Allure of the Seas Review
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Allure of the Seas has some of the best entertainment options available on the high seas. Once again, we were blown away by the quality and variety of the shows. Having sailed on Allure just three years ago, we were pleased to see that while the names of the shows remained the same, the shows themselves were varied and different. "Chicago" was the notable exception, and even that is being switched out shortly. Most cruise ships do not require you to make plans in advance for the evening shows, but that is not the case with Allure. While you can wait in line for last minute no-shows, it really is best to take the time to book all shows online well before your sailing date. Here's a helpful hint regarding seating: once you are in a venue, one person in your party might want to hover near the empty "Gold" seats reserved for suite guests. These open up to everyone a few minutes before the shows start, allowing one the chance to grab prime seats at the last minute.
In the midst of all the "Wow" entertainment on board, don't miss out on the simpler entertainment pleasures either; there is nothing quite as delightful as dining outdoors at Chops or Giovanni's Table while enjoying live music in Central Park on a balmy tropical evening. Late night tapas and wine at Vintages while listening to the amazing classical guitar and violin duo quickly became our favorite evening pastime. If you are interested in taking advantage of a prime freebie, be sure to attend the Vintages free wine and tapas tasting which is held mid-afternoon on the first day.
One of the things I like best about Allure is the demographic of the passengers who sail this ship. Every age group is very well represented; from families with children to twenty somethings, to active fun-loving seniors (who totally ruled the Flowrider on this sailing!) This time around, I got up my nerve to try the zip-line. Wheee! For all of those who love to complain about the nickle and diming on board, where else can you surf and zip line for free?! And no, the yoga class is not free ($15), but what a small price to pay for the opportunity to practice yoga on the helipad of a ship in the middle of the Caribbean sea!
Cabin Review
Superior Ocean View Stateroom with Balcony
No complaints about the cabin, but we preferred our location on deck 8 on our last Allure cruise. There is a small amount of noise in the early morning from chairs being straightened up in the Solarium above on Deck 15. While I never heard voices or music, I could hear the quiet but unmistakable sound of bass on the two nights when the Deck 17 Solarium nightclub party was held. On a positive note, we enjoyed easy access to the large public deck that runs across the front of the ship and is fortunately accessed from the opposite deck 14 hallway, meaning our side had much less traffic. I liked being able to run up the stairs one floor to reach the Solarium pools and restaurant, as well as the entire pool deck. We also had the best cabin attendant I have ever experienced.