There's simply nothing within the cruise industry that compares to the scale and pizzazz of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

Since Oasis of the Seas launched in 2009, these large ships have revolutionized what you can experience on a cruise.

Not only are these ships massive, but they’re also intentionally designed with a large variety of activities, entertainment, and dining.

The Oasis class was the first to introduce the concept of neighborhoods, distinct areas that offer different amenities, separating crowds and making it harder to get lost.

Not only that, but Oasis Class ships also feature amenities like laser tag, zip lines, ice skating rinks, AquaTheaters, Boardwalks with carousels, the Perfect Storm water slide, the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, and an entire nature-filled neighborhood modeled after Central Park.

However, they aren’t all the same. 

With each new rendition, Royal Caribbean seeks to improve and revitalize its ships.

In order of oldest to newest, here are all of the Oasis Class ships and what makes them unique.

Read more: Royal Caribbean ships by age — Newest to Oldest

Oasis of the Seas

• Inaugural sailing: December 2009
• Maximum passenger capacity: 6,780
• Gross tonnage: 226,838

Royal Caribbean launched Oasis of the Seas in 2009, starting the Oasis Class off with a bang.

At the time of her launch, Oasis of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world, featuring more amenities and activities than ever before.

She broke ground with seven distinct neighborhoods, becoming a destination in her own right.

In addition, she was amplified in 2019, adding new dining venues and bars, updating the pool deck to a Caribbean resort style, and revamping the kid’s programs and other activities.

Royal Caribbean invested $165 million in the amplification, ensuring that Oasis still feels fresh and luxurious even at 15 years old.

The first Oasis-Class ship mainly sails from Miami and Cape Liberty, offering Caribbean cruises.

In the summer of 2024, she will sail to the Mediterranean and begin 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises.

Read more: I've only sailed Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships: Will I be disappointed if I try other ships?

Allure of the Seas 

• Inaugural sailing: December 2010
• Maximum passenger capacity: 6,780
• Gross tonnage: 225,282

Royal Caribbean didn’t hesitate to continue the popularity of its Oasis Class.

Allure of the Seas, the second Oasis-Class ship, was launched in 2010, just one year after her predecessor.

However, she is the only Oasis-class ship that hasn’t yet been amplified. She was scheduled to receive an amplification in 2020, but the global pandemic has delayed this plan.

This means that Allure (unlike the other ships) does not have water slides, the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, newer specialty restaurants, or an escape room.

However, she still features some exciting activities and makes for a unique experience as Royal Caribbean’s only “original” Oasis-Class ship.

Another unique aspect of Allure is her itineraries: she currently offers 3 and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral. 

While other Oasis-Class ships mainly have 6 and 7-night sailings, Allure makes shorter cruises and sailings on weekends possible.

Read more: I'm a new cruiser and tried a weekend cruise on one of the biggest cruise ships. It was filled with lots in a short amount of time

Harmony of the Seas

• Inaugural sailing: May 2016
• Maximum passenger capacity: 6,687
• Gross tonnage: 226,963

Harmony of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s most popular and well-known cruise ships.

She is the 3rd ship in the Oasis Class but ushered in new expectations with a set of enhancements to the Oasis-Class experience.

Harmony was the largest cruise ship in the world when she was launched in 2016, and was later revitalized in 2021.

She has the updated Oasis-class features like the Ultimate Abyss slide, three multi-story water slides, and an escape room.

Additional activities make for an adrenaline-packed cruise experience: an 82-foot zip line, two rock climbing walls, a mini golf course, a full-sized basketball court, an ice skating rink, and two FlowRider surf simulators.

The 3rd Oasis-class ship currently offers 7-night Western Caribbean cruises out of Galveston, Texas.

Symphony of the Seas

• Inaugural sailing: April 2018
• Maximum passenger capacity: 6,680
• Gross tonnage: 228,081

When she launched as the fourth Oasis-Class ship, Symphony of the Seas replaced Harmony of the Seas as an even larger cruise ship.

Not all ships within the same class are the same, and Symphony does a great job of proving how Royal Caribbean tries to improve each cruise ship.

For example, she was the first Royal Caribbean ship to have Hooked Seafood, an extra-cost restaurant with fresh New England seafood cuisine.

Symphony is one of Royal Caribbean’s most action-packed ships, perfect for guests who love a variety of different activities.

She was recently re-amplified in 2023 and currently offers 6 and 7-night Western Caribbean sailings out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

In May, she will home port in Cape Liberty, New York, sailing to Port Canaveral, Florida, Perfect Day at Cococay, and Nassau, Bahamas over 7-night cruises.

Wonder of the Seas

• Inaugural sailing: March 2022
• Maximum passenger capacity: 6,988
• Gross tonnage: 236,857

Much like her sister ships, Wonder of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world at her launch.

In fact, she was only recently de-throned in 2024 by Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean continued to improve and change the Oasis Class with Wonder’s launch, adding unique features like the Mason Jar Southern restaurant, Cantina Fresca bar, and Vue bar.

Instead of the usual seven neighborhoods, she has an eighth addition: a Suites-only neighborhood at the ship's top.

The opportunities are endless. 

Wonder of the Seas also has countless activities and a new underwater-themed playground called the Wonder Playscape.

This massive vessel sails 7-night Caribbean itineraries (both Eastern and Western) out of Port Canaveral, Florida, with stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Utopia of the Seas (coming in 2024)

• Inaugural sailing: July 2024
• Maximum passenger capacity: 5,668
• Gross tonnage: 236,860

Royal Caribbean isn’t done releasing Oasis-Class ships. 

Utopia of the Seas will launch in July 2024, sailing into the scene as the newest cruise ship and sixth Oasis Class ship.

Royal Caribbean’s upgrades aren’t over, either. 

Utopia will be its first Oasis-Class ship to use Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), the cleanest fossil fuel to power ships today.

Use of LNG can reduce carbon emissions by 30%, sulfur emissions by 100%, and nitrogen oxide emissions by 85%.

Much like Allure of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas will begin by offering 3 and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida, to Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, Bahamas.

Her inaugural sailing will begin on July 19th, 2024.

Unnamed (expected in 2028)

An order has been placed for a seventh Oasis Class ship, set to be launched in 2028.

Little details have been released, and the public does not yet know the name of the ship.

But Royal Caribbean has found a massive amount of success with its Oasis Class. 

The ships have become a new standard in the cruise industry, a paragon of size and amenities.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO said that, “From the moment [the first Oasis Class ship] sailed, it has been an absolute huge success.”

“These ships deliver from every dimension. And the most important dimension is customer satisfaction.”

He says that the breadth and depth of these ships, as well as the unique neighborhoods, are partially responsible for this huge success.

Because there’s something for every individual, families can experience fun activities separately, and then come together in the evening for dinner or other events.

families can experience unique activities, there’s something for every individual 

“It really is a winning formula.”

The next time you sail on a Royal Caribbean Oasis Class cruise ship, there's likely one change you may notice on deck 4.

Since the start of the year, Royal Caribbean has quietly begun converting over its Jazz on 4 venues into a non-smoking casino room.

Jazz on 4 was a dedicated room for jazz music, where a band would perform most nights of the cruise. During the day time, Jazz on 4 would mostly remain unused, but it was sometimes used for private events as well.

There's been no formal announcement from the cruise line, but cruise fans were alerted to the change when the jazz club was closed on recent sailings.

On Oasis of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas, Jazz on 4 has already been converted over to a casino room similar to the Golden Room first offered on Wonder of the Seas.

In the Royal Caribbean Club Royale Facebook group, Ed Thomas posted photos of the new space that opened on Oasis of the Seas this week.

He counted 40 slot machines, a blackjack table and a three-card poker table.

Over on Harmony of the Seas, the changeover occurred earlier this month. Johnny Travalor shared photos of the new space.

It's not clear yet if the change has or will happen on Allure or Symphony of the Seas, although Symphony of the Seas is in dry dock in Cadiz, Spain currently and the work could be occurring in conjunction with that effort.

When Wonder of the Seas launched in 2022, Royal Caribbean opted not to include Jazz on 4. Instead, it had The Golden Room, which is a non-smoking casino annex.  It was speculated this decision was based on the fact that Wonder of the Seas was originally intended for the Asian cruise market, where gambling is more popular than in North America and Europe.

When Royal Caribbean changed plans to keep Wonder of the Seas in the United States, they decided to keep the VIP room.

Cruise line executives at the launch of Wonder of the Seas admitted they weren't sure whether or not the concept will be a hit with Americans, but it seemed worth a try.

Non-smoking option

One big change guests may notice about this new spot is the lack of smoke.

The room is designated non-smoking, which is a big deal for Royal Caribbean. The cruise line has historically allowed smoking in the main casino.

The debate over allowing smoking in the casino has been contentious over the years, with many cruise ship passengers voicing their opinions on the matter and it's left Royal Caribbean in the middle.

At a question and answer session in June 2022, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the issue of allowing smoking. He 

admitted, "smoking in the casinos is a bit of a conundrum."

"The dilemma is that there are many people who do want to smoke in the casino. I know that's not a popular response, but it's it's the truth."

"I'm not judging anyone or anything, but there's a large group of people who do want to smoke in the casino."

He explained, "Every, I would say every couple of years, we do test this and we take one or two or three ships we ban smoking in the casino. And the result is less people go in the casino and that that's the reality of it."

Not the end of jazz on Royal Caribbean

Jazz music lovers should take solace in the fact the end of the Jazz on 4 venue does not correlate to an end to jazz music onboard Oasis Class ships.

Starting with Wonder of the Seas, the jazz performances were moved from Jazz on 4 to Central Park. On some nights, the jazz band also performs in Music Hall.

There are evening performances near Park Cafe, similar to the sets that would have occurred in the former venue.

A new jazz club on Icon

If their new ship is any indication, Royal Caribbean isn't done with jazz music quite yet.

One of the new nightlife spots recently announced for Icon of the Seas is Lou's Jazz 'n Blues, which will be located in Central Park.

Royal Caribbean thinks this venue will be the perfect place to enjoy live jazz performances at a table, or while strolling in the park.

There simply is no other cruise ship in the world like Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

Royal Caribbean revolutionized the cruise industry with the introduction of Oasis of the Seas in 2009.  It redefined what you could expect to find on a cruise, and other lines had to play catch-up to match what the Oasis Class offered. 

Every new cruise ship that has entered service since has been compared back to the Oasis Class, and it is a testament to how well-designed the ships are from bow to stern.

They are the biggest cruise ships in the world and their massive size is matched by the variety of activities, entertainment, dining options and more.

They offer expansive suites, lots of activities that appeal to families, food to cater all tastes, and more ways to have fun than ships that came before it.

Something you should know about these ships is that they are not all alike. With each ship, Royal Caribbean has differentiated each one with different entertainment, restaurants, pool deck activities and more. Just because you've sailed one, doesn't mean you've sailed them all.

Royal Caribbean isn't done adding new Oasis Class ships, Utopia of the Seas will be the sixth class and the company has hinted they haven't ruled out adding more.

Ready to try an Oasis Class ship? Or want to know what makes each different? Here's a breakdown of the Oasis Class ships and what you need to know about each one.

What are the 7 Oasis Class Royal Caribbean ships?

Royal Caribbean has five Oasis Class cruise ships:

• Oasis of the Seas is the first Oasis Class ship, and she sails from Miami and Cape Liberty, offering cruises to Canada and the Caribbean.
• Allure of the Seas is the second Oasis Class ship, and she sails from Ft. Lauderdale and Galveston, offering Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises.
• Harmony of the Seas is the third Oasis Class ship, and she sails from Port Canaveral, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami, offering Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean cruises.
• Symphony of the Seas is the fourth Oasis Class ship, and she primarily sails from Miami, offering 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. In the summer, she sails from Barcelona and Rome, offering 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises.
• Wonder of the Seas is the fifth Oasis Class ship, and she sails primarily from Port Canaveral, offering 7-night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises. Her first sailings depart from Ft. Lauderdale, and she spends the summer in Europe, offering Western Mediterranean cruises.
• Utopia of the Seas will be the first Oasis Class ship to start sailing by offering short 3- and 4-night cruises.  Utopia is under construction and will enter service in July 2024 from her homeport of Port Canaveral, Florida.
• An order is in place for a yet-to-be-named Oasis Class ship, which will debut sometime in 2028.

Oasis Class neighborhoods

Oasis Class cruise ships are split into distinct neighborhoods onboard, which helps to keep the ship’s layout easy to navigate as well as split up crowds into different areas. There are seven neighborhoods on the Oasis Class ships, with the exception of Wonder of the Seas which has eight neighborhoods.

• The Boardwalk, an outdoor neighborhood built like an old-fashioned boardwalk, with an arcade, carousel, dining, and entertainment venues
• Pool and Sports Zone, the top decks of an Oasis Class ship with four main pools, an adults-only Solarium, waterslides, and a sports area
• Central Park, an outdoor park with over 10,000 plants and flowers surrounding dining and shopping venues
• Royal Promenade, the main thoroughfare of an Oasis Class ship with dining, bars, entertainment, and shopping
• Entertainment Place, a hub of entertainment venues including a comedy club, ice-skating rink, and jazz club
• Youth Zone, where Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean programming is located
• Vitality Spa and Fitness, the onboard spa and gym including a thermal suite, beauty salon, fitness classes, and cafe

Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas have an eighth neighborhood: the Suite Neighborhood. This is an area of the ship dedicated to suite guests and has a pool, bar, lounge areas, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and Suite Lounge.

Activities and things to do

The Oasis Class ships have no shortage of complimentary activities to choose from while onboard. While they share some activities with other Royal Caribbean ships, there are several unique things to do found only on the Oasis Class cruise ships.

Ultimate Abyss

The Ultimate Abyss is a 10-story slide that transports guests from the sports deck to the Boardwalk neighborhood. It is a dry slide and guests use a racer mat to reach the bottom. The slide incorporates lights, sound effects, and music as guests twist and turn at 9mph to the bottom.

Allure of the Seas does not yet have The Ultimate Abyss, but it will be added to the ship once the Royal Amplified program returns.

Utopia of the Seas will have an even longer slide.

Zipline

Guests looking for a thrill can try out the zipline, located on the sports deck of Oasis Class ships. The 82-foot long zipline flies nine decks above the Boardwalk neighborhood. The ride only lasts around ten seconds, but will surely give guests an adrenaline rush.

Rock Climbing Wall

Oasis Class ships have not only one, but two rock climbing walls. At 43 feet tall, these are the tallest rock climbing walls in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. They are located in the Boardwalk neighborhood overlooking the AquaTheater and ship’s aft.

Ice skating

All Oasis Class ships have the Studio B ice skating rink. Beyond ice skating shows, there are open skating sessions available during the cruise. Guests are provided with ice skates and a helmet.

FlowRider

The FlowRider is a surfing simulator where guests can practice boogie boarding and stand up surfing as water rushes from the front to the back of the FlowRider.

Carousel

Located in the Boardwalk neighborhood on each Oasis Class ship is an intricately designed, colorful carousel. The carousels’ designs are colorful and kid-friendly, with not only horses to ride, but cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, and more.

The carousel moves quite slowly, so it is a fun activity for kids (and adults) of all ages.

Waterslides

Oasis Class ships have three main waterslides on the pool deck. First is The Perfect Storm, a set of racing slides. The other slide is Supercell, which ends with a “toilet” or “champagne” bowl, where guests loop around a bowl several times before falling into the middle.

Allure of the Seas does not yet have waterslides, but the Cyclone, Typhoon, and Supercell slides will be added to the ship once the Royal Amplified program returns.

Puzzle Break Center

Oasis Class ships offer the Puzzle Break Center, an escape room, onboard. This activity comes at an extra cost (usually around $20 per person). The escape room’s theme and challenge varies per ship, so guests can try the escape room on more than one Oasis Class ship without the storyline repeating.

Allure of the Seas does not yet have a Puzzle Break Center, and the escape room on Wonder of the Seas is still being constructed.

Kids Activities & Adventure Ocean

Each Oasis Class ship has two arcades onboard: one on the top decks near the sports deck areas and one on the Boardwalk. The boardwalk arcade is either in its own venue or incorporated into Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. The arcade comes at an extra cost.

In addition, all Oasis Class ships have an extensive Adventure Ocean area for kids. Childcare is available for kids aged 6 months to 17 years, and kids are broken into separate rooms by age group.

Teens have their own space onboard Oasis Class ships, with both indoor and outdoor spaces to hang out.

Other activities

On the sports deck of each Oasis Class ship is a mini golf course and sports court. Both are open throughout the day, with select activities such as pickleball and basketball tournaments listed in the Cruise Planner.

Select Oasis Class ships also offer Battle for Planet Z, a laser tag arena, onboard. The arena is glow-in-the-dark and sure to be a fun activity for kids and adults.

Pool Deck

Because Oasis Class ships are split in the middle, there are two separate sides of the pool deck, and guests can look from the pool deck down into Central Park below.

There are four pools on the pool deck:

• The Beach Pool, with lines of pool chairs placed into shallow water, meant to create the effect of lounging in a chair near the ocean
• The Sports Pool, where pool games and activities are played, such as the belly flop contest or pool volleyball
• The Main Pool, a regular pool with plenty of seating
• Splashaway Bay, a kids aqua park with waterslides, dump buckets, and water sprayers. Allure of the Seas has an H20 zone instead of Splashaway Bay.

Also located on the pool deck are jacuzzis at each of the four pools, two large cantilevered jacuzzis, and several pool bars.

Each Oasis Class ship also features an adults-only Solarium for guests 16 and older, with a pool and several jacuzzis.

Entertainment and venues on Oasis Class ships

Oasis Class ships have three main entertainment venues onboard. The most unique venue is the AquaTheater. Found only on Oasis Class ships, the AquaTheater is where Royal Caribbean’s aqua shows are performed, combining diving, slacklining, aerialists, synchronized swimmers, and more.

AquaTheater shows:

• Oasis of the Seas: Aqua 80 and Splash
• Allure of the Seas: Oceanaria
• Harmony of the Seas: The Fine Line and Hideaway Heist
• Symphony of the Seas: HIRO and Aqua Nation
• Wonder of the Seas: inTENse
• Utopia of the Seas: To be announced

Like on all Royal Caribbean ships, the Royal Theater is home to signature shows and entertainers throughout the cruise. The Oasis Class ships (with the exception of Wonder of the Seas) all perform a full-length Broadway musical in addition to Royal Caribbean’s original productions.

Royal Theater shows:

• Oasis of the Seas: Cats (Broadway musical) and One Sky
• Allure of the Seas: Mama Mia (Broadway musical) and Blue Planet
• Harmony of the Seas: Grease (Broadway musical) and Columbus: The Musical
• Symphony of the Seas: Hairspray (Broadway musical) and Flight: Dare to Dream
• Wonder of the Seas: Voices and The Effectors II: Crash ‘n’ Burn
• Utopia of the Seas: To be announced

Oasis Class ships also have Studio B, the ice skating rink onboard. The ice skating show(s) vary per ship, but they all combine talented figure skaters, intricate technology and lighting effects, and detailed set design to create an immersive story for guests. 

Studio B shows:

• Oasis of the Seas: Frozen in Time
• Allure of the Seas: Ice Games
• Harmony of the Seas: iSkate and 1887: A Journey in Time
• Symphony of the Seas: iSkate 2.0 and 1997: Adventure on Ice
• Wonder of the Seas: 365: The Seasons on Ice
• Utopia of the Seas: To be announced

Other than the signature productions onboard Oasis Class ships, there are plenty of other entertainment venues for guests to enjoy. The exact name of these venues may vary by ship:

• Jazz on 4, a jazz club with an elegant 1920’s atmosphere and live jazz music each evening (not available on Wonder of the Seas)
• The Attic/Blaze Comedy/Comedy Live, a comedy club where the ship’s featured comedians perform throughout the evening
• On Air/Spotlight Karaoke, a karaoke bar where guests can sing solo or with a group of friends
• Music Hall/Dazzles, a multi-level nightclub and lounge with live bands and dancing with views of the Boardwalk neighborhood

Other entertainment can be found throughout the cruise, such as live Latin music and dancing at Boleros, piano entertainment at Schooner Bar, and an acoustic guitarist at the English-style pub onboard.

Food & dining

Oasis Class ships share the following complimentary dining venues:

• Main Dining Room
• Windjammer Marketplace
• Solarium Bistro
• Sorrento’s Pizza
• Park Cafe
• The Boardwalk Dog House
• Coastal Kitchen (for suite guests only)
• Cafe Promenade (excluding specialty drinks)
• Vitality Cafe (excluding specialty drinks)
• Soft serve ice cream station on the pool deck

They also share the following specialty dining venues:

• Chef’s Table
• Wonderland (excluding Oasis & Allure of the Seas)
• Chops Grille
• 150 Central Park
• Johnny Rockets (complimentary for breakfast)
• Starbucks
• Izumi sushi & hibachi

Oasis Class ships share the following bars and lounges:

• Boleros
• Rising Tide Bar
• Schooner Bar
• Bionic Bar (excluding Allure of the Seas)
• English-style pub
• Solarium Bar
• Pool bars
• Wipe Out Bar
• Vintages (excluding Wonder of the Seas)
• Trellis Bar

One of the most unique bars on Oasis Class ships is the Rising Tide Bar, which continuously moves up and down from the Royal Promenade on deck 5 to Central Park on deck 8.

Each Oasis Class ship has a complimentary, grab-and-go restaurant located on the pool deck that is open for breakfast and lunch:

• El Loco Fresh, found on Oasis, Symphony, and Wonder of the Seas, offers burritos, quesadillas, rice, beans, and a salsa station
• Wipe Out Cafe, found on Allure of the Seas, offers sandwiches, hot togs, hamburgers, pizza, and more
• Mini Bites, found on Harmony of the Seas, offers similar items to Wipe Out Cafe and also has an omelette station at breakfast

Each Oasis Class ship also has a specialty Italian restaurant onboard, although the venue changes by ship:

• Giovanni’s Table, found on Allure and Oasis of the Seas, offers traditional Italian cuisine with menu highlights including tagliatelle alla carbonara, Mediterranean branzino, and filet mignon
• Jamie’s Italian, found on Harmony and Symphony of the Seas, offers a more modern take on Italian cuisine with menu highlights including truffle tagliatelle, pan-roasted salmon, and chianti-braised short rib.
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, found on Wonder of the Seas, is Royal Caribbean’s newest Italian restaurant concept, with menu highlights including specialty pizzas, steak muffuletta, and lasagna classica. Next door to Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is Giovanni’s Wine Bar, with an extensive selection of Italian wines and small bites.

Differences between the Oasis class cruise ships

Oasis of the Seas

Oasis of the Seas, the first Oasis Class ship, was recently amplified through Royal Caribbean’s Royal Amplified Program in 2019. Due to this, she received a number of enhancements and features found on the newest Oasis Class ships such as waterslides, the Ultimate Abyss, and new dining venues.

The pool deck on Oasis of the Seas was transformed into a Caribbean-style pool deck during the amplification, with colorful decor, comfy seating, casita lounge areas, and extra jacuzzis.

The Lime & Coconut bar was also added to the pool deck, which serves a variety of tropical drinks such as the Watermelon Rita, Blue Hawaiian, and signature Lime & Coconut cocktail.

Here are the other new venues added to Oasis of the Seas during her amplification:

• Portside BBQ, a specialty restaurant unique to Oasis of the Seas, which serves a variety of barbecued meat and comfort food, including Texas Beef Brisket and St. Louis-style Spare Ribs
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Royal Caribbean’s signature sports bar with nachos, sliders, burgers, beer, and countless TV screens available to watch your favorite team
• Sugar Beach candy store

Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas has a few significant differences from other Oasis Class ships, as her amplification has been indefinitely postponed due to Covid-19.

Allure of the Seas does not have the Ultimate Abyss slide, waterslides, or a Splashaway Bay for kids. She does have the H20 Zone on the pool deck, which features kids splash pads and water sprayers.

Despite not having these signature activities, Allure of the Seas still offers many signature activities onboard like rock climbing, mini golf, ziplining, the FlowRider, etc.

There are a few dining options unique to Allure of the Seas:

• Boardwalk Donuts, where guests can enjoy complimentary donuts and coffee each morning (complimentary)
• Cups & Scoops, a 1940s style ice cream shop selling Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and cupcakes (extra cost)
• Candy Beach candy store (extra cost)
• Samba Grill, a traditional Brazilian rodizio with all-you-can-eat meats as well as a salad and sides bar. Samba Grill is located in the Solarium Bistro in the evenings (specialty restaurant)

Allure of the Seas is one of two Oasis Class ships with Sabor, a Mexican specialty restaurant and tequila bar, which is located in the Boardwalk neighborhood.

She is the only Oasis Class ship without the Wonderland specialty restaurant onboard. In its place is the Diamond Club. Diamond members may enjoy this venue, as it is a two story venue with huge windows overlooking the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Allure of the Seas has Blaze, an additional nightclub lounge, on Deck 4. This is where the Diamond Club is found on other Oasis Class ships.

Harmony of the Seas

Harmony of the Seas was the first Royal Caribbean ship to be designed with waterslides in the initial ship build, as well as add new features to Oasis Class ships such as the Ultimate Abyss. Many of the design innovations made on Harmony of the Seas have served as a model for future Oasis Class ships and amplifications.

Harmony of the Seas is the only Oasis Class ship with Royal Caribbean’s original production Columbus: The Musical!, which tells the story of Marvin Columbus, the imaginary, luckless cousin of Christopher Columbus. This show is usually a favorite among cruisers.

The Solarium on Harmony of the Seas differs from other Oasis Class ships in that she does not have a pool. She still has four jacuzzis, but guests looking to take a swim must head to the main pool deck.

Harmony of the Seas, like Allure of the Seas, has the specialty restaurant Sabor on the Boardwalk. Menu highlights at Sabor include build your own tacos, spicy beef empanadas, and cinnamon churros.

Symphony of the Seas

Symphony of the Seas was the first ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet to offer Hooked on Seafood, a specialty restaurant specializing in New England-style seafood. Those dining at Hooked on Seafood can start their meal with starters such as Fresh-shucked Oysters, Clam & Crab Chowder, and Ceviche. Entree highlights include the Messy Fish Sandwich, Drunken Mussels, and Maine Lobster Roll. 

Like Oasis of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas also has a Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade and Sugar Beach candy store on the Boardwalk.

Symphony of the Seas was the first Royal Caribbean ship to debut the Ultimate Family Suite, Royal Caribbean’s most expensive suite. The Ultimate Family Suite is designed to be an oasis for kids, with an in-suite slide, air hockey table, LEGO wall, and private gaming area.

Symphony of the Seas has a few unique entertainment additions, as well. On Royal Caribbean’s signature show Flight: Dare to Dream, guests can be amazed by a replica of the original Wright brothers’ airplane, which “flies” through the Royal Theater during the show.

During the ice skating show 1977: Adventure on Ice, a drone show is included in the performance. A total of 48 drones with lighting effects are used in the production, programmed to move up, down, and around the ice rink in sync with the music.

Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas is the fifth and newest Oasis Class ship. She is also the largest cruise ship in the world.

Originally she was designed for the Chinese market, so Wonder of the Seas has a few design differences compared to other Oasis Class ships.

Suite neighborhood

The biggest difference on Wonder of the Seas is the addition of the Suite Neighborhood. The Suite Neighborhood is the eighth neighborhood onboard and is accessible only for suite guests.

The suite neighborhood follows a similar concept to the suite-exclusive areas found on Quantum Class ship Spectrum of the Seas. Also designed for the Chinese market, Spectrum of the Seas has exclusive dining, pool, and lounge areas just for suite guests.

The Suite neighborhood on Wonder of the Seas wraps around the ship’s funnel on decks 16, 17, and 18. It features Coastal Kitchen, the Suite Lounge, and a private sun deck with views of the sports court and ocean.

The private sundeck includes its own plunge pool, bar, and outdoor lounge areas.

Other key differences

Wonder of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship with The Vue, a cantilevered bar located on the upper pool deck.

The Vue offers panoramic views of the ocean and a colorful, mosaic canopy overhead that lights up at night. The Vue has taken the space of one of the cantilevered hot tubs onboard, so instead of two like on other Oasis Class ships, there is only one.

Another new bar on Wonder of the Seas is Cantina Fresca. Located next to El Loco Fresh, Cantina Fresca offers Mexican-inspired cocktails, margaritas, and aguas frescas.

Unlike other Oasis Class ships, Wonder of the Seas only has one FlowRider. In its place is the Wonder Playscape, a brand new play area for kids onboard.

The Playscape is an underwater-themed playground with climbing walls, slides, nets, interactive murals, games, and nooks and crannies to explore.

Like Oasis of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas has a Caribbean-style pool deck complete with colorful decor, lounge areas, casitas, extra hot tubs, and The Lime & Coconut bar. Wonder of the Seas has more seating options available on the pool deck, including a movie screen theater area.

Speaking of a movie screen, the TV screen on the pool deck on Wonder of the Seas is the largest in Royal Caribbean's fleet.

Like Symphony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas also features an Ultimate Family Suite. It is bigger than the suite on Symphony, with three bedrooms and a movie/game room that can be converted into a fourth bedroom.

In place of Jazz on 4, Wonder of the Seas has The Golden Room, an extra casino space. As Wonder of the Seas was designed for the Chinese Market, extra casino spaces were incorporated into the ship. This may be changed in the future to better fit the American and European cruise markets.

Another difference on Wonder of the Seas is the Windjammer. Unlike on other Oasis Class ships where the Windjammer is relatively small, the Windjammer on Wonder of the Seas is the largest in Royal Caribbean's fleet and wraps around the entire Boardwalk neighborhood on Deck 15.

Dining

The Mason Jar, a brand new restaurant in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, is found on Wonder of the Seas. 

The Mason Jar specializes in Southern staples, including Lobster & Crawfish Gumbo, Blackened Cajun Catfish, and Shrimp N’ Grits. Brunch is also available on sea days, with menu highlights including Meemaw’s Fried Chicken N’ Waffles, Blueberry Johnny Cakes, and Stuffed French Toast.

Adjacent to The Mason Jar is The Mason Jar Bar, serving unique cocktails with a focus on bourbon and moonshine.

Wonder of the Seas also has Hooked Seafood, Playmakers, and Sugar Beach.

Staterooms on Oasis Class ships

Due to the unique architecture found on Oasis Class ships, there are several types of staterooms not available on other Royal Caribbean ships:

• Boardwalk balconies, which offer views of the Boardwalk and a partial, side view of the ocean
• Central Park balconies, which offer views of Central Park
• Central Park and Boardwalk view staterooms, which feature a window looking into the Central Park or Boardwalk neighborhood
• AquaTheater suites, which are located in the ship’s aft with panoramic views of the ocean and AquaTheater

Oasis Class ships have a wide variety of suites available, including Grand Suites, the Owner’s Suite, AquaTheater suites, and loft suites.

There are also interior, interior with virtual balcony, ocean view, balcony, and Royal Promenade view rooms available.

Who is the Oasis Class best for?

The Oasis Class is best for guests who view the cruise ship as the destination, and they offer something for every type of cruiser.

Many guests book a cruise on an Oasis Class ship due to the sheer range of options available. With the amount of entertainment, organized activities, and dining venues onboard, there is little chance guests will ever get bored on an Oasis Class ship.

Those looking for a quiet experience onboard will find plenty of options, too, whether spending the afternoon reading a book in Central Park or relaxing in the Solarium.

The Oasis Class is an extremely popular choice for families, as the ships can cater to guests of all ages. Kids will have an abundance of activities onboard, from waterslides to rock climbing and the zipline. Teens will love the large hangout spaces and areas to explore with new friends on the ship.

Due to the size of Oasis Class ships, they are not able to fit into a wide variety of ports around the world. Therefore, many of the itineraries on Oasis Class ships are similar to each other. If you plan to visit more unique cruise ports, an Oasis Class ship may not be the best choice for you.

Oasis Class Tips & Secrets

There is no 13th deck on Oasis Class ships, so you will go straight from the 12th deck to the 14th deck!

Allure and Oasis of the Seas have art displays known as “Small Wonders” throughout the ship. These are periscopes or telescopes where you’ll find tiny, 3D pieces of art when you look inside. They are located around the ship, so exploring Allure or Oasis of the Seas to find them can be a fun activity to do onboard.

Likewise, Wonder of the Seas has astronauts scattered throughout the ship. 

The Solarium bridge wings offer a fantastic view for sailaway or sunset.

MSC Cruises revealed the design for its newest cruise ship that will be among the largest in the world, and there are a few design ideas that look eerily similar to Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.

MSC World Europa will debut in late 2022 and is 22 decks high, and 1,093 feet long.  That makes it four decks taller than Symphony of the Seas, although Symphony is still longer at 1,184 ft 5.0 in.

The ship will be right around 205,000 tons, which is just a bit less than 228,081 GT of Symphony.

Cruise ship design is more of an evolution in the industry, with different ideas building on each other over time. With that being said, MSC certainly has "borrowed" a few ideas from the Oasis Class ships.

MSC Cruises announced the ship will be divided up into different areas of the ships, known as districts.  Royal Caribbean pioneered the idea of using neighborhoods to help break up the ship into easily navigated areas for passengers.

Just like the Oasis Class, there will be 7 zones.

Perhaps most noticeable is the promenade zone at the back of the ship opens up into a sky-covered area with a giant dry slide at the aft of the ship.

MSC World Europa design

Oasis Class Boardwalk

The concept art for this aft area of the ship looks very similar to the Boardwalk neighborhood of the Oasis Class ships, with the dry slide idea coming from Royal Caribbean's Ultimate Abyss.

The dry slide on MSC will be 11 decks tall. The Ultimate Abyss on Royal Caribbean's ships is 10 decks high.

That will give MSC bragging rights for having the longest dry slide at sea.

MSC World Europa dry slide

Ultimate Abyss on Harmony of the Seas

For what it is worth, Royal Caribbean trademarked the Oasis Class stern design in 2018.

In the trademark paperwork, Royal Caribbean made certain to specify some of the features that make this design unique.

"The mark consists of the stern section of a cruise ship having a set of stylish oblong-shaped balconies on the left and right sides of the stern section, a pair of ornamental slides extending from the rear section of an decorative fish head to cascade downward to a lower deck of the cruise ship, and a pair of tusk-like structures extending upward from the top of a lower deck of the cruise ship, to a mid-deck level of the stern section, each tusk-like structure includes a set of stylish curved vertical beams intersecting near the top portion of the tusk-like structures, and an ornamental crown and anchor symbol suspended between the pair of tusk-like structures."

Another idea MSC is incorporating into its ships is an infinite ocean view cabin, which sounds a lot like the infinite verandahs on Celebrity Edge.

MSC Infinite Ocean view staterooms

Celebrity Cruises Infinite Verandah

These rooms will have a panoramic sliding window that turns into a glass balustrade when open.

MSC World Europa will enter service in December 2022 and spend her inaugural season in the Persian Gulf. Her season will begin with a four-night sailing from Doha, Qatar to her homeport of Dubai, UAE.

The vessel will offer seven-night cruises from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sir Bani Yas Island, Dammam, and Doha, with an overnight back in Dubai to end the voyage.

On March 25, 2023, MSC World Europa will head to the Mediterranean, and in summer will offer seven-night cruises calling in Genoa, Naples, Messina, Valletta, Barcelona, and Marseille.

Copying is a cruise industry tradition

Before anyone gets too hot under the collar about the "inspiration" MSC has seemingly taken from Royal Caribbean, keep in mind that many ideas get borrowed from other lines.

When Norwegian Cruise Line came up with the idea of Freestyle Dining for its dining rooms, many cruise lines quickly adopted something similar. Royal Caribbean has My Time Dining as an option.

Royal Caribbean even admitted its idea for virtual balcony staterooms came from Disney Cruise Line's virtual portholes.

Royal Caribbean Group Chairman and CEO Richard Fain explained how his line took the idea and expanded upon it, "We actually had looked at the idea, and we didn't think that the technology and the receptivity from the public was there."

"Disney proved that the public does value something like this."

Read more: 4 Royal Caribbean features inspired by something else

There are plenty of other examples of cruise lines replicating other line's ideas, but you get the idea that this happens more often than you might think.

More than 10 years since Royal Caribbean launched the Oasis Class ships, it remains an engineering marvel that introduced a variety of innovations, including adding a park to a cruise ship.

Kelly Gonzalez, Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President, Architectural Design (Newbuilding & Innovation), recently told the story of how the cruise line engineered a way to bring a live greenery with trees and grass to an ocean going vessel.

Ms. Gonzalez describes the story of creating Central Park as, "both a success story that became a failure story, that became a better success story in the end."

The idea

Royal Caribbean invited various architectural firms to submit ideas for what Royal Caribbean should do with the space on the ship, and the cruise line awarded the contract to a firm from the U.K. that came up with the idea for Central Park.

The original concept for Central Park was not what we see today on Royal Caribbean's ships.

While it did have the split atrium, where you could look up to the sky and then had the atrium-view staterooms looking into it, as well as the skylights that brought daylight down into the Royal Promenade, the design that won the contest was actually based on a series of rolling hills.

These were structural hills that were covered with grass with skylights on the side.

Building Central Park

Royal Caribbean had never done anything on a ship before that involved live greenery and trees and grass and things of that sort, so they brought in experts, including scientists from the University of Florida and landscape architects.

"We looked for a company that we thought would be really bringing the best expertise in a Caribbean environment and all of what that entails seasonally," Ms. Gonzalez recalled.

"We had to spend an extraordinary amount of effort working with structural specialists because we were literally putting these giant holes in a steel structure that typically is not perforated in any way. So the fact that we were breaching that with skylights was something that was very daunting for the conventional ship engineers."

In addition, Royal Caribbean had to bring specialists to address the issue of bugs that live around these plants, and implications of what happens when a ship pulls into a port and the various local laws related to fauna.

Royal Caribbean had to also address the ability to fertilize the plants and not overcomplicate the water systems to the point of impacting the environment or ocean.  Specifically, how could Royal Caribbean capture water runoff that might contain fertilizers.

The experiment

Photo by STX Europe

A major hurdle for Central Park was the rolling hills concept. There was a lot of uncertainty about grass living in an environment where the sun really had an apex high sky for a limited number of hours a day.

To tackle the idea, they constructed a piece of machinery where they mocked up the hills of of grass with real grass on it. Then they created a machine with a long axle of a car that had wheels on it. These wheels had shoes, lined around the rim of the wheel that was simulating people walking up and down the grass down in the atrium. They then simulated the lighting effect to reproduce the conditions that allowed for limited daylight.

This experiment hoped to address concerns such as:

• How would the grass grow?
• How often would it have to be watered?
• How would foot traffic up and down be on the grass?

Ms. Gonzalez summed up the experiment by saying, "Well, to make a long story short, that task failed."

The test showed that regardless what species of grass that was used, and no matter what they would do with fertilization or any watering or anything else in this in this atrium, the grass was not going to be a surviving concept.

Not only had the test failed, but it was right before Christmas and the team had reached a point where they had to go back to the drawing board.

Becoming Central Park

The team spent four weeks over the Christmas holiday working in their London office rethinking the concept of the design and to change it drastically, keeping in mind time was not on their side.

Eventually, they settled on the idea of a Central Park area that looks a lot like what we see on cruise ships today, with more of the flat walkways and the skylights that actually stand up in the sky and capture even more daylight.

Photo by STX Europe

Ms. Gonzalez spoke about the risks the team took to make the concept work, "We understand there's risk, but we put a lot of effort into mitigating that risk. And we're not afraid of failure or failure usually leads us to a better place."

"And I think the Central Park is a story of how we ended up actually in a better place with the design than where we thought we were going to land, where we started it from the very beginning."

The team believed so much in the new design for Central Park, that they created a scale mock-up of the entire Central Park neighborhood at the Turku, Finland shipyard.

Photos by Kelly Gonzalez

Essentially, they printed the design on canvas and strung it up from the trusses in the ship hall, complete with facades of stateroom balconies.

They augmented the look with proper lighting and sound so that Royal Caribbean's Board of Directors could get a good ideas of what Central Park would become.

The team had do all of this for the rest of the company to be able to understand and regain trust behind the design, and the design process, to pull off a concept like Central Park.

Photos by Royal Caribbean

"Once it's proven, and we've gone through the risk mitigation and we kicked all the tires and looked at it inside out and outside in, that we are able to really stay very true to that and deliver on the concept as it is when we presented it to our executives."

Royal Caribbean has four Oasis Class ships in operation, with more coming, and you might be wondering what the differences are between each of the ships.

Each ship offers something a little different, but they have more in common than different. While they are not carbon copies of each other, a lot of the offerings are similar, and the Royal Amplified program aims to bring the amenities up between them all.

Keep in mind that this is not a listing of every single difference, rather, it is a look at the significant differences that most guests will notice.

Last updated September 25, 2021

Oasis of the Seas

Check out our first timers' guide to Oasis of the Seas.

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Cats & One Sky
• Shows in AquaTheater: Aqua80
• Show in Studio B: Frozen in Time
• Mission Control: Apollo 18 escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Giovanni's Table
• Johnny Rockets
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Portside BBQ specialty restaurant
• El Loco Fresh complimentary Mexican restaurant
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Sugar Beach candy shop
• Coastal Kitchen

Pools & Slides

• Caribbean-style pool deck makeover, complete with Lime & Coconut signature bar. New day beds, casitas and variety of seating were added.
• Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell
• Splashaway Bay kids aquapark (larger than on other Harmony or Symphony)
• Starbucks

Unique Offerings

• Oasis of the Seas features Music Hall (instead of Dazzles)
• Ultimate Abyss slide
• Laser Tag: The Clash for the Crystal City
• Spotlight Karaoke venue
• Bionic Bar
• Revamped Adventure Ocean
• Small Wonders

Allure of the Seas

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Mamma Mia
• Shows in AquaTheater: OceanAria
• Show in Studio B: Ice Games! Ice Show
• No escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Johnny Rockets
• Giovanni’s Italian Table
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Samba Grill
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Sabor
• Coastal Kitchen
• Starbucks
• Park Cafe

Pools & Slides

• Allure of the Seas does not have any water slides
• There are four pools for all ages and a lounge with whirlpools

Unique Offerings

• Allure of the Seas is the only Oasis Class ship without some of the newest features due to the fact she was not amplified
• Last Champagne Bar on an Oasis Class ship
• One of the last Sabor restaurants in the fleet
• Samba Grill Brazilian steakhouse
• Small Wonders

Harmony of the Seas

Check out our Harmony of the Seas Guide & Review.

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Grease & Columbus...The Musical!
• Shows in AquaTheater: The Fine Line & Big Daddy's Hideaway Heist Aqua Show
• Show in Studio B: 1887 A Journey in Time & iSkate
• Escape the Rubicon escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Jamie's Italian
• Johnny Rockets
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Mini Bites
• Wonderland
• Coastal Kitchen

Pools & Slides

• Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell
• Splashaway Bay kids aquapark
• No pool in the Solarium

Unique Offerings

• Bionic Bar
• Ultimate Abyss
• Virtual Balcony rooms

Symphony of the Seas

Entertainment

• Shows in the Main Theater: Hairspray & Flight
• Shows in AquaTheater: HiRO
• Show in Studio B: 1977 & iSkate 2.0
• Escape the Rubicon escape room

Notable Dining Options

• Chops Grille
• Jamie's Italian
• Johnny Rockets
• 150 Central Park
• Solarium Bistro
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• El Loco Fresh
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Hooked
• Wonderland
• Coastal Kitchen

Pools & Slides

• Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell
• Splashaway Bay kids aquapark

Unique Offerings

• Bionic Bar
• Ultimate Abyss
• Virtual Balcony rooms
• Enhanced Solarium Bar area
• Ultimate Family Suite
• Laser tag

Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas will be the fifth Oasis Class ship, and will sail from Port Everglades beginning in March 2022.

Entertainment

Royal Caribbean has not announced the shows yet for Wonder of the Seas.

Notable Dining Options

• Bionic Bar
• 150 Central Park
• Chops Grille
• Coastal Kitchen
• El Loco Fresh
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Hooked Seafood
• Izumi
• Johnny Rockets
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Starbucks
• Sugar Beach
• Wonderland

Pools & Slides

• The Lime & Coconut is at the center of the Caribbean vibes, with two poolside bars and live music; while the
• Perfect Storm trio of high-speed waterslides
• Kids aqua park Splashaway Bay

Unique Offerings

Wonder of the Seas has the first Suite Class Neighborhood, which is an entire area of the ship only suite guests. It has a Suite Sun Deck in a new location, complete with a plunge pool, bar and plenty of loungers and nooks to kick back.

The largest Ultimate Family Suite is on Wonder of the Seas, with a capacity of up to 10 guests.

Wonder Playscape – Joining the lineup of next-level thrills for kids, the underwater-themed play area is a whole new adventure with slides, climbing walls, games, an interactive mural activated by touch and puzzles that will make them wonder if any playground will ever be the same.

The Vue – The happiest of happy hours can be found at this new cantilevered bar. The Vue offers panoramic ocean views from high above on the pool deck all day, and after sunset, it shines bright with a colorful mosaic canopy overhead.

Caribbean-style pool deck, complete with Lime & Coconut signature bar.

The largest poolside movie screen in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

Newly designed, dedicated kids and teens spaces at Adventure Ocean, Social100 and The Patio.

Should you cruise on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class or a Quantum Class cruise ship? For families, this is a tough decision, with each offering something different and we have a breakdown of what each ship excels at and why it is a great choice.

In our brand new RoyalCaribbeanBlog video, we offer a look at what makes each class of cruise ship different and which types of cruisers would enjoy each.

And if you love this video, we have lots of other great cruise videos to watch on our Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel!

By the way, have you subscribed yet? Be sure to subscribe to our channel and never miss a single video!

So check out the video and then let us know: Do you prefer an Oasis Class or Quantum Class ship and why?

In the wake of Royal Caribbean's recent announcement to cancel complimentary perks for Oasis Class neighborhood balcony staterooms, the cruise line announced it is extending the grandfathering in of guests who booked these rooms prior to the announcement.

Royal Caribbean cited guest feedback regarding compensation related to the end of this program, and decided to allow guests that are currently booked in a neighborhood balcony departing from January 1, 2020 through April 30, 2021, that they’ll have the option to either  (1)receive a $50 non-refundable onboard credit per stateroom, or (2) choose their original package. Guests will receive an email from Royal Caribbean International and once they make their selections, their reservations will be automatically updated.

This is eligible only to those guests booked before September 18th, 2019 on sailings departing on-or-after January 1st, 2020. 

In a statement, Royal Caribbean reiterated its pride on "pushing the boundaries of innovation and constantly creating amenities and experiences that exceed the expectations of our guests, and we look forward to introducing new amenities and programs that will delight them during their cruise vacations."

Update: Royal Caribbean has extended the neighborhood perks to all guests who booked prior to this decision to end the benefits.

Royal Caribbean announced it will discontinue the extra benefits it offered to guests who booked Boardwalk Balcony and Central Park Balcony staterooms on Oasis Class ships. 

Known as DINE • DRINK • DISCOVER program, Royal Caribbean will remove the program on all sailings departing on and after January 1, 2020.

Guests booked prior to September 18, 2019 in neighborhood balconies sailing from January 1, 2020 through April 2021 will receive a $50 non-refundable Onboard Credit per stateroom, as a consolation for the policy change.  Anyone booked on sailings from January 1, 2020 and after, following the announcement, will not qualify.

If you are wondering why Royal Caribbean made the decision to remove the perks, here is what they said, "Royal Caribbean is always looking for new ways to exceed your clients’ expectations. We’ve been conducting extensive research to better anticipate what matters most to them and will continue to offer countless ways for your clients to make unforgettable memories onboard. We are excited to share some game-changing updates to our inventory and amenity offerings in the coming months."

The neighborhood balcony room benefits began in November 2016.

Royal Caribbean's Boardwalk neighborhood on its Oasis Class ships is a favorite spot for so many cruisers.  The area is inspired by both the seaside piers that dot the coast of England and the nostalgic boardwalks of yesteryear such as Coney Island. 

There is a lot to see and do around the Boardwalk, and we have eight secrets that you may not know about the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Complimentary breakfast at Johnny Rockets

Did you know that Johnny Rockets on Harmony of the Seas is complimentary for breakfast?  All Oasis-class ships offer this option, but many guests are unaware that breakfast is served here, nor that it is included with your cruise fare (Johnny Rockets has a cover charge for lunch and dinner).

The Johnny Rockets breakfast menu on Oasis Class ships is a traditional American breakfast, with pancakes, omelettes, French toast and the like.  In fact, Johnny Rockets is one spot onboard Harmony of the Seas to get omelet made-to-order.

Johnny Rockets tends to be not very crowded for breakfast, because many guests are unaware of this option, and it also has a large seating capacity (indoor and outdoor seating options).

Slide down and celebrate at the bar

If you are on Harmony of the Seas or Symphony of the Seas, a fun sea day activity is to take a ride down the Ultimate Abyss down to the Boardwalk and then celebrate with a drink (or two) at the bar.

The Ultimate Abyss slide concludes at the rear of the Boardwalk, convenient to the bar at Sabor (on Harmony of the Seas) or Playmakers (on Symphony of the Seas). 

An after-slide drink is the perfect way to celebrate conquering the Ultimate Abyss!

Aft chairs with a view

If you are looking for a quiet spot to watch the ocean, many guests are unaware of an area right below the first Aqua Theater suite balcony on deck seven.

Just behind the rock wall, you can find comfortable Adirondack chairs to sit in with the perfect view of the ocean.  Rarely will you find other guests here.

Ride the carousel at night

Photo by Michael Poole

No cruise aboard an Oasis Class ship is complete without a ride (or three) on the Carousel.  Regardless of age, guests of all ages can enjoy the classic nature of this attraction.

The full-sized, traditional hand-crafted carousel was specially designed for Royal Caribbean, and many guests find this a fun family activity.  Be sure to include at least one ride at night, because like the fairs of the past, nighttime is when these rides really shine when they are all lit up.

Luckey climber

On Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean added a large climbing structure perfect for kids to try out called the Luckey Climber.

Luckey Climber is a brand of rather large climbing structures that are surrounded by a net, designed for kids to jump on and explore.

These innovative playgrounds are part art and part jungle gym that feature some very bold colors. It is a bit hidden in the back of the Boardwalk, so not all guests are aware it is there, but it is a really fun spot for kids to burn off some energy.

Eat and drink at the bar

While the kids are trying the Luckey Climber, you should to the opposite side of the Boardwalk to grab a drink and maybe an appetizer.  Sabor offers a bar on Oasis, Allure and Harmony of the Seas while Playmakers is on Symphony of the Seas.  

Regardless of which ship you are on, you can go to the bar without any reservations and sit down to enjoy a cold beverage whenever the restaurant is open.  It is a great spot for meeting friends, and there is usually a nice ocean breeze passing by.

Pre-pay for arcade credit

If you plan to let your kids enjoy the arcade on Royal Caribbean, you would be best served to invest in a pre-cruise arcade credit purchase for the bonus savings offered.

There are three options available to purchase prior to a cruise, which offers the convenience of pre-loading arcade credit, as well as a discount.

• $25 Arcade credit for $20
• $50 Arcade credit for $40
• $100 Arcade credit for $80

By purchasing arcade credit ahead of time, you will ensure your kids get extra game time while saving you money in the process.

Boardwalk Balcony rooms come with special perks

Guests staying in a Boardwalk view balcony stateroom are entitled to special amenities for booking this type of stateroom.

Specifically, you will receive:

• Complimentary meal for four at Johnny Rockets
• Complimentary Royal Refreshment soda package for two guests
• Exclusive rock climbing wall experience for the entire family

Boardwalk view balcony rooms typically cost less than ocean view balcony rooms, and the added amenities make it a great deal.