sargemrs

1 hour ago, toxicfairy said:

We were supposed to cruise when Hurricane Harvey hit in Texas. We got stuck at a hotel for 5  days. Cruise port, airports EVERYTHING closed down. But I think that was definitely  a worse case senerio. We wound up finally finding a van and drove over 30 hours home. 

We flew into Texas just as the hurricane was starting. It's a story for the books. But at the time it was scary and extremely disappointing. 

3 families driving in but it would be a nightmare!

2 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

Which ports are you worried about that Allure goes to?

 

I can understand mobility and transport being a problem.

Actually all of them on this cruise.  We’ve read about mugging, murders, poisonings….. maybe not right at the ports but close by….. scared!

3 hours ago, ramja96 said:

We experienced an itinerary change last September on our Harmony cruise out of Port Canaveral. It was supposed to be an Eastern Carib itinerary, but was changed to Cozumel and Costa Maya due to Hurricane Ian.  While we were looking forward to an Eastern Carib route, the disappointment of going to Cozumel for the umpteenth time didn't deter us from having a fantastic time, still. Ironically, we had the calmest seas we've ever experienced in the Gulf.  This pic was during one of our sea days in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.

We wouldn’t care for a change of ports.  We’re just going to be with family and the cruise.  We’re “ olders “ and afraid of the crime in our ports.  We plan to stay onboard.

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

My suggestion is the ship will take care of you, worry about your car.

 

I lost my car to hurricane Ike, parked at ezcruise 

 

Sept 2021 a cat 1 passed thru Galveston and I did get some water seepage thru my drivers door and can see salt water still on my cloth seats, parked at lighthouse

 

I would consider a indoor parking place late August or sept. Maybe a higher elevation. The seawall side where they bring in sand is higher than the port side. I only had water up to my car top, the port had 17 ft of water during hurricane Ike.

 

Anyway .. my suggestion is to consider indoor parking depending on your car. Galveston floods easily. Or park at a hotel on higher ground, not near the port. 

Thank you for those ideas!  I’ve already paid for parking by the Terminal ( so we could just walk over) but may reconsider!  

Just worrying about what happens if there is a hurricane in end of August when we’re cruising on the Allure!  Anyone experienced what happens if so?

Are there any differences between connecting and non connecting staterooms?  We're in a GS and I noticed it's connecting.  It looks a tad bigger but might be optical illusion.  Thanks for information.  If there is a difference, is it hard to change staterooms?

2 minutes ago, dateacher said:

yes they can.  We just returned from the Oasis and the adults had passports and their kids had birth certificates.

Thanks for that info.  Appreciate it!

The ONLY negative of Haven is you won’t want to go back to regular cabins!  It’s amazing! Our son got the OS on the Joy and several of us got the Aft Haven.  Most exciting trip ever!

14 minutes ago, alfaeric said:

If anyone remembers the view from the Viking Crown Lounge- it's that, but a few decks higher compared to a normal VCL (and it actually used to be the VCL back when the Allure was new).  On the ship, if you look down, you can see some of the pool deck and Central Park.  

But being that high, you also see lots and lots of water.

Sounds nice!

On 4/4/2023 at 9:54 AM, alfaeric said:

Can always go to the MDR for dinner if you don't like the view.  Forgive me for thinking the CK view is considerably better than the alternative.

For those who have sailed Allure of the Seas, what is the view in CK?

17 hours ago, tennislvr8 said:

Question... We will be sailing with our daughter and her two children. We do not have time to get passports. She is using their birth certificates which have their father's name on them. Does she need anything else other than their birth certificates. There is a custody agreement, he geta them for 3 hours every other Saturday and Sunday, the cruise is not over his weekend. 

Curious, can underage kids get by with only a birth certificate, if parents have passports?  The turn around right now is 4 months for new passports and our trip is end of august, so it’s tight timing!

17 minutes ago, djvcr said:

You get both with Royal as well. If sailing on Oasis class they rarely ever do a port with tenders due to size but the Concierge will generally leave a room message each night letting you know the details and where to meet for each port if you want to be escorted off ahead of crowds. 

 

Embarkation you get priority boarding and separate security/check-in space.  Disembarkation they generally have 3 meeting times and the concierge will block an elevator and then bring you to the door of the ship. NCL you then merge with the rest of the line leaving after you leave ship but I found that the land side people direct the suite passengers to a different set of elevators so it is less chaotic.

Oh my…. Sounds wonderful!  Appreciate all the info.

19 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Voom is satellite internet. Some ships have been converted to Starlink where it is a little faster,,,, for now. You are still sharing a internet uplink with 3000-6000 of your newest friends. I have not seen any handi-phones like NCL. We never use our on NCL and sail in RCCL Grand Suites,,,, so really don't take any notice of the phones. 

Thanks for reply!!!!

2 hours ago, Blur said:

Voom is a suite perk only on quantum and Oasis class ships.  People always seem to ask when they are not on that class of ship so def check.

Allure of the Seas is Oasis class?

25 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

The Voom package you get is the same Stream tier as everyone else - performance varies with time, date, location and perhaps some other specifics.

Thanks!

5 minutes ago, alfaeric said:

Just sailed on the Allure in Feb- no USB outlets.  Just plugs to put adaptors in.

 

The closest thing to a USB outlet are the clock radios that have the older Apple 30 pin dock adaptor.  

Ok, thanks for that!

22 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Yes. You need to set up your phone for WiFi calling. Then, with VOOM, you can make/receive calls. You setup and test your WiFi calling before you get on the ship. Then you just leave your phone in airplane mode with wifi turned on and connected to VOOM. 

 

Text will work if you are using an internet based text messaging program like iMessage.

 

On land, AT&T offers either included service (on most plans for Mexico and a lot of Caribbean islands) or their flat rate $10/day international day pass. 

2 questions for you, please!  I understand Voom is a suite perk.  Does it work fast or slow and sluggish, also do suites have phones to be used to call others in group, (like NCL has in Haven suites), or the concierge?

On 4/3/2023 at 9:10 AM, Leleka said:

 

No, we'll just have electronics like phones or tablets. I just wasn't sure which term to use, adapters or converters.

We’ll be on Allure in August and being an older ship,I was wondering how many plugs/USB outlets it has, so we can keep everything charged.

34 minutes ago, djvcr said:

 

I used to sail NCL more and used to sail in Haven. Some of the biggest differences are:

 

• Costal Kitchen changes menu every lunch (I think this is true, never eat lunch except boarding day) and dinner vs Haven is the same all week.
• Like NCL, Costal Kitchen breakfast menu is same every day. For breakfast both have self serve express options with pastries, meats, yogurt, etc. but on RCL, those items are on the suite lounge side vs directly in the dining room (it is really one large shared area for lounge and restaurant).
• As for food quality it is all subjective. I like some things from both menus but I do like having the dinner menu change each night. NCL I think you can get surf and turf every day if you want though so that is a pro there.
• Costal Kitchen you get happy hour from 4 to 8 with mixed drinks, and beer wine soda from 11 to 11 daily so you don't really need a drink package. NCL doesn't give any free drinks in Haven without paying the taxes on the drink package which is still several hundred dollars.
• Haven is ringed by staterooms so the only views outside are from the sun deck or the dining room. Costal Kitchen and Suite Lounge have large 2 story windows overlooking the pool deck and ocean views so it is very bight and airy.
• Overall I think the suites on RCL are larger than NCL, the GS is roomier than the standard Haven suite and there are no lofts on NCL.
• NCL has the Haven complex with a private pool which makes it a little more secluded. Newer RCL ships are moving this direction (Wonder and Icon, though I don't think they actually have a pool, maybe hot tubs).
• The concierge on RCL and NCL do similar things and are about equal.
• NCL has butlers to bring you snacks. The only thing similar to that is Star Class with the Genie but they are more like private concierges that arrange anything you want and give personal attention. I have not sailed in Star class so can't comment further.
• Overall, Oasis class has far more entertainment options and much better flow in public areas than any NCL ship. With boardwalk, promenade, central park, pool deck, they spread out passenger congestion. They don't do many activities in central park though and is usually quiet and there is music at night.
•  

Thanks so much for your thoughts on that!  We didn’t really use our butler that much and the treats they bring every afternoon was too much for us!  We should do fine without one but we DO enjoy priority embarking and disembarking and priority tenders!

On 3/17/2023 at 9:59 PM, BirdTravels said:

Costal Kitchen follows the ship's dress guidance. That being said, you will see shorts and un-tucked polo shirts every night (including "formal night") in the Main Dining room and Costal Kitchen. CK, in general is less formal than the MDR. Something that we really hate. Don't expect a table cloth or even decent service. We walked out of CK twice during our cruise last year because the food and service was abysmal. 

 

Reservations are required. Can you show up and wait around, sure, but it will be a long wait if everyone else has reservations and the restaurant is busy. The Concierge will reach out to you on the week of your cruise, send them your CK reservation requests. 

I think I remember you from NCL boards, and you're saying Coastal Kitchen, not too good?  As you know the suite dining room on NCL is amazing, IMO.  Could you give a comparison of cabins, (suites) and service, and food of the two?  We're booked on Allure of the Seas because our dates and itineraries weren't compatible on NCL for 18 of us. I hope we didn't make a mistake, but it seems all cruise lines have suffered since the pandemic and this is our first cruise for 4 years, so here's hoping! 

2 hours ago, silentbob007 said:

The planning piece

 

We’ve flown several times with my son. The first two times I felt more like a pack mule than a person as we tried to juggle the checked bags, the carry on bags, the stroller, the travel crib, and the car seat. Now that my son is two and a half, we ditched the crib and I was trying very hard not to take the unwieldy beast of a car seat. We also now have a Mountain Buggy stroller that folds to fit in the overhead.  When my BIL decided to drive, I asked if he could bring an extra seat for the drive to the port. Since we are coming back on Easter, I just booked us on the cruise line bus to the airport (out of IAH instead of HOB on the way home). With the stroller, my wife’s large purse, my son’s small backpack, my backpack, a single roller board, and my CPAP, it was still a lot to handle (in addition to 2 large and one small checked bags).

 

The Holliday Inn Express in Webster was a compromise with the other family members who had already booked it. Otherwise I probably would have stayed at the Doubletree near the airport with a shuttle and then gone back to the airport the next day to catch a shuttle bus to the port since we did not have a car seat. 

Enjoying your review.  We'll be onboard with 18 in August!  Every little detail will be appreciated!!

16 minutes ago, Krazcruiser said:

Tags now available for sailing on April 30th. Am I the only one that gets EXCITED about luggage tag day.

Here's another one that gets excited about luggage tags!!!  Can't wait for our August cruise on Allure.  Please review your cruise when you can!!!

On 3/29/2023 at 8:19 PM, ssb said:

 

I used it and got the discount!  Thanks again!!

3 hours ago, ssb said:

 

Thanks so much!!

On 3/22/2023 at 10:38 AM, luniz97 said:

Thanks booked it with a $10 coupon I found.  Looks like Galveston is sold out mostly, so I decided to go to Nasa the day before

Could you direct me to the link for the $10.00 coupon? We’re cruising in August.