Oasis of the Seas versus NCL Getaway

[dfen74]

Hi there.

 

Family of four (kids aged 11 & 8) are planning a cruise for mid-March. We have pretty much narrowed it down to the Getaway and the Oasis. Both are Western Caribbean itineraries, stopping in familiar places to us. The prices for assigned mid-ship balcony cabins are virtually identical. It would seem that the Oasis is typically a bit pricier than the Getaway but the 3rd night free promotion has brought them on level.

 

I have reviewed all of the similarities and differences between the ships. I am just hoping to get some opinions on which ship you prefer, if you have been on both and why.

 

The NCL promotions (drink and speciality dining packages) are not a big factor for us, more concerned with the quality and variety of food, the pools/waterpark/other activities and general vibe of the ships.

 

Thanks very much.

Dave

[champagne123]

Dave, I have been on the Breakaway (sister ship of Getaway), the Oasis and the Allure. There is absolutely NO comparison. You and your children will LOVE LOVE LOVE the Oasis. NO comparison AT ALL. The Getaway's pool is the size of a postage stamp. Insane.

Edited January 1, 2017 by champagne123
xxxxx

[Freehike]

Agreed; the Oasis is a vastly superior ship.

 

 

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[M&JfromSDL]

I agree. Sailed Getaway last year as a couple (no kids) and sailed Allure a few years ago. You will enjoy either ship but if money were equal I would definitely pick Oasis.

Edited January 1, 2017 by M&JfromSDL

[SadmanCruiser]

Been on both ships and agree with previous posters that the Oasis is the better ship.

 

Food on both ships is similar but, in my opinion, Getaway has better speciality restaurants.

 

There does seem to be more for kids on the Oasis and the open upper decks on Oasis have a better layout.

 

We have been on Oasis and Harmony and had a central park balcony on both.

 

Pete

[Clarea]

Some other threads on the subject:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2391708

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2298026

[Eileen G]

I have sailed the Oasis and Allure and just sailed the Getaway last month. We were disappointed in the Getaway but you really can't fairly compare any cruise ship to the Oasis class of ships. They are floating resorts and absolutely beautiful. The entertainment is top notch. However the Getaway has some awesome water slides and a great ropes course. The problem is the slides and ropes course take up a lot of deck space and leave a very small pool area. Also there are several 'private' areas on the top deck so space is really limited if you don't pay extra. If you enjoy sitting around the pool I would stay away from the Getaway the area is just really cramped and unpleasant. Check out some picture of each ship.

[BNBR]

Why not Harmony? Price for mid-March looks pretty similar to Oasis.

[dfen74]

Thanks for the replies so far. If we can score the Harmony for the same price as the Oasis, we will likely jump on it.

[jetta8300]

Sailed Allure and Breakaway (Getaway's sister ship) and Allure was far better. Layout, activities, shows, food, drinks, were all far superior on the allure. Not even a comparison really.

 

 

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[countess5]

What they said........:D

 

Been on both, Oasis and Allure twice each and when we sailed Getaway we were in the Haven, still sail the Oasis class! The pool comment is so true and the vibe of Getaway is not what you get from Oasis. The Oasis class gives the total family a great experience and activities to take part in than Getaway. A rope course........really? :confused:

[matj2000]

With the recent decline in RC these days, I would go with NCL.

 

You asking this question on the RC page has about a 90% blind loyalty and bias toward RC.

 

Kind of like basing an exit poll at Berkeley Ca, to get election results....

 

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

With the recent decline in RC these days, I would go with NCL.

 

You asking this question on the RC page has about a 90% blind loyalty and bias toward RC.

 

Kind of like basing an exit poll at Berkeley Ca, to get election results....

 

 

Have you been on any of NCL's largest ships?

 

From my one experience on the Epic, ship design was terrible, and service was subpar. Food was comparable. I know that the Breakaway is the ship in question, and I've heard its design is better, but that still won't get me back on NCL.

 

And if you think Royal nickel and dimes you, you haven't seen anything yet.

Edited January 2, 2017 by OfTheSeasCruiser

[Aquahound]

The NCL promotions (drink and speciality dining packages) are not a big factor for us, more concerned with the quality and variety of food, the pools/waterpark/other activities and general vibe of the ships.

 

The Pools on Oasis are much better than on Getaway. There is no comparison there. Forget even being able to use the pool on Getaway.

 

Just the opposite can be said for the waterpark. Oasis has 2 Flowriders, but Getaway has several waterslides.

 

The food on NCL is good, as long as you're eating in specialty restaurants. The free food is awful. I'd rank RCI's free food a little better than NCL.

 

The vibe of the ships are about the same, but Getaway is a lot more crowded feeling.

 

Realize that if you get the so-called "free at sea" drinks package or specialty restaurant package on NCL, they hit you with service charges. It's about $100 per person for the drinks and $80 per person for the restaurants. Then, on board, if you want room service, you have to pay $8. There's a reason why NCL is known as the Spirit/Frontier Airlines of the cruise industry.

 

All in all, I would recommend Oasis.

Edited January 2, 2017 by Aquahound

[matj2000]

The Pools on Oasis are much better than on Getaway. There is no comparison there. Forget even being able to use the pool on Getaway.

 

People always compare the pools like it makes a difference.

 

As one of those people who spend the majority of their day at the pool area.

 

I can tell you that besides the kids, probably less than 10% of the passengers actually get in the water......

 

 

[A&L_Ont]

People always compare the pools like it makes a difference.

 

As one of those people who spend the majority of their day at the pool area.

 

I can tell you that besides the kids, probably less than 10% of the passengers actually get in the water......

 

 

 

That's because the 10% you speak of pee in the pool.:eek: The more pools, the lower pee percentage per pool.:D

 

Happy New Years to you and your family Matt.

Edited January 2, 2017 by A&L_Ont

[vichastwins]

I don't have a blind loyalty to any particular line. I have done royal, NCL and Disney. After one cruise on Norwegian epic I swore never again. I felt like there were so many places I couldn't go on that ship! Either because I wasn't in a suite,, I had two 10 year olds with me, I wasn't a single cruiser... whatever. I just did not enjoy my time on that ship and I had no preconceived notions going in. They also really nickel and dimed us. I had done the oasis a few years before that and really missed it when I was on the epic.

[Aquahound]

People always compare the pools like it makes a difference.

 

Um, that's because the OP asked about the pools.

 

The NCL promotions (drink and speciality dining packages) are not a big factor for us, more concerned with the quality and variety of food, the pools/waterpark/other activities and general vibe of the ships.

[Jerseygirl1416]

Oasis wins hands down!

 

I sailed Oasis and Breakaway and have no loyalty, other than to my wallet. Oasis is my favorite ship so far and Breakaway is my least favorite.

 

 

On the Breakaway if I hadn't rented a cabana in Vibe for the week I may have flown home from PC. The layout of the Breakaway is awful. From the pool area, to the theater, to the casino location, and many other bad design choices. Never ever again for me.

[jticarruthers]

Sailed Allure (sister of Oasis) and Escape (sister of Getaway).

 

Generally I recommend Escape since I found most things to be pretty close but the price is usually significantly in favor of Escape. Sounds like that is not the case here so if the pricing is close then I would vote Oasis.

[Kew Gardens Cruiser]

Last 2 cruises have been on the NCL Breakaway because I live in NY. While I enjoyed the Breakaway, the Allure and Oasis are still my favorite ships

[dfen74]

I appreciate everyone's feedback. We booked a mid-ship oceanview balcony cabin on the Oasis (Deck 11). Can't wait :D

[drb116]

I am glad to see you were able to make a decision! I have been on both and would agree that the Oasis is the better boat, however for what it is worth, my kids (age 7 and 9) prefer the Getaway.

 

The problem with the Oasis is that some of the fun things to do like the Flowrider and Zipline are made for older guests and younger kids don't meet the height/weight requirements.

 

This is not true of the Getaway, where both my boys can enjoy the slides and the high ropes course.

[JinxyB]

Having been on Oasis, Allure, and Getaway I would choose Getaway for the water slides and ropes course. Getaway also has a bungee trampoline, rock wall, and spider climbing thing/slide, all free of charge. My child enjoyed these things more than the activities on Oasis/Allure (too young to do flow rider). I'm not a loyalist to any line. Oasis was great, but I feel the newer NCL mega ships have more activities for active kids. The entertainment was better on Oasis.

[bambione]

I have been on the NCL Getaway twice now and loved it. We are getting ready to sail on Liberty Feb 5, and I'm nervous because I loved the Getaway so much. I watched a few YouTube videos of LOS and I have to say, their pool area on Liberty is just amazing. I thought the pool area on the Getaway was really small, but I'm not a hanging out by the pool kind of person, and my kids are now young adults. I loved the entertainment and the food on the Getaway, but food is really subjective. I would base my decision on the pool area. If that's important to you, don't choose the Getaway.

Karen