Allure Crowd question

[20165]

We cruised the carnival dream last year and one of our complaints, actually one of many, was the ship felt extremely crowded. So, needless to say, we are back to RCCL, for good this time… and are considering the Allure this year, but was wondering if they have an over crowded feel given there are 6000 passengers. From what ive seen on line, it looks laid out better and there seems to be a lot of public areas, but I just wanted to get peoples thoughts on the crowds.
thx

[GXmanDC]

I found Allure far less crowded than Voyager or Freedom class. One HUGE caveat is I never went to the Windjammer. The only time I really felt the crowd was when people exited the main theater and proceeded up the stairs. On the other classes, I would head out to the promenade to avoid that crowd, on Allure there is no outside promenade to escape to.

[Familygoboston]

We were on Oasis( same class & design) and I was very worried about this, and I was amazed at how uncrowded it was...some tips fr the very few places we encountered crowds:

-avoid the WJ for lunch, or bfast, so many other options, or we dined at " off times" a late breakfast, then a late lunch.

-avoid the Royal Promenade during parades, the captains gala and you will need to steer around lines of people buying stuff in the center of the promenade; it's either booze or cigarettes or $10 junk...but everyday they are lined up there. I will add that this class is LESS crowded on the Prom than other classes with a Royal Promenade, because it's designed better.

-after a show lets out, don't head up the stairs to the Royal promenade or to the elevators. Instead go past Studio B, there are parallel corridors that run around the outside of Studio B and lead to the casino. This is far less crowded, and you can take the rear elevators or stairs back to the Promenade or elsewhere. Or sit in the empty theater for 10 minutes, that's all, 10 minutes, then leave...crowds are gone!

Don't be afraid of the numbers...it's truly a marvel how the manage everyone!

[Langley Cruisers]

Yes, I would agree with the others(on Oasis). We found the crowds awful at times like this when shows let out, and Muster Drill, and Royal Promenade on parades and Captain's Reception night. Otherwise, the crowds "disperse", if you will. Thousands of people yet a lot of them seem to be doing different things at different times.

[bsbcgirl]

I felt that at times the crowds were a problem. We never seemed to be able to enjoy or get into the Windjammer or enjoy the Royal Promenade in the evening, and had difficulty finding a seat at Sorrentos or Cafe Promenade during this time. On the other hand, the pool deck situation was a plus, since there were more pools and loungers.

[WhiteSoxFan]

Originally Posted by GXmanDC

I found Allure far less crowded than Voyager or Freedom class. One HUGE caveat is I never went to the Windjammer. The only time I really felt the crowd was when people exited the main theater and proceeded up the stairs. On the other classes, I would head out to the promenade to avoid that crowd, on Allure there is no outside promenade to escape to.

I didn't find it any more crowded than any other RC ship I have been on. We went to the windjammer once, it was packed and we headed back out. There really is not need to go to the WJ. Plenty of other venues with better food IMO.

[binjune]

We didn't think it felt very crowded. We were on a sold out sailing and found it hard to believe how many people were on the ship & how uncrowded it felt. The only thing I do recall with regards to crowds is waiting in line at the Park Cafe one morning for the bagel bar area and the line was LONG. I waited a very long time in an extremely slow moving line. All of the other lines seemed to move fast and there seemed to be very good crowd control.

[Phillies14]

Originally Posted by 20165

We cruised the carnival dream last year and one of our complaints, actually one of many, was the ship felt extremely crowded. So, needless to say, we are back to RCCL, for good this time… and are considering the Allure this year, but was wondering if they have an over crowded feel given there are 6000 passengers. From what ive seen on line, it looks laid out better and there seems to be a lot of public areas, but I just wanted to get peoples thoughts on the crowds.
thx

on the boards but here it goes....the ship is engineered so well you would never know there are 6000 passengers on the ship. It has a wonderful open feel, ....K.O. Near Philly

[SandyAtSea]

Just curious, when you exit the aqua theater, is the Boardwalk the only place everyone funnels out to, or can you get down to Deck 5 from there? (or even into the Deck 6 hallway by the aft staterooms). Looking at the deck plans, there doesn't seem to be a stairway anywhere in the area either up or down. I think I read somewhere that they hold muster drill in the aqua theater, and we want to get up to the front of the ship immediately after they release us for sailaway.

[Gangway Style]

Originally Posted by SandyAtSea

Just curious, when you exit the aqua theater, is the Boardwalk the only place everyone funnels out to, or can you get down to Deck 5 from there? (or even into the Deck 6 hallway by the aft staterooms). Looking at the deck plans, there doesn't seem to be a stairway anywhere in the area either up or down. I think I read somewhere that they hold muster drill in the aqua theater, and we want to get up to the front of the ship immediately after they release us for sailaway.

We exited from the Aqua Theater by taking some back steps at the rear and side of the Aqua Theater. These steps take you down one flight to the outside walking deck. Few, if anyone, seem to know about this way to leave the Aqua Theater. We were the only ones who left that way.

But not all passengers muster at the Aqua Theater which does not have a capacity to seat 6000 passengers. We have mustered in the Prominade near the Wave Bar. Our son and his wife have mustered in the gy and in the Aqua Theater on various cruises on Oasis and Allure. I think your muster station very much depends on where your cabin is located.

[Langley Cruisers]

Originally Posted by Phillies14

This has been beat to death.. on the boards but here it goes....

Ya know, I feel you've been kind of grumpy lately. I hope everything is all right.

Every subject on these boards has been beaten to death. There's a new thread today about booze and their search turned up nothing? Come on. Everything has been discussed. If it bothers you, maybe some time away from here, or just not replying might help? Hope you're OK.
.

[Mrs.setsail]

We were on Allure week of Dec.4; it was the easiest embarkation & debark. ever. Very organized. I only felt crowded if 2 shows let out similar times; just sit & relax for 10 min. The lcd screens with restaurant info.about how crowded they were helped tremendously. First time I never went in Windjammer; it was always red(full capacity on lcd screen). So many other venues to enjoy.

[cruisecookie]

We just sailed on the Allure last week (Jan 15-22). The ship was very well organized. Very easy to embark and disembark. Leaving and returning to the ship for shore excursions was very efficient, no long lines.

However, we felt the Windjammer was almost always too crowded. I thought we were smart since we read on cruise critic boards to avoid the Windjammer and go directly to the Park Cafe. On embarkation day there was a line out the door of the Cafe and the waiters kept announcing that there were no seats available! (This was bout noon on embarkation day.) We had better luck in the crowded Windjammer.

I don't spend much time on the pool deck, but my husband does. He felt that the pools were very crowded.

The shows were fantastic! You must have reservations to get into most of the shows. Even with reservations you still should arrive about a half hour before showtime to get a good seat.

Our Allure cruise was the most international cruise we have ever sailed. There were passengers from all over the world.

[Phillies14]

Originally Posted by Langley Cruisers

Ya know, I feel you've been kind of grumpy lately. I hope everything is all right.

Every subject on these boards has been beaten to death. There's a new thread today about booze and their search turned up nothing? Come on. Everything has been discussed. If it bothers you, maybe some time away from here, or just not replying might help? Hope you're OK.
.

Thanks for making me smile!...I"m so close to my B2B on Allure and it's making me insane with the countdown...I'll be less grumpy and will try to accentuate the positive for the next few weeks.....K.O. Near Philly.....Ken

[SPDBigG]

Originally Posted by 20165

We cruised the carnival dream last year and one of our complaints, actually one of many, was the ship felt extremely crowded. So, needless to say, we are back to RCCL, for good this time… and are considering the Allure this year, but was wondering if they have an over crowded feel given there are 6000 passengers. From what ive seen on line, it looks laid out better and there seems to be a lot of public areas, but I just wanted to get peoples thoughts on the crowds.
thx

Given the testimonials here, I guess you'll just have to DO IT to find out for yourself. Go for it and have a blast.

[erries]

I agree that it only seems crowded in the Windjammer and sometimes at Park Cafe at lunchtime (especially on that first day -- gotta get those roast beef sandwiches!). With Park Cafe, there's not much you can do but patiently wait in the long line, and be willing to go elsewhere to sit if there aren't any available tables. (We did this at lunch on sea days a few times and just carried our plates up to the pool deck.) With Windjammer, though, as long as you can just be a little bit patient, it's not *that* bad. We always try to find a table first, then one of us sits while the other gets food, then we switch. That way we're not walking around with full plates and drinks trying to find a place to sit. The buffet lines themselves are also pretty crowded, but it moves pretty quickly.

Aside from those two locations, I've not felt crowded at all on the Oasis. As many others have said, its design helps disperse the crowds, and even exiting shows isn't that bad if you're willing to wait five minutes or if you know a less popular route. In fact, I was surprised at how deserted some areas always seemed to be! Some of the bars and dance clubs off the beaten path seemed totally deserted the few times we popped our heads in, though that could've just been bad timing.

So no, it's not crowded! Go and have fun.

[SandyAtSea]

Originally Posted by HeavySurf

We exited from the Aqua Theater by taking some back steps at the rear and side of the Aqua Theater. These steps take you down one flight to the outside walking deck. Few, if anyone, seem to know about this way to leave the Aqua Theater. We were the only ones who left that way.

But not all passengers muster at the Aqua Theater which does not have a capacity to seat 6000 passengers. We have mustered in the Prominade near the Wave Bar. Our son and his wife have mustered in the gy and in the Aqua Theater on various cruises on Oasis and Allure. I think your muster station very much depends on where your cabin is located.

Thanks, you're right, I may be assuming the wrong muster station. Our cabins are on 12 far aft. But I appreciate the info just in case! We thought we'd try to head forward on a less-traveled route and then take the forward elevators up to 14 for the sailaway on top of the bridge.

[BillOh]

Originally Posted by 20165

We cruised the carnival dream last year and one of our complaints, actually one of many, was the ship felt extremely crowded. So, needless to say, we are back to RCCL, for good this time… and are considering the Allure this year, but was wondering if they have an over crowded feel given there are 6000 passengers. From what ive seen on line, it looks laid out better and there seems to be a lot of public areas, but I just wanted to get peoples thoughts on the crowds.
thx

For me, no. Allure is big enough and well thought out that you can avoid crowds easily, but some popular venues will seem a little crowded and if you have kids they might be harder to avoid. My wife and I were together with no kids so we avoided some crowded places with ease. If we attended popular events in the atrium, we hung out at Sorrentos, or looked at photos until crowds cleared. If we didn't have an early excursion we waited to let others with earlier excursions get off the ship. We used the running track in the morning at the peak time for the windjammer. When shows let out of the Aquatheater we would walk all the way to the front of the ship before using stairs or elevators. To summarize, we found the crowds quite managable. Keep in mind we cruised May 1st, less kids on board than other times and reports I've read say the personality of each cruise varies somewhat. Enjoy, its a great ship.

[BillOh]

Originally Posted by erries

I agree that it only seems crowded in the Windjammer and sometimes at Park Cafe at lunchtime (especially on that first day -- gotta get those roast beef sandwiches!)

Cruise Critic has to take the blame for that one. The word has gotten out (beat to death ) I was lucky to cruise her in the first 6 months of operation and this was still a "secret".

[20165]

Thanks for the response everyone. We booked last night for this sept. Sorry if the question has been beat to death, but we needed to make a decision quickly given we need adjoining cabins and they were getting close to being sold out.

We are excited to be back on RCL. The last carnival cruise was a total nightmare. Waaaaaayyy too many people on the dream and poorly laid out.

thanks again.