Mini “LIVE” , Allure from Galveston 12/4

[niksmom630]

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

Very interesting point. People from the north who are escaping winter's cold probably tend to cruise more from FL instead of TX. We don't go down there to stay inside.

I think this is spot on….we booked this cruise because #1 , it was a freebie because of hubby’s Prime casino status, and #2, because  it gave us a chance to visit with family in Houston. I hadn’t even thought about the weather until I checked the forecast the week prior and realized I needed to change my boarding day outfit! 🥶 low 60’s, damp and foggy vs 80 and sunny in FLL. 
 

also could be this class of ship is new to Galveston, seems like more people are congregating inside and exploring than out. Last time I saw this few towels on chairs on a sea day at 9 am was my mediterranean Celebrity sailing on Edge that was 30% capacity. 

[niksmom630]

1 hour ago, Luckynana said:

I love all of the locations that you've taken your pictures from.  So much more interesting than the pictures I've taken of the ship.  I'm going to have to try harder the next time!😉

Thank you!

 Thanks! I bet I have several hundred photos on my phone camera roll of this ship. It’s actually hard to find something I haven’t photographed yet! 😂

[niksmom630]

Caught the evening sunset thanks to our “late” dinner reservations at 150…😂 . Early dining on this sailing in the MDR is 5 pm…. WTH?????  It’s gone from 6 pm, to 5:30, to 5:15…. Now 5…..too early…. Will have to rethink options for future sailings 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ozark_Kid]

2 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

Remembered I hadn’t ever found all the little Wonders onboard. Was planning to do that on my last sailing but ran out of time. 
 

I think there are 20 or more of them. Someone kindly posted the locations in my last Allure review so I will have to dig that out. In the meantime, here are a few I stumbled upon today 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep an eye out for these and a corresponding circular sign… they are very cool 😎 

 

 

 

 

 

Is this the post you were thinking of.  I copied it for our January cruise. 

 

looking for the "little wonders". Here's the list, courtesy of Harry.

Deck FWD/AFT/MID Type Area Description
 3 Forward Conference center, right at the entrance
4 Forward Pedestal Main Theater
4 Aft Pedestal Two in the elevator lobby right before the casino entrance
4 Forward Entertainment place, right in front of Blaze when you come down the spiral stairs
5 Forward Royal Promenade, right in front of Boleros
5 Midship Royal Promenade, Inside the pub, on top of the ledge next to the kissing couple
5 Midship Royal Promenade, at the stairs that lead down to the Casino
5 Aft Royal Promenade, at the end of the Rising Tide Bar, starboard side
5 Forward Pedestal Royal Promenade, right by staircase leading down to entertainment place
5 Midship Pedestal Royal Promenade, starboard side at the embarkation entrance
5 Aft Wall Two in the elevator lobby right before casino entrance
6 Forward Wall Port-side elevator lobby, overlooking Royal Promenade
6 Aft Pedestal Two in the hidden elevator lobby niches
6 Aft Pedestal Aquatheater, port-side behind seating, by angled wall
6 Forward Elevator lobby, starboard side, right by the Diamond Club
6 Midship Schooner Bar, Against the glass railing in front the bar, overlooking the Royal Promenade
6 Aft Elevator Lobby, just before going into the Boardwalk
7 Forward Elevator Lobby, port side by Balcony
7 Aft Pedestal Port-side elevator lobby
8 Midship Pedestal Central Park, right in front of the marketplace
8 Midship Pedestal Central Park, Starboard by trellis walkway
8 Forward Elevator Lobby, starboard side
8 Forward Inside Art Actually Gallery
8 Aft Elevator Lobby, port side
10 Forward Pedestal In the elevator lobby, starboard side
10 Forward Elevator Lobby, port side
11 Aft Entry to concierge lounge
14 Aft Pedestal In the elevator lobby, starboard side
15 Forward Pedestal Beach pool area, right by towel stand
15 Aft Pedestal In the corner of the Deck

15 RCCL ship tribute area
15 Midship In front of the Teen Arcade
16 Aft Inside the Lobby, port side
16 Aft Inside the Lobby, starboard side
16 Forward Pedestal Solarium, starboard side, right by the beach chairs
16 Midship Pedestal Behind pool bar on starboard side, overlooking Central Park
16 Aft Pedestal Sports deck area, in between both flowriders (up the ramp)
17 Aft Wall Two inside Viking Crown

Edited December 6, 2022 by Ozark_Kid
Didn't realize how big the paste would be. I reduced size. Oops sorry

[Ozark_Kid]

2 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

I have never seen these two sculptures, or certainly I don’t remember them. 
 

 

If my memory serves me correct these semicircles glow at night, with lights in them. That is going from memory from other Oasis Class ships. 

Those 2 sculptures have to be new.  I am sure I would of noticed.

 

Here are the lights at night.

[jbrinkm]

1 hour ago, Luckynana said:

We were on the Allure this past April out of Ft. Lauderdale...no breakfast or brunch provided on our cruise..I was bummed about that.  

 

I was too! And was really bummed that I never realized that the Solarium Bistro offered breakfast! But perhaps is wasn't offered on my April sailing either - why I didn't ever notice it listed...

[BecciBoo]

2 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

Keep an eye out for these

These are missed by so many, but were one of my favorite things on Allure along with the stream in Solarium  There's a Finch stowaway in the second pic

Edited December 7, 2022 by BecciBoo

[BecciBoo]

13 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

Those 2 sculptures have to be new.

Nope, here they are in 2014:

[Ocean Boy]

14 minutes ago, jbrinkm said:

 

I was too! And was really bummed that I never realized that the Solarium Bistro offered breakfast! But perhaps is wasn't offered on my April sailing either - why I didn't ever notice it listed...

The Solarium was open for breakfast when I sailed in April. That is my go to breakfast place when sailing on O class ships.

[BonTexasNY]

3 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

Just a guess but maybe the cruisers who live in Texas do not worship the sun like those from Florida?  Maybe those from Texas can chime in.

Having cruised around 8 times from Galveston filled with Texans, I can assure you that by 9-9:30am most chairs in prime pool area real estate were "taken" by chair hogs, both in the sun and shade.  When cruising with friends, it was difficult getting 4 lounges together in the pool area as well as the solarium.  By 10am most lounges were taken by pool hogs.  All of our cruises were Freedom class and smaller.  

 

@niksmom630 I'm enjoying your review and beautiful pictures.

 

[niksmom630]

 

 

150 Central Park….Bread, beef short rib, 

pumpkin soup, lobster, and fried cheesecake. Excellent meal!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[niksmom630]

Day 4…. Roatan

 

 

 

 

[A&L_Ont]

What are your plans for today?

[niksmom630]

5 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

What are your plans for today?

Having the beach pool and the solarium all to myself 😉

[niksmom630]

I guess I never noticed these balcony’s on Deck 9 above Central Park accessible by the elevators until this sailing. I noticed a couple sitting there on Day 2 and first thought they were enjoying their balcony until I saw a host of people exit the elevator behind their chairs 🤦🏼‍♀️

 

 

 

A good spot to snap a few photos 

 

 

 

 

[Ozark_Kid]

15 hours ago, BecciBoo said:

Nope, here they are in 2014:

The 2 sculptures we were talking about are these.  

 

 

I don't remember them in in 2017 or last October.   Did you think we were talking about the lights 

[Ozark_Kid]

2 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

I guess I never noticed these balcony’s on Deck 9 above Central Park accessible by the elevators until this sailing. I noticed a couple sitting there on Day 2 and first thought they were enjoying their balcony until I saw a host of people exit the elevator behind their chairs 🤦🏼‍♀️

 

 

 

A good spot to snap a few photos 

 

 

 

 

I noticed the seating area the last time on but never thought of using it to shoot pics.  Great idea.  I need to make note.  Perfect for getting the pic with the Central Park sign in it.

 

For a "mini" review this has been a great one.  

[niksmom630]

I had high expectations of what Central Park would look like decorated for the holidays. Other than a few random poinsettias, there’s nothing. 🙁 

 

 

Vintages had a tree inside 

 

 

 

Have never stopped here for Tapas, although I’ve thought about it often enough….pretty venue 

 

 

[h20skibum]

5 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

I noticed the seating area the last time on but never thought of using it to shoot pics.  Great idea.  I need to make note.  Perfect for getting the pic with the Central Park sign in it.

 

For a "mini" review this has been a great one.  

We were known to sit in those chairs and enjoy a latte. 

[niksmom630]

5 minutes ago, Ozark_Kid said:

I noticed the seating area the last time on but never thought of using it to shoot pics.  Great idea.  I need to make note.  Perfect for getting the pic with the Central Park sign in it.

 

For a "mini" review this has been a great one.  

thanks, I loved the vantage point for photos as well 🤗

[niksmom630]

A few random photos walking around last night….

 

 

 

 

@BecciBoo, I’m a fan of the stream in the solarium also 😊

 

 

[niksmom630]

Now for  the commentary…..day 2/3 observations….

 

- if you waited to purchase surf, or surf and steam until you boarded, surf only was not available. The only option was surf and stream, and by number of devices. I don’t recall this on previous sailings, but maybe this is the norm now. 
 

- I miss the paper compasses. I know you can ask your cabin steward for one, but I forgot to ask and now I haven’t seen him. Tried to get one at guest services. nope. Saving a tree, no doubt, but now they make you sign zero dollar slips for the free C & A beverages. I have a hard time keeping up with Royals ever changing and contradictory rules….the biodegradable straws are a welcome change tho 😂

 

- this is my first  sailing post Covid that the crew is (mostly) maskless. How nice it is to see faces and smiles again! 
 

- the windjammer is a nightmare this week, and now I know why…. On sea days they only have food being served on one side. There is seating open on both sides , but everyone is forced thru the same side for serving. Add to that the food station flow around the circles is an awful configuration to begin with. Pretty sure they are around 5600 people so it’s not like this decision is driven by reduced capacity. 
 

- music at the pool alternates between top hits, reggae/Caribbean and Christmas carols. Strikes me as funny…. When you live in the Midwest, you’d never hear Christmas music when you are wearing a swim suit 😂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[footzz]

7 minutes ago, niksmom630 said:

The windjammer is a nightmare this week, and now I know why…. On sea days they only have food being served on one side. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That makes absolutely no sense. Closing a side down for serving food in the Windjammer on port days is a normal thing, but on sea days?  Really? Talk about a 'Royal' fuster cluck.

[Septemberbride07]

On 12/6/2022 at 10:53 AM, kpgibbs said:

I was told you could only use Lyft.  Has this changed?

It has. Not sure when but we used Uber with zero problems. 

[Ozark_Kid]

1 hour ago, niksmom630 said:

Now for  the commentary…..day 2/3 observations….

 

- if you waited to purchase surf, or surf and steam until you boarded, surf only was not available. The only option was surf and stream, and by number of devices. I don’t recall this on previous sailings, but maybe this is the norm now. 
 

- I miss the paper compasses. I know you can ask your cabin steward for one, but I forgot to ask and now I haven’t seen him. Tried to get one at guest services. nope. Saving a tree, no doubt, but now they make you sign zero dollar slips for the free C & A beverages. I have a hard time keeping up with Royals ever changing and contradictory rules….the biodegradable straws are a welcome change tho 😂

 

- this is my first  sailing post Covid that the crew is (mostly) maskless. How nice it is to see faces and smiles again! 
 

- the windjammer is a nightmare this week, and now I know why…. On sea days they only have food being served on one side. There is seating open on both sides , but everyone is forced thru the same side for serving. Add to that the food station flow around the circles is an awful configuration to begin with. Pretty sure they are around 5600 people so it’s not like this decision is driven by reduced capacity. 
 

- music at the pool alternates between top hits, reggae/Caribbean and Christmas carols. Strikes me as funny…. When you live in the Midwest, you’d never hear Christmas music when you are wearing a swim suit 😂

 

Speaking of surf and stream, how is the new Starlink working.  Are you noticing much difference? 

 

I don't remember trying the Windjammer at night.  Have you tried dinner there?

 

I bet it is funny being out at the pool, enjoying the sun while Jingle Bells is playing.  😆