Allure of the Seas [great ship] out of Galveston [great port] is hot in the summer months June-August, so be forewarned. The Western Caribbean ports are hot 🥵 too‼️ (and yes, this is our only tiny, insignificant complaint).

Item: Allure of the Seas
Rating: 4.9
Author: MarkXDStops

Allure of the Seas Cruise Review

MarkXDStops

Contributor Level: First Mate

8 Days Till Next Cruise

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 15

Helpful Votes: 199

Overall rating:

4.9 out of 5

7 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip)

Sail date: June 11, 2023

Ship: Allure of the Seas

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 14636

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 11 months ago

Review summary

Great ship, fine itinerary, awesome staff and crew, but a bit too hot 🥵 in the summer months. We will cruise Europe, Canada, or Alaska in the summer in the future.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Very easy boarding process. This is the one and only time that arriving late totally worked out for us. No lines at 1:30 for us. Probably rare, though.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

We were fortunate enough to stay in a junior suite, so we made Coastal Kitchen reservations for dinner every night, flexible with our schedule. It was fantastic! This is quite an awesome perk on Oasis class ships. The service and the food here are expertly crafted and skillfully served. Our favorite lunches were from Park Cafe on deck 8. Delicious roast beef sandwiches with light horseradish and au jus. Hot pressed paninis. Gourmet coffee and cool desserts. Cool refreshing custom made salads and big bowls of hot soup.

Park Cafe

5 out of 5

Our favorite lunches were from Park Cafe on deck 8. Delicious roast beef sandwiches with light horseradish and au jus. Hot pressed paninis. Gourmet coffee and cool desserts. Cool refreshing custom made salads and big bowls of hot soup.

Coastal Kitchen

5 out of 5

Onboard Activities

5 out of 5

Casino Royale

5 out of 5

Wonderful casino and drinks service and bar. Best casino hosts at sea!

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Fortunately, we made our entertainment reservations early online. We got to see all major shows and events, except one. It is true that Aqua Theater Show Oceana was closed due to safety reasons on night 5 through departure. Fortunately, we have seen it before. All shows on Oasis class are wonderful, Broadway-quality, and world-class entertainments.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Allure has amazing staff and a great employee culture.

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

perfect everything everywhere

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5

Wonderful room stewards and maintenance staff.

Ship tip

This is a big ship with so much to do, do not expect to do it all in one cruise. Do not let one Sold Out show wreck your cruise. Adjust your plan and do something else. Allure of the Seas [great ship] out of Galveston [great port] is hot in the summer months June-August, so be forewarned. The Western Caribbean ports are hot 🥵 too‼️ (our only tiny complaint). It is kind of a rookie move to live somewhere hot like OK/TX/NM/LA/AR/MS/TN and drive in summer months to Galveston to sail somewhere hotter. Live and learn though. Baller move: sail somewhere cool in summer, like Alaska or Canada or Northeast Coast toward Maine or Europe. Book your cruises a year in advance and think through the entire vacation. Well thought out, carefully planned, then simply yet methodically executed cruise vacations are the best vacations.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Cozumel, Mexico

5 out of 5

Excellent port shopping, lots of food and drink in port area. Cozumel If you have not done so, go on the VIP All Inclusive Dolphin Swim excursion at this port! You can thank me later. It is a perfectly fine and fun day to just go to Margaritaville and order the table side made guacamole and chips, tropical drinks, then lunch, followed by shopping.

Thumbs Up 1

Coxen Hole, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras

5 out of 5

This is my favorite port in the entire Caribbean, with St. Croix and San Juan being close seconds in a tie (full disclosure: I have never been to Trinidad, Turks, Aruba, Bonaire or Curacao). I love Roatan, Honduras. There is no bad excursion! Pick one and go! Do not stay on board, do not stay in port! Our excursion this time: Monkeys, Sloths & Iguanas ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thumbs Up 1

Galveston, Texas

5 out of 5

Great port facilities and excellent staff efficiency here, and a fun town to spend the night prior to a cruise. Houston is less fun and more dangerous than Galveston.

Thumbs Up 0

Costa Maya (Mahahual), Mexico

4 out of 5

You do not need an excursion to enjoy this port. Instead, just stay in the port area and find something you like. I love the aviary, but there is also a free beach and pool area. Lots of food, bars, and shopping.

Thumbs Up 1