CruisingOz

Our 3 x B2B out of Sydney in 2018 was on Ovation and she was amazing. The first 10 days were around New Zealand and the last 14 were to Singapore via Brisbane/Darwin/Kuala Lumpur - and both were fantastic. However, the middle part bolted into the 27 day trip was a 3 day 'taster cruise' which took us just off the coast of Australia. I think the same people from @CruisingOz's Carnival experience were on for those 3 days as it was not an enjoyable atmosphere! Finding people passed out in the elevators, people confined to cabins for being drunk and disorderly and having to tip-toe around vomit in numerous places was a little off-putting!!
With hindsight we should have got off at Sydney with some hand luggage and spent 3 days enjoying the amazing city and local beaches!! 
So for the topic of the thread, would not avoid the ship but would avoid the actual 'trip'!    

Thank you guys very much for the details and pictures. We really appreciate your time and effort with excellent feedback.  

Thank you guys very much for the details and pictures. We really appreciate your time and effort with excellent feedback.  

Thank you guys very much for the details and pictures. We really appreciate your time and effort with excellent feedback.  

You can add your past/future cruises in your signature: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/settings/signature/
Try this site to easily resize and compress your photo: https://www.shrinkpictures.com/create-avatar/

I'm a Hilton snob lol... Doubletree by Hilton Biscayne Bay would be my bet..  

The Miami Kimpton Epic is really beautiful, and is where we always stay.  It's right next to the Intercontinental but without hefty price tag.  Most (all?) of the rooms have balconies, some that overlook the river and/or the port.  And the wine happy hour is a bonus!

 

We love the Intercontinental Miami!! That is our go-to hotel when sailing out of Miami. We always book the Bay View rooms and we also book Club level since that gives you access to their lounge (well worth the extra cost IMO). 
 
The hotel is a 5 min walk to Bayside Marketplace where there are tons of choices for dining and shopping. It’s a 15 min ride to South Beach if you want that. And best part is that it takes less than 10 mins to get to the port of Miami. 
 
Love that hotel, I miss it. ?

For us, any Carnival ship out of Sydney Australia. The food and service was overall very poor. The lack of security with kids running and screaming down the hallways very late at night; past 2am most nights and having quite a number of guests packing a months worth of alcohol into a seven day cruise. I like a drink, so it is not really the drinking, or even excessive alcohol, but more the type of people who sailed who had little or no respect for fellow passengers, and you felt on edge that if you say the wrong thing or accidentally bump into someone, you could end up being assaulted.  Having done a Royal cruise previously set the bar and our Carnival sailing was polar opposite. Carnival was cheaper but for us not as enjoyable as a Royal cruise and so worth the slight cost variance.    

I have stayed in both a CL and a GS on Oasis class ships.  I will go against the majority here and say that I really prefer the GS, unless you want two bathrooms.  The CL is awesome, and very convenient to the suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen, but feels removed from the rest of the ship.  I like feeling more a part of the ship's atmosphere.  I do like Sky Class perks, though.  Coastal Kitchen and access to the concierge are wonderful.  I also like having the lounge as a place to get away from the crowds sometimes.  The sun deck is also nice when the pool deck is really crowded.  Not having to make reservations for the evening entertainment is also nice because it allows more spontaneity.  

There is a Concierge Club on 13 of 25 ships however since the OP is D+ the lack of a Concierge Club on Symphony is important since they mentioned having access to the Club as a D+ member.  D+ do not get access to Suite Lounges (unless they are staying in a full suite like everyone else).  This has been a point of contention for D+ members as Concierge Clubs have been removed in amplifications and new suite lounges installed.  
It's widely believed that the Concierge Club on Anthem was going to be converted to a Suite Lounge during her dry dock.  Odyssey should launch with only a Suite Lounge.  Explorer was to lose her Concierge Club during her amplification.  The Concierge Clubs are slowly going away and since D+ aren't allowed in the Suite Lounge it's an important distinction particularly for Oasis class since none of them have a Concierge Club.
 

If the difference would only be $1000 for both legs of the B2B, then 100% yes it's worth it.
Otherwise, you need to take in all the considerations that have been mentioned for being Sky Class and decide if it is worth it to you.  I think if you aren't likely to experience an Oasis Class ship again, then yes go ahead and make the splurge.
Make sure you look into all the different available rooms in Sky/Star Class.  I think the Loft Suites and the Aquatheather suites are pretty unique when it comes to Oasis Class ships.  I loved being able to watch the aquatheater shows from my balcony, but it is a long walk to the room.  The loft suites are neat two-story rooms with lots of glass and are also located on Deck 17 which is near the Suite Lounge/Coastal Kitchen so it is very convenient.
Star Class is essentially the all inclusive option, so if you are thinking of doing specialty dining and the drink package, you may want to see if the pricing makes sense to go to that level as well.

We stayed in the JS for many years for some big reasons.  Full bathroom instead of standing in the tube shower, Walk in closet, a little more room and double points.  Now that we are diamond plus the double points don't mean much.  Due to age getting to the next level is out of the question.  When the price was right we got some GS and LS rooms and it will spoil you living the suite life.  We are staying in another LS this June and like Twangster said if you can swing the price Loft Suites are highly recommended!

Junior suites are not worth the money in my opinion period, they are nothing more than a glorified balcony.  If you are going to splurge then spring for the Grand Suite or higher.  I've stayed in every category of Sky Class suite on the Oasis Class ships (I can't afford Star Class it is outside of my price range for now).  If you are going to cruise and you have the money to treat yourself then just do it, treat yourself you won't regret it.  I guarantee you Sky Class on an Oasis Class ship is worth the extra money.  
 
There are several different suite types within Sky Class on Oasis Class ships.  In my opinion 3 are worth the money they are the Owners Suites, Crown Lofts, and the Aqua Theater 1 bedroom suites. My persona; favorite are the Aqua Theater 1 bedroom suites, some people don't like being at the back end of the ship I for one love it.

Welcome to the message boards.
For $1k more I would recommend a Grand Suite but also keep an eye on Loft Suite which are sometime close in price to a GS.  
A JS will get you a few dinners in Coastal Kitchen and early boarding on day one of the first cruise, by about 90 seconds earlier over D+.  
A GS is Sky Class on Symphony so you'll have full access to Coastal Kitchen for all meals, dedicated seating areas for entertainment, complimentary Voom internet plus access to the Suite Lounge and Suite Sun Deck.  The priority access to entertainment is well worth it on Oasis Class if it is your first time on this class or a particular Oasis class ship.   
You'll also get access to Barefoot Beach on Labadee as you mentioned.  There may even be a suite sail away party on the helipad which is the only way to access the helipad on this class.  The suite lounge on this class has complimentary beer, wine and water from 11am to 11pm.  Lastly with a GS or better you have the suite concierge at your disposal.  
Keep in mind there is no Concierge Club on Oasis class but there is a Diamond Lounge.  Without staying in a GS there is only the DL for all Diamond,  Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members.
For a first time Oasis class cruise I'd highly recommend a GS for at least the first leg if not both.  If a loft suite is close in price for either leg I'd highly recommend spending a few bucks more for it.  Changing cabins is easy on a B2B so I wouldn't let that be a factor if the same cabin isn't available for both legs.