Surviving 2,000+ kids on Allure (Western Spring Break)

[h20skibum]

We finished up at Johnny Rockets, and headed off to do our pub crawl.

 

 

I had set up a pub crawl/poker run with some of our roll call members. We chose the casino bar for the starting location at 12:30, because they had a special on mimosas for $2, and the promenade would be busy with the Move it Move it parade.

 

If you have never done one, the pub crawl is pretty simple. We visit 5 drinking establishments and everyone picks a sealed envelope with a playing card at each place. The best poker hand at the 5th place wins the pot. We did it with a $5 buy in to create the pot (not $5 at each place). If you are a non-drinker you can still join in and take a water or soda, or whatever. Also, you do not need to buy a drink at each place. You can carry from bar to bar. I brought the decks of cards and envelopes.

 

 

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[h20skibum]

This first sea day was formal night. I always bring my tux along, and DW has her long dresses. We headed off to our My Time Dining reservation, and decided to get in the No Reservation line since they told us this is where we needed to go for sharing tables.

 

They lead us through the restaurant to a totally different section than where we were the previous night. The sharing table had all of two chairs, so I opted to share with DW. Oh well, maybe try again another night.

 

The duck was good, as always.

 

 

Creme brûlée

 

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

Our dinner took so long that we couldn’t make the Captain’s welcome aboard party. Oh well, first change in our schedule.

 

Tonight we had the comedy show booked. Comedians on this cruise were JR McCollum and Greg Vaccariello. We both preferred JR and enjoyed his routine. If you do a google search for the comedians, you will usually find a YouTube video of their routine.

 

A stop back at the cabin, and the first towel animal has appeared.

 

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

One of the things I noticed that we hadn’t seen on Royal Caribbean ships before, was they had popcorn for the shows. When we were on Princess, I always liked that someone would walk around and give you free bags of popcorn while you watched movies under the stars.

 

I know I made this suggestion that Royal should do this, so maybe they started doing popcorn as a result of my suggestion. Who knows. But if they did, they obviously sent it to the head of the department in charge of nickel and diming their customers, because they charge $2.50 for a small bag plus 18% instead of providing it free. They had it in Entertainment Place, as well as the theater.

 

But now, suggestions are harder to make because of their technology upgrade.

 

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

If it is day 3, it must be Labadee. What is in the Compass for the day

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

More compass info

 

 

 

And specials of the day

 

 

 

And a map of Labadee.

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

They also had a laundry special

 

 

 

And they had information on luggage valet in case anyone was thinking about the end of their cruise before we got to the first port.

 

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

Labadee. We didn’t have anything special scheduled here. We had already done the zip line, and we already booked it to do when we are on the Harmony in November. So our plan was to get off the ship a little later, walk some of the trails, and spend some time at the beach.

 

We were originally scheduled to meet the future cruises rep on the last sea day, but we got enticed by the chance to win an extra $300 OBC if we booked something before Wednesday. So we crossed out that appointment, and scheduled one for 9:00 a.m. this day. We already knew we were going to book the Indy in January, since we would already be in Florida. So we booked that one, plus a 14 day European cruise for the summer of 2019. No winning ticket pulled for us on these, so I guess this was not our lucky day.

 

We had been promised a beautiful day in Labadee.

 

 

But early morning, it was very windy and the rain kept falling. Everyone was singing.

 

 

We got off the ship around 10:30, and there was still a light rain with overcast skies.

 

 

 

That didn’t keep the people off the beach. There were so many loungers set up at Nellies beach, there was hardly any room to get to the water.

 

 

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[klam_chowder]

Just wanted to add my thx for a great write up so far - will be on my first RC cruise, and same itin but different ship and still finding this very helpful! I'd already made my activity spreadsheet to determine dining times & venues for each day, but your main dining room menu one is over-the-top awesome! Appreciate the time you took to add detailed instructions for that, and the scans. (y)

 

cheers,

:)

[h20skibum]

Just wanted to add my thx for a great write up so far - will be on my first RC cruise, and same itin but different ship and still finding this very helpful! I'd already made my activity spreadsheet to determine dining times & venues for each day, but your main dining room menu one is over-the-top awesome! Appreciate the time you took to add detailed instructions for that, and the scans. (y)

 

 

 

cheers,

 

:)

 

 

 

Thanks for the comments. Not sure if the Compasses will be applicable to another ship, because they will have different shows. The times may be close if it is an Oasis class ship.

 

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

The gate was open to walk out to Dragon’s Lookout Point.

 

 

When the waves come in here, it sounds like a dragon’s breath. If the gate is open, you should take the short walk out.

 

There were lots of rain puddles around.

 

 

The winds were so high, that many of the zip line excursions were canceled. I think there were only one or two that ran today.

 

 

 

 

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[klam_chowder]

Thanks for the comments. Not sure if the Compasses will be applicable to another ship, because they will have different shows. The times may be close if it is an Oasis class ship.

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Thx for the tip. Sorry I should have clarified I made my activity spreadsheet based on my ship's CCompass a while ago, then saw you'd done a spreadsheet with MDR too...wow! 😊

 

cheers,

😀

[h20skibum]

As crowded as the beach was, we decided to get back on the ship and spend the day at the pool. We got some lunch at Windjammers and went to the pool. It wasn’t too crowded, because many were still ashore.

 

Due to the weather, Royal added more onboard activities. The skies got a little clearer, so it was time to head to the flow rider. The old guy had to wait in line with all the kids, but they still had the full width open. When it gets really busy, they put a divider in so they can take twice as many riders.

 

Who can resist moving to a little Sweet Home Alabama?

 

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

We went back to the cabin to get ready for dinner, and found a new plate of treats. No note as to why we got them. Maybe it was because we booked a couple cruises earlier today.

 

 

Off to My Time Dining again. We were all set to have the lamb and tiger shrimp, since that is what was listed on the menu for night 3 on the app. We go to the line without reservations and ask for a sharing table. “Sorry, we have no sharing tables tonight.”

 

They take us to another two top and bring the menu. Oh no. While we were primed for what was listed for night 3 on the app, the menu they gave us was for night 6. Did someone in the kitchen screw up their nights? Oh well, I guess you can’t depend on the app to be accurate. Maybe they have been spending all their time trying to get their web site to work right.

 

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

After dinner, we had Ocean Aria booked for the Aquatheatre. Since we finished early, we got in the standby line to see the early show instead. It was a perfect night for a show outside.

 

 

 

The Koala bear was waiting in the cabin when we returned.

 

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

If it is day 4, it must be Falmouth. So let’s start with the Compasses.

 

 

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

More compass information

 

 

 

And specials onboard.

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

Since we are in Falmouth, they want you to know where to shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[lazydayz]

Loving your review. We get to sail Allure in September. Very excited.

[Teeara]

Thank you so much for posting all the Compasses (including inserts). It helps to get an idea on pricing and planning. Enjoying your review and pix as well!

[h20skibum]

Thank you so much for posting all the Compasses (including inserts). It helps to get an idea on pricing and planning. Enjoying your review and pix as well!

 

 

 

I am always searching for past Cruise Compasses, or whatever the other lines call them, when I plan to go on a ship I haven’t been on before. I am glad you find them useful in your planning.

 

I had hoped to have a last flurry of writing and finish last weekend, but that didn’t happen. I will keep plugging along to the end.

 

Enjoy your planning. That’s what I am also doing for the next three cruises I have booked. That is the most I have had at one time, so I have charts and graphs and other things to keep them all straight.

 

Enjoy your planning.

 

 

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[h20skibum]

We have been to Jamaica many, many times and have done all the tourist things. Our plan for the day is the same as it was the last time we were here. We will spend the day at Margaritaville.

 

It sure looks small from the ship.

 

 

The last time we were here, as we were walking in, DW says “Wow, look at that big hotel. I wonder what it is called?”

 

 

To which I replied “The Oasis!”

 

Her: “Funny, that is the same name as the ship!” So this time, I just said “Hey, look, they have a new hotel called the Allure now.”

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

We had been promised a beautiful day.

 

 

And the weather turned out even better.

 

 

This is one of the nicest Margaritavilles around, and we would spend our time at the swim up bar an in the hot tub that is shaped like a margarita glass.

 

 

 

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[h20skibum]

So the last photo was my view for the day, except when we were in the hot tub. We had to move to the pool bar to eat our lunch, since it would be too much to try to juggle plates and drinks up there.

 

A Margaritaville Cuban sandwich.

 

 

As we were getting into the hot tub, DW looks at the ground beneath it and says: “Hey, that looks like money down there.” So off I go to scoop it up. It was $100 bill and a $50 bill. I am feeling like Jethro Bodine when Uncle Jed struck black gold. Hot diggity dog! I am thinking it will be like my meal and drinks will all be paid for today.

 

 

What? Then I looked at the bill, and it was $6,775.88.

 

 

I guess the $150 is not going to go far. What kind of wallet do you have to have if you are walking around with Jamaican dollars? You would need to have 68 of the $100’s to buy a meal and drinks. If I was Sir Donald, I would be ashamed to have my face on the hundred.

 

 

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[calmKiki]

Im enjoying the review. Do you have the menu of the MDR lunch?

 

 

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