Comments on: Cruise Industry Exec: Oasis of the Seas Not a Cruise Experience

By: Anne Campbell

Anne Campbell — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:49:46 +0000

I also like Radiance … so much light, sea and sky. And, she’s the perfect size for me.

By: Murray

Murray — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 01:01:16 +0000

I just attended a slide show from the Oasis by a friend with almost 50 cruises in his background. He was blown away by it. It’ll be interesting to see which ship he books for his next cruise, though. I’d like to see her but I doubt I’ll ever see her as a passenger – I like some of the glitz but the Oasis is just too much (my favourite ship so far is the Radiance).

By: Donna Hull

Donna Hull — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:10:55 +0000

“Real cruise experience” or not, Oasis of the Seas is not for me, but then again, neither is a mega resort in Las Vegas or Dubai. I’m one of those cruisers who enjoys a “relaxing vacation at sea that takes you to distant and not so distant lands and exotic and not so exotic ports.” I’m hoping that Oasis of the Seas is an anomaly that will be considered a white elephant rather than a cruise ship to be emulated.

By: Candy Harrington

Candy Harrington — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:51:27 +0000

As a writer, editor and suthor who has covered accessible travel (travel for thos with mobility issues) for nearly 16 years, I have to say that the mega ships are not that great for my readers. The large number of people will make it more difficult for them to get around. That is if they fill the ship. I’ve detailed that issue in my blog at http://barrierfreetravels.com/serendipity/archives/488-Is-Bigger-Really-Better.html

Plus I have to say, it appears they are falling short in the access department, which is disappointing. http://barrierfreetravels.com/serendipity/archives/490-Oasis-of-the-Seas-Not-as-Accessible-as-She-Could-Be.html

But yes, they are going after a whole new cruise market.

Candy Harrington
Editor, Emerging Horizons

By: Anne Campbell

Anne Campbell — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:56:17 +0000

gharkness… you make a very good point about the term “cruise experience” It’s a subjective term, of course.

The biggest negative for me was having to go to Deck 16 to see the ocean. The only reason for this writer to go on any ship is being at sea, the sense of the ocean around me. I didn’t have that on Oasis of the Seas.

By: gharkness

gharkness — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:01:11 +0000

Sorry, this is the most ridiculous crap I ever heard. The “real” cruise experience is the one that the passenger wants, and that is diverse as the type of passenger aboard!

I myself have zero interest in the Oasis experience, because it doesn’t fit my personal preferences about what MY cruise should be like, but time will tell if others like it. The Oasis will either sink or swim (metaphorically and financially). I personally don’t begin to know which it will be….but if it swims, the experience of the passenger on the Oasis is just as authentic – just as much a “real cruise experience” – as that of any other, smaller ship passenger.

When you look at all the other cruise options available, which of those are the “real” cruise experience? The one with sails only? The ones with no nightlife? The one with fewer than 500 passengers…the one with fewer than 3,000? I submit that the experience is authentic to the passenger that chooses it, and what industry executive has the right to say that one passenger’s experience is more authentic than another’s? I bet he’d be thrilled to take the cruise dollars of ANY takers, “authentic cruise” or not.

I can only conclude that this anonymous “cruise industry executive” must be really, REALLY bored this weekend.

By: Doug

Doug — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:50:20 +0000

I could not agree more. I havent been on the ship yet but factoring in everything I have heard, it seems anything but a ‘real’ cruise experience.