Not So "LIVE" Allure of the Seas: TAKE 2

[Vitulla]

Bookmarked to read tomorrow morning. Thanks!

[wv4dmb]

Michele,

Thanks for the great review, just like your original review.:D

I didn't see How to Train Your Dragon on the list of entertainment reservations?

Is that something you just showed up for, or reserved on the ship?

 

We will be on the Allure very soon! I'm so excited! :)

 

~Steph

[will773]

You can do it again for $175 for a hillside cabana ;-)

 

Great review Michele!

 

I don't think so... :D

[QTMichele]

That picture of the three kids asleep is priceless also. They all have the same face- just different sizes!!:D

 

Thanks! :)

 

Looks like a great place for the kids.

 

Brian - have you ever been? The kids had a blast; although my middle child hated being swarmed by the fish.

 

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'm not booing you! Yes, that's what I was talking about, and thanks for letting me know! I actually went through some of the trees and out on to the rock to take those pictures. It was so great to be able to just sit out there with no one around you. Oh well, guess I won't be doing that ever again... :rolleyes: :mad:

 

I thought it was after seeing your pictures. I'm sorry. :(

[QTMichele]

 

Great review Michele!

 

Thanks! Glad you're enjoying it.

 

Bookmarked to read tomorrow morning. Thanks!

 

Thanks for the bookmark! I hope you enjoy. :)

 

Michele,

Thanks for the great review, just like your original review.:D

I didn't see How to Train Your Dragon on the list of entertainment reservations?

Is that something you just showed up for, or reserved on the ship?

 

We will be on the Allure very soon! I'm so excited! :)

 

~Steph

 

Thanks, Steph!

 

How to Train Your Dragon isn't one of the reserved shows - just go. And do go, if it doesn't conflict with your schedule. There are two showings (I believe they were on the same day).

[travelplus]

My Cousin Co-Wrote Merrimen for Shreik

 

And their wipeout pictures:

 

 

 

We spent the rest of the afternoon checking out the activities for the kids. Allure does a fantastic job taking care of them! The characters are a huge hit, of course, but there are a lot of activities like face painting, superheroes, balloon animals, games, and so much more.

 

 

 

The kids had a great time!

[Song and a Dance]

Thank you so much for this fantastic review and pictures! I sail on Oasis in 27 days with my 9 yr old niece and my 13 & 14yr old boys and couldn't be more excited after reading all the cruise critics stuff! Your info has been fantastic.

 

One question for everyone - the cabanas on Labadee...I saw and still see no mention of them in the excursions available on Oasis. Actually there's no mention of Nellie's Beach at all. Is this only offered for Allure sailings? I have been pouring over all the planning materials and feel like I would have seen it...but...alas...no. Am I missing something???

[Archaegeo]

They may be sold out. On my 17 march sailing on oasis I have a hillside but the water ones were gone when I reserved it. Not a lotof them

[BrianAlt]

Brian - have you ever been? The kids had a blast; although my middle child hated being swarmed by the fish.

 

No, but we've been to Xcaret and Xel-Ha. We had that kind of thing (swarmed by fish) at Xel-Ha. My son was loving it and I even lost him for about 10 minutes! :eek: He swam off in a different direction.

[Buffettphan1]

Alrighty, fellow CCers. I've uploaded the SURPRISE video to Facebook. Here's the link:

 

 

Now, it took me all of 10 or 15 minutes to put this together, and it's my FIRST time EVER making a video and using the software. There are LOTS of kinks, but I think you'll get the idea. ;)

 

 

CLASSIC!!!!!!

 

what a great surprise for yorur sister who clearly appreciates your efforts!!!!

A wonderful family!!!

[QTMichele]

Thank you so much for this fantastic review and pictures! I sail on Oasis in 27 days with my 9 yr old niece and my 13 & 14yr old boys and couldn't be more excited after reading all the cruise critics stuff! Your info has been fantastic.

 

One question for everyone - the cabanas on Labadee...I saw and still see no mention of them in the excursions available on Oasis. Actually there's no mention of Nellie's Beach at all. Is this only offered for Allure sailings? I have been pouring over all the planning materials and feel like I would have seen it...but...alas...no. Am I missing something???

 

I'm glad you've found this helpful! Thank you!

 

I assume you're checking the excursions in your cruise planner on Royal's website? If so, then they are probably gone, but you should all Royal and check, if you are interested. Ours went super fast. In a matter of a day from when I found out (which was right after they were added).

[QTMichele]

No, but we've been to Xcaret and Xel-Ha. We had that kind of thing (swarmed by fish) at Xel-Ha. My son was loving it and I even lost him for about 10 minutes! :eek: He swam off in a different direction.

 

My heart would've skipped a few hundred beats!

 

Which area did you like more: Xcaret or Xel-Ha?

[QTMichele]

CLASSIC!!!!!!

 

what a great surprise for yorur sister who clearly appreciates your efforts!!!!

A wonderful family!!!

 

I love them, and I'm glad you can appreciate us for who we are too. I was hoping all the family stuff wouldn't bore too many of you. :) thanks so much for reading!!!!!

[BrianAlt]

Which area did you like more: Xcaret or Xel-Ha?

 

I think I'd say Xcaret. The swim in the cave was just so cool! (So was the water. brrrr)

 

 

 

[QTMichele]

Will keep that in mind the next time we are in Mexico. I had the opportunity to go to a conference held at Xcaret, but passed (I had just had a baby). I heard it was a great time. Thanks for posting your pictures, Brian.

[Song and a Dance]

I'm glad you've found this helpful! Thank you!

 

I assume you're checking the excursions in your cruise planner on Royal's website? If so, then they are probably gone, but you should all Royal and check, if you are interested. Ours went super fast. In a matter of a day from when I found out (which was right after they were added).

 

 

Oh bummer! Thanks!

[QTMichele]

This is it, our last day. I slept in, but made it to the pool by noon. (Early riser, I know.) We let the kids play at the H2O Zone until late afternoon. The time FLEW by.

 

Before heading back to our cabin to pack a little before dinner (oh, the grief), we made it to the Boardwalk for a little face painting. Hannah was thrilled with her new look! And, of course, the cost was perfect: FREE (make that "included in the fare," but free sounds better!).

 

 

After a little packing we decided to skip the main dining room in favor of a more relaxed trip to the Windjammer with the kids.

 

On the last day of this cruise, there was very little planned. We didn't have any entertainment reservations, and the Cruise Compass didn't have anything listed that was attractive to our group. We ventured to Central Park for a little family time to talk about our week. The evening was beautiful, and the company was great.

 

 

 

 

 

Unbelievably, I learned that one of my aunts didn't know about the "Small Wonders" views (like the above picture) until this night! Perhaps we need to book another cruise? Definitely.

 

The end of our cruise was coming too soon, but I managed to make a quick trip to the casino one last time. I found my brother, sister, and BIL there. We said our goodnights, then called it a night.

[QTMichele]

We decided to sleep in. Unfortunately, we didn't read the debarkation papers last night and learned that we missed breakfast. Not a big deal for the hubby and me, but the kids, well, that's another story. Fortunately, I've been a mom for a few years, and know about keeping snacks around. Animal crackers flowed freely!

 

We left our room at 8:30 and made our way to the Promenade. We were told the gangway was closed. Huh? I don't know why, but it didn't stay closed for long. We had a later debarkation time, and the current number was pretty low, so we made our way to the pool deck.

 

We thought our family was all off the ship, but we ran into my aunt and uncle there. It was great to visit with them for the hour or so that we had to wait until our numbers were called.

 

The process wasn't too bad, but there were some delays. Fortunately, they weren't too long, and we had our luggage, went through Customs, and were loaded in a cab about 30 minutes after we left the ship.

 

We took a cab to the airport (about $20 plus tip), picked up our pre-arranged car rental, and made our way to the Casablanca Cafe in Ft. Lauderdale. This was a great cafe with good food and service directly across from the beach. Better yet, the majority of our cruising partners were there plus my cousins. This made for a great lunch!

 

After lunch, we let the kids play on the playground on the beach - a good time killer. Our flight had changed from 3pm to 6pm, so we had plenty of time to spare. We took the scenic route back to the airport, dropped off our car, checked in for our flight, and waited for our return to reality.

 

Our flight was uneventful, we arrived home safe and sound, and we managed to unpack from our truly awesome, fantastic, wonderful, would do-it-again-in-a-heartbeat cruise on the Allure of the Seas.

[QTMichele]

Because I can't quite let go of my cruise, I thought I'd keep dragging this review on by adding a few final thoughts. I'll start with two interesting stories that I don't think I mentioned in my review (and, if I did, just humor me - I'm getting older).

 

Mid-cruise, my younger younger sister (follow me? LOL) relayed that she had awaken to screaming and yelling in the cabin next door in the middle of the night. She said it was incredibly loud and very scary. She called security, who arrived fairly quickly, but she was too afraid to open her door. She went back to bed. The next morning, security was posted at the neighbor's door. We later learned that the woman was escorted off the ship during our stop in Mexico.

 

Another interesting story, at least for me, but I think my husband was a little freaked out, happened while my (married) sister, DH, and some other family were at a bar. They were talking about the wedding when a stranger said something like, "Oh, you must be QTMichele's sister/husband/relative!" LOL She proceeded to introduce herself as CaptData's daughter. Small world (see? Allure isn't too big!), but I wish I could've been there to say hello. So, HELLO, CaptData's daughter! And all those on our roll call that I missed!

 

I'll add a quick "review" in the next post...

[lakelorain]

Thanks for sharing your cruise and your family. Your sister looked beautiful and very happy. I'm sure she appreciated having the support of so many family members.

We haven't been on the Allure or Oasis, but are working our way up in size. Maybe next year we'll take the plunge.

[QTMichele]

Our week on the Allure of the Seas was fantastic. Having our family onboard to celebrate (and surprise!) my sister for her Jamaican wedding was one of many highlights of our cruise. Spending the week with my family was priceless, and I'm ready to do it again.

 

The Allure of the Seas is well laid out; continues to look beautiful, fresh, and new; has numerous venues to feed the body and soul; and may quite possibly be my new favorite ship for my family.

 

Cabins

 

Our family stayed in a variety of cabins including: inside, forward ocean view, Central Park view, and balcony. The cabins are smaller than on other ships, but they are well planned with the exception of the bed side tables (drawers, please). The beds are very comfortable, the bathroom and shower roomy enough for one, and balconies with a dining-level table. Inside cabins did not feel claustrophobic, but they are smaller than the other cabins. The forward ocean view cabins overlook the heli-pad, but manage to maintain a beautiful view of the sea or port. All cabins have interactive TVs, refrigerators, and iPod docks - great amenities that make the cruising experience more enjoyable.Grade A-

 

Dining

 

Dining venues are too numerous to explore during our one-week stay, but we found the "free" venues to suit our needs most of the time. The Windjammer lacks the variety of other Windjammers on other ships, but is a comfortable venue with good food. It was well suited to our group as we always managed to find tables together. The Main Dining Room was beautiful and offered a variety of food to please most palates. While the food wasn't gourmet, it was good. Our experience with My Time Dining was good overall, but I don't believe it is ideal for larger groups. The Dog House was great for a quick snack or meal, and a variety of dogs can be found there. The Promenade Cafe continues to be a favorite of mine for a quick snack or a light meal. Sandwiches and desserts, especially the chocolate chunk cookies were great. Sorrento's Pizza continues to be a favorite, but for the people watching and decor, not for the pizza. I can make better frozen pizza at home. Park Cafe was good, and is a great option when the lines aren't snaking out the door. Made to order salads are a big win. Room service was quick, easy, and pretty good when items were delivered at the temperature they were intended. No complaints here, especially from my children.

 

The specialty dining options, or for fee restaurants, are plentiful as well. We enjoyed the Ice Cream Parlor, and found the prices to be in line with land based ice cream shops. Johnny Rockets is the greasy burger joint we've come to enjoy while on a cruise, and will without a doubt go again. I'd like to be a fan of the pretty cupcakes at the Cupcake Cupboard, but don't think they live up to the cupcakes I bake at home. Others loved them. Rita's Cantina is not the authentic Mexican cuisine you may be expecting, but it's a fun venue with good food. If you like sushi, then Izumi is a great place for a nice lunch or dinner. Giovanni's was a big hit with the family, and has a comfortable ambiance. Chop's Grille was by far our favorite. Although the tables for two are close enough to dine with others in the restaurant, we thoroughly enjoyed our food, service, and decor. Our favorite meal of our cruise.

 

Overall dining venues Grade B+

 

Entertainment

 

There are three basic types of entertainment offered onboard the Allure of the Seas: reservations required shows, reservations not-required shows, and the miscellaneous happenings throughout the ship at any given time.

 

The "reserved" entertainment is very good to fantastic. We loved the Headliner Show (Mosaic), Blue Planet, Ocean Aria, comedy show, and Chicago. These shows are generally not your typical cruise ship shows and are worthy of your time. Grade A+

 

Other shows include How To Train Your Dragon On Ice, Love and Marriage Gameshow, the Belly Flop, and Quest. These vary in quality, but are generally a lot of fun. I thought the cruise director led shows lacked a little 'something,' but enjoyed the show nonetheless. Grade B+

 

Other opportunities to be entertained seemed almost endless. From activities on the Boardwalk to dance parties in the Promenade or Solarium to ice skating, putt putt (for kids and adults), rock climbing, zip lining, Flow Riding - all made for a memorable cruise experience. There is something for everyone. Grade A

 

Fitness

 

The fitness center went underused by the reviewer. I had a chance to visit during our Muster Drill where I found the facility to be very smoky. There were a lot of complaints from those mustering and from my family. The equipment is nice and well kept. If you're looking for the floor-to-ceiling windows that other Royal Caribbean ships have in their fitness centers, then you may be disappointed. Because of the location, you'll find large portholes. Grade A-

 

There's a walking and jogging track around on the Promenade deck. It's a great track for distance (for a ship), but has limited views due to the lifeboat placement. (I'd rather have lifeboats than a view!) Grade A-

 

Family Experience

 

This is the ship for families! Allure of the Seas has so many options for families, including the Adventure Ocean club, the Dreamworks Experience, and shows designed just for kids and families. Grade A+

 

The Adventure Ocean kids' club was underused on this cruise, but we found the staff to be very friendly and good with kids. The facility is wonderful, with age-appropriate rooms for each age group. In addition, there is a family play room, science lab, theater - just for kids. My only complaint was the 12-14 year old group was combined with 15-17 year old group. With only 200 kids onboard in these two groups, the staff combined the groups for the week.

 

Character sightings are not unusual on this ship, and the kids loved seeing some of their favorites on board. For the not-so-young at heart, character sightings are unobtrusive and easily avoided. A character breakfast was a lot of fun, with enough characters to fill the dining time. Next time we may book all three. There are two shows: Let You Entertain Me and How to Train Your Dragon On Ice - both great for kids, families, and adults. 3D movies are available; however, we did not get the chance to go - there were too many other things to do! Overall, the Dreamworks Experience was a big win for our family!

 

The Boardwalk was a huge hit for miscellaneous activities such as face painting, balloon making, the carousel, amusement mirrors, photo opportunities, and a playground. Throughout the day, we found something for our kids to enjoy here.

 

The pools, especially the H2O Zone, are a huge hit with the kids - and adults! While there are several pools onboard, including the Beach Pool, sports pool, and Solarium pool, the H2O Zone IS the place to go with young kids. The area is brightly painted with many water features including a whirlpool, spray guns, hot tub, and pool. We spent countless hours there, and could easily spend countless more there.

 

Overall

 

Overall, the Allure of the Seas is a beautiful, well laid out ship that manages the 6,000 or so passengers she hosts with ease. We had several first time cruisers in our group who fell in love with cruising. Our family had the time of our lives, and highly recommend Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas. Grade A+

[QTMichele]

Thanks for sharing your cruise and your family. Your sister looked beautiful and very happy. I'm sure she appreciated having the support of so many family members.

We haven't been on the Allure or Oasis, but are working our way up in size. Maybe next year we'll take the plunge.

 

I hope you take the plunge too - she's a great ship! Better with families/groups, in my opinion, but a wonderful experience either way.

 

Thanks for your nice comments. :)

[Familygoboston]

Great review Michele! ( I might say we underutilized the fitness room ourselves on Oasis.) LOL!

You review is interesting because it's not your typical cruise vacation...more like a reunion at sea ( with a surprise and a wedding- hey, they should have filmed your family instead of inventing one for James Brolin!)

It was interesting to hear how your cruise was different from your cruise for 2 on Allure. I was just thinking about how I will have a different set of priorities traveling with the family this time ( less Solarium, more parades and my goofy teens want to do the character breakfast too!)

Thanks for sharing your family ( those kids are so photogenic!) and stories! Waiting till you set sail again for the next one!:D

[BrianAlt]

Such a great job, Michele. Thoroughly enjoyed following your not so live recap. The interactivity of it might make it better than a live review. Thanks!

[QTMichele]

Great review Michele! ( I might say we underutilized the fitness room ourselves on Oasis.) LOL!

You review is interesting because it's not your typical cruise vacation...more like a reunion at sea ( with a surprise and a wedding- hey, they should have filmed your family instead of inventing one for James Brolin!)

It was interesting to hear how your cruise was different from your cruise for 2 on Allure. I was just thinking about how I will have a different set of priorities traveling with the family this time ( less Solarium, more parades and my goofy teens want to do the character breakfast too!)

Thanks for sharing your family ( those kids are so photogenic!) and stories! Waiting till you set sail again for the next one!:D

 

THANKS!

 

I didn't know if I'd write another review, but I'm glad I did for two reasons. One, it's a journal of my trip - something I can look back on as long as it's published here. Two, it's such a different perspective and may be useful for families and groups, which have different needs than the typical traveler with less than a handful traveling together.

 

I do know that on our first trip I was so intent on getting to know the Allure and taking photos of everything I could think of in the hopes of preserving my memories and sharing with others. This time around I was much more relaxed - I had already "been there, done that." Honestly, I didn't see a lot of the ship this time around, and I was okay with that. Also, I didn't take the opportunity to dine in a variety of places because, you guessed it, I already had! (Not to mention that getting a group of 21 to dine together just isn't very easy.)

 

I just loved this cruise, and I'd say it was the best one ever. The surprise was so much fun (and so much fun to share with my CC "family"), seeing my family react to Allure (first time cruisers and first time on Allure - both were in awe), my sister's wedding, spending time with family I typically see a few times a year, and the cruise experience in general. It was fantastic. And priceless.

 

I'm so glad you followed along! I know this review isn't for everyone, or even for the majority, but I had a lot of fun sharing it.

 

Such a great job, Michele. Thoroughly enjoyed following your not so live recap. The interactivity of it might make it better than a live review. Thanks!

 

Thanks so much, Brian! I'm not sure if it's better than a LIVE, but it's certainly CHEAPER! LOL

 

I have several more pictures, and I may post a Quest video that has nothing to do with the Quest, but it's pretty funny. At least to me. I love drawing things out and keeping the conversation going.

 

Thanks again!