Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines – Allure of the Seas
I flew with American Airlines to Miami and was met by Royal Caribbean’s charming representatives. We travelled by coach to the Fairfield Inn and Suites in Fort Lauderdale for a one night pre-cruise stay. The following morning the coach took us to the port to embark Allure of the Seas.
The check-in was superb and efficient with a little bit of queuing, but when you consider that this monster of a ship holds in excess of 5,000 passengers it was handled professionally and smoothly.
As I boarded I was totally in awe of the ship. The 18 decks of towering magnificence greeted you as you entered this state-of-the-art cruise ship.
I loved Central Park, a tropical open air section complete with tropical foliage, and a stroll through Central Park will take you past tempting restaurants offering alfresco dining, a selection of bars, boutiques and an art gallery. This section oozes class and sophistication with live classical and jazz concerts, street performers and a wonderful atmosphere. It also features the Rising Tide bar, a fabulous bar which moves up and down between three decks, it was quickly nick-named the “uppy downy” bar and became a popular meeting place.
The Boardwalk was another wonderful section of Allure, with a full sized carousel. Even as an adult, I could not resist having a ride. It also featured a hot dog stand, ice cream parlour, sweet shop, and some great casual restaurants. It has lots of charm and is a great place for the whole family.
The Royal Promenade runs along the centre of the ship, this is an amazing bustling boulevard crammed with bars, boutiques, even a cup cake shop, a champagne bar, sports bar, a traditional pub and so much more, buzzing with excitement, day and night. I experienced some fabulous entertainment, street carnivals and so much more, this ship is alive with activity offering a superb holiday for the whole family I feel it is a multi-generational ship, catering for all ages and all interests.
I must also mention the Zip –line ride which runs along the top of the ship, this was so exhilarating, just don’t look down! What an experience!
I didn’t try the flow riders, but Allure also offers two Surf simulators, and guess what? No queues! Or how about rock climbing, the ultimate challenge for those not scared of heights. I should also mention that these facilities are FREE of charge. Can you just imagine what it would cost to do any of these activities here at home?
After all this activity, I headed off to the spa for a bit of pampering and relaxation. It is the largest at-sea spa and they offer an amazing selection of treatments and there are always special offers to be had, especially on port days if you do decide to stay on the ship. You can indulge in some wonderful treatments at a fraction of the cost. I would however recommend that, if possible, you pre-book some treatments before you depart.
Dining on-board is an absolute pleasure with so much choice to suit even the most discerning palette. Some of the restaurants do carry an extra charge to your cruise cost, but I felt the experience, service and standard of food was so superb, it was well worth it. I should point out that there is no extra charge for dining in the main restaurant and the menu is elegant, the choice, good and the service excellent, so don’t feel you have to pay extra if you wish not to.
Entertainment on-board was first class, with the Broadway show ‘Chicago’ being staged in the theatre, a first class high diving acrobatic show at the Aqua theatre, or an impressive show on ice at the ice rink, and if that is not enough, comedy club, disco, an enormous casino, and there is live music in many of the bars, so you can dance until dawn.
Children’s facilities are just ‘the best’ with Dream Works characters on-board, amazing children’s clubs, entertainment and special meal arrangements. I can’t think of a better ship for all the family. The ports of call are a bonus, with some of the best on shore experiences you could ever imagine.
Allure of the Seas, what an experience, I will definitely go again!