Our Week on Allure 4/29-5/6 - Review...thoughts...observations

[CruisingNole]

Yes, the ships are identical but I found that the entertainment was more to my liking than on the Oasis.

The staff was a bit more friendly.

I believe the food quality was better on Allure in the specialty restaurants.

I also thought that the concierge on Allure were a bit more pleasant, a bit more personable and more available than Oasis had been when I was on it.

Just my observation.

I'm sure others will disagree.

 

I think it’s all subjective. Those ships are nearing ten years old and who knows how many thousands of crewmembers have rotated through those doors. The friendly server you had on Allure night be on Oasis 3 years later and vice versa. I think the same can be said for all ships.

[jandb_bear]

I was on the same cruise as you. Thank you for writing your thoughts and experience. I missed on a lot of the shows so it was nice you were able to go (I've got little ones).

I thought that the MDR had pretty good food (not a food snob but I know when a burger or steak is over cooked) and felt that most meats were properly cooked and very tender! I enjoyed most of my meals every night there. Our waiter and assistant waiter were a great team (always anticipated our needs by the 2nd night). Had milk for each child with a fruit cup ready for them when we sat down for dinner.

 

Also agree with the buffet. Pretty good for buffet. No complaints.

 

I agree that there were a lot less staff for the events. They were supposed to have a end of week parade but because many of the shows were cancelled (due to rougher water), the cast had to be available for the rescheduled ones.

 

Luckily for me, i did not encounter many rude passengers. Sorry that you had to go through that. I actually had many kind people help me. I was travelling down an elevator with my 2 year old son in my arms. He was crying. The elevator was pretty full but he and I managed to get in. With him in my arms, he started reaching for the doors of the elevator, still crying. The doors opened at one of the floors, his small hand got pulled in with the doors. Many of the passengers in the elevator helped me pry his hand out. A man, who was waiting to get in the elevator, gently took my son's hand to check it and said that it was OK and to just get ice. Strange incident. No permanent damage on my son. But it was nice to see many good people too.

 

I felt that the guest services were very helpful. Any questions. accounting issues, missing card key pass (they missed my husband's card pass when we checked the room on the first day), they resolved it for us quickly.

 

I utilized the kid's adventure program for 2 days and it was not as good as it when i was on the Allure 1.5 years ago. The caregivers seemed....very tired. They weren't as enthusiastic or engaging with the kids. My daughter had Po the Panda visit her group 1.5 years ago and hoped he would return. It was scheduled for it for this sailing but because a lot of the cast were not available (they told my daughter Po the Panda had a tummy ache but likely not enough staff), she was extremely disappointed. We never took her back to the kids program after that. There was just not enough staff or they're overworked...not sure. But I was disappointed with the quality of the kids program (cut corners a lot).

 

But on a positive note, the dining was good. The kid's pool area was always fun. Everywhere else, the staff were overall very pleasant and polite. I do have to mention how much the staff clean...and clean and clean. (e.g. Wiping down door knobs, and commonly used areas). They did a good job there and how the crew maintains the majority of the ship,

 

Overall, I had a good time on the Allure of the Seas too!

[LS6Caddy]

I was on the same cruise as you. Thank you for writing your thoughts and experience. I missed on a lot of the shows so it was nice you were able to go (I've got little ones).

I thought that the MDR had pretty good food (not a food snob but I know when a burger or steak is over cooked) and felt that most meats were properly cooked and very tender!

 

This is a very good catch as well. I fall in that medium...ish range when it comes to meats...maybe more on the medium well side. So it is always a bit tricky ordering. And I too thought the meats were cooked to my request and always tender...never really had to use the knife.

 

Also reminded me of another item that has been talked about here. Bread. No, they don't bring the bread around to you anymore. Yes, it is at the table when you sit down. Yes, they will refill it as you request. No, it does not take away from the experience or ambiance or whatever it is people on here freak out about.

 

Luckily for me, i did not encounter many rude passengers. Sorry that you had to go through that. I actually had many kind people help me. I was travelling down an elevator with my 2 year old son in my arms. He was crying. The elevator was pretty full but he and I managed to get in. With him in my arms, he started reaching for the doors of the elevator, still crying. The doors opened at one of the floors, his small hand got pulled in with the doors. Many of the passengers in the elevator helped me pry his hand out. A man, who was waiting to get in the elevator, gently took my son's hand to check it and said that it was OK and to just get ice. Strange incident. No permanent damage on my son. But it was nice to see many good people too.

 

We did encounter many friendly passengers...more so than the rude one. But I wonder if the rude ones stood out because I have been baffled lately at what people complain about on these boards, as well as how members of these boards treat other members of these boards when commenting on posts.

 

 

Overall, I had a good time on the Allure of the Seas too!

Glad you enjoyed it as well!

[LS6Caddy]

Another topic I just remembered. The Casino...

 

It seemed more smokey than I remember...but I think I am spoiled now here in Colorado where there is no smoking inside any public place (save for cigar bars)...including our casinos

 

Table are all $10 minimum. Three times...the sea days...they ran a promotion for an hour where they lowered the limits to $5. My observation was that the tables filled up during this time, and then a majority of those players walked away after the hour. I am sure they have all sorts of statistical data that suggests they make more money on $10 minimums...it seems to me though that more people are willing to play at $5 minimums. I know they got less of my money because I didn't really want to play at $10 a hand (which turns into $30-$40/hand when you play games like 3 card poker).

[lisale86]

This is great! I am always amazed by how rude and brazen some people can be. And you are absolutely right in saying everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. Not the end of the world!! I will really keep this in mind when I go on my first cruise :D thank you for your post!!

 

Lastly, I’ll close with this. There are a lot of talks on these boards about the decline in service and food in recent years. And there is probably some truth in that. But what is not talked about enough is that the quality of passenger behavior is declining. Seems as though people want 5 star food, 5 star service, 5 star entertainment…but they only want to pay 2 star prices and behave as a 2 star customer. In a week,I personally saw: A guy drop his pizza on the promenade, look at it, and just walk away…A guy get rude with a bartender who had to tell him (kindly), twice, that he had to put out his cigarette because we were getting gas in St Martin and there was no smoking outdoors…A lady get very pushy and rude with the crew member who was scanning people on and off the ship because she thought he was taking too long…the same lady who expected other people to get off the elevator to make room for her…a guy get belligerent and use multiple profanities with the guy serving the popcorn outside the comedy club because he thought he was too slow…a group of people constantly heckling the piano player every time they were in the Schooner bar…and members of the audience booing the member of the entertainment staff who had to come out midway through our Ocean Aria show and announce that they had to cancel the show because they were have problems with the pool and the floor that rises up and down. Be A Good Person. It really is the most basic concept. We are all human and all have our moments. The DW knocked her shot of Baileys off the table by Starbucks…we didn’t just leave it and walk away or bark at a crew member to clean it up…we went and grabbed napkins and wiped it up and notified a crew member we spilled…it’s that simple. Talk to the crew and treat them with respect at the very least. They are working hard and most of them are trying to provide for a family who they don’t get to see very often. Better yet, talk with them,try and get to know some of them instead of looking at them as a means to an end. We ended up frequently chatting with a server in the bar area of the Solarium and we asked him a lot of questions about his life and where he’s from and all that. And at the end of the week he came up and thanked us for taking the time to talk with him on a personal level instead of just asking for a drink and moving on. He said it really makes a difference in how their week goes.

 

So that’s that, another one in the books and the next one to far away. If you have any questions ask away. I do have the Compass’ and a few other flyers and such. I can get them posted if desired. I apologize in advance for any grammar issues...the formatting got all messed up when I copied on the boards from my Word document. I tried to correct it all, but I am sure I missed some.

[Dolfinsfan]

Great review! Loved it! We sail on The Allure in four short weeks. Cant wait to experience it first hand.

I know from past cruises (Carnival only) that we're gonna meet all kinds of people, the good/bad, friendly/not so much, etc.... But being on vacation, not much will negatively affect our week for sure. Sadly, those negative types do want (or expect) everything to go their way. It's no different than any other aspect of life no-a-days if you ask me. We all have bad days and good days. But if you ask me, a bad day at sea is better than a great day at work!

I too can confer that the staff is much more enjoyable and appreciative if you're friendly with them. Striking up a conversation with them can make their day as too many people assume they're there to "serve them" as their sole purpose. While they do have a job to do, they are human (and away from their families for months on end) and what better way to make a person's day than to smile and have a friendly conversation- something we all need in our day from time to time!

One of the best movie lines ever comes to mind here - "Lighten Up, Francis!"

 

Thanks again for the review. You've heightened my expectations for myself and my family for this cruise. Gonna be a good one for sure!

[ALSEAU]

This is why you have to take what you read on Cruise Critic with a grain of salt. Based on some of the reviews I've read, you'd think some of these ships are low-rent slums.

 

I follow the boards pretty regularly and I agree with your first statement but not your second. Almost all reviews I have read are written fair minded and reflect the experiences of the OP on their cruise. I agree that some CC responses on reviews are extremely negative and worthy of your second comment.

 

On occasion there is a review where the OP has an obvious ax to grind. And pretends to be fair minded.

 

With 6,500 passengers you have over 6,000 different attitudes, interests and experiences. The majority of passengers will have a great cruise but a few are going to encounter problems.

[VPIcruiser]

Thanks for the review. We will be on the Allure for spring break next year. Last year on Allure and this year on Oasis, we thought the service was great. This year, the head waiter came to our table on the second night and apologized for missing night one because she was sick. I remember years ago (before we had kids) we only saw the head waiter on the last night. So, we are always impressed when the head waiter stops by our table. On lobster night, she was working as hard as the waiter and his assistant.

Edited May 20, 2018 by VPIcruiser
Typo

[jjjandkk]

Thanks for the great review. We were on the Allure in March and had a fantastic cruise. Our dining room staff was fantastic. We asked our head waiting how long he had worked for RC. I think he said 33 years. He had worked on the Nordic Prince, which I think is scrap metal in Indonesia now. Years ago we were on the Majesty. I think it was her 2nd week of sailing. A couple at our table was determined to trip up their room steward so they wouldn’t have to leave a tip. We figured out where their room was, and then their steward. Every day we would ask them what they did. It would be things like write on the mirror when steamed up to see if they cleaned it, or leave a plate under the bed. We would find their Stewart and let them know the hidden thing. The passengers ended up being amazed at how good the Stewart was and ended up giving them the full tip. (Back then You handed everyone you were supposed to tip and envelope with cash on the last night). Thanks again for the great review. I agree with one of the previous posts. A bad day on a cruise is better than a great day at work.

[Grandma Dazzles]

Lastly, I’ll close with this. There are a lot of talks on these boards about the decline in service and food in recent years. And there is probably some truth in that. But what is not talked about enough is that the quality of passenger behavior is declining. Seems as though people want 5 star food, 5 star service, 5 star entertainment…but they only want to pay 2 star prices and behave as a 2 star customer. In a week,I personally saw: A guy drop his pizza on the promenade, look at it, and just walk away…A guy get rude with a bartender who had to tell him (kindly), twice, that he had to put out his cigarette because we were getting gas in St Martin and there was no smoking outdoors…A lady get very pushy and rude with the crew member who was scanning people on and off the ship because she thought he was taking too long…the same lady who expected other people to get off the elevator to make room for her…a guy get belligerent and use multiple profanities with the guy serving the popcorn outside the comedy club because he thought he was too slow…a group of people constantly heckling the piano player every time they were in the Schooner bar…and members of the audience booing the member of the entertainment staff who had to come out midway through our Ocean Aria show and announce that they had to cancel the show because they were have problems with the pool and the floor that rises up and down. Be A Good Person. It really is the most basic concept. We are all human and all have our moments. The DW knocked her shot of Baileys off the table by Starbucks…we didn’t just leave it and walk away or bark at a crew member to clean it up…we went and grabbed napkins and wiped it up and notified a crew member we spilled…it’s that simple. Talk to the crew and treat them with respect at the very least. They are working hard and most of them are trying to provide for a family who they don’t get to see very often. Better yet, talk with them,try and get to know some of them instead of looking at them as a means to an end. We ended up frequently chatting with a server in the bar area of the Solarium and we asked him a lot of questions about his life and where he’s from and all that. And at the end of the week he came up and thanked us for taking the time to talk with him on a personal level instead of just asking for a drink and moving on. He said it really makes a difference in how their week goes.

 

 

Thank you for an excellent review.

 

Thank you also for your above comments - could be an entire thread! So true - people are ruder, more demanding and think they are so entitled. Sad commentary, but true. They treat the staff like personal slaves and complain about everything.