Mandymouse’s A Carnival Splendor/Oasis of the Seas ...

[mandymouse]

...

 

[kittymamma]

Really nice photos around the ship...now I am getting more excited about our cruise. You have mentioned a few times about "the little bar in Central Park" where you have Mimosa's and Bellini's ( more of my fav's ) but you have not mentioned the name. ...please share .One thing is for certain , if I were following you around, matching cocktail for cocktail , I would be in a wheelchair after maybe 2 hours.

I should probably wait until the end of your TR before asking so many questions because you might include the info in later posts, but , did you have a favorite lunch place ? There are so many options !!!

 

[mandymouse]

Really nice photos around the ship...now I am getting more excited about our cruise. You have mentioned a few times about "the little bar in Central Park" where you have Mimosa's and Bellini's ( more of my fav's ) but you have not mentioned the name. ...please share .One thing is for certain , if I were following you around, matching cocktail for cocktail , I would be in a wheelchair after maybe 2 hours.

I should probably wait until the end of your TR before asking so many questions because you might include the info in later posts, but , did you have a favorite lunch place ? There are so many options !!!

I actually had to Google search the name of the bar, it's called the Trellis Bar, and it's well worth a visit

To be honest we didn't eat in many different places. We called into the buffet the day we embarked and didn't feel the need to go again, we didn't really do breakfast, just grabbed a coffee and muffin at Café Promenade. Several times we had sandwiches and ready made salads at Park Café in Central Park, then had dinner in the Main Dining Room each evening .. hope that helps

 

[mandymouse]

Saturday 27th May


I woke around 8 after a good night’s sleep, Paul woke 1/2 an hour later and was still feeling that he was coming down with a cough and a cold, so no run today


We got up and went for our usual lattes and croissants (for Paul) and a bran muffin for me then around 10.30am we sat out for a couple of hours. When we first went out it was bright sunshine, but then as the morning went on it began to cloud over

At 12.30 we first thought to go for a drink, but with the darkened clouds in the distance, we decided to grab some lunch instead. We had already decided the day before to get some food from the Central Park Cafe and to eat it on our balcony. Just as we exited the cafe it began to rain, great big drops. As we reached our room it was pouring down, but we still enjoyed our lunch on the balcony as a storm was going off around us

It dried up pretty quick, so we had one last look around the shops, then went to see Toto at the Trellis Bar, in Central Park for one last mimosa or two. OK, I’d better explain the Toto reference. Right back at the beginning of this cruise, we first met Florin, our Mimosa guy. Another couple we met there had decided that he looked like Ross from Friends, but I thought he looked more like Toto Wolff from the Formula 1 Mercedes team ... what do you think? When I showed him a photo of Toto, he replied with ‘who’s that good looking guy?’

We had one last sunbathe, then visited JaiRaj our Piña Colada guy then made a start on our packing


As we'd missed out on the last formal night a few nights ago, I wanted to put a dress on one last time, so I wore my new dress (which sadly didn't have as much room to it as it did when I first bought it oops then we went to dinner

To start I had the Goat Cheese & Tomato Tart and Paul had the Green Lentil Soup

Then for our mains I had Roasted Turkey and Paul had Buttered Cod Fish. Mine was very nice, but Paul's looked and tasted delicious, I wish I'd had that

To finish off we shared a Mango Cheesecake. Once again it was a lovely meal

We got changed out of our ever tightening clothes into something more comfortable and enjoyed a Cosmo at the Rising Tide


We hit the casino one last time, where I had a go and wished I hadn't bothered


We packed a few more things away then it was time for bed


Tomorrow - Disembark, Fly Home

 

[mandymouse]

Sunday 28th May


Sleep! I knew there was something I'd forgotten to do. It had gone 11.30pm by the time we'd stopped faffing around last night. I woke around 2.30am then dozed till just after 5am, when I found myself typing this up on my Ipad at 5.23am and waiting for the phone alarm to go off at 6


We were taking our luggage off ourselves again this morning, and were able to do so from 6.45am, I hope this goes as well as disembarking the Splendor did last weekend


At 5.45 I couldn't wait any longer, so I got showered and Paul got up shortly after. We sorted our luggage out and headed for the lifts. Luckily an empty one arrived and we went down to deck 5


We were ushered towards the restaurant which I feared was a holding area, but thankfully some side doors were opened out towards the running track and at 6.40am we disembarked the Oasis of the Seas


We thought we would run into a large line at customs, but again it was empty, and the guy asked if we were flying home today, which we replied "yes". Then he bid us a good day


We walked towards the taxis and one was waiting, we hopped in and were joined by one guy heading to a different car rental place on the way


We arrived at the Budget Car Rental at 7am. It didn't open till 8, but heyho, we could sit with the warm sunshine on us. Luckily it opened at 7.30 and 10 minutes later we were on our way to Orlando


We arrived at the Virgin Disney Springs check-in about an hour later and it was empty (don't people use this facility much these days? it used to be rammed a few years ago). Shortly after we were driving away luggage-less and having gained our boarding cards


We didn't really have a plan for today, so decided to have a wander around Disney Springs and buy some final pressies


It was still only 9am, and the shops didn't open till 10, but good old Starbucks was open so we had a couple of skinny lattes, a lemon loaf for Paul, and a chocolate chip cookie for me and just gazed over the lake enjoying the sun and our breakfast


Once everywhere was open we sauntered around the shops, it was so lovely, as it was quiet and nicely warm. I bought myself a Star Wars t-shirt (all I'd bought myself before now was a Carnival ship tree decoration ) and picked up some things for our girls

It was too early for lunch, so we enjoyed a Mimosa and Stella at the Boathouse, our final drink of the holiday (this was where we’d had our first drink of the holiday too)

We sat deciding where to have dinner and Paul suggested Hooters (Hmm, I wonder why ). We hadn't eaten at any of the US Hooters before so we thought we'd give it a go


We drove down to the one near Disney Springs and were seated straight away. We ordered some chicken wings and a Texas Melt Burger each, it all came to $42 before the tip and it was all delish. We picked up some Hooters t-shirts for the girls as they guilt tripped us one last time

Lastly we called into Bargain World on International Drive where I picked up some little souvenirs then we made our way to the airport


We dropped the car off and had a look around the shops at the main terminal before going through security which took about 15 minutes, and neither of us were stopped, which made a nice change


We settled near gate 85 and I caught up with my trippy. The flight was on time (6.30pm), and was due to start boarding at 5.30. As we were in 'the bubble' (still economy though) we would be one of the first to be called, so we wandered down to Starbucks at 4.30 for a latte and cake each before getting changed into our travelling home clothes


We were both shattered, neither of us had slept well last night and Paul's cold was coming out and sounding like a scene from Contagion (honestly if Kate Winslet gets onboard, you won't see me for dust )


I was planning on pretty much trying to sleep as early on as I could, so fingers crossed I get a decent night’s sleep


The flight took off on time and the drinks trolley came round, and we were given two drinks each (result !!)

The dinner menu came round, but I wasn’t hungry, though Paul gave the Chicken Curry a go

We didn’t bother watching any movies and just settled down to sleep as best we could. The flight was very smooth with little turbulence. I didn’t sleep great, but thankfully Paul did and before long we were landing in Manchester

Passport Control was quiet and we had no problems using the machines. Once picking up our luggage we were on our way home and other than a brief stop at Costa Coffee on the M6 Toll Road, our journey home was uneventful

So there you have it, thank you so much for reading my trip report and to those who left comments. If you have any questions, please ask. As you can tell we had a wonderful time. Hand on heart, we enjoyed both cruises and won’t think twice about sailing on Carnival and Royal Caribbean again .... in fact, we’re taking our girls on the Oasis of the Seas next May, and even more exciting, me & Paul are heading back to Hawaii on the Carnival Legend September 2018 doing the same cruise we did last September (and hopefully joined by a few of the Hawaii 9 that came along with us last time)... woohoo, bring it on !!!

 

[kittymamma]

First of all, thought your flowered dress was quite lovely. I now have somewhat of a bucket list going on Oasis....Trellis Bar for Mimosa , Sand Bar for Pina Colada , Rising Tide for a Cosmo or what ever and the Carousel. We have a few months yet but your TR has ramped up the excitement level. Thanks for all the tips and great pics.

 

[Owlpost23]

I love your trip reports! On a crummy day with nothing to do,I've enjoyed reading them.Thanks and keep doing them!!!

 

[bex7583]

what an aamazing trip, i never knew how bad i needed to do another cruise until i read this

 

[ukintheus]

Just got all caught up on it all. I think the Oasis looks lovely and there just seems like so much to do on there, especially with a drinks package. Another lovely holiday over with, such a shame that they go by so quickly but at least you have the two next year to plan and look forward to.

 

[kittymamma]

Hi Mandy. I have been perusing "another board" where there was a comment about the Rising Tide Bar only moving once or twice a night. I had assumed that it made continuous trips to the different levels and would like for you to verify for me how it operates.

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Hi Mandy
Sorry only just caught up
I Central Park. Did you try the beef sandwich in the cafe?
What was the musical on board?
I think oasis and harmony are very much alike?
Very pretty dress again
I was impressed with all the food on anthem and the harmony
Thanks for the report

 

[mandymouse]

First of all, thought your flowered dress was quite lovely. I now have somewhat of a bucket list going on Oasis....Trellis Bar for Mimosa , Sand Bar for Pina Colada , Rising Tide for a Cosmo or what ever and the Carousel. We have a few months yet but your TR has ramped up the excitement level. Thanks for all the tips and great pics.

Thanks for reading along, you're going to love it all

I love your trip reports! On a crummy day with nothing to do,I've enjoyed reading them.Thanks and keep doing them!!!

Aww, thanks for your kind words

what an aamazing trip, i never knew how bad i needed to do another cruise until i read this

Thanks hun, cruising is quite addictive

Just got all caught up on it all. I think the Oasis looks lovely and there just seems like so much to do on there, especially with a drinks package. Another lovely holiday over with, such a shame that they go by so quickly but at least you have the two next year to plan and look forward to.

It's terrible that we wish our lives away till the next cruise Jenny (lol), but so looking forward to taking the girls on the Oasis next May, I hope they like it as much as we did

Hi Mandy. I have been perusing "another board" where there was a comment about the Rising Tide Bar only moving once or twice a night. I had assumed that it made continuous trips to the different levels and would like for you to verify for me how it operates.

I've just checked my Cruise Compass and it says the Rising Tide is open from 5pm - midnight and it moved around every 1/2 hour, hope that helps

Hi Mandy
Sorry only just caught up
I Central Park. Did you try the beef sandwich in the cafe?
What was the musical on board?
I think oasis and harmony are very much alike?
Very pretty dress again
I was impressed with all the food on anthem and the harmony
Thanks for the report

Central Park was definitely one of my favourite places to hang out No I mainly had the tuna sandwich (Mmm)
Cats was the musical onboard, but several castmembers were poorly that week, so the shows were cancelled
Thanks for your comments Karen


Thanks again to all those that read my trip report, and to those who left a comment too ... now roll on 2018 !!!

 

[kittymamma]

Thanks for the Rising Tide info , Mandy.