Coolest Travel Pictures

Oasis of the Seas review

Ray — Sat, 07 May 2011 20:01:38 +0000

Oasis of the Seas at St Maarten

Since Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas first set sail, I’ve done reviews about the boardwalk balcony staterooms, shows, water activities, and restaurants. I’ve also included information about the different ports of call, including St. Thomas, St. Maarten and The Bahamas. So this article compiles all the articles I’ve written about Oasis of the Seas in one complete review.

Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas Staterooms

For someone who enjoys cruising, Oasis of the Seas or it’s sister ship Allure of the Seas are the “it” in cruising experience. First, the accommodations are simply the best in the world right now. The Oasis stateroom cabins are modern, spacious and are configured for comfort and privacy. I gave you an up close and personal view of our Boardwalk Balcony Stateroom. As you can see I also included photos of the view we had to the Boardwalk and the AquaTheater from stateroom 10-317.

Seven Day Oasis of the Seas Eastern Caribbean Cruise itinerary

In order to give a full Oasis cruise review, I included a day by day description of activities, shows, ports of call and tips to make any trip on Oasis a fun experience. Of course I illustrated the information with pictures, after all this is a site for the coolest travel pictures!

Day One on Oasis of the Seas – The first day of a cruise is always exciting, but on Oasis it was extra special.

Day Two on Oasis of the Seas – The second day started out with breakfast at the Windjammer Cafe and ended with the Broadway show Hairspray!

Day Three on Oasis of the Seas – Included photos of the Boardwalk Staterooms, the zip-line and a few colorful night photos of the boardwalk.

Day Four on Oasis of the Seas (first half) – We arrived at Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Toured Blackbeard’s Castle and Magens Bay beach.

Day Four on Oasis of the Seas (second half) – This time I included some information about the nightlife on Oasis, including the Disco Night on the Promenade.

Day Five on Oasis of the Seas (first half) – We arrive at Philipsburg in the Dutch and French island of St. Maarten/St. Marten. Beautiful beaches and excellent weather.

Day Five on Oasis of the Seas (second half) – It was time for Oasis of the Dreams Aqua show and Frozen in Time Ice in Studio B. Both are show you don’t want to miss.

Day Six on Oasis of the Seas – Included miniature golf, jogging and a great show called Come Fly with Me.

Day Seven on Oasis of the Seas – Oasis of the Seas arrives at Nassau, Bahamas. Includes a trip to the Atlantis Resort.

Oasis of the Seas Size Comparison

It’s difficult to describe the size of Oasis of the Seas, and for that matter it’s sister ship Allure of the Seas unless you’ve taken a cruise in them. They are VERY large. I included a few photo pages to show you just how large Oasis is in comparison to other ships.

- Oasis of the Seas Size Comparison

- Oasis of the Seas Pictures

- Oasis of the Seas next to Costa Atlantica

Oasis of the Seas wrap up

Finally, I included a few videos:

- Oasis of the Seas at night – Showcasing how it looks at night on the Boardwalk from my stateroom.

- Rain on Oasis of the Seas- During our departure, rain poured on Ft Lauderdale, but it did not ruin our experience!

Since I received so much email about my experience on Oasis of the Seas, I included a few tips including:

- Top 10 items to pack on your Oasis of the Seas Cruise – or any cruise for that matter!

- Best waterproof camera – Something you won’t regret getting for the cruise.

I hope this Oasis of the Seas review is helpful in your preparation for a cruise on this or it’s sister ship Allure of the Seas. Both are identical with only the shows being different. The information I provide here is entirely from my own experience on Oasis of the Seas, I was not paid to do a review like many others. So take the time to look over the articles and if you have any questions, feel free to ask, I’ll be happy to reply.

Are you planning a trip on Oasis or Allure? If you have already taken a cruise on Oasis or Allure, share your opinions by commenting below!

Best waterproof camera for your Oasis or Allure of the Seas cruise vacation!

Ray — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:08:26 +0000

By now you’ve probably read and seen all the pictures during my trip on Oasis of the Seas. It was a wonderful experience, but one thing I wish I’d taken during the trip was an inexpensive waterproof camera! With all the pools, jacuzzis and beaches, having an inexpensive waterproof camera would have allowed me to capture my trip like never before.

I’ve talked about camera’s in the past but always left out a waterproof version because of the price, which were expensive at the time. An underwater housing for a digital camera is also expensive and can run a couple of hundred dollars. But today I found a very nice and relatively inexpensive waterproof camera.

The Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP 10 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom, at only $119.49 is a great deal. Waterproof up to 10 feet, the camera is perfect for those days you’re at the pools on Oasis or Allure of the Seas. Not to mention the jacuzzi, take a look at the picture on the left, I took this picture as I was out of the jacuzzi because I didn’t have a waterproof camera. If I had the Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP waterproof camera, I could have taken pictures while I was IN the jacuzzi!

There are so many things to pack and prepare for cruise on the largest ship in the world, wish I had thought of everything, but now I know for next time!

Oasis of the Seas Boardwalk and Central Park unique views

Ray — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:03:15 +0000

The website for Oasis of the Seas has uploaded a great video clip of the Boardwalk and Central Park balconies and its great views from the staterooms, see video below. One interesting note is how they mention the lack of noise from the Boardwalk entering the staterooms once the balcony sliding doors are closed. This is so true, on our cruise on Oasis, we noticed how the balcony sliding doors blocked out all noise from the Boardwalk. Very helpful at night when we were trying to get a good nights sleep!

The video also shows the great views from the balconies. Similar to my pictures of the Boardwalk, Aqua Theater and video of my view on Oasis of the Seas Boardwalk balcony.

Oasis of the Seas next to Costa Atlantica

Ray — Fri, 07 May 2010 04:56:48 +0000

Today is a short update to the site with a few more pictures. This time its a series of pictures of Oasis of the Seas next to Costa Atlantica at the port in St. Thomas. It was a partly cloudy but beautiful day. The partly cloudy sky and deep blue green water was the perfect backdrop for these pictures.

You won’t see these two cruise ships at this port for several months as Oasis starts its Western Caribbean itinerary this week. For the next several months, Oasis will port in the Mexican Riviera before it returns to its Eastern Caribbean route at the end of the year.

Night lights on Oasis of the Seas Boardwalk Aqua Theater

Ray — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:44:52 +0000

I’ve received more requests for videos of Oasis of the Seas. Although most of the time I spent taking pictures, I did record a few digital video clips. The quality is not that great, but are worth watching.

Here is a short clip of the Boardwalk from our stateroom #10317, the night lights are beautiful! If you have a chance to cruise on Oasis, I recommend a Boardwalk stateroom. Some people have asked if the rooms had a view of the Aqua Theater, as you can see it does. Others have asked if the noise level was too loud from the shows or people in general down at the boardwalk but from the video you can see that its not too loud.

We often had the balcony door and curtains open in our stateroom. The lights and sounds were very relaxing at the end of the night, so it was perfect for us. However, we slept with the balcony door closed at night. I noticed others leaving them open at night, I guess they enjoyed the calm night sounds of the boardwalk.

I can’t wait for my next cruise…maybe on Allure of the Seas?

Oasis of the Seas Boardwalk views, day and night!

Ray — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 21:08:33 +0000

View from Boardwalk Stateroom 10317

I’ve received a few questions regarding our boardwalk balcony stateroom #10317 and the view from it during our trip on Oasis of the Seas. I’ve included several pictures of our view facing the Aqua Theater, but I thought a few more looking down towards the boardwalk and the merry-go-round would be nice. This area is very active and can be loud but only if we had our balcony sliding door open, otherwise the sound would not enter the room.

I was surprised to see how late at night, after all the shows were over, this area was mostly empty. My wife and I would take a walk after 10pm and there would only be a handful of people. It was the perfect time to take some nighttime pictures. The merry-go-round and the restaurants are either closed or closing, so there is not much to do other than take pictures.

Balloon man on Oasis of the Seas

As you can see from the photo of the balloon-man at the boardwalk, behind him Johnny Rockets was empty. It was open, but to tell you the truth, we never really noticed too many people eating there. It’s not one of the restaurants included in the price of the cruise so the cost is extra. And if you’re like me, coming from the U.S./Los Angeles area, Johnny Rockets is a common restaurant and can be found anywhere. I preferred to eat at the Solarium, Sorrentos Pizzeria, Windjammer or any of the other main restaurants…but that’s just me!

Finally, someone asked if the merry-go-round was large. Not really, but it was big enough and I rarely noticed a line for it. It runs most of the day as long as it doesn’t rain. My wife got on it several times and its perfect for all ages!

So when are you going on Oasis? Or have you already gone? Have any pictures to share? If you would like to share your experience on Oasis and/or a few pictures on this site, use my contact page to send them to me.

Oasis of the Seas Boardwalk at night

Merry-go-round on Oasis of the Seas

Not even rain ruined our trip on Oasis of the Seas

Ray — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 06:53:06 +0000

I’m more of a photographer than I am a videographer, but I want to share a short clip I took of our departure on day one. The weather called for cloudy skies and a chance of showers after 5pm. So when Oasis was scheduled to leave Port Everglades later that day I expected a little rain, but not like this! But nothing was going to ruin our departure, we even enjoyed the rain.

The bad weather lasted only a couple of hours and then the skies cleared up for a beautiful starlight night. This was the only day it rained during our cruise. The rest of the trip was beautiful. Be sure to check out the day-to-day summary of my time on Oasis of the Seas! For those traveling on Oasis this month in April…take me with you!

Top 10 items to pack for a cruise on Oasis of the Seas

Ray — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:07:45 +0000

The top 10 items to pack for your Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas cruise!

Taken with a Canon Powershot G11 camera.

Like many others who have cruised on Oasis of the Seas, I researched and purchased many items prior to my trip. Below are my picks for the most useful items I felt were needed. I’m not including the obvious items, like sunglasses, bathing suites, and suitcases but rather items that enhanced my trip and/or made my cruise more enjoyable!

1. Digital Camera – but not just any camera, a Point & Shoot compact digital camera with advanced features. You probably saw this one coming since this site focuses so much on travel pictures. For my trip on Oasis of the Seas, I packed two cameras; a digital compact camera and a digital SLR. My wife also brought along an additional camera, which I used often. I used a Canon PowerShot G11, it’s a very well constructed compact P&S digital camera with many features only found on digital SLR pro models. Its easy to operate for the average person but also gives advanced options for those who want to take pro-type images. I purchased the Canon Deluxe Leather Case, which only cost $24 at Amazon and safely carried it attached to my belt. Here are a few sample pictures taken with the Canon G11: one, two and three. More than half of the pictures on this site were taken with this camera. For a list of the three cameras I used during my trip and this site, take a look at my Best Travel Camera page.

2. Laptop sleeve – Be aware that the safe inside your stateroom is too small to fit your laptop. Storing it safely in your stateroom takes some planning. I purchased a laptop sleeve that fit like a glove and left the laptop case at home. While away from my stateroom I placed it in my suitcase between my clothes to hide it.

3. Wrinkle Remover – Since Royal Caribbean does not allow nor provide an iron to be used in your stateroom, getting rid of wrinkles can cause a big problem, especially for those elegant nightly events! So besides packing your clothes very carefully, a travel size can of wrinkle remover was very helpful.

4. Insulated Water Bottle – Why a water bottle? If you don’t already know, you cannot take bottled water on-board Oasis of the Seas, they screen everything. Your only options are to buy bottled water packages that can run you about $4 per bottle if pre-purchased in bulk. But what people don’t know is that most of the restaurants on board have filtered water available at no charge (it’s a new ship so the filtering system is excellent). I could not tell the difference from the bottled and filtered water. For our day trips at the ports, I would make a quick stop at Sorrentos Pizzeria at the Promenade deck and fill up my insulated bottle with ice cold filtered water.

5. Formal Wear – Oasis of the Seas nightlife can be much more formal than other cruise ships. Although you are not required to attend these formal events, for the most part everyone on the ship will dress up on at least 2-3 nights during the cruise. Since the nightlife on Oasis can consist of Broadway shows, formal dinners and nightclubs, to be properly dressed men and woman should be prepared for everything. For men, be sure to take a formal tux or at least a nice suit. If taking a suit, also include a few shirts and ties so you can use it a few times in the week. For women, formal dresses or at least cocktail dresses are the norm during the evening. Take at least 3-4 dresses for those special nights!

6. Backpack – I found that the right backpack was crucial to keeping my expensive belongings safe while not bringing attention to its belongings, like my laptop and camera equipment. It was also useful for packing extra clothes for the first day on Oasis while our suitcases were being checked in. Your suitcases, if checked in at the terminal, will arrive at your stateroom later that night, so you need to pack your expensive belongings and anything you need separately. I used my backpack during our day at Magens Beach in St. Thomas. It easily kept my items dry, including my camera equipment.

7. Pelican Micro Case – Like most people, I like to take my iPod, iPhone or compact digital camera with me when I’m laying out at the pool, but keeping it all dry can be challenging. I found that for under $30 I could get this water-tight case and save hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of damage if my hi-tech toys got wet. I’ve used these a few times, including on Oasis of the Seas and found them to be priceless. On our day in St. Thomas, a few minutes before we left Magens Beach, we had a storm cloud pour down on us. We got soaked and if my iPod was not securely tucked away in this case, it would have been ruined. Worth the money!

8. Water Shoes – A third of my time was spent by the pools/beaches and these water shoes made it easy to walk without slipping at the pool or getting cut by reef/rock at the beaches. I started using these after my previous trip, where I cut my foot at the beach and got a staff infection ruining my entire vacation. This time on Oasis, I was not going to make the same mistake. Staying healthy and safe is crucial to having a fun time.

9. Antibacterial Moist Towelette – It’s important to get the cloth type as it’s more absorbent and needed for wiping down your stateroom once you arrive. I do this to kill any bacteria left on the phone, alarm, door handles, chairs, restroom, etc. A quick 5-minute wipe of your room can eliminate most germs that can ruin your vacation. Don’t think that the stateroom attendants who clean your room also disinfect it; they don’t.

10. Mini Surge Protector/Dual USB – For those of you that need to charge a camera battery, iPod/iPad/iPhone, or anything electrical, don’t worry, all Oasis staterooms have an outlet, but not too many. Our Boardwalk Balcony Stateroom had an outlet under the desk, but only two. It was fine for my wife and I but if she was using the hair dryer, I had to alternate from charging my camera battery/iPod/laptop. Next time I’m taking a mini surge protector with a USB attachment so I can charge my USB devices without connecting them to my laptop.

Oasis of the Seas arrives at Nassau Bahamas and Atlantis Resort at Paradise Island

Ray — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:28:39 +0000

View from Oasis of the Seas as we arrived at Nassau Bahamas

Day 7 – Oasis of the Seas arrives at Nassau, Bahamas

Friday, our last full day, Oasis of the Seas was scheduled to port at Nassau in the Bahamas. The previous night my wife and I picked out a spot just below the Solarium, it had a perfect 180 degree view of our approach to Nassau. And as the island appeared in the horizon, we were not disappointed. The ship neared Nassau and the Atlantis Resort towers on Paradise Island were plainly visible. Surrounded by the blue Caribbean Sea on the left and Nassau on the right, I new it would be a picture perfect moment!

It was a partly cloudy day, but the view was spectacular. Hundreds of other passengers were also watching as we slowly approached Nassau. For many others, they remained indoors at the Promenade area to watch a Bohemian festival-type parade, but for us it was all about the view outdoors.

As we approached Nassau, the Atlantis resort at Paradise Island was prominent on the horizon. When we entered the port I took some great pictures of the hotel towers. Also, there were three other ships and as we made our way towards where Oasis was to dock, the passengers of the other ships were all outside of their staterooms and along the decks watching as we arrived. I can only imagine the view they had as the largest cruise ship in the world sailed into the harbor! Walking off the ship and into Nassau, I took this picture of Oasis next to Carnival Sensation. Oasis was so large that my wide angle lens could not capture the entire ship!

Atlantis Resort view from Oasis of the Seas

In downtown Nassau we walked around Bay St. taking a few photos and buying souvenirs. After a quick stop at the courthouse and taking more pictures, we headed back to the port to purchase an island tour. In our case it was a mistake, we paid $50 for what the Atlantis Resort portion of the tour is something we could have done at no cost. The guide promised a full island and Atlantis Resort tour with admission to the aquarium. What we actually got was a drive around town in an old van, with a stop at Fort Fincastle. The Fort had some nice views, but more of a tourist trap for the local vendors. We then stopped at the local gas station because the van was out of gas. Finally we drove over the bridge to Paradise Island for a tour of Atlantis. I managed to capture this nice picture of Oasis of the Seas docked next to other cruise ships during the drive over. As for the “island tour”, it was more like a “drive by” on our way to Paradise Island/Atlantis.

Atlantis Resort Bahamas while on Oasis of the Seas

Once at the Atlantis resort, the tour included a walk through the lobby, followed by a quick view of the Casino to see

Temple of the Sun inside the Casino at the Atlantis Resort

the Temple of the Sun artwork. Our tour ended back in the lower lobby where a small portion of the aquarium is visible. This was not the actual full aquarium and when I asked if we were going to enter and view it all, the guide said no. Apparently he was only taking us to the free public areas within the hotel, something we could have done ourselves! I was disappointed and especially not happy when the driver on the way back to the port stopped to pick up his girlfriend and give her a ride home from work!

TIP: To visit the Atlantis Resort take a water taxi from the port. It only cost a few dollars and takes you directly to Paradise Island where Atlantis is located. There are areas that are free, like the huge artistic lobby, the halls with awesome art pieces, and the Casino area where the Temple of the Sun is located. You can also see a small portion of the aquarium and visit a few restaurants. Again all free, something that a guide will charge you $25 per person, but you can do at no cost. And if you want to see and use the rest of the resort, like swim in their pools, see the full aquarium or play in the famous water slides and river rides, a one day pass can be purchased in the lobby. Spend your money here instead of the overpriced “tour” offered at the port.

Oasis of the Seas: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 4 (part 2) – Day 5 – Day 5 (part 2) – Day 6

Golf, Pools, Jogging Track and Come Fly With Me on Oasis of the Seas

Ray — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:37:45 +0000

Playing golf on Oasis of the Seas

Day 6 – At sea exploring on Oasis of the Seas

The 6th day on Oasis was spent at sea as we took this opportunity to relax and do more exploring throughout the ship. I’m not one to exercise while on vacation but I was curious to see the jogging track that runs around the ship. It’s actually very nice and has some nice views. To travel one mile we had to walk 2.4 laps. We walked the entire distance enjoying the fresh air and funny quotes aligning the track. Towards the area near the gym, a mural of runners encouraged us to try a second lap!

Running track on Oasis of the Seas

Later in the afternoon we spent time playing miniature golf. Its not very big, but perfectly situated near all the water sports and Zip Line. The panoramic views of the ocean were wonderful from this area. Along the edge of the 3rd hold you’re literally standing on the side of the ship with a breathtaking site of the Caribbean Sea. The golf area is lined with fun bronze-like statutes…the dog was my favorite.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing by the pools. We headed to the top deck and with a couple of towels blocking the light breeze, we waiting for the sunset. The ship is so large, there’s room to spare for all to enjoy. As you can see from the picture, it’s not crowded at all. We expected to be overwhelmed with people since the ship holds over 6000, but its so large that space is plenty to go around.

Finally, at night we returned to The Opal Theater for a show called Come Fly With Me. I won’t give too much away other than it was a spectacular experience that kept the audience constantly surprised with aerial events. All three shows at this theater have been great, but I suggest to arrive early so you can appreciate the beauty of the theater before the show starts.

Doggie statute on Oasis of the Seas

Top deck on Oasis of the Seas

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Oasis of the Seas: Day 1 – Day 2 – Day 3 – Day 4 – Day 4 (part 2) – Day 5 – Day 5 (part 2) – Day 7