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

[RBKL]

You mentioned no kids in the specialty restaurants, my son will be 16 when we cruise, is he still considered a "kid"?

 

 

Kids are allowed in most specialty restaurants but some like Chops require the reservation to be at 7 or before. Rita's is open to kids and of course they can go to the Character Breakfasts which are free but require reservations.:)

[ILuvCruisin']

this is a review from another cruiser in our group...he and his DW cruised in an inside cabin...he is the expert on all things Boardwalk Dog House (Boardwalk, Deck 6), Karaoke in OnAir (Promenade, Deck 5) and traveling in the Inside...

 

Enjoy!

 

THE BUCKET REVIEW- WHERE DO I START…I KNOW THE BEGINNING!!!

I WAS BORN 4AM ON A…OOPS, WAY TOO EARLY…FAST FORWARD TO FLORIDA.

WE ARRIVED ABOUT 1 PM FRIDAY…BUT THE SHUTTLE WAS LATE AND WE DIDN’T ARRIVE TO

HYATT PLACE UNTIL ABOUT 3PM…THE HOTEL WAS VERY NICE AND VERY ROOMY…ONLY PROBLEM

WAS THAT NOTHING IS IN WALKING DISTANCE AND FLA. IS HOT AS HECK…LOL…SO ANYWAY

WE WALKED TO BK AND THEN ACROSS THE STREET TO THE SHOPPING CENTER…GAVE KMART SOME

MONEY FOR THEIR BEER AND THEN GAVE BJs SOME MONEY FOR THEIR RUM…LOL

EVENTUALLY WE TOOK THE SHUTTLE TO ISLAMADORA (SP?) RESTAURANT…SEAFOOD WAS OKAY.

I HAD THE DOLPHIN AND THE GATOR…HEY WHEN IN ROME…LOL

WAITED FOR THE SHUTTLE SOME MORE….THEN WENT TO BED, EVENTUALLY.

 

SATURDAY, WE MADE OUR WAY OVER TO GRANDPA’S BAKERY ….I HAD SEEN IT ON THE FOOD CHAN.

NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS PLACE WAS GREAT…GREAT FOOD AND A LOT OF IT…DEFINITELY A MUST RETURN.

I HAD THE CHICKEN FRIED STEAK…WHICH MY WIFE AND NIECE WANTED TO ENJOY MORE THAN I DID, AFTER

I GAVE THEM A TASTE…THOSE 2, STARED AT ME UNTIL I FINISHED…I GUESS THEY THOUGHT I WOULD

FEEL SORRY FOR THEM…LOL

BACK TO THE HOTEL AND WAITED FOR THE NEXT MEAL…LOL

THAT NITE WE TOOK THE SHUTTLE TO THE HARD ROCK CAFÉ CASINO…BEAUTIFUL PLACE, WITH A LOT OF THINGS TO

DO….WE ATE THERE, FOOD WAS OKAY…I THINK I HAD A BURGER….THEN PROCEEDED TO GET SOME

MONEY OUT OF THE SLOTS…ONE A HUNDRED OR TWO…THEN WAITED FOR THE SHUTTLE AGAIN.

GOT TIRED OF WAITING FOR THE SHUTTLE SO I SCOOPED MY WIFE AND MOM UP AND GOT A CAB.

SO I THOUGHT…IT SEEMS, YOU CANT TAKE A CAB IN CERTAIN PLACES….ALTHOUGH THE FIRST CAB

DRIVER TO GET IN THE CAB BEHIND….NEXT THING WE KNOW, SOME CAB DRIVER WITH AN ACCENT…IS YELLLING

AT THE OTHER CAB DRIVER HE CANT DO THAT AND WE CANT RIDE….ANYWAY THINGS GOT HEATED AND

WE AVOIDED FISTICUFFS…BUT WE BECAME KNOWN AS THE ‘HARD ROCK CREW’ ALL 18 OF US…LOL

 

SUNDAY…CRUISE DAY…TIME FOR THE SHUTTLE AGAIN…LOL…ALTHOUGH THIS TIME IT WAS ON TIME!!!

BUT WHEN WE GOT OFF, WE HAD TO GO FIND OUR BAGS….I WONDER IF WE DIDN’T GO FIND THEM, IF THEY

WOULD HAVE MADE IT ONTO THE SHIP…EMBARKATION WAS SMOOTH FOR ME…BUT A PARTY OF 18 WITH MINORS AND

DIFFERENT CABINS…RESULTED IN A DELAY OF ABOUT 45 MINUTES…I KEPT MY COOL, BUT MY SHIP WAS CALLING ME AND

IT WAS SO CLOSE…LOL….SO WE FINALLY GET THRU…A VERY LONG WALK I MUST ADD…WE ARE ON THE GANGWAY…VERY

EXCITED AND GETTING CLOSER TO THE SHIP….I DO MY CUSTOMARY LEAP ONTO THE SHIP AND I AM AN OFFICIAL ALLURIAN!!!

THE SHIP IS BEAUTIFUL AND NEW AND I LOVE IT, I LITERALLY LOVE IT (GEICO LIZZARD ACCENT)!!!

 

FIRST TASK IS TO HEAD TO STUDIO B TO BOOK THE SHOWS WE COULDN’T GET IN ON LINE…NO PROBLEM, TOOK LESS THAN 5 MINUTES…

IT HELPS IF YOU HAVE THE SHOWS, TIMES AND DATES READY….THEN PROCEEDED TO THE DINING ROOM TO CHECK OUR

TABLE…THAT WAS THE LAST OF OUR CHORES……YIIPPPEEEE!!

 

HEADED TO THE EVER POPULAR- WINDJAMMER…GREAT FOOD, GREAT SELECTION….THEN THE WORSE PART OF THE CRUISE= WAITING

FOR YOUR CABIN….THE MUSTER DRILL USE TO BE THE WORST, BUT THEY CUT THE BIG PLASTIC LIFEJACKET IN 90 DEGREE HEAT OUT….

THANK GOD.

FINALLY GET IN THE ROOM ABOUT 1;10 OR SO…AND PUT DOWN THE CARRY ONS…THE CABIN IS A LOT BIGGER THAN ANY

I HAVE STAYED IN…BATHROOM IS A LOT BIGGER TOO…BASICALLY SAME SETUP, WITH FEWER DRAWERS THO.

THEN WENT AROUND THE SHIP IN AWE…TAKING PICTURES AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WHERE IM AT…LOL

ME AND MOM HAD THE CONEY ISLAND DOG WITH MUSTARD…GREAT!!!

RIGHT ABOUT THIS TIME WE MET FOR DRINKS AT THE RISING TIDE BAR….SSSCCCCREEEAAACCHHHH!!!

STOP…WE GET KICKED OFF BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO USE IT FOR THE WELCOME ABOARD PARTY….IT WAS RAINING

OUTSIDE SO THEY HAD TO BRING THE PARTY INSIDE….SO SOME HIPPO CHARACTER RIDES THE RISING TIDE DOWN….

IT WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT THE CHARACTERS REALLY WERE A FACTOR ON THE TRIP TO ME….SO WE TAKE OUR

LIL DRINKING/ MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR MY DAD TO OUR FAVORITE SPOT “THE SCHOONER BAR”….WE TOAST DAD

WITH HIS FAVORITE CRUISE DRINK – LONG ISLAND ICE TEA….AFTER THAT THINGS GOT BLURRY…LOL

DINNER WAS GREAT AS USUAL, BUT I SERVICE WAS A LIL SLOW…WHICH WE DIDN’T MIND…BUT IT PROGRSSIVELY GOT

SLOWER DURING THE WEEK….WORST SERVICE EVER!!!

AFTER SLOW DINNER, WE WENT BACK TO THE ROOM AND UNPACKED…YIPPPEEE!!!

THEN ONTO THE SHOW= CHICAGO- I KNEW BETTER, BUT I WENT ANYWAY…IT WASN’T A BAD SHOW, BUT IM

NOT INTO MUSICALS AND WANTED TO LEAVE AFTER A WHILE…ONLY PROBLEM WAS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE AND

DIDN’T WANT TO DISTURB OTHERS…SO I STUCK IT OUT, YYYUUUCCKKK!!!

THEN IT WAS ONTO BLAZE NITECLUB…NOT A PLACE I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN ….BUT THEY HAD 2 FOR 1 DRINKS…I BECAME A

TRUE FAN…LOL…I DON’T REMEMBER TO MUCH AFTER THAT…EXCEPT PIZZA AND THEN BED.

[jebl]

ILuvCruisin,

 

Am enjoying your review and the pics. I noticed that the Allure does't dock at Havensight in St. Thomas. Has the Crown Point port been built up much? I was there about 3 yrs ago and it only had about 5 shops in it.

 

Hope it has more now.

 

thanks for the review and pics.

[domino1c]

Allure and Oasis are to large to dock in Havensight. It is not deep enough

[ILuvCruisin']

I luv these shots

 

Docking

 

 

 

Saying Bye Bye

 

[ILuvCruisin']

ILuvCruisin,

 

Am enjoying your review and the pics. I noticed that the Allure does't dock at Havensight in St. Thomas. Has the Crown Point port been built up much? I was there about 3 yrs ago and it only had about 5 shops in it.

 

Hope it has more now.

 

thanks for the review and pics.

 

Hi jebl: thanks a lot for posting...Yes she will dock at Crown Point...Here's a pic of the dock area

 

 



 

 

Can't really remember the number of shops

but I will chk with my sisters to see what they recall...

we had a scheduled tour (not a ship's tour) for that port and

I only remember meeting the tour guide and he took us into town for

a couple hours shopping before the tour began...

[ILuvCruisin']

ILuvCruisin,

 

Am enjoying your review and the pics. I noticed that the Allure does't dock at Havensight in St. Thomas.

 

 

 

 

Allure and Oasis are to large to dock in Havensight. It is not deep enough

 

thx domino1c. this is very true...my understanding is that RCCL and another company were suppose to pay to have Havensight dredged but decided not to...and Crown Point was built instead.....

[jebl]

I was on Caribbean Princess in 07 and we docked at Crown Bay (Point was my error). Princess had signed a long tern lease to dock there.

 

I guess Havensight gets too crowded and they were trying to get the ships over to Crown Bay.

 

And of course the Allure and Oasis are way too big. Just hope they have expanded the shopping area or at least filled the available spaces. Since we have been to St. Thomas many times we just want to get off and buy our high end booze to bring home. Driving to the port is great for bringing back booze. No airline restrictions.

 

Looking forward to more pics.

[ILuvCruisin']

Judy: yes it would help to have driven to the port then...hope it works out for you all...

[susanslamb]

What time were you able to board the ship? My SetSail Pass indicates a 2:00pm boarding.

[ILuvCruisin']

What time were you able to board the ship? My SetSail Pass indicates a 2:00pm boarding.

 

We were walking onboard by 11:30...we always try to get to the pier at least by 11:00 or earlier if possible...once the ship clears US Customs they let you begin the boarding process...there is an area at the pier once you chk in at the counter where you sit and wait if the ship hasn't cleared yet but this time once we all finished checking in the ship had cleared... so we were able to board right away...the later you check in the more chance you have of getting caught up in a crowd..

[joa09ofl]

Awesome review and pics!!!!!!

 

Im going with my family on October 2nd and I cant wait.

 

But question about the photo CD....Will it have all the pictures even from formal nights that the photographers takes like 3-4 different pics per background?

 

I was on Emerald Princess last year and yes those pic can get expensive but they look so nice so if i have them on a CD and i am able to print them myself whatever sizes I want that would be so worth it...

 

Thanks,

Joanna

[ILuvCruisin']

Awesome review and pics!!!!!!

 

Im going with my family on October 2nd and I cant wait.

 

But question about the photo CD....Will it have all the pictures even from formal nights that the photographers takes like 3-4 different pics per background?

 

I was on Emerald Princess last year and yes those pic can get expensive but they look so nice so if i have them on a CD and i am able to print them myself whatever sizes I want that would be so worth it...

 

Thanks,

Joanna

 

Hi Joanna: You don't have long now!!! I appreciate you stopping in to read my review and posting. The CD is a God send to us and especially this time as one sis was a newbie so we knew we would spend a lot on pics...and I agree they can get very expensive :eek: :o..but you want them...

 

to answer your question, yes, ALL pics that you take no matter how many or how many per background are included on the CD...dining room, ports of call, Adventure Ocean, Pool Deck, Promenade, etc....most times we took group shots with all sisters in it and depending on the shot individuals as well, some ports we even took several shots for the ones they take when you leave the ship so look out for that...but remember it is up to you, not RCCL, to make sure that all your pics are on the CD...that's why I suggest you check your shots at the Kiosks in FOTO and your Picture Binder regularly...if some are missing let the people in FOTO know immediately and check back to be sure they appear later on...

[ILuvCruisin']

Family Festival: Pirates of the Caribbean,

 

Boardwalk Deck 6 (Day 7, 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm)

Lots of different activities for the kids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double Dutch Anyone?

[ILuvCruisin']

Guess who showed up on the Boardwalk during the Family Fun Time?

 

 

 

 

 

They were sooooo cute....I wanted to bring them home with me...

:p

[ILuvCruisin']

 

Of course it's Fiona (Shrek's wife). Her pic is prominently displayed near Guest Services (Promenade Deck 5) like all the other Godmothers of RCCL ships.

 

”Ladies who Launch” info on Godmothers of various ships:

http://www.phillyseaport.org/web_exhibits/ladies_who_launch/

[ILuvCruisin']

Just ran across this great thread:

 

Everything Allure:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1444367

 

busy week...will get back to the review and more pics coming soon...plez stay tuned! :cool:

[ILuvCruisin']

Here's Day 2 of the review by group member bucktobeer:

 

oh well, day 2...staring into my black cauldron...i actually spelled that rite...lol

 

anyway, after a somewhat early nite of day 1....i awaken about 7 with the very pleasing knowledge that i was on vacation and was in no rush...although it was a port day in nassau, me and 2butterfly took our time getting dressed and leaving our mini- mansion...we headed to the solarium for breakfast...yes the solarium has breakfast...i believe its real healthy.

 

Then we headed for the heat of the bahamas...walked the main st. And tasted some of the liquors that were on dislplay...we bought a couple of caribe beers and walked happily down the street...knowing that this was legal...but then wasnt allowed in senor frogs, because we had beers...it didnt bother us...we walked up the street, to the parallel street...we walked there tried some more booze...and checked out some perfume sales...then headed back to the ship...

 

now here is the problem...i usually dont mine the extra security...but nassau is hot as- fill in the blank....lol...they have a line out the door to get back on the ship...after standing in the sun, you have to go thru what looks like airport security....needless to say, i was hot and a bit ticked off...so after about 20 minutes, we made it back on the ship....

 

i headed for dog shack and had tried the smokehouse dog...very good dog...although, i agreed with others who said the dogs could have been hotter...but when in rome, you eat lukewarm hot dogs like they do...lol...on sea days, i like to walk all over the ship...i usually find the chapel...which always makes me feel good....its just so calm and away from everything...

 

from there, i made my way to bingo...win a suite they said....$55 later, i felt ripped off...lol...they have computerized bingo cards now and you dont have to do anything, except hold your drink and hope to win...if im not mistaken some elderly chik won with a regular card...im pretty sure that was my last bingo...until next time...lol

 

i dont remember what we had for dinner....only that the service was slower than the nite b4...lol....OH YEAH, THEY HAVE A PIANIST AND VIOLINIST THAT PLAYS CURRENT HITS, VERY GOOD...from there i tried a lil slots...they were very tight....made the routine stop in schooner bar for my fortification....then headed up to watch Ocean Aire....great show from the beginning to the end...actually you can see the divers from Dazzles....we saw them diving the nite b4...amazing.

 

Anyway no other line, can compete with this show....you're in the middle of nowhere watching guys dive into water and doing some very entertaining tricks...very entertaining...oh yeah, they have a splash zone...but it wasnt to bad...not like seaworld or something...lol

 

after that we were summoned to the Blaze Niteclub...they make you slaves to the 2-1 drinks...it so unfair...we had a good time and then went up to on- air club...this guy joe was a professional karoake singer and had the whole place rocking...he even broke out a harmonica for the billy joel song - piano man.

We all were itching to get on the stage...but for some reason they close it early...i guess cause they really dont make that much money in there...regardless, we were entertained and proceeded up to Dazzles for the 80's party....the dj, tried to kill us all...he would not stop playing good music....lol

 

partied like a rockstar, til i was tired and slipped out of that madhouse...lol

made my way to cafe promenade for sandwiches...nothing against pizza, but like to change up my nightly weight gain...lol...whew, good nite day 2!

Oh yeah, probably stopped back thru that doggone casino again, they purposely put it where i have to innocently walk.

__________________

[ILuvCruisin']

My Newbie Cruiser Sis said first day she wondered why they bothered to put this item in the elevator...by the third day she knew why...she had lost track of time and the elevator reminder came in handy...

you never see them getting changed...we think a lil elf comes in and changes them every night...:p

 

This is what she was talking about:

 

 

[ILuvCruisin']

Just wondering if you are enjoying Bucket's reviews as much as I do? He always adds a bit of comedy to the group and I love reading his perspective. Plus I get a chance to read about what they did when we weren't all together.

 

Anyway I just thought it would be an extra bonus for you to hear from others in our group.

 

Come back soon. More to come. :cool:

[charliegirlac]

My Newbie Cruiser Sis said first day she wondered why they bothered to put this item in the elevator...by the third day she knew why...she had lost track of time and the elevator reminder came in handy...

 

you never see them getting changed...we think a lil elf comes in and changes them every night...:p

 

 

We were on the Liberty last year and saw them changing them for the 1st time ever!!! It was either very late one night or extremely early - depends on your perspective I guess!!:D

 

Keep it coming - we are on Allure in 2 weeks!!!

[ILuvCruisin']

[

My Newbie Cruiser Sis said first day she wondered why they bothered to put this item in the elevator...by the third day she knew why...she had lost track of time and the elevator reminder came in handy...

 

you never see them getting changed...we think a lil elf comes in and changes them every night...

We were on the Liberty last year and saw them changing them for the 1st time ever!!! It was either very late one night or extremely early - depends on your perspective I guess!!:D

 

Keep it coming - we are on Allure in 2 weeks!!!

 

wow charliegirlac would love to get a pic of those elves....haha..we have been on an elevator at just a little after midnight and it was already changed :D

 

You all don't have long to wait... Thx much for stopping by and posting... Glad you are enjoying the ride. Plez come back..a lot more for show and tell.... :eek:

[ILuvCruisin']

The Solarium is a wonderful place to hang out...

we didn't stay in there very long though

as we found it to be rather warm..there is Free breakfast (very healthy) and FREE lunch...

evening the dining area turns into Samba's Grill (price)

 

 

 

 



 

 

[ILuvCruisin']

 

 



 

 



 

 

 

[ILuvCruisin']