My Husband and I are in our 60s and cruise frequently. We had been looking forward to sailing on the Oasis because it was so different than other ships we have sailed on previously.

We flew to Florida the day before the cruise and stayed at the Marriott Courtyard Plantation. This was not a new hotel but it offered a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel and then a free shuttle from the hotel to the port the next day. It was very near a large mall with plenty of places to eat and shop for wine etc. that we did not want to pack in our luggage on the flight. We took the 12:00 shuttle to the pier Saturday morning. We had read that the Fort Lauderdale port security allowed larger bags than most ports allow as carry on bags. We had a junior suite cabin and walked right through the "suite" doors with no line. The doorman advised us to check our larger rollie bag because we would have to deal with it on the ship until the cabins were cleared at 1:00. We told him that we were OK with keeping it with us and he let us take it on the ship. We travel fairly light because we like to walk off the final day. There is really no difference walking on with a large and small rollie bag and walking on the ship with them.

Embarkation day was the only time the ship seemed crowded. We were able to get a table at Sorrentos pizza in the grand promenade. We parked our luggage and had a couple of slices of pizza for lunch. We went to the main dining room to check out our table and were able to move to a larger table near the window. The ship a a good system of lining up to see a head waiter for changes that first day The crowd just disappeared when the cabin areas opened a 1:00. Read more