She is AWESOME!!!
I have been on over 20 cruises, and still, as I entered the ship, I was WOWED!!! We boarded on the Promenade Deck right beside Sorrento’s which quickly became one of my favorite hangouts. To see the width of the Promenade was like being in an elaborate mall. I was impressed from my very first view.
I was worried that both the Oasis and the Allure were a bit “over the top”. I wondered if Royal Caribbean had gone a little too far with all the neighborhoods, the water shows, the carrousel, the DreamWorks, the zip line. But I have to admit…..I was WRONG!!!! It isn’t overkill at all. The innovative design of the ship allows you to not feel as if you are involved in ALL areas of the ship at one time. Experiencing the carrousel, the zip line, the water shows, etc. is exclusive to the Boardwalk. The excitement and activity does not over flow into the Promenade. You can experience the peaceful tranquility of a stroll in the park in Central Park and not be interrupted by the bustle of the Promenade where shopping is at a premium. Being able to have all 3 very different areas on the same ship while maintaining their ambiance is accomplished beautifully on the Allure. So go to the Boardwalk and enjoy the excitement and adventure, shop until you drop in the Promenade and then take in the peaceful Park atmosphere, it is all possible. Do as little or as much as you want.
Royal Caribbean has introduced digital signage as a way to communicate important information such as restaurant availability, muster station locations, departure information and current “What To Do Now” options. Making the “Cruise Compass” available at your fingertips is just one more innovation Royal Caribbean has added to enhance your cruising experience.
They are also enhancing their services by introducing Royal Express Kiosks. The new kiosks offer all passengers the ability to check in for your flights home as well as printing boarding passes and many other services. The kiosks can be found on deck 5. This is a vast improvement over paying for internet or standing in line waiting your turn at the Purser’s desk.
The TV in your stateroom has become an electronic tool as well. Adding the capability to make dining reservations, show reservations, viewing & booking shore excursions in the comfort of your stateroom is a breeze. Checking how busy a restaurant is as easy as turning on your TV.
The adult only Solarium was definitely a favorite of mine. It is very peaceful, open and large. The Solarium restaurant serves a health conscious breakfast and lunch which I found to be VERY good. For dinner it is transformed into a Brazilian Steakhouse.
The entertainment was excellent, true Broadway style. The production of the musical CHICAGO was excellent. I was totally blown away. We were also pleasantly surprised to be able to see Cirque du Soleil’s Blue Planet. In addition to Cirque’s usual incredible show is the amazing tree. This was absolutely my favorite part. The tree which is moved out onto the stage suddenly comes alive. It is made up of performers but cleverly disguised which creates an amazing illusion! You are even more amazed to see the performers transform back into the tree. You know it is made up of people, but you still have a difficult time distinguishing the tree from the performers. I loved it!!
Our balcony stateroom opened up onto a magnificent view of Central Park. We enjoyed the view and the peaceful ambiance that drifted up to our cabin. We had the pleasure of enjoying a surprise performance by a gentleman strolling in the park playing bag pipes. It was a one of a kind experience for us.
On Allure of the Seas you never knew what else was going to be available to you. There were surprises at every turn. All good ones!!! I would HIGHLY recommend Allure/Oasis! I can’t wait for the chance to sail again on the Allure. I would definitely recommend the Allure and her sister ship the Oasis to all cruisers.
Content for this post was written by Katie Hunter our IUPUI Branch Manager.