Allure Review, Pictures and Other Great Information: Aug 7, 2011 Sailing

[ILuvCruisin']

not long from now. but still have lots of work to do editing the pictures. probably another whole weeks worth...

 

Hi mr.jdm: I Can Hardly Wait!!!

[D300]

Thank you for a nice review and nice photos!

[ILuvCruisin']

Thank you for a nice review and nice photos!

 

Hi D300: Glad you are enjoying it and thanks for stopping by.

 

More to come!

[pcl_cruiser]

Hi pcl_cruiser: There were a couple of times that the prof photographers took our picture with Allure in the background...they came out very good...if I get a chance I will scan one in...

 

not sure what you are talking about concerning photo books where the pro pics can be digitally inserted while onboard but we paid for the Photo CD and received all of the pics from the pro photographers on a CD...from that we can send them to a photo service (we used Walmart) to print all the pictures...you can print in any size or make a photo book...hope that helps...

 

Thank you for you help and info, I would love to see one of the pics with Allure in the background!

[ILuvCruisin']

Our shuttle to the pier was $10 per person and we paid for it upon first arrival at the Hyatt on Friday and it was on time for departure on Sunday..

 

We arrived at pier 18 around 10:30, gave the porters our bags, paid our tips and headed inside...

 

be sure you do the online check in ahead of time...you must do it at least 3 days before the cruise...

 

Well some in our group got checked in pretty quickly and as bucketobeer said some of us had some situations and so all in all it took about 30 to 45 minutes for all of us to get checked in...we waited for every one to get finished so we could take a group embarkation picture...

 

be ready with your camera when you board because it will definitely be a Kodak moment....

 

 

 

 

 

[ILuvCruisin']

Thank you for you help and info, I would love to see one of the pics with Allure in the background!

 

Ok pcl_cruiser I will see what I can do...

[ILuvCruisin']

Wow...I just couldn't resist

reposting this:

FANTASTIC pics!!!!

thanks nenner1...

 

Signage was ample and it was easy to find the Park N go lot. We were directed where to park and one of their signature yellow shuttle buses pulled right up behind our van and the driver hopped out to help load our luggage. Within just minutes we saw this:

 

 

And then this!

 

 

We were dropped off right in front of the check in building at almost exactly 11 AM. We tipped our driver, then the porter who was there waiting to drag our bags about 15 feet to the waiting luggage containers, and we were heading into Terminal 18.

 

 

Security took about 5-8 minutes for us. There were no lines, but upon screening, they decided Ron’s carry on suitcase full of Coke Zero needed to be hand searched. It was relatively quick and painless and we did expect it after reading Trainman’s live report from the day before.

 

We followed the clear signage to our designated check in counter area, which was also quite unpopulated. Our rooms were on Deck 14 so we quickly moved to those queues, and up to a counter in seconds:

 

 

This process of Check-in took about 5 minutes and we were told boarding had begun and to head upstairs. We took our embarkation photo, which is located right behind the check in desks, and headed up the escalators.

We’re ready to begin an amazing cruise!

 

Once upstairs, things got a bit confusing. Since we had children, who are required to wear a wristband indicating their lifeboat station, we were sent in one direction for those to be applied. After that we were directed through a labyrinth of a queue maze, which ended in a dead end. We were told to have a seat, and when it was our turn we would be led to the gangway. We did have to wait a further 10-15 minutes in these seats while some of the other little holding pens of passengers were led to embark. We noticed a nice little kids play area on the far side of the terminal but since we were corralled in our little pen it wasn’t very convenient for us to go use. I will say the staff seemed very knowledgeable and communicated with each other at all times, so our fear that our little group would get left behind or skipped over was unfounded.

 

 

Before we knew it we were called and headed up the (LONG!) zig-zag gangway to the ship. We were onboard at 11:35 AM, so 35 minutes curb to ship is not too shabby. Great Job RCCL!

 

[ILuvCruisin']

 

DAY 5- ST. MAARTIN

 

OUR ONE AND ONLY EXCURSION WAS SCHEDULED...SO WE HAD TO HIT THE FLOOR RUNNING FROM BED...OF COURSE AFTER CLOSE TO A WEEK OF TOTALLY MINDLESS MORNINGS...ME AND 2BUTTERFLY FOUND OURSELVES RUNNING BEHIND SCHEDULE...NOT TO MENTION ABOUT THE 2ND DAY, THE CLOCKS IN EVERY CABIN WAS ABOUT 20 MINUTES SLOW...BUT IT DIDNT BOTHER US, TIL DAY 5...LOL...WE WERE MEETING OUR GROUP IN FRONT OF SORRENTOS...SO WE HURRIED WITHOUT GETTING BREAKFAST...ONLY TO REALIZE THAT WE ALL WERE RUNNIN LATE...SO BEING LOW ON PETRO...I DASHED UPTO THE WINDJAMMER TO GET A QUICK BITE...(PROBABLY THE ONLY MEAL I DIDNT ENJOY)

 

SO AFTER A LONG WAIT...ABOUT 10 OF US HEADED OFF THE SHIP (ABOUT HALF OF THE HARD ROCK CREW)...LOL

 

WE ALL ENJOYED THE WALK TO THE SHOPS...TAKING PICS AND ENJOYING THE GREAT WEATHER...AFTER ABOUT A 1/2 HOUR WAIT, OUR DRIVER SHOWED UP (WE WERENT THE ONLY ONES RUNNING LATE...LOL)...WE BOARDED OUR (ONE STEP ABOVE A BUCKET) VAN...AND THE DRIVER GREETED US WITH RUM PUNCH, BEER AND COLD WATER...ALL OF MY FAVORITES....LOL...HE DISTRIBUTED THE RUM PUNCH WITH LIL SHOT CUPS...SOME THOUGHT IT WAS STRONG...BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS PERFECT AT 9:30 IN THE MORN.

 

I HAD A BEER WITH IT TO KEEP MYSELF BALANCED SO EARLY IN THE DAY...LOL

 

WE HAD A NICE LIL RIDE THROUGH ST. MAARTIN, AND HE POINTED OUT THIS AND THAT...HE WAS A GOOD DRIVER...WHATEVER WE WANTED TO DO, WAS ALL RIGHT WITH HIM.

 

OUR FIRST STOP WAS AT A ROCKY BEACH...Brief stop at Oyster Pond over looking the island of St Barths...I NOTICED A LIL MAN IN THE WATER AND THOUGHT, I HOPE THIS GUY ISNT CRAZY...HE WAS...LOL...THE LIL MAN WORKED WITH THE DRIVER AND HE WAS WAITING ON US...WE WALKED DOWN TO THE BEACH AND HE STARTED PUTTING THESE LIL SEA URCHINS AND STARFISH INTO OUR GROUPS HANDS...OF COURSE SOME DROPPED THEM IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE LIL CREATURES STARTED TO MOVE...(AINT THAT RITE, CUZ ILUVCRUISIN...lol)...I DIDNT HAVE A NEED TO TOUCH IT, BESIDES THEY WERENT COOKED...SO I ENJOYED THE BEAUTIFUL VIEW...

 

WE THEN BOARDED AND HEADED FOR OUR NEXT STOP Orient Beach...IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORN, AND NONE FELT REAL BEACHY...BUT WE HUNG AROUND FOR AN HOUR OR SO...I IMMEDIATELY WENT ON A FOOD QUEST...THE FIRST RED SHACK WAS JUST PUTTING RIBS AND CHICKEN ON THE GRILL...SO THAT WAS A NO GO...THEN I WENT TO THE BLUE SHACK NEXT DOOR...I DONT REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE PLACE...BUT THE OWNERS WERE GREAT...THEY IMMEDIATELY STARTED COOKING FOR US, ALTHOUGHT THEY WERENT READY TO OPEN YET...THEY HAD LICENSE PLATES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, ON THE WALLS...SO THAT TOOK SOME OF MY WAIT TIME..LOOKIN AT ALL OF THEM...MAYBE SOME DAY I CAN GET MY LICENSE PLATE UP THERE...

 

ANYWAY, I FINALLY GOT MY CHICKEN SANDWICH, WHICH WAS GREAT...I WAS HAPPY!...SO I DECIDED TO TAKE A STROLL TO THE NEIGHBORING NUDE BEACH...I TOOK MY TRUSTY NEPHEW AND WE SET OFF...WHY IN THE HECK DID WE DO THAT!!!...OLD, OUT OF SHAPE AND GRAY, VERY GRAY...WOW, MOVE ON! NOTHING TO SEE HERE!...SO WE SADLY WALK BACK TO OUR SIDE OF THE BEACH, DEFEATED AND EYEBALL ASSAULTED...THEN BING!!...ALL OF A SUDDEN A TWENTYISH, NICELY SHAPED WOMAN...TOOK OFF HER TOP AND SAVED OUR SIGHT AND DAY!!...THANK YOU LADY!!!...

 

WE THEN DEPARTED….WE HEADED FOR A BRIEF STOP IN MARIGOT (SP?)…THE DRIVER KNEW THE OWNER OF THE RESTAURANT, THAT WAS ON THE FOOD CHANNEL…SO WE COULDN’T WAIT TO TRY…I HAD THE OXTAILS…WHICH WERE GREAT…RICE AND PEAS…REALLY A DINNER , BUT IT WAS OUR LUNCH…I CANT WAIT TO RETURN…WE WERE THEN HEADING TOWARDS OUR MAIN DESTINATION…SUNSET BEACH BAR!!!...ALONG THE WAY WE SAW THE EFFECTS OF A FORMER HURRICANE…SAD…BUT WE ALSO SAW BRAND NEW BUILDINGS AND A SOON TO BE MALL…SO THEY ARE DOING OKAY…WE FINALLY ARRIVED AT SUNSET BEACH BAR, AND WE WERE MORE THAN READY…...

 

 

 

 

Next up Pictures from Part 1 of St Maartin and then Part 2, Day 5, St Maartin and Sunset Beach Bar and the rest of Day 5 Bucket's perspective

 

 

 

[ILuvCruisin']

Part 2, Day 5, St Maartin and Sunset Beach Bar and the rest of Day 5: Bucket's perspective

 

Part 2 DAY 5- ST. MAARTIN

 

 

WE JUMP OUT OF THE VAN AND SEE OUR FIRST PLANE COME IN …IT WAS A SMALL PUDDLE JUMPER…SO WE WAITED…THE NEXT PLANE WAS A LIL BIGGER…AND WE WAITED…THEN WE HEAR OVER THE CB, THAT A BIG PLANE IS COMING IN…IT WAS A LIL FRAME IN THE DISTANCE…BUT IT KEPT GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER….TIL ABOUT A MILE AWAY, YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE HOW UNBELIEBABLY BIG THIS PLANE IS…THEN THE GIANT ROARS OVER OUR HEADS AND LANDS ABOUT 100 OR SO FEET OVER THE FENCE…YOU COULD FEEL THE THRUST AND THE SHEER POWER OF THE PLANE…REMARKABLE…THEY HAVE WARNINGS ALL AROUND NOT TO STAND NEAR THE FENCE…BUT JOCRUISERS SON GOT RIGHT IN THE ACTION…LUCKILY HE LIVED…LOL…

 

 

WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, SO WE CUT OUR STAY THERE SHORT…WE HEADED BACK DOWNTOWN, SIPPING ON RUM PUNCH AND STOPPING TO TAKE PICS HERE AND THERE…ONCE DOWNTOWN ME AND 2BUTTERFLY HEADED TOWARDS OUR FAVORITE SPOT, WHICH I CANT REMEMBER THE NAME OF…BUT IT DIDN’T MATTER, BECAUSE IT HAD A NEW OWNER AND A NEW NAME…LOL…WE HAD SOME DRINKS AND ORDERED THE RIB AND CHICKEN COMBO…GREAT, CARIBBEAN FOOD…I DON’T KNOW IF IT WAS BETTER AS THE PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT IT WAS STILL GOOD….HEADED BACK TO THE SHIP BY WATER TAXI…I DON’T REMEMBER BEING HARASSED ON RE-ENTRY, SO I ASSUME IT WASN’T A PAIN IN THE BUTT.

 

 

WENT BACK TO THE ROOM AND CLEANED UP…THEN REALIZED THAT THEY HAVE THE FREE THROW CONTEST…OOPS TOO LATE, I WAS CLEAN AND DRESSED…AAAHHH!!

SO I HEADED TO DOG SHACK AND TOOK A FREE DOG, INSTEAD OF FREE THOW…LOL…DC, I WENT BACK TO THE CONEY ISLAND…WITH THE TRIFECTA OF COURSE.

THEN HEADED TO SCHOONER BAR…OH YEAH I FORGOT…THEY HAVE A NEW BAR OUTSIDE OF THE DINING ROOM…I FELT OBLIGED TO PURCHASE ON MY WAY TO DINNER…THE BARTENDER LOOKED LONELY AND BORED…I GUESS IM JUST NICE LIKE THAT…LOL…

 

OKAY, HERE IS MY BLATANT LIE…IM NOT SURE WHAT NITE IT WAS…BUT LETS SAY TONITE WAS LOBSTER NITE…LOL…I WAS READY TO TEAR INTO ABOUT 4- 5 LOBSTERS…(HEY, IM GETTING OLD)…REMEMBER, OUR WAITER DOES NOT CARE IF WE EAT OR DIE…LOL…SO I NICELY ORDER MY 2ND LOBSTER, WHILE I ORDER MY 1ST…NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT TOOK AN EXTRA 20 MINUTES FOR LOBSTER 2…WHEN IT ARRIVED , I ORDERED LOBSTER 3…LOBSTER 3, PROBABLY TOOK ABOUT A ½ HR….BY THIS TIME, I JUST WANTED OUT OF THERE…I LEFT!

 

WENT TO THE ROOM, TO DRINK AWAY THE UNPLEASANT SERVICE…THEN STOPPED AND BOUGHT A $10 WATCH…IM NOT AN EMOTIONAL SHOPPER, BUT I THINK THE WAITER HAD ME IN TOUCH WITH MY FEMININE SIDE…LOL…BACK TO THE SHCOONER…THEN TO THE CASINO…THEN TO THE WEIRDEST SHOW IN THE WORLD…”ICE GAMES”…I USUALLY ENJOY THE ICE SKATING SHOW…ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIMITED SPACE THEY HAVE…BUT ICE GAMES, WAS STRAIGHT UP- “WHACKED”…MONOPOLY, PARCHEESE…WHATEVER, IT MADE NO SENSE…SO I LEFT!...BACK TO THE CASINO!

 

FROM THERE WE MET UP AT OUR FAVORITE WATERING HOLE, FROM 10 – 11. = BLAZES…LOL…2-1 HAD ME FORGETTING ABOUT THE WEIRD ICE GAMES…LOL

FROM THERE WE HEADED UP TO DAZZLES…THIS PLACE IS RIDICULOUS…IT WAS MICHAEL JACKSON MUSIC NITE…NEEDLESS TO SAY, THEY TRIED TO KILL US AGAIN…I DANCED A FEW SONGS, I SWEATED A FEW MORE…THEN I GOT THE HECK OUT OF THERE…LOL…I THINK I RAN OUT OF STEAM…STOPPED AND GOT A SLICE…AND WENT TO BED ALONE…2BUTTERFLY WAS STILL PARTYING…DOES THAT MAKE ME OLD?...LOL

 

 

next up some shots of the planes we saw at Sunset Beach Bar and some of the wonderful food we had on this tour...

[ILuvCruisin']

First stop on the tour: Holding the Live Sea Creatures and Beautiful Sea Shells and Stones

 



 

 



 

 



 

 

[ILuvCruisin']

We spent about an hour on Orient Beach...it was really

a pretty nice beach...very clean and plenty of space...

will give a full account later when I do the

review for that day...for now here's a few

pics to go along with Bucket's Review...

 

 



 

 



 

 

We were early so no crowds at all...

not sure how it would be later...

 



 

 

 

next up Rosemary's Restaurant and some FOOD PORN

 

 

[ILuvCruisin']

Day 5, St Maarten, Rosemary's Restaurant,

Marigot Harbour...

Anthony Bourdain featured it on

one of his No Reservations

trips to the Island...

 

__________________________________________

 

 

 

Laura Magruder for The New York Times

WITH CURRY SAUCE At Rosemary's in Marigot,

on the French side of the island,

the owner

snapper, fried fish and braised goat.

_____________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ILuvCruisin']

More Day 5, St Maarten, Rosemary's Restaurant

YUMMY!!!!!







 

Menu was in Eutos but they converted it for us...

pricing was good, great portions as you

can see below!! well worth it

 

 

[ILuvCruisin']

Yummy!!! more Food Porn!!!

 

 

 



The guy holding the Starfish is John,

Our Driver and Our Guide for the day

[LisaH]

My husband and I are wanting to give the Allure a try, however we (and the couple going with us) do not have kids. With all of the Dreamworks characters, does it make for too much of a "kid-friendly" environment? We've always enjoyed the entire cruising experience and don't want to feel like we're in a theme park. Any thoughts?

 

We don't have kids either and cruised on Oasis last year with my parents (in 70s) and we had a fantastic time. There was something for everyone. You will LOVE it.

[ILuvCruisin']

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The guy holding the Starfish is John' date=' [/b']

Our Driver and Our Guide for the day

 

 

 

Sorry John, the Driver/Guide is just holding a Shell (with the Sea Creature still in it I might add :rolleyes:)...another tourist is holding the StarFish...

 

also just take note that the food at Rosemary's will come spicy!!!! Next time I will tell them to go a lil easy on the spice!!!!

 

I enjoyed my meal but would have enjoyed it much better had it not been sooooo spicy...but then I don't really like "any" hot spicey food...for some in our group it was perfect...

[ILuvCruisin']

My husband and I are wanting to give the Allure a try, however we (and the couple going with us) do not have kids. With all of the Dreamworks characters, does it make for too much of a "kid-friendly" environment? We've always enjoyed the entire cruising experience and don't want to feel like we're in a theme park. Any thoughts?

 

We don't have kids either and cruised on Oasis last year with my parents (in 70s) and we had a fantastic time. There was something for everyone. You will LOVE it.

 

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY concur with LisaH!!! :D :p :cool:...my sisters and I didn't bring our kids and I would say we had a BLAST!!!!

 

sweetdecor I hope you and your DH give Ms Allure a Try :D

[ILuvCruisin']

Thank you for you help and info, I would love to see one of the pics with Allure in the background!

 

Hi pcl_cruiser: had a time trying to get the pic copied here...either Cruise cCitic would not accept the link from my photo site or my photo site would not let me copy the link to cruise critic...lol...not sure which...it is a ship professional photo that was included on my picture CD so I have rights to it...

 

 

I have put it in my Google Docs and hope that works...here is the link

 

 

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B55Y24oY4fxkNjZhNjhhZjEtYmVhMC00MGU0LWJkOGItYzJiNDUwMjdmOTAz&hl=en_US

[ILuvCruisin']

Day 5, St Maartin and The Sunset Beach Bar

 

 

 

Planes so close you feel their BackWash, Back Air or Thrust or whatever it is called...haha

 

there are warning signs not to get too

close to where they actually land...but of course some do...sometimes

they get pushed all the way back to the water

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I stood right down on the sand to get this shot

 

 

...this plane came in right over our heads...

 

 

 

[ILuvCruisin']

More Day 5, St Maartin and The Sunset Beach Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the ladies in our Group...

 

[ILuvCruisin']

A Couple More Day 5, St Maartin

and The Sunset Beach Bar

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

uh, Say Whut!!!!???? that is my fav saying these days...haha

And the answer to your question is no! haha...

None of us took them up on their offer...haha ;)

[ILuvCruisin']

Ship Art is everywhere!!!

[ILuvCruisin']

Ship Art - One Stairway was all about Hair

[lovelife]

Hi pcl_cruiser: had a time trying to get the pic copied here...either Cruise cCitic would not accept the link from my photo site or my photo site would not let me copy the link to cruise critic...lol...not sure which...it is a ship professional photo that was included on my picture CD so I have rights to it...

 

 

I have put it in my Google Docs and hope that works...here is the link

 

 

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B55Y24oY4fxkNjZhNjhhZjEtYmVhMC00MGU0LWJkOGItYzJiNDUwMjdmOTAz&hl=en_US

 

It worked. And it's a great photo!!!

[ILuvCruisin']

I am hoping someone can answer this question, do they have any professional pics that can be taken with the Allure in the back drop? When we were on the Oasis, they didn't have any and I would really like one on the Allure. Also do they have the phote books, that professional pics can be digitally inserted?

 

Hi pcl_cruiser: had a time trying to get the pic copied here...either Cruise cCitic would not accept the link from my photo site or my photo site would not let me copy the link to cruise critic...lol...not sure which...it is a ship professional photo that was included on my picture CD so I have rights to it...

 

I have put it in my Google Docs and hope that works...here is the link

 

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B55Y24oY4fxkNjZhNjhhZjEtYmVhMC00MGU0LWJkOGItYzJiNDUwMjdmOTAz&hl=en_US

 

It worked. And it's a great photo!!!

 

 

lovelife: glad it works...

 

and just so everybody knows that is not a background photo of Ms Allure it is the real McCoy!!! haha

 

I will have to look to see if any of our pro pics actually have her as a backdrop...On several nites they had the pic stations set up onboard....they had so many different choices on those nights I really can not remember if the ship was one of them or not...