call Palmetto bugs (and water bugs). It makes us feel better than saying big ugly cockroaches! Truth is though, they're all over the southeast. And the farther south you go, the worse they are and the bigger they are it seems. Fortunately, those aren't the kind that invade your kitchen cabinets. Those would be the little German cockroaches. EW!!! These big ones tend to be where there is wood and abundant vegetation. Still YUCK!!!! You may be onto something though - maybe they have taken up residence in Central Park on the ship. It still gives me the willies though. Yuck.

Edited June 22, 2015 by Sherri914

[cruisingagentone]

So unless they have moved the smoking area it is no where near the kids zone.

Its completely on the other side by the pool bar.

[mediccruzin]

Sorry, what is Luby's?

 

It is a cafeteria chain here in Texas. Used to be pretty good till the Luby family sold it about 7 years ago.

[balanceok]

Where do you get the made to order pizza?

[Clarea]

Where do you get the made to order pizza?

Sorrento's, deck 5, Royal Promenade.

[LuCruise]

Thanks for your report, but am sorry as overall you seem dissapointed; food, H20 Zone (I'd be upset too if they mislead you), roaches (gross), photos (I hope they find yoru missing photos), and various mix ups.

 

One question about the port...would you recommend Paradise Beach with kids? Is it hard to get to? Were you in Bahams for the standard time of Oasis class ships of 7am - 2pm ?

[juliet22]

Thanks for your report, but am sorry as overall you seem dissapointed; food, H20 Zone (I'd be upset too if they mislead you), roaches (gross), photos (I hope they find yoru missing photos), and various mix ups.

 

One question about the port...would you recommend Paradise Beach with kids? Is it hard to get to? Were you in Bahams for the standard time of Oasis class ships of 7am - 2pm ?

 

I guess it depends on the kids and their age. The water there was really nice, but had lots of waves. It's not a calm serene water beach. We loved it! Road the waves and I held my 2 yo in my arms. It was a 5 minute taxi ride there, not bad at all. And a short walk to the beach. Yes we were there from 7 to 2, but we only got to the beach at 11ish and left by 130.

 

If I didn't have any other cruising experience I probably would have liked it overall. But having gone 5 yrs ago and seeing the difference. ..it's hard not to compare. Also, we are used to eating amazing food on vacation. I make it a point to research the best places to eat before going anywhere. The best food we had was at the port stops. Cuzzin's on st. Thomas was yum.

[Paul65]

I agree with everything you've said.

 

My assessment is the entertainment was the best part of the cruise for me. Our room steward was very good. She was always near by. The food was somewhere below Luby's and above high school cafeteria. We definitely have better steak restaurants than Chops in Texas although it was the best meal of the cruise.

 

The crowds drove me crazy and I have cruised many times. Usually I get the rhythm of the ship and I know how to find the less populated spots on the ship. This ship was so big it took my 3 days to figure out how to avoid the crowds.

 

You couldn't see some of the shows (especially the comedy) if you didn't have a reservation. I had reservations but our traveling friends did not.

 

Marilyn,

 

Sorry your review thread ended up getting locked. I think you should start again, as it's always good to get various perspectives. Some people think you just automatically get "jumped on" if you say anything negative, but I think this thread is a pretty good example that this is not really true. Implications that more positive reviews are less honest or that those who dare question someone's negative comment are just "cheerleaders" for the cruise line tend to derail things into arguments, though.

 

This is a review that's more negative than positive, but it hasn't resulted in argument or disagreement for the most part.