Second time on the Allure in two and a half years. The first time blew us away. The second time was just another cruise. After having the drink package for the first time on the first cruise on the Allure I felt like it was a fair deal. Trying different high end cognacs(hennessyXO) , aged scotch(mcallen 12yr double cask), tequilas (don julio 1942), aged rums...etc in the Champagne bar for a minimal surcharge of a buck or two was quite nice. Left the first cruise with some nice ideas to stock my home bar and a guarantee i would buy the drink package on Royal Caribbean the next time i cruised with them. Then the "next time i cruise with them" happened for spring break of 2019. Was hyped up to get on the ship and get me a HennessyXO neat for a $2 up charge with the drink package and start my reexploring of the Allure. Upon ordering my drink, the bar tender kindly made sure i was aware the HennessyXO wasnt part of the drink package. i told her i knew there was a small surcharge according to the last cruise on the allure of $2. She then told me it is now an $8 surcharge above the drink package cost. I paused and started looking for something else to start my trip out with and asked where the Don Julio 1942 was which was also a $2 up charge. She said they dont carry that any more.(though they sell it in the ship store). Nor did they have the double cask scotch i was eager to have....so i settled on some RemyXO for a buck surcharge that i didnt even finish..Truly disappointed that i paid for the drink package to sip on zacapa and coke and old fashions all cruise. I could buy six bottles of zacapa and four bottles of makers mark for the price of the drink package and that would last me a year. Another knock on the drink package is how Royal markets how it is usable on their private islands. Labadee was a JOKE when it come to drinks offered. There was one special drink, "the labadoozy", and a bunch of bottom shelf junk. I ask for a long island and the bartender told me the didnt have sour mix....what, no sour mix at a bar..i told her to make it any way and just use more coke. My wife ordered a pina colada and was told the didnt do pinacoladas...you heard that right..we were in the middle of the Caribbean on a cruise port stop and couldnt get a pina colada. i just wonder if the people at the private beach with more money than all the other guest were able to get what they wanted. Totally disappointed with Royal in the drink package aspect. Wont do it again unless I can confirm what alcohols are available for a small up charge, and what drinks are available on their private stops.

the ship itself is top notch always clean and well maintained, except for some soiled carpet areas and the smoke coming from the casino when going to dinner, theres not much of a better taken care of ship. dinners are better than the average cruise line that ive been on, (princess and carniva) and the workers seem to be in better moods on Royal than other cruise lines. We saw three shows while on the ship. The Blue Planet had some highlights but was rather slow for my liking, The Ice Games was my all time favorite of any show on any ship Ive been on(7 different ships). And my wife and i left half way though Momma Mia. To boring for how tired we were. Rock climbing wall and waver rider where very nice for the active. I made the best out of my hopes of sipping on fine spirits being baited and switched. We had a 14th floor boardwalk balcony which was nice to watch the aquatheater. All in all you cant go wrong with Royal from my limited experience. i just dont like change...especially when its change that doesnt make my trip better.