After gawking in amazement at the size of the Oasis, my DH and I boarded about 1:30pm and went right to our room. Our room was classed as a midship larger balcony (balcony being about 2 feet larger.) This being my 14th cruise, I know the cabin layout I prefer (Emerald Princess with the huge closet across from the bathroom like in a hallway not in the living area.) In our Oasis cabin, the closet was a foot from the bed so only one person at a time could squeeze by and gain closet access. We did have a nice sofa and desk, but of all the STUPID things---the only plug in outlet was under the desk--no other way to access that but on your knees! Pity the handicapped! There's a flat panel TV screen over the desk so you can check things like your show reservations, shipboard account, etc. Bathroom sink seemed very small and the shelves under the vanity need a slight lip on them so your stuff doesn't roll off onto the floor. This may all sound picky since no one spends much time in their cabin, but the differences are noticeable. Since we were 6th floor midship, we had a long hike either way to an elevator. Being capable, we didn't mind--helped us wear off some calories.

The public areas on the Oasis are some of the best on the seas. We love to stroll on the Promenade and enjoy the music, but it is wall-to-wall people when there's a parade. Hint: to watch the parade go up one floor where there are several public balcony overlooks. The Boardwalk is really just a way to get to the Aqua Theatre. Along the way, you pass Johnny Rockets and several other pay eateries. Central Park is a beautifully landscaped pathway between two parts of the ship and it is also lined with extra-fee eateries; with the exception of the Central Park Cafe. This cafe is worth finding! Roast beef is handsliced; the tuna melt is best I've ever had. Salads, especially make your own, are wonderful. Great cookies and desserts, too. They have some salads and sandwiches conveniently packed to take with you, also. The Sports deck is a nicely equipped area--the flowriders were seeing a lot of action; mini-golf is a big family hit, and the children's pool area made me wish I had brought along a grandchild. Studio B, the Comedy Club, the Opus Theatre, and the casino are all located next to each other, which makes it convenient to go from one to another. Most of our evenings when we weren't at shows we danced to the great bands in Dazzles--this was one of our favorite spots. The bar waiters are extremely attentive though, and don't want you to be without a drink so they visit you often. Too bad--I can make one drink last all night. Our favorite daytime spot was the Solarium--what a beautiful wraparound view when sailing into ports. This area has a great breakfast and lunch bisto (extra fee for dinner). This is a great roomy area with several groups of casual chairs, and it never feels crowded. We loved the huge hottubs with their great views.

The Oasis has one important feature over all the other ships, at least at this point in time, the great entertainment. We made all our reservations online beforehand, and if you don't, you'll be sorry. All the shows were upscale from any I've ever seen on a ship. The Aqua show was amazing as was the aerial Oasis of Dreams. Ihe ice show was better than I've seen on the Navigator of the Seas. The Broadway show was very well done, but I think "Footloose" would have been a better choice. I hope they change the Broadway show every year or so. Our Aqua Show was cancelled due to high winds, but it was scheduled for another day and time. There were a lot of people complaining that they didn't get to see it; well, this is where that flat screen in your stateroom comes in handy---the show was scheduled for another day and time and those people holding reservations for the cancelled show didn't even have to rescheduled since it was done for them automatically. Read more