I've previously sailed on both the Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Epic and decided to give Royal Caribbean a try. My review will make comparisons with my NCL experiences.

Embarkation was a breeze and very well organised. The Allure was very impressive. As others have mentioned previously, even with a full complement of passengers, the ship never felt too congested. For a ship that's nearly 7 years old, it was in very good condition. Carpets and decor looked new throughout, though the fabric on the chairs in the Windjammer Buffet was tarnished and stained. I would recommend a replacement of all soft furnishings in the Buffet as this area seems to take the most pounding.

I really enjoyed the 'Neighbourhood' concept of the Allure and was truly amazed at the scale of Ship and the vast areas you could both shop, eat and relax in. I've previously sailed on the NCL Getaway and Epic and thought they had a lot to offer, but the RCL Allure put both of those ships to shame. Having said this, the Promenade deck on the Getaway is something I missed on the Allure. But the scale of this Ship is something to behold, whilst at the same time being perfectly easy to navigate and walk around. Read more