Back from the Dark Ages! Live Review of the Allure OTS

[bogs1009]

27 minutes ago, Capt Snoopy said:

@bogs1009 for lunch on sea days Giovannis, Izumi, Chops, Johnny Rockets, and Sabor are open. Also Johnny Rockets told me that you can eat there once a day so on port days I’ll eat there midday under the dining package. I would really really suggest the Dining Package, I have really enjoyed it. I have ate at 150 Central Park twice for dinner (one more time tonight), Giovannis once for dinner (one more time tomorrow night) and twice for lunch, Chops last night for dinner and will eat there for lunch tomorrow, I ate at Sabor one night and one time for lunch (on port days Sabor isn’t covered under dining package). I haven’t been to Samba, Brazilian steakhouse doesn’t sound appealing to me. 

I think you’re on a great path with your proposed choices. I’d 100% suggest 150 CP twice (ask for Izzine, he has been my server and is amazing!), Giovannis is worth lunch and dinner (the osso buco at night is to die for!), Chops is amazing as well and great for lunch too! Sabor was ok, if there is another option, I’d choose it. I hope this helps some!

Thanks, I think you convinced me to do the Ultimate.  Might as well eat like I am on vacation and enjoy everything.  Enjoy the rest of your time at sea and on the Allure, can't wait for January to come.  

[mom2tcdx2]

For the one who doesn't see the dining packages, when are you sailing?  I wonder if your sailing is still too far out to be showing them?  Ours was under dining and has been there for our sailing on the 28th of Oct for a few months.  

 

Thanks for some of the menu's, really wish they had some descriptions on the classic or lower priced cocktails - some of them I have never heard of so no idea what they actually may be.  Though the drink package may be our way to find out.  If you happen to notice a regular Sidecar on any menu (did see the Gentleman's sidecar), let me know which bar it was at.  

[Grommet]

36 minutes ago, mom2tcdx2 said:

For the one who doesn't see the dining packages, when are you sailing?  I wonder if your sailing is still too far out to be showing them?  Ours was under dining and has been there for our sailing on the 28th of Oct for a few months.  

 

Thanks for some of the menu's, really wish they had some descriptions on the classic or lower priced cocktails - some of them I have never heard of so no idea what they actually may be.  Though the drink package may be our way to find out.  If you happen to notice a regular Sidecar on any menu (did see the Gentleman's sidecar), let me know which bar it was at.  

Mine is Nov 18 - I only see pricing for each of the restaurants individually but I don't see offerings for any dining packages.  Will it still appear before my sailing I wonder?

[Capt Snoopy]

54 minutes ago, ramja96 said:

If I remember correctly, the drink package covers beverages up to $13 - so the "Premium cocktails" are covered?

Yes exactly! Oasis class covers up to $13 and other classes cover up to $12 I believe

[mattb31]

10 minutes ago, Grommet said:

Mine is Nov 18 - I only see pricing for each of the restaurants individually but I don't see offerings for any dining packages.  Will it still appear before my sailing I wonder?

I'm on the same sailing, no dining packages on holiday cruises.

[Capt Snoopy]

@bogs1009 that’s great news! You’re going to enjoy it!! One piece of advice, early on I scheduled dinner around 6pm so I could make the early shows. Well I didn’t realize I was going to eat so much all the time so I wasn’t as hungry at dinner but since moving dinner to 8pm or later, I’ve been hungry for dinner again! 

[Capt Snoopy]

@mom2tcdx2 I think even if it wasn’t on a menu, it would be super easy for any of these bartenders to make. If I had to guess, it would be featured at Bow & Stern on the promenade. I will swing by there later and see if it’s on the menu. 

[Capt Snoopy]

8 minutes ago, mattb31 said:

I'm on the same sailing, no dining packages on holiday cruises.

Wow! That’s really good info to know. I definitely won’t book over the holidays then. The UDP and DBP are the main reasons I cruise!

[Grommet]

14 minutes ago, mattb31 said:

I'm on the same sailing, no dining packages on holiday cruises.

Ahh!!  That makes sense!  What a bummer!  Well maybe they will change their mind once we all get onboard and the restaurants are empty (wishful thinking)...I'd love some BOGO offers to try out some of the restaurants!   

[Capt Snoopy]

Back from Labadee. It is a beautiful place to relax. The zip line over the beach looks incredibly fun and at least a 45 second ride. 

 

We spent most of our time in the barefoot beach club, they provide golf carts to drive sky, star, and pinnacle to that beach. There are many chairs with plenty of shade and lay-down float mats for free use. Lunch was better than I expected, plenty of hot dogs, ribs, burgers, shrimp kabobs, and fruit. 

 

Here is a picture of the beach in the barefoot club:

 

It was a very relaxing day! Now we are back and going to 150 CP for the last time, I’m going to miss Izzine so much. I hope anyone who sees him in the future can tell him that I miss him! Also I’m going to try to was going to try to make Blue Planet tonight. 

[Espn]

Thanks for the San Juan info. I doubt if we will head too far away from the ship. We want to just say we have been to PR. 

[MrFunInTheSun]

Barefoot beach and Dragons Breath zip line, Two of my favorite things about Labadee. Looks like a super day. 

[Capt Snoopy]

Waking up to the last sea day before being back in Fort Lauderdale. Last night at 150 CP, I had the cucumber basil martini for the last time and it’s as good as day 1. Blake and I had the dry aged ribeye but it had a lot of fat on it. We were too tired to even try for Blue Planet. 

Today is Chops for lunch then a bridge tour, followed up by Giovannis for dinner, and finally the big comedy show in the Amber Theater!

[Capt Snoopy]

Ah, long time no see! Chops for lunch today with beef carpaccio and shrimp cocktail. I love the shrimp because they take at least 2 bites to finish, not popcorn shrimp! Followed up by the filet mignon medium rare and bearnaise, probably my favorite combination. 

 

Then had the bridge tour! It was actually really

difficult to get this because it wasn’t part of the all access tour. It seemed like everyone had a Genie or Pinnacle Club except for me LOL. It was worth it for the view and the 30 minutes of questions and comparisons to the equipment on the aircraft I fly. If possible, I’d love to do a contract driving the ship!

 

Once that finished, I went down and looked at watches on the promenade and entered into a raffle. Somehow, some way, they pulled my name and I won a watch. I’m normally not lucky at ALL (especially in the casino). 

 

The best part of my day, Dinner!!! Giovanni’s was our first lunch on boarding day so we finished the cruise with dinner at Giovannis. To start I had mussels and Blake had tuna tartare. The mussel soup is AMAZING, I could dip bread in it all day. 

 

The next course was Octopus and white beans while Blake had mozzarella and tomatoes. The octopus had chili flakes to give it a little kick that worked very well. Blake said the tomatoes weren’t left on the vine long enough. 

 

For the main, I had the ossobuco which cuts apart with a fork, it is so so so tender. I subbed the polenta with the mushroom risotto, you won’t be disappointed. Blake tried the shrimp and she says make sure they put the balsamic glaze on it!!!

 

Dessert, second favorite part! Blake had creme brûlée while I had tiramisu (I love the cocoa powder so much). Also to reconfirm with everyone, I did JR milkshakes again today and it was covered under the DBP!!!

 

And as a bonus for the adventurous, here’s a video of how succulent the bone marrow in the ossobuco was 😍

 

[knon24]

Dang that ossobuco looks delicious. 

[Capt Snoopy]

46 minutes ago, knon24 said:

Dang that ossobuco looks delicious. 

I’ll have to think hard but I wanna say the ossobuco was my favorite entree on the cruise. It was so so tender, it just fell apart. Mixed with the creamy risotto....ugh, I need one more night!

[knon24]

11 minutes ago, Capt Snoopy said:

I’ll have to think hard but I wanna say the ossobuco was my favorite entree on the cruise. It was so so tender, it just fell apart. Mixed with the creamy risotto....ugh, I need one more night!

 

Enjoy your last night and then.. the countdown begins for your next one right?! That's how this cruising thing works right? 😁

[Capt Snoopy]

@knon24 it really is 😂 sadly I don’t have one booked right now. I need to go let NextCruise talk me into one!

[lazydayz]

Thanks for bringing us along.  Sounds like a great cruise. You convinced me to get the UDP on our Allure cruise in March. We have a CP balcony so no access to CK this time. I think the specialty restaurants will more than make up for it. 

[Capt Snoopy]

@lazydayz I’m glad I could help out, I know you’re going to enjoy it so much! Honestly CK is just alright, nothing to write home about. I only went there for breakfast because they had eggs Benedict. But yes, the cruise was amazing, thank you for coming along!

[Capt Snoopy]

Sadly this trip has come to an end. Before the sun was up, Royal so kindly dropped us off to pick up some more passengers. 

I decided on the 7:30 departure time so Dexter had us meet in the Suite Lounge and passed out stickers to wear and headed down to deck 5 where we were escorted out. We left the Lounge to go downstairs at 7:30 and I got in my Uber at 7:43, quick and painless. 

Little troubles on the way, I forgot my sunglasses in the Uber so my driver had to come back and drop them off. Also the Uber took me to the general aviation ramp instead of airline terminal, guess they thought I was flying myself today. 

Now I can’t remember where my car keys are (definitely not in my carry on that I’ve turned upside down 3 times), I’m really really hoping they are in my checked bag. Guess I have to wait til I land at my destination to see, so a little anxiety until I either find them or stranded 😂

[lazydayz]

Safe travels. Hope you find your keys. 

[Capt Snoopy]

Update: My fiancé and I are going to different locations and have different flights. My keys were found with her when she connected in New Orleans. Now my keys are with a pilot on a random flight to my destination. Hope everything works perfectly now LOL

[MrFunInTheSun]

Welcome back! Thanks for bringing us along once CC went back live. When is the next cruise? When can we expect you to bring us along again and on which ship? 🙂

[barbeyg]

1 hour ago, Capt Snoopy said:

Update: My fiancé and I are going to different locations and have different flights. My keys were found with her when she connected in New Orleans. Now my keys are with a pilot on a random flight to my destination. Hope everything works perfectly now LOL

 

Glad you found your keys, even if their arrival time is different from yours. 🙂

 

Thanks for the live review. I’m seriously now considering the ultimate package. We usually book the 5 night, because we don’t eat much for breakfast or lunch, but will have to think about it now.

 

Again, thanks for the excellent review.