Oasis of the Seas

Oasis has four pools spread across the pool deck, each with its own purpose. The Perfect Storm water slides arrived in the 2019 amplification: two racer slides and a third that swirls you all the way around, all complimentary. There’s a beach-style pool with a gradual entry, a sports pool for water volleyball, and Splashaway Bay for little ones, with its own baby splash zone. The Lime & Coconut bar spans several levels, with a live Caribbean band.

The Solarium is an adults-only retreat at the front of the ship, and Danny calls it his personal favorite in the entire fleet. Under a glass roof that stays open to the breeze, it has loungers, whirlpools, a plunge pool and the Solarium Bar. Unlike most Royal ships, there’s also a big sun deck out front. The Solarium Bistro serves a quieter buffet, and at night it hosts the Chef’s Table, a five-course, wine-paired dinner for about a dozen guests.

The back of the top deck is set up for the kind of fun Royal Caribbean is known for, and it’s all complimentary. There are two FlowRider surf simulators, a mini golf course Danny’s kids love, and a full sports court for basketball, soccer and dodgeball. The Ultimate Abyss dry slide drops ten stories down to the Boardwalk, and a zip line crosses high above it. The adults-only Wipe Out Bar sits right between the FlowRiders.

Central Park blew everyone’s mind when Oasis debuted, and it’s still a marvel: an open-air garden with more than 10,000 live plants, trees and living walls, tended by horticulturists. Birdsong is piped in, and there’s live jazz in the evenings. Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table and 150 Central Park line the paths (extra cost), alongside the complimentary Park Café, the Trellis Bar, Vintages wine bar, a library and the Rising Tide bar.

Royal Caribbean’s award-winning Adventure Ocean program welcomes kids from 6 months all the way up to 17. AO Babies cares for little ones from 6 to 36 months, by reservation. AO Juniors keeps 3-to-5-year-olds busy with active games, crafts and movies. Older kids get the Arena for gaga ball and bowling, a science lab, an art workshop and an interactive quest that runs all cruise long. Teens have their own club and can check themselves in and out.

The Royal Promenade is the ship’s main street, with skylights that let natural light pour in. Along it you’ll find Starbucks, Boleros for Latin dancing, the Globe & Atlas pub, Café Promenade and Sorrento’s pizza late into the night. The Bionic Bar has robot bartenders, and the Rising Tide bar rides up and down to Central Park. The Schooner Bar, Danny’s favorite bar on every Royal ship, is a nautical piano bar overlooking the parades.

The Boardwalk is an open-air seaside pier at the back of the ship. It has a carousel with hand-carved wooden horses, the complimentary Boardwalk Dog House, arcade-style games, Sugar Beach candy and ice cream (extra cost), Johnny Rockets and the Playmakers sports bar. At the far end, the AquaTheater stages a show of high divers and slackliners that runs just under an hour and is included in your fare. Rock climbing walls flank it, and the Ultimate Abyss lands here.

The Royal Theater was the largest theater ever built at sea when Oasis debuted, and it stages the big production shows Royal Caribbean is known for. Studio B is a full ice rink with shows by world-class skaters, plus open skating sessions for guests. Spotlight Karaoke has a stage and private booths, and the comedy club runs family-friendly sets early and adults-only shows late. The casino has both a smoking area and a smoke-free casino.