Help me Choose! RCI Oasis vs Carnival Breeze

[Canadian Disney Mom]

Please help me with advice on whether I should do the Oasis or the Breeze!

We booked on the RCI Oasis of the Seas in February. We are sailing Nov 29 2014 from Ft Lauderdale. We got a GREAT deal (I think) - a Central Park Balcony (C1) for $1680 CAD, taxes in, + a $150 OBC. That is for 2 adults. Final payment is due 9/15. All was well with the world.

We also considered NCLs Getaway and the Carnival Breeze but the deals were not good enough to make us change.

I happened to log into my Carnival account today as I was looking for information for a March Break trip. I noticed I had a Casino Offer. I thought I would take a look to see what the Breeze came up as. Now I am tempted to change. I can get a inside stateroom for $660.32 or a balcony for $900.32. Those include taxes too.

We have never sailed RCI before. We have been on Disney Wonder once and Carnival 3 times (Liberty, Ecstasy, Paradise). I found the carnival ships blah with not much for entertainment . We ended up in the Casino every night (hence the reason I probably got the Casino offer). We are very much looking forward to trying out one of the big megaships because there is so much to do.

I really need some advice from those of you who may have been on either ship (OR BOTH) with what to do. Should I keep the Oasis or go with the Breeze? I think the biggest sacrifice going to the Breeze is we would lose all the entertainment options of RCI. I am not too worried about the extra night as the cost difference is quite significant.

Travelling is me (38) and my husband Paul (39). We do not do shore excursions or signature dining (we only eat where the food is included).

Here are the itineraries
Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas
7 Night Eastern Caribbean
Sails to: Nassau, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Central Park Balcony C1 - $1680 CAD, taxes in, + a $150 OBC

Carnival Breeze
6 Day Eastern Caribbean
Sails to: Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Turk; Nassau, The Bahamas
inside stateroom - $660.32
Balcony - $900.32

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[ReeceRN]

I cannot speak to any Carnival ships, but I can say RCI is a great cruise line. My wife and I are sailing on the Freedom in 3 weeks with basically the same ports of call minus Nassau (not a big loss for me, I didn't enjoy Nassau). We know many other friends that swear by RCI (and some have sailed with both companies).
You have nothing to loose by sticking with the Oasis. The Oasis class of ships are wonderful! The last RCI cruise we took had plenty of entertainment every night.
The best advice I can give you is look at your ports of call. Google them, try and find other blogs where past travelers will post valid and "truthful" reviews.

Good luck! I know this wasn't much but I hope it helps!

 

[MAJPLO]

Oasis hands down. We haven't been on Carnival so that may not be fair to say, but I will say it anyway. There are so many fun things to do on Oasis and if you got a good deal I would stick with it.

 

[NancyIL]

Oasis is $218.57/night, after factoring in the value of the onboard credit, and Carnival is $150.05/night. The entertainment on Oasis may be well worth the price difference. I haven't been on either ship, but I have been on 11 RCI cruises. Oasis and Allure are like no other ships, and since you got a very good price for that cruise, I would keep it.

 

[canyoncam]

Oasis

If you find the Carnival ships blah you will be blown away by the beauty and sheer size of Oasis. No I have not sailed Carnival so another biased opinion. You may not even find yourself in the casino because of so many other entertainment options. Just an FYI that some of that does require planning and prebooking. But there is the casino if you do get bored

Plus the itineraries make the decision for me. You do not mention your cruise stop history so that may not be a factor for you but since you mentioned the stops I'll give you myy thoughts. Though I would love to stop at Grand Turk I do not care for Jamaica unless doing an excursion which you say you do not. Though I would say if you stick to RCI you should consider Bernard Tours to really enjoy the island of St Marten. And if you can force yourself to go to St John while at St Thomas there is the prettiest water I have ever seen!

Then for food Oasis has so many free dining options that are very tasty! I never did get to all of them out of 7 days on the sister ship Allure. we did eat all dinners in main dining at our time dining, which once again reservations are highly recommended even if you just make them day of. In fact on last day I HAD to eat a fourth meal at the Windjammer buffet because I hadn't made it there yet!

I think you have a good price for what is offered. You get what you paid for. Carnival lacks the dazzling factor but some are fine with that for the savings. So it comes down to what you want to spend and what you are comfortable with. Since you have sailed Carnival before you won't edissappointed but to meit looks like your ready for Royal Caribbean.

 

[Sheribo]

I have done both ships this year. I have done many cruises and the carnival ships have never lived up to Royal Caribbean however the Breeze is a game changer. The shows on the Oasis, the restaurants, activities and design are amazing and It was definitely the nicest cruise we have ever done. But. We took two cruises on the Breeze this year as well and I was blown away by the new designs, top notch food and staterooms. Our previous Carnival cruises were less than stellar and the ships needed updating but the Breeze has me hooked. The adults only area with shaded loungers, the food selections (Guys Burger Joint especially) and the library bar were our favourites. The shows were the typical lame cruise ship shows except for the Punchliner comedy club which was hilarious. For the money, I'd take the Breeze again.

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

Thanks everyone for the advice. We are still not sure what we are going to do. Final payment is due on the 15th so we have until then to decide

 

[vacation_junkie]

Please help me with advice on whether I should do the Oasis or the Breeze!

We booked on the RCI Oasis of the Seas in February. We are sailing Nov 29 2014 from Ft Lauderdale. We got a GREAT deal (I think) - a Central Park Balcony (C1) for $1680 CAD, taxes in, + a $150 OBC. That is for 2 adults. Final payment is due 9/15. All was well with the world.

We also considered NCLs Getaway and the Carnival Breeze but the deals were not good enough to make us change.

I happened to log into my Carnival account today as I was looking for information for a March Break trip. I noticed I had a Casino Offer. I thought I would take a look to see what the Breeze came up as. Now I am tempted to change. I can get a inside stateroom for $660.32 or a balcony for $900.32. Those include taxes too.

We have never sailed RCI before. We have been on Disney Wonder once and Carnival 3 times (Liberty, Ecstasy, Paradise). I found the carnival ships blah with not much for entertainment . We ended up in the Casino every night (hence the reason I probably got the Casino offer). We are very much looking forward to trying out one of the big megaships because there is so much to do.

I really need some advice from those of you who may have been on either ship (OR BOTH) with what to do. Should I keep the Oasis or go with the Breeze? I think the biggest sacrifice going to the Breeze is we would lose all the entertainment options of RCI. I am not too worried about the extra night as the cost difference is quite significant.

Travelling is me (38) and my husband Paul (39). We do not do shore excursions or signature dining (we only eat where the food is included).

Here are the itineraries
Royal Caribbean Oasis of the Seas
7 Night Eastern Caribbean
Sails to: Nassau, Bahamas; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Central Park Balcony C1 - $1680 CAD, taxes in, + a $150 OBC

Carnival Breeze
6 Day Eastern Caribbean
Sails to: Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Grand Turk; Nassau, The Bahamas
inside stateroom - $660.32
Balcony - $900.32

Thanks in advance for the help!

Carnival Breeze is our Favourite ship to Date!
We were so tossed up between a Breeze revisit or the Allure for February. We ended up going with the Allure because we got an incredible price with the Canadian Residency Rate. It worked out to almost $1000 less then what the Breeze cruise would have been. It was a no-brainer.

We are excited to try the Allure, but have a Breeze revisit planned for soon after it!

The Breeze is unlike any Carnival ship we've sailed on. And we've almost sailed them all. Decor is different! We loved it.

St Thomas & St Maartin are 2 of my Fav ports.
Give the Oasis a shot!
You wont be disappointed in either choice!

 

[vacation_junkie]

I have done both ships this year. I have done many cruises and the carnival ships have never lived up to Royal Caribbean however the Breeze is a game changer. The shows on the Oasis, the restaurants, activities and design are amazing and It was definitely the nicest cruise we have ever done. But. We took two cruises on the Breeze this year as well and I was blown away by the new designs, top notch food and staterooms. Our previous Carnival cruises were less than stellar and the ships needed updating but the Breeze has me hooked. The adults only area with shaded loungers, the food selections (Guys Burger Joint especially) and the library bar were our favourites. The shows were the typical lame cruise ship shows except for the Punchliner comedy club which was hilarious. For the money, I'd take the Breeze again.

Guys Burgers... UGH!
Thats the one thing i'm going to miss when we sail the Allure! I still crave them to this day!

 

[Canadian Disney Mom]

Thank you so much everyone for your help & advice! Final payment is due tomorrow for our Oasis reservation and we have decided to stay with the original reservation. I just made the final payment. I always get good deals on Carnival and this Oasis cruise is just too good to pass up. I can't wait until Nov 29th - I know I will not be disappointed.

 

[DnA2010]

You will love Oasis, we were thrilled with our cruise. We also really liked the Central Park Balcony room. We loved being close to the Central Park Cafe- the best breakfast and lunch spot. The shows, especially the water show are fantastic. Would love to go back!