fairweather

Need a much bigger On Air Club for karaoke and other game events. Not enough seats or even places for people to stand and watch. Big oversight. There really should be a second showroom like on the Voyager class with so many guests on board.

My wife and I cruised on Celebrity Century in 2011 and Island Princess in 2013. The 2011 trip was in mid May while the 2013 trip was the 3rd week of September.

 

Comparing the two, we found that the amount of information (lectures, guides) were significantly more concise and informative on Princess over what we saw on Celebrity, in fact they had several NPS Park Rangers on board as we entered towards the Hubbard Glacier to provide commentary and answer questions that people had.

 

Weather wise May was sunny and warm while September was wet (even by Vancouver standards). I can't comment on sailing all the way to Whitter, as both trips were inside passage round trip Vancouver, but because most of the cruising is done while shielded by Vancouver Island it is generally quite calm other than the 1 day passing by the Queen Charlotte's which have on both occasions been rough.

 

Port wise, Juneau, and Ketchikan are included on all itineraries, and whether you get Skagway, Sitka, Icy Straight Point, Victoria BC, all depend on which itinerary you choose.

 

We found Skagway to be interesting albeit a small town, never been to Sitka, and Icy Straight the big draw was the zip line. Being local to Victoria, it never really was a consideration in booking.

I'd like to see Sitka because of the Russian culture and architecture there. I would do it over Icy Straight Point. I'd also like to visit Victoria BC to experience the British influences there and the gardens. Would it be better to take the ferry from Vancouver or take a cruise that stops there?

I've never cruised Celebrity before but it would seem from your experience that Princess would be the better choice for Alaska as others have told us.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You seem to be have cruised Alaska often in the last few years, so I really value your advice.

My husband and I did a 14 day land/cruise on the Sapphire the end of July 2008. It was fantastic.

 

We started in Fairbanks heading south to Anchorage. We used Princess lodges in Fairbanks, Denali, McKinley and Anchorage, also their trains and buses. We were very pleased with all accommodations and transportation. Everything was very organized, we had keys to our room in hand before arriving at the lodges.

 

We took an escorted tour that was hosted by our travel agent (he does two a season). All our tours were arranged by Princess and our TA. The Tundra Wilderness Tour was 8 hours, long but worth it. We took preplanned tours and also had free time. We were in a group of about 140 (3 bus loads). Our escorted tour included meal vouchers for breakfast and most of our dinners. Food is not usually part of the package on land tours. Dinners at the lodges were expensive if not vouchered. At the time the extra $35 pp for the escorted tour with our TA was a steal.

 

Once in Whittier, we boarded our ship and on our own, except for two cocktail parties hosted by our TA. Our southern cruise was Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Vancouver. We used princess tours in all ports. We stayed an extra day in Vancouver, Princess and TA made hotel reservations. What a lovely city, wish we had stayed two days!

 

On our cruise , our TA put all (140) on the starboard side. We were not facing the shore. We had sun from 10am to 10pm on our balcony. The port side was 25 to 30+ degrees colder. We were on Carib deck with a partial covered balcony. We played cards, read, had lunch and just relaxed while floating by glaciers and waterfalls. Unbelievable! One day we were in shorts!

 

On the morning of Glacier Bay the best view was the top of the ship to feel the magnitude of the bay. Gloves, hats, sweat shirt, wind breaker and thermal underwear...it was freezing, windy and wonderful!

 

The conservatory..covered pool area..on the Sapphire extended the ships usable size in cold weather. I would definitely recommend a ship with a covered pool in cold weather cruises.

 

In 2012, our friends did the same cruise and were equally pleased. One of our friends has mobility problems and he was very satisfied with Princess and their tours.

 

We are slowly checking off our "bucket list", this cruise was a favorite.

This is exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks for sharing what appears to have been a well planned and executed tour by Princess. I planned much of our shore excursions on the HAL btb cruise we took to Alaska in 2007. But going into the interior I don't think that would be as easy. Best to stick with the experts who have the best accommodations and knowledge when it comes to the land portion.

Very much enjoyed hearing about the details of your sea and land tour. I was already leaning towards the Sapphire. It sounds like it doesn't disappoint.

Just reading your review, I can feel the wind and sleet hitting my face again from the one day we spent in Glacier Bay. The other day spent there was warmer and allowed us to spend almost the entire day on deck. I really think the key to a great Alaskan tour is getting to spend as much time there as you can.

Your bucket list is hopefully our retirement cruise tour.

We also are wanting to do the Far North over the Caribbean, as you say, but haven't yet been to Alaska. We want to go next year (2015) for my 60th birthday celebration, since that has been a lifelong dream. We are looking at an extensive trip with cruise and long cruise tour. Princess looks to be the best for some, but others say HAL. What have you found out so far? (And we need to keep in touch ;)

What a Happy Birthday it will be for you. Could not think of a better way to celebrate.

I've been only checking out ship reviews right now, but will be researching land tours next as that's where we did not go last time and want to explore it now.

HAL had the best glacier itineraries when we went in 2007. That was our emphasis. When going to Alaska you need to prioritize what you want to see most and then find a ship that has good reviews which offers those elements.

As our goal was to see as many glaciers as we could, we did a btb on the Zaandam that took us to both Glacier Bay and College Fjords twice, as well as stopping in Juneau twice where the Mendenhal Glacier is located. On one of those stops we flew over the Harding Ice Field and saw numerous glaciers and waterfalls from above. At the turnaroud in Seward we took a small ship excursion into the waters of the Kenai National Park to sail up close to several smaller glaciers and see lots of whales and wildlife. We also hiked to the Exit Glacier there and got to experience it by land.

This time we want to see more of the interior. Princess seems to be the expert on land tours. While the other cruise lines offer similar tours, I'm told that Princess owns many of the resorts you will be staying at in Denali and the trains that take you there. If you are their personal passengers, I can only assume that they treat you accordingly.

Start by figuring out what you want to see most. And then plan a trip that makes it possible. Once you decide on the cruise line and ship you are interested in, go to one of their Alaskan presentations when a local travel agency offers them in your area. They will give you lots of materials to look through and sometimes a really attractive discount or perks.

We thought HAL was very elegant and their service was top notch. However, we found the evening entertainment lacking. But as you are usually tired from a full day of excursions, I suppose that would not be too big of a problem unless you were on a btb for 14 days like we were.

This line also targets to an older client base. We are in our late 50s and early 60s. If you are used to Caribbean cruises, you will find it a little tame and the music dated...like mostly Rat Pack not 70's or 80's. But maybe this has changed on HAL in seven years?

I'm excited just hearing about what others have done on Princess. :)

Hope you enjoy your canal cruise. One of my husband's Granduncles was an engineer working in Panama while they built the first one. We have a letter that he sent home talking about the "flying machines" that would pass over the site. Are they going to keep the old one open after the new on is completed? Maybe we should think about going there next.

Glad that you are getting a second Alaska experience, too. I'll take you up on the offer of sharing your Platters. Thanks for offering. I will send you an email.

It's funny, but we seem to be getting tired of Caribbean islands. But I don't think I could ever get enough of Alaska's scenery and wildlife. Then maybe it's been seven years since our last cruise there?

Thank you to everyone for responding so quickly.

While we have a good deal of time to plan for 2015 or 2016, it's never too early to look into options. Princess doesn't seem to disappoint in any way. From your comments, I don't think we could go wrong no matter which way we book with Princess.

We did a btb from Vancouver last time and loved both the Inside Passage, the smaller ports like Haines and the train trip to Whitehorse. You have certainly sold me on the a cruise tour this time. We will make sure we do the Tundra Wilderness tour and maybe look into the cost of flying into Fairbanks to get more time in the interior.

I assume that Princess has plans to switch out ships as their fleet grows and make more upgrades on the current ones. Would you recommend a ship like the Sapphire over an older build? Which ships have been renovated recently? Has anyone ever taken the Alaskan cruise out of San Francisco? I believe only Princess does that.

We have seen Glacier Bay and College Fjord (twice because of the btb) and want to see the Hubbard Glacier. Are the Sawyer Glaciers comparable? Is Icy Strait Point anything like Haines?

I'm off to do some research of the ships mention on the the CC member reviews. I'll go over to the Alaska thread after getting your additional thoughts. Really appreciate your advice.

We are planning our second cruise in Alaska and would like some opinions on which Princess ships and itineraries people have enjoyed best. Our first was on HAL but we found the night life sort of lacking. Never sailed Princess before but have heard only good things from others whom we have cruised with of late.

We are looking at cruising in the summer of 2015 or 2016.

Thanks for your sharing your thoughts. Which ship would give us the best of Princess and Alaska.

Giovanni's is not crowded and a wonderful way to start a cruise. It's only $15 at lunch with essentially the same menu that they serve at night. Sit back and let the friendly staff pamper you till the cabins are ready at 1 pm. You can't beat the food quality and truly wonderful ambiance. They will even box your desert for later or you can come back in the evening to have it served to you outside on the terrace under the stars in Central Park. So romantic.

Enjoy your cruise.

So true. You find yourself having to slow down at some point during the cruise. Just figure that another cruise is the answer to the dilemma of too many good things to do in just one week. These class of ships have really redefined the equation of what cruise ships can offer.

For those who like a more easy going type of vacation, I'd suggest a beach resort stay instead. The word is out. Most people have already figured out before booking an Oasis or Allure cruise whether it would be to their liking. It was all we hoped for and more.

No need to be concerned. The neighborhood concept and show reservation system spreads crowds all across the ship instead of concentrating them. We could always find deck chairs unless you wanted to be right by a pool or lines at the buffet unless you went at a peak time. With so many recreation and restaurant alternatives, try them and you will be surprised at how enjoyable the Oasis-class concept can be. Allure is like a vibrant city instead of a one horse town.

Have your wife tell the waiter to serve her only the grilled lamb chops. They were the best I ever had. She might even want more after having two. Along with appetizer, seafood and salad bars, she should have one of the best meals to be had on the Allure.

We loved the atmosphere but felt the service was a little too chaotic for just a party of two what with the constant flow of big chunks of meat arriving at table for carving periodically. Larger parties seemed to enjoy "the show" much more.

The setting and lighting at night is beautiful. But don't go too early or there will still be sun bathers in the Solarium obscuring your view of the ocean and sun setting. We wanted to make a 7:30 show so we booked at 6 pm. If we could do it again, I'd make this dining experience the entertainment for the evening and go at 8 or 8:30.

I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed the food and meat selections. It really was all very good. The presentation on the food bars was not your typical buffet arrangement. There was an obvious attempt to make the food appear tempting and fresh. There were lots vegetable combinations, fresh fruits, an olive bar, and other Mediterranean aspects.

I'm ashamed that I haven't sat down and written up my impressions of our October 6 Western Allure cruise until now. I know how much I relied on those who shared their experiences here in planning our cruise. So please excuse my tardiness and feel free to ask any questions.

Background

DH and I (late 50 and early 60 Baby Boomers) very much enjoyed our October 6 Western Caribbean Allure cruise. We would love to cruise another Oasis-size ship to see different shows and entertainment as well as the venues we missed on this trip because there was just not enough time to experience it all.

We have done previous cruises on the RCI Majesty, Explorer and Freedom to the Caribbean and a btb Alaskan cruise on the HAL Zaandam.

On this cruise we had a Boardwalk View cabin with a balcony on Deck 11 just four doors down from the aft near a secret balcony where we could see the wake, Aqua Theater entertainment and movie screen from a chaise lounge as well as from our room. It was interesting to watch people passing below or doing the zip line from above your room yet it was always quiet by about 11 pm each night.

We stayed pre-cruise at the Renaissance which was a great place to watch the Oasis and other ships leave port late on Saturday afternoon. The location is within easy walking distance to stores and many affordable restaurants so you don’t need a car. You can pick up last minute items at a drug store, 99 Cent Store, discount clothing store, grocery and a wine shop.

On our return we stayed Sunday night at the Best Western Plus Oceanside just steps away from the beach at a great price. They had a free hot breakfast with pancakes, eggs, sausage and fresh fruit. There was a trolley and bus that stopped in front of the hotel making it easy to go out to dinner or shop.

But the best of all was the Allure itself. We loved the ship’s neighborhood concept, friendly staff, much improved RCI menu, fellow passengers, and the numerous choices available for recreation, relaxation, and entertainment at any and all times of the day.

Pros

Just about everything. Getting on and off the ship was easy. We never experienced any real problem with crowds or waiting for elevators. The choices were so numerous and well spaced around the ship that every day was a new adventure.

We loved the shows, especially Ocean Aria, the comedy club and Chicago. The staff was one of the friendliest bunch of people I’ve ever met at sea. From the waiters to cabin stewards to the performers and officers, everyone went out of their way to talk with you and offer assistance if needed. You can’t feel anything but pampered…even with 6,000 other passengers onboard. :)

We enjoyed lunch the first day at Giovanni’s Table and dinners at Chops, Samba’s Grill and the Rita’s Cantina Fiesta. The food and service in the main dining room was so good that we were sorry we didn’t dine there every evening with the MTD plan which we had chosen. But one doesn’t want to miss out on trying a few of the smaller more intimate specialty restaurants as they are so great.

Best food and drink were the lamb chops at Sambas, steak at Chops, appetizers and margaritas at Rita’s Fiesta, chopped salad in MDR at lunch, rum raisin cookie bars at the Café Promenade, chicken entrée and antipasto at Giovanni’s and every entrée we tried in the MDR for dinner. All the deserts were above par which hasn’t always been the case with RCI.

I didn’t think I would like the walking/running track but it was great. You didn’t have to go up and down stairs as on the Voyager and Freedom class and got plenty of views of the ocean. The two flow riders, climbing walls, zip line and sporting competitions offered hours of entertainment whether you participated or watched.

Central Park and the pool deck were beautiful at night with the soft colorful lighting, cool breezes and gentle varied music. At least one pool and hot tub was available 24 hours a day. The Royal Promenade offered so many music choices, bars, stores, and restaurants for when you wanted to be in the middle of the action.

The rest of the ship offered equally interesting opportunities to eat, play or people watch. We spent far more time on the Boardwalk than we thought we would. Its Aqua Theater, wake views from the aft of the ship, merry-go-round, special events and casual eateries were fun for cruisers of all ages.

Cons

We had a RCI shore excursion that was cancelled a week before we departed making us scramble to find a replacement. Others told us that they had experienced a similar problem. :(

While we loved all the beaches at each port, we found Labadie to be very hot and humid and Falmouth a challenge to book an activity. The Jamaican port is far away from many places you’d like to see and necessitated a long bus or van ride to get to them. I hope some new ports can be added to the Western itinerary in the future.

We never got to use the Solarium pool or its bistro eatery, Rising Tide bar, Isumi and so many other things that were on our Must Do list like the Jazz Club and Boleros. There were just too many things to do on one cruise. Once on board, you quickly learned that while it’s a good idea to have a general activity plan in mind you need to be open to being spontaneous as new opportunities present themselves.

There were so many parties, parades, sports, games and music venues to enjoy that you can wear yourself out very easily. You need time to relax by making impromptu decisions to forgo some things to simply rest and quietly enjoy looking out to sea. If you don’t have a balcony room, use the poor deck or one of the secret balconies.

We found the timing of shows often didn’t work well with the dinner arrangement we had made. You sometimes had to choose between whether you wanted to linger over an excellent meal and conversation with table mates or leave early to insure good seats at a show. But that’s not really a bad thing, is it? How can you ever feel bored? :rolleyes:

I never expected this to be a problem, but my husband is afraid of heights and didn't enjoy using our Boardwalk balcony because of it. A sea view balcony or Promenade room view doesn't bother him but looking down from this balcony to the activities below did. As we had the secret balcony so close, it wasn't any big deal. :confused:

Tips

Don’t feel you need to take photos of everything on ship unless you are an avid photographer. There are so many excellent photos posted by others on CC which you can share with family and friends giving you the freedom to just enjoy the ship without documenting every space and activity. Instead, ask the staff or a nearby passenger to take photos of you and the people with whom you are enjoying an activity. Life is all about the friends and memories you make.

Unless you drink lots of soda, wine or alcohol there is no need to buy a beverage package. There are always free alcoholic drinks available at C&A events or cocktail specials in lounges. You can also bring on board two bottles of wine, as well as soda or water, but it’s not necessary.

The Park Cafe, Café Promenade, Wipe Out Café, Vitality Café or Windjammer buffet have free beverages with one or another available from breakfast till late evening. Bring a thermos-type drinking bottle and ask the staff to fill it for you with lemonade, ice tea, flavored water, or coffee.

The specialty restaurants offered outstanding service and food in a smaller, more intimate atmosphere. Try at least one to give yourself a change of pace. Several are open at lunch on sea days at a lower price than at dinner including departure day.

Go to activities where you participate with others like dance classes, trivia, sports competitions or parties. We met so many fun and interesting people from all around the world this way. Do the things you like but also try doing something new too. You will be glad you did.

To maintain a balance, try to do some sort of exercise and eat at least one reasonable meal a day. And please go ahead and read or take a nap by the pool or in your cabin to feel refreshed for later. All these are part of what makes a vacation feel like a vacation, too.

And do try to “let yourself go” on occasion, sing/dance along with the music, or simply act like a kid again when the opportunity presents itself. As the CD said, you aren’t going to be seeing any of these people again…unless you are traveling with family who already know all those silly things about you already. :cool:

Summary

The weather was great, passengers congenial, cabins comfortable and staff attentive. The ship more than offers something for everyone. It’s easy to see why so many people book btb cruises on the Allure if they can afford it. There were so many fun things to do and not enough time to do them all in seven days. But how can that be seen as a bad thing? :)

Don't hesitate to book this ship. It's a great value for the quality and fantastic product RCI offers. We booked during a sale and later got a nice upgrade about a month out. Keep a close eye on fares and join your roll call on CC. Now that newer ships and the Quantum class is going to be launched soon, there should be many opportunities to experience this size ship at a much more affordable price than in the past.

Love your photos and hearing about your experiences. Your review is timely indeed as I'm beginning to pack for our cruise on the Allure which leaves this Sunday. I'm going to put a pen in my purse right now so I won't be left scrounging around onboard.

We are flying Southwest, too, and I didn't know your could get TV free. You learn something new everyday reading CC. Thanks for posting your review so quickly after your cruise.

How was Alan Brooks rocking as CD? I understand he just returned from vacation and must have been all charged up and ready to go. You haven't lived dangerously unless you have played dodgeball against his crew team. They take no prisoners.

I have also received cancellation (yesterday) of Chukka Beach excursion (being no longer available) in Jamaica for our December cruise on Navigator.

We received the very same email for our Chukka Beach Break excursion off the Allure for just next week. Another person on our roll call had received a cancellation for a deep sea fishing trip in Cozumel the day before we got ours.

Something certainly seems "fishy" about all these cancellations at one time. Do you think RCI has been trying to renegotiate terms with some venders and just dropped those that did not comply?

I certainly would have appreciated getting more than a week's notice. I guess this is another reason for looking into obtaining tours with local independent operators which are usually less expensive and less crowded. They obviously are much more reliable?

Really beautiful photographs. Thanks for sharing.

Surprise #1!

 

This one may not be much of a surprise to most of you but I decided to make a compilation of all the time lapses I got from either coming into port or leaving port. Now I still don't know how to add a YouTube video to the boards so if anyone does, how do you do it?! I will just give you the link to the video like I did the past time.

 

I already gave you a sneak peak of Labadee; this one will include Jamaica and Cozumel!

 

I am still working on the other surprise but it has been more challenging than I thought...not sure when it will come out! Maybe in the next week after I really get a chance to work on "it".

 

Remember once you get to YouTube, change the video quality to 1080p by clicking the button next to 3D!

 

Click this link to watch --->

Mike, finally finished your review and I'm glad I did. I loved the time lapse. That fishing ship racing Allure into port at Falmouth was funny. Loved the way you captured one huge cruise ship backing up and turning around to go out to sea on a dime. It looked like one of those remote control models that kids play with a parks.

You have a great eye for composing a photo shot. Don't ever let your athletic side ignore your creative side. Good luck to you in all you endeavor. Don't worry; be happy.

Loved you review. Never miss watching the Best of the Best. It's the best way to end a cruise. Nothing else at sea like the flowrider. Thanks for taking us along on your best of best cruise.

Welcome to

Rita's

Cantina!

 

I will start off saying that I think Rita's Cantina is like the Park Café before it became famous from its roast beef sandwiches and Cruise Critic praise! The theming is wonderful, the food was terrific, and the wait staff is just like you would expect in any of the other specialty restaurants.

 

You don't make any reservations to get in, you just show up! Usually there are table's open, when we were eating, there were many tables available. You pay a cover charge (service fee) of I believe $3 per person and then pay for what you want to eat and drink, just like a normal restaurant on land minus the cover. The chips and salsa are great, I know its just corn tortilla chips but they really are pretty good! Tonight I got my first drink that wasn't free or included in the soda package, I got a Berry Banana Smoothie, virgin of course. =P It was very good and I love the fancy plastic they come in, haha! I ordered the Grilled Chicken (which I guess is actually just a chicken quesadilla) for my main entrée, extremely good and a safe bet if you are a little skeptical about Mexican food. There were some kind of peppers in it too so it had a nice kick to it, the cheese was perfectly melted and the chicken must have been marinated! Am I making your mouth water yet?! For dessert, I set the trend by ordering a churro with ice cream on the side!

 

I was mesmerized by the lights in Rita's so expect a few pictures of just lights and nothing much more, haha!

 

I almost forgot to mention that I rode the carousel before dinner and it really was pretty sweet, even for an 18 year old! =P It was the only time I got the chance to ride it but I wish I got to ride it at least twice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Berry Banana Smoothie, mmmmmmmm!

 

 

 

 

Sorry, there is a bite taken out of the top one! It looked way too good and I just got excited and forgot to take a picture before I started to indulge =P

 

 

 

 

Also, my apologies in advanced, I didn't carry a tripod so some of the night pictures may be slightly blurry.

Hi, Swim13. Love your review and photos. You have a fun way of describing what happened to you along the way. And thanks for posting the compasses, too. You know how we CC members love to plan ahead.

Congratulations on your recent graduation and good luck to you in college and in your swimming competitions.

"We've also stayed in the CPV on Allure -- VERY QUIET for anyone considering the similar type room on Oasis class. There are very few PR rooms to choose from but several more CPV...."

Sandy, we have a CPV on Allure this fall. Is it pretty looking out the window at night? We plan to have cocktails and listen to music in Central Park before or after dinner each night.

Sandy, too.

We loved our PR stateroom on Explorer. The bay window seat adds extra seating space and makes the cabin feel more like a hotel room not an inside. The bed is on a side wall facing the other so you are not walking into a box with it facing you. Very open feeling even if space is smaller than a balcony.

Only heard music during parades. Great for people watching. The lights on the royal promenade changes with the time of day so it's darker at night even with the curtains not fully closed. Sit out on deck when you want to feel the wind and get some sun. Enjoy the extra money you save and spend it on something special onboard.

Loving you photo review and observations. You are really giving us a feel for how a first time RCI cruiser who is used to Carnival would see things.

Thanks for showing us the food choices inside the Park Cafe for lunch and breakfast. Noticed that the touchscreen in your room did not list Johnny Rockets as a breakfast option or maybe I misread it? It's not as if I would starve if it wasn't open everyday of the cruise. lol.

Gambee, this is great. I have always wanted to try NCL and experience Bermuda. Who better to be my guide than one of my favorite travelers and CC reviewers. I'll only gazed through your excellent photos so far but plan to go back and read every word. Hope you enjoy this trip as much as I plan to be reading about it.

Loved your review. Your parents obviously got into the spirit of things and had a great time. You two are sweethearts for taking them along and giving them a 45th anniversary you will all remember for years to come.

I just have to get a pix with those Dreamworks Penguins.

Thank you so much for taking us along. Your cruising style seemed to be one of the most relaxing and satisfying of many who have posted here lately. You did what you wanted when you wanted and didn't anything else just because others were trying to do it all. You just enjoyed yourself and all the Allure had to offer that you decided was right for you.

Thanks in particular for the tip about breakfast at the Wipe Out. I love eating outdoor or where I can see the ocean while dining. I had wondered about the Samba Grill and Izumi for the same reason. You chose them both and I think we will, too, because of your positive experience.