Oasis of the Seas, the first ship in Royal Caribbean‘s sparking Oasis class, boasts a whopping 18 decks of unforgettable activities, entertainment, and amenities for all ages.
From the adrenaline-fuelled Ultimate Abyss slide and the hair-raising zip wire, to the Vitality spa and tranquil adults-only Solarium, boredom is simply not an option.
We spoke to Cruise.co.uk Content Editor, Emily Barker, about sailing the Mediterranean onboard Oasis of the Seas for a 4-night voyage. Read on to to delve into her day-by-day experience…
Day 1: Embarkation Day
This morning, it was an early start to catch our flight to Barcelona, where we would later embark Oasis of the Seas. With this being my first cruising experience, it’s safe to say that I was filled with excitement for the trip ahead!
Once we had landed in Barcelona, we took the dedicated shuttle bus from the airport to the cruise port. On seeing Oasis of the Seas for the very first time in person, my first thoughts were simply- wow! I knew that the ship was big, however, the true scale of its size was definitely a sight to behold.
After checking in, dropping off our luggage, and making our way through Barcelona cruise terminal, it was finally time to get onboard!
Walking alongside the ship, excitement in the air amongst other passengers, it was clear to see just how happy everyone was to be starting their cruise on this magnificent ship. As we boarded on deck five, we were greeted with friendly faces from the crew, welcoming us onboard.
At first, we were overwhelmed with what to do first! Taking in the shops, restaurants, and bars in abundance, we decided to grab a quick beverage from the onboard Starbucks kiosk (a firm favourite of mine!), and head to find our cabin.
We stayed in an Ocean View Balcony stateroom, featuring our own spacious private balcony, two large beds, a sofa, plus a modern ensuite bathroom. These cabins were more than big enough for two people, with plenty of wardrobe space and storage. The balcony was a lovely size with two comfortable chairs- perfect for early morning coffees or late afternoon tipples.
Next, it was time for further exploring with a ship tour. This was a great way to get to know the ship, with personal insights and recommendations along the way. A personal highlight of this was witnessing the zip wire in action above the Boardwalk!
Following the tour, it was time for dinner in the Main Dining Room. This was a brilliant initial dining experience, with delicious food, chatty crew members, and a great atmosphere all round.
Tonight, there was a balloon drop planned on deck five of the ship as part of the welcome aboard party. This was another highlight of the cruise for me. The deck was filled with guests dancing and having fun with family and friends, followed by the colourful balloon drop at midnight.
After some more dancing and mingling, we rounded off the night with a few slices of pizza from Sorrento’s; the onboard pizza parlour, open until 2am!
Day 2: Sailing & Sundaes
This morning, courtesy of room service, we enjoyed a continental breakfast on our cabin balcony. Ranging from an assortment of pastries and bagels to a tasty fruit selection, this certainly set us up for the day.
Today we were docked in Palma de Mallorca, but with an early sail away this afternoon, we decided that there wasn’t too much time to go and explore the city, so opted to stay onboard instead. However, the views from the port were still magnificent!
Before sail away, we ventured to Sugar Beach, located on the Boardwalk- THE place to go for a sweet treat fix. This is not included as standard, but we decided to treat ourselves to a delicious ice cream sundae, which certainly didn’t disappoint!
After witnessing Oasis of the Seas sail away from Palma on deck, it was then time for a quick turn around to get ready for tonight’s cocktail party in the Solarium. This was a lovely opportunity to get dressed up and talk to some of the other guests, against a beautiful backdrop as the sun went down.
After making a few new friends at the cocktail party, we dined in the Main Dining Room all together this evening. After dinner, we headed to the heart of the action on deck five, spending the rest of the evening in the English themed pub- Globe And Atlas. There was a lovely, welcoming atmosphere here, with a live musician singing acoustic covers, excellent drinks, and good vibes all round!
Day 3: Marseille Magic
This morning, we woke up in sunny Marseille! I decided to take the opportunity to step off the ship and explore the beautiful city of Marseille.
To kick start the day, I headed for a quick breakfast stop at the Windjammer restaurant. With everything included, this buffet-style breakfast had an excellent selection of hot and cold food options for all taste palettes. I opted for some sweet pastries, fresh watermelon slices and a refreshing juice before heading out on deck to eat in the glorious sunshine.
Fuelled up for the morning, I took the short shuttle bus ride (not included) from the port to the city centre, stopping just outside the Marseille Cathedral. Taking in the stunning surroundings, I then continued to wander around the city, taking in the buzzing atmosphere in Marseille’s Old Port and surrounding shops, bars, and restaurants.
There truly is some stunning architecture as you walk through the streets of Marseille; a great city to spend a day exploring when docked in its port.
Back onboard, later this evening it was time to sit down in the Aqua Theater to witness the highly anticipated Aqua 80! show. I’d heard rave reviews about this, but it genuinely exceeded all expectations; what an incredible show!
With dancing, synchronised swimming, high diving, tightrope walking, and more, the whole audience was mesmerised by this amazing spectacle. Set to iconic songs from the 80s, this was such a fun way to spend the evening- a must see for anyone onboard!
Day 4: Italian Sunsets
Opening the curtains to find the ship docked in La Spezia, today was our final full day onboard Oasis of the Seas.
After hopping off the ship with all intentions of heading to Pisa for the day, we ran into some bad luck with transport! With our train to Pisa getting delayed only two stops away, we decided to return to La Spezia at risk of not being able to get back to the ship in time later on. This was disappointing, but we continued to make the best of the situation.
Back in La Spezia, we grabbed an ice cream and strolled through the city’s winding streets filled with cafes, bars, restaurants, and small shops. I hadn’t heard too much about this port city, but it’s a lovely place for a short visit; you can easily spend a morning or afternoon wandering around and taking in the pretty scenery.
Once back onboard Oasis of the Seas, it was time to do something I had been thinking about since I first stepped on the ship- the Ultimate Abyss slide! Spanning 10 decks, this slide has you speeding down 216 feet of twisting tunnels with whizzing lights and sound effects all the way. This was such a fun experience, and a lot faster than I imagined!
As evening approached, it was time for a couple of pre-dinner drinks in the beautiful setting of Central Park, with a live jazz band acting as the perfect soundtrack. Then, as we sailed away from La Spezia, we managed to catch the sensational sunset from the Solarium deck. I couldn’t have asked for a more spectacular way to round off the trip as we marvelled at orange and pink skies over the Italian mountains.
For tonight’s dinner, we opted to dine in the Solarium Bistro. This restaurant is included, but does require you to pre-book a table in advance. The Solarium Bistro offers a buffet-style menu that’s a slight level up from the food served elsewhere on the ship. We enjoyed the Mediterranean-style menu, featuring delicious dishes including hummus, salmon, roasted chicken, and more.
The final part of our evening was spent relaxing with a few drinks in the Solarium whirlpool, kitted out with LED twinkling lights and full glass windows to watch the world go by as you sail the high seas.
Day 5: Time To Head Home
Another early start, today it was sadly time to disembark Oasis of the Seas and make our way back to the UK.
After packing our last few bits, we headed down to deck five where we said goodbye to our home for the last four days! From here, we disembarked and made our way through the cruise terminal. With a midday flight to catch, we swiftly boarded our shuttle bus to Rome airport, sadly having no time to explore the iconic city this time around.
Overall, I couldn’t have asked for more from my first-ever experience on a cruise, and have potentially caught the cruising bug!
As a ship itself, Oasis of the Seas, is a great option for all types of travellers: families; couples; and singles of any age. Whatever your mood or preference, there is always something to tickle your fancy at almost any time of the day.
There are plenty of great food options included as standard onboard, such as Main Dining, cafes, snacks, buffets (such as Windjammer), and a personal favourite of mine- Sorrento’s Pizza.
Additionally, the accommodation was perfect for our length of stay: clean, comfortable, and spacious. I would definitely recommend an Ocean View Balcony Stateroom for an enhanced experience when cruising onboard Oasis of the Seas!
