Oasis of the Seas Review (July 21-28, 2023 from Cape Liberty, NJ)

My family recently cruised on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas out of Cape Liberty, NJ. This was my first cruise with my husband since 2010, and the first time we sailed with our two girls (ages 10 and 6). I wanted to share our experience on our 7-night sailing to the Bahamas and give you my honest opinions. We traveled with another family who also had 2 girls (ages 7 and 11) and another adult that was cruising solo.

Embarkation Day. Though Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ has a parking garage, it was restricted to only handicapped parking on our embarkation day. Everyone else was directed to a secured parking lot across the way. It ended up being fine, it was just unexpected upon arrival. We dropped off our pre-tagged luggage curbside and went to park our car for the week.

Embarkation itself at Cape Liberty was quick and easy since we did the online check-in ahead of time. Our ​scheduled boarding time was 11:30​am but they did let us go through the entire check-in and boarding process before this. As I looked back at the pictures I took – we dropped off our luggage at 10:40am. We had parked our car and had walked to the entrance of the terminal by 10:50am. We were through security by 11am. Officially “checked in” by 11:05am. Stopped for a picture during the boarding process and stepped foot on the ship at 11:15am. Super easy!

The first stop on board was to check-in at our muster stations. That was pretty quick and easy too. Line for registration for ​Adventure ​Ocean was a little longer than expected at that hour. Windjammer was insanely busy as we expected it to be. Our rooms were ready just before 1:30​pm. When we entered the deck hall to our rooms, we saw some of our luggage in the hallway; it was not in front of our rooms​, we had to walk up and down the hall to find it. Of the 12 pieces of luggage that the 9 of us had (don’t judge!), all but one arrived pretty quickly – mine was m​issing for about 2 hours and sent me into panic mode, but alas, it did arrive.

Staterooms. ​I don’t really have any complaints​ about our room – it was pretty typical of what you’d expect on a cruise ship. We all had oceanview rooms with large balconies (deck 12 midship) – and the balconies really were awesome! I would say if I could make one recommendation, it would be that they had 3-4 chairs on the balcony, especially since it was so large (there was a small table with 2 chairs). While we did get our rooms cleaned each morning, our cabin steward came back in the evening to turn down the sofa bed for the girls which was helpful. ​T​he sofa bed definitely took up a decent amount of space when it was open in the evening but we were hardly in the room at night except to sleep, so it wasn’t an issue. The beds were a little on the firmer side; we didn’t mind this but we heard others complain. They do have mattress toppers that​ can be provided complimentary if you don’t care for a firmer bed.

Dinner in the Main Dining Room​ (Early Time – Deck 4): We ate dinner in the Main Dining Room every night except for one night (we weren’t back from our Nassau excursion in time that one night)​. ​Each night​, our waiter Chetan and his assistant Diana were very attentive, especially with the four kids. Some of the dinner food options were ​hit or miss for me personally — nothing was bad but there were a few dinners I didn’t enjoy as much as others, but that can easily happen anywhere. I made sure we had our 3 rooms linked to one another in ahead of time and got one table together for 9 of us​, so ​thankfully that worked well.​ We had brunch in the MDR one morning as well — the food was excellent!

Food elsewhere around the ship. 

• The kids loved the pizza from Sorrento’s on the Royal Promenade, especially at night before bed. The line got long later at night but it did move pretty quick. 
• We liked the food in ​El ​Loco ​Fresh for lunch instead of going back up to ​Windjammer. 
• We did breakfast one morning at Johnny ​Rockets (breakfast is no additional charge on ​Oasis class sh​ips at Johnn​y Rockets). Truthfully, I was a little disappointed in the breakfast at Johnny Rockets since we had heard good things about it. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t anything spectacular.
• We did most breakfasts in ​Windjammer – we got there by 8am and didn’t have issues finding a table for us in the back area since they had more larger tables back there. We end up eating at Windjammer for lunch on embarkation day – we knew it would be busy but we had a couple picky kids (both are mine). If you don’t have picky eaters but want a meal that you’re not paying extra for, I highly recommend the Solarium Bistro instead (they do have burgers and hot dogs there – depending on the level of pickiness that you’re contending with). We didn’t eat at Solarium Bistro on our cruise but I did get to have lunch in there on my tour of Oasis back in June – there were less offerings than Windjammer since it’s smaller but the food was just as good and it was a lot less crowded.
• Pro Tip: Even though the Solarium as a whole is for ages 16+, kids CAN eat in the Solarium Bistro. 
• Starbucks (not included) had the typical Starbucks food and drinks. You couldn’t order ahead from the app but you were able to use your app to pay if you had gift cards loaded and wanted to earn reward points.
• Bar service overall was a lot slower than we expected​ — even when they weren’t busy, the bartenders were pretty slow. We all loved the Bionic Bar though ​-​- lots of fun.
• Playmakers (not included) had awesome bar food. The nachos and wings in particular were loved by our families. The kids loved the old school arcade games in the back room, as well as the shuffleboard and the pool table.
• I grabbed lunch one day at Park Cafe – it wasn’t really anything spectacular but it was a nice change and pretty quiet since it’s tucked away in Central Park.
• ​We didn’t ​plan any speciality dining ​ahead of time for dinner, so I can’t speak from personal experience with the other specialty dining options. One adult did upgrade their dinner in the Main Dining Room one night to a Chops Filet and she said it was worth the upcharge fee (I believe it was $18).

Entertainment. Aqua80 was just as amazing as everyone said it would be. DO NOT MISS THIS!!! You should be able to make advanced reservations on the 1st of the month PRIOR to your sailing. So we cruised July 21-28 – we were able to book our shows on June 1st. The ice skating show was well done. We didn’t see Cats since we had no interest. We saw Illusionist Jason Bishop in the Royal Theatre – super cool show – definitely catch that one! I heard mixed reviews about the comedian so we didn’t see them. 

Our biggest complaint about the family-friendly entertainment honestly was that we missed a lot of it earlier in the night because of our 5pm dinner. I don’t think this will be as much of an issue if you’re a smaller family as we saw many people leaving before us each night, but with 9 of us (and oftentimes we had some people getting 2 apps and/or entrees at dinner), it was a longer (albeit relaxing) dinner for us in the Main Dining Room. We never made it to karaoke as it was usually 18+ by the time we got down there after dinner. Other than that, we didn’t really do many extra activities like trivia​ or games since our kids spent a lot of time on the pool deck between swimming and the activities.

Activities. The kids (and adults) loved the ​Ultimate ​Abyss slide and zip line (both included). A few did the rock climbing too and loved it. They also said the FlowRider was amazing – and quite a workout. 

I do want to make note if you’re traveling with younger children that there are some height and/or weight restrictions for some onboard activities. 

• Water Slides: ​For two of the slides, you need to be 48” and ​then for the other slide, you need to be 52”
• Zip Line: Must be at least 75lbs (but no more than 275lbs) and a minimum height of 52”
• FlowRider: Must be at least 52” for boogie boarding; at least 58” for stand up surfing
• Rock Climbing Wall: Must be at least 6 years old
• Escape Room: Must be at least 12 years old 

We didn’t go to the arcade but heard half the games didn’t work so I’m glad we didn’t purchase credits ahead of time. Some of us wanted to ice skate – we missed the reservations onboard though so never made it there. It looked like they only had open skate on the last two days at sea, so we weren’t really thinking about it until it was too late and they were all booked up.

​Drinks. We did not get any of the beverage packages – we saw the deluxe beverage package go down to $70.99 per person, per day about a week and a half before our cruise, which would have still come to around $1,000 for my husband and I for the week. We didn’t end up drinking $1,000 worth of drinks so it ended up being good that we didn’t buy it (though we probably would have drank more if we’d had the package) that was the cheapest price we ever saw – it was up to $102 on embarkation day onboard! The alcoholic drinks on their drink menus at the bar were in the $14 price range, which came to closer to $17 once the gratuity was added. Something you may want to keep in mind if you’re considering the drink package. 

​Photos Onboard. We purchased the photo package for up to 100 photos on sale a couple weeks before the cruise (it was $219 on sale which I believe was close to 50% off if my memory serves me correctly). I highly ​recommend doing this if you know you want to take lots of pictures! We ended up with 86 photos in total to download digitally, many came out great, but the picture taking process some nights was a bit lengthy due to longer lines – I suggest getting there before they open at 4:30pm most nights if you have a 5pm dinner to avoid the longer lines if you can.

​Around the Ship. The boardwalk area got super hot during the day since it’s all open air (mind you, it was July in the Caribbean). Central Park was hot too but didn’t feel quite as hot as the boardwalk did to us. Things like the carousel and ultimate abyss closed during the couple of rain showers we experienced. But we really lucked out overall with the weather. The Royal Promenade got busy at night, but that’s to be expected. The Music Hall was fun when the house band was playing. I just thought it was warm in there, even before we started dancing. 

​1st Stop – Port Canaveral. We decided the week before our cruise to stay onboard in Port Canaveral instead of going to Cocoa Beach since we weren’t going to have a whole day there​ (we were scheduled to get into port around 1pm). That was a blessing since there was a medical emergency the night before so our ship had to turn around for about 2 hours to meet up with the Coast Guard for a helicopter to take someone off the ship. A lot of people ended up with their excursions canceled ​even though we ​only got into port about an hour later than anticipated​; the skies opened up when we got there, so​ it definitely wasn’t a beach day.

​2nd Stop – Nassau. We did the ​Dolphin ​Encounter at ​Blue ​Lagoon ​Island for our Nassau day – we were blessed with sunshine this day so it was awesome! We read a lot of very mixed reviews about this ​ahead of time which made me skeptical, but we honestly loved it! The dolphin ​e​ncounter itself was a little short but so amazing! ​The beach time at the lagoon was great too. Tons of chairs and umbrellas. Food wasn’t included but I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. The boat ride over was only about 20 minutes​ (though it sounds like we had one of the faster boats — some people said theirs took closer to 40 minutes). We actually wish we had a little more beach time than we had. ​Based on where we ended up in line when we got off the ship in Nassau, we were given a dolphin encounter time ​o​f 3:30​pm, so it was right smack in the middle of our time at ​Blue ​Lagoon ​Island ​(we arrived around 1:30pm and had to be heading back to the ship by 6:30pm). I almost wish we got​ten off the boat a little later (or ​right when the gangway opened) to get either an earlier or later time so we didn’t feel like we lost beach time going back and forth to the ​side where the dolphins were. But I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Blue Lagoon Island to anyone, as long as they realize they are committing to being on the island for the entire duration of the excursion.

​3rd Stop – Perfect Day at CocoCay. We were docked the same day as ​Independence of the ​Seas. We spent the entire day at ​Thrill ​Waterpark. My family did all the slides, several of them more than once. The line for ​Daredevil​s’ ​Peak first thing in the morning took closer to 2 hour – it was actually shorter in the afternoon which surprised us since everyone told us to get there first thing in the morning. I am wondering if the fact that there were 2 ships there that day had something to do with it, so I’d actually suggest waiting on that slide if I were you. I spent most of my day with my 6 year old in the wave pool – and she had a ball!. The food at the ​Snack ​Shack was good but typical waterpark food (burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, I think a couple salads​ were on the menu too). Definitely try the chocolate brownie – it was AMAZING! The wave pool and areas around the waterpark never felt too crowded but there definitely weren’t ​many lounge chairs nearby. I’d suggest the ​Thrill Waterpark Cabana with ​Full ​Day ​Admission if you have a group of ​at least 6 going (I believe ​the cabana included admission for 6 people when I looked after they were ​a​lready sold out). The cabanas for the water park are on either side of the wave pool and would have been nice to have to avoid going back and forth to the lockers. I am disappointed that I didn’t have more time to explore the whole island but #momlife. I saw several people in our Facebook group say they were stung by jellyfish on the beaches so I’m glad we didn’t spend the money to get a cabana on one of the beaches as I’d been wanting to. But then I know people who were at CocoCay a couple weeks before us that didn’t hear of any jellyfish issues during their day there, so I think this can be extremely hit or miss. Obviously this can happen anywhere, so just be aware of this.

Crowds weren’t terrible for it being a full sailing. There were definitely times that it felt more crowded than others, but it never felt like wall to wall people (until debarkation). The hardest thing was finding somewhere to sit for pizza later at night. But it was never impossible. The pools did get a bit crowded, but we got our chairs early so we never really had issues there either.

We had super smooth seas, with the exception of the night of the medical emergency as the ship was going full speed to try to make up for the lost time. Even then, it wasn’t rocking like it normally would if we had hit rough waters – it was a very gentle sway. But no complaints about the waters from anyone in my group whatsoever​ in regards to it making anyone feel sick.

We​ all bought the Wow bands. Hindsight, the kids probably could have done without them​. The buckle on them came loose a bit too easily in my opinion which was a concern I had since I didn’t want to lose them. We still needed our ​Sea​Pass ​​cards for getting off/on the ship as well as for checking the kids into and out of the kids club. But I did like having the bands for charging, especially at the bars.

Speaking of the kids club, our kids only went ​to Adventure Ocean on night 1. On ​Oasis class ships, and they have kids 6-12 together in one space rather than breaking them into smaller age groups. Our 6 and 7 year olds loved it and wanted to go back again – the 10 and 11 year old hated it and didn’t want to go again. They said it was too crazy. We told them they would need to try it again because night 1 might have been busier than normal​, but they never went back since we had so much going on, so I can’t give much more insight than that. I didn’t hear anyone else complain about the club onboard.

Debarkation was a bit of a disaster if I’m being completely honest. They said they had some technical difficulties that resulted in delays. We should have been getting off at 9am but weren’t actually off until closer to 10:15am. Our bags weren’t in the right place when we got down to baggage but thankfully since we were in the last group to get off, we spotted our luggage across the way. We saw several people in the Facebook group saying they’ve sailed with Royal Caribbean many times and it’s never been that bad before, so perhaps it was a fluke situation that day. I would not let the debarkation experience deter us from cruising with Royal Caribbean or out of Cape Liberty again. Overall, we had a really great cruise experience.

If you’ve had a cruise vacation on your mind – especially if you’re thinking of sailing out of Cape Liberty if you live within a reasonable distance to drive there – I definitely suggest booking your cruise ASAP to lock in your price (and don’t worry – if the price goes down, we can adjust that for you so you’re getting the best price available!!) Oasis of the Seas will be in Europe in summer 2024, but her sister ship, Symphony of the Seas, will be taking her place. Symphony is another absolutely amazing ship that I definitely would recommend, especially for families. Right now, we can only book into April 2025 so if summer 2025 is on your radar, let me know and I can put you on my wait list to follow up as soon as summer 2025 is open!

Have you cruised on Oasis of the Seas before? I’d love to hear your thoughts!!

When it comes to planning a vacation, choosing the right travel agency and advisor can make a big difference in the success of your trip. You want to ensure that you are entrusting your hard-earned time and money to a professional with your best interests at the forefront. Using a travel advisor can be beneficial in several ways. Advisors can provide expertise and personalized recommendations based on their knowledge and experience in the industry. They can also save travelers time and money by finding the best deals and handling all the details of booking and planning a trip. Additionally, travel advisors can offer support and assistance if something goes wrong during the trip.

Travel agencies can vary widely, from small independent agencies to large international firms. It’s important to ask the travel advisor about their agency and their role within it to get a sense of their resources and capabilities.

Here are some additional tips to help you find the best fit for your family:

1.     Ask for recommendations: Reach out to friends, family, and colleagues who have used travel advisors in the past and ask for their recommendations. You can also check online review sites for feedback from other travelers. Be sure to visit the website and any social media sites the advisor lists – see how often they are posting, what their specialties are, additional certifications, if they have an official agency email address, and how long they have been an agent. When researching social media and websites, see if they are posting helpful travel information or just advertising free travel and recruiting additional agents.

2.     Consider their specialties: Some travel agents specialize in certain types of trips, such as cruises, theme parks, adventure travel, or luxury vacations. Make sure the agency you choose has expertise in the type of trip you are planning. Asking about the travel advisor’s own travel experience can also be informative. How often do they travel? Have they been to the destinations they are recommending? For example, if the travel advisor is promoting themselves as a cruise expert, it’s worth asking how many cruises they have been on.

3.     Check their credentials: Look for travel agencies that are accredited by organizations like the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), or the International Air Transport Association (IATA). These credentials indicate that the agency has met certain standards for professionalism and ethics. Inquire as to what additional training courses the advisor may hold – destination training, cruise line training, Disney College of Knowledge, and certifications in Autism-Related Travel are a few examples.

4.     Evaluate their communication skills: Make sure the travel advisor is responsive to your questions and concerns. A good advisor will listen to your needs and provide clear, timely information.  Be sure to take note of any office hours the advisor has listed.

5.     Look for value, not just price: While price is important, it’s not the only factor to consider. It’s also important to ask the travel advisor exactly what is included in their service packages and whether they charge fees for their services.  A good travel agency can help you save money by finding the best deals, but they should also be focused on providing value through their expertise, customer service, and attention to detail. The additional planning services, tips and hints related to your trip, and in-destination assistance are all additional benefits of booking with a travel advisor that you will not get with Expedia or Costco.

6.     Trust your gut: Ultimately, you want to work with a travel agency that you feel comfortable with and that you trust to handle your travel plans. If you get a good feeling from the agency and feel confident in their abilities, that’s a good sign that they are the right fit for your family.

Using a travel advisor saves you time and the hassle of crowdsourcing on social media. Remember, when you ask your friends what they recommend for a trip, they will give you what they did and what worked for them. That does not mean it is the best fit for your family’s goals, budget, and desires for the vacation. While it can be tempting to go with the cheapest option or the best deal, it’s important to remember that you get what you pay for. Working with a professional travel advisor may cost more upfront, but it can save you time, money, and hassle in the long run, and provide you with peace of mind knowing that your trip is in good hands.

Let’s face it, if we learned anything from the pandemic, it’s that we need to take more time for ourselves! Women everywhere are burnt out! Whether you are a mom to younger kids or your kids have flown the nest…whether you are working a traditional 9-5, or are working from home, balancing work, life, and family can be stressful and we often don’t take the time we need. What’s that old saying? You can’t pour from an empty cup? Well, it’s true and I’m here to share with you 5 reasons you need Girls’ Weekend!

 

 

Reconnect with Friends

One of the first things that tend to be put by the wayside when we get busy is our friendships. Wouldn’t it be nice to spend a whole weekend with your besties? Maybe you no longer live locally to each other or maybe you both have been so crazy busy between work meetings, soccer practice, dr. appointments and….grocery shopping, that you haven’t had more than 5 minutes to spend time with each other. During a Girl’s Getaway Weekend, you won’t be interrupted by the kid’s school calling, your boss checking in on that project or…grocery shopping! You can sit all day, side-by-side, with your bestie and reconnect!

It’s good for your kids

No, I’m serious!! It’s good for your kids (and husbands) to figure it out without you! They can make the school lunches, they can let Dad (or the Grandparents) pick them up from soccer…or gasp, go grocery shopping! I promise everyone will be ok without you for a few days (and maybe even appreciate you a bit more)!

 

 

Travel is good for the soul

There is no doubt that returning for a luxurious weekend in the tropics will leave you rested and relaxed, but there is something to be said for traveling to a new country, meeting new people, and everything you experience along the way! Travel broadens our horizons and leaves us with a feeling of contentment that going to the grocery store just can’t! There are studies that show there are actual health benefits from visiting the ocean!

Make new friends

Heading off to a weekend away with like-minded women, who share the same triumphs (and struggles) as you, can lead to connections you never knew you needed! A little joy with new friends might be just what the dr. ordered!

It’s good, plain, FUN!

Ok so maybe reason 5 isn’t really a reason…but so what! Girls’ Weekends are just plain fun and you don’t need a specific reason to go on one! Head the beach…or don’t…enjoy a fruity cocktail…or don’t….relax with a spa treatment…or don’t…Girls Weekends are about YOU!! Have all the fun, do all the things…..or don’t! Take a nap, sleep in…or just BE.

Learn more about our Girls Getaway Weekend, happening October 5-9, 2023 in Montego Bay Jamaica!!

 

 

Have you booked a vacation and now you are struggling with the idea of eating safely while traveling?  As someone with celiac disease along with allergies to dairy, rice, and garlic, I have struggled to figure out how to best manage my allergies and celiac disease while away from my safe kitchen at home.  Since I have been diagnosed, I have not let the challenges stop me from traveling and I’m here to help you every step of the way with my knowledge from real-life experience.  I will help you (and your destination) get prepared for your visit. 

An Allergy Consult includes:

• Discussing your allergies and dining options that best suit your needs
• Teaching you how to order your meal at quick-serve and table-service restaurants 
• Discussing how to alert special diets of your dining reservations so chefs can contact you if additional information is needed to make your meals go smoothly
• Guiding you through what questions to ask when having a consultation with chefs and managers to ensure your food is prepared as safely as possible
• Providing tips and tricks on how to ensure a smooth and safe dining experience
• Giving you the confidence to advocate for yourself while ordering 

Whether you’re vacationing in the theme parks in Orlando, sailing on cruise ships, or visiting an all-inclusive resort, I can help guide you through dining safely wherever you want to go! If you haven’t booked the vacation yet, contact me today and I will help you plan everything from where to go to how to eat safely while on vacation!