sargemrs

We’re on Allure in August and wondering when she was last refurbished?  I see she has great reviews so not too concerned but curious!  

9 hours ago, gonole1972 said:

4 of our family sent in renewal paperwork 12 weeks ago.  Still waiting.  Anyone else been waiting this long?  

Yes, I waited 13 weeks. I had a current passport card, thinking I'd never need the book but then we planned a cruise where I needed it.  If your cruise is within 2 weeks and you haven't received it yet, there is a number to call where they will expedite it, I assume.  

6 hours ago, Saturngrl said:

The Key does not grant you entry into the Suite Lounge, Coastal Kitchen or other suite-only areas.  Suites and Pinnacles still board first, then the Key before the assigned boarding time groups.  

Got it!  Thanks!

6 hours ago, Saturngrl said:

There was a crew member with a Key sign waiting outside the MDR after we finished breakfast.  He escorted us from there off the ship.  The funny thing is the people who tried to join our group.  The crew member stopped them cold and told them this was exclusively for the Key, then sent them back to their assigned waiting areas.  Sweet!  

As a newbie RCL cruiser, am I understanding that the Key is a little step-down from the suites perks? Please advise.

3 hours ago, topnole said:

You’ll get an email from the concierge about 4-7 days before your cruise.  If you plan to eat in the CK (suite restaurant) reply to the email and ask for your reservation times.  Use the concierge if you need something.  They can help with a lot of things like show and dinner reservations or even a key replacement.  Also, the SL bar is fee beer and wine (a limited menu) from 11-11 and open bar for mixed drinks 3 hours from about 5-8 (varies by ship).  The SL is a beautiful space on Allure.  Also, nice coffee machine in the SL for espressos, etc..   

 

Enjoy.  Sky class is a nice experience.  Allure is a great ship.  

Thank you so much for that information.  Yes, we've read about the perks of the GS.  We don't drink alcoholic beverages but we love coffee/tea/etc.  and we'll have kids with us, so wonder if that will be an issue in the SL?  We'd stay away from the bar of course but we play games and I think all the kids are interested in the various kid programs so that'll take them away for awhile.  

1 minute ago, topnole said:

They are no longer stocked.  Royal stopped doing this several years ago.  

Great!  One less thing to have to worry about!  Thanks for the reply!

This is our first cruise on RC.  We're on Allure in August.  Wondering if the refrigerators are stocked with various items to be charged for, if used?  Norwegian's refrigerators are stocked and you have to have it emptied so you can put your own desired waters, etc.  If so, can we ask the concierge to empty it, in advance of boarding?

2 hours ago, mandyleighflies said:

 

I WISH I was that crafty!! I use a shop on Etsy for all our door signs! 

 

CynthiaYoungDesigns

 

She makes quality signs with strong magnets! Seeing as you need so many, I would message her on Etsy and see if she can give you a discount on bulk/multi purchase items. 

Oh thank you SO much!  I will look her up!

14 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

He/she might but the reason you get a discount on the package is the lack of certainty of dates/times before boarding.

I’m sure that’s part of the reason, but lots of things are on sale before the cruise.  We will probably wait until we’re onboard to decide anyway so it’s okay.  

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Unless you are in Star Class suites, you either have to book/pay for the specialty dining in the planner now (likely cheaper) or ask the concierge to do it for you (at the on board price).

We all paid for the 3 specialty dining package, so you’re saying the suite concierge won’t reserve before we’re onboard?

We are a group of 5 cabins (18 people) all in suites.  My understanding is the concierge will email us for some of our preferences and at that time tell them our specialty dining wishes?  Please advise.  This is our first RCL cruise!

On 5/18/2023 at 7:58 AM, mandyleighflies said:

My kids are 14 and 16 and the holiday's are just different than when they were younger. Gifts are no longer a "big deal" and they have been asking for experiences more than physical things. Therefore, my mom and I decided to book a surprise Christmas cruise the week before Christmas to surprise them for the holiday. We will be sailing on Freedom OTS Dec 18-21 to CocoCay and Nassau!! We will be sharing a 2 bedroom suite with my mom and have a "good old fashioned family christmas". 😂 We would have sailed over the actual Christmas holidays except for the following, they go to their dad the day after Christmas (co-parenting), I will most likely be working over Christmas (Flight Attendant) and the CROWDS are not our thing. 

 

I plan on having t-shirts made and a door sign. Then on the evening of December 16th, I will have the kids open their "presents" and it will be a luggage tag, the t-shirt and a note of SURPRISE...we leave TOMORROW!! 

 

I think this will be the best holiday present and one they won't forget for sure. 

 

Hubby and I are sailing on Allure a week prior for our wedding anniversary, so I will basically be on back to back's 🙈 

Noticed you're making a door sign. We have 5 cabin group going on Allure in August and I was wanting to make door signs for fun.  Do you use the magnetic paper and print on it or??  Just curious and needing idea.  (Sorry to hijack!)

3 hours ago, Fontaid said:

I think the big trees won't be replaced until the Allure leaves Galveston for Florida. Those trees need to be lifted over the top of the ship using a big crane - probably with a 250 foot boom (maybe higher). To try to do something like that during a standard turnaround day is virtually impossible, not to mention very risky from a safety perspective. It takes too long per tree and the safety hazards of 6000 passengers getting off, another 6000 getting on, and all of the staff trying to get things done that day are very high. In addition the cost of the crane would be much less if you only have to rig and derig it once. I'm sure someone has it worked out by now. They just haven't let us know.

 

I'm sure you're correct!  

2 hours ago, llachance said:

Central Park trees were not meant to survive ice/winter storms.  We had a slew of bad weather when they docked earlier this year.

 

I'm sure!  It'll be beautiful when we get on in August!!  Can't wait!!

1 hour ago, loman said:

Your welcome , but i wasnt the poster that posted the cruise , that was

@taglovestocruise. They did the good deed.

There are multiple youtube videos you can watch regarding the Allure.

I was on it September 2022 and it was in good shape .Dont know what happened to the plants after that.

Oasis is our favorite class , Enjoy the cruise !

Thanks!

5 hours ago, loman said:

It is quite the entrance , enjoy your cruise.🙂

Thanks so much for the video.  It looks like it was taken around Christmas and there were lots of dead plants and trees.  Our cruise isn’t until August so I’m sure they’ll be replaced by then!  Can’t wait!

8 hours ago, Newcruiser2012 said:

Our very first cruise in August 2012 left Ft. Lauderdale just as Hurricane Isaac was rolling in. 60 mph wind gusts on deck. Our itinerary was reversed and the seas were a little rough the first couple of days but we had a GREAT time! Still cruising 11 years later 😁

Thanks for all the encouragement!!!!

1 hour ago, twangster said:

 

Don't ever come to Florida.  Everything you stated is on the news nearly every single night.  

There is crime everywhere….we live in dfw where the recent mass shooting was…..but being in a strange place….just seems scarier somehow.

Oh my…..now I am concerned!  

Just now, c-leg5 said:

As far as I know Allure only goes to Roatan, Costa Maya and Cozumel? 

 

Obviously take precautions as with travel anywhere but I don’t think you will have any serious problems with those ports - maybe if you get redirected to Falmouth or Nassau.
 

There are a limited number of places Allure could go from Galveston. Anyway have fun and enjoy the ship.

Thanks for that!  We Will have fun!  Love cruising and love the family so it’s all good!

1 hour ago, toxicfairy said:

We were supposed to cruise when Hurricane Harvey hit in Texas. We got stuck at a hotel for 5  days. Cruise port, airports EVERYTHING closed down. But I think that was definitely  a worse case senerio. We wound up finally finding a van and drove over 30 hours home. 

We flew into Texas just as the hurricane was starting. It's a story for the books. But at the time it was scary and extremely disappointing. 

3 families driving in but it would be a nightmare!

2 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

Which ports are you worried about that Allure goes to?

 

I can understand mobility and transport being a problem.

Actually all of them on this cruise.  We’ve read about mugging, murders, poisonings….. maybe not right at the ports but close by….. scared!

3 hours ago, ramja96 said:

We experienced an itinerary change last September on our Harmony cruise out of Port Canaveral. It was supposed to be an Eastern Carib itinerary, but was changed to Cozumel and Costa Maya due to Hurricane Ian.  While we were looking forward to an Eastern Carib route, the disappointment of going to Cozumel for the umpteenth time didn't deter us from having a fantastic time, still. Ironically, we had the calmest seas we've ever experienced in the Gulf.  This pic was during one of our sea days in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.

We wouldn’t care for a change of ports.  We’re just going to be with family and the cruise.  We’re “ olders “ and afraid of the crime in our ports.  We plan to stay onboard.

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

My suggestion is the ship will take care of you, worry about your car.

 

I lost my car to hurricane Ike, parked at ezcruise 

 

Sept 2021 a cat 1 passed thru Galveston and I did get some water seepage thru my drivers door and can see salt water still on my cloth seats, parked at lighthouse

 

I would consider a indoor parking place late August or sept. Maybe a higher elevation. The seawall side where they bring in sand is higher than the port side. I only had water up to my car top, the port had 17 ft of water during hurricane Ike.

 

Anyway .. my suggestion is to consider indoor parking depending on your car. Galveston floods easily. Or park at a hotel on higher ground, not near the port. 

Thank you for those ideas!  I’ve already paid for parking by the Terminal ( so we could just walk over) but may reconsider!  

Just worrying about what happens if there is a hurricane in end of August when we’re cruising on the Allure!  Anyone experienced what happens if so?