Your first-ever cruise is a particular expertise. Even in case you fall in love with holidays at sea, nothing will ever come near the sensation of stepping on a ship for the primary time.
Having been on over 30 cruises, I really like crusing with first-time cruisers every time doable. There’s one thing particular about seeing their reactions to all the pieces onboard, from the facilities to the eating room, cabin, and leisure.
Not too long ago, I invited a detailed household pal, Mariela, to hitch me on a brief 2-night crusing on Oasis of the Seas. She did not instantly settle for the invitation, as she had all the time been cautious of occurring a cruise.
“I by no means was all for cruising. I used to be afraid of being round so many individuals and being on the open ocean,” she stated.
When she lastly stated sure, I dealt with all of the journey particulars, from reserving flights and the pre-cruise resort to creating dinner reservations. Actually, she did not even keep in mind the identify of the ship after we acquired to the airport!
As such, she skilled all the pieces from a clean slate: no analysis and no actual expectations. This is what Mariela considered her first cruise — and why she’s already planning one other.
First impressions of Royal Caribbean
Oasis of the Seas is likely one of the largest cruise ships on this planet. The namesake ship of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class redefined what a cruise might be when she debuted in 2009, and she or he remains to be simply as jaw-dropping right this moment.
With solely two nights onboard, I knew we wanted to take advantage of our restricted time on the ship. Though we had a 1:30 p.m. arrival appointment, we confirmed up at Fort Lauderdale’s Terminal 18 round 11:15 a.m.
We had no bother dropping off our baggage, going by way of safety, and having our paperwork checked, and Mariela was setting foot on her first-ever ship by 11:30 a.m.
“Getting on the ship was simpler than I assumed,” she recalled, “I assumed it was going to be crowded and disorganized, however all the pieces is so effectively deliberate. You do not really feel harassed. There are folks all over the place to make the method fast and inform everybody the place to go.”
After we have been on board, Mariela instantly took discover of how clear the ship was. Being caught on a unclean ship was one cause why she had by no means taken a cruise earlier than.
Nonetheless, she did not discover something misplaced. There weren’t any fingerprints or smudges on the elevators, and the buffet was spotless. She particularly preferred the well-known “washy washy” station earlier than getting into.
Not solely that, however the crew members have been well mannered and useful. Although she was touring with a seasoned professional, she appreciated how approachable and attentive the crew was, significantly throughout the muster drill.
Transferring on, she was happy with our inside cabin:
“I feel, for all the pieces the ship provides, you do not want something greater than an inside stateroom,” she stated, “You employ the cabin simply to bathe and sleep as a result of the ship provides a lot that you do not wish to be within the room.”
The mattress and pillows have been comfy, and she or he was shocked when she discovered that we may cut up it into two smaller beds, which our stateroom attendant fortunately did.
For 2 folks, she thought it was loads huge and did not thoughts not having a view. Actually, she most popular it! Not seeing the pitch-black ocean gave her peace of thoughts as we sailed from South Florida to Good Day at CocoCay.
Equally, she didn’t thoughts the small cruise rest room. “I do not care if the toilet is small whether it is clear,” she added.
One thing she did not count on was the towel animal left by our cabin steward. It was a cute contact, and she or he beloved the hanging monkey.
After I defined that the longer the cruise, the extra towel animals you normally get, her eyes lit up.
Oasis of the Seas cruise ship facilities
All through all the two days onboard, Mariela could not cease saying how lovely and great all the pieces was.
“Two days just isn’t sufficient, particularly to your first time. The ship has too many issues to do, ” she claimed.
We saved ourselves busy and have been by no means bored. Nonetheless, we barely scratched the floor of all the pieces Oasis has to supply! As an example, we did not spend time on the pool deck and did not do the water slides, zip-line, mini-golf course, or Final Abyss dry slide.
For Mariela, the AquaTheater and ice skating reveals have been a spotlight. Initially, it appeared as if the climate was not going to cooperate; the seas have been a bit too tough for the excessive dives to be carried out safely.
We acquired a shortened efficiency with the dancers, which she thought was spectacular. Nonetheless, I steered that we return round 10:25 p.m. to see if the later present would go on as scheduled.
Though the seats on Deck 6 have been full (minus these within the splash zone), we discovered standing room on Deck 7 close to the mountain climbing wall.
Mariela was mesmerized by the water results and aerialists, and she or he held her breath because the tightrope walker balanced 114 ft above sea stage.
“The water present was good. It is nice for everybody, like households with youngsters or solo vacationers. Everybody can benefit from the methods,” she added.
For her, the ice skating present was simply as awe-inspiring. When it ended, she discovered over and whispered, “I may watch ice skaters all night time and by no means get bored.”
Not solely have been the skaters gifted, however the costume line-up was spectacular, that includes all the pieces from sparkly ensembles impressed by the underwater world of The Little Mermaid to larger-than-life duck costumes.
We didn’t decelerate after the reveals. On the primary night time, we went dancing at Boleros. Mariela, who was born and raised in Colombia, was impressed with the reside music.
“The Latin bar was so good. Oasis is an efficient ship as a result of there’s one thing for everybody. My husband [who is of Puerto Rican descent] would love Boleros,” she stated.
The following night time, we watched karaoke within the Highlight Karaoke lounge. Mariela was undecided what to anticipate from the adult-only session, however she loved herself.
“You do not have to be drunk to have chortle. Everybody was so pleasant, too. It was good leisure,” she added.
Lastly, Mariela preferred the ship’s structure. She beloved the Boardwalk and Central Park, two of the ship’s most original neighborhoods, and could not consider that each one the vegetation within the latter have been actual.
“I really like Central Park in New York Metropolis; it is like a mini LEGO model on the cruise,” she stated. Conversely, she thought that the Boardwalk was nice for households and appreciated how all the ship didn’t really feel overcrowded.
Oasis of the Seas meals evaluate
Mariela was shocked by the sheer quantity of meals accessible on Oasis of the Seas. As one of many largest cruise ships, there’s meals all over the place you look, from the Windjammer buffet to pizza within the Royal Promenade, tacos from El Loco Recent, and, in fact, multi-course meals within the Fundamental Eating Room.
With simply two days on the ship, we tried to pattern as a lot as we may, beginning with lunch within the Windjammer Market.
“The buffet was good. The burger was completely scrumptious, and my tongue has style for burgers,” she stated.
When dinner rolled round, she could not consider the menu within the eating room. She ordered a shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, prime rib, and cheesecake.
What shocked her much more was the standard of the meals, particularly contemplating the worth of the cruise. Not a single dish was disappointing.
The following day, we had breakfast within the Windjammer, lunch ashore at CocoCay, and dinner at Chops Grille.
Chops was her favourite meal throughout our quick getaway cruise. Though she did not assume the Caesar salad was a lot totally different from the eating room’s (minus the croutons), she could not recover from her NY Strip steak and sauce.
That stated, she talked about that she won’t wish to pay for a specialty restaurant on each cruise. The Fundamental Eating Room felt formal, had high quality dishes, and didn’t value something additional. In her opinion, if you do not know any in another way, you will not be disillusioned in case you solely eat on the included eating places on a cruise.
“I feel I gained 10 kilos in two days,” she joked.
Good Day at CocoCay
Just a few years in the past, Mariela and her household visited Atlantis on Paradise Island. Nonetheless, after crossing Good Day at CocoCay off her bucket listing, she says she is not certain she would return to the previous.
“CocoCay could be very enjoyable, and the truth that there’s something for everybody is sweet. You may have so many choices that it by no means feels crowded,” she stated.
We spent our morning at Chill Seashore earlier than transferring to the Oasis Lagoon pool after lunch. Although folks hung across the swim-up bar, there have been so many different areas to flee to within the pool.
She tried the island’s well-known Coco Loco drink and thought it was an ideal drink for a day in The Bahamas — although in case you’re not a giant drinker, one is sufficient.
Plus, the meals on the island was good with choices for everybody. She particularly beloved the brownie from the Chill Grill and added soft-serve on prime!
Learn extra: What’s Free on Good Day at CocoCay and What’s Not
Seasickness on a cruise
One cause Mariela had by no means taken a cruise was that she was anxious about seasickness. She is not alone, both! Many cruisers, even skilled ones, are prone to movement illness.
She did really feel the ship rocking a bit bit, however she got here ready with Dramamine and a movement illness patch.
Humorous sufficient, she beloved the feeling of the ship swaying by way of the ocean at night time!
Learn extra: I attempted the commonest seasickness hacks on my cruise. Right here’s what works finest
Is Royal Caribbean cruise line for a first-timer?
Though we have been solely on Oasis of the Seas for 2 days, there was little or no that Mariela was sad with.
Every part from the meals to the leisure and personal island expertise exceeded her expectations, and she or he didn’t really feel ripped off. Actually, she felt like Royal Caribbean was giving an excessive amount of for the cash!
“For 2 days, you possibly can’t say something dangerous. What are you going to complain about?” she remarked.
“Oasis is known as a ship that you’ll find something for anybody to do. In case you get bored, you have got an issue,” Mariela concluded, “I solely spent two days on the ship, and I’m already wanting to return. That tells you ways good it was.”
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