Unforgettable Caribbean Cruise: My Click Retreat Experience on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas
The past week has been a whirlwind of activity, from catching up on work and mailing out wedding invitations to Connor’s final medical residency interviews. It’s hard to believe that just a week ago, I was soaking up the Caribbean sun, a stark contrast to the snow and freezing rain that welcomed me back home. But now, I’m thrilled to share all the details of my incredible journey with you: everything we did, where we explored, and, let’s be honest, what it was truly like to call a colossal cruise ship home for an entire week!
Aboard the Magnificent Oasis of the Seas: A City at Sea
Remember my initial worry about getting lost or even left behind? Well, while the latter didn’t happen, getting lost on board became a frequent occurrence! This ship wasn’t just big; it was absolutely colossal. The Click Retreat was proudly sponsored by Royal Caribbean, and our floating home for the week was none other than the Oasis of the Seas. It holds the impressive title of the second-largest cruise ship in the world and is the largest cruise ship to sail the Caribbean. Fun fact: I later discovered the world’s absolute largest cruise ship is only two inches longer – a truly negligible difference on this scale!
Central Park
To truly grasp its magnitude, imagine this: the Oasis of the Seas comfortably accommodates over 5,400 passengers and a dedicated crew of more than 2,300 members. It’s like a bustling city unto itself, complete with 27 diverse dining options, 7 distinct “neighborhoods,” a vibrant casino, a thrilling zip-line, 17 decks to explore, five sparkling swimming pools, a mini-golf course, and practically every amenity you could possibly dream of. To put it into an even more astonishing perspective, this ship is literally four times the size of my college town!
The Royal Promenade, pictured below, truly felt like a bustling mini-mall, offering an array of restaurants, clubs, bars, and shops. While it was impressive, I confess I didn’t spend much time here, as I often had to remind myself that I was, in fact, on a moving ship!
One of my absolute favorite aspects of the entire cruise experience was our stateroom, or more specifically, our incredible balcony. A fantastic perk of being part of the blogger retreat group was having our own stateroom with a private seaside balcony, which I shared with my roommate. The balcony was surprisingly spacious, and given the ship’s enormous size, it provided a wonderful private escape. I loved stepping out in the mornings to enjoy the fresh sea air, getting some work done at the table, or simply savoring a complimentary room service breakfast while gazing at the ocean. Although, to be completely honest, the room service food left a bit to be desired, the breathtaking views more than compensated for it!
Island Hopping: Nassau, St. Thomas, and St. Maarten
Our Caribbean adventure truly began when we departed from Fort Lauderdale on a Saturday afternoon. Our first exciting destination was Nassau, Bahamas, which we reached by Sunday morning. This was a relatively short stop, giving us only about 5 to 6 hours (starting bright and early at 7 AM!) before we had to reboard the ship for our next port, St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands. Our group’s excursion in Nassau was exclusively to the famous Atlantis Resort.
The Click Retreat thoughtfully organized excursions for our group at each port, and our three full days at sea were packed with engaging conference sessions and some much-needed free time. While we had the option to explore independently, most of us chose to stick with the organized group activities. In Nassau, our excursion included entry to Atlantis’s incredible Aquaventure park, pools, and pristine beaches. As you might anticipate, Atlantis felt a little extravagant and quite commercial, but its Aquaventure water park was nothing short of spectacular!
The water slides were truly amazing! They even boasted a mile-long lazy river, complete with exhilarating rapids. A large portion of our group enthusiastically tried nearly all the rides. We even mustered the courage to brave the ‘Leap of Faith,’ which features a heart-pounding, near-vertical 60-foot drop that propels you through a clear tunnel submerged within a shark-filled lagoon. It was absolutely nuts!
Sea Day Adventures: Yoga, Photography, and Cocktails
Monday morning on the ship began with a lively group yoga session in the fitness center. Let me tell you, practicing yoga on a cruise ship is an experience unto itself, especially when the vessel is navigating some significant ocean swells! Imagine 25 people attempting to maintain a steady Warrior Pose as the ship gently (or not so gently) sways beneath them. It was both challenging and incredibly entertaining. Apparently, the waters were rougher than usual heading into the Caribbean; though I never felt seasick, I definitely felt the constant, pronounced motion of the boat.
The remainder of the day was dedicated to various enriching photography sessions. We had the privilege of learning ‘8 Camera Essentials’ from professional photographers Me Ra Koh and Brian Tausend, followed by an impromptu photoshoot in the ship’s main dining room – a fantastic opportunity to put our new skills into practice.
Later that evening, we enjoyed a delightful cocktail hour, generously sponsored by Patron (and no, I assure you, we didn’t spend the entire week simply drinking!). This special event featured a mini drink styling and photography session led by Joy and Tracy. You absolutely must try their Vanilla Sugar Daiquiris – they were truly exceptional!
St. Thomas: Scenic Beauty and a Close Call
The next morning, we arrived in beautiful St. Thomas. Our planned excursion for the day involved visiting several picturesque spots across the island, culminating in an afternoon spent relaxing at the renowned Magen’s Bay.
We made a quick stop at St. Thomas’s Mountain Top, where we were treated to complimentary daiquiris while admiring an absolutely breathtaking panoramic view of Magen’s Bay below. Imagine fifty photographers, each laden with an impressive array of camera equipment, all trying to capture the magnificent vista – it was quite a scene!
It felt perfectly fitting that I captured a photo of my roommate, Meagan, thoroughly enjoying her strawberry daiquiri against such a stunning backdrop. (Incidentally, we were mistaken for sisters at least thirty times throughout the entire trip – a running joke we both enjoyed!)
Our next destination was the highly anticipated Magen’s Bay beach itself. Despite being quite busy, it undeniably lived up to its reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful beaches. The water was incredibly calm and crystal clear, inviting us in immediately. After enjoying some lunch, we settled down for a few hours of blissful relaxation. However, due to an unfortunate timing error and an unplanned “cat nap,” Meagan and I very nearly missed our group’s departure back to the cruise ship. It was a heart-stopping moment – our worst fear almost realized!
St. Maarten: A Dual-Nation Paradise and Culinary Delight
We were back on the boat by the end of the afternoon, swiftly departing for our next, and what turned out to be my favorite, destination: St. Maarten. This unique island offered the charm of both its French and Dutch sides, providing a truly diverse experience.
Our St. Maarten visit included a comprehensive island tour, with several strategic stops for fantastic photo opportunities. Afterwards, we headed to Orient Beach, where the water was noticeably much warmer than in St. Thomas, making it perfect for playing in the waves with a bunch of fellow retreat members.
Our subsequent stop took us to Le Sand Beach, where we were treated to an absolutely delicious lunch right on the sand. This meal was, hands down, the best I had during the entire trip! We savored perfectly seared mahi-mahi accompanied by a fresh mango salsa, roasted peppers, and tender asparagus. The fish was simply exquisite. This stop was my ultimate favorite because the beach felt wonderfully isolated and serene. I truly could have spent the entire day there, but alas, we only had a few precious hours before we had to depart again to get back to the ship.
My biggest criticism of cruise life became apparent during these island visits: the limited time allotted for exploring each destination. With only about 6 or 7 hours at most to disembark, you don’t get much flexibility or extensive time to truly delve into the local culture. It certainly solidified my desire to return to St. Maarten (and other islands) at some point in the future, but this time, without the constraints of a cruise schedule!
Life Onboard: Culinary Insights and Dedicated Crew
The final two days of our journey were spent entirely on the ship, making the most of the extensive facilities and planned activities. We participated in many more photography sessions, enjoyed special dinners at various premium onboard restaurants, and experienced one of the absolute highlights of the trip: a private tour of the ship’s massive galley, expertly guided by several of the boat’s talented chefs.
Now, let’s talk about the food, because I know that’s probably what many of you are most curious about. To be candid, I wasn’t entirely overwhelmed by the general food offerings on the ship. While we certainly enjoyed a few exceptional dinners at some of the premium restaurants and a surprisingly impressive sushi lunch, for the most part, the food was simply “okay.” However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that “okay” is pretty darn remarkable when you’re preparing and serving meals for over 5,000 passengers every single day! We spent our first few nights in the main dining room, which offered a delightful three-course menu each evening, but later opted for some of the more casual dining options throughout the rest of the week.
The galley tour offered an incredible behind-the-scenes glimpse into the ship’s massive food operations. Witnessing the sheer scale and complexity of serving and cooking for that many people, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, truly instilled in me a profound amount of respect for the culinary team. On the night of our tour, it was “lobster night” in the main dining room, and they were preparing to serve over 2,500 lobster tails! I’m exhausted just contemplating the immense coordination required.
The dedication of the onboard crew is truly staggering. They work tirelessly, often seven days a week, for five consecutive months. New passengers board the ship the very same day it docks back in Florida each week, meaning there’s no real downtime. The level of skill and organization needed to manage a kitchen staff of that size, comprised of individuals from countless different countries speaking various languages, is simply astounding.
I was also genuinely surprised and impressed to learn that they make all of their breads and pastries from scratch right on board! You should have seen the incredible number of baking sheets overflowing in that pastry kitchen. It was an absolute wonderland of dough and deliciousness.
Given the regular rotation of crew members, the kitchen operates with incredibly detailed instructions and photographic guides for virtually every dish they serve, ensuring consistency and quality no matter who is on duty.
A Memorable Retreat and Lasting Impressions
It’s truly challenging to condense an entire week of such rich experiences into a single post, but I sincerely hope this narrative gives you a comprehensive taste of the trip. Overall, it was an incredibly wonderful experience, providing an invaluable opportunity to connect with fellow bloggers and photographers from across the country.
I had an absolutely fantastic time, forged many new friendships, miraculously avoided a single sunburn (a true triumph!), and returned home brimming with new knowledge and fresh inspiration. So far, 2015 is certainly off to a remarkably good start!
