Our favorite place on the ship was Central Park. As you sit in this area it is really hard to realize that you are sailing on the ocean. You fell like you are sitting in the garden of a posh resort. I had to be reminded several times that we really were on a ship!
The only low points on this cruise was the food. The other two cruises we took on RC knocked it out of the park when it came to their food. I am so glad this wasn’t our first cruise with RC, we might never of had a second. But this was the exception to the norm, and the next cruise on the Allure may be very different. Go ahead and take a chance, you may find that cruising on the Allure is just your cup of tea! I’ve already got another cruise planned, Bon Voyage!
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Royal Caribbean are the tops in getting 6200 passengers efficiently and quickly onboard. The lines move far more quickly than any TSA security checkpoint at any airport. They were very friendly and helpful in getting our cruise off on the right foot.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
2 out of 5
While this was our third cruise on a Royal Caribbean ship, if this had been our first we probably would not have had a second. The food was bland. I had a white chocolate mousse dessert that tasted like nothing more than whipped cream. This was also true regarding a key lime mousse. While I expected a tart lime taste explosion in my mouth, you could not even tell there was any citrus in it at all. Sharing this with someone who wasn’t with me when I took the first bite, they could not even tell what they were eating.
As for the main entrees, they were not as impressive as what we have had on other RC ships. The lobster and shrimp was over cooked, the rolls were hard like day old bread, and the steak in the main dining room needed A-1 sauce to have any flavor at all, and I don’t generally use any sauce on my steaks. I will say that my prime rib was perfectly cooked and I enjoyed the heck out of it. All told the food was very bland and quite a disappointment.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Pools were wonderful, the mini-golf was so much fun that we did it several times. We used the walking/jogging track was located on the fifth deck, and it was enjoyable to stretch our legs. There are even encouragement signs ala the old Burma Shave road signs. It was fun to go from one to another. The rock climbing was challenging, but I only watched others trying to reach the top. The crew was extremely helpful.
There was so much to do, and there wasn’t enough time in the day to do everything. If you get bored, it’s because you can’t make up your mind what to do...
Vitality at Sea Spa
4 out of 5
Having a massage was perfect to start the cruise off. The masseus was extremely good and asked questions to find just what areas needed the extra work. I left totally relaxed and ready for an awesome cruise experience.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Ever show was spectacular. The headliner show was so much fun that we saw it twice. There were two ice shows that were so much fun. Even the afternoon shows, the belly flop contest and the sexiest man contest, left us laughing and clapping like crazy. The evening parties on the promenade each evening got everyone involved, and the DJ was cr-a-zy! The only show that wasn’t a perfect 5 star was Mama Mia. I haven’t seen the stage version so it may be exactly like Broadway. It reminded me of a community theatre production. It was good, but not as impressive as Cats was on the Oasis of the Seas. So don’t expect the movie version, you will be disappointed.
Children's Programs
I didn’t travel with any children.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
I found every crew member I encountered to be helpful and courteous. Our room steward was the very best. Working with us as to our unusual rising times. Our every need in our stateroom was handled with respect and a smile. Every crewman was willing to spend a bit of time talking and joking with us. We totally enjoyed our time there!
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
The design of the ship is very easy to navigate. Restaurants generally are at the rear of the ship, the show venues generally to the front. The elevators are all marked with a special symbol so that you can recognize which deck you need. There are informational and interactive displays to find your way around the ship too. I think my favorite thing is the elevators all have the current day on the floor at the doorway, so you will never have trouble with what day it is, just look down when you enter the elevators.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our cabin was great as far as an interior room goes. There was more than enough room to get around and enough storage space for my roommates makeup. Just don’t overpack! There are shelves in the closet on one end. There are three drawers in the desk and tall skinny cabinets above and below the side of the desk.... take advantage of them. The bathroom has two under cabinet shelves and three upper shelves for toiletries and a little drawer. We had more than enough room.
Ship tip
Take magnets with you. They were invaluable in using wall space, which is all metal. We even used magnets to decorate our door so we could quickly and easily find which door was ours on the long hallway. Have fun with your decorations, let them tell you where you sleep. We decorated ours for a birthday and for the season.
Take along highliters and read your Compass newsletter marking what activities you don’t want to miss. The daily compass is put on your bed the night before so take a few minutes before bed to plan out your next day. There is always something fun to do!
It was just ok. Not really a lot to do unless you like to shop. The problem is almost all the small shops have exactly the same merchandise. There are a couple of good restaurants, but not much more in close to the docking port.
The best part about this port is the fact that our ship was the only one to dock there that day. It is an enclosed compound belonging to Royal Caribbean. We did the zip line, it was AMAZING!!! A real must do if you have the nerve to do it. I was scared to death, but I did it and, boy, am I ever glad I did. I’d do it again in an instant!
If you are looking forward to water activities, then this is the port for you! Scuba, snorkeling, and even jet skiing is available with only your shipmates there to partake of them.... shorter lines, and less crowds! There is some shopping, but be prepared to be rushed by the venders. There’s not much variety, but they are willing to bargain with you. You may find just what you want and get it for a lesser price by just going stall to stall.
This port has plus and minuses.... there’s not much really close to the dockside. You will have to travel away from the town to do most of the excursions. We did the dune buggies... TWICE! It took about a hour and a half to get to the location, but it was totally worth it. I would love to ride horses along the beach the next time we go there! That really looked like fun. Just a word of caution.... if the excursion takes more than three hours, your gonna have that much travel time to get to it.
Again, Royal Caribbean is most excellent in moving a lot of people quickly. Their efficientcy is astounding. I wish all the TSA security lines in the airports could move as efficiently. The lines may appear long, but they keep moving, which is so refreshing. We stood longer outside waiting for our ride than inside going through the lines.
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