Today, we are sharing a review and photo tour of Oasis of the Seas, having recently spent an incredible couple of weeks on a transatlantic cruise. And we were fortunate that the Oasis of the Seas had just completed a month’s dry dock, so she felt all fresh, with many floors and cabins, new carpets, and a paint refresh.
We picked up our transatlantic cruise in Barcelona and sailed around Spain, then sailed across to Fort Lauderdale. I will create an article on how I found the Transatlantic Crossing, but today, we want to share a review and photos of Oasis of the Seas.
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Oasis of the Seas, The Ship That Changed Cruising As We Know It
Oasis of the Seas was the first ever Oasis Class ship she launched in 2009 and, at the time, raised the bar in the cruise industry. Opening up the back of the ship and introducing Neighbourhoods such as Central Park and The Boardwalk revolutionised cruising.
Oasis of the Seas holds 6,699 passengers at full capacity with a crew of 2190. She launched in 2009 and was amplified in 2019 with the introduction of water slides, the Ultimate Abyss and more. Oasis is 226,838 and 1,187 ft long.
The plan was always to book a transatlantic cruise; we decided to book a grand suite with the plan of having all the facilities of a mega-ship. But also have access to a more intimate area of the suite lounge.
We loved the suite facilities and thoroughly enjoyed every second we spent in there. However, as Oasis of the Seas was not at full capacity, all the areas onboard were comfortable and rarely felt crowded. Oasis of the Seas holds 6,699 passengers; there were 5,200 on our sailing.
The Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade, set over decks five and six, is the heart of the Oasis of the Seas. It is huge compared to the Promenade Decks on the other classes of ships. You can expect to find…
- The Globe and Atlas Pub
- The Bionic Bar
- Schooners Bar
- Boleros
- Starbucks
- Spotlight Karaoke
- Rising Tide Bar
- Cafe Promenade
- Sorentos
- Shops
- Future Cruise
- Photo Gallery
The English Pub
The English Pub on Oasis of the Seas is called the Globe and Atlas; there were daily quizzes and an excellent nightly singer. We typically prefer Schooner bar, but on this sailing, the atmosphere and vibe were significantly better in the pub.
Spotlight Karaoke
I am not a fan of Karaoke, but my partner in crime over on TikTok, Donna, is great. So we spent a night cheering along to Donna’s karaoke skills. The bar is intimate, which works well for Karaoke, and also has booths for private singing sessions.
The Music Hall
The Music Hall on Oasis of the Seas is a dynamic, two-level venue offering daily quizzes, live music performances across various genres, themed parties, a spacious dance floor, and cosy seating areas.
Snacks On The Royal Promenade
There is always the chance to grab a coffee or snack on the Royal Promenade; Cafe Promenade is open 24 hours a day, serving coffee, snacks, and cakes. And for the best pizza ever, Sorrentos is open from 11.30 until 3 am, and Starbucks is open from 6 am until 11 pm.
The Boardwalk
The Boardwalk on deck 6 has to be my favourite area on the Oasis of the Seas. This historic New York Boardwalk-inspired area has such a wonderful, vibrant area. Boardwalk Balcony cabins overlook it and has a wonderfully nostalgic seaside feel. There are lots of activities going on throughout the day, such as balloon-making, deck games and the odd jazz band. You can also find…..
- A Carousel
- Zoltar and games, including fairground mirrors
- Candy Store
- The Doghouse Hotdog Stand
- Play Makers
- Johnny Rockets
- Aqua Theatre
- Beach style store
Playmakers Sports Bar
Playmakers has a great chilled-out vibe. If you are a sports fan, there is a daily sports menu listing all the games. Outside these times, there are table games and a pool table. We loved heading there for a snack and a game of Jenga.
The food in Playmakers is delicious, from burgers, sliders, and ribs to nachos. We have never once had a bad meal. They also have a tasty vegetarian burger and cater for gluten-free diets, so it was a real winner for us.
Central Park on Oasis of the Seas
You have to see Central Park to believe it; the vibe is incredible and chilled, from the relaxing sound of birds singing to a library, wine bar, restaurants and cafes. It completely contrasts the vibrant, fun atmosphere of the Boardwalk; Central Park is laid back and chilled. You can also book balcony cabins overlooking Central Park. You can expect to find the following in Central Park…..
- Vintages Vine Bar
- New York Library
- Giovanni’s Italian
- Park Cafe
- Central Park 150
- Chops Grille
- The Rising Tide Bar
- Trellis Bar
- A Selection of Shops
The Theatre on Oasis of the Seas
There was a choice of shows, comedians, and a brilliant ventriloquist. However, for me, the standout was Cats. This show isn’t for everyone, but it was the first show I ever saw live. The reason I fell in love with the theatre.
The production is exquisite; it’s a shortened version but incredible. I was concerned about watching it as I had seen some negativity in Facebook groups. However, it’s more a matter of taste; theatre isn’t for everyone, and this is a quality production.
Casino Royale
The Casino covers a huge area, but is very smoky. There is a smokeless smaller casino area, the atmosphere is not the same, but I guess that is the trade in. We are not huge gamblers, but do like to spend the odd hour in the Casino.
Crazy Golf on Oasis of the Seas
We love a game of crazy golf and love that most Royal Caribbean ships have a crazy golf course. The Crazy Golf is free and a great way to spend time on a sea day.
The Flowrider
If you haven’t surfed on the Flowrider, then give it a go. The Oasis of the Seas has two, which means beginners and advanced surfers all get a turn, and there are fewer queues. If you are concerned about stand-up surfing, I tried bodyboarding, which was great fun.
The Ultimate Abyss
The Ultimate Abyss isn’t just for kiddies; it’s also a great way to get from deck 16 down to the Boardwalk on deck 6. The huge slide spanning ten decks is so much fun and so quick. As it’s a dry slide, you get a mat to sit on, which has a foot pocket to pop your bag in, so you have no excuse but to ride it.
Water Slides On Oasis of the Seas
If you are travelling with kids and teens, they will love the selection of water slides.
- Typhoon
- Cyclone
- Supercell
- Splashaway Bay, 2 mini water slides
Pools on Oasis of the Seas
I love that Oasis of the Seas has a selection of pools, and they were never packed. This may have been because there were fewer people onboard. If you are travelling with little ones, then you will find a selection of life vests by the pool towel bar. The great thing is that there is a good choice of sizes for all ages. However, in our experience, there were always spare sunbeds around every pool. Pools onboard….
- Splashaway Bay Kiddies Area
- Beach Pool
- Sports Pool
- Main Pool
Food On Oasis of the Seas
You are never going to go hungry on Oasis of the Seas. There are ten places to eat for free, with options for 24-hour dining. However, if you want to splash out, there is also a huge selection of speciality dining options.
Free Dining On Oasis of the Seas
As we were staying in a suite, we dined in the Coastal Kitchen; the food and service were incredible. However, there are also lots of great places to eat onboard. The Park Cafe does the best beef sandwiches ever. And I love that you can get fruit at any time of day fro the Park Cafe, Cafe Promenade and Windjammer.
- The Main Dining Room
- Windjammer Buffet
- Park Café
- The Boardwalk Dog House
- Sorrento’s Pizza
- El Loco Fresh
- Café Promenade
- Solarium Bistro
- Vitality Café
- The Coastal Kitchen (Suite guests only)
Speciality Dining on Oasis of the Seas
There is a vast choice of speciality dining, with various prices. This means you can go all out on a slap-up meal or enjoy a gourmet burger at Playmakers or steak-board at The Portside BBQ. We dined at six of the options and had some incredible meals.
- 150 Central Park
- Chef’s Table
- Chops Grille
- Giovannis Table
- Izumi Hibachi
- Izumi Sushi
- Johnny Rockets
- Playmakers Sports Bar
- Portside BBQ
- Room Service
The Promenade Deck
Transatlantic cruises are my favourite kind of cruise, all those glorious sea days. Booking a longer cruise while still having time to work is a great way to integrate work and travel. But you have to plan for exercise; we walked three laps of the promenade deck every morning and used the stairs 80% of the time.
The promenade deck was a high-traffic area in the mornings, with many cruisers having the same plan and working off the cruise pounds. Of course, there is also a full gym and classes available to book, but we found this a great way to keep fit, enjoy the views and have a chat as we walked.
The Coastal Kitchen And Suite Lounge
We booked a grand suite and loved the facilities; the suite lounge and coastal kitchen overlook the ship from deck 17. Which also has incredible ocean and ship views. The lounge is open 24 hours a day and has a coffee and soft drinks machine with cordial and water. Wine, beer, and soft drinks are available in the lounge from 11-11. With a cocktail hour every evening.
The Suite Deck
Suite customers also have access to the suite sunbathing deck on deck 17, this was a quiet sunbathing area, which never got busy. It has a pay bar, comfy loungers and tranquil cabanas for a little quet time.
See Our Suite on Oasis of the Seas
Donna has posted a full tour of her Grand Suite on Oasis of the Seas. We had identical suites on opposite sides of the ship. Top tip: we were port-side and got more sun; if you are cruising on a transatlantic from Europe to the Caribbean in October/November, book a port-side cabin for more sun.
Would We Sail On Oasis of the Seas Again?
I was nervous before this cruise; this was my first cruise on an Oasis Class ship. Odyssey of the Seas was the biggest ship I had cruised on. And I was concerned about the size. However, like all Royal Caribbean ships, Oasis of the Seas channels passengers well, meaning there are rarely packed areas. We loved the ship and the suite experience and would 100% cruise on Oasis of the Seas again. In fact, I can’t wait till next time.
