Allure of the Seas Review
Rating by category
Additional details
My wife and I are RCCL and Celebrity fans, so it's painful to report on a cruise that was far below expectations.
First, I should note the positives: we decided to treat our three 14-year old grandchildren to a cruise, and, after much hand wringing, elected to book all five of us in a single veranda room -- one of the very few of its type. I was impressed by how well we were able to manage. More about this below.
The onboard shows were good, especially Blue Planet -- the entertainment bright spot. The Ice and Water Shows more than worth the effort to see them. To be honest, Mama Mia was a bit disapointing, though the second act was much better than the first. The teend loved the karaoke and the adults loved the disco, so we were well entertained.
Cabin Review
Ocean View Balcony
A standard veranda room capable of sleeping five is a rarity on any ship. We were pleased by how well it accommodated two adults and three teenagers. Other than the limitation of a single bathroom, it was fully satisfactory. Good support from the room steward was a major plus.
For those unfamiliar with this cabin class, it's no different is size from any other veranda cabin, To accommodate 5, it has a fold-out sofa and a single bunk that's embedded in the ceiling. Until they're deployed, it's no different from any other veranda cabin. If your only need the cabin occasionally during the day, it's great.
Port Reviews
Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades)
Since we were cruising with our grandchildren, we settled on lounging at the hotel pool. The Embassy Suites was a great jumping-of point for family cruisers, though not the choice we make when cruising alone.
St. Maarten
We've been to St Maarten at least 10 times, so we spent our short stay shopping with the teens.
San Juan
No time to do anything, so didn't ;(
Labadee
We missed this stp entirely due to RCCL decisions beyond our control. We weren't happy then, and time hasn't improved our feelings about this.