We selected Allure of the Seas for the variety of activities available and the eastern Caribbean itinerary. Our group consisted of myself and my husband (early 50s), our adult children (ages 23 and 21), a family friend (25), and our niece (19). We had an ocean balcony room, and the young adults had two interior rooms right across the hall. This was our fourth cruise, but this was our first time on an Oasis class ship. We planned the trip to celebrate our daughter's 21st birthday, and she had a blast.

Pros about Allure: The ocean balcony room was terrific, and we liked the small cabinets and hooks to store various items. It was an improvement over other cabins we've had on older ships. We had the bed-by-the-closet arrangement, and it worked fine. I know some people complain about it being too tight when trying to get clothing out of the closet, but really it is not a big deal. Don't stress if you happen to get this arrangement. The two interior rooms seemed to be fine for the young adults too. However, I would not book more than two adults per room. I imagine it would be very awkward to have a pull-out bed added to mix. We originally booked a Central Park view balcony, and I'm so glad we were upgraded (due to a price drop just days after we paid in full...I called and requested it). I don't think I would have been happy with a Central Park view balcony room.

We enjoyed the Main Dining Room overall. Some items were better than others, but we all found something we liked during our 7 dinners there. On the infrequent occasion that we didn't like something, our waiters were quick to bring an alternative, even if it was off-menu. For example, I am vegetarian, so options are limited. I ordered the eggplant parmesan, and I found it very unappealing. I asked for mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli instead, and it was at the table less than 5 minutes later. My husband loved the filet offered on the first formal night, and the warm chocolate cake dessert was a big hit with everyone on the second formal night. Was every bite the best thing we've ever had? No. However, we all found dining in the MDR a pleasant experience. We had My Time Dining, and I would highly recommend making reservations online before you go. I was shocked at the "no reservations" queue each night. With reservations, we rarely waited more than a few minutes to be taken to a table. We eventually requested the same table and waiters, so we had them 6 of our 7 nights. Read more