My Family Cruise on Oasis of the Seas: An Honest Review of Royal Caribbean’s 8-Night Southern Caribbean Sailing

In January, my family set sail aboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas on an 8-night Southern Caribbean itinerary, stopping in Aruba, Curaçao, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. We cruised with two young toddlers, which always adds an extra layer of logistics, our oldest son, and my parents—but I’m happy to report this trip exceeded our expectations. Pictures are at the end as always.

From near-perfect weather (with just a few passing rain showers) to excellent entertainment, smooth port days, and plenty of family-friendly amenities, this sailing reminded me why Oasis-class ships are so beloved. If you’re considering Royal Caribbean—especially with kids—here’s a full breakdown of our experience.

What I Packed (and Would 100% Pack Again)

Cruise cabins are compact, and organization is key—especially with kids. These items were absolute MVPs (check out my cruise folder here):

• Travel sound machine – A must for helping toddlers sleep in a new environment.

• Magnetic hooks (strong hold) – Cruise cabin walls are metal, and these were lifesavers.

• Small mesh organizers – Hung from the hooks and kept things like the TV remote, sunscreen, sunglasses, small toys, and random odds and ends off every surface.

• Towel bands – Essential for keeping towels secured to pool deck loungers.

• Lanyards with clips – You’re constantly handing over your SeaPass card (drinks, shopping, kids club), and this made life so much easier.

• Mini mesh beach bags for the kids – Perfect for collecting seashells and treasures.

• Foldable sand buckets – Took up almost no space and were great at the beach.

• Pump hand soap for the bathroom – Royal only provides bar soap, and this was a small luxury that made a big difference.

• Packing cubes – An absolute sanity saver. They kept everything organized and made repacking so much easier.

• Compact double travel stroller – Lightweight and essential for embarkation, debarkation, and some port days.

• Backpack for port and pool days – Comfortable, hands-free, and practical.

What I Packed But Didn’t Need

Even seasoned travelers overpack—here’s what I’d skip next time:

• Body wash – The provided soap was great.

• Hair tools – Between the wind and humidity, my hair was up 95% of the time (even at dinner).

• Too many outfits – I packed two daytime outfits plus dinner outfits daily. Totally unnecessary.

What I Forgot (and Had to Buy or Wish I Had)

Learn from my mistakes:

• Baby powder – Crucial for chafing in warm climates.

• Aloe / after-sun lotion – You will get more sun than you expect, even with sunscreen.

• Sunglasses – Still can’t believe I forgot these.

• Baseball hat – Though it did give me an excuse to buy a souvenir.

• Portable fan – There is very little airflow in cruise cabins, and this would’ve been a game-changer.

Port Stops: Aruba, Curaçao & Perfect Day at CocoCay

Overall, the ports were well organized with clear signage and easy navigation. Taxis were readily available everywhere—just be sure to bring cash.

Curaçao

• Taxi cost: $10 per person each way, including small kids sitting on laps (the most expensive of our stops).

• While beautiful, this was our least favorite stop overall.

• We went to Mambo Beach & enjoyed the beach cove & shops.

Aruba

• Taxi cost: $5 per person, and they didn’t charge for small children.

• Beaches felt closer and easier to access and the water was pristine blue.

• This was our second favorite stop and a great beach day destination.

• We visited Eagle Beach and explored downtown.

Perfect Day at CocoCay (Our Favorite!)

Royal Caribbean absolutely nails their private island experience.

• If you have a Deluxe Beverage Package, all drinks are included on the island.

• Without a package, you still get free water and juices, just like on the ship.

• Tons of free food options across the island.

• A tram system makes getting around incredibly easy, with stops at beaches, pools, and splash pads.

I could’ve easily spent twice as much time here and still wanted more. I cannot wait to go back.

Entertainment & Food Onboard

The entertainment on Oasis of the Seas was outstanding. Make sure to reserve those reservation in the app when they open a few weeks prior to your sailing.

Shows

• Frozen in Time (ice skating show) – Truly spectacular. Even our toddlers were completely mesmerized.

• Aqua show – A must-see. The talent is unreal, especially considering the ship is moving.

• Cats (the musical) – Not our favorite, but still very well performed. The talent level onboard is impressive.

Dining

We ate in the Main Dining Room most nights and had wonderful waiters. We chose early dining at 5:00 PM, which was perfect for kids and allowed us to enjoy shows and explore afterward.

• Rotating nightly menus

• Order as much as you want—multiple appetizers, entrees, or desserts are all included

We also opted for My Family Time dining - the kids food was served ahead of the rest of our food. The kids were getting their food as the adults were getting their appetizers. Make sure you tell your travel agent to select my family time dining.

Favorite quick-service spots:

• El Loco Fresh – Taco and nacho bar perfection.

• Sorrento's – perfectly cooked pizza always available? Say less.

• Park Café (Central Park) – Best breakfast sandwiches and grilled cheese, and conveniently close to our stateroom.

And of course, the Bionic Bar—where robots make your drinks! Such a fun, unique experience. My favorite drink of the trip was the Desert Pear Margarita. You have to try it on your next Royal cruise.

Kids Club: Adventure Ocean

Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean program is one of the standout features for families cruising with kids. The kids club is complimentary and offered for children ages 3–17, with programming and spaces designed specifically for each age group. For families traveling with younger children, Royal also offers a paid nursery for kids under 3 at $9 per hour.

The age-based breakdown includes:

• Ages 3–5: Dedicated playroom with age-appropriate activities

• Ages 6–12: Engaging programming with games, crafts, movies, and themed activities

• Ages 13–17: A separate teen space designed just for them

My son was in the 6–12 age group, and he absolutely loved Adventure Ocean. The staff are expertly trained, and the spaces are fun, organized, and welcoming. Between movies, crafts, and play areas, there was always something going on—and he couldn’t wait to go back.

If you’re hoping to enjoy some kid-free time, whether that’s a date night, a show, or a quiet afternoon in the adults-only Solarium, Adventure Ocean is truly a must. It gave us peace of mind knowing our kids were happy and well cared for—and gave us the chance to actually relax and enjoy parts of the ship just for adults.

Pro Tip for Parents

Be sure to register your children for Adventure Ocean on embarkation day. This is especially important if you plan to use the nursery for children under 3, as nursery availability is limited and time slots can fill up quickly. Registering early gives you the best chance to secure the times you want and helps your vacation run much more smoothly from day one.

Embarkation & Debarkation in Fort Lauderdale

Embarkation and debarkation in Fort Lauderdale were both fairly smooth overall—though debarkation was a bit more of a cluster compared to boarding. Traveling with toddlers, efficiency is especially important to us, and having our compact double stroller made a huge difference during both processes. Overall, Royal Caribbean’s organization really stood out.

Embarkation was honestly blissful. Bag drop and security moved quickly, and we were onboard in under 30 minutes from arrival—an absolute win when traveling with little ones.

Debarkation, as expected, requires a bit more effort than boarding. A few nights before the final day, your stateroom attendant will deliver luggage tags along with detailed debarkation instructions. You’ll have two options: carry your own luggage off the ship or place your tagged bags outside your stateroom the night before to be collected and brought to the terminal.

If you choose to have Royal handle your luggage, be sure to pack a small carry-on with anything you’ll need the next morning—change of clothes, wallets, IDs, medications, and essentials. Your luggage tag will list an assigned debarkation time, and it’s important to wait until that time to exit the ship; leaving earlier means your bags may not yet be available in the terminal, resulting in extra waiting.

Once you collect your luggage, you’ll proceed through customs before exiting the terminal. While not as seamless as embarkation, the process was manageable and clearly guided throughout.

My Best Tips & Tricks

• Pack organization tools—they make a small cabin feel manageable.

• Utilize the kids clubs - my son's favorite part of the trip was meeting friends.

• Bring cash for taxis in ports.

• Choose early dining—or you will miss shows and also be stuck waiting in lines to get into the main dining room. (Plus, if you dine first, you can walk right to your table without waiting to be escorted in as your seapass will state your dining table number)

• Don’t overpack clothes—you’ll rewear more than you think.

• Take advantage of Royal’s private island perks—CocoCay alone is worth the sailing.

Final Thoughts on Oasis of the Seas & Royal Caribbean

Sailing on Oasis of the Seas reaffirmed why Royal Caribbean is such a strong choice for families. The ship offers something for everyone—amazing entertainment, excellent dining, well-run ports, and thoughtful family-friendly details. Royal is one of two cruise lines that offers diapered splash areas for young travelers - this is a huge advantage to sailing with them.

Would I sail Oasis again? Absolutely.

Would I cruise Royal Caribbean again? Without hesitation.

If you’re considering a Southern Caribbean itinerary or wondering whether a large ship can still feel magical (even with kids), this sailing proved that it absolutely can. If you’re ready to start planning your own cruise or want help finding the perfect itinerary for your family, I’d love to help—reach out anytime and let’s start planning your next trip.