!!!LIVE!!! from the Allure | Western Caribbean | 29 June 2014 | Pictures!!!

[MisterMom]

And Aunt Linda is OFFICIALLY on board for her third cruise!

 

 

The hand sanitizer gauntlet

 

 

 

We're here!

 

 

 

So thrilled I can't contain myself!

 

[MisterMom]

Where was I? Oh, yeah, way behind. That's me. :(

 

We waited for the womenfolk to use the forward restrooms on the Royal Promenade. I splurged and got the Ultimate Package while waiting for them. The line took a while as there were folks in front of me who HADN'T done their research on the various packages. I FINALLY got to the bartender, pointed to the Ultimate Package and asked him to ring me up.

 

 

The soda cup was a special one in celebration of the World Cup. There was a lot of World Cup stuff throughout the ship, as seen in the Wipeout Bar.

 

 

 

I have a tradition about having a first drink when I board - usually a Long Island Iced Tea (or as Aunt Linda would call it, a 1000 Island Iced Tea - usually a little too chunky and creamy for my taste). We make our way to the Boardwalk Bar and after a bit of a kerfuffle, I get my drink!

 

 

(Silly tradition - some years ago, two cruises in a row, I inadvertently wore my UNC Chapel Hill 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship shirt on boarding day - BOTH days. So, the tradition is to wear the same shirt on boarding day!)

 

(The kerfuffle was - lady at the bar ordered Crown Royal and Diet Coke. She took a sip through the straw and accused the bartender the Diet Coke was bad and insisted I try my drink to make sure the Coke in my LIT wasn't "bad." I COULDN'T take a drink because I hadn't taken the photo yet. She looked at me like I was crazy but I stood my ground. She sipped again and almost gagged. My opinion - the bartender didn't mix her drink, she put the straw to the bottom of the glass and sipped straight Crown. If you can't handle your liquor....)

 

Lindsey just made a mess and spilled on herself....

 

[MisterMom]

It was around 1:00 by now so we headed to the rooms. As mentioned earlier, we got a Junior Suite for the price we originally booked the connecting Oceanview Balconies. So, here are some gratuitous JS pics...

 

 

I can't get over the number of drawers.

 

 

 

 

 

[MisterMom]

The tub was nice but too skinny for showering. I suffered through it, though...

 

 

As posted earlier, I think, the mysterious other outlet in the bathroom

 

 

MORE storage...

 

 

 

As we make our way to the balcony, there's a lovely arrangement on the little credenza by the door.

 

 

Sigh. Fake.

 

Since we had a balcony on the hump, it was large enough for the table, two chairs and two loungers.

 

[MisterMom]

We enjoyed the balcony for a bit and decided it was time to head out for some food.

 

First, though, Aunt Linda had to transfer her credit card, cash and passport to her special around-the-neck travel purse. She wanted to be sure her real purse was "safe." So, she hides it in her closet on the floor under a robe.

 

 

NO one would be suspicious. LOL

 

Quick trip to Central Park. I had another LIT and grilled cheese.

 

 

LOVE the view.

 

 

So does Aunt Linda

 

 

You may have seen this pic earlier - the "secret" to the sounds of Central Park...

 

 

Quick Ft. Lauderdale rain shower

 

[MisterMom]

Of course, it's time for muster. Our station was in front of Rising Tide on the Royal Promenade. I had no idea flat panel displays emerged from the ceiling. Pretty cool, I thought.

 

 

Upon dismissal, I bust my tail to get to the Deck 14 peek-a-boo bridge.

 

 

That sonorous sound blasts out from the ship's horns, melting my heart. We're on our way!

 

 

The "famous" condos...

 

 

Guess what this is?

 

 

One can't post an Oasis-class review without posting the "Flowrider House."

 

[MisterMom]

The roof on this house, and several others like it, is cool. Durable.

 

 

We have a well-wisher!

 

 

Not sure who or what "BASS" is...

 

 

Looks like the Allure is sucking out all the water.

 

 

Ah, the jetty!

 

 

I forgot to post at the beginning of the review my pics from the day before during the Lady Oasis sailaway. Let's go back in time.....

[MisterMom]

We flew in Saturday just so I could see my TRUE love, the Lady Oasis, sail away. We even made arrangements to some lovely new friends from our roll call there! You know who you are...

 

There she is ready to leave me.

 

 

Stare into my eyes. You know you want to stay.

 

 

Don't you sail on by...

 

 

 

 

[MisterMom]

I hate to see her leave but she sure looks good when she goes.

 

 

 

Even Freddy is a little sad...

 

 

Well, Lady O, see you very soon in Europe.

 

Back to our regularly scheduled program (Allure sailaway)...

[MisterMom]

Goodbye Port Everglades!

 

 

We have an escort.

 

 

See you in a week.

 

[swinny123]

Love love love your review ..... Can't wait for more :-)))))

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[MisterMom]

Love love love your review ..... Can't wait for more :-)))))

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Thanks so much! I'm going to chip away as I can. With a big project at work and training these pups (see the beginning of my review), my time is getting sucked up!!!

 

Thanks for hanging in there.

[MisterMom]

Tonight was dinner in the MDR with My Time Dining. We were pleasantly surprised that our Cruise Critic/Jetty friends were dining at the same time so we were able to easily get a table for 6!

 

The menu was Mojo tonight. I only take the picture below to note the tape holding the menu sleeve together.

 

 

I noted a couple little details showing wear and tear that should easily be remedied (some staining on the shower curtain, missing hooks on the shower curtain). I'm a details/OCD-type person so while I don't expect perfection, RCL can afford to rotate/replace their menu sleeves and shower curtains.

 

After dinner, I rushed to get seats at Chicago. The Orchestra level (Deck 3) looked to already be pretty full. Sigh. I rushed up to the balcony but a couple prime rows were being reserved for Gold Card holders. Another sigh. I found seats on the first row of the balcony thinking this'll have a good view of the stage. Be warned - for our shorter stature friends, the top of the glass railing puts a line across midstage so one is constantly looking below or over the line. Triple sigh. We all enjoyed the show, though, I think.

 

 

After the show, Derrell and I wandered a bit. We grabbed a milkshake from the Ice Cream parlor on the Boardwalk. Yum. The young lady working the Parlor was busy but VERY happy to help us out. We left a little tip.

 

OceanAria was going on so I took a couple sneak-peek pictures since we were booked for it on another night. I was REALLY looking forward to this show!

 

 

 

[MisterMom]

We wrap up the evening with some beautiful nighttime pictures of the Royal Promenade. (Don't mind the hot photobomber... LOL)

 

 

 

[TravelGal68508]

THANK YOU for this review! I'm counting down the 18 DAYS until I set sail and I'm LOVING these details (I might be a little OCD, too ;)

[MisterMom]

THANK YOU for this review! I'm counting down the 18 DAYS until I set sail and I'm LOVING these details (I might be a little OCD, too ;)

 

OCD-ers Unite! :D

[MisterMom]

Maybe I'm boring. Maybe I overplan. Maybe I'm lazy. But I just LOVE sea days on the Oasis class of ships. I DREAM of my sea days by the Beach Pool. I LOVE the water under my lounger, despite my shoes floating off into the pool when the boat lists!

 

So, I am up-and-at-em around 6:30, 7:00 to capture some of my favorite memories....

 

Here's how I LIKE the Beach Pool...

 

 

 

(Note the surprised look on my face when Lindsey surprisingly shows up as early as I do!)

 

 

And then there's how the pool turns out...

 

 

That's okay. It's fun to people watch and see folks having as much fun as I am.

[MisterMom]

Here are some helpful pointers for a successful day at the Beach Pool.

 

1. BOCA CLIPS: These are a must have. Got ours at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Holds your towel(s) to your lounger. I recommend getting a few sets as I found it handy to clip the towel to the sides of the lounger to keep the towel from taking a dip in the Beach Pool under my chair.

 

 

2. I bring my portable Sirius satellite radio and my Bose in-ear noise-cancelling ear buds. I also bring my Kindle HD with a few books and a couple rental movies. I tried watching Grand Budapest Hotel by the pool but it didn't work the way I wanted so I was just as happy to read.

 

3. When I run out of juice, I have a solar charger to keep my devices running without having to run to the room to charge up. After the Triumph debacle, I also like having my solar charger "just in case" the ship loses power. I can still read my Kindle if nothing else is working.

 

 

4. Another way of preventing running out of juice, Lynn kept my glass full... LOL

 

 

Also, a happy Aunt makes a happier me!

 

[cruiselife4me]

MisterMom,

Great review so far! When you mentioned the theatre issue for short-stature folks - that was me! I thought they were great seats til I sat down. I ended up leaning forward all night. *sigh*

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review!! Mary

[MisterMom]

Since sea days are typically boring for a review, let's take an in depth tour of one of my favorite parts of the ship, the Royal Promenade. (I admit to stealing this idea from another poster whose name slips my mind so shout out to him/her and apologies for the plagiarism.)

 

Located throughout the ship are these handy, dandy 3D maps. Not only are they practical, I find they're practically works of art.

 

 

I'm going to start at the Champagne (and Martini) Bar and work my way forward on the starboard side and then move port and aft. Let's see how this works out!

 

A great place to have a pre-dinner cocktail is the Champagne (and Martini) Bar. Don't let its name mislead you - it has a fully-stocked bar and some delicious martinis!

 

 

 

I never have taken the opportunity to sit in these chairs but perhaps one day...

 

 

Behind those chairs is, what I consider to be, another work of art. The LED lights appear to be reminiscent of a glass of bubbly.

 

If you peek in the top right corner of the picture above, you see a television lowered from within the ceiling. The World Cup was playing throughout the ship and the Champagne (and Martini) Bar was no exception. It wasn't particularly additive to the whole chic environment but there were a few fans watching the match so I tuned it out and tuned into my martini.

 

Even the "chandelier" is artful. Remind you of something?

 

 

You may have to crane your neck and look up to deck 6 but above the Champagne (and Martini) bar is Focus, the ship's picture shop.

 

[MisterMom]

Between the Champagne (and Martini) Bar and our next stop, is an empty, unlabeled space usually used for the ship's photogs to set up various backdrops for you to purchase in Focus. More importantly, though, it's a lovely walkway usually used for embarkation on one's first day!

 

You've seen this shot before, taken at muster, but here's my favorite entrance into the ship as you can see the fountains of the Rising Tide Bar as you board this magnificent beauty.

 

 

Walking on through, we approach Willow.

 

 

Willow has accessories, seemingly of a more affordable nature than some of the other onboard shops.

 

 

Separating Willow and our next shop is a nifty spiral staircase connecting Decks 4 (Casino Royale) with the Deck 5 RP and Deck 6 Focus.

 

 

If you can't read the sign on the wall pointing you to what's down the steps, maybe the carpet gives you a clue.

 

 

One of my favorite shots illustrating the detail in the ship's design...

 

[MisterMom]

Our next shop is the brand-specific Guess store. "Guess" how much I care about shopping....

 

 

Just peeked my head in. Ouch.

 

Next to guess is the delicious Sorrento's! Sadly, I only ate once there.

 

 

 

We should take a second to crane our necks upward to appreciate the amount of natural light coming through the Lady A's Crystal Canopies.

 

 

Between Sorrento's and our next venue is another unlabeled space used for embarkation. You saw a picture of it above as we boarded and ran the "hand sanitizer gauntlet."

 

Above this entry, are three "performers." I appreciate how the middle guy is checking out one of his partners to make sure he's doing it right.

 

 

We now approach Prince and Greene. EXPENSIVE clothing for men and women. Hope you remembered to bring a swimsuit on board (and you can FIT in it the last few days of the trip).

 

 

Again, note the detail of the silhouetted couple having a meal and the hungry cat staring at them or perhaps the bird in the cage....

[MisterMom]

On the Allure's RP, even an area above a storage room/crew area is detailed.

 

 

You may have seen pics in other reviews of this guy...

 

 

...but perhaps not from this angle. Hee hee.

 

 

Our next stop is Bolero's - the Latin-themed club.

 

 

Bolero's is frequently set up for art auctions.

 

Above Bolero's, you can see a peek of the Diamond Club.

 

 

Behind you is...

 

 

'Nuff said.

[MisterMom]

I'd like to pause here a moment to share another special touch on the Lady Allure. Throughout the ship are descriptions of the numerous pieces of art. You've seen some of what's mentioned in the below description of the Royal Promenade and there's also a sneak peek of what's to come.

 

 

Because time on the ships is at such a premium, I usually snap a quick pic of these wonderfully descriptive signs to read and digest later. I hope you have a few moments to read and appreciate them.

 

Next to Starbucks is the beautiful tree sculpture referenced above, Trees for Light. I'm afraid my photo doesn't do the work justice.

 

 

Also on the RP is a description of the theme of the art installation on the Allure. It's a nice read and might help you make the connection of the various artwork on the ship.

 

 

There WILL be a quiz later. ;)

[MisterMom]

MisterMom,

Great review so far! When you mentioned the theatre issue for short-stature folks - that was me! I thought they were great seats til I sat down. I ended up leaning forward all night. *sigh*

 

Looking forward to the rest of your review!! Mary

 

Wasn't that just a bummer?! Oh, well. Live and learn. It was still a good show!

 

Your inspiring words motivated me to post the above RP tour pics. Thanks for the encouragement! I'll keep going as I have time.