One regret: My small bottle of rum was not returned.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
After one cruise on RC, we were promoted to Gold Level in the Crowne and Anchor Society. I would urge cruisers to join just for the perks. One of those perks was priority boarding which we managed to accomplish in less than 20 minutes from the bus to gangplank.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
4 out of 5
We were a bit disappointed with the main dining room foods this trip. In October 2017, the meals were prepared by master chefs from around the world. This year, there was no mention of who created the meals. This is not to say that the meals were not well prepared and well presented-- they were, but they did lack a bit of flair and that little something special that clearly separates the ordinary from the extraordinary. One of our perks was a complimentary meal in Chops Grille. Now THAT was a meal! The most flavorful and tender steak we have ever had. Usually my wife leaves a bite on the plate (room for dessert!) but this time none of the 9 ounce Angus Filet got by her. I especially like to have wine with my meals and there is no shortage of selections to fit every taste and every budget.
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Entertainment
5 out of 5
On our last cruise we hit most of the main shows offered. This year we picked up where we left off and went to some of the smaller venues: Ice Games and How to Train Your Dragon on Ice are two that come to mind. Both of us found it amazing that skaters could do what they do at the speeds they do it on a moving ship that despite its size can still roll a bit. We also saw Britain's Finest, a Beatles revival group. These "lads"-- all from California were spot on in the music. YEAH! it was 1964 all over again. (Now I get to gloat: I met a couple of the group in the Bow and Stern. We had a nice chat over pint. These young men were as cordial as they were talented.)
Children's Programs
5 out of 5
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
I have always said that the best way to get the most out of your cruise experience is to treat the staff with utmost respect. We tip our hats to June in American Icon who made our reservations for our table selection on Day 1 and remembered who were for the rest of the cruise. Tyrone and Rhandi served us during dinner and by the end of the week he not ony knew who we were but also our tastes. We were treated like the only ones in the dining room. But it all comes back to the room steward to make sure the staterooms are neat and clean. Our steward was Tess, who was so joyful and pleasant and treated us daily with her towel animals These crew members make our cruise experience what it is because they work with passion.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
In the film Passengers, there are little custodial robots who immediately take care of anything if anything is out of place. The Allure of Seas is staffed not with mindless robots but with people who truly love their work and take care to make sure that nothing is our of place. For instance, thousands of people use the restrooms on ship everyday and not one day will you ever find a restroom that looks like it has not had any attention. You will never find empty plates or cups left on tables. You will never find little of any kind anywhere. Royal Caribbean is a marvelous steward of the planet and its resources and the staff leads by example.
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Our thoughts have always been that our cabin is for showers, changing clothes and sleeping-- not for letting a cruise go by. That said, our balcony cabin overlooking Central Park was the perfect size for two, comfortable, quiet, and kept neat and clean by Tess.
Ship tip
Don't overlook the option to have breakfast and lunch in one of the main dining halls. The Windjammer offers a great deal but it can get crowded and sometimes hard to find a place to sit. There are other smaller food venues throughout the ship as well. We like starting our day with a cup of coffee and a pastry from the Promenade Cafe on Deck 5.
IN 2017 we stopped at Nassau and thought the people were rather pushy, rude and in your face. A bit of a turnoff. This time though there was a difference. The Bahamians were were more respectful of personal space and quite polite. This may be because there have been numerous posts on sites such as this and other chat rooms that have not been complimentary of the Bahamas. Perhaps such post were read and there has been an attitude shift. My Four Stars is up from two.
Both Charlotte Amalie and Philipsburg were slammed by hurricanes in 2017 and are still in the process of recovering (which by some estimates could take many years). What has not changed is the positive attitude of the people who live there. Though the site of so much devastation made us sad, we found the people to be inspirational and resilient. We took the panoramic tour of the St. Thomas and saw some spectacular scenery from Mountain Top (where you can also get the Worlds Best Banana Dacquri) and a view of Magens Beach, said to be one of the top Ten Beaches in the world.
On St Maarten we took the Open Top Double Decker Bus tour and like St Thomas saw a lot of hurrican damage but the people still had a positive attitude. The highlight for us was some time at Maho Beach at the end of the Princess Juliana Airport. No big jets landed or took off, but the beach was clean and water amazingly clear and blue.
Royal Caribbean offers two disembarkation plans that I think people should consider: the self assist (carrying your own luggage off the ship) and the valet luggage option (if you are going straight to the airport). Last cruise we did the self assist and were off the ship and through customs in less than 20 minutes. This year we used the Valet service and again, we were off the ship and through customs in less than 20 minutes.
They will give you info on the ship of the timeframe your flight needs to be for luggage valet. I think for this specific cruise it was flights between 11 and 6 pm.
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