Allure of the Seas Dec 4-11 review

[CGoguen]

Allure of the Seas Review

--- Crown Loft 1710 ---

 

Just off the Allure (Dec 4-11) and we had a great time! My husband and I had previously cruised one time with Carnival, 5 years ago, and had not had a vacation just the two of us since. Two kids and an international move have happened during that time, so some time away as a couple was long overdue. Since it will likely be a long time before we can travel without the kids again, we decided to go all out and book a crown loft and full beverage package. Here are my thoughts on this whole experience. If you have questions feel free to post them.

 

Boarding: we arrived around 9:45. We had to go look for a porter and then interrupt their convo with another porter to hand off our bags. Terminal opened around 10 and we were the first ones in the suite line. We were called up for processing which took longer than expected. Turns out, they could only find my husbands card and needed to reprint mine. No big deal. She noted my husband had a beverage package sticker. I asked about mine and she said I didn't need one. I thought that was odd but moved on. We were soon upstairs waiting to board and shortly after 11 they were calling for suites to board. Easy!

 

Day 1: once on board we quickly learned that the missing sticker was in fact a problem. I tracked somebody down and got a beverage package sticker. We saw Momma Mia this night and the theatre was nowhere near full. I'm guessing most people do not book for night 1 but the show was amazing.

 

Day 2: Nassau. We should have booked an excursion or stayed on board. We did some wandering around and found nothing but the same usual touristy shops, most of them run down. We were harassed multiple times on the street by people wanting us to buy things them from or take their cab somewhere. Overall a waste of time.

 

Day 3: At Sea

 

Day 4: St. Thomas. Loved this place. Wandered around on our own but found some more unique places to shop and we had the best tacos we have ever tasted from a friendly little diner.

 

Day 5: St. Maarten. After learning our lesson in Nassau, we booked an excursion called See and Sea. This was nice but average narrated tour of the island and included a semi-submersible boat ride to see some fish and underwater life. The narrator of the boat tour was rude and snippy with some of the attendants but otherwise we enjoyed this tour. The guide on the bus was great, funny and friendly!

 

Day 6 & 7: at Sea.

 

The ship: seems way smaller than it is. They layout is great with everything you need being in one of a few main areas. It maybe helped that our room was close to an elevator but it never took more than a few minutes to get to wherever we were going. You'd think it would feel crowded this way but it wasn't crowded at all. Pool decks on Seas days were busy so we used the pools early on port days when everyone else was rushing off the ship. Then we would get ready and leave the ship once the busy time at the gangway was cleared. There was no struggles to get reservations for speciality dining and except in elevators, I never felt crowded.

 

The people: staff were hands down amazing. I didn't meet a single crew member on board who didn't appear to love their job and each and every one of them was eager to help. Some of the other guests however seemed to think that the world owes them something and we witnessed many times somebody throwing a fit because suites had reserved seating that they couldn't use (because they didn't pay extra for a suite). I honestly wonder if these people pull into a self-serve gas pump and get mad because the person across from them, who is paying extra for full-serve, is having their gas pumped for them.

 

Shopping: I was expecting more. Two shops (Breeze and Pinwheels) were closed the whole cruise and when we inquired we were given some lame excuse about ship sanitation. This wouldn't have been a problem expect I needed a swim coverup (which breeze sold) and wanted to bring home some surprises for my kids. We rounded these things up in port and through the other on board shops. After settling on a cover up from on of the other shops, I realized I had also forgotten my swim suit. Big mistake! $130 later all I could find was something that didn't fit my properly. The only other option available on board was a slinky tiny bikini that may have been suitable for a doll and also ridiculously priced. (No, I really have no interest in blowing that kind of money on a couple pieces of string).

 

Entertainment: we say Momma Mia (10/10), Ocean Aria (10/10), Blue Planet (awful 2/10), comedy (6/10 good but very short show) and ice games (10/10)

 

Food: coastal kitchen (10/10 - staff were amazing), main dining room (10/10 but only went one night), chops (8/10), Giovanni's (9/10), windjammer (8/10)and variousmaller food service areas. I ate an excessive amount of NY strip and tried lots of other things as well. Deserts were mediocre at best but we never went hungry.

 

Debarkation: we used luggage valet (flawless) and express departure via concierges in suite lounge. From the time we left the lounge to the time I was outside waiting for a cab it was less than 30 minutes. No complains.

 

Problems: while most of the cruise was great, I'm left with some lingering frustration which goes back to RCI disorganization. From the start we had problems with our Sea pass cards and beverage package and then on day 2 or 3 our cards stopped working completely and we had to go wait at guest services for them to reset them. Coming home, they charged us for services we should have received for free and then they charged our card but didn't release the authorization holds they had placed while on board. So they were holding up an extra $2000+ that I didn't have access to causing my credit card to be declined. Getting this resolved needed 5 phone calls because one person would tell us something and somebody else would tell us the opposite.

 

 

*** I typed this as fast as I could so if something isn't clear, feel free to ask me more about it ***

[Lionesss]

Very nice, thanks for your review.

 

We love the Allure and will be sailing western next August.

 

Thanks again.

[Tiggercat]

Great review and you never even mentioned the amazing cabin that you were in!!! (My favorite!!)

[easyboy]

Were the improper charges on your credit card account resolved? Must have really been irritating. Thanks for the feedback.

[CGoguen]

Great review and you never even mentioned the amazing cabin that you were in!!! (My favorite!!)

 

The cabin was so awesome, it made the whole trip worth it. We spent a lot of time just relaxing on our balcony!

[CGoguen]

Were the improper charges on your credit card account resolved? Must have really been irritating. Thanks for the feedback.

 

Yes but it took multiple phone calls to resolve. First call got disconnected, second has no problem fixing it but needed to talk to my husband who wasn't available. I get him to call back and two people on a row refused to even try and then finally get reached a manager who fixed it without any problems.

[BobbyD]

Thanks for the review! We are going on the Allure in March. Our second time on the ship but for others that we are traveling with, it will be their first time! Can't wait. Now, I just have to make it through the winter months.

[Lukn2cruise]

Thanks for the review. I am going on Allure November 2017 and will be my first time with RCI, really looking forward to it. I have been reading a lot of post on here to better prepare myself. I know it's several months away but, I am excited and trying to become an informed cruiser.

[troykahack]

Allure of the Seas Review

--- Crown Loft 1710 ---

 

Day 2: Nassau. We should have booked an excursion or stayed on board. We did some wandering around and found nothing but the same usual touristy shops, most of them run down. We were harassed multiple times on the street by people wanting us to buy things them from or take their cab somewhere. Overall a waste of time.

 

Problems: From the start we had problems with our Sea pass cards and then on day 2 or 3 our cards stopped working completely and we had to go wait at guest services for them to reset them.

 

Thank you for your review as we are on same Itinerary in Jan.

 

I hear you on Nassau but we have found our favorite Perfume and Cologne store in Nassau. Creed is one of our favorites and almost $200 less than like shops in US.

 

Also, the little second story Greek restaurant has some of the best Cracked Conch we have had. We stop and share a Cracked Conch dinner as well as some nice Greek appetizers. Try it sometime. Located at the corner where the Starbucks and the main drag in Nassau from the ship. A favorite Jewelry store next to Starbucks too... SO loves the Jewelry store as well.

 

Our Sea Pass cards, or shall I say mine quit working the first evening. I was in the Casino late (closed it down) and couldn't get in our room, beat on the door, rang the door bell, nothing.... So, went down to guest services and confirmed my room number (glad I was beating on the right door), and I was worried as SO never answered the door. SO was ok, just suffering from lack of sleep from her work the week before. I guess the cell phones can wipe them out. This has happened several times.

Edited December 14, 2016 by troykahack

[rpp77]

Did they charge you for the drink packages? It says here in the "Amenities" section that you get the Deluxe Drink Package at no additional cost? http://www.royalcaribbean.com/royalsuiteclass/star

[39august]

FYI, those with access to the suite concierge can request a new card from him/her. So no standing in Guest Services lines. Your concierge can do pretty much anything GS can do other than give you change or withdraw cash on your account. Thanks for the review. We are just off HOTS and will be on Allure in 7 weeks. Glad to hear no crowding on Allure. HOTS seemed very crowded to us.

Edited December 14, 2016 by 39august

[grapau27]

Nice review I heard the loft suites are on 2 levels and are lovely.We were on Allure September 2015 out of Barcelona and loved it.

 

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[CGoguen]

Did they charge you for the drink packages? It says here in the "Amenities" section that you get the Deluxe Drink Package at no additional cost? http://www.royalcaribbean.com/royalsuiteclass/star

 

I was in a crown loft suite which is 'Sky' class. It is only the small number of star call suites that get included drink package.

[CGoguen]

Nice review I heard the loft suites are on 2 levels and are lovely.We were on Allure September 2015 out of Barcelona and loved it.

 

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Our view from the second level... (sorry I don't have a clue how to display a full image)

Edited December 14, 2016 by CGoguen

[Candycrusher]

Crown loft is the only suite I would book. It is fabulous.

 

 

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[riclop]

Thanks for the review.

[sdpete]

Don't you wish that RCCL would transfer an Oaisis class ship to the West Coast?