Some good, some not so good

Item: Allure of the Seas
Rating: 3.3
Author: ChuckAb

Allure of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Bahamas

ChuckAb

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 2-3 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 3

Overall rating:

3.3 out of 5

Verified Review

3 Night Bahamas & Perfect Day (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)

Sail date: July 05, 2024

Ship: Allure of the Seas

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 10722

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 1 month ago

Review summary

The cruise was just ok. While the shows were excellent, the food was average and the activities were, too.

Embarkation

4 out of 5

Even with an unexpected Coast Guard inspection delaying embarkation, it was a smooth process

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

The Park Cafe was the big winner for our family and the Kummelweck roast beef sandwich was very good. We did the Windjammer for breakfast two days and it's ok. Coco Cay's food was very disappointing, even the ribeye cheesesteak I'd been excited about. The Wipe out cafe Mexican food was average. The Main Dining was pretty good and our waitstaff (Jacob, Antonius, and Lalu) were all excellent. Our frustration was that my wife is gluten-free and that's not really an unusual thing in 2024. I had emailed RC as they suggest about her allergy and my daughter's nut allergy, but it was challenging for her to find options for dinner. The menu doesn't really tell you what's GF or what can be prepared GF, so the first night was really upsetting to her before Jacob (head waiter) intervened and was able to take care of her. But that's a systemic thing and shouldn't fall to a head waiter. RC is supposed to be very good with allergies, but I am not sure that was our experience. She ended up being able to eat something every night, but there weren't a lot of choices for her, and again, it's not like being gluten free is highly unusual these days.

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

We booked the cruise so our 2 kids (18 and 16) could do as much or as little as they wanted. The pools were pretty small so at peak times, it was like a human soup. Hit them the moment you board the ship, early in the am, or on a port day. We shot some baskets on the basketball court, stood in line for pickleball but abandoned it, did the zip line (short, but the people were really helpful, especially David from Peru), and did one of the trivia half hours. There's more if you want it.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

This was a real strength of the cruise. Mamma Mia was a Broadway-level performance and is highly recommended. The Aquashow was just ok. A lot of people rave about it and the talent of the swimmers was undeniable, but it wasn't really a show as much as a series of dives strung together. Older daughter noted that they should have built to a finale. The underrated gem was Blades, the skating show. Not only were the skaters talented, but there was great music and more of a show.

Children's Programs

Kids were 18 and 16

Service and Staff

4 out of 5

Very impressed with the staff: Floriana the room steward was excellent, as were Jacob, Antonius, and Lalu, the waiters.

Ship Quality

3 out of 5

Even with a helpful map on the app, there were a lot of places where "you can't get there from here" on the ship.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

It was small, but manageable with all the ingenious drawers and cubbies. Our cabin Steward Floriana was excellent. I highly suggest a balcony room if you can because it's nice to have real light and air, but it's also a great place to dry bathing suits. I like how the bed is high enough that you can put your luggage underneath.

Ship tip

There are lots of tips and I can tell you some of them are gold. Definitely get lanyards. You look silly, but that Seapass is so important and so easy to lose you want to wear it around your neck. Get metal hooks to hang your passes right by the door. Towel clips are essential. You can save your lounger, know which one is yours, not worry about your towel blowing away, and dry your bathing suits on the room balcony with sturdy clips. A shoe organizer was helpful and so was a small air freshener for the tiny room bathroom.

Thumbs up