Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas Cruise Review & Guide
This Oasis of the Seas cruise ship review and guide will provide an overview of the ship, what to expect, and tips for making the most of your trip.
In the past year, I have taken two Western Caribbean and one Southern Caribbean cruise with Royal Caribbean. My most recent trip was a Western Caribbean itinerary on the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship.
When trying to choose a cruise itinerary, the decision often comes down to the quality of the ship. However, it can be very difficult to understand the quality of each ship without honest reviews from real passengers.
If you are considering a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas, this guide will help you decide if it’s the correct ship for you.
After booking a cruise, I try to understand everything about the ship so I can maximize my time on board.
I have a goal to hit all the best bars, restaurants, shows, and activities which can be hard when there are so many options on these mega ships.
If this is your situation, this guide will help simplify the onboard experience and help you plan your trip.
TLDR – If you are trying to decide to take a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas or are already booked, keep reading for all the tips and information you might need.
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Overview of the Oasis of the Seas
Cruise Line– Royal Caribbean
Class– Oasis
Size– 1,186 Feet Long
Capacity– 5,400 Passengers
Crew– 2,400
Decks – 17
Maiden Voyage– 2009
Latest Refurbishment – 2019
Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas Tips
1. Book Your Specialty Dining in Advance: The Oasis of the Seas offers a variety of specialty dining options, from upscale steakhouses to international cuisine.
To secure your preferred dining times and venues, make reservations before your cruise using Royal Caribbean’s online booking system. This ensures you won’t miss out on the best culinary experiences.
2. Reserve Your Shore Excursions Early: To ensure you get to experience the excursions you want, book them well in advance. Popular excursions can fill up quickly, and booking ahead will also help you avoid disappointment.
3. Stay Organized with the Cruise Planner App: You can check daily schedules, make reservations, and even chat with fellow passengers. Download and familiarize yourself with this app before your cruise to make the most of your time onboard.
4. Don’t Miss the AquaTheater Shows: The ship’s AquaTheater is an incredible venue featuring high-diving acrobats and synchronized swimming. These shows are veryvpopular, so arrive early to secure a good seat.
The AquaTheater shows are a highlight of any Oasis class cruise vacation.
5. Enjoy the Adults-Only Retreat: The Oasis of the Seas features an adults-only area known as the Solarium. It’s a serene retreat with comfortable loungers, hot tubs, and a peaceful atmosphere.
If you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing space to unwind, head to the Solarium. It’s perfect for couples or anyone seeking a break from the more bustling areas of the ship.
Staterooms and Suites
There are four categories of rooms on the Oasis of the Seas – interior, ocean view, balcony, and suite.
The interior, ocean view, and balcony rooms are basically the same, with varying levels of exposure to the outside (nothing, window, or balcony).
The rooms have enough storage, a small couch, a vanity, and a small bathroom. These rooms are nothing special and are very small, as with most cruise ship cabins.
That said, they are sufficient for good sleep and you won’t be spending much time in your room anyway.
If you opt for the suites, the rooms are much larger and more luxurious. The suites range from a junior suite which is a larger balcony room, to multi-level suites that include a butler.
Suite guests also get access to a lounge, pool deck, and complimentary dining room.
Complimentary Dining
On any cruise ship, there are some dining options included in your cruise fare and others that cost extra. On the Oasis of the Seas, there are a variety of complimentary options ranging from buffets to grab and go. You could easily spend one week on the ship without spending a dollar on food.
Main Dining Room – Complimentary table service restaurant with multi-course meals. The food is typically good quality and the service is great.
Windjammer – The main buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The food is fair to good, but is one of my top choices for breakfast and lunch.
Dog House – Grab and go hot dogs with a variety of toppings
El Loco Fresh – Mexico buffet with tacos, burritos, and quesadillas
Solarium Bistro – Smaller buffet that is often a less-crowded alternative to the Windjammer
Park Café – Grab and go sandwiches, salads, and snacks for breakfast and lunch
Café Promenade – Grab and go sandwiches and pastries
Sorrento’s – Wood fire pizza and antipasti, this is one of my favorite included dining options on the ship
Oasis Class Signature Dining
As mentioned above, cruises have complimentary and extra-cost dining options. For the paid dining options, some restaurants require a cover charge and others charge a la carte.
For the best dining experience on the Oasis of the Seas, I recommend purchasing the 3-night or unlimited dining package.
The complimentary food on board is good, but the signature dining is much better.
Chops Grill – Classic steakhouse
150 Central Park – Fine dining restaurant with a variety of meat and seafood options
Giovanni’s – Italian pasta and entrees
Izumi Sushi & Hibachi – Two-part restaurant with live hibachi or table-service sushi
Portside BBQ – Grab and go BBQ classics
Playmakers – Sports bar with classic bar food
Johnny Rockets – the same diner food you will find at the restaurant on land (note- breakfast is complimentary)
Bars & Venues
One of the advantages of a mega ship like the Oasis is the variety of bars and entertainment venues on board. Below are the most popular places to grab a drink or a casual show.
Bars
Schooner Bar – My favorite bar on board with views of the promenade and a nautical theme
Globe and Atlas – English-style pub in the promenade
Bionic Bar – Futuristic robot-powered bar
Rising Tides Bar – Floating bar that moves between the 5th and 8th deck
Lime & the Coconut – Pool bars
Venues
Blaze – Comedy club and night club
Spotlight Karaoke – Karaoke bar
Music Hall – Common venue for live music and dancing
Boleros – Latin-themed bar
Onboard Entertainment
One of my favorite aspects of the Oasis of the Seas is the quality of entertainment on board. Each night, there is a headline performer in the Royal Theater. This is standard on all Royal Caribbean ships and the acts range from musicians to magicians to dancers.
In addition, there are other entertainment options available for reservations each day. There are ice skating shows that include dancing, music, and tricks in Studio B. In Blaze, there is hilarious adult comedy.
The best show on the Oasis of the Seas is the aqua show which takes place at the aqua theater at the back of the boat.
During my sailing, the show as Aqua80, a high energy show to the best 80’s music. There are dancers, swimmers, tightrope walkers, and high divers. This show was better than some shows I’ve seen in Vegas, and it is truly amazing it can happen on a cruise ship.
Pool Deck
On the Oasis of the Seas cruise ship, there are three normal pools and a kids pool on deck. Even with this many pools, they still get very crowded on sea days. If you want a good chair, I recommend getting there before 8 am.
One of my biggest complaints about the ship is that the smoking area is directly behind the main pool. Unless you are a smoker, it is super gross to sit in a cloud of smoke by the pool.
In addition to the pools, there are two surf simulators, a sports court, and mini golf on the pool deck. There is again no shortage of things to do on this cruise.
Royal Caribbean Service
A lot of this guide is about the physical cruise ship. However, equally important is the service on board. I am consistently blown away by the high standard of service on a ship with so many passengers.
The crew always strives to go above and beyond, working to meet any request you might have. Here are my top three favorite service moments on our cruise:
- Sam, the bartender at the Schooner Bar who remembered our before-dinner drinks each night and made them perfectly
- The room service staff that delivered complimentary continental breakfast to our stateroom in the morning
- Jake, the chef at Izumi who fed and entertained us at the Hibachi table
Oasis of the Seas Vs. Harmony of the Seas
In the past year, I have sailed on two Oasis class ships. The Oasis of the Seas was the first ship in the class in 2009 and the Harmony of the Seas is a newer version that launched in 2016.
If you are trying to decide between these two ships, the simple answer is you can’t go wrong with either. Since they are in the same class, both ships are basically the same size with the same venues and amenities.
The main difference between the two ships is the dining on board. For example, the Oasis has Giovanni’s and the Harmony has Jaimie’s for the Italian restaurant.
The Oasis has Playmakers, and Harmony does not. The Oasis has El Loco Fresh on the pool deck and the Harmony has Mini Bites.
Although the Harmony is newer, the Oasis was amplified in 2019, so both ships have similar modern décor and rooms.
Planning Your Oasis of the Seas Cruise
- Try different restaurants for lunch each day- there is so much variety so don’t get stuck in a rut
- Get the drink package if you plan to drink 5 or more drinks a day
- Try at least one specialty dining restaurant
- Book spa services, drink packages, and Wi-Fi before your cruise for exclusive deals
- Bring cash tips to reward exceptional service (and get rewarded with even better service)
Oasis of the Seas Reviews
Here are some Oasis of the Seas reviews from other cruisers. You will see there are some pros and cons of the ship, but it’s overall a great choice for a cruise vacation.
“I loved the Oasis…… lots of very nice features. We enjoyed the water slides, the shows, and the many venues and activities….. My biggest complaint was the crowds.”
Cruise Critic
“Unbelievably attentive staff. Everyone from Royal Caribbean will go out of their way to accommodate any concerns you may have.”
Cruise Critic
“The ship is very nice as was the staff. The food was mediocre at best.”
Cruise Critic
Summary of this Oasis of the Seas Cruise Guide
Rooms – Standard for a cruise. If you splurge for a suite, there are many amazing options. If you get a standard interior or balcony stateroom, they are small, but big enough and comfortable for your trip. The rooms don’t make or break the ship.
Dining – I love how many dining options there are on the Oasis of the Seas. You could easily have enough variety with the complimentary food options. For the best experience and quality, take advantage of the signature dining.
Entertainment – The shows and entertainment on board are fantastic. I could go to the aqua show each night. The entertainment definitely sets the Oasis apart from competitors.
Activities – There are so many great things to do on the ship. From activities such as mini golf, the ultimate abyss slide, and the Flowriders to organized events such as game shows and BINGO, there is no shortage of fun things to do on board.
The Ship – Although the ship is on the older side, the recent refurbishment makes it competitive with the more modern ships. The layout, facilities, and design of this ship are all great.
Should you go on an Oasis of the Seas cruise? YES! If you are considering a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas, I say go for it.
The ship is full of fun things to do, great dining, great entertainment, and you cannot go wrong with the Royal Caribbean standard of service.
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