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

[Buffett fan]

 

 

 

 

 

What an amazing shot - love this!! Ok, back to page 28 ;-) I'm determined to get through this review and onto your new one by the end of the week. You're doing a GREAT job! Absolutely love reliving the time on the Allure :):)

[gambee]

What an amazing shot - love this!! Ok, back to page 28 ;-) I'm determined to get through this review and onto your new one by the end of the week. You're doing a GREAT job! Absolutely love reliving the time on the Allure :):)

 

Glad you like it, one of my favorite ones.

 

Thanks for taking the time read my reviews, :)

 

I hope you enjoy them.

[Litewait]

Wow.. just simply amazing. As a dedicated Carnival cruiser I LOVED this review. I had been looking at the Allure and the Oasis to take a chance with RCCL again. I went on the Monarch years ago and didn't care for it. After your review I an definitely booking! Cant you share the link to your spread sheet again? I am an avid planner as well. What are your best tips for a "newbie" RCCL cruiser? Best cabin location?

 

Thanks so much for doing this!:D

[gambee]

Wow.. just simply amazing. As a dedicated Carnival cruiser I LOVED this review. I had been looking at the Allure and the Oasis to take a chance with RCCL again. I went on the Monarch years ago and didn't care for it. After your review I an definitely booking! Cant you share the link to your spread sheet again? I am an avid planner as well. What are your best tips for a "newbie" RCCL cruiser? Best cabin location?

 

Thanks so much for doing this!:D

 

 

You will really enjoy a cruise on the Allure, I really don't a reason not to. The spread sheet is on page one attached, sorry but I deleted it so you will have to grab it from there.

 

Best tips, well really only one make sure you make all the reservations for your shows other than that just go and have fun. It really just depends what kind of vacation you're looking for, you can have a very relaxing vacation or a very busy one as well. I know that there are people who never left the flowrider during the entire time they were there.

 

Best cabin location, that is rather personal, we like aft cabins. But in the Allure I would consider a FWD cabin just to be close to the Solarium our favorite place on the ship. If you can afford it get an ocean view cabin, I know they can be expensive.

 

Go and have a blast, I really can't imagine someone not having a good time aboard that ship.

 

Happy Sailings :)

Edited April 10, 2013 by gambee

[Breelee88]

Gambee..your review is awesome! love reading it ! your too funny! if you hae anymore youtube videos please post all the links! excited to keep reading!:o

[Dawniepoo]

This review was so fabulous that I think it may convince my family to switch from Freedom to Allure for our next cruise. (fingers crossed!)

[Buffett fan]

It is so sweet of you for the "awesome job on the flowrider photos"

 

Thank you very much to all of you for taking the time to read and support my son's review.

 

I am very PROUD of HIM.

 

 

Awh....this was so sweet! :):):)

[gambee]

Gambee..your review is awesome! love reading it ! your too funny! if you hae anymore youtube videos please post all the links! excited to keep reading!:o

 

I am currently writing my Silhouette review if you're interested?

 

Thanks for reading it :)

 

This review was so fabulous that I think it may convince my family to switch from Freedom to Allure for our next cruise. (fingers crossed!)

 

Good Luck :)

[English101]

I am very glad you decided to start reading it and that you liked it. I read plenty of reviews on ships that I have no desire on sailing. But if I stumble into a good review I will read it no matter what ship it is.

 

English have you seen my Silhouette review? If not I invite you to check it out.

 

Your review definitely opened up my eyes to Allure and made me want to vacation on her one day!

 

I honestly didn't relize the Silhouette review was ready yet!! I kept seeing "work in progress" and assumed you hadn't posted anything!! I'm SO EXCITED right now! Going to start reading RIGHT NOW! Guess I'm going to bed late AGAIN! ;)

[gambee]

Your review definitely opened up my eyes to Allure and made me want to vacation on her one day!

 

I honestly didn't relize the Silhouette review was ready yet!! I kept seeing "work in progress" and assumed you hadn't posted anything!! I'm SO EXCITED right now! Going to start reading RIGHT NOW! Guess I'm going to bed late AGAIN! ;)

 

I hope you like it as much as you liked this one, I will await your comments there ;)

[nfmst2]

I just spent almost a week reading from tart to finish, looked forward to it each night after putting my little ones to bed! We sail Allure over Thanksgiving this year, and I actually took notes while I read!!

[Dawniepoo]

This review is so good I'm reading it twice!:eek:

[JordanDRobinson]

Gambee,

 

I've been browsing here for a while and I came across your review as I'm prepping for my first cruise in May on the Allure (which inspired my first post.) Needless to say reading your review made me about 1000 time MORE excited than I already was. THANK YOU for all the time and dedication it took you to post such a great story with all the quality and detail that you did. I'm pretty eager to read how your cruise on NCL and Celebrity compare. If you feel the need perhaps a direct compare/contrast? (Of the ships at least.) I would read it... probably more than once. :)

[cnslewis]

Gambee- I know this has been said so many times before, but it would be unfair not to say it again... Your photos are spectacular! I sailed on Allure doing her Inaugural season, and realize now how many things I missed! I am sailing on her again with my family on June 2, and your review has me so excited :)

I feel like I know you, your mon, and bf personally! You have such an amazing talent for writing. Through this review, you made me fall in love with Allure all over again!

[Michthebeech]

I am new to this cruise critics board. I am really enjoying your review but is there a method that I can just see your posts and not all the comments so that I can get through it faster? I really enjoy your photos and comments but I've spent 2 hours already and I'm only on Labadee. LOL

[4bunns]

Gambee,

This has got to be one of the greatest reviews I ever read Great Job!!! Maybe you can help me. How long was the ice show? We are going on the Allure June 30th and we have a show right after the ice show.

Thanks Paul

 

Once upstairs I exploded out of my pants :D, which reminds me I need to buy a new suit for a wedding on December 9 ughhhh, lol. I quickly changed because we had reservations for the Ice Games show, not that we needed them but still.

 

To get through studio B we went trough the casino, every time I went through the casino I noticed this little sculpture, I think I took over 10 pictures of it.

 

Entering Studio B they asked us for our cards and then lets us in. We managed to get a couple of nice seats up on top with a little bar to put our bottle of wine and my camera equipment, I also had my tripod with me at that time. A server came offering us something to drink but then he noticed we had a bottle of wine and moved on. We really only had very little at dinner, so it would be able to last us for the show. We usually only carry one glass to avoid breaking stuff, with all my camera stuff and her stuff is already enough.

 

Here is a picture of the stage before it started,

 

This was my favorite show in the ship, mom said it was better than Chicago. They start off with some Michael Jackson music, that I love of course. Then dancers come out and started the show. The props of the show are incredible, you can't believe that they are doing this in a ship. It was just great, the simple fact that I did not walk out midway through the show proves that this is one show that should not be missed.

 

I am however puzzled by the name of the show, I think it actually kind of turns people off from seeing it, like it did to my mom. Another thing is that the relation between the show and monopoly is very hard see, but none the less I am sure most will be entertained with it. They had some very good music during the show and it also involved some light comedy. At this point I would like to thank congratulate RCCL for a great show!

 

After the show we had a little bit of time before the karaoke contest that we wanted to see started. So we decided to stop by our Headliner show and see the beginning of it. We had no intentions on seeing the entire show, it was Mo5aic A cappella group. I am not one to enjoy those kind of shows, that said they were very impressive. We stayed for 3 songs before leaving to the karaoke contest.

 

 

 

I took this picture before entering the theater, Mother and daughter were indescribable. Everyone stopped and complimented them.

 

 

[gambee]

I just spent almost a week reading from tart to finish, looked forward to it each night after putting my little ones to bed! We sail Allure over Thanksgiving this year, and I actually took notes while I read!!

 

You're very welcome, glad it helped you =)

 

This review is so good I'm reading it twice!:eek:

 

Glad you like it so much, thanks for stopping by =)

 

Gambee,

 

I've been browsing here for a while and I came across your review as I'm prepping for my first cruise in May on the Allure (which inspired my first post.) Needless to say reading your review made me about 1000 time MORE excited than I already was. THANK YOU for all the time and dedication it took you to post such a great story with all the quality and detail that you did. I'm pretty eager to read how your cruise on NCL and Celebrity compare. If you feel the need perhaps a direct compare/contrast? (Of the ships at least.) I would read it... probably more than once. :)

 

 

Yayyy, your first post, welcome to CC. I am very happy that I got you all pumped up for your upcoming cruise, I hope you have a wonderful time.

 

My silhouette review is almost coming to an end now, go check it out and the breakaway review should be coming soon.

 

I will posting a comparison at the end of each review.

 

Thank you for following I will see you around!

 

 

Gambee- I know this has been said so many times before, but it would be unfair not to say it again... Your photos are spectacular! I sailed on Allure doing her Inaugural season, and realize now how many things I missed! I am sailing on her again with my family on June 2, and your review has me so excited :)

I feel like I know you, your mon, and bf personally! You have such an amazing talent for writing. Through this review, you made me fall in love with Allure all over again!

 

Thank you =), I hope you have a great family vacation aboard lady Allure.

 

I am new to this cruise critics board. I am really enjoying your review but is there a method that I can just see your posts and not all the comments so that I can get through it faster? I really enjoy your photos and comments but I've spent 2 hours already and I'm only on Labadee. LOL

 

Unfortunately that is not a choice, you have to go through all the posts. But that is why I post in black that way you can skip down to the parts you want to read.

 

Welcome to CC =)

 

Gambee,

This has got to be one of the greatest reviews I ever read Great Job!!! Maybe you can help me. How long was the ice show? We are going on the Allure June 30th and we have a show right after the ice show.

Thanks Paul

 

Hi Paul,

 

I am not really sure, I believe it lasted a little under 45 minutes, but I am not entirely sure. You could try contacting RCCL, or looking on your planner. I think they had the durations there.

 

Have a great cruise =)

[4bunns]

You're very welcome, glad it helped you =)

 

 

 

Glad you like it so much, thanks for stopping by =)

 

 

 

 

Yayyy, your first post, welcome to CC. I am very happy that I got you all pumped up for your upcoming cruise, I hope you have a wonderful time.

 

My silhouette review is almost coming to an end now, go check it out and the breakaway review should be coming soon.

 

I will posting a comparison at the end of each review.

 

Thank you for following I will see you around!

 

 

 

 

Thank you =), I hope you have a great family vacation aboard lady Allure.

 

 

 

Unfortunately that is not a choice, you have to go through all the posts. But that is why I post in black that way you can skip down to the parts you want to read.

 

Welcome to CC =)

 

 

 

Hi Paul,

 

I am not really sure, I believe it lasted a little under 45 minutes, but I am not entirely sure. You could try contacting RCCL, or looking on your planner. I think they had the durations there.

 

Have a great cruise =)

 

Thanks for your reply I'll check the planner. I was also thinking 45 minutes.

Regards Paul

[CruisingConnie62]

Thank you so much gambee for all your work on this report. I have read it 3 times and made numerous notes. We are going on our first cruise ever and it will be the Allure on June 16th.

 

I do have a few questions. First, do you know if there is anywhere to see what is going on each night at the Teen program (I think they call it the Living Room)? I have looked at all the Compasses and don't see listings.

 

Second, neither my son nor husband want to dress up for the Formal nights, so I quess we will just skip those. I read all about your suit, but how dressy do people really get? If we skip the Formal Night dinner but go to a show, do people still stay dressed up for those?

 

Finally, my son has been pestering us for months to take him to get Jerk Chicken in Falmouth. I think we will need to go into the real part of Falmouth to do this. Did you see any restaurants while you were out taking pictures? We are going to do the walking tour, and were thinking that our tour quide might be able to direct us to a good place.

 

Thanks for you help, and the wonderful report!

[Gally Maid 123]

I just spent 3 hrs reading this thread others said it was like a book and theyre right...I couldn't put it down...forget dinner it was every man for himself..THANK YOU GAMBEE...oh I should introduce myself Im Carolyn and I travel with beej...Ill be diamond plus next cruise but Im a newbie to cc cant wait to meet everyone

[jbaz]

Hi Gambee

 

Thank you so much for the most fantastic review. I am new to cc and have my first cruise booked for 11th January. My family (3 of us) will be sailing the Eastern Caribbean route on the Oasis, so of course your review has been fantastic and extremely informative with lots of tips. I found your review on Friday and finished reading it yesterday. All I can say is WOW. You did such an amazing job. Am I excited about our cruise? Heck yes, and I think we are going to owe that all to you.

 

Just one question if you don't mind, we have a Boardwalk view balcony room booked with a sofa bed (which my DD will be using). Can you tell me whether the room attendant will put the sofa bed up during the day? I feel bad for hoping that this will be the case, but I can see with 3 of us in one stateroom, space will be a bit of an issue. If this if feasible, of course I'm willing to tip our room attendant extra for the inconvenience.

 

Thanks again, Jbaz

[gambee]

Thank you so much gambee for all your work on this report. I have read it 3 times and made numerous notes. We are going on our first cruise ever and it will be the Allure on June 16th.

 

I do have a few questions. First, do you know if there is anywhere to see what is going on each night at the Teen program (I think they call it the Living Room)? I have looked at all the Compasses and don't see listings.

 

Second, neither my son nor husband want to dress up for the Formal nights, so I quess we will just skip those. I read all about your suit, but how dressy do people really get? If we skip the Formal Night dinner but go to a show, do people still stay dressed up for those?

 

Finally, my son has been pestering us for months to take him to get Jerk Chicken in Falmouth. I think we will need to go into the real part of Falmouth to do this. Did you see any restaurants while you were out taking pictures? We are going to do the walking tour, and were thinking that our tour quide might be able to direct us to a good place.

 

Thanks for you help, and the wonderful report!

 

1. I am sorry but I really took no notes on anything related to the kids program. I learned that lesson from the this review.

 

2. I too hate dressing up. I suggest you look into specialty venues for the dress code on formal nights. I might be wrong here, but I think is smart casual always. And no worries you can walk around not dressing up as well. Personally I took my suit off as fast as possible and changed into something more comfortable. Your kiddo and hubby have the right idea, I support them 100%.

 

3. In Falmouth I suggest you look into club nass. I have not been there, but I heard from a very good source that the restaurant is good and there is free Internet. Do a google search. But it is very easy to get there is right by the town square.

[gambee]

I just spent 3 hrs reading this thread others said it was like a book and theyre right...I couldn't put it down...forget dinner it was every man for himself..THANK YOU GAMBEE...oh I should introduce myself Im Carolyn and I travel with beej...Ill be diamond plus next cruise but Im a newbie to cc cant wait to meet everyone

 

Hi Carolyn,

 

May I asked where did you find out about the review? I am curious :-)

 

Oh wow diamond plus, you must do an insane amount cruising! I am jealous, the good kind ;)

 

Welcome to cruise critic, hope you like it here.

[gambee]

Hi Gambee

 

Thank you so much for the most fantastic review. I am new to cc and have my first cruise booked for 11th January. My family (3 of us) will be sailing the Eastern Caribbean route on the Oasis, so of course your review has been fantastic and extremely informative with lots of tips. I found your review on Friday and finished reading it yesterday. All I can say is WOW. You did such an amazing job. Am I excited about our cruise? Heck yes, and I think we are going to owe that all to you.

 

Just one question if you don't mind, we have a Boardwalk view balcony room booked with a sofa bed (which my DD will be using). Can you tell me whether the room attendant will put the sofa bed up during the day? I feel bad for hoping that this will be the case, but I can see with 3 of us in one stateroom, space will be a bit of an issue. If this if feasible, of course I'm willing to tip our room attendant extra for the inconvenience.

 

Thanks again, Jbaz

 

First of all congratulations on your first cruise. You're first cruise will be one to remember and it being on the Oasis it will certainly have you spoiled right of the bat.

 

To your question, yes no worries, they come in the morning and push everything back into place for you. Then at night they open everything back up and make your beds. No need to tip extra for that, it is part of the job description. That said we tipped our attendant a little extra because he was absolutely fantastic! But then again I alwAys tip extra ;)

 

Have a great cruise!

 

I will see you around

[CruisingConnie62]

Thanks again Gambee for all your help. In your trip report you mentioned that you took candy bars to your cabin steward. Is taking a small gift something that is "traditional" on a cruise? And I am a bit concerned about tipping. We have done the prepaid so we can have Mytime Dining. Still, I am sure we will want to give extra to certain people.

 

Is there a way that the cabin steward knows we have done the prepaid gratuity?

 

Thanks again for your wonderful report. I have read it so many times! You should see my notes:) Thanks for the restaurant suggestion also.