Allure of the Seas May29-June5-2016

Item: Allure of the Seas
Rating: 3
Author: jdmartineng

Allure of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

jdmartineng

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 45

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: May 29, 2016

Ship: Allure of the Seas

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 11548

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

My favorite part of the cruise was the boat. The Allure of the Seas is a fantastic boat with really great activities and entertainment. The cruise could use some improvement on quality of service from staff. The staff was very competent but the majority lacked enthusiasm or any real commitment to making my experience the best possible. They did what was needed, but rarely above and beyond and rarely with a smile. Of all the staff on the boat, there were only two who performed the type of service I expect on a cruise - our room Steward, Selmon (spelling? - Room 11548), who always had a smile on his face, and one waiter in the Icon on Deck 3, Victor. Other than those two, there was very little enthusiasm, smiles, or small talk engagement from anyone else. Also, on a few separate occasions, we observed used plates from breakfast sit at the pool deck for 4-5 hours before someone picked them up. Or empty glasses sit on a table for quite some time before someone comes by to get it. On other cruises, I rarely saw a plate or glass sit for 60 seconds before someone grabs it. It is the little things like this that would make me not recommend Royal Caribbean over competitors that we have been on. Things like that add up to the overall experience. While the boat was the best boat I've ever seen, there is more to the experience than that - and I will tell others that the slightly higher price for Royal just isn't worth it unless all you care about is the boat and shows.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

On par. Dining rooms were great, most the food seemed quickly thrown together from not the freshest ingredients.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

While there was lots to do, the on board activities were always severely crowded. People fighting to be first into a show or the 30-45 minute wait at the FlowRider. Timed activities always started late.

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Good Entertainment but any event outside of the Amber Theater was overcrowded and always started late. We would arrive 30-45min before a show to find a long line already, which people would disregard 5 min before the doors opened anyway. It became a free-for-all when the doors opened. Just chaos most of the time. And then the shows never start on time, always 5-10 late.

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Did not partake.

Service and Staff

1 out of 5

Selmon (Room 11548 Steward) and Victor (waiter at Deck 3 Icon) were only staff out of the hundreds of interactions who provided the type of service we expected and have experienced on competitor ships. The majority of the staff, while competent, was disinterested and merely doing the bare minimum requirements of their job.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Fantastic ship. Did experience plates sitting around for hours before being picked up.

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Steward was really fantastic. Room a bit small, but on par with what we expected. Room lacked electrical outlets near bed area and in bathroom.

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

5 out of 5

Labadee (Cruise Line Private Island)

5 out of 5

Falmouth, Jamaica

5 out of 5

Do not leave the gated area, the tourist sharks were very persistent and numerous here.

Thumbs Up 4

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

4 Comments

Abalik77 8 years ago

Meant 11548...

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Abalik77 8 years ago

We just got off Allure too, we couldn't remember his name (our room Steward starts with an " S")but our room was a few a way from yours 1548... He was AWSOME! So professional, nice, calming, personally and always had a smile on his face!!

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meghad23 8 years ago

We had an amazing steward as well, and found a fantastic bar-tending staff in Central Part. Visited them the every night.

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Travelgirl27 8 years ago

I agree about the staff and I have been on the Allure twice...3 years ago and this past April and the same both times. We enjoy the food on RC better than Carnival and the ship is nicer. We like better quality food and that is really what keeps up coming back to RC.

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Other reviews of this sailing

Amazing service, very clean, many activities

Amazing Experience on the Allure

Best cruise to date!