Nov 4, Allure of the Seas, Western Caribbean - A Review and Complete Pictorial Guide!

[gambee]

 

 

 

 

 

While we were docking we noticed how awfully close we come to a little island, it is just crazy how they maneuver this masive vessels so closely to reefs and such. Thumbs up to the captain.

 

 

There were a lot of birds coming and going from that island.

 

 

[gambee]

I board the Allure TODAY and have really enjoyed your review! Thanks!

 

Have a great time. Go rock climbing for me :)

 

This has by far been one of the best reviews I have yet to read. I am so looking forward to the rest of it. You are doing a great job and providing so much information. I did "steal" your spreadsheet! Thanks for posting that. There is so much to do and see on the ship I want to make sure that I hit all that I want to. My husband is making fun of me for it but I know he'll be happy when I produce it on the ship and he gets to see all he want to as well. :) One of the areas I didn't even know existed was the Viking Lounge. Your pictures of that were awesome and it's on my list of areas to explore. Thanks again for the review.

 

Another member actually gave me the spreadsheet and someone gave it to him, I wonder who made the original one. lol, Thumbs up to him and thank you.

 

your husband will be glad you did this much planing trust me. The more the better.

 

The Viking is AMAZING I love it, maybe the best place of the ship and I guess it does not hurt that most of the drink specials are sold up there. ;)

 

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it. You will have a blast on your cruise. :)

[gambee]

Looking forward to it! Almost down to a single digit countdown. This time next week I'm going to be FREAKING OUT!!! :D:D:D

 

Those single countdowns, lol. I love them.

 

Thank you for the amazing photos!

 

You're very welcome.

 

Thanks for the post. :)

[gambee]

I have to say backing my computer up is something I never seem to do diligently... Out of everything on my computer the only thing I would be extremely upset about would be my photos! I had a TimeCapsule that did it all for me but she unfortunately died a slow death and I never got around to getting her fixed. Guess I found a use for that stack of 100 DVD's I bought on sale and never used... let the copying begin!

 

Be careful with dvd's they are not the safest way to back up a computer, they spoil fast. Black friday is coming, you can get a cheap external Hard Drive pretty cheap and is much safer.

 

 

And yes my pictures are sacred to me, everything else can go, but not my pictures.

Edited November 18, 2012 by gambee

[gambee]

Then we started pulling into port, it is indeed a very delicate process.

 

Looks like a dead project across from the dock.

 

 

 

 

 

There was a lot of construction going on right in front of the balcony, it was very loud and made our morning somewhat hectic. The construction went on until the ship left late at night. You can see it all the way to the right.

 

 

 

 

 

[gambee]

 

 

 

 

Then our breakfast arrived, let me stop here for a minute and talk about the eggs. You can see to the right the real eggs and to the left some kind of synthetic eggs (healthy I guess), those things were absolutely horrible, I don't even know how to described them. My bf ordered them more than once, but to eat them he mixed a bunch of stuff in them, I tried them once and never again.

 

They look as bad as they taste. Everything else was tasty :)

 

 

[gambee]

After breakfast I went to get ready for my spa treatment, I was a nervous wreck. Like I stated before this was my first time and I don't feel comfortable in spas. I actually felt like canceling, but then went back to my initial thought. It is FREE, just do it you big wuzz.

 

Before I left the room mom noticed all the balcony doors were opened, we wondered why. If you are asking yourself why did mom left the balcony in the first place while I got ready, well the construction noise drove her our of there.

 

 

She was going to wait for me in the room, she said she might visit the aft balcony for a little while and people watch. I believe that is exactly what she did.

 

Well it was time, I left the room, it was the first time that I roamed the ship for more than a minute alone. It felt a little odd, maybe it was because I was so nervous. Once I got there I told the staff my room number and presented my coupon, they directed me downstairs. The spa was very nice and relaxing, but it lacked the view of the ocean and I really missed it. They should really consider this for their sunshine project, I think NCL is doing a great ocean view spa in the Breakaway/getaway ships.

 

Once downstairs I met my facial specialist, his name was Hammad Khan he was very passionate about skin. I had a few barriers up so it took me sometime to relax, he then directed me to a waiting room, it was very nice. He gave me a form to fill and told me he would be back in a minute. I filled the form and took a few pictures with my phone. These are the only pictures that I took of the spa, I did not have my main camera with me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He quickly returned to the waiting room and asked me if I was ready. I said yes and followed him into his working area. Once there I noticed that he was a very nice guy and I started to relax a little while we talked. He asked questions and gave me some recommendations, had I not been a nervous wreck I probably would of remembered one of the many things he said. Like I said before, he was very passionate about this, Oh I forgot, I am almost sure he was from Pakistan, nice guy.

 

Anyway he offered me water and asked me to take my shirt and necklace off, he offer to help, but my stubborn nervous ass said "no, thank you, I got it". Then I laid in the bed and he covered my chest with a blanket, he also put a roller pillow under my legs so I would be more comfortable. By then I was really starting to relax. He then proceeded to analyze my skin, his comments were that a few lines, not much, some black heads around the nose and well my black bags under the eyes... He then offered me a better suited package for males, I said not thank you. he nicely said ok.

 

 

[vickie_bernie]

Ok friends, lets see Jamaica. I need to mention some background here so you know why we decided not to do any excursions there. I am not sure if you are aware of this, but Jamaica is on of the most homophobic countries in the western hemisphere. There is a large amount of violence against homosexuals, that ranges from verbal to even homicide. Feel free do to a google search if you want more information on this.

 

 

You are absolutely right, I know of many who stay clear of the island completely because of the islands views of LGBT. The island has exeprienced numerous gay bashings and even causing death. Although I know that not everyone on the island obviously feels this way, it is a risk I would not want to put myself in.

 

I am sad to say and see that this still happens in the world. Heck there are places in the world it is a criminal offense to be gay and act on it and can be killed because of it.

 

I am so happy you were okay but sorry that your partner encountered hateful comments. I hope in my lifetime this will end.

 

vickie from Vancovuer (a very gay friendly city - and a country that supports gay marriage)

 

Okay enough from my soap box....

 

But thanks for sharing your views

[gambee]

Then he got started, oh my my my, I WAS IN HEAVEN. The exact nature of the process is unclear in my mind, I was sooooooo relaxed and enjoying it that for once in the trip I was not taking mental notes of it. He applied many products, rubbed my face many time and in many different manners and he also rubbed my neck and necklace area. He stepped out for a minute during some time of the facial, to let a cream sit on my face, that product did have a small stinging/burning sensation on my skin. But it was fairly fast, the entire process lasted about 45 minutes I think, can't recall. Oh during the process, he also offered an additional bag correcting process, but I politely declined.

 

Once he was done, we talked a little and he asked me how it was. I told him that my first experience had been absolutely AMAZING. I asked him for his name, wrote it down and tipped him. I gave him much more than you should, because I figured I did not pay for it anyway, so I can splurge a little there. He was great and he deserved every dollar of it. He asked me if I wanted some advice on what products to buy, I told him "no thank you" and then he walked me upstairs, thank God he walked me out, because I was in a state of relaxation that I can only relate to being in a deep sleep. On my way to the room I actually got off on the wrong floor, that was funny and silly of me, gigidy, giggly gu.

 

Overall it was amazing!!!!!!! What were the results? I don't know, I mean someone at work told me I looked I refreshed. I think I looked better, my bf is a little bit of a pessimist and his opinion was that all they did was dry out my skin. I actually think they did the opposite, but who knows, all that matters is that I enjoyed it very much.

 

On the way to my room I notice the film crew taking all the cameras out of the stateroom and that stateroom looked packed with equipment, I hope no one was sleeping there. There was barely any space to walk in and out.

 

Once I got to the room mom told me that the reason they opened all the balcony door was so Gilbert could clean them. She got PICTURES of it, she managed to turn on the camera and capture everything. YAYYYYY MOM!!!!!!

 

 

 

Say "Hi, Gilbert!!!" Come on just say it, you know you want to ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

That is all I got for now, I will go get lunch and continue after I eat. Feel free to comment or ask questions. I will answer them when I get back. Thanks for following along!

[Newwbeee]

thanks :)

 

Yes, in the little red building, by adrenaline beach, the safe area. I think I took a picture of the regular rums.

 

Why you're thinking in getting me one? ;)

 

I am all out of mine :(

 

If I picked it up for you would you meet us on Dec 9th to pick it up?

[Lionesss]

gambee:

REALLY enjoying your posts!!!! Cannot wait for your next posting.

Now unless I missed something, I did not see how you got the free spa treatment.

Can you explain.

Thanks again

Keep the review coming.

Safe travels.

Sue and crew

[gambee]

You are absolutely right, I know of many who stay clear of the island completely because of the islands views of LGBT. The island has exeprienced numerous gay bashings and even causing death. Although I know that not everyone on the island obviously feels this way, it is a risk I would not want to put myself in.

 

I am sad to say and see that this still happens in the world. Heck there are places in the world it is a criminal offense to be gay and act on it and can be killed because of it.

 

I am so happy you were okay but sorry that your partner encountered hateful comments. I hope in my lifetime this will end.

 

vickie from Vancovuer (a very gay friendly city - and a country that supports gay marriage)

 

Okay enough from my soap box....

 

But thanks for sharing your views

 

Thank you for your support :), we love our Canadian neighbors.

 

 

 

If I picked it up for you would you meet us on Dec 9th to pick it up?

 

lol, I was just messing with you guys. But that is so sweet of you, thank you so much for offering.

[gambee]

gambee:

REALLY enjoying your posts!!!! Cannot wait for your next posting.

Now unless I missed something, I did not see how you got the free spa treatment.

Can you explain.

Thanks again

Keep the review coming.

Safe travels.

Sue and crew

 

Glad you like my review.

 

 

The free spa treatment came with a sale they had when I purchased my cabin. You had to book a balcony or higher stateroom and they would give you 1 spa treatment per room.

[gambee]

Here is a short video of all the construction noise in Falmouth and the port. The video was taken while we were docking. The video actually came out much nicer than I thought it would.

 

By the way folks, if you like my videos please don't forget to click on the the like button on youtube, thank you.

 

 

 

 

When I got to the room you could hear the music from the pools blasting away, it sounded like they were having a blast up there. But we had other plans, we wanted to go down to the port and possibly outside of the gates.

 

Right before leaving the balcony, something happened that freaked my mom a lot. When she was looking over balcony railing she leaned slightly to look down and her glasses slipped from her head and fell overboard. I believe they might have landed inside another balcony but we are not sure, in any case, it freaked her out a lot. Almost as if herself had fallen over board, she had been reading all these articles about people falling from ships and I guess it got her nervous.

 

We went to guest services to see if maybe someone had taken the glasses there but nothing. She had brought two pairs of glasses and lost both of them, she is not sure where the other pair got lost. That meant she was going to be blind for the rest of the trip. I am not sure what is it with her and glasses, I have two pairs of glasses and had them for ever. Those were her reading glasses.

 

[gambee]

Ok lets see Falmouth Port, well we all know that this is controlled by RCCL and Jamaican authorities, so there is pretty much nothing to worry about here other than overpaying for stuff. This is something my bf actually brought up. He does a lot of research on prices and such and he claimed that most of the watches that he looked at were actually cheaper in the USA. So just be informed before you waste your money, there is cheap internet in port so you can check websites for price. I will talk about the internet later on.

 

So here are a few pictures of the path getting off the ship that day,

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe someone can enlighten me here, I am not 100% of what was going on. These people were waiting in line with a few items, it looked like customs. My theory was that they are Jamaican RCCL employees that have the day off and are bringing items like the tv for their families? yes, no? Anyone?

 

 

Once we cleared the first building we entered the main plaza, we went towards the left to avoid the people in the stilts. I had no intentions in taking a picture of us with them, not my kind of thing.

[gambee]

As we kept on walking I noticed this lady with a crazy hair due, I managed to get a picture of her from the back. But then when I looked closer at the picture I noticed that there was so much more to it than just her hair. To her right there is a guy in mid air, so cool and at the far end the Jamaicans on the stilts. And even the fountain came out great. I love this picture.

 

 

 

Then we went to visit some of the stores, Jamaica had some very neat colorful items for sale.

 

To the right there are some people sitting down on their computers using the internet.

 

You can see a guy with a microphone, he was the same guy from the video. Very energetic and always doing dances or contests. Keeping the atmosphere very alive.

 

I love his music

 

[gambee]

 

 

 

Aren't they just adorable? lol

 

And here the interracial couple, lol

 

 

 

 

[gambee]

She's so cute.

 

 

 

 

 

Now for the real wood carving items. This stand in the middle of the plaza had the most amazing wood items I have ever seen. Just incredible!!! The amount of work that must go into these has to be crazy!

 

 

[Beth C]

Say "Hi, Gilbert!!!" Come on just say it, you know you want to ;)

 

 

It looks like Gilbert uses his tip $ for http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/experiencetypes/spa/html/view.do?productId=100000002208059824&typeId=100000002208059826&level=3 :D

[gambee]

I was in love with this shark. JUST AMAZING!

 

 

 

 

 

[gambee]

Some more views around the area.

 

 

 

 

 

He was just horrible, I am not sure how he got picked to work there, this is inside the RCCL complex. But he was very funny though, he tried changing lyrics and pulling people into dancing and stuff. It was fun to watch for a couple of minutes.

 

 

[gambee]

A wood carver hard at work, my hat goes off to them. It takes a real artist to do that.

 

 

Then we went into another store

 

This guy tried covering his face, I had no intentions on getting him. I wanted to take a picture of the wall with the amazing art work, my camera was raised pretty high up.

 

As previously stated by many people in this forum, a lot of the store owner/employees are not Jamaican. I remember reading that the construction of the port did not enrich Falmouth as anticipated. I will get into this later on and offer my opinion on why not.

 

[gambee]

 

 

In the final stretch prior entering town there was guy selling coconuts, I had to have one. He kept screaming "The sweetest coconut in the world" come on I had to try the sweetest coconut in the world ;-). So i asked him for one, he took his machete and opened it for me, I paid him $4 and moved on.

 

 

 

How was the coconut? you ask. Well it would of been fantastic if it was not so hot, the coconut water was mild/warm. I wish he kept some in a cooler, like some other people had. But I did not know that at that time.

 

 

 

 

 

That's it for this set, next up outside the gates :eek. Tell what you think of the artwork, Isn't just incredible?

 

[suzyluvs2cruise]

 

Once downstairs I met my facial specialist, his name was Hammad Khan he was very passionate about skin.

 

Oh I forgot, I am almost sure he was from Pakistan, nice guy.

 

I'm glad you enjoyed your facial. I had the same specialist in October and, yes, he is from Pakistan. I enjoyed the treatment but felt he was a bit pushy first trying to upsell the treatment and then trying to sell me all the recommended products. I know they make their money on the products but after a relaxing treatment I don't like the hard sell.

[Elizanessie]

Loving this review :D

 

Did you by any chance spot this Labadee Rhum ?