INCREDIBLE! AWESOME! OUTSTANDING!
These are definitely adjectives that describe Royal Caribbean's new Oasis of the Seas. We recently returned from the Inaugural Cruise of the Oasis from Fort Lauderdale and I have to say, the ship exceeded all expectations I had for it. Among other things, it is an engineering marvel. The technology involved with this ship and its array of features is without parallel.
The design of the ship is such that much of the time you don't even feel like you are on a cruise ship. It feels much more like a resort area along with its wide, expansive areas, shopping and interesting eating establishments. The ship is the destination in itself. You don't really even need to visit ports of call as there is plenty to do on board without ever leaving the ship.
We were extremely impressed with how well the ship was done. It is at a very high standard and is a true work of art. While it combined some standard amenities of Royal Caribbean's big ships such as the rock climbing wall (x 2) and the wave rider (x2) it has added some new that are just outstanding. The new Aqua Theater is unbelievable. The divers diving from 20 meters high into the small pool is breathtaking. Central Park is a really pleasant place to meander and just enjoy atmosphere. The array of specialty restaurants provides something for every taste. The Boardwalk is an exciting place with its old fashioned Carousel and Johnny Rockets Diner. It is a fun area.
The pool and sports decks have so many choices of things to do, it is mind boggeling. The kids water park will keep kids entertained for quite a while. The fitness center is state of the art and will rival any land based fitness center both in size and array of equipment. The Spa is incredible to say the least. For total relaxation, the Solarium is a quite, serene place with cabana's you can put the "n" in nap. My kind of place!
Without question, one of the finest entertainment events in the entire cruise industry is the ice shows. The Oasis didn't disappoint. The athleticism and skill of the skaters given the area they are confined to is always intriguing. The theme of the show was Tales of Old and combined the artistry of a sand painter and was very entertaining.
One of the most interesting features of the ship is the Rising Tide, a bar that moves between 3 decks and has a water show beneath it when the bar is on the upper decks. It is quite a feat of engineering. Another really great feature is the loft suites on Deck 17. They are spacious and really unique. There are also some of the best family suites in the cruise industry.
Overall, the Oasis of the Seas is a great addition to the cruise fleet. If you simply don't like big ships, it may not be the one for you because it is definitely a big ship. For families, I can't think of a better vacation choice. There is absolutely something for everyone from the most active and adventuresome with the zip line to the most relaxing with easy listening guitar music in the Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 17.
We felt privileged to be among the first to sail on this magnificent ship. We can strongly recommend it as a truly great cruise experience and one of the best choices for a family vacation.
