Today is the day I embark on my solo Oasis of the Seas cruise. I was up early and had in-room coffee. Around 7:30 went down for the complimentary breakfast. No potatoes but they do have scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, waffle iron and of course yogurt, fruit and assorted breads and pastries.
It was good and the biscuits were actually fluffy. My table was close to this pretty Christmas tree.
After breakfast I went back to my room to finish getting ready for the ship where I also took care of my first two parts of the muster drill in the Royal Caribbean app (life jacket video and emergency sound).
I checked out about 10:40 and waited for the shuttle in the lobby. One extended family I met had been on the Liberty of the Seas sailing I was on last month and are also sailing the Oasis today. The shuttle arrived right on time and we loaded up and took off for the port. There were only a couple of seats open.
Also at the port today was Carnival Liberty, Carnival Horizon (before leaving for Europe for emergency engine repair), Scarlet Lady, and Norwegian Encore. Cruising is back!
Boarding Oasis of the Seas
The porters were right by the shuttle drop off and I gave them my bag and walked across the road to the terminal.
It was right in my 30 minute window so I was able to go right into the first screening showing my negative covid test. Then I went up the escalator to the second screening where they checked passport and vaccination card. This took me to a long line for security. This is where the efficiency ended.
I found out later that workers for security didn’t show up so only 1 metal detector was open. After being in line for 45 minutes a second one opened. It was a hot mess. Once through that it was straight onboard after having my setsail pass scanned. It was a few minutes to 1 pm when I walked onboard.
Embarkation Afternoon
You board into the promenade on deck 5. I sat down in an empty seat and made my entertainment reservations. Then decided to head to lunch at Park Cafe. When I passed 150 Central Park, I went in and made my three specialty dining reservations.
It was 1:20 when I sat down with a wonderful roast beef sandwich, my favorite chips and strawberry kiwi water they never had on the Liberty of the Seas.
Deliciousness! I enjoyed apple pound cake with walnuts to top it all off.
A relaxed tasty lunch in Central Park was a wonderful way to forget the terrible line in the terminal.
About 1:40 they announced cabins were ready and I headed to my room as I really wanted to get rid of my carry on. I unpacked it and checked out the room. Very nice for one and I think plenty of storage for 2 for a week. (I’ll have pictures in the wrap-up post.)
My excursion tickets, welcome gift (and beverage) were waiting along with the soda cup since I had the package.
The cup still has Empress of the Seas on it. 😥
There was no distilled water so I called housekeeping for that. I also found several documents starting with welcome health protocols.
There was also the Zoom login information and another document with Emerald benefits.
Although I already had my entertainment reservations, there was the schedule with brief descriptions. (Click image below for full PDF.)
Then it was to my muster station for the final step. My muster station is Studio B on deck 4 and it was a quick check-in.
I went back to the my room to look for luggage. It was about 20 doors down the hall. I don’t know why they don’t put the right luggage by the right room. The luggage by my door was for 187. While unpacking my room steward, Supardi, dropped by to introduce himself.
After that chore I went up to pool deck so I could see Miami and took some pictures of the beautiful view.
Then I enjoyed a berry mint delight cocktail at the Solarium Bar.
Loved the two story solarium but the pool is pretty small for a ship this size. Was up there when Norwegian Encore sailed away.
150 Central Park
It was time to get ready for dinner at 150 Central Park. My waiter was Leonardo and he explained the menu and recommendations to me. Click the image below for the full menu.
I went with his recommendation for the urban garden martini and asked for regular ice water as well.
Bread was brought out quickly and it’s very good (buttery and garlicy) but I limited myself to one.
My first appetizer was the roasted beet salad.
I loved every bite of it. Then came the short rib appetizer. Yummy! This was like a mini entrée.
The main item was lobster thermidor.
Lastly, I topped it off with peanut butter tart and coffee.
It was the best meal! The shows are quite late tonight so I’m skipping them. I found these papers on my bed but no towel animal tonight.
It was early to bed after a long day. Click the image below for the full Cruise Compass.
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