The authentic and original Oasis of the Seas, the ship that forever changed the world of cruises with its enormous size, returns to Barcelona five years later, with new facilities.
This 226,838 GRT behemoth stands out from other cruise ships due to its width of 65 meters, which allows its central section to be divided into two blocks, creating space for two open-air parks. The result is spectacular, with Central Park being an outdoor promenade featuring over 12,000 plants, several restaurants, luxury shops, and a wine bar.
At the stern, the other open-air park is called Boardwalk, in homage to the legendary North American piers and leisure promenades such as the Santa Monica Pier or Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, so the first thing we find upon exiting is a carousel handcrafted in wood.
This will be the third time the Oasis has established its summer base in Barcelona, after 2014 and 2019. It was precisely at the end of the 2019 season that it underwent a $165 million renovation, which added the Perfect Storm trio of water slides and the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, which descends 10 decks to its terminal on the Boardwalk.
Boardwalk, in addition to the carousel and the arrival of the Ultimate Abyss slide, features several shops and restaurants, two enormous rock climbing walls, and most notably, the AquaTheatre. This auditorium hosts extraordinary shows, as the "stage" transforms into a deep pool into which professional divers plunge with impressive precision from a considerable height. The show blends dance, synchronized swimming, springboard diving, flying acrobats, light, sound, and dance. It's truly a sight to behold and is included in the cruise fare. However, on such large ships, you must reserve your seat in advance for this show, as well as for all other attractions, either at the designated counter or through the cruise line's app.
One of the defining features of the Oasis of the Seas is the sheer number of high-quality shows included in the price. The main theater boasts authentic Broadway productions and top-tier original shows, but since the ship also has an ice rink, you can enjoy some truly amazing skating performances. The Studio B ice rink is transformed several times during the cruise into a laser tag arena.
Another distinctive feature of the Oasis of the Seas, like many Royal Caribbean ships, is its interior shopping street, the Royal Promenade. In this case, it's wider and brighter than on ships in other series, as it's located beneath Central Park and receives natural light through several skylights. One of these skylights even houses a bar and elevator.
The Royal Promenade, as usual, features Sorrento's pizzeria, free and open all day until the early hours of the morning, as well as the Café Promenade, fashion shops, souvenir shops, jewelry stores, and charismatic venues such as the English pub, the Boleros Latin dance hall, or the fascinating Bionic Bar, where two robotic arms skillfully prepare cocktails.
To help cruise passengers find their way around, the Oasis of the Seas is divided into seven neighborhoods. We've already talked about Central Park, the Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade, and partially about Entertainment Place, the area where the theater, the Studio B ice rink, the Jazz On 4 lounge, the On Air Club karaoke bar, and the Blaze nightclub all converge.
The outdoor areas on the upper decks form the Pool and Sports Zone, home not only to the new water slides we mentioned earlier, but also to three themed pools, a children's water park, and several bars. The sports facilities are concentrated aft, including a sports court, two FlowRider surf simulators in a jet pool, a mini-golf course, and a zip line not for the faint of heart. Meanwhile, the bow area is an adults-only haven of tranquility: the Solarium. This semi-covered area offers a peaceful atmosphere with several small pools and jacuzzis, along with a bistro where you can enjoy complimentary breakfast or lunch, perfect for relaxing during your vacation.
Further down is the Vitality Spa & Fitness neighborhood, where, as its name suggests, we can find a large spa and a gym, both top-notch, with all kinds of treatments and equipment to take care of the body and mind.
Finally, the Youth Zone is a very large facility for children, divided into age groups. This area also includes a new escape room.
In terms of food, the Oasis of the Seas has several restaurants, including not only the spectacular three-story main restaurant and the aforementioned Sorrento's, but also the Windjammer buffet, the Mexican El Loco Fresh, or the Park Café deli, in addition to other smaller options such as the Boardwalk hot dog counter, the free ice cream machines in the pool area, or the super healthy food of the Vitality Café.
The payment options are also numerous, starting with the new Portside BBQ offering various slow-cooked meats, or the typical Izumi Hibachi & Sushi for Asian food, Giovanni's Table for Italian delicacies, or Chops Grille for a more classic meat experience, not forgetting Johnny Rockets, the 1950s-style burger franchise so beloved by Royal Caribbean passengers.
Without a doubt, it's great to have an Oasis-class ship back in Barcelona in 2024 because taking a cruise on one of these ships is an amazing experience for the whole family.
Route of the Oasis of the Seas in 2024
Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, La Spezia (Florence/Pisa), Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples (Pompeii), Barcelona
