markinct

You actually ride two ziplines - a shorter training run and then the Big One. 

My kids (17 and 15) did it in April and loved it. 

I would book in advance - if nothing else it will help you plan your day in Labadee (which should include a Labadoozie or two!)

Yep reading this blog, or actually going on another cruise sooner

I'm headed out to Oasis next week but I constantly look at new offers, or dates

that look interesting

 

Feelin your pain

I hope you enjoy your time on Oasis! If you've sailed on her before I'd really be interested in your opinion of the ship now, especially the tripartite main dining room(s).

We stayed at the Crowne Plaza when we sailed on Oasis in April. Convenient location - it was really cool seeing our ship from the hotel when we went to breakfast. We had flown into Ft Lauderdale, so we used their shuttle from the air port to hotel and hotel helped arrange a shuttle to cruise port for $8 per person. (We used the same shuttle service to get from port to air port after the cruise). 

The hotel has cruise packages as well that might include parking: http://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/fort-lauderdale/fllhi/hoteldetail/hotel-packages

For what it's worth, I found the hotel to be clean, well maintained, and quiet. Front desk and bell service staff were professional and friendly. The restaurant in the hotel is a touch expensive but good. I'd stay there again.

Enjoy your cruise! I guarantee that you'll find some things aboard Oasis that you'll love! 

I bought the soda package for both of my kids when we sailed on Oasis last month, and I actually think it's a good deal. I just wish that there were more machines (why, oh why, isn't there one on the Boardwalk?) and the machines were not serviced. One of the machines in the Windjammer was out of Coke syrup for the whole cruise. That said there were four machines in the Windjammer and there was rarely a line.

With two teens I "had" to buy wifi packages when we sailed on Oasis. We then used Google Hangouts  to communicate. We use T-Mobile and amazingly enough were able to use wifi calling, even with the phones in air plane mode. I called my parents while sitting on my balcony en route from Jamaica to Cozumel.

The wifi service is pricey (we paid a total of $280 to simultaneously connect four devices for the whole 7 days), no doubt, but when you factor in the ability to communicate aboard ship it eases the pain a little. The service itself is actually quite good. We were able to watch YouTube/Netflix and quickly backup our vacation photos, etc.

Wow. You would think that a mega giant communications company would have worked this out with a mega giant cruise company a head of time. 

I think I'd invest in using UPS or FEDEX. And maybe give Verizon a call and ask if they have redemption instructions.

We were aboard Oasis April 11-18, cabins 10-140 and 10-141. I don't know if the carpet was new, but in both cabins the carpet was clean and showed no apparent signs of wear. The sink in 10-140 had a couple of chips on the edge and showed poor attempt to fill the chips with some kind of epoxy. But this was the only obvious thing I saw that was not 'ship shape' in either cabin. 

I hope you have an awesome time aboard Allure!

You can use the soda package anywhere soda is served. Drink packages were honored in Labadee on our April cruise.

Matt-- I think they knew, or in those weasly lawyer words, "should have known", that there would be these rather significant limitations to the product the customers bought before the final payment date. RCI has offered on board credit and I do agree that the crew on board will do their best to make up for the outages and changes. I just think the notification could and should have been made earlier.

This appears to be classic bait and switch. And it's unacceptable.

I'm so sorry that your vacation has been run off the rails like this. 

Have you looked at any other cruise line?

Sorry for the delay - was traveling in France!!

I hope you enjoyed your trip!!

Whatever they decide to do, I hope the improve the food on Oasis. I was actually shocked that the food went from excellent (really - you must try the cold soups!) to too difficult to eat (duck leg quarter that was more bone than flesh, steak that was well marbled with gristle...). Some food that should have been hot arrived to our table cold. I didn't expect amazing food in the main dining room - in fact I expected it to be middle of the road, generic catering type food. Instead it was more like Junior High school cafeteria food. On the plus side, for a $17 up charge you can get a 9 ounce tenderloin steak from Chops.

 

 

What I wish they'd do is install kiosks that allow you to use the RC site to book something but you get the onboard booking credits.  It would make the whole appointment book/line issue a thing of the past.

Or something on the stateroom TV? Or maybe issue a super-secret individual code to cruisers that would allow them to get the same benefit if they booked on line or over the phone within 30 days of completing a cruise?

Thanks, Michelle. I plan on dressing up, but wanted to forgo the jacket to save space in the luggage. On a 12 night cruise plus a few days before, space will be at a premium. And to be honest, I don't think I've taken a coat in quite some time except for on Holland as they still require a coat on formal night.

The way I solved the problem of packing for formal night was to not pack a suit at all.... I rented a tux through Royal Caribbean's website. There were some technology glitches, but I got it sorted out via e-mail with the tux people. The tux was hanging in my cabin when I boarded the ship. The tailor even called our room to see if I needed any adjustments. Because my feet are a mess I brought my own shoes, but you can rent those, too.

Jacket, pants, two shirts, cummerbund, vest, bow tie, long tie, studs, and cuff links for $99. 

We're back from our cruise aboard Oasis. I went to the Next Cruise desk but decided not to make a reservation or put down a deposit. The person we "spoke" with couldn't have been less interested in us, explaining the process, or the benefits. And I had no idea one could transfer the reservation to another cruise until I read Matt's post. 

I get it - we were there late in the cruise, there were only three agents (often only two on duty), and not many people realized that there was an appointment book (I had an appointment). 

I was so put off by the experience that I sat at a table in the Schooner bar and surfed other cruise lines' websites; honesty if I wanted to be treated like that I'd vacation at a DMV office...

So my advice to anyone using Next Cruise on Oasis is to sign up for an appointment as early in the cruise as possible, and know what you want before you get to your appointment. 

Go normal time. If port is open, you can still beat the crowds.  They are trying to control crowds but I'd still get there whenever you were planning.  You're either sitting around at your house/hotel or in the port.  May as well be closer to the ship!

Thanks, Matt! I think we'll go the earliest we can - my kids might hate sitting in the terminal, but I want to get on the ship, maybe eat some lunch and just get as much a head start on this thing as possible! While I'm sure the Crowne Plaza is a nice hotel, you're right, might as well be closer to the ship!

We're sailing on Oasis of the Seas on Saturday. I intended to go to the terminal around 11:30 or 12:00 based on what I've read  - arrive early or late to beat the crowds.

Today I got an e-mail and a robo call from Royal Caribbean telling me to check in at 1:30 (based on what deck our rooms are on). Is this normal? When I got the first notification from my TA I thought "Uh, oh... sounds like they have to disinfect three decks..."

Soooo..... should I show up early, or wait till 1:30?

Here's the salient part of the e-mail from RC:

-------

Hello, this is Royal Caribbean International. We would like to provide you with important information regarding your sailing on April 11, 2015, onboard Oasis of the Seas. To enhance the check-in and boarding experience, we ask that guests arrive to the terminal based on the following times.

Guests on decks 14, 10, & 3 should arrive for check-in at 1:30 P.M.
Guests on decks 9 & 7 should arrive for check-in at 2:00 P.M.
Guests on decks 12 & 11 should arrive for check-in at 2:30 P.M.
Guests on decks 8 & 6 should arrive for check-in at 2:45 P.M.

We invite our Suite guests, Pinnacle and Diamond Plus members, and guests with previously arranged transportation to arrive anytime between 12:30 P.M. and 3:30 P.M. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation, and look forward to welcoming you onboard the Oasis of the Seas.

Thanks for the advice! Sail away draws near, and I'm in partial freak out mode as we get closer...

But I'm sure that by the time I get on the plane tomorrow the freak out will be over... And I'll be well on my way to a full meltdown.

Yep always take taxis for about $12 one way from Port Everglades to the airport, very plentiful

when you get off the boat. good luck should be a great week to cruise

Michelle - would you say that for a family of four taking two taxis is a reasonable plan?

I have $200 OBC on my upcoming 4 nighter in November and was wondering how I was going to possible spend $200.00 in 4 days.  Maybe it won't be as hard as I thought.

LOLOLOL.... but sad, too....

Loopner,

 

Thanks much for the compasses and the photos. Appreciate it. We are ready for a Royal Caribbean magic!

I hope you and yours have an awesomely awesome cruise!

I haven't even been on my first cruise yet... but I already find my self wondering when the next group cruise will be and if I can possibly go.

Maybe on Anthem of the Seas? Or perhaps Harmony? If they do another sailing from Bayonne I might be able to swing it...

Just keep thinking about the money you will save and be able to spend on your next cruise.  I can't blame you for the decision.

There, I fixed it for you....

Mark

Dont worry, our experience was caused by the ship coming straight out of dry dock and it was not ready. Wonderland and Izumi were both unfinished and closed. They were still working on new cabins.

It was also a Transatlantic voyage with 10 straight sea days. The captain had to take a more northern route due to bad weather which meant most of the time we had poor weather.

 

You are going to the Caribbean with a fully functional ship, so ENJOY :)  

Thanks for calming me down! But I am truly sorry your crossing was less than awesome. I hope you get an opportunity to make up for it with an excellent cruise soon!