If nothing else, the Oasis of the Seas is big. From the airport it appears as a massive intrusion to the ocean. At the pier you might begin to wonder if leaving port is necessary. Alas, the unending stream of activities presented onboard reinforces the idea that this is not a cruise ship so much as a floating city. But does that defeat the purpose of cruising? The Oasis of the Seas is not to 2009 as Voyager of the Seas was to 1999. Sure, the idea of a Carousel on a cruise ship sounds impressive, but as it turns out many of the additional features are more gimmick than awe-inspiring. In fact, a good portion of the ship appeals more to the idea of amazing than amazing itself. Two rock-climbing walls as opposed to one, a Central Park which turns out to be more a second promenade with a garden, a bar built on an elevator. Oasis boasts "big", not "bold". The fundamental flaw with the Oasis is that there is no "central point." You might think the promenade is designed to be the focus, when in fact the sports deck is the busiest spot around. The "neighborhoods" on the ship do their part in ensuring that all 5000+ guests don't end up in one spot, but unfortunately it also detracts from congregation and socialization. Another major oversight in the creation of Oasis was a lack of magnitude. The ship itself is huge, it's easy to tire fast from trekking to different spots. But each and every element of the ship lacks impressiveness of it's own. The promenade, while wider than the Voyager and Freedom class ships, is only two stories in height, blocked off by the overhead central park. The theater is relatively small, as more show times lessen the need for big seating. Sadly this also means less variety of shows. The dining room is three stories in height, yet this is barely evident from any seat in the room. Throughout the entire ship it is obvious that the focus in the design was on making the ship big. First impressions are everything, and if a critique were to be based on only that than Oasis would be an A+. The closest feature to the loading bay is the boardwalk, where the Aqua Theatre resides. It is blatant that this is the most innovative new addition to cruising. Though it boasts the ability to serve as another pool, the highlight is the entertainment it provides. Two giant screens welcome guests aboard, while various crew and executives talk about the Oasis and its specs. Shortly after, fountains dance to different songs, akin to the fountains at the Bellagio.

The boardwalk boasts a few restaurants and of course the world's only floating Carousel. Somehow RCI overlooked a need to make the boardwalk a more prominent focus. A nightclub nestled somewhere in between the specialty dining might have done the trick, but instead there is a single entrance to this area and the only appeal outside of a need to eat is the single show the Aqua Theatre features.

Speaking of nightclubs, the Oasis of the Seas features four: Bolero's in the promenade, the two story Dazzles, Jazz on 4, and Blazes. Once again, while having four options for dancing certainly allows for more variety than most cruise ships offer, it detracts from congregation. None of the dance floors were suitable for a decent sized crowd, even the poor amount of seating offered up the idea that the clubs were not an important amenity. Unsurprisingly the only club which did occasionally fill was the well situated Bolero's in the promenade. Read more