Ship to Replace Anthem in Bayonne

[Pratique]

Oasis out of Bayonne seems like a strange experiment in marketing the ship to first timers/low frequency cruisers. There's hardly anywhere interesting she can sail from there in seven days other than CocoCay. And it's not even a good deal price-wise. They must have run the numbers and decided it was worth trying now that they have a fourth Oasis class ship in service and can afford to pull Oasis out of the Caribbean for a few months for this experiment. I'm sure that it will be good PR with the helicopter shots of her sailing past Lady Liberty.

 

Or maybe they'll sucker people like me in for the novelty of sailing Oasis through New York Harbor. Who knows. I'm thinking about it lol. Eight million people in New York City area and so many more potential customers in the northeast so maybe it'll pay off with new business. I just wouldn't drop them off at Port Canaveral at 1:00 pm in the middle of summer. At least it's the first port and not the last one to spoil the experience.

[Charles4515]

29 minutes ago, The Fun Researcher said:

Kennedy Space Center is awesome but getting to port at 1pm makes it very difficult to get there and see it properly.  It closes at 6pm - 7pm depending on time of year.  It is doeable but not optimal.

 

Getting to Port Canaveral at 1pm rules out almost everything in that area except a beach break.  You would have very little time in the parks around Orlando (1 hr drive each way), and a shorter than desirable time in the Kennedy Space Center.

Dan

 

You would have to do the cruise line excursion to the Space Center. That is what I did on Breakaway. Even lucked out and saw a launch. If there is a launch it is very visable from the ships too. No doubt there will be excursions to the park. As I said earlier I do think the itinerary sucks. But in another post I also said I consider Oasis Class a destination cruise.Although with three out of three failed schedualed Coco Cay stops I could rationalize that as a positive with the itinerary since there will now be a dock.   I have been on Oasis twice, Allure twice and have Harmony booked. The itinerary never entered much into my choice. I remember the first time on Oasis I wished I had booked back to back because there was so much to see and do onboard. 

 

Edited December 13, 2018 by Charles4515

[HBE4]

15 minutes ago, Pratique said:

Or maybe they'll sucker people like me in for the novelty of sailing Oasis through New York Harbor. Who knows. I'm thinking about it lol. Eight million people in New York City area and so many more potential customers in the northeast so maybe it'll pay off with new business. I just wouldn't drop them off at Port Canaveral at 1:00 pm in the middle of summer. At least it's the first port and not the last one to spoil the experience.

 

There is also the thrill of wondering if she'll clip the VN bridge every time she sails underneath it. 

 

Edited December 13, 2018 by HBE4

[HBE4]

5 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

 I remember the first time on Oasis I wished I had booked back to back because there was so much to see and do onboard.

 

Same here.

 

I was also wishing for a 10 or 12 day sailing as well for the same reason.

[Pratique]

1 minute ago, HBE4 said:

 

There is the thrill of wondering is she'll clip the VN bridge every time she sails underneath it. 

 

You bet there will be. Also rubberneckers causing crashes on the bridge.

[Merion_Mom]

58 minutes ago, The Fun Researcher said:

 

No way of knowing this. 

 

 

 

Dan

 

Multiple conversations with multiple Hotel Directors on ships that visit the ports.

[Arzeena]

51 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

Multiple conversations with multiple Hotel Directors on ships that visit the ports.

I would have been thrilled at the longer itineraries on the Oasis out of Bayonne, but am not averse to (and still considering one) of those shorter ones that are available. Price is not that attractive yet! But they will need to fill the ship towards the end.

Edited December 13, 2018 by Arzeena

[The Fun Researcher]

1 hour ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

Multiple conversations with multiple Hotel Directors on ships that visit the ports.

 

I'd be interested to know how those conversations went, especially their response about Port Canaveral.  Were the responses just blanket statements that first time cruisers don't tend to consider the itinerary?

Dan

[JAMESCC]

Um first of all this is NJ not Alaska or the South Pole, it doesn't snow that much. And second I am stunned at the pissing and moaning. It just shows people will ***** about being given a million bucks, meaning they will piss and moan about anything. 

[Virtopia]

I was all excited about booking Oasis ... and then ended up booking Anthem for December 2020. It will be my 3rd attempt trying to get on her and I’ve done Allure so I’m happy with my choice ☺️

[boscobeans]

14 hours ago, JAMESCC said:

Um first of all this is NJ not Alaska or the South Pole, it doesn't snow that much. And second I am stunned at the pissing and moaning. It just shows people will ***** about being given a million bucks, meaning they will piss and moan about anything. 

 

Agree totally. Cape Liberty is closer to more Airports, more hotels (of every price range), more points of interest and more total number of people within a few hours by car, bus or train than any other cruise port.

 

The facility in Cape liberty is one of the best there is and makes parking, luggage handling, checking in and boarding your ship easier than most ports in the U.S.

 

Sailing out of Jersey has never been a problem in any weather. Sure winter travel and storms can cause problems, but with today's hub based flights a snow storm in Detroit can produce more delays and missed flights than a blizzard in New Jersey.

 

I wish there was the variety at N.J. that cruise lines offer out of other ports.

 

Maybe they can't fill a giant ship during the Winter, Summer, Spring or Fall but if they offered a variety of itineraries during those seasons and not just the same places and cruise lengths over and over again they would sail to capacity more than they think.  Mix a few five day cruises up or down the coast with a few 7 days to Bermuda then throw in a 12-14 day to the Caribbean once each season and even one to Bermuda and the Eastern Caribbean.

 

It's all left up to the bean counters but not to the itinerary planners??   Sure you will run out of customer interest and bookings if you offer the same ship, going to the same places for the same length of time for an entire season year after year...

 

OMO

bosco

[Biker19]

12 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

The facility in Cape liberty is one of the best there is and makes parking, luggage handling, checking in and boarding your ship easier than most ports in the U.S.

When one drives to the port to park, it can be one of the worst. They could have easily made the parking lot accessible via a different route than everyone else.

[boscobeans]

16 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

When one drives to the port to park, it can be one of the worst. They could have easily made the parking lot accessible via a different route than everyone else.

 

No worse than spending an extra $10 penalty charge so you can spend an interminable amount of time in a cab trying to get from FLL to either the port or a hotel. LOL 

Sure they all have some glitches and Jersey does present a problem during the peak boarding times but we have always managed to get through easily either being there when check in starts or after Noon. 

 

Just like the 2 and 1/2 hours spent getting off the ship and through customs in FLL on one Celebrity cruise. We loved the awesome thrill ride given us by the cab driver when we had to get from the airport in Puerto Rico to the ship on two cruises out of there.. LOL

Baltimore is usually great if you get to park in the nearby lots but if you have to park in a shuttle area that become a problem and PIA as well...

 

Edited December 14, 2018 by boscobeans

[steveru621]

When you count the broken windows in the WindJammer on the Explorer a few years ago, sure there's been no problem.

 

I remember returning in the winter when they would not allow anyone on deck 11 or 12, and deck 5. Then getting to CT and finding 3 feet of snow.

 

It's not rare.

[Pratique]

39 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

Sailing out of Jersey has never been a problem in any weather. Sure winter travel and storms can cause problems, but with today's hub based flights a snow storm in Detroit can produce more delays and missed flights than a blizzard in New Jersey.

Except not everyone (us included) wants to spend the first day or two of our vacation in cold weather and rough seas especially when looking for a warm weather break (we cruise to escape the cold). I've tried to convince my wife to cruise out of New York but she refuses because the Atlantic can sometimes be too much to deal with (somewhat ship dependent). Leaving from South Florida makes all the difference in going or not going for that reason.

[Robo1098]

Can Oasis port in Bermuda? I haven't seen any itineraries going there. That is the only way I would have interest sailing Oasis out of the northeast.
 

[boscobeans]

51 minutes ago, Pratique said:

Except not everyone (us included) wants to spend the first day or two of our vacation in cold weather and rough seas especially when looking for a warm weather break (we cruise to escape the cold). I've tried to convince my wife to cruise out of New York but she refuses because the Atlantic can sometimes be too much to deal with (somewhat ship dependent). Leaving from South Florida makes all the difference in going or not going for that reason.

 

After 18 hours of unpacking, eating diner, getting to know the ship, spending time at a bar or lounge, catching a show, hitting the casino, a night's sleep and breakfast you are already in the warmer climate off the Carolinas. Compared to February in Albany, Vermont or New Hampshire the Carolinas are like Miami for us. 

 

We have been chased by pretty heavy seas in the Caribbean during the summer (hurricane season) several times as well as having a few rough sailings from Jersey.

 

Mother Nature and Poseidon are  mankind's most fickle of friends and predicting how they wish to act is impossible.

 

If people think the first day at sea is a waste, think about the intolerable days spent in airports and in hotels for pre and post cruise stays during Winter months. I would rather spend the money spent on air fares, hotels, restaurants on a cruise and on board a ship.

 

Give me a 12 night cruise in the dead of Winter from N.J. over a 10 nighter from Florida.  I will be on a cruise ship for the entire 12 days.  With a 10 nighter I'm in Airports for 2 and maybe hotels for at least one or 2 more. Talk about wasting valuable vacation days...

Edited December 14, 2018 by boscobeans

[boscobeans]

47 minutes ago, Robo1098 said:

Can Oasis port in Bermuda? I haven't seen any itineraries going there. That is the only way I would have interest sailing Oasis out of the northeast.
 

 

As of 2011 according the Bermuda officials the North Channel that leads to the Naval Dockyard is almost 500 feet wide and allows ships with a maximum draft of 33 feet.

 

Compare the Oasis at 1184 feet in length to Anthem at 1142

The Oasis has a draft of 31feet vs the Anthem's 29 feet.

 

I am sure the navigation people at RCCL can easily figure out if The Oasis can port there..

 

[boscobeans]

1 hour ago, steveru621 said:

When you count the broken windows in the WindJammer on the Explorer a few years ago, sure there's been no problem.

 

I remember returning in the winter when they would not allow anyone on deck 11 or 12, and deck 5. Then getting to CT and finding 3 feet of snow.

 

It's not rare.

 

Have you ever cruised the Caribbean during hurricane season ?  We have and been in them twice. Sure the Captain did his best but still had stuff rolling all over our sweet and our butler on one was so seasick he couldn't work. 

 

Been on many from the Northeast where the seas were as smooth as the skin on a pool table.

Edited December 14, 2018 by boscobeans

[Pratique]

38 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

If people think the first day at sea is a waste, think about the intolerable days spent in airports and in hotels for pre and post cruise stays during Winter months. I would rather spend the money spent on air fares, hotels, restaurants on a cruise and on board a ship.

 

Give me a 12 night cruise in the dead of Winter from N.J. over a 10 nighter from Florida.  I will be on a cruise ship for the entire 12 days.  With a 10 nighter I'm in Airports for 2 and maybe hotels for at least one or 2 more. Talk about wasting valuable vacation days...

Not just a waste, but getting seasick isn't fun either. Hard to enjoy the dinner, shows, breakfast all while potentially being cooped up inside because the outer decks are closed.

 

I'd wager your view is in the minority, otherwise the cruise lines would already be doing it year 'round and also because most people can't take more than a week of vacation at a time.

[Dpatt]

Oasis of the Seas will replace Anthem in 2020.

[Biker19]

1 minute ago, Dpatt said:

Oasis of the Seas will replace Anthem in 2020.

Not really - Adventure is taking over most of the routes Anthem used to do over the summer. Oasis is just an addition.

[boscobeans]

7 minutes ago, Pratique said:

Not just a waste, but getting seasick isn't fun either. Hard to enjoy the dinner, shows, breakfast all while potentially being cooped up inside because the outer decks are closed.

 

I'd wager your view is in the minority, otherwise the cruise lines would already be doing it year 'round and also because most people can't take more than a week of vacation at a time.

 

Odd but several cruise ships and most cruise lines do regular Alaskan Itineraries where Winter Parkas are de rigueur to walk around the deck.  And they for the most part aren't 4 or 5 night cruises.

 

They also require long flights for most folks in the entire Eastern part of the US.

Edited December 14, 2018 by boscobeans

[Pratique]

Just now, boscobeans said:

 

Odd but several cruise ships and most cruise lines do regular Alaskan Itineraries where Winter Parkas are de rigueur to walk around the deck.  And they for the most part aren't 4 or 5 night cruises.

You are comparing Alaska to the Caribbean now?

[boscobeans]

14 minutes ago, Pratique said:

You are comparing Alaska to the Caribbean now?

 

Living in the Northeast where would you want to cruise if you had time off in February?

 

You have your opinion and I have mine. 

 

Mine is based on past experience when during those cold winter months Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland America, Carnival, Princess and NCL sailed year round to the Caribbean.  We have sailed on them all aside from Princess and never felt the ships weren't to capacity.  These were all 10 days or longer up to 14 days. The most crowded we were on was in fact a 2 week Southern Caribbean in February..

 

They started to cut back due to the vast number of similar cruises until NCL is now basically the only one left and their ships sail packed to the railings with people from all over including lots from Canada and the Northern climes.  Odd but factual.

 

 

Edited December 14, 2018 by boscobeans