We just returned from a 7 night Eastern on Oasis in a Grand suite. I spent hours reading through reviews and tips before the cruise as i am admittedly an obsessive planner! Our previous cruises were all on either Disney Fantasy or Dream, so we were very familiar with the layout, food, entertainment and kids clubs. So here are random thoughts, and yes, because we upgraded to a suite, some thoughts are a comparison to Disney concierge. ok here we go!
i know i have more thoughts, but that's it for now. If you have any questions, i will try to answer. Bottom line is we will do RCCL again and will probably have an easier time talking others into joining us. I will try to do a suite again, but it's not the be all end all! I will also do Disney again, but probably not as frequently as we have been sailing over the past 6 years.
- my first thought is really the main point: i wouldn't hesitate to do RCCL again, but Disney is still my favorite. I will probably have a very hard time convincing DH to ever sail DCL again given the price difference.
- Food: I thought Disney was better but we are not foodies...DH's first question was "do they have hot wings?"...and yes they do, but we only found them on room service menu (these were actually better than on DCL, but still not the best). We did my time dining which was both overwhelming and relaxing. It was nice not to be tied to a time, but I also didn't like deciding what to do every night despite the planner in me! I didn't like figuring out which restaurants are free and which ones are not...by the end of the cruise, we had it down pat, but it took a while. I liked the Disney Cabanas buffet better than windjammer, but it still served a purpose. We did eat at Chops which we all thought was the best meal. Did i mention that DH says "I've tasted all the foods i need to taste"! yes, he's funny! We ate in the main dining room on 2 nights and we enjoyed the atmosphere. I think i would actually do set dining next time. I still didn't like the menu selection, but we managed. We all missed the Disney theme restaurants. I did feel like i was on the Love boat at times, but that's still fun! For those sailing in a suite and going to Coastal Kitchen...again not the place to take a man who has tasted all the foods he wants to taste...OMG he's funny!. This was a one time visit and then i canceled the rest. I'm sure most other people would love it, but not for us.
- kids activities: both kids said it was the best cruise they ever did. I think partly it was their age and increased independence. They still hang out and "play" together, so they hung out the entire time with a couple of new friends. I liked that the tween club was right by the activities and food area. DS loved the flowrider and DH did it too...Thank god he didn't break anything. I hate natural athletes! DS and DD spent all their free time in the club hanging out doing the planned activities, going to the pool (which are far better than anything Disney), playing basketball or other sports; did the ice skating, the minigolf...i don't know what else, but they loved it. DS is sold, but still likes Disney. DD loved the cruise (could be the guy she met!), but she is like me and still has a Disney heart!
- entertainment: oh my I wish I had a video of DS's face when we went to one of the shows. It was so funny. I can't remember which one it was, but there was an airplane...he didn't make it through it! I felt like I stepped back in time. I didn't think the entertainment was bad, but was more adult than the Disney productions. I felt there was no comparison. We went to the ice show and diving show; those were ok, but the production and logistics of them is mind boggling! We went to the family show for the comedian; everyone enjoyed that one. The other shows were barely OK. DH and I stopped by many things at night which we never did on Disney, but there was much more geared towards adults which we don't really care about, but it was fun.
- embarkation: one of the biggest disappointments. we didn't even know where to go. we ended up somewhere on the ship and just kept asking for directions. Nothing will ever be as breathtaking as entering the atrium on Disney...and there was no announcement as we entered...I don't even know if anyone noticed...we joked about all the names we have used on previous cruises...not sure why we just can't use our own names, but oh well! We were in a suite so we were one of the first ones on the ship, so that part was easy.
- disembarkation:this was easy, but again we were walked off and sent through a different lines because we were suite guests...glad i couldn't feel the daggers!
- pools: I really missed the Disney movies, but the pools were much better. The adult area always looked busy, but i just stayed on the pool deck or the suite deck. Can I just say that one of the best suite perks is not having to check out and in your pool towel. That would drive me crazy! pool towels were available by the stack on the suite deck so it was so much easier.
- staying suite level: i would definitely do this again for the right price. the perks were well worth it to us. Loved Jude in the suite bar...he got the biggest tip! But the concierge food offerings on Disney were way better and the hosts were also better...Better may be a strong word, but there was no sit down with your itinerary upon arrival (not that i need that!). I had ask them to look up my dinner reservations and they wrote them on a card...really! not even a printer, but it just seemed odd! I also wouldn't have times for other activities i booked if i didn't write them down. the extra room in the cabin was nice. room enough to have a roll away cot for my son. i did miss those split baths though!
i know i have more thoughts, but that's it for now. If you have any questions, i will try to answer. Bottom line is we will do RCCL again and will probably have an easier time talking others into joining us. I will try to do a suite again, but it's not the be all end all! I will also do Disney again, but probably not as frequently as we have been sailing over the past 6 years.