Allure Questions: MDR seating, embarkation, specialty coffee card!

[DebandPaul]

We will be 7 seating in the MDR...5:30. Is there an area in the MDR to avoid? CAN it be avoided? When does one find our where their table is? How likely is it to have them change the location of your party's seating?  Will we be able to arrive as early as we can to embark or will they make us wait till 2 PM or so? What is the price of specialty coffees on board? Trying to decide whether or not to buy a $31 coffee card for 15 coffee drinks. Thanks! We leave on the 10th of March! Yippee!

[Clarea]

Can't think of an area in the MDR to avoid.  Your table number will be on your SeaPass card.  You can arrive as early as you want.

 

The coffee card is the same price onboard, so I would wait to purchase until you are onboard.  This way you can ask them how many punches it takes to get a large coffee.  Some ships charge multiple punches per coffee, depending on size.

 

 

[kateg]

Try the coffee first before committing.  My husband didn't care for it and it was one of the reasons he bought the drink package.  He would have rather paid for Starbucks...still not his favorite but much better, in his opinion, than the ships specialty coffees.  

[taglovestocruise]

You can buy a Starbucks gift card at home and use it on the ship at the Starbucks kiosk. Much better coffee than you get at the Cafe Promenade specialty coffee spot. 

[niugrads]

We just returned from a cruise on the Allure and our main dining table was on deck 4.  The casino is on the same deck, near the dining room.  We are not smokers and the cigarette smoke/smell in the front of the dining room where you enter was kind of annoying.  Our table was far enough away where it didn't bother us during dinner but if we were closer to the doors, I would have asked to be moved.

[ALSEAU]

17 hours ago, DebandPaul said:

We will be 7 seating in the MDR...5:30. Is there an area in the MDR to avoid? CAN it be avoided? When does one find our where their table is? How likely is it to have them change the location of your party's seating?  Will we be able to arrive as early as we can to embark or will they make us wait till 2 PM or so? What is the price of specialty coffees on board? Trying to decide whether or not to buy a $31 coffee card for 15 coffee drinks. Thanks! We leave on the 10th of March! Yippee!

 

I can't think of any location other than a table at the entrance of the MDR to be avoided if possible..

 

One of the first things we do after boarding is check our SeaPass card for our table number and go to the MDR to see where we are seated. On a rare occasion we have asked for a  change. Since we are a party of two it usually is not a problem. Your group of seven could have  some difficulty making a change. But by all means asked if you are unhappy and they will accommodate your group if possible. 

 

Boarding will begin by 11:30. The first to board will be Suite Guest and than by Crown & Anchor status.

There is no one checking to tell you that you are to early and refuse to check you in. (check-in is first come first check-in) So arrive as early as your group wants to. Just remember your staterooms will not be available until 1:00 PM and you have to drag all your carry-on with you until then..