Seeking a SYMPHONY in an OASIS INDEPENDENCE-ly 1/12/2025-1/30/2025

[asquared17]

50 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

5min into the show the man next to my brother said WTF is this, loudly.  His wife said, baby let's go, this don't sit right with my soul.

 

50 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

When the Crossfit ropes came out my soul left my body.

 

50 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I would never sit through this Aqua show again. I'm not saying the crew weren't fantastically talented. What I am saying is story...........what story?????? Hiro is pure shenanigans .

 

50 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

There is possibly more but my brain is stuck on Hiro.

 

my god this is everything i never knew i wanted from an aqua show review!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

strangely, i thought not to warn you about this one when i read you guys were headed for the show….. but in my defense all i can say is that we did NOT make plans to see hiro while onboard symphony last month and i have ZERO regrets about that. 

my last aqua show was aqua 80 and i was NOT about to have that memory sullied about by the likes of hiro

your commentary has beautifully justified my decision and for that, i thank you

[OCSC Mike]

7 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

The Doghouse was popping when we left

They had the Doghouse open late after an aqua show on Wonder at one point but next time I was on it was discontinued. I thought it was a good idea at the time.

Clearly Symphony caters to eaters... seafood in WJ, late night dogs... I remain jealous (although I can deal without a late night hot dog/sausage). I feel like pizza or sandwiches is a wiser choice before bed. If I was planning to stay up for a while I might grab one.

[OCSC Mike]

9 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

The suite/pinnacle/D+ seats in the Aqua theater are the best imho.

Agreed. We don't see the D+ seating as a big perk but we did sit there for aqua shows... and maybe once in the theater for something stupid like a juggler.

[OCSC Mike]

9 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

The suite/pinnacle/D+ seats in the Aqua theater are the best imho.

Agreed. We don't see the D+ seating as a big perk but we did sit there for aqua shows... and maybe once in the theater for something stupid like a juggler.

[OCSC Mike]

Duplicate. This is what happens when I post before coffee.

[SweetPea]

11 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I forgot to tell a shenanigan. I was playing coin trio, the one in the photo, it's right by the bar. My brother was at the bar playing Warframe on his phone, iykyk. This lady comes to the casino bar screaming "star". People are looking at her and she tells the bartender " I'm star and I need a chardonnay!". Everyone is like we were here first, she throws up her hand and says STAR!!! The bartender says he is out of chardonnay and but he will send for some, she says that won't do, what other whites does he have because she in a rush. He get her sauv blanc. She doesn't tip and huffs back to her machine. Everyone at the bar was like wtf is star.........I was laughing hard. Then later my brother was like I never saw star listed as a C&A level .

Exactly how i would've handled it ...

(Insert eye roll)

SMDH

 

[SweetPea]

Also, your assessment of Hiro was spot on. If i recall, mine was that i was expecting a little more Shogun, a little less Daft Punk. I just remember Batman asking .. what's with all the stomping?!

[Gilley]

On 1/12/2025 at 7:05 PM, Ampurp85 said:

All the Oasis class have had a non-smoking casino since maybe 2024. The problem is it is small, has a smaller selection of machines and small. They seem to do a smoke free raffle the first night. I have been to the one on Allure, Oasis, Wonder and now Symphony

And the one on Utopia looks even smaller.

[ScottD]

HOW did I miss this blog!! Almost all caught up ( I started from the middle, gotta go catch the start still, lol)

I will vouch for the facial hair thing, I have a HUGE beard and it definitely draws the attention...often unwanted, usually harmless.   My wife gets a kick out of random people commenting on it, since for a while she hated it... but now when I say I'm gonna shave it off she says Absolutely not! ha ha. 

 

Definitely jealous of late night dog house, it was always closed by like 4pm or something when I was on Oasis... and of course I always had a weird hankering for a dog at like 9pm. 

 

Off to read the rest of the blog now

 

 

[Ampurp85]

Day 3 sea day

Good morning. The weather is fantastic but all I can think about is there is no trigger warning for Hiro. The lights can definitely cause an epileptic episode.  That show will live rent free in my head until I see Aqua80 next week.

Park Cafe is on point. Don't want to step foot in the WJ or MDR, get breaky from Park Cafe. They also had chocolate milk, which is a cruise treat for me because I never drink it anywhere but here.

I brought said breaky to the casino where my luck from yesterday hasn't transferred. But I am at 1390pts, so close to an instant certificate I actually want. As it stands I'm only down $500 for the equivalent of 2k points in total.......really good odds considering.

Lunch is at Chops and we have hairspray around 6:30.......we will see how that works out.

Also the trash shenanigans have started.

[asquared17]

oooooh a cinnamon roll!!

4 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

but all I can think about is there is no trigger warning for Hiro. The lights can definitely cause an epileptic episode.  That show will live rent free in my head until I see Aqua80 next week.

aqua80 will cleanse your soul. don’t worry. 

the power of aqua80, @GregD and johnny COMPELS it so. 

[OCSC Mike]

29 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

Park Cafe is on point

That looks closer to pics I've seen of the breakfast case in the Pearl Cafe on Icon than any Park Cafe I've seen. Looks great!

I shouldn't care since I'm done with Wonder but I don't understand why Symphony has food items from Icon yet Wonder didn't. Hope to see cinnamon rolls and chocolate croissants on Utopia (they can also be in the CL of course since I make my morning coffee run there first then go to Park Cafe on my way back up if I want something not in the CL).

[Ampurp85]

I will be on Oasis in a few days so I will compare the Park Cafe and late night offerings.

I think I haven't ever mentioned this before but Chop's is my least favorite specialty restaurant . It is just so basic!

But the price was right.

I want to point out it is day three and neither of us has been to ELF . These are the not being aft problems I spoke of.

Omg a little girl was in central park trying to do Hiro dances. It was beyond hilarious,  she was definitely under 5 and not at all on rhythm with the fake beat boxing her brother was doing. Her mother was not here for it, probably because she was wearing a dress.

Everywhere is popping. Since it a sea day all the activities are well attended. The slides had lines, all the specialty restaurants were full. Filthy hallways and restrooms. Standard sea day drill.

Internet has been pretty good.

The plan is to play a little more in the casino and then possibly nap after the room is cleaned.

[asquared17]

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

I shouldn't care since I'm done with Wonder but I don't understand why Symphony has food items from Icon yet Wonder didn't.

mike…. your (subconscious) need to get on symphony is showing

[OCSC Mike]

2 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

mike…. your (subconscious) need to get on symphony is showing

I'm going to be optimistic and hope Utopia has the best of both Wonder and Symphony (plus the Pesky Parrot).

It's not my fault Symphony is the only Oasis class ship to never home port at PC.

[AshleyDillo]

3 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

I'm going to be optimistic and hope Utopia has the best of both Wonder and Symphony (plus the Pesky Parrot).

Utopia has the goods in the embarkation day buffet. The food truck by the pool carries at least one of the sandwiches I saw at Pearl Cafe too.

[OCSC Mike]

12 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

The food truck by the pool carries at least one of the sandwiches I saw at Pearl Cafe too.

I'll try anything new but that food truck looked like one of the least appealing food venues I've seen... which says a lot based on my standards, lol.

The embarkation seafood buffet from this blog made me realize I have a small dilemma for our B2B's but nothing I can do about it b/c the only options for lunch/brunch are the two embarkation days and the one sea day during the 4N leg. We have Mason Jar brunch at 11:30am on each turnaround day and my wife wanted Giovanni's for lunch during the sea day when I told her it was only $15 during BF. I usually eat very little before MJ brunch but I am NOT skipping the seafood no matter what. At least WJ and MJ are right next door to each other. Such 1st world problems, I know...

[Ampurp85]

I want to point out the seafood, mainly the lobstah tails, was manned by crew members. I think you could only get 2 at a time. I have seen people hoard steak and seafood at the WJ before.

[OCSC Mike]

9 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I think you could only get 2 at a time.

So 4 when my wife gives me her 2... after holding the plate at arms length b/c she doesn't want to be NEAR my lobster let alone eat it. 4 tails and some other stuff sounds like a good amount.

Joking aside, perhaps we'll want to push our brunch back a bit. I'd have to do it on the ship but I've done that before and it's never been a problem. I suppose I could even try to do it on the last day of the 1st leg.

On a hoarding note... Wonder always had ribs for lunch in WJ on day 7 and they were surprisingly good. We went there on the later side on one cruise and watched as they literally ran out and had to replace them with some sort of pork loin I think.

[Sweety]

51 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I will be on Oasis in a few days so I will compare the Park Cafe and late night offerings.

I think I haven't ever mentioned this before but Chop's is my least favorite specialty restaurant . It is just so basic!

But the price was right.

I want to point out it is day three and neither of us has been to ELF . These are the not being aft problems I spoke of.

Omg a little girl was in central park trying to do Hiro dances. It was beyond hilarious,  she was definitely under 5 and not at all on rhythm with the fake beat boxing her brother was doing. Her mother was not here for it, probably because she was wearing a dress.

Everywhere is popping. Since it a sea day all the activities are well attended. The slides had lines, all the specialty restaurants were full. Filthy hallways and restrooms. Standard sea day drill.

Internet has been pretty good.

The plan is to play a little more in the casino and then possibly nap after the room is cleaned.

Red velvet cake 

[Gilley]

4 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Day 3 sea day

Good morning. The weather is fantastic but all I can think about is there is no trigger warning for Hiro. The lights can definitely cause an epileptic episode.  That show will live rent free in my head until I see Aqua80 next week.

Park Cafe is on point. Don't want to step foot in the WJ or MDR, get breaky from Park Cafe. They also had chocolate milk, which is a cruise treat for me because I never drink it anywhere but here.

I brought said breaky to the casino where my luck from yesterday hasn't transferred. But I am at 1390pts, so close to an instant certificate I actually want. As it stands I'm only down $500 for the equivalent of 2k points in total.......really good odds considering.

Lunch is at Chops and we have hairspray around 6:30.......we will see how that works out.

Also the trash shenanigans have started.

You found the cherry blow pop.  Glad to see they still have it.

 

 

[Gilley]

4 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

we have hairspray around 6:30.......we will see how that works out

I enjoyed hairspray.

[Gilley]

3 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

That looks closer to pics I've seen of the breakfast case in the Pearl Cafe on Icon than any Park Cafe I've seen. Looks great!

I shouldn't care since I'm done with Wonder but I don't understand why Symphony has food items from Icon yet Wonder didn't. Hope to see cinnamon rolls and chocolate croissants on Utopia (they can also be in the CL of course since I make my morning coffee run there first then go to Park Cafe on my way back up if I want something not in the CL).

Those chocolate croissants are addictive.

[GatorCruiser]

2 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

It's not my fault Symphony is the only Oasis class ship to never home port at PC.

Serious question, what is your aversion to driving to port Everglades or Miami? Those ports expand your ship options immensely. 

[OCSC Mike]

Just now, GatorCruiser said:

Serious question, what is your aversion to driving to port Everglades or Miami? Those ports expand your ship options immensely. 

Pretty sure you asked me that already. Short answer is that I really don't like long drives and the convenience of PC being an hour away holds a lot of value to me (saves a tank of gas too). I love getting up on embarkation day, finishing packing, and hopping in the car at 8:30am to get to PC to be among the first to board. Knock on wood, it's also a very easy drive with no expected traffic issues. I also like hopping off the ship after breakfast and being home before 10am.

Since we don't really care about ports at this point, historically it would just give me sister ships to sail on. We're obviously partial to Oasis class right now so driving an extra 2-3 hours just to sail an older Oasis class ship doesn't do anything for me. If I was crazy about Icon I would have considered driving for that but I wasn't and I'm still not (but we'll try Star just to try it).

As with all things cruising (and life), we all like what we like.

[WAAAYTOOO]

2 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

Wonder always had ribs for lunch in WJ on day 7 and they were surprisingly good.

We went to the WJ for dinner one night this week on OA (the first time in 98 cruises that we have EVER eaten dinner in the WJ !) and the ribs were very, very good.  I was really impressed.  Even the BBQ sauce was good (not great but good enough).  In fact, the food in the WJ was so unexpectedly good that we went there again last night (skipping the MDR again !).  Is it possible that 2 old foagies (sp ?) can change their decades-old habits ??  

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Is it possible that 2 old foagies (sp ?) can change their decades-old habits ??

Not if your name is @Lovetocruise2002 (she is definitely not old, just to be clear) but you guys, sure!

When WJ's all seemed to have cook to order pasta/wok stations years ago we stopped going to the MDR entirely. You know I like buffets and how picky my wife is... so it was the perfect solution. Nothing better for a picky eater than choosing your own ingredients. Also nothing hotter than something made right in front of you.

I know Utopia has a stir fry station. If it's always there for dinner, we're going back to that routine (unless we're doing specialty).

[GatorCruiser]

39 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Pretty sure you asked me that already. 

Shows you how well i listen. Now you know what it’s like to be married to me! 

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, GatorCruiser said:

Shows you how well i listen. Now you know what it’s like to be married to me! 

I didn't mean anything by it, btw, hope that was clear.

[GatorCruiser]

1 minute ago, OCSC Mike said:

I didn't mean anything by it, btw, hope that was clear.

No offense taken amigo. 

[asquared17]

24 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

We went to the WJ for dinner one night this week on OA (the first time in 98 cruises that we have EVER eaten dinner in the WJ !) and the ribs were very, very good.  I was really impressed.  Even the BBQ sauce was good (not great but good enough).  In fact, the food in the WJ was so unexpectedly good that we went there again last night (skipping the MDR again !).  Is it possible that 2 old foagies (sp ?) can change their decades-old habits ??  

raye i gasped so loud when i read this!!!!

[OCSC Mike]

3 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

raye i gasped so loud when i read this!!!!

One of us (me), one of us (me)...

The WJ never hurt anyone, I swear!

[Ampurp85]

Today was pretty much a horrible day at work. I mean I got the points and I'm done playing for a reward this cruise. It will be all for fun from here on out. I still think 2200pts in total for $580 is great and the best I have ever done.

But star lady was at it again.  They were setting up for bingo and she told the crew member she needed to be let in early. She actually just yelled "star" when he told her to wait. I was using the bathroom and went back to the  non-smoking casino.........but I think he let her in.

I'm currently sitting in the theater. Two vintages are singing all the songs playing before the show. The vintages have been on one this cruise. They keep trying to send the concierge over in the CL to check our cards, we can hear him explain we belong there. Also the sheer number of vintages who stop in the aisle to act brand new or order drinks is insane.

[ScottD]

Well, that does it. I'm just gonna walk around shouting STAR to get priority seating and quicker drinks!! 

 

 

[asquared17]

57 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

The vintages have been on one this cruise. They keep trying to send the concierge over in the CL to check our cards, we can hear him explain we belong there. 

probably because y’all are 2GOOD 2B 4GOTTEN !!!!! 

(sorry the old school yearbook terminology just came out and attacked.)

[Ampurp85]

So there are only 2 musicals I fool with.  The wizard of oz in any incarnation.....the wiz and Wicked.  And Hairspray. Divine and Ricki Lake had me in stitches. Given the polarized reactions I have read about it on Symphony,  I had very low expectations.......made lower by last nights showing of Hiro.

My brother and I agreed it was the best rendition of all of their Broadway shows. I would see it again in a heartbeat.  First show where there are no notes for me. 10/10. The voices suited the songs, the sets and dancing was on point.

Now I get the polarization. This musical was made by John Waters, it's a lot of inappropriate shenanigans but the most PG thing he's ever made. Then there's the message of "other" including racism. It's uncomfortable and people like their musicals to involve nazis and alive hills with music. But I loved it. At no point were I wishing I could leave.

 

 

[Ampurp85]

Tonight was formal night and taste of France. Our staff is great but it was chaos. I really wish ELF stayed open later than 5:30. The MDR and WJ gives me anxiety.

The food quality seems to be on point as what we have eaten has tasted great and been hot. But pacing is an issue for me. I was falling asleep at dinner.

They delivered our waters yesterday and a Chef's amenity today. I'm convinced that almost half of this full sailing is tiny humans.  They are constantly screaming and running down hallways.

[asquared17]

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

My brother and I agreed it was the best rendition of all of their Broadway shows. I would see it again in a heartbeat. 

AGREE!!! i really thought it was phenomenal. 

the sets, the choreography, the costuming, the singing; if i had to be super nitpicky about ANYTHING - i think i’d call out that the follow spot had trouble keeping up at times.

but seriously everything else — remembering we are AT SEA and not, in fact, on broadway!??

cmonnnnnnnn. 

it was SO GOOD!!!!!!

[InmyElement]

7 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

So there are only 2 musicals I fool with.  The wizard of oz in any incarnation.....the wiz and Wicked.  And Hairspray. Divine and Ricki Lake had me in stitches. Given the polarized reactions I have read about it on Symphony,  I had very low expectations.......made lower by last nights showing of Hiro.

My brother and I agreed it was the best rendition of all of their Broadway shows. I would see it again in a heartbeat.  First show where there are no notes for me. 10/10. The voices suited the songs, the sets and dancing was on point.

Now I get the polarization. This musical was made by John Waters, it's a lot of inappropriate shenanigans but the most PG thing he's ever made. Then there's the message of "other" including racism. It's uncomfortable and people like their musicals to involve nazis and alive hills with music. But I loved it. At no point were I wishing I could leave.

 

 

Wow, great review we'll have to put it on our stay up past bedtime list of priorities ...Thanks

12 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

Not if your name is @Lovetocruise2002 (she is definitely not old, just to be clear) but you guys, sure!

When WJ's all seemed to have cook to order pasta/wok stations years ago we stopped going to the MDR entirely. You know I like buffets and how picky my wife is... so it was the perfect solution. Nothing better for a picky eater than choosing your own ingredients. Also nothing hotter than something made right in front of you.

I know Utopia has a stir fry station. If it's always there for dinner, we're going back to that routine (unless we're doing specialty).

I'm with ya..we missed MDR (no biggie) w/our excursion so we tried WJ stir fry for the first time..really good, fresh and hot! I'm sold!

12 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

We went to the WJ for dinner one night this week on OA (the first time in 98 cruises that we have EVER eaten dinner in the WJ !) and the ribs were very, very good.  I was really impressed.  Even the BBQ sauce was good (not great but good enough).  In fact, the food in the WJ was so unexpectedly good that we went there again last night (skipping the MDR again !).  Is it possible that 2 old foagies (sp ?) can change their decades-old habits ??  

I laughed when I read this..I'm such a creature of habit....

[OCSC Mike]

7 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

really wish ELF stayed open later than 5:30. The MDR and WJ gives me anxiety.

You know I like WJ & tolerate MDR though not a big fan but is there anyone who doesn’t want MORE ELF (besides my wife)? Yes please!

Our evening Utopia routine really might be lots of snacking per usual (ELF, CL, etc. early) and then WJ later so my wife can go to the stir fry station I’ve been told is always there. I enjoy it too but I’ll eat all types of stuff ofc.

We have 2 specialty lunches, 2 specialty dinners, 2 PDCC lunches… so skipping the MDR would work well. They also don’t have 2 of the menus my wife actually doesn’t mind making it even less appealing to us.