Allure: anybody do it all?

[readytolose]

I've read so many reviews on Allure and it seems like the common theme is that you can't do it all. I would hate to cruise for a week and end up leaving the ship feeling disappointed that I couldn't do everything I wanted to.

 

So I'm curious, has anyone done it all?

 

What are the things that are an absolute "don't miss"?

[leaveitallbehind]

Regarding the shows and on board activities you certainly can see the headliner show, ship company show, comedy club act, ice show, aqua theater shows, and still have time to drop in the jazz club and ride the rising tide bar. Other on board activities such as zip line, rock climbing wall, etc., can also be worked in as desired.

 

Just decide what is important to you and prioritize you time accordingly. But there is enough time on board at night and during the sea days to do most of the things offered, and likely all that you would want to do.

 

We've left Oasis feeling we wanted to do it again - and did a second time - but not that we missed out on the things important to us that we wanted to do.

Edited November 6, 2013 by leaveitallbehind

[help04me]

I've read so many reviews on Allure and it seems like the common theme is that you can't do it all. I would hate to cruise for a week and end up leaving the ship feeling disappointed that I couldn't do everything I wanted to.

 

So I'm curious, has anyone done it all?

 

What are the things that are an absolute "don't miss"?

Chicago aqua theatre both shows particular if you have kids zip line just once flow rider if so included ice show both of them again for kids but I enjoyed also

[Familygoboston]

Ready, All I can say is I would rather leave feeling like "I wish had more days to do more" (as I did in say Africa, or Australia...certainly WDW etc, etc) than leave feeling like "I am already bored with this ship", as I did on a 5 night Jewel cruise- no flames, I am going back in week, so it's not like I didn't like it, but I had "done it all" in 2 sea days!

 

I planned Oasis with military precision, but I also left free blocks to do stuff I like to do, like lounge on my balcony or spend a whole morning in the Solarium, so I came home feeling like there were things I didn't even "see"; like a parade or the Vitality Cafe. But by planning , I made sure teh things I REALLY wanted to do, I had a chance to do them. By the second cruise (on Allure) I was able to fill in the blanks but I enjoyed going a second time because I felt like there was still stuff to explore (like an evening at Vintages)

 

So, sure, you might leave feeling like you haven't "seen it all" but where in the world can anyone go where they've left no stone untruned and have no desire to go back??...and why would you go there in the first place??:D

 

Hope you don't let fear of being "left out" from keeping you from trying one of these fun ships!

[luvscruising2007]

I have not been on either Oasis or Allure. So, you can ignore my comments, it won't hurt my feelings. But, I think you can do as much as you want, just like any other cruise.

On these big ships with so much to offer, I would start by selecting MTD. It just makes sense to have that flexibility. I would then plan the shows that I would really want to see and book those ahead of time if I could.

A vacation needs to be relaxed and provide some downtime. So, you probably can't do everything. But you can do something everyday, different from what you have done before. I think I would just wait until I was on board to decide what I wanted to do so that I could have a certain amount of spontaneity.

And, look at it this way, if you don't get to do everything it gives you an excuse to book another cruise.

Have fun.

[Brandonclan]

Best advice I could give is to book the first available aqua theatre show in case the weather causes it to be postponed you will be rescheduled with a chance to still see it. We didn't miss much on our Oasis trip and we still had open time slots for "free time". I thought it was nice to be able to reserve the things we wanted to do in advance. I made a spreadsheet with all scheduled things listed. As I said, we didn't miss much (parades-belly flop contest-other small activities) we did all the things we wanted to do (Hairspray-Oasis of dreams-comedy show-headliner show-other aqua theatre shows-cupcake decorating-two parties -zip line- flow rider- etc.).

We also left the ship at each port for fun excursions. No problem at all with doing these things and we still had time for balcony breakfast and ship exploring and even casino.

We left the ship wanting to do it all again!

Our answer....book Allure!

That way we can do it all again but with a little variety too. Have a great cruise!

Edited November 6, 2013 by Brandonclan

[sleepless]

I have been on the Oasis, and did get to do most everything I wanted to do. The are a couple of things I missed. I didn't go in the Rising Tide Bar, I really wanted to, and just didn't. I also never went to the the Jazz Club. Not that there wasn't enough time, we went to a bar every night. My DH really liked the English Pub style bar, so we went there several nights, thus didn't schedule in the Jazz Club. The other thing I have yet to do, on any cruise, is play Putt-Putt. I really want to play miniature golf at sea; DH, not so much. We did get to all of the shows, and saw the parade. We had plenty of time to lounge around the pool during the day, I went to scrapbooking and jewelry making classes, we walked the outside decks at night while gazing at the stars. So, it wasn't so much not having time to do everything - the time is there. But, like others have said you have to prioritize. I haven't figured out how to be in two places at one time; and DH, being that his pay check pays for the cruise, does get to pick what we do... sometimes.

[sportsphotos]

Do a Back to Back your problem is solved. We did Oasis and never had a chance o see one show too much to do.

[Familygoboston]

I have not been on either Oasis or Allure. So, you can ignore my comments, it won't hurt my feelings. But, I think you can do as much as you want, just like any other cruise.

On these big ships with so much to offer, I would start by selecting MTD. It just makes sense to have that flexibility. I would then plan the shows that I would really want to see and book those ahead of time if I could.

A vacation needs to be relaxed and provide some downtime. So, you probably can't do everything. But you can do something everyday, different from what you have done before. I think I would just wait until I was on board to decide what I wanted to do so that I could have a certain amount of spontaneity.

And, look at it this way, if you don't get to do everything it gives you an excuse to book another cruise.

Have fun.

 

You SHOULD go, you've laid out the perfect prescription to enjoy a crusie on Oasis class IMO! :D

 

 

Best advice I could give is to book the first available aqua theatre show in case the weather causes it to be postponed you will be rescheduled with a chance to still see it. We didn't miss much on our Oasis trip and we still had open time slots for "free time". I thought it was nice to be able to reserve the things we wanted to do in advance. I made a spreadsheet with all scheduled things listed. As I said, we didn't miss much (parades-belly flop contest-other small activities) we did all the things we wanted to do (Hairspray-Oasis of dreams-comedy show-headliner show-other aqua theatre shows-cupcake decorating-two parties -zip line- flow rider- etc.).

We also left the ship at each port for fun excursions. No problem at all with doing these things and we still had time for balcony breakfast and ship exploring and even casino.

We left the ship wanting to do it all again!

Our answer....book Allure!

That way we can do it all again but with a little variety too. Have a great cruise!

Yup, that was our solution to the problem too;)

[cb at sea]

You can do everything YOU want to do...that doesn't mean you have to do EVERYTHING!

[dz9yvr]

Always leave time to renew your membership in the Balcony Club :D

[dclark]

I saw every show, did flow rider. Didn't do rising tide bar, zip line or rock wall.

That gives me a reason to book a cruise on the Oasis!

[marshabear]

we saw all the shows, ate at all the places we wanted to, spent time in the Solarium, spent time on our Boardwalk balcony, relaxed at each port we visited, and enjoyed all the entertainment we saw...

 

we did NOT make it to the Jazz club, ride the carousel, zipline or climb the rock wall.....

 

out of all the things we didn't do, the only thing I regretted was not riding the carousel!!:(

 

ziplining or rock wall climbing is not our thing....

 

we came off the ship feeling like we enjoyed it very much and felt we saw as much as we needed to to fully enjoy our time onboard...

 

 

 

Marsha

[readytolose]

Thanks for all the replies. We will definitely enjoy ourselves, I was just worried we wouldn't have time to just sit by the pool and relax. I pictured us running from one thing to the next just to fit it all in!

 

As soon as reservations open up for the shows (long time from now) I'll book the ones we definitely don't want to miss. We signed up for MTD so we'll just fit dining in around the show schedule. Hubby said he wouldn't mind if we skipped dressing up this cruise, but I think lobster night is our favorite meal in the dining room so he'll probably change his mind!

 

And I guess if we leave the ship feeling like we didn't get to do it all, we'll just have to book another cruise!!

[beigedog]

It just depends on how active you want to be. The beauty of the Allure is that you have so many options there will never be time to be bored. Like you have said, definitely book your entertainment online as soon as it becomes available. We saw all the shows but missed our comedy show because we couldn't seem to pull ourselves away from the Love and Marriage show (hilarious but they replayed it over and over again on the ship's tv channel). The comedy show was booked solid for the rest of the cruise and we didn't feel like waiting in a line hoping to get in later. If you miss the show in the Aquatheater, just go to one of the public balconies at the back on the ship on, I believe decks 11-14, and watch the show from overhead with no reservations. We had a boardwalk balcony on deck 12 at the back of the ship and we could watch the whole thing from there. Also, do all of the outdoor sports activities (Flowrider, zipline, rock wall) you want to do early as they could close for bad weather and they aren't always open anyways. We didn't do the zipline or rock wall but I did do the Flowrider and it was great. The miniature golf to me was a letdown because it isn't nearly as challenging as most miniature golf places and the course is pretty plain.

 

Make sure that you hang around the Promenade some on the first formal night because, on our cruise this past May, servers in tuxes were walking around with unlimited glasses of free champagne! Photographers are everywhere there, also that night but, for some reason, I don't remember lobster on the MDR menu at all either formal night.

[jsickels]

I have 2 very active boys and we were able to do everything we wanted but I spent a significant time planning it out. I had a binder and day by day agenda. We had an absolute blast...the ship was phenomenal. That said, I probably wouldn't sail on it again unless they changed the ports. While I love sailing on the nicest ship, I like to go to different islands.

 

 

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[Realtor at Sea]

We have enjoyed two cruises on the Allure and are returning in January on a B2B. It is an awesome ship and there are still things we have not yet experienced and look forward to doing. We also enjoy the ship practically to ourselves when everyone else spends the day ashore. The pools are virtually empty and you can find all the empty lounge chairs you desire.

[Ocean Boy]

Ready, All I can say is I would rather leave feeling like "I wish had more days to do more" (as I did in say Africa, or Australia...certainly WDW etc, etc) than leave feeling like "I am already bored with this ship", as I did on a 5 night Jewel cruise- no flames, I am going back in week, so it's not like I didn't like it, but I had "done it all" in 2 sea days!

 

 

HA! I tried to ward you about those Radiance class ships!:eek::D

[Ocean Boy]

The big thing with Oasis and Allure is to at least have some sort of a plan as to what you want to accomplish. I remember when Voyager came out there was a special on the Travel Channel and people would say you can't see it all in a week. Well, if that were true then what would people say about Freedom and now Oasis? Fortunately, I don't like to sit still very long and I love exploring. I don't think there was much of Oasis that I didn't see after our first week aboard and I accomplished pretty much what my goals were when I did my pre-cruise planning. But depending on how much you like to walk your mileage may vary.

[hasekmpp]

I was able to fill in the blanks but I enjoyed going a second time because I felt like there was still stuff to explore:D

[michellej804]

Im looking forward to cruising on the Allure tomorrow. Thanks for all the info.

 

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[judydoc]

Chicago aqua theatre both shows particular if you have kids zip line just once flow rider if so included ice show both of them again for kids but I enjoyed also

Are there two different ice shows or you just recommend going to the one twice?

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

Are there two different ice shows or you just recommend going to the one twice?

 

When we sailed on Allure last July, there were two ice shows. One was the main show and on was a shorter children's show based on "How to Tame Your Dragon". I really enjoyed both.

[tarajean1962]

We are going on the gorgeous Allure for the second time this January and could not be more excited! We are so happy that we didn't do it all the first tine! We are so looking forward to the Aqua show, the comedy show, the zip line and spending more time on our balcony and at the pool! :D

 

Tara

 

P.s. Enjoy this beautiful ship to the fullest and don't try to do it all! You will have a reason to return.

[riclop]

I've read so many reviews on Allure and it seems like the common theme is that you can't do it all. I would hate to cruise for a week and end up leaving the ship feeling disappointed that I couldn't do everything I wanted to.

 

So I'm curious, has anyone done it all?

 

What are the things that are an absolute "don't miss"?

Thats easy do a B2B.