So what makes Oasis of the Seas work so well for the families and active cruisers who love it? The secret is its neighborhoods, which carve the ship up into manageable pieces, keep bottlenecks to a minimum and provide a dizzying amount of activities.

The Boardwalk boasts two rock climbing walls, a carousel and the AquaTheater. The aft deck sports and activity neighborhood has two FlowRider surf simulators, a basketball court, a mini-golf course, a table tennis area, the teen club and a short zipline. Add in the sheer amount of shows, restaurants and bars, and you'll see that it's impossible to be bored on this ship.

Cruising on a ship this size comes with compromises. If you want to see all the shows and entertainment on offer, you must book online in advance, as the theaters are simply not big enough to hold everyone. Specialty dining reservations should be made in advance, too. If you don't like planning your cruise activities before you board or hate lines, Oasis is probably not a great choice compared to Royal Caribbean's more intimate ships.

That being said, Oasis of the Seas has plenty of spots that don't feel crowded. Stay on the ship during a port day, and be the only one in the very cool infinity hot tubs. Dine in one of the smaller specialty restaurants, read a book in Central Park, escape to the adults-only Solarium, get a pass to the Thermal Suite -- these are all ways to make your Oasis of the Seas trip feel like it belongs to you instead of the masses.

Inclusions

Included with your cruise fare:

• Four main dining rooms, the buffet and select other eateries
• All theater shows, the ice skating and AquaTheater shows, and the comedy club
• Use of the FlowRiders, rock climbing wall, zipline, water park, mini-golf and other outdoor activities
• Most daily activities unless noted below
• Use of the gym, but not most classes
• Gratuities, only if you booked your cruise in Australia or New Zealand in AU and NZ dollars

Not included with your cruise fare:

• Gratuities ($14.50 per person, per day or $17.50 per person, per day for those staying in suites)
• Automatic beverage and spa tips (18 percent for both)
• All drinks beyond water, tea (including iced tea), coffee and select juices in the buffet
• Specialty restaurants
• Spa treatments
• Shore excursions
• Wi-Fi
• Activities such as arcade games, bingo and Pets at Sea
• Photos and artwork