Oasis of the Seas ushered in the megaship era, instantly making every ship that became before it feel obsolete. In the years since, Royal Caribbean has built five more Oasis Class ships (with one more on the way). So how does the first one compare to newer ships?
I've sailed on Oasis of the Seas five times, and just went back onboard for a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise to see what the ship is like now.
My first time on Oasis was a game changing experience because I couldn't fathom how a ship so big could offer so much to do. Like many people, I instantly fell in love with how much was packed into the ship.
Fast forward 16 years later, and we have an aging ship that belongs on the Mount Rushmore of cruise ships.
It's not the same ship from the beginning
The most important thing to know about Oasis of the Seas is while it may be the oldest Oasis Class ship, it's been updated.
Every Royal Caribbean ship goes in for maintenance work regularly, and in 2019, it got major upgrades. The Royal Amplification to Oasis had one goal in mind: update the ship so it fits in better with newer ships.
Royal Caribbean took the opportunity to innovate its newer Oasis Class ships with new restaurant ideas, activities, and things to do.
This added water slides, specialty restaurants, and entertainment to the ship while refreshing other venues to make them more contemporary.
I loved the upgrades because it added enough to keep the ship competitive with newer ones. Having sailed on Allure of the Seas before she recently was upgraded, the amplification work was critical for keeping it fresh.
7 Neighborhoods to make the ship easy to navigate
When people hear there's a ship like Oasis that can handle over 6,000 passengers when at full capacity, they think it must be a crowded mess. However, it's really not like that at all.
Royal Caribbean designed the ship with the neighborhood concept, one of many innovations that was incredible for its time but we now take for granted.
- Royal Promenade
- Central Park
- Boardwalk
- Entertainment Place
- Pool and Sports Zone
- Youth Zone
- Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center
One key difference between Oasis of the Seas and the newest Oasis Class ships is there isn't the eight Suite Neighborhood. Royal Caribbean added that to Utopia and Wonder of the Seas.
There are still suite areas on Oasis, but there's no question the suite neighborhood adds more dedicated space and a more cohesive experience for suite guests.
Neighborhoods make it easy to easily identify the area of the ship you're in, so there's less guessing where a certain venue might be located.
My top 3 favorite areas of the ship are the Royal Promenade, Central Park, and Boardwalk.
Each zone is creatively designed, and there's enough happening throughout the day and evening to make me want to go back again and again.
So many places to eat
Another big change Oasis of the Seas introduced was packing in so many more places to eat.
You'll find quite a few included and extra cost restaurants to choose from.
The core dining experience rotates around the Main Dining Room, Windjammer, and quick service venues like El Loco Fresh or Cafe Promenade.
| Included Restaurant |
|---|
| Main Dining Room |
| Windjammer Marketplace |
| Park Café |
| Sorrento’s Pizza |
| Café Promenade |
| El Loco Fresh |
| Boardwalk Dog House |
| Solarium Bistro |
| Vitality Café |
| Johnny Rockets (breakfast) |
| Coastal Kitchen |
Like all Royal Caribbean ships, the included food ranges between "good" and "very good". A few items are excellent and a couple are duds to avoid.
I made my way to El Loco Fresh a few times because I think it's especially very satisfying.
The Main Dining Room is a cruising institution, and I love going there for dinner. Each night there's a different dinner theme, with a few "fall back" dishes to order from too.
The Windjammer is the buffet, and it offers a fantastic variety of food. One issue is it's on the smaller side, especially compared to newer Oasis Class ships. As a result, it gets easily swamped with people and there can be lines to enter.
If you're willing to spend extra on specialty dining, there are a few terrific choices.
| Specialty Restaurant | Type / Cuisine |
|---|---|
| 150 Central Park | New American |
| Chef’s Table | Gourmet / wine-pairing dinner |
| Chops Grille | Steakhouse / American |
| Giovanni’s Table | Italian / family style |
| Johnny Rockets | American diner |
| Izumi Hibachi & Sushi | Japanese / sushi & teppanyaki |
| Portside BBQ | Barbecue / casual premium |
| Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade | Sport bar / casual specialty |
| Starbucks | Coffee & pastries |
Specialty restaurants are a mix of cover charges or a la carte pricing.
The specialty restaurants revolve around a certain cuisine. There's a steakhouse, Italian, BBQ, or sushi restaurant, for example.
If you're going to eat any specialty dining, I'd recommend booking a dining package before the cruise begins to save money. That can usually save up to half off the onboard price for dining at them otherwise.
My top three favorite specialty restaurants on Oasis of the Seas are Izumi, 150 Central Park, and Playmakers.
You don't have to spend extra on specialty dining to have a good time, but it certainly can enhance your cruise overall.
Cabins are one place you'll notice the older design
While regular ship maintenance and upgrades have kept Oasis of the Seas up to par in many respects with newer ships, the cabins look about the same as they did in 2009.
As a general rule, Royal Caribbean doesn't update cabins and it certainly has an older motif if you've been on Wonder or Utopia.
I'm not an interior design expert, but I think most people will pick up on it.
The older cabin design means there is also less power outlets and no USB outlets in the room. It's a good reminder to pack an approved USB outlet extender for your cruise.
One other area lacking in these cabins is storage space. While I had enough drawers for my 7-night cruise, Royal Caribbean added much more storage space in cabins on newer Oasis Class ships.
It's not all bad news in the cabin, as it functions quite well.
In fact, I like how big the shower is and how spacious the bathroom is for standard cabins.
I've stayed in a few different kind of cabins on Oasis of the Seas, but an oceanview balcony rarely disappoints.
One major difference you'll find on Oasis compared to many other cruise ships is the fact it has cabins that face inwards to some neighborhoods.
There are Central Park Balcony rooms, Boardwalk Balcony rooms, and Promenade Window cabins you could book.
The advantage of these rooms is you get a great people watching perspective. And they may be cheaper than an oceanview balcony.
The downside is they can be loud during the day when there are events occurring. Plus, there's not a lot of privacy.
Shows, parties, and music everywhere
If you're bored on Oasis of the Seas, it's because you're purposefully trying not to have a good time.
Oasis of the Seas is packed with theaters, bars, activities, and events happening. I'm impressed how much there is to do on a ship rapidly approaching 20 years in age.
I think the stage shows are the top draws, and there are three theaters to choose from: Royal Theater, Aquatheater, and Studio B ice rink.
The shows here are all included in your cruise fare, and each is pretty darn special.
The top two shows are Cats, the Broadway musical; and Aqua80s.
Cats is one of the most famous musicals of all time, and it's included in your cruise fare. It's a shortened version of the Broadway musical, but you'll get the bulk of the show.
Over in the Aquatheater is Aqua80s, which is a musical tribute to the 1980s decade.
What I love about this show is it combines great music with incredible acrobatic feats and diving performances.
It's one of those shows you have to see to properly understand, but I think it's a real crowd pleaser.
I think all of the stage shows are worth seeing when you're on any Oasis Class ship, and it's just the start of things to keep you busy.
There are nightly adult comedy shows, a guitarist in the Globe & Atlas pub, pianist in the Schooner Bar, and bands performing on the pool deck and in Boleros.
Plus, Royal Caribbean holds dance parties on the Royal Promenade that tie into a nightly theme.
All of it is an excuse to get out there and have a good time, and I think Oasis delivers on that. This is what makes the Oasis Class ships such a good option: they have so much to see and do that you can't help but find lots happening.
Oasis is packed with pool deck fun too
Piggybacking on how much there is to do on Oasis of the Seas is what you'll find on its top decks.
Royal Caribbean designed Oasis of the Seas with more space and more to do than ships that came before it.
There are a trio of water slides, a rock wall, two FlowRider surf simulators, a sports court, zip line, mini-golf course, and that still leaves four pools and an adults-only area.
This is what makes Oasis of the Seas such an attractive option for families, as the things to do are fun for all ages.
Oasis of the Seas pros and cons
If you're thinking about going on Oasis of the Seas, here are the best reasons to choose it.
There's so much to do onboard
Oasis of the Seas is packed with parties, pools, water slides, shows, and more. When you think of a cruise ship vacation, I believe this is the kind of ship that a lot of people want that appeals to all ages.
You certainly won't be bored onboard, and there's usually a lot happening every day to keep you busy. You don't have to worry about being bored.
Probably less expensive than other Oasis Class ships
One advantage Oasis of the Seas has over other ships within the class is it tends to cost less.
Generally speaking, cruise fares on Oasis of the Seas cost less because the ship is older.
For example, a 3-night Oasis of the Seas cruise in March 5, 2027 starts at $601 per person in an inside cabin.
That same 3-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas starts at $648 per person.
Multiply those savings out across a family, and it adds up quickly.
Great mix of dining choices
I think there's an impressive array of places to eat around the ship, including both pay and extra cost.
Food is one of the top reasons why people book a Royal Caribbean cruise, and I think you'll find lots of it to enjoy during your sailing.
Portside BBQ, El Loco Fresh, and Izumi are my favorites, but there's plenty more.
Staterooms feel dated
Whether comparing your cabin to a newer Royal Caribbean ship or a hotel, you'll notice the cabins look a bit old.
The upkeep of the cabin is fine, but the look and feel is where it is noticeable.
In addition, there's a lack of storage areas compared to newer ships.
It lacks the newest concepts
Any cruise ship built more than 10 years ago is going to lack the latest and greatest innovations, and Oasis of the Seas is no exception.
It has the original Giovanni's Italian restaurant menu, still has a Bionic Bar, and doesn't have the newer restaurants and experiences you'd find on the Icon Class ships. It also doesn't have the suite neighborhood, like the newest Oasis ships have.
This only matters if you are particularly fond of a specific venue or prefer ships on the bleeding edge of what's new in cruising.
The shows are the same shows for over 10 years
If you've been on Oasis of the Seas before, not much has changed with its entertainment.
Royal Caribbean rarely updates the shows on its ships, so you can expect to find the same featured shows across its three theaters that have been there for a while.
To be fair, Aqua 80's and One Sky were added in 2019 during the refurbishment. But Cats and Frozen in Time have been there for a long time, and I doubt we'll see much change in the near future with any of the shows.
Oasis of the Seas offers megaship value
Ultimately, I think Oasis of the Seas is a great choice for a family vacation and still holds up very nicely.
While it may lack certain new features found on other ships, the price it usually commands is going to be less and I think it's the perfect blend of plenty to enjoy onboard for a good price.
When I look at any ship, I weigh what it offers, what it doesn't offer, and how much it will cost. I believe Oasis of the Seas tends to be one of the better deals when you consider those three pillars of evaluation.
There's no question it's a great cruise ship choice. You could argue spending more on a newer and bigger ship might get you meaningful upgrades, but you'll almost certainly pay more for it.
My week onboard the ship was great, and I enjoyed what Oasis had to offer and I'd love to cruise on it again.
