Middle Aged Drama Queen Goes BIG: Solo & Last Minute on the ALLURE!!!

[barbie5401]

Loved loved your review. Quick question - did you do the dining package or pay for each night at the spec. restaurants separately. I can't decide what is best for us. I do know that we prefer not eating in the MDR. We are going on the Constellation just before you - wish I would of know about the "food" cruise - I would of switched.

[RicardoC]

 

Midway through the spiel, a door behind me opened, and in walked someone - HOLY SMOKES! IS THAT GISELE? THE SUPER MODEL?

 

No. It wasn't Gisele...but it might as well have been. It was an officer who works in the Control Room...but she was easily 6'3" tall...and looked more like a model than an officer. Leave it to Steve to get a picture of not only the Control Room, but Miss Fashion Model, as well:

 

Hmmm…don’t think it was accidental that he took this shot…hee hee!

 

 

 

 

I want one of these, too. (Remember the spoiled character, "Veruca Salt", from the classic, "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"? I was sounding a lot like Veruca this day..."I want one! I want one now!" At least I was only referring to the laundry equipment - unlike some of the men, who were probably having this same thought about Gisele. Giggle.)

 

 

 

You see....there's a reason I want to be a naval engineer ;)

 

 

Thank you very much for the great entertainment....this was amazing, as always. Even though I don't have plans on sailing on Oasis/Allure soon I enjoyed this as if I cruised with you! My sister and brother-in-law just booked their first cruise on Oasis (bro-in-law's 2nd cruise ever!) in about a month and I sent them the link to this (though I'll probably have to tell them everything you wrote about...they're lazy to read and not as cruise geeks :o ). Anyways, it was a good read and already helped them (indirectly) with their own cruise (i.e. I had to...let's say...threat them that they HAD to get an oceanview balcony as opposed to the so wanted central park #sorrynotsorry).

 

I see that you have a cruise on Connie soon so hope you enjoy that to its fullest (after all, you need your rest after so much work both in NJ and writting this!). Celebrity is awesome, our favorite line, and I'm sure you'll have a much needed rest "in style" :cool: We'll be here waiting for pictures and another funny, informative review from that famous critic ;)

 

ps: People creeping is the best past time on a cruise...or wherever, really....don't worry, you're not alone (pshhh don't tell anyone :rolleyes: )

[alaska_planner]

Guest services - as early as possible in the cruise. We didn't sign up until the second day and there were plenty of spots - the fact that they don't advertise it at all AND the $150 cost keeps the riff raff away.... ;)

 

 

thanks! :)

[Venusleo1]

Ohh no! It's over! :( I really wish it would have gone on forever. Thanks so much for taking the time to write this EPIC Fabulous review. I loved it!! I also loved your Freedom and Serenade reviews and am now a big fan of yours. If I ever run into you on a cruise ship, don't be surprised if I ask for your autograph.

 

Also, thanks a bunch for taking the all access tour and for sharing it with us. I have read a bunch of books/memiors of folks who worked for cruise ships and have always wanted to get back there and see for myself! Now I had originally planned on splurging at the Spa but now I know I want to do this tour instead!!!

[garyinftl]

Very entertaining review, I have been following along each day as you added new sections. You write really well btw.

 

I was going to guess TW as a deck meant "The Water" because I figured it was below the water. But Tween makes sense too.

 

Looking forward to your next journey!

 

Gary, Fort Lauderdale

[peteukmcr]

By 1:30, we were at the restaurant, Le Ti Provencal (158 Boulevard de Grand Case, if you're interested), for our cooking demonstration. We were greeted at the door and escorted in to the beachside venue:

 

 

We were led back to part of the restaurant where chairs had been set up in front of a table laden with a Caribbean bounty:

 

 

As pretty as that table was, though, I couldn’t take my eyes off the view…

 

 

Holy smokes! I’ve taken a lot of cooking classes over the years, but never – NEVER – one with a view like this! It was almost distracting…and I thought, “I hope the chef is good – because he’s got a lot to compete with to keep our attention!”

 

Speaking of chefs...meet Chef Dwayne:

 

 

I didn’t have to worry about Chef Dwayne. He MORE than held his own with that beautiful view as a backdrop. He delved right into the cooking demonstration, with the right blend of humor, knowledge and skill…and with the help of a rather audience-shy and reluctant volunteer, he quickly blended up several delicious dishes:

 

 

This was chicken, mixed with a sauce of coconut milk, thyme, and Colombo seasoning (which is like a curry)…and it was to DIE for. Seriously. I was licking the bowl…yum. Mixed with my rum-soaked fingers, it was even better.

 

Next up was a delicious shrimp gumbo:

 

 

Oh, wow. Another thumbs up. Just the right amount of heat – and the fresh shrimp? Lip-smacking good.

 

Now, we needed something sweet…and Chef Dwayne delivered….

 

…to be continued…

Sherri, sorry but I've been catching up with your excellent review since we got back from Las Vegas yesterday (and battling the jet lag from a 10 hour flight and -7 hour time difference, not to mention the 40F drop in temperature!). Anyway, many thanks for your comprehensive review of the 'Made in Paradise' shore excursion. We booked this a long time ago and have been searching for feedback without success until now! Many thanks, and with a backdrop like you've shown, who couldn't enjoy the cooking demo? Thanks again. At least 6 weeks today we'll be back in the warmth of Florida on our way to board Allure on Sun, May 12th!

[prekteacher]

What a fun, entertaining and fabulous review. I had quite a few laughs. Between yours and gambee's reviews I really want to go on this ship! If only my family will take me seriously. Looks like there is plenty to do especially for my 3 Klingons :). Thank you and I am looking forward to going back and reading your previous reviews.

Barb

[tigger-ttfn]

Thanks for the great review. I started this morning to catch up and came back to it throught out the day. Had the best chuckle about the leaking rum and licking fingers.I am ready to book a big ship cruise even if I have to go solo. Have done 2 solo's and have had a great time. I am still in contact with a couple I met on my first solo. Thanks again. Pat

[partridge4ever]

Thanks so much for the great review! We are going on the Allure in June, Western itinerary, but I'm sure it will be very similar. Now on to your Serenade review. Serenade will be in New Orleans in 2014. Hoping I'll be on her! Wish I could do Europe, but that will have to wait.

[kruisinkris]

Sherri,

What a great review & great pics! I'm normally a "medium sized ship" type person, but you've pretty much got me sold on the Allure! GREAT writing style! Thanks for taking the time to share!

Kris

[gambee]

I just got back from my Silhouette Cruise and noticed your review has come to an end =(, I will have to see where I left off and read from there :).

 

From what I read you had a great cruise!

[Sisley]

Whew, after reading this much anticipated ending, reading the Freedom and the Serenade reviews, having booked a med cruise before finding your reviews, waiting patiently... (not so), I finally ended up jumping ship, cancelling my med cruise on the norwegian epic and booked the liberty of the seas in a junior suite, go figure why I did that, AND booked the Allure for next March in the process...! I know I'm crazy like that too! :p

 

Now I have to change my CC signature, start another roll call, etc. Work, work, work. Geez!!

 

Reading the grand finale, I realized that you (might) have cancelled your Oasis cruise, not seeing it in your signature?

 

I hope you have a great cruise on your next "chef's" cruise (being also a foodie), I can't wait to see (nice) pictures :D of your meals on the Celebrity.

 

I also really hope you feel much better, and much less congested.

 

Sherri, Happy Easter to you and your family.

 

Pascale (in French, my name signifies all that's related to Easter)

[ICMDGO]

Thanks for the great review. We will be on the Allure 1 week from today! My mom is coming to our house to watch our dog while we are gone, I'll have her read your review while she is here and I'm sure she'll feel like she is traveling with us...heheheh :)

[Quilting Queen]

Sheri you went above and beyond the call with your review. We start packing tomorrow for our month long journey ending with the Allure cruise.

 

Norine

[bobmacliberty]

 

 

Steve...if you're reading...thanks so much for this picture. Ever since sailing on the Allure, I've been wondering if they use 3 ring binders in the Engine Control Room. You have confirmed my suspicions. :D

[Freq Traveler]

Sherri, thank you so much for a wonderful review. You will LOVE Celebrity. WE just got off the Reflection a month ago. Service and food are excellent.

 

I am hoping you have a speedy recovery from surgery. Thank you for the tips on Ft. Myers. I'll post some of my favorite Alaska excursions for you on this thread in the coming week.

 

Happy Easter and may Many Great Adventures be in your future! We will all enjoy reading about them!

[shaharis1701]

Sheri, Loved the review!! Wondering if you remember if there are coffee mugs with lids available in the cafe that I can use to take coffee back to the room for my wife for Breakfast? Thanks!!

[grammaof8]

Well, now that i have spent the entire Easter afternoon thoroughly enjoying this review, I have to convince my DH that perhaps the Allure is a ship we shouldn't miss! Thank you for this detailed account. Your pictures spoke a thousand words!

Perhaps this will be our fall cruise for 2014!

 

Thanks again!

Marilyn

[Steppy08]

Steve...if you're reading...thanks so much for this picture. Ever since sailing on the Allure, I've been wondering if they use 3 ring binders in the Engine Control Room. You have confirmed my suspicions. :D

 

Groan... don't encourage him! :)

[KansCocoa]

Thank you so much for suffering for the greater good by dining in all of those establishments on board :). We are on board in two weeks-yay! This will be our first time on Allure and first time dining in only specialty restaurants.

 

 

Oh yes. I suffered...you could certainly tell that, right?! Have a fabulous trip, and I hope you enjoy the food...I know that I certainly did!

 

 

Sherri, what a fantastic review!!!! I read each and every post and lived vicariously through you. I absolutely love your style of writing and the content of everything. I went through withdrawals while you were in NY and was so excited when you came back. I am sailing on the Allure in 9 short days. I can hardly wait to see all the stuff you described and I plan to make good use of all the tips you had for everything. I had no intention of attending any stretch classes but I'm so curious now about the Cameron Diaz instructor that I may have to go take a looky loo!

 

I'm sorry you are having sinus issues and I hope the surgery will take care of it for you. Enjoy your next cruise coming up. I look forward to following along again. Thanks again for sharing so much with all of us.

 

You're welcome - and thank YOU! I'm glad it all helped - and I sincerely hope you have a fabulous time on the Allure! Yes - see if little Miss Blondie is still teaching - just make sure you go at the "right" time. Which is her time. Not the time listed in the Compass, apparently! ;)

[KansCocoa]

THANK YOU, Sherri, for taking the time to write this EPIC review! I look forward to reading about Celebrity. Now that we're Diamond, we're thinking of branching out. I don't think we'll get to Diamond+ and Pinnacle is ridiculously out of reach for us.

 

We were still Emerald on our Oasis cruise last year and were invited to the helipad for sailaways from Labadee and Nassau (we were on a B2B). I guess they didn't have that many D and above pax those cruises. Free drinks, a bagpiper and photos with King Julian. I'm not gonna lie, it was pretty cool.

 

Bookmarking your blog now :)

 

I'm like you...Pinnacle is outrageous - I'll NEVER get there! The Celebrity will be interesting; can't wait to compare it to RCI...should be interesting! And thanks for checking out my blog! Now that I don't have this EPIC review to write anymore, I'll get back to my EPIC blog. ;)

 

 

Despite my initial shock at you stowing away on our cruise, I'm so glad you came along Sherri! Especially when I needed someone to vent about my parents/Steve!

 

We will gladly adopt you again on any future sailings!

[ATTACH]266178[/ATTACH]

Sherri in the infamous Central Park 150 Clam Chair

 

Oh, thank goodness...I'm glad you didn't have any regrets for throwing out the suggestion in the first place! I had an AMAZING time, as you can see - I love you and Steve, and your parents are super cool! :)

 

And I love the photo of me in the Clam Chair - now I have proof that I was there!

[KansCocoa]

Great review. Very...EPIC! I laughed out loud at spots and smiled most of the rest of the time I spent reading this. You have a true gift for sharing you experience in a way that makes those reading it feel a part of it. Thank you for taking the time to write this wonderful review!!!

 

 

Thank you...I appreciate that! I try to see the fun side in life, and I hope that comes through in my writing... :)

 

Thanks for your review. We are boarding Allure as a group of first time cruisers in just 2 weeks. And after your review I still can't decide which menu I want when we dine at 150!

 

By the way we are neighbors, our group is from St Joe.

 

Oh, I say do them BOTH!! ;)

 

Hey - you're right! A neighbor! I'm actually very south - in Lake Winnebago, in Cass County...but born and bred "Kansas City" crazy-little woman! :)

 

Have fun on your Allure adventure in 2 weeks!

[KansCocoa]

Thanks Sherri for another "Excellent Adventure". I really think you deserve a 5 Star rating for this review. I will be anxiously awaiting your next adventure. Of course I never get any work done when I'm reading one of your reviews. :p

 

I hope you have a nice Easter. Take care and hope you feel better soon. Good luck with your surgery, but first have a great cruise on Celebrity. I loved my first and only cruise on Celebrity. You will too. ;)

 

Thanks again,

Gwen :)

 

Thank you, Gwen! Now...get to work. You have some time before I start reviewing the Constellation! ;)

 

I have finished it all and I am humbled. What an amazing story. No way I would ever want to compete with this so I will just provide a lot of pictures when we go in May. :)

 

Bill

 

Ha, Bill - your photos always humble ME! Can't wait for your review; I always enjoy them...! :)

[KansCocoa]

Sherri, I have loved every minute of all 3 of your reviews - especially the Serenade one which I read right before going on the Radiance last year. The Allure is a bit out of our reach at the moment, as we live in Australia - so it would involve about 28 hours flying to get to her, but who knows... maybe one day! Saying that - our next one will hopefully be an Alaskan cruise in 2014 or 15, so if you ever do one - I'll be waiting for the review.

In the meanwhile - I officially crown you as hands down the best reviewer/writer on Cruise Critic!! If you wrote a telephone directory, I would read it.

Thank you so much, and warmest regards from Australia.

 

Thank you - I love my friends 'down under'! I am hoping to go to Alaska in June 2014 - and I'll be sure to write a review of our adventures - so keep an eye out for it! And I love that idea - a telephone directory! I love that! Thank you so much!

 

Thanks for the great review and taking us along. It was a wonderful trip - we really enjoyed ourselves, thanks for sharing. I'm off to take a trip to Europe next via your review. Can't wait to find out about the "personal security" item.

 

Doug

 

Oh, enjoy Europe vicariously through the review! And yes...the personal security item...that will take place in Florence. That's all I'll say about THAT! ;)

[KansCocoa]

Sherri - I will be rereading your review and making notes for my November Allure cruise. Having already been on the Oasis and the Allure, this review helped me relive the cruises and also learn a lot that I didn't know. I'll be checking the view from those public balconies for sure and probably eating at Samba and Izumi since your reviews were favorable on both. Thanks for all the tips, the whole review was memorable and helpful.

 

Good luck with your surgery and I'm looking forward to your blog entries and your next review. Your love of life makes me smile and I'm sure I'll be walking around the Allure saying "Sherri was there ... and there ... and there ... and she loved that!"

 

I enjoyed ALL the specialty restaurants onboard - I was very impressed with not only the quality of service, but the quality of the food, as well! I hope you have a fabulous time! If you see William, you'll remember that I loved my Chai and chocolate in the mornings...I miss that! ;)

 

 

Hi, I was on this cruise as well, what an awesome week. Except for that one brief shower on a sea day the weather was perfect. Couldn't have asked for anything better. Did you notice on Saturday it seemed really empty, especially on the pool decks? Not sure if it was because everyone was hung-over from the night before or the large Jewish contingent that was sailing was indoors observing sabbath. Never really felt "crowded" the whole week.

 

Thanks for helping me to relive the cruise experience through this review.

 

Oh, hello, fellow Allure cruiser! And you are so right - the weather was fabulous! Ha - I was so busy running up and down a gazillion decks for the All Access Tour on Saturday, I didn't notice that! The only time I "felt" the crowds was after Muster Drill - but that was IT. They did a fabulous job at dispersing the crowds, didn't they?!

 

I'm glad the review helped you relive your own experience - you're probably in the background of some of the photos I took! ;) (Or I could be in YOUR photos - photobombing them!)