Well... We finally did it and I wish we hadn't. After seven previous cruises on both Princess and Celebrity, we decided to try "the big ship" and sail on Oasis of the Seas. It was not at all what we had imagined or hoped for. Granted, it was big and spectacular, but to be honest it was like taking a cruise in a big mall. The personal touch of the smaller ships we've cruised on was all but non-existent.

On the day of embarkation, we were told that because of a tropical storm we would be "skipping" our first port of Nassau. I fully understand that by cruising during hurricane season you run the risk of having your itinerary changed. As a matter of fact, it's happened to us more than once. The difference is that there has always been a different port substituted for the port(s) that were missed. Not this time.

Next, I'll discuss the dining. The Windjammer was the buffet style dining option for everyone on the ship. The food was nothing to write home about and there were the same options day after day. Breakfast consisted of eggs, bacon, sausage, and the various breads, pastries and other things that go with it. No eggs Benedict unless you went to a specialty restaurant. No smoked salmon or plethora of other choices we'd become accustomed to. No omelets or eggs made to order. After searching for a table and finally sitting down to eat your meal, you are greeted with an automated announcement over the PA asking you to hurry up and vacate your table to make room for other passengers. Kind of reminded me of boot camp. "Eat fast, you can taste it later"! How can this happen on the biggest cruise ship in the world? The first problem is that this dining room is about 1/2 the size of any dining room I've seen on the smaller ships we've cruised on. With upwards of 6000 passengers, you can imagine the huge lines and a long wait for both breakfast and lunch. While you're waiting, a waiter does walk up and down the line giving you other dining options. Here's the catch... Most of the other restaurants have a "nominal fee". As a matter of fact, I've never seen a ship that has more things that you have to pay for after you get on. Want to get the kids an ice cream? No problem. There's a nice ice cream parlor. But, you have to pay for the ice cream. On every other ship I've ever been on, there's the option of grabbing a hamburger next to the pool if you don't want to go for lunch. On the Oasis, there's a nice Johnny Rockets hamburger joint. But, wait for it... There's a $6 per person fee to eat there. Read more