Middle Aged Drama Queen Goes BIG: Solo & Last Minute on the ALLURE!!!

[KansCocoa]

----I am like you a researchaholic,. I've been researching our 5/19 Allure cruise for at least 5 months and still learning things. Thanks to you I learned that Vintages serves food. Hopefully you'll post an menu.

 

I'm glad you could learn something! The tapas at Vintages were pretty darn good...and I know I had taken photos of the menu, but some of my photos were lost in the "cloud" - don't ask; it's a long story. If I can't find the menu, I'll make sure you at least see the photos of the food...with a description. It was a GREAT place for an afternoon lunch or pre-dinner snack. :)

 

i'm loving your tour of the ship!!

i've read so many allure reviews, but your tour is putting everything in place in my head!!!!!! :)

 

I'm glad it has helped! (Can you tell I'm a teacher...? I have to make sure we have the foundation - or the layout - before we build upon it with the "rest of the story"!!!!)

[KansCocoa]

Great review so far. I hope you can get the time to get on with it as we are all waiting in anticipation.

 

Thank you - and patience! You must have patience! ;)

 

 

Note to self: pack Starbucks Venti straws :D

 

Loving every minute of your report, more please :)

 

Yes - wish I'd had some super-duper long straws so that I wouldn't look so awkward when drinking from my soda cup...are ALL the soda cups like this, or was mine just defective??!!

[KansCocoa]

Sherri,

 

Always a great time reading your adventures. I haven't had time to finish my own review (that one, from summer :o ) because I keep checking if you posted more :rolleyes:

 

Funny to see you talk about creativity with names...I was going to comment about that yesterday and then today they announce the new ships' names. Good thing they chose Quantum and Anthem (I'm getting used to them) I just wouldn't accept the trademark they requested for OVATION OF THE SEAS....REALLY!? I can't deal with it; I don't know if it's cultural or something but it reminds me of egg, ovary, I don't know!! Can you imagine saying "Our wonderful cruise onboard the OVATION" or "I'm boarding the OVATION tomorrow" ? Again, funny it came to my head yesterday as I read your review and today they chose them.

 

Yup - that "creative naming" person has been at it again...I was just glad they haven't picked a name that begins with "P", because I am going to giggle every time someone posts POS here...(I'm immature like that - hee hee). Thank you for following my review - always happy to entertain everyone with my crazy adventures. ;)

 

I am so happy that RCI sent out the email today with the announcement on the names of the new ships, otherwise I would not have searched cruise critic and found that you have taken a last-minute cruise. I was so excited when I saw the title of your thread. We love reading about your travels (your experience helped us with our Med cruise last year) and look forward to the rest of your Allure review.

 

Thanks for sharing (again!)

 

Aw, thank you, Gordo! I'm glad my Med review could help - I'm assuming you knew not to take a personal panic button into any museums. <looking innocent>

[Coralc]

I had a work safety inspection scheduled at a company called Ambius. Apparently they are a huge landscaping and design company, and while I was waiting for my appointment, I noticed a coffee table book entitled "Planting the Oasis" or something like that, in the lobby.

 

They are the company that designed and installed all the Central Park plants and the "living wall" on Oasis. The photos of the installation were fascinating, and I was almost sorry when the person I was meeting showed up.

 

Your review is great! And it sounds like they did a nice job with the plants. :)

[KansCocoa]

I love your review. It brings back wonderful memories of the cruise we took on the Allure's sister ship Oasis. It was 8 of us!! DH and I both said "we will never get on anything that big, just to damn big. We had the time of our lives...yes we did!!!

 

Your review is awesome. I also read your Mediterranean review, we will be going on that cruise next year. Your review is helping me do a lot of planning. God Bless you girl :)

 

Menyone

 

Thank you! Yes, the Oasis class certainly has a lot to offer - and if you can't find fun on these ships, then you're just not a fun person! Let me know if you have any specific Med questions - that will be a cruise you'll never forget...!

 

 

You know what I think is annoying?

 

Why can't they group ALL the drinks together?

 

Like Sprite/Sprite Zero, Mello Yello/Mello Yello Zero, Fanta/Fanta Zero etc.

 

And put them in straight lines....it looks so wonky !

 

You're so funny...you're like me, where you want everything all organized...! I just zeroed in every day on that Diet Coke button, and had tunnel vision for everything else...if I haven't had my caffeine fix yet in the morning, I'm pretty much oblivious to everything around me. ;)

[KansCocoa]

Sherri,

I showed your Deck 8 pictures to some co-workers without telling them where they came from. They wanted to know which mall it was. :p

 

Bill

 

That's too funny...but, actually, there were times when I'd be strolling Central Park, and it would hit me: "Oh, snap! I'm on a SHIP! I totally FORGOT!!!" :rolleyes:

 

Though you may have missed a lot of interesting art. I would take the stairs a lot and make a point to take different stairs just to see the art. I will add with just a little thought you can navigate the ship avoiding crowded areas. Yes its possible to spend a week on this ship and not feel crowded.

 

Oh, ye of little faith...you think I'm going to miss ANYTHING on the ship?! I didn't have to report in to anyone (Klingons or Hubby), so I had plenty of time to wander the stairs and look at the art! Hee hee! I just wouldn't do six flights ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!! I would break it down into little trips...much easier on my foot that way (and my lungs...!)

[KansCocoa]

Actually for the most part the ship only felt crowded on day one, after that it felt pretty good. The only thing we had trouble with were the elevators, they really should of added more or at least apply a different software algorithm.

 

YES! I totally agree with this. Really - for me - the ONLY time the ship felt crowded was on the first day - especially right after Muster Drill.

 

The elevators - ack. For the most part, I didn't have a problem with them (I remembered your advice, Gambee, that the port elevators usually have fewer people waiting for them - which was true)...but on port days...when it's getting close to the time when everyone is due back onboard...the ship's management will designate THREE out of the SIX elevators in each elevator bank as "Priority" - which, although makes it easier for people coming back onboard to get up to their cabins, creates HAVOC for those of us wanting to go DOWN. It REALLY bunches up the elevators sometimes.

 

 

 

Am I crazy for wanting to do this on Allure? Probably....

 

For only doing stairs? No...I think it's doable...I tried to do stairs as much as I could, but the broken foot slowed me down. The stairs were definitely empty; they were never crowded, for sure!

[KansCocoa]

Hi!

I just want to say THANK YOU for taking the time for this your of the Allure - you are so detailed on every spot of the ship - I was on the Oasis a few years ago and will be going on the Allure November 2014 for a special birthday - did you go to the breakfast with the characters or any info on the chefs table

Again Thank You for your review

Linda

 

Linda, no, unfortunately, I didn't do the Character Breakfast...nor did I do Chef's Table. I didn't have any Klingons to share the Character Breakfast with...and I didn't have Hubby to share Chef's Table with. :( Chef's Table is the ONLY speciality restaurant I didn't do on this cruise...sorry about that!

 

 

You took a picture of the sign saying no pictures. No wonder you got yelled at!

 

I wonder what would have happened if your personal alarm was set off in the Britto gallery..... ;)

 

Okay, you're starting to sound like Steve's Mom. ;)

 

Hey...I figured taking a picture of the "No Photo" sign was better than taking a picture of the art!!!! And I remember telling you onboard that I was surprised the girl didn't make me delete my photo after she yelled at me...and the "No Photo" sign just happened to appear in the photo I took. I cropped out all of the important Britto stuff, as I don't want to get into any trouble.

 

I would have been thrown overboard if I'd set of my alarm in the Britto gallery!

[KansCocoa]

I had a work safety inspection scheduled at a company called Ambius. Apparently they are a huge landscaping and design company, and while I was waiting for my appointment, I noticed a coffee table book entitled "Planting the Oasis" or something like that, in the lobby.

 

They are the company that designed and installed all the Central Park plants and the "living wall" on Oasis. The photos of the installation were fascinating, and I was almost sorry when the person I was meeting showed up.

 

Your review is great! And it sounds like they did a nice job with the plants. :)

 

That would have been an awesome book to see!

 

They really DID do a great job with the plants...and it's constantly changing and evolving. The "original" Living Wall on the Allure didn't quite work out the way they wanted to, so they recently replaced all of the original plants with a fern. I think the original was more like a creeper vine....the plants are all in their own little containers, so they can easily be switched out depending on the season or the weather/drought conditions.

 

There's a lot of shade in the park...so whatever they plant, has to be okay with shade...as well as wind. There is a deliberate "windcatcher" at the front of the ship, as well as a "windbreak" at the back of the ship - they did this so that Central Park would have air movement and wouldn't get too stuffy. The plants have to be able to sustain the wind.

 

Very interesting, can you tell I loved the tour??!!

[ALSEAU]

Great review!

[Breezy72]

Ok, you hit all the major attractions for me in the "Central Park" episode... (restaurants are a given), Britto, Central Park, and COACH!! "Hi, my name is Karen, and i'm a Coachaholic"!:D (There are rooms that look directly down onto the Coach store, right??)

 

Again, great review.... and I feel a bit guilty enjoying it considering you are taking amazing pix and doing this review for others, all on a bad foot. :o No... Wait... my guilt has just subsided since I just recalled you were on this cruise and I wasn't! ;)

[My2Kitties]

Sherri, thank you again for such a wonderful review...I was just on her in Dec...such a beautiful ship with so much to do...

 

waiting for more...

[JAYRAY1259]

Hello, I've been reading your review for a few days and felt compelled to join just to tell you how much I'm enjoying it!! We have booked our first ever cruise on the allure may 19th for our 30th wedding anniversary and wanted something special and now I know we made the right choice!! I'm so excited and it's great to have all the info as we have never cruised before I'm sure our first cruise will be memorable!!

 

Thank you and look forward to the rest of the review!

Julie

The wife and I have been on about ten cruises and the last one was on the Allure in 2012I can only say this, I thought It couldn't get any better than the Freedom of the Seas which we did in 2010, but the Allure is really all that. The ship is incredible. We just booked the Oasis of the Seas this morning, going to give that one a try. Good luck on your first cruise, you picked a great one. Happy Anniversary.

[JAYRAY1259]

Finishing up our tour of beautiful Central Park, there are a few retail shops on the port side that we can explore:

 

 

Picture This Photography Studio

 

 

In case the 1 trillion ship photographers floating around various spots on the ship aren’t enough for you, you can always come here and have a sitting with another professional photographer.

 

On sea days, this studio was open from 10:00 am – 1:30 pm and again from 5:30 – 10:30 pm.

 

 

 

Britto Gallery

 

I love the luggage...there'd be no doubt that's your suitcase...!!!

 

If you’re not familiar with Brazilian artist Romeo Britto, you should really do a Google search…as he’s pretty colorful and creative. This gallery/shop offers little collectibles, prints and other Britto-created items…for a cost, of course!

 

Here’s a tip: DON’T take photos inside this shop, or you’ll get yelled at…don’t ask me how I know that. Apparently, there are signs inside that request no photos (and "No touching" - I think??) but the signs are EXTREMELY tiny, in my opinion:

 

This sign is about 2" by 2"...if they don't want photos, can't they make their signs a little larger??? I'm just sayin'...some of us "older" folks can't exactly see that little tiny sign when we walk in the door....

 

It seemed that every time I walked by the Britto Gallery, I’d hear the RCI employee inside, in an endless refrain, yelling: “NO PHOTOS!” They should put it on tape or something and play it when people walk through the door.

 

This sculpture is outside in the park, and it's okay to take photos of...I think, at least...as no one yelled at me, "NO PHOTOS!" when I snapped a photo of it.

 

There is a SECRET Britto painting onboard that is NOT available for the “general cruisers” to see…and it’s okay to take a photo of….I was lucky enough to be able to snap a photo of it, and I’ll share the secret story of where it is in my day-to-day blog.

 

 

Coach

 

 

A Coach store…for all of us Coach-junkies…but be warned that these are at FULL Coach prices…!!! Handbags, accessories, and other stuff...let's just say I walked in, looked at the prices, and then walked out...but there was some BEAUTIFUL stuff in there!

 

We're almost done with beautiful Central Park...I hope you've been enjoying our walking tour...! :)

 

The wife and I were walking around taking pictures and we were outside the Britto Gallery, when I told her to stand next to some of the stained glass looking butterfies, so I could get a shot of her. I was looking down to get the camera out of the bag when I heard "Help me, Help me" then I saw a guy run past me. I looked up and saw my wife's feet sticking up out of the bushes beyond the railing. The man who rushed past me grabbed her by the hand and pulled her out. I'm glad he did, LOL because I was laughing too hard to help her. She keep backing up until the back of her legs encountered the railing and she fell backwards. Thank God she didn't get hurt, because I wasn't much help. Her little cries "help me, Help me!" reminded me of the half human/half fly, that was caught in the spider web, from the movie "The fly." She's still mad at me about that, but then again you have to know my wife...............

[JAYRAY1259]

Finishing up our tour of beautiful Central Park, there are a few retail shops on the port side that we can explore:

 

 

Picture This Photography Studio

 

 

In case the 1 trillion ship photographers floating around various spots on the ship aren’t enough for you, you can always come here and have a sitting with another professional photographer.

 

On sea days, this studio was open from 10:00 am – 1:30 pm and again from 5:30 – 10:30 pm.

 

 

 

Britto Gallery

 

I love the luggage...there'd be no doubt that's your suitcase...!!!

 

If you’re not familiar with Brazilian artist Romeo Britto, you should really do a Google search…as he’s pretty colorful and creative. This gallery/shop offers little collectibles, prints and other Britto-created items…for a cost, of course!

 

Here’s a tip: DON’T take photos inside this shop, or you’ll get yelled at…don’t ask me how I know that. Apparently, there are signs inside that request no photos (and "No touching" - I think??) but the signs are EXTREMELY tiny, in my opinion:

 

This sign is about 2" by 2"...if they don't want photos, can't they make their signs a little larger??? I'm just sayin'...some of us "older" folks can't exactly see that little tiny sign when we walk in the door....

 

It seemed that every time I walked by the Britto Gallery, I’d hear the RCI employee inside, in an endless refrain, yelling: “NO PHOTOS!” They should put it on tape or something and play it when people walk through the door.

 

This sculpture is outside in the park, and it's okay to take photos of...I think, at least...as no one yelled at me, "NO PHOTOS!" when I snapped a photo of it.

 

There is a SECRET Britto painting onboard that is NOT available for the “general cruisers” to see…and it’s okay to take a photo of….I was lucky enough to be able to snap a photo of it, and I’ll share the secret story of where it is in my day-to-day blog.

 

 

Coach

 

 

A Coach store…for all of us Coach-junkies…but be warned that these are at FULL Coach prices…!!! Handbags, accessories, and other stuff...let's just say I walked in, looked at the prices, and then walked out...but there was some BEAUTIFUL stuff in there!

 

We're almost done with beautiful Central Park...I hope you've been enjoying our walking tour...! :)

 

The wife was throwing money away in the slots down at the casino, so I made a deal with her. I took her to Coach and told her to buy what ever she wanted, so she bought a pocket book. I think it cost about $395.00, I said if you stop blowing your money down at the slot machines you can have it, LOL. So she agreed. It saved me a load of money, and she still has a beautiful pocketbook. I also had to buy her a Coach wallet to go with the pocketbook, but I'm still ahead of the game.

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Great Review!!

[alaska_planner]

CATHY!!!

 

For anyone new to my reviews, this lady and her husband, Ken, were on our cruise this summer to Europe...and my kids pretty much fell in love with them, as we did!

 

 

It's funny you would mention the Alaskan cruise in 2014...a bunch of us on Facebook - from the Serenade cruise - are talking of doing a Reunion cruise in the summer of 2014 - to Alaska. Have you booked yet? I'd love to find out what you're doing - as we need to start looking into it.

 

Yup, Mike and Mickey are going...don't know about the boys, as they both have jobs now and need to work to pay for college. We're hoping Mike can handle the waves - he has issues with that.

 

My shoes were Privos...by Clark. I know you can still get them online, as my aunt just bought a pair last week, at my suggestion...although they're only available in black now; I had bronze.

 

Good luck to Ken on his climb - we MISS you! The Klingons all say hello!!!!!

 

Hi Sherri,

 

We have pretty much decided that we are going to spend one week on land and the other on the Radiance. We are going to do the land portion on our own. You know how I hate those cruise excursions!

 

The plan so far is to fly into Anchorage and rent a car. From there Ken would like to go back to Talkeetna and Denali. After that we haven't decided what we want to do. I do know that we will return the car in Anchorage and take the train to Seward. I have been reading Alaskan boards and have found several reviews with lots of information.

 

We are planning on going sometime in June or early July. I want to book as soon as the dates open. We would like to try to get a Aft cabin. I am watching every day but don't expect the dates to open until March.

 

Did you buy any Bling? Ken usually buys me some when we go to the islands.:)

 

Let me know if you are thinking of going to Alaska. Maybe Ken and I will try to go at the same time.

 

 

my very own klingon is in the midst of writing an EPIC REVIEW of her Alaskan adventure - one week on a DIY tour of inland Alaska and one week southbound on Radiance of the Seas.

 

she's halfway through (her review just boarded the ship)...

she had to take a break preparing for her big show opening tonight, but she said she'll get back to it right after the opening!! :)

 

anyway, i highly recommend it, even if she is a klingon (former klingon?)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1725813

 

..

[Juliesfirstcruise]

The wife and I have been on about ten cruises and the last one was on the Allure in 2012I can only say this, I thought It couldn't get any better than the Freedom of the Seas which we did in 2010, but the Allure is really all that. The ship is incredible. We just booked the Oasis of the Seas this morning, going to give that one a try. Good luck on your first cruise, you picked a great one. Happy Anniversary.

 

Thank you so much. This forum is really helping wish I found it earlier!! I've got a feeling were going to love it and I might end up doing ten cruises haha!! The ship looks amazing counting down the days now guess you will be too! I'm sure the oasis will be just as fab!!

Julie

[Hypo]

... The "original" Living Wall on the Allure didn't quite work out the way they wanted to, so they recently replaced all of the original plants with a fern. I think the original was more like a creeper vine....the plants are all in their own little containers, so they can easily be switched out depending on the season or the weather/drought conditions.

 

 

They could have planted kudzu vine on the living wall. We live in Arkansas and that stuff takes over the landscape wherever it gets a foothold. Within two months the entire ship would have been covered with the stuff. I nearly had to divorce DW when she stopped along the roadside, on her way home from work, to get a few cuttings of the stuff to plant in our yard. Needless to say, those plant cuttings did not make it into our landscape plan.

[marci22]

Coach

 

 

A Coach store…for all of us Coach-junkies…but be warned that these are at FULL Coach prices…!!! Handbags, accessories, and other stuff...let's just say I walked in, looked at the prices, and then walked out...but there was some BEAUTIFUL stuff in there!

 

Check out the cruise compasses towards the end of the week. On our sailing they had a 'Coach sale' for 2-3 hours one day that was very well-attended. Lots of past season items and discontinued colors at 30-50% off.

Edited February 7, 2013 by marci22

[Cat54]

my very own klingon is in the midst of writing an EPIC REVIEW of her Alaskan adventure - one week on a DIY tour of inland Alaska and one week southbound on Radiance of the Seas.

 

she's halfway through (her review just boarded the ship)...

she had to take a break preparing for her big show opening tonight, but she said she'll get back to it right after the opening!! :)

 

anyway, i highly recommend it, even if she is a klingon (former klingon?)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1725813

 

..

 

I am interested in readying her review. It is always very helpful in the planning process when someone else has done something similiar. It cuts down on the amount research that you need to do. Thanks for the information.

[Cat54]

Agreed. Sometimes there would be one readily available, other times it was at least 5 min wait. I got fed up and took 6 flights of stairs from 5-11 a couple times (which only served to remind me how out of shape I am!)

 

Hi Amy,

 

Did you buy any bling?? The islands have some pretty good prices!:)

[KansCocoa]

Ok, you hit all the major attractions for me in the "Central Park" episode... (restaurants are a given), Britto, Central Park, and COACH!! "Hi, my name is Karen, and i'm a Coachaholic"!:D (There are rooms that look directly down onto the Coach store, right??)

 

Again, great review.... and I feel a bit guilty enjoying it considering you are taking amazing pix and doing this review for others, all on a bad foot. :o No... Wait... my guilt has just subsided since I just recalled you were on this cruise and I wasn't! ;)

 

Karen, the Coach store was absolutely beautiful inside...the colors...the smell of those new handbags...it was amazing...almost better than chocolate, but not quite! There should be a 12-step program for us Coachaholics!

 

 

Sherri, thank you again for such a wonderful review...I was just on her in Dec...such a beautiful ship with so much to do...

 

waiting for more...

 

Thanks, Jeanne! :)

[KansCocoa]

The wife and I have been on about ten cruises and the last one was on the Allure in 2012I can only say this, I thought It couldn't get any better than the Freedom of the Seas which we did in 2010, but the Allure is really all that. The ship is incredible.

 

OMG, the story of your wife falling into the Britto bushes killed me! I'm glad I'm not the only one who does things like that while traveling... :) And I loved the deal you made with her with regards to the slots and the Coach purse...! You're a smart man! ;)

 

 

 

Great Review!!

 

Thank you, Jimmy...!

[KansCocoa]

my very own klingon is in the midst of writing an EPIC REVIEW of her Alaskan adventure - one week on a DIY tour of inland Alaska and one week southbound on Radiance of the Seas.

 

she's halfway through (her review just boarded the ship)...

she had to take a break preparing for her big show opening tonight, but she said she'll get back to it right after the opening!! :)

 

anyway, i highly recommend it, even if she is a klingon (former klingon?)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1725813

 

..

 

I'm going to have to read it, since we're planning a 2014 Alaskan cruise...!

 

They could have planted kudzu vine on the living wall. We live in Arkansas and that stuff takes over the landscape wherever it gets a foothold. Within two months the entire ship would have been covered with the stuff. I nearly had to divorce DW when she stopped along the roadside, on her way home from work, to get a few cuttings of the stuff to plant in our yard. Needless to say, those plant cuttings did not make it into our landscape plan.

 

OMG, kudzu! That stuff is just AWFUL! Once it's embedded, there's no way of getting rid of it...I don't blame you for almost divorcing the DW - what was she THINKING??!!! :D