An over crowded cruise ship

Item: Allure of the Seas
Rating: 3
Author: hh13sp

Allure of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

hh13sp

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Reviews: 2

Helpful Votes: 89

Overall rating:

3 out of 5

Verified Review

7 Night Western Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: April 02, 2017

Ship: Allure of the Seas

Cabin type: Inside

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

After 5 cruises, this was the most expensive, and the least value for your money. Long line-ups for food and not enough seating after you got your food in Marketplace. Had to pay extra for Johnny Rockets Hamburger joint. Really cheap!!! Couldn't see Mama Mia due to sold out and only played for 3 days. Not enough lounge chairs due to 1600 kids on board. Food was good in Icom restaurant but long waiting time to get in. Very limited food choices after 9:00 P.M. Drinks were over priced compared to my previous cruises. A lack of free drinks at night. Fruit punch and lemonade available until 6:00 PM then only coffee, tea, or water after. Picture taking everywhere on board all the time was all a money generating theme for Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Children's Programs

N/A

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

More roomey than Carnival, Norwegian, and Holland. Much quieter and very comfortable bed and pillows. Had problems with safe due to weak batteries I think. The toilet refused to flush one night, then mysteriously flushed itself sometime in the middle of the night.

Ship tip

Don't go during March break.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

5 out of 5

Labadee (Cruise Line Private Island)

5 out of 5

Nice and clean and had a wonderful barbeque on shore.

Thumbs Up 6

Falmouth, Jamaica

1 out of 5

Dirty and very smelly. Urine stench everywhere you go. Poverty all around. Was advised by uniformed security to avoid certain streets. Was glad to get back on board ship after 3 hours.

Thumbs Up 5

Cozumel, Mexico

3 out of 5

Bargain Shopping. You could just about negotiate anything you wanted for a much reduced price. Taking pictures resulted in requests for money from you. Crazy drivers everywhere on scooters. Much cleaner and more civilized than Jamaica.

Thumbs Up 13

11 Comments

mustang06 7 years ago

Maybe you should go on all inclusive and stay off cruise ships but then again you would find something wrong there also

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monncheri0608 7 years ago

we just got off and didn't have any of these issues...but, someone else did say it was a lot of kids on the prior sailing

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JohnsonL 7 years ago

LJD1030: You can help your friends enjoy the cruise most by advising them to prebook shows before you get on the ship and arrive at shows at least 15 minutes early even after you've made a reservation. Allure, and Oasis class, is a big and busy ship. When we've planned gatherings for friends we have gone on a slightly smaller ship such as Freedom of the Seas where it's more comfortable, you don't have to pre-book shows, but it's still big enough so that there's plenty to do. And above all else unless you have to go on spring break or summer vacation don't go during those times; the ships will be closer to full and there will be a higher percentage of youngsters on the ship. If you're taking your kids that's okay but if you want to avoid other people's kids don't go on spring break or during the summer.

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jenine2401394 7 years ago

I have heard from other cruisers all good things about the allure. Friends our ours going with us this will be there 3rd time in the allure and our first. Our cruise leaves on April 23rd

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jasonsb71 7 years ago

We went on The Allure at Spring Break. It was crowded but we had reservations for shows or stood in the standby line for a bit and got in. It is what you make of it. We had a blast!! Going next Spring Break on Oasis. You'll have fun and enjoy it.

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DottieDiehl 7 years ago

In all fairness, not every cruise line has an option to pre-book the shows. I learned of this option on Ship Mate after I booked the Allure for 2/18. The tips I've read from others are very helpful.

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mustang06 7 years ago

You should of pre booked your shows and booked your dinner time or taken a set time and it sounds like you went on spring break and Johnny Rockets has always been extra

Thumbs Up 6

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mellyses 7 years ago

Doesn't show any other cruises so not sure what you are comparing to...we had a great time on the Allure on transatlantic ...sorry you were disappointed

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scplattFA 7 years ago

Sounds like poor planning. You didn't pre-book your shows or reserve your dining each morning. So you missed the Mamma Mia and waited a long time for dinner. Hopefully you plan better going forward.

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npendergrass9 7 years ago

Why didn't you pre book your shows to make sure you would get to see them? As far as the pictures everywhere, Carnival is just as bad but a lot of people want memories.

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LJD1030 7 years ago

I'm a little disappointed at your post I'm going on the Allure of the Seas I had to talk some people into it I hope it's okay...... I hope I won't be disappointed I'll never get my friends back on a cruise again if it's as disappointed as you say it is..:(

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