My impressions of my cruise on Allure of the Seas (7-nights, April 22, from FLL, to Labadee, Falmouth, Cozumel, FLL): The ship is a marvel! Less than two years at sea (launched November 2010) the ship is still in immaculate condition and offers so many amenities, one would be hard-pressed to experience everything that is offered in just one week. My favorites were: the entertainment, the food, the jogging track and the deck chairs on that same deck (5 aft) where I could sit and read or watch the frothy, turquoise wake. I walked that rubberized track every day. On shore days it was especially appealing because other exercisers were sparse and only a handful of maintenance crew were around, drilling, buffing or touching up paint.

My favorite shows (in order) were: Blue Planet, OceanAria, Chicago, Ice Games, Headliner (which was "Just Imagine" about the life of John Lennon) and Comedy. In my opinion, Blue Planet, OceanAria and the dinners every evening were worth the price I paid for this cruise. Everything else was a bonus. I've seen Chicago several times and though it's not a favorite, I thought this particular production was GREAT, in terms of the actors/singers/dancers and the staging.

As far as children go, if I had them, THIS is the cruise I would definitely take them on. There are many areas for kids and so many activities (and a carousel!). There was even a science lab. At breakfast every morning, one of the big, plush Dreamworks characters (such as King Julien) was available for hugging and photos. (I got a kick out of them from afar.) One day, I accidentally found myself walking the jogging track next to giant-sized Po from Kung Fu Panda. (Hey, this stuff is FUN!) Read more