First time on the Allure

Although we are seasoned cruisers, and have been on many Royal Caribbean ships, this was our first time on the Allure.  We had read reviews and seen pictures, and while the ship looked beautiful, we had some concern that it might be just too big.  Still, we thought it would be worth a try, so we booked adjoining balcony cabins on the 9th deck.  From the moment we entered the ship we were blown away by the spacious public spaces.  It was around 1 pm when we boarded, and we went directly to our cabins where our luggage had already been delivered.  We unpacked, and then went to the pool deck to relax and let my grandson enjoy the H20 Zone (kids pool area).  The entire week was spent relaxing, exploring the ship, enjoying Nassau, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.  Our dining room service and food was outstanding, as was our cabin attendant.  The ship was at full capacity, but with the exception of the Windjammer (buffet) it never seemed crowded.  After having a difficult time finding a table there, we decided to take advantage of the information available on the cabin  TV which told us which restaurants were busy and which had immediate seating.  There are a tremendous number of complimentary dining options, and we found all of them to be great.  The ship is stunning...Central Park and the Boardwalk were great places to relax and people watch.  The Allure is a very large ship, but still had the Royal Caribbean "personality" ...just with many more venues.  One final point...the childrens program (Adventure Ocean) is absolutely outstanding.  This is my grandson's 4th Royal Caribbean cruise, and his favorite part of cruising is being able to go there.  If there are any potential cruisers out there that are apprehensive to take small children on a cruise, take our word for it...they will have a ball!