Allure or Escape

[summer0621]

Hi All:

 

I am brand new here. I have been on other boards before so am familiar with the way things work.

 

I have only sailed 2 times in my life. 1992 (honeymoon) Carnival Fantasy and 2000 on Disney's Magic.

 

I now have a 17 year old boy Junior in High School, a 14 year old boy in 8th grade, and an 11 year old girl (who will turn 12 on whatever cruise we go on) she is in 6th grade.

 

I have been researching a ton on here to try and decide which cruise would be the best for our family. Because of the dates (spring break) my options have come down to the Allure or the Escape.

 

My biggest concern is having enough on the ship for our kids...Not too concerned about too much night life for my husband and I as we will be with the kids.:D (maybe..lol)

 

My boys are big into sports...and water activities..my daughter loves water activities as well.

 

What ship would you choose and why? or would you recommend another ship altogether?

 

I am VERY prone to motion sickness, as is possibly 1 of my kids, if that makes a difference.

 

Thanks

[slynnes]

I have no allegiance to either..but if money was no object..I would go with Allure. Escape is a beautiful ship, but you mentioning the motion issues....something is up with Escape; there is alot of motion. The motion is not even a sway..there is alot of jerking with the slight sway...

 

Allure is a huge ship with 5500+ passengers, but it never felt that way. Escape..felt FULL...

 

I give the Escape specialty eating the edge over Allure in the dining category though.

[2hearted]

Either one. As a ship, I think the Allure currently blows anything else away. If your thinking about the kids, maybe Escape because of the ropes and slides. Also, drinks package for you. Honestly, you can't go wrong either way. I am actually taking my teenage 17 year old twins and several friends on the Escape for Spring Break.

[summer0621]

Thank you! What you both said is pretty much what I have been reading.

 

I was thinking the Allure, but as you said...I think they would like the slides and ropes etc. on escape...very concerned about the motion issue though...I've heard that comment a lot on here.

 

I am completely split.

 

Allure just has pools right?

[slynnes]

Allure pool deck is much better then Escape..but Escapes slides are very fun...kids will live them. Allure has the flow rider..which is very fun..but it is not easy and takes some skill (simulated surf boarding).

[summer0621]

Thank you... I did not realize that about the pool deck area. Oh yes, forgot about the surf simulator..all 3 of them would try that...they are daredevils:)

[SuiteTraveler]

For your kids Allure has:

2 rock climbing walls

2 flow riders

mini golf

sports court

ice skating

zip line

carousel

Parades

3D movie theater

Arcade

 

The shows on Allure are spectacular: high diving, acrobatics, ice skating plus a broadway show (Mama Mia!). There is a great comedy club and they have comedians you have probably seen on TV.

 

Escape has the following:

 

4 full scale waterpark slides

ropes course

zip line

bungee trampoline

bowling

3 D movies

Arcade

Rock climbing wall

Mini golf

sports court

 

The shows on Escape are:

Million Dollar Quartet

After Midnight

For the Record: The Brat Pack

Comedy club

Howl at the Moon

 

If you choose Escape to avoid movement, get a cabin anywhere from midship to the front of the ship. Take some Bonine, just in case, but you probably won't need it.

[summer0621]

For your kids Allure has:

2 rock climbing walls

2 flow riders

mini golf

sports court

ice skating

zip line

carousel

Parades

3D movie theater

Arcade

 

The shows on Allure are spectacular: high diving, acrobatics, ice skating plus a broadway show (Mama Mia!). There is a great comedy club and they have comedians you have probably seen on TV.

 

Escape has the following:

 

4 full scale waterpark slides

ropes course

zip line

bungee trampoline

bowling

3 D movies

Arcade

Rock climbing wall

Mini golf

sports court

 

The shows on Escape are:

Million Dollar Quartet

After Midnight

For the Record: The Brat Pack

Comedy club

Howl at the Moon

 

If you choose Escape to avoid movement, get a cabin anywhere from midship to the front of the ship. Take some Bonine, just in case, but you probably won't need it.

 

Thank you for the lists! That is GREAT information. Yes, very familiar with Bonine and every other sort of motion sickness meds....I usually get the patches when I go on a ship, boat etc..

 

Thanks again for the helpful information.

[ourfamilylovescruising]

The rope course on the Escape is one of the best we have been on My teenagers did it every day they loved the Escape, and the water slides are so fun. we did hit some rough weather but I didn't think the ship was any different then any other when it was in some big waves.

 

and if your thinking a about a suite NCL cant be beat IMO.

 

good luck

[Ctrinh225]

Right now NCL has some really great perks with 3/4 free. A nice family OV fits 5 and it's like $3000 cheaper than Allure depending when you go of course. I've tried Getaway(loved it) and will be in the Escape in 3 weeks. I am gonna try Harmony on the transatlantic this coming fall. I did 4 RCCL ships but NCL gives me more for my money. My opinion only. No matter what you decide...any vacation is better than no vacation! Good luck choosing and happy cruising.

 

 

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[summer0621]

The rope course on the Escape is one of the best we have been on My teenagers did it every day they loved the Escape, and the water slides are so fun. we did hit some rough weather but I didn't think the ship was any different then any other when it was in some big waves.

 

and if your thinking a about a suite NCL cant be beat IMO.

 

good luck

 

That sounds like a lot of fun. The company who built the ropes course on that ship built one at a ymca camp in Michigan that 1 of my kids went to and it was SUPER COOL! I'm sure they would really like it.

 

Thank you for the information on the suites. We are booking VERY LATE so I highly doubt there will be any suites available. We will probably have to book 2 adjoining (or not) rooms. But, I will definitely ask, if we decide to cruise NCL.

 

Thanks for all of your help!

 

If you think of anything else, I would greatly appreciate it.. Everyone has been sooo helpful! I love it!:)

[summer0621]

Right now NCL has some really great perks with 3/4 free. A nice family OV fits 5 and it's like $3000 cheaper than Allure depending when you go of course. I've tried Getaway(loved it) and will be in the Escape in 3 weeks. I am gonna try Harmony on the transatlantic this coming fall. I did 4 RCCL ships but NCL gives me more for my money. My opinion only. No matter what you decide...any vacation is better than no vacation! Good luck choosing and happy cruising.

 

 

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I agree...The NCL is definitely cheaper, and does have some great deals going on right now. The Harmony LOOKS AWESOME!

 

Thank you for all your help and advice....I need it!!

:) Have a great cruise on the Escape!

[Nola26]

You have teens in your group, my then 13yo nephew LOVED the teen club on the Getaway, seems NCL does that well. How often does your teenager love something that was your idea? Perhaps someone else can comment on the Allure or the teen clubs on that line.

 

Teen activities, sports court, slides and buffet were among his favorites. I turned his card off for charging and he never complained about not being able to hit up arcade. (I didn't want to stress about tracking his spending on vacation, read too many horror stories about that here). There's foosball, pool and videogame consoles in the club. At night they sometimes had dance parties (there is a dance floor).

Edited February 7, 2016 by Nola26

[jimp1266]

We have sailed on both (and Oasis) and I would choose the Escape. We sailed on her a couple of weeks ago and it was the best cruise we have had in a long time.

Edited February 7, 2016 by jimp1266

[summer0621]

We have sailed on both (and Oasis) and I would choose the Escape. We sailed on her a couple of weeks ago and it was the best cruise we have had in a long time.

 

That's awesome! Makes me excited. Thank you so much for the response. It's sooo helpful in choosing!

[SuiteTraveler]

If you decide to go on NCL, I highly recommend the spa for you. You can buy a spa pass online prior to your cruise. The thermal suite is one of the most relaxing and uncrowded areas of the ship with a great view over the bow. I loved being there when the ship was pulling into and out of port.

 

As others have stated, NCL does an amazing job with suites. If you can afford that, do it, it is well worth it - much better than suites on RCCL or pretty much any other cruise line.

[summer0621]

You have teens in your group, my then 13yo nephew LOVED the teen club on the Getaway, seems NCL does that well. How often does your teenager love something that was your idea? Perhaps someone else can comment on the Allure or the teen clubs on that line.

 

Teen activities, sports court, slides and buffet were among his favorites. I turned his card off for charging and he never complained about not being able to hit up arcade. (I didn't want to stress about tracking his spending on vacation, read too many horror stories about that here). There's foosball, pool and videogame consoles in the club. At night they sometimes had dance parties (there is a dance floor).

 

I was wondering about the teen clubs. I'm sure they will check them out... Another thing my 14yo commented on was that he wanted to hang with his brother in the older group of kids, not with the 11-14 ( I think Allure is splits 11-14 and 15-18 and Escape just the 14-18...Not sure..)not sure how flexible Allure's teen club would be on the ages...

 

FOOD is a huge issue with my kids, especially the 2 oldest who are boys...football players, basketball players...etc....They can eat...and they like good food...having the great promos on the Escape would be good for them..and much more cost effective for us....am I talking out my decision???:D

 

yes, yes, yes...I completely understand about the charging privileges...my nephew did that when he was like 13....on a Disney cruise and my brother went through the roof!! LOL... That's a very awesome thing that he did not even complain about NOT having it...

 

Thank you sooo much for your comments and advice..I greatly appreciate them all!!

[summer0621]

If you decide to go on NCL, I highly recommend the spa for you. You can buy a spa pass online prior to your cruise. The thermal suite is one of the most relaxing and uncrowded areas of the ship with a great view over the bow. I loved being there when the ship was pulling into and out of port.

 

As others have stated, NCL does an amazing job with suites. If you can afford that, do it, it is well worth it - much better than suites on RCCL or pretty much any other cruise line.

 

Oh my goodness, I'm alllll over this!! Thank you for giving me the heads up on this. With a 17, 14 & 11yo I would definitley appreciate and take full advantage of this!

 

I sooooo want to get a suite on NCL...I'm hoping I can...Most people seem to agree that the suites are pretty good.

 

Thank you once again for all the helpful information....It helps tremendously..

[Ctrinh225]

Also summer0621, there's a review by TheDougOut called Escape Live 1/30. One of the best reviews ever.

 

 

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[summer0621]

Also summer0621, there's a review by TheDougOut called Escape Live 1/30. One of the best reviews ever.

 

 

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Yes! Thank you! I was following him from day 1!!! Soo bummed it's over...That was great! He cracked me up..