Walking up the dock to board Oasis of the Seas, I felt as though I was entering an office building or shopping mall, instead of a ship. Dwarfing the Titanic, this luxury liner is Royal Caribbean’s second largest vessel. Towering over the pier below, it sits over 230 feet above the water and measures in at 1,185 feet long. Home to numerous pools, food outlets, zip lining, theaters, a casino and the first-ever floating city park, Oasis first set sail in 2009. On this trip we visited Nassau, St. Thomas and St Martin.
There are 44 staterooms available ranging from standard cabins to suites and spacious family accommodations. One of the most luxurious categories, however, is the Royal Suite Class. The large rooms come with fresh-cut flowers, private balconies, Egyptian cotton linens, ocean views and marble tile. Those booking this category will also receive special perks like velvet-rope access to the ship’s amenities and dining room as well as a private Suite Lounge open 24-hours a day with a dedicated concierge on-hand.
Dining on the ship is plentiful with 25 restaurants through the ship. Of course, the best eateries are not included in standard packages. One such restaurant is Giovanni’s which offers a multi-course menu with less crowded seating and a relaxed atmosphere. Vintages is another option non-inclusive restaurant which serves tapas-style food inside a lounge area. Helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz, guests can also enjoy a six-course seasonal menu at 150 Central Park for a more fine dining experience.
Everything from the H2O Zone kids' water park to the 750-seat AquaTheater and 43-foot rock-climbing wall is available for entertainment aboard the ship. Pre-book shows to ensure you get to do everything you’d like during your trip. SeaPass cards are scanned before shows and some events like the ice skating performance and AquaTheater are at the mercy of the sea’s conditions. Currently, the cruise liner is hosting the Broadway productions Cats in the evenings.
If you’d rather spend your afternoon shopping, the vessel is also home to a number of stores include name-brand boutiques like Tiffany & Co., Coach, Michael Kors and Kate Spade New York. Whether enjoying the Rising Tide Bar, the Vitality Sea Spa, or shopping in Central Park, the Promenade or the Boardwalk, Oasis of the Seas has a multitude of experiences to explore. With its updated rooms, it’s also a great choice for a 2016 cruise.
