Just back from the Oasis of the Seas.... comparitive review....

[LoriABil]

Thanks for the review! Very informative, as we were looking at Royal and Princess as DCL alternatives. It doesn't make us want to stop considering RCI, but it makes us aware of what to expect! Especially regarding the kids club.

And for what it's worth, I have gay friends who use Queen as a term of endearment, a friend who uses it as an adjective, noun and verb (she has her Queen on tonight), and a friend (DH's friend and co-worker) who uses it in a very derogatory manner. Because of the latter, I don't use it unless I'm with my (close) friends. I have been told (by the same friends) that I looked like a Queen taking a field sobriety test when I was in running shorts, a tank and trying on a girlfriend's 4" heels. (I am 6 feet tall and have no business in heels, nor the grace to pull them off!) It was funny. I still laugh. Same friends call other straight male friends queen when they pour on the drama. But it is in good fun, never meant to offend. They also like to say some men are straight as a Queen's arrow. I don't know what that means.

That said, the people who use it negatively usually do so with such...(I'm missing the word here) venom? Anyhow, the word has such negative connotation that I think it's best to avoid it unless with friends who are ok with it. My 2 cents; nothing more.

 

[mindy20]

Just wanted you to know I (and I'm sure many others) appreciate your honest review. Im glad you told of the "queen" because I think we all get a clear picture of the queen and how the queen acts. Nothing you said was wrong or negative. We are on the Disney Boards so most of us have tried to decide before if a more reasonable cruise on another line would be as enjoyable for our family. Thank you for your fabulous review !

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[dunnhorn]

I don't think that this other ship in any way positions itself as a substitute to Disney and what they offer families. You simple were not comparing apples to apples ( in my worthless opinion)

I think you are exactly right about this! There was this one other passenger who saw me writing a ton on the end of cruise survey card and she came up to me pretty much to strike up a conversation and to ask my thoughts on the cruise because she was curious as to what I was writing. I told her pretty much what I said in this review, and she became very defensive about cruising Royal. She had gone on like 15 cruises and when I mentioned that Disney was better for families, her response was "Oh, I would NEVER cruise Disney." There was another passenger I was talking with in the baggage line and she said the same thing. Our friends think that Royal positions itself to be the "anti-Disney line." It is not as family-oriented as Disney; it may specifically not want to be as family-oriented as Disney. (that said, I thought that DCL ships actually have more adult activities like alcohol tastings and things like that - there was nothing like that on the Oasis.)

At any rate - I was just putting it out there for anyone weighing options. Just another review, just another perspective.

 

[Tinkerbell2B]

Great review! I am contemplated Oasis or Allure, but go back to DCL. Maybe someday we will give it a try!

 

[Beermam42]

I find it interesting that adult areas are open to ages 16 and older. I think on Disney you have to be 21 or older just to sail alone! This just makes me wonder about the underage drinking aboard royal Caribbean with teens in the night clubs.

Remember the rest of the world does not have all of our studid rules. You can be drafted and asked to die for your country age 18, but you can buy a drink legelly. I am 68 it was not this way when I was growing up.

 

[Beermam42]

I can see for my grandchrildren will be 12 and 16 for the May 31, 2014 Fantasy Cruise, with their mother and papa, me, and mimi it is the way we will go.
But papa and mimi are looking at Royal and you have help me lean more in that direction.
Also looking at Royal Princess.

 

[luv2sleep]

Great review! Has me drooling over the thought of being on that pool deck! Wonder if we could skip the shows, eat, and just hang out on the pool deck all day? Real bummer about the kids clubs though. That's a real negative. My son doesn't like organized activities so he'd probably hate the 6-8 year old group. Was it forced participation in the 9-1 year old group too?

The queen or gay spin on some of the entertainment wouldn't bother me. Live and let live. The profanity definitely would though. I wouldn't even know which shows to attend then if daytime shows aren't safe from that.

 

[dunnhorn]

I cannot emphasize how great the pool deck is on the Oasis. It really is fabulous. If you like to swim, you will love it. One salt water zero entry pool, a "sports" pool, a "main" pool, and a circular wave pool with clear sides and an aqua splash zone. Then, two flow riders and a basketball court and a ping pong area. If your son is tall and adventurous, he will be in hog heaven.

My 11 year old son did like the kids club... they had structured activities but he enjoyed them. At 10 p.m. every night they started a "gaga ball" tournament that is basically dodge ball from the knees down. they played that for an hour. He really enjoyed playing gaga ball. Not sure what else there was to do if you didn't want to play gaga ball. They gave out prizes and the last night of the cruise he was so proud to have won a silver medal.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

I can't thank you enough for posting your review. We are hoping to take our first family cruise ever this fall on DCL. But, I have been researching other lines and, obviously, the Oasis and Allure appeal to me. NOT any longer. Much of what you described would be a HUGE turnoff to me, DH and our DDs. We are a conservative Christian family and there is no way DH and I want our DDs hearing profanity on our cruise or sexual innuendos from the employees. PG-13 movies are not appropriate for our DD age 9. We have pretty high standards and like classy, respectable behavior and situations.

Sure wish there could be a pool deck swap between the two lines LOL!

Thank you again for taking the time to post. I appreciate you sharing your experience and sharing your perspective.

 

[luv2sleep]

It's interesting that your review of the kids club is so different from how people are always saying how awesome the RCI kids clubs are.

 

[lexlaw69]

Ummm.....I liked your review until it took a negative turn about the cruise director "Queen" and electronica music. I guess sometimes I forget that people have strong feelings about that. I'm not sure how his sexual orientation really matters.

As a person that believes I marriage equality I didn't take this as negative at all but a characterization of the ships atmosphere. I've heard other characterizations that deal with atmosphere like "hard core partiers" that under the right circumstances (ie - without my kids) I would love to be a part of. However, I wouldn't want my young kids Ina sexually charged atmosphere (gay or straight) or around a bunch of power drinkers.

 

[MDennis28]

Great review. I especially appreciated your detailed examples! You made great points, not just sweeping generalizations. Love it when my loyalty to DCL gets reinforced!!

 

[bumbershoot]

That being said, I would have had to stay in my cabin all the time, as I do not appreciate adult humor, shows, music, drinking etc

I'm not a "show" person, I'm not a comedy club person (apart from seeing Eddie Izzard live, and I would see him a million times more), and our honeymoon cruise was a week after our wedding and we could already tell I was pregnant, so it wasn't a big drinking time. One of the reasons we knew was that I was falling asleep by 8pm (note the time I'm writing this pacific time...I'm not even tired, I'm a total nightowl by nature), so DH had fun on the ship in the later evenings on his own, and had a GREAT time. And he does not drink. We had a lovely time during the days on RCCL. I'm sorry you think you would have to stay in your cabin, just because there are shows that might not be appropriate for you.

Anyhow, the word has such negative connotation that I think it's best to avoid it unless with friends who are ok with it. My 2 cents; nothing more.

I completely agree. My BIL and his partner can use it, but I'm not going to use it in conversation. That whole section of the review made me incredibly uncomfortable, because I just didn't see what it had to do with anything. And, OP, the whole point of Hairspray is that there are performers in drag. If you didn't like the drag performers and didn't expect it, there wasn't quite enough research on the show ahead of time.

It's interesting that your review of the kids club is so different from how people are always saying how awesome the RCI kids clubs are.

Remember that any person's opinion on the clubs is based on how their kids felt about the clubs at that time. Kids are all different, so you'll have different opinions!

 

[luv2sleep]

Remember that any person's opinion on the clubs is based on how their kids felt about the clubs at that time. Kids are all different, so you'll have different opinions!

That's very true. I think most children enjoy structured organized activities. Mine does not. When he goes to the club/lab it's to watch movies, run around playing with other kids, and to play video games. He will occasionally color or read. If they are making cookies or flubber he will do that only if its not crowed and he's not getting pushed aside. If RCI has no independent activities that he has the option to do 100% of the time he won't go. I think most people who report that their kids love the clubs on RCI must have kids who like the organized activities. I would need more options for my kid to enjoy them.

 

[RJAYL]

I am also a DVC member & been on the Disney Fantasy twice since her launch & the Allure (Oasis sister ship) once.

I found the Allure wonderful!

Better Common areas, shows & activities than the Fantasy which feels almost claustrophobic compared to the Allure or the Disney Magic!

The Pool decks on the Allure blow the Fantasy away!

The show variety on the Allure & promenade parades & dance parties are at the least the equal of Disney I feel the Allure's are better! Comedy Club, Ice Show, Production Shows, Water Shows, Diving Shows, oh & a casino!

Nickel & Dime, with the exception of having to buy a soda card or pay for soda I find no difference. The Liquor is priced about the same.

You have more options on the Allure than the Fantasy, Johnny Rockets, Rosas Cantina, Japanese (cant recall the name) Brazilian, Chops, One Fifty Central Park, Italian all great! Have been to both Remy's & Palo's Remy's compares well to One Fifty Central Park but as far as I'm concerned Chops blows them all out of the water!

Kids Clubs yes Disney is the best & probably will stay that way however as your young ones age (my youngest is 8 (on the Fantasy) & was 7 when we were on the Allure. They tend to want there freedom & stop into the clubs at their leisure for some fun. That being said My youngest has never seen a kids club she did not like (Still liked Disney Clubs the best both the Fantasy & Magic).

Should say that we are going to Disney for Xmas staying at Bay Lake Towers (DVC at the Contemporary) than going back on the Allure for NYE this year!!

Any way that's my 2 cents!

Past cruise's / Disney Magic Eastern Feb 2006 / Disney Magic Med Jun 2007/ Disney Magic EB Panama Canal Repo Aug 2008/ RCCI Liberty Apr 2009/ Carnival Glory Jul 2009/ Disney Magic Baltic & Repo Jul 2010 /NCL Epic Western April 2011 / Carnival Dream Winter Break December 2011/RCCI Allure Eastern Feb 2012/ Disney Fantasy April 2012 / NCL Dawn July 2012 / Disney Fantasy December 2012 / Carnival Breeze Feb 2013

 

[briandclement]

I'd be curious to know what you mean by 'profanity' on Hairspray ? Abour men in drag, it's been like.this since the 60's when the first movie was released !

 

[caribbeandreaming]

Thank you for this great review! I didn't find anything you posted disrespectful... in fact, I appreciate your candid observations. Like most people, we have limited funds for vacations and I want to make sure we're getting the best vacation experience we can with what we can afford. This just confirms that DCL is our line of choice.

 

[sesame_123]

I'd be curious to know what you mean by 'profanity' on Hairspray ? Abour men in drag, it's been like.this since the 60's when the first movie was released !

Wow! Ricki lake looks really good for her age!! The original hairspray was released in 1988. FYI.

OP I appreciate your review but I do think you did quite a bit of stereotyping. The techno music you stereotyped as gay is very popular in a lot of different countries.

 

[BethC1952]

I read your review with great interest. I've been on 15 Disney cruises, twice on Dream, the rest on Wonder and Magic. This Sunday, I leave for my first Royal Caribbean cruise, a 14-night TransAtlantic on Adventure of the Seas. Your review included a lot of information about the "flavor" of your cruise, which is what I really needed to know!

I have decided that I'm going into this with the idea that it's going to be just as awesome as my other cruises, just in a different way. From pictures I've seen, the ship looks beautiful. I know that the room will be smaller, but I'll have a porthole instead of an inside room so it's a good trade.

I do plan on writing a comparative review also, but it will be from an "older couple" point of view, since this is my DH's retirement trip.

Beth

 

[PoeticMoe]

My 11 year old son did like the kids club... they had structured activities but he enjoyed them. At 10 p.m. every night they started a "gaga ball" tournament that is basically dodge ball from the knees down. they played that for an hour. He really enjoyed playing gaga ball. Not sure what else there was to do if you didn't want to play gaga ball. They gave out prizes and the last night of the cruise he was so proud to have won a silver medal.

I just got off Allure of the Seas on Sunday and I have to totally agree with you here. My son was in Allure's 9-11 year old group, and every time I would pick him up from the club, they were playing this 'gaga ball' game. And I met him at the club at different hours of the day, on different days, and EVERY time I got there, they were playing this game where they're throwing balls at each other. So I finally asked my son "don't you all do anything DIFFERENT in this club...?" His response was "not really, but it's fun". I really expected more from the kid's club on Allure, but I guess that was my mistake! I'm glad my son had fun, but wish they offered more of a variety of things for them to do. Hence, why we're giving DCL a try for our next cruise....