Me, Muffin and the Oasis of the Seas!! About This Page:

[purplegal]

Birthday weekends are the best, and getting spoiled is wonderful. Sorry about Lily our dog is going on 12 and was diagnosed with bladder cancer a year ago. She has good and bad days and the vet said you never know how long they will go, so we just go a day at a time.

[KathleenAnn]

Happy Belated Birthday Tara! Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend and received some great gifts! I am so, so sorry about Lilly. I hope you have lots of time to spoil her rotten. She certainly deserves it! You must be really looking forward to your cruise. It is approaching fast. Sounds like some great plans for lots of fun.

[Tara O'Hara]

Originally Posted by Cam22

Awesome birthday and you still have Aladdin to see!

Thanks, Cam!! I sure do!!

Originally Posted by SuperDave

You're trip is coming up fast and not long now! What a great birthday with such a great time and amazing gifts! Nice job by Muffin with the various restaurant experiences prior to the big day! Very sad about Lilly as only ten and hope you can appreciate her while she's still with you. Glad to hear you'll be staying at the Hyatt as I loved by stay here back in 2015 prior to my cruise.

It sure is coming up fast!! My birthday was amazing!! I will love the daylights out of Lilly!! We love that Hyatt too!!

Originally Posted by jandsdennis

Just now found this. Sounds like an awesome cruise, and wow what a great birthday. So sorry to hear about Lily.

Thanks, Jan!!

Originally Posted by purplegal

Birthday weekends are the best, and getting spoiled is wonderful. Sorry about Lily our dog is going on 12 and was diagnosed with bladder cancer a year ago. She has good and bad days and the vet said you never know how long they will go, so we just go a day at a time.

Thank you!! We are trying to do the same with Lilly.

Originally Posted by KathleenAnn

Happy Belated Birthday Tara! Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend and received some great gifts! I am so, so sorry about Lilly. I hope you have lots of time to spoil her rotten. She certainly deserves it! You must be really looking forward to your cruise. It is approaching fast. Sounds like some great plans for lots of fun.

Thanks, Kathleen!! Lilly is pretty spoiled now but she will get even more peanut butter!! We can't wait for vacation!!

[Tara O'Hara]

So I left off with our arrival plans at MCO. I doubt very much that I will sleep great, if at all. Muffin, on the other hand, will sleep like a baby!

When we get up we will scout up some coffee and probably take another stroll around the airport. We booked transportation to the cruise ship through Royal Caribbean and will most likely catch the first bus to Port Canaveral. The trip from MCO takes about 45 minutes.

The only other time we left on a cruise from Port Canaveral was in 2011 on the Dream. I am really looking forward to another adventure from this port!! Royal Caribbean just moved the Oasis of the Seas here a little over a year ago so it will be interesting to see this cruise terminal.

We love arriving early!! We know there is alot of sit around and wait involved, but to us, it is more relaxing to know you have arrived and that everything is in order!! I love getting any information available before boarding the ship and I read it all like a good spy novel!! With online check-in these days, the whole boarding process is normally so easy and smooth. Barring any ship scrubbing, we should be able to board by the time we get to the terminal as we are Diamond members with RCCL and this is a great perk!!

The Oasis of the Seas was the first ship out in the Oasis class of ships and the only one sailing troday that we have not been on. We have been on her sister, the Allure, twice and her other sister, the Harmony, just last year. There is another new ship in this class being built right now called the Symphony of the Seas. She starts sailing in 51 days from this writing and this being our favorite class of ship, I am more than sure that we will also sail on her one day. Anyway!

The Oasis of the Seas

I love researching all of the ship stats on Wikipedia before cruising, so here you go:

MS Oasis of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship owned by Royal Caribbean International. Her hull was laid down in November 2007 and she was completed and delivered to Royal Caribbean in October 2009. At the time of construction, Oasis of the Seas set a new capacity record of carrying over 6,000 passengers.

The first of her class, she was joined by sister ships MS Allure of the Seas in December 2010 and MS Harmony of the Seas in May 2016. Oasis of the Seas conducts cruises of the Caribbean from her home port of Port Canaveral in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Oasis of the Seas surpassed the Freedom-class cruise ships (also owned by Royal Caribbean) to become the largest cruise ship in the world at that time. She was herself surpassed by her sister ship Allure of the Seas, which is 50 millimetres (2.0 in) longer, although this may have been caused by ambient temperature differences at the times the measurements were made. In May 2016, her second sister ship Harmony of the Seas became the new record holder with a length of 362.12 metres (1,188.1 ft).

The vessel was ordered in February 2006 and designed under the name "Project Genesis". Her keel was laid down on 12 November 2007 by STX Europe Turku Shipyard, Finland. The company announced that full funding for Oasis of the Seas was secured on 15 April 2009.

The name Oasis of the Seas resulted from a competition held in May 2008. During the first float-out of the vessel the tugboats that were pulling the ship from its dock failed to control the ship, resulting in the port side of the ship hitting the dock. This resulted in some cosmetic damage and minor damage to the hull, which was repaired and did not affect the final delivery date of the vessel.

The ship was completed and turned over to Royal Caribbean on 28 October 2009. Two days later, she departed Finland for the United States. While exiting the Baltic Sea, the vessel passed underneath the Great Belt Fixed Link in Denmark on 31 October 2009 at 23:18 UTC. The bridge has a clearance of 65 m (213 ft) above the water; Oasis normally has an air draft of 72 m (236 ft). The passage under the bridge was possible due to retraction of the telescoping funnels, and an additional 30 cm (12 in) was gained by the squat effect whereby vessels traveling at speed in a shallow channel will be drawn deeper into the water. Approaching the bridge at 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph), the ship passed under it with less than 60 centimetres (2 ft) of clearance.

Proceeding through the English Channel, Oasis stopped briefly in the Solent so that 300 shipyard workers who were on board doing finishing work could disembark, then left on the way to her intended home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The ship arrived there on 13 November 2009, where tropical plants were installed prior to some introductory trips and her maiden voyage on 5 December 2009.

While Royal Caribbean's chief of captains William S. Wright was in command of the ship's journey across the Atlantic and also for the first few sailings, as of 2017 navigation of Oasis of the Seas is handled by Rob Hempstead and Per Kristoffersen.

Oasis had a minor refit in winter 2011, adding the DreamWorks Experience which allows passengers to interact with characters, such as Shrek, on board the ship. The Oasis-class also now features 3D movies.

Oasis underwent a second drydock refit in October 2014. During drydock the ship was modified to support Dynamic Dining, adding the suite-only "Coastal Kitchen" restaurant to the Viking Crown and dividing the main dining room into three separate restaurants: "American Icon Grill", "The Grande", and "Silk". In addition, the Broadway-style production of Hairspray was replaced with a production of Cats.

Next: Our Boarding Day Plans!!

[SuperDave]

Should be a great cruise and some nice perks you will get with your member status! Nice history and background on your ships, others in the RCCL and Royal Caribbean itself.

[cubfancolleen]

I’ve crossed under that bridge on the Magic! It’s quite something.
Sounds like a great ship!

[Colexis Mom]

Can’t wait to hear all about it!

[chezp]

Sounds like a wonderful ship. We are so with you - we like to arrive early and know we're safely at the terminal as well.

[Tara O'Hara]

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

I’ve crossed under that bridge on the Magic! It’s quite something.
Sounds like a great ship!

Lucky you!! I can safely say, having been on her sisters, I'm sure she will be!!

Originally Posted by Colexis Mom

Can’t wait to hear all about it!

Thanks, Marnie!!

Originally Posted by SuperDave

Should be a great cruise and some nice perks you will get with your member status! Nice history and background on your ships, others in the RCCL and Royal Caribbean itself.

We really do get some awesome loyalty perks with RCCL!!

Originally Posted by chezp

Sounds like a wonderful ship. We are so with you - we like to arrive early and know we're safely at the terminal as well.

I simply don't understand how people can arrive at the last minute!! I would be a wreck!!

[Tara O'Hara]

Our boarding day Plans

The first thing we always do when boarding any ship is grab a glass of champagne!! This is our way of embracing the fact that we are on vacation!! Then we eat!! Then we explore!!

The champagne can be gotten at any bar on board, but knowing the layout of these ships, we prefer it at the Champagne Bar, which is right at the end of the Royal Promenade where we enter the ship. We should be pretty hungry by the time we get onboard so we will most likely head up to the Windjammer for a buffet lunch. When we are full, we plan to explore the ship. Even though the layout of all three Oasis Class ships is the same, they have their own individual details. So, like the Harmony, the Oasis has 7 Neighborhoods. They are:


CENTRAL PARK




Royal Caribbean brings the outdoors in with Central Park, a revolutionary design in which the center of the ship opens to the sky and features lush, tropical grounds spanning more than the length of a football field. An upscale exquisite public gathering place featuring serene pathways, seasonal flower gardens and canopy trees, Central Park provides cruisers with more choices in a unique outdoor space. Combined with an incredible array of retail, entertainment and dining venues, as well as quiet nooks for reading and relaxing, Central Park is one of the ship’s most groundbreaking spaces.

150 Central Park, the most exclusive dining venue on the ship, provides an intimate dining experience. Managed by Keriann Von Raesfeld – an award-winning, internationally acclaimed chef who, at 23 years old, holds the title of “Best Young Cook in the World” – the signature restaurant combines leading edge cuisine with the ‘simple elegance’ design concept of trendsetting restaurants from New York to Los Angeles, as well as feature the cruise line’s most dynamic wine program, delivering an enhanced dining experience.

The park’s central piazza is the ship’s “town square” which at night evolves into a gathering space for alfresco dining and entertainment, including concerts, street performances and strolling musicians.

Sure to be popular with guests, Dazzles is a spectacular venue – spanning three decks – with an expansive floor-to-ceiling window offering breathtaking views of the Boardwalk below. Located near Central Park, the new dance lounge offers a variety of musical experiences ranging from 1940’s big band to disco to ballroom evenings. During the day, Dazzles is open for guests to enjoy the view of the bustling activity on the Boardwalk over a drink or to learn a new dance move with a professional dance instructor. Accommodations include 324 inward facing balcony staterooms with a view of Central Park.

Additional features of Central Park:

Three retail outlets including:

Coach – the brand’s largest store at sea

Art Actually @Parkside Gallery - This store sells artwork and prints

Picture This – portrait studio


Six restaurants/bars:

150 Central Park - described above and our second favorite restaurant at sea!!

Chops Grille - the classic, delicious fleetwide steakhouse.

Giovanni’s Table - An Italian restaurant we will be trying for the first time on this cruise.

Park Café - Akin to a really nice deli with signature sandwiches and make your own salads.

Vintages - Our favorite wine bar at sea!!

Trellis Bar - An intimate, beautiful little open to air bar.

BOARDWALK




This breathtaking neighborhood was inspired by both the seaside piers that dot the coast of England and the nostalgic boardwalks of yesteryear such as Coney Island. Boardwalk is an area for the entire family to enjoy together, whether young or just young at heart. The elements of the Boardwalk are a dynamic way to engage families in classic fun with a colorful original carousel as well as casual eateries, retail outlets and carnival games.

Signature elements of the Boardwalk include:

A remarkable outdoor venue at the stern of Oasis of the Seas with a backdrop of the ocean across the horizon, AquaTheater is an amphitheater-style space celebrating water with a full-spectrum of day and night options, serving as a pool by day and a dazzling ocean front theater with water and light shows, and professional aquatic acrobatic and synchronized swimming performances by night. The first of its kind and the most technologically-advanced area of the ship, AquaTheater is a complete sensory experience that plays on the element of surprise, as the latest technology and design features amaze audience members.

The centerpiece of Boardwalk is a one-of-a-kind carousel – the only carousel at sea. Handcrafted from poplar wood especially for Royal Caribbean, the full-sized, traditional carousel feature 18 figures suspended from stainless steel poles showcasing a time-honored menagerie of animals such as zebras, giraffes and lions, alongside a variety of hand-painted horses including a princess horse and a crowned frog prince. The lead horse, customarily the fanciest horse of the carousel, is adorned with Royal Caribbean logos, while a single chariot serves as a stationary seat for two. The frame of the carousel has a red and golden yellow facade, turn-of-the-century artwork scenery panels, and LED lights that twinkle during the day and night.

Two signature rock-climbing walls flank the AquaTheater, providing a more unique experience with multiple climbing routes. Each rock wall measures 43 feet tall.

Accommodations include six AquaTheater Suites, 221 Boardwalk view balcony staterooms, and eight Boardwalk view window staterooms.

Additional features of Boardwalk:

Six shops including:

Pets at Sea - Akin to Build a Bear and fun to watch

Smile – novelty photo shop

Candy Beach – specialty candy store

Star Pier – teen retail

Pinwheels – children’s retail

Carousel Cart - kiosk

Six restaurants/bars:

Sabor Taqueria and Tequila Bar - great margaritas!!

Johnny Rockets - We've eaten here for breakfast, which is included. It's Johnny Rockets.

Cups and Scoops - Deeee- licious ice cream treats for a small premium.

Boardwalk Donut Shop - Exactly as stated.

Boardwalk Dog House - yummy hotdogs!!

The Boardwalk Bar - A small bar that looks like a hut.

ROYAL PROMENADE




A natural but significant evolution of the line’s signature Royal Promenade featured on the cruise line’s Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, the new design found on Oasis of the Seas allows guests to have a physical connection with the neighborhood above – Central Park – as natural light cascades down from the sky. Giant glass-arched skylights, the Crystal Canopies, form a sculptured roof that looks up into Central Park and the sky beyond.

The Rising Tide Bar – the world’s first moving bar at sea – is an engineering feat that spans three decks and allows cruisers to enjoy a cocktail as they slowly move between Central Park on deck eight and the Royal Promenade on deck five.

Suspended above the Globe and Atlas Pub, the Atlas Bridge unfurls on hinged hydraulics to create a spectacular, surprise element for guests. The giant copper globe, incorporated into the pub’s facade, “cracks open” as part of its unique construction and extends over the Promenade as a bridge platform serving as a focal point of the Royal Promenade. The bridge is approximately 10 feet above ground and adjacent to the entertainment area for performances.

Located towards the aft of the Royal Promenade, a mezzanine level allows for sweeping views of the Promenade and features the cruise line’s Schooner Bar and Adventures with Royal Caribbean International – the location of the future cruise sales desk.

The forward mezzanine features the Diamond Club, the line’s loyalty member club.

For the first time on a Royal Caribbean ship, the Royal Promenade serves as the entry point for all guests embarking on Oasis of the Seas, rather than the traditional lower decks. A vast tree sculpture by international artists Carlos Betancourt and Alberto LaTorre serves as an impressive welcoming landmark.

Accommodations include 18 Promenade View Staterooms.

Additional features of Royal Promenade:

Eight retail outlets including:

Focus Photo Shop – cameras and camera equipment and accessories

Focus Photo Gallery – guest pictures

Regalia – fine jewelry and gifts

Solera – perfume and cosmetic shop

Prince & Greene – boutique style fashions

The Shop – logo and souvenir shop

Willow – accessories shop

Port Merchants – liquors and sundries

Nine restaurants/bars:

Sorrento’s Pizzeria - Make your own pizzas which are quite good.

Mondo Café - Pastries and sandwiches

Café Promenade – signature café

Schooner Bar - We love this bar which is fleetwide

On Air Club – Karaoke bar

Boleros – Latin dance club

Rising Tide - really cool and explained above.

Globe and Atlas Pub - nice Pub with some great specialty beers.

Champagne Bar - Our favorite!!



POOL AND SPORTS ZONE




Stretching the length of the ship, the Pool and Sports Zone is an ample playground for guests of all ages, featuring four unique types of pools, and two FlowRider surf simulators – each larger than the single FlowRider introduced on the line’s Freedom-class ships – plus amazing views of Boardwalk and Central Park below.

A thrilling new feature, the first zip line at sea takes guests on a exhilarating ride across an open-air atrium suspended nine decks high above Boardwalk – a distance of more than 82 feet (25 meters).

The first Beach Pool at sea has a sloped entry where guests are able to wade into the water or relax in colorful beach chairs under an umbrella as the water rolls gently beneath. Two whirlpools flank either side of the “beach” for guests who prefer warmer waters.

The Main Pool with two side-by-side whirlpools is ideal for rest and relaxation in the sun. Now surrounded by more sun loungers than any other ship afloat, the pool is the perfect spot to catch some sun.

Families looking for fun in the sun can easily spot Royal Caribbean’s signature H2O Zone, marked by a giant octopus with its slides and water-spraying tentacles, flanked by fellow water-spouting ocean creatures. Separate wading and current pools, as well as a dedicated infant and toddler pool, is set in the interactive aquatic playground and surrounded by adult and child-sized lounge chairs.

The more competitive set can find haven in the Sports Pool, where afternoon water team sports include basketball, badminton and water polo, while morning hours will be dedicated to lap swimming.

Boasting a redefined layout, the adults-only Solarium features a two-deck high, glass-paneled enclave designed with seating on various “islands” surrounded by water, providing guests with the sensation of floating on air. The open-air Solarium offers a tranquil swimming pool, two serene whirlpools, and four cantilevered whirlpools suspended 136 feet above the ocean. The mezzanine level overlooks the pool deck below, offering additional chaise lounges and seating.

The new Solarium Bistro offers healthful casual fare during the day, and transform into a romantic and intimate setting for specialty dining and dancing under the stars in the evenings. It is also the perfect venue for a unique late night dance club experience – Club 20 – made popular on the line’s Freedom-class ships.

The Sports Deck also boasts new innovations, including two of the popular FlowRider surf simulators, flanking either side of the elevated back deck.

Royal Caribbean favorites such as the nine-hole miniature golf course, Oasis Dunes, challenges golfers of different abilities, and the Sports Court allows for friendly games of basketball, volleyball and soccer.

Additional features of the Pool and Sports Zone:

Two retail outlets including:

Sea Trek

Breeze

Ten restaurants/bars:

Wipe Out Café

Windjammer Café

Izumi – Asian Cafe

Solarium Bistro

Solarium Bar

Wipe Out Bar

Pool Bar

Sand Bar

Sky Bar

Mast Bar

VITALITY AT SEA SPA AND FITNESS CENTER




Created as the crown jewel of the cruise line’s Vitality program, the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness neighborhood encompasses various amenities that support healthy lifestyles and cater to complete body wellness. Here guests can sooth mind, body and soul through the most advanced spa and anti-aging therapies, the latest fitness equipment and healthy dining options.

The new Vitality at Sea Spa includes a Thermal Suite, featuring heated tile loungers, saunas and steam rooms; 29 treatment rooms including three couples massage suites and seven individual treatment rooms – the largest collection at sea. As a precursor to any treatment, guests are encouraged to begin the spa experience by unwinding in the calming relaxation rooms.

Kids and teens have a dedicated spa of their own, YSPA, in which to enjoy specially catered services.

The Fitness Center offers vacationers a plentiful and varied selection including 158 exercise machines including the latest cardio and resistance equipment for working out alone or for joining one of the several classes, including spinning, kickboxing, Pilates and yoga.

Additional features of the Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center:

Vitality Cafe

Spa Retail

ENTERTAINMENT PLACE




Entertainment Place is the life of the ship after dark. This contemporary nightclub district introduces new signature after-dark spaces in more intimate venues, delivering a variety of entertainment each night and providing guests the opportunity to customize their evening experiences.

Inspired by prohibition-era Chicago, Jazz on 4, provides an intimate experience as guests enjoy soulful Jazz & Blue rhythms.

Those in need of a good belly laugh will be drawn to Comedy Live, the comedy club where headline acts interact with the audience to provide engaging and customized performances each evening.

Blaze, with its dramatic entrance of doors ‘burning’ with hot flames and a ‘charred’ threshold, delivers the quintessential nightclub experience where guests can dance the night away to pulsating music in a hip and trendy atmosphere.

Additional features of Entertainment Place:

Casino Royale

Opal Theatre

Hall of Odds


YOUTH ZONE




A haven for children and teens, this home to the award-winning Adventure Ocean youth program features more space and a wealth of kid- and teen-friendly adventures than ever seen on a cruise ship. The Youth Zone covers an expansive area of more than 28,700 sq. ft. (2,669 sq. meters). Kids Avenue, the central boulevard in Youth Zone, guides children through the dedicated Adventure Ocean spaces and various themed play areas.

Royal Babies and Tots is the cruise line’s first nursery for infants and toddlers (six months or older). This colorful space serves as a fully-staffed nursery where children can be left in the care of Royal Caribbean’s trained professionals, as well as be the venue for various playgroups created by Fisher-Price and Crayola for babies and tots. Open daily, the nursery offers parents childcare drop-off options in the daytime and evening, carefully maintaining an optimum staff to child ratio.

Oasis of the Seas introduces exciting new common play areas, including the Workshop, where families can learn scrapbooking skills or create personalized jewelry; Imagination Studio where children can explore the world of color and imagination through Adventure Art by Crayola; a fully-equipped lab for Adventure Science Lab, where Einsteins-in-the-making can expand their knowledge; Play, a circular area where children can rollick and participate in a variety of sports and games; and Adventure Ocean Theater, the first-ever children’s theater at sea.

Adventure Ocean program age groups each have its own dedicated space: Royal Babies and Tots, ages six months to two years; Aquanauts, ages 3 to 5; Explorers, ages 6 to 8; and Voyagers, ages 9 to 11.

Longtime favorite Royal Caribbean teen-only spaces, Fuel disco and The Living Room, return aboard Oasis of the Seas, only larger and more state-of-the-art, and now located one deck above the Adventure Ocean areas. A spacious outdoor deck adjacent to these venues gives teens the freedom and opportunity to find new friends while on their cruise vacation.

Additional features of the Youth Zone:

Kids Arcade

Challengers Arcade

It takes a good while to take all of this in!! When we are finished exploring, we will find our stateroom, check for our luggage and unpack if it's there. We'll change into our swimsuits and if it's nice, we'll go swimming. If not we'll enjoy a hot tub!!

Next: Our evening plans!!

[purplegal]

Wow the ship sounds amazing, so much to do, you don’t even have to get off at the ports. Thank you for such a great description.

[cubfancolleen]

Ship sounds amazing. If we ever try another RCCL cruise, I know to pay more attention to class of ship. The one we were on didnhave Sabor, and we LOVED eating there - doing so three nights of seven!

[Tara O'Hara]

Originally Posted by purplegal

Wow the ship sounds amazing, so much to do, you don’t even have to get off at the ports. Thank you for such a great description.

It really is, Julia and sometimes we don't get off!!

Originally Posted by cubfancolleen

Ship sounds amazing. If we ever try another RCCL cruise, I know to pay more attention to class of ship. The one we were on didnhave Sabor, and we LOVED eating there - doing so three nights of seven!

The Oasis class of ships is honestly just as nice as any Disney ship!! I love Sabor as well, but Muffin doesn't do great with Mexican food. We usually go for margaritas and appetizers.

[Pris]

Wow! That puts the Adventure class ships to shame, and we love them. I look forward to sailing on one of hte Oasis class ships now.

[Cam22]

The Oasis looks huge and amazing. Love the neighborhoods!