Allure of the Seas - Thermal Suite

[flipflops42]

Going on the Allure of the Seas for the first time on March 31st. I am interested in hearing from previous cruisers if they enjoyed the thermal suites. The cost is $180 per couple for the week. Did you find that it was a good value?

 

Last year, I enjoyed my spa visits on Disney's Fantasy and enjoyed their version of thermal suites. For those that have been on both ships, is Allure's thermal suites similar to the Fantasy? I would love to hear your feedback.

[CntPAcruiser]

Going on the Allure of the Seas for the first time on March 31st. I am interested in hearing from previous cruisers if they enjoyed the thermal suites. The cost is $180 per couple for the week. Did you find that it was a good value?

 

Last year, I enjoyed my spa visits on Disney's Fantasy and enjoyed their version of thermal suites. For those that have been on both ships, is Allure's thermal suites similar to the Fantasy? I would love to hear your feedback.

 

We used the thermal suite on Oasis for the same price (plus gratuity, of course). Given that they do not have the free sauna/steam in fitness center locker rooms like many of the other RCI ships, we found the thermal suite to be a necessary evil. We do like our sauna and steam on a cruise! With the location in the spa area, there's no convenient cool-off or easy access to a whirlpool if, like we do, you want to add that to your spa routine. On other ships, you can go from the sauna in the fitness center out to the solarium pool to cool off, or get cool shower. The two "fantasy" showers in the thermal suite are nice, but only provided hot or warm water (often scalding hot!). The heated ceramic lounges were nice, though often other patrons would leave their towels/robes or other items on or near one they'd been using (Oasis's thermal suite did not have robe hooks when we were on board--I don't know if they've added them). So there was a kind of "chair hogging" going on. The steam room, sauna, and aromatherapy rooms on Oasis were rather small--in the steam room, because of the steam jet, you could only reasonably seat 3 or 4 people. You could hear a lot of noise when sitting in these rooms, banging from another area of the ship, which did not aid in relaxation. Neither did the spa employees habit of bringing people through the area on "tours," during which they would invariably open the sauna/steam room doors to look in and thereby disturb the occupants and let the heat out. The policy for use of the area is you must wear a bathing suit, presumably because it is mixed men and women. But steam rooms and saunas are best used nude, so this is a drawback. And chatty couples in this area made it difficult to relax as well. It can be hit or miss as to how busy the area is. If fewer people are using it, it's fine, but when it's crowded (locker rooms included--they are cramped), it's less than enjoyable. Because of the way we like to cruise, we will use the thermal suites on Oasis and Allure, but only as a poor substitute for the much more spacious and better facilities on the other ships.

[flipflops42]

Thank you, CntPAcruiser, for your great post! :)

[CntPAcruiser]

Thank you, CntPAcruiser, for your great post! :)

 

You're quite welcome! I hope I haven't thrown cold water on your plans for using the thermal suite. One other thing I thought of--some people have commented that the thermal suites on Oasis/Allure are not as nice as on the ships where the thermal suites have a view to the ocean. There is, however, some nice artwork to look at. Also, there is a lounge area for those using the thermal suites and/or getting spa treatments that is quite comfortable. It can be nice to relax there after using the sauna/steam room. You can sit around in your spa robe (provided in the locker rooms). Ice water is provided.

[doc_klc]

Can we purchase day pass(for singles or couples)? If so, how much is it?

[doc_klc]

We used the thermal suite on Oasis for the same price (plus gratuity, of course). Given that they do not have the free sauna/steam in fitness center locker rooms like many of the other RCI ships, we found the thermal suite to be a necessary evil. We do like our sauna and steam on a cruise! With the location in the spa area, there's no convenient cool-off or easy access to a whirlpool if, like we do, you want to add that to your spa routine. On other ships, you can go from the sauna in the fitness center out to the solarium pool to cool off, or get cool shower. The two "fantasy" showers in the thermal suite are nice, but only provided hot or warm water (often scalding hot!). The heated ceramic lounges were nice, though often other patrons would leave their towels/robes or other items on or near one they'd been using (Oasis's thermal suite did not have robe hooks when we were on board--I don't know if they've added them). So there was a kind of "chair hogging" going on. The steam room, sauna, and aromatherapy rooms on Oasis were rather small--in the steam room, because of the steam jet, you could only reasonably seat 3 or 4 people. You could hear a lot of noise when sitting in these rooms, banging from another area of the ship, which did not aid in relaxation. Neither did the spa employees habit of bringing people through the area on "tours," during which they would invariably open the sauna/steam room doors to look in and thereby disturb the occupants and let the heat out. The policy for use of the area is you must wear a bathing suit, presumably because it is mixed men and women. But steam rooms and saunas are best used nude, so this is a drawback. And chatty couples in this area made it difficult to relax as well. It can be hit or miss as to how busy the area is. If fewer people are using it, it's fine, but when it's crowded (locker rooms included--they are cramped), it's less than enjoyable. Because of the way we like to cruise, we will use the thermal suites on Oasis and Allure, but only as a poor substitute for the much more spacious and better facilities on the other ships.

 

I noticed that you are just now cruising on Allure. Love to know your experience and more details about the thermal suites on Allure.:)

[CntPAcruiser]

I noticed that you are just now cruising on Allure. Love to know your experience and more details about the thermal suites on Allure.:)

 

There's a newer thread with some very detailed info from another couple who were on last week's eastern route, and I've commented there as well. Unfortunately, our experience was that it was noisier than last time on Oasis (three years ago), with some very obnoxious groups moving around constantly, talking loudly, spraying water everywhere, and at one point spending nearly 10 minutes taking flash pictures of themselves.

 

When it was quiet, at least it was pleasant then. The sauna worked well, as did the aromatherapy room, but the plain steam room wouldn't get hot unless you squirted some cold water on the sensor inside. Glad I figured out that trick sooner rather than later.

 

We're done with Oasis/Allure, now that we've tried each and have come to the conclusion that we enjoy Voyager and Freedom class ships much more, even though the entertainment on the former is incredible and far beyond what is available on the latter.

[doc_klc]

There's a newer thread with some very detailed info from another couple who were on last week's eastern route, and I've commented there as well. Unfortunately, our experience was that it was noisier than last time on Oasis (three years ago), with some very obnoxious groups moving around constantly, talking loudly, spraying water everywhere, and at one point spending nearly 10 minutes taking flash pictures of themselves.

 

When it was quiet, at least it was pleasant then. The sauna worked well, as did the aromatherapy room, but the plain steam room wouldn't get hot unless you squirted some cold water on the sensor inside. Glad I figured out that trick sooner rather than later.

 

We're done with Oasis/Allure, now that we've tried each and have come to the conclusion that we enjoy Voyager and Freedom class ships much more, even though the entertainment on the former is incredible and far beyond what is available on the latter.

Thanks for your info. When it comes to shared facilities, I always worried to come across inconsiderate individuals. The experience often gets spoiled just by this few guys. I shall suggest RCI to post up prominent behavioural guidelines. With that in place, at least we can make a big legitimate 'Shhhhhhhhhhhh' :mad:

[CntPAcruiser]

Thanks for your info. When it comes to shared facilities, I always worried to come across inconsiderate individuals. The experience often gets spoiled just by this few guys. I shall suggest RCI to post up prominent behavioural guidelines. With that in place, at least we can make a big legitimate 'Shhhhhhhhhhhh' :mad:

 

That would have been nice, but so many people seem to think that rules are made to be ignored. We're just not going to go on Allure or Oasis again and avoid the issue altogether.