Allure 9/22/13: A Story Review w/drama, humor, Pics & Video

[jktheangel]

Vivian I am enjoying your review so much. I am going on the Oasis with my best friend of 60 years, leaving the guys at home, the end of March.

I also love your take on Vegas. We spent our 50th anniversary at the Bellagio and what a wonderful time. So much to do that you need to weed out those things that don't interest you. My niece is a policewoman in Vegas so it was fun to go to the places that the local frequent.

Keep those thoughts of your trips coming.

Kay

 

 

 

gottagocruisin...how long has your niece been a officer in vegas? I am asking because my DH has been for almost 25 years. hopefully will retire in March.

[VegasChic]

those fish are called doctor fish! I'm terribly afraid of fish so I'm not sure if I would ever do it :confused: But it's very popular in Asia and Europe.

 

Just saw your video, very cute - great job!!! What software did you use?

[VegasChic]

You would of loved Nachi Cocum we were their a few years ago and were going back in May.

 

Definitely on my list for next time I visit Cozumel!

[jktheangel]

Vegas,

 

I have to say this is one of the few threads I have read from start to finish. I sailed on the Allure in Oct 2011 and I personally was not impressed due to issues which I wont get into on this thread. I came home today and saw your thread and reading it is all I have done since :)

 

thank you for the great pictures and opinions and you have a beautiful daughter.

 

Since I have lived in Vegas for many many years...thank you for coming and supporting our economy.

[CaLigUrL1216]

Just saw your video, very cute - great job!!! What software did you use?

 

awww, that means a lot coming from a pro like you! I need to take more pics in future, yours are so beautiful and I definitely didn't take enough of the scenery :(

 

oops I didn't answer. My bf made the video! He is a CC member but since I taken over the computer he doesn't get to post a lot! He said he used Cyberlink Powerdirector and it was easier after the tutorials and some youtube stuff he researched.

Edited October 23, 2013 by CaLigUrL1216

[JohnSnowGOT]

awww, that means a lot coming from a pro like you! I need to take more pics in future, yours are so beautiful and I definitely didn't take enough of the scenery :(

 

oops I didn't answer. My bf made the video! He is a CC member but since I taken over the computer he doesn't get to post a lot! He said he used Cyberlink Powerdirector and it was easier after the tutorials and some youtube stuff he researched.

 

 

 

Hey Just looked at that video!!! Looks great.

[CaLigUrL1216]

Hey Just looked at that video!!! Looks great.

 

thank you very much. we had a lot of fun.

 

VegasChic, can I ask you how much of the restaurants are specialty? Boleros, Chops... I really want to go on allure!!! also, I loved this pic! really want to try the character breakfasts!

[VegasChic]

thank you very much. we had a lot of fun.

 

VegasChic, can I ask you how much of the restaurants are specialty? Boleros, Chops... I really want to go on allure!!! also, I loved this pic! really want to try the character breakfasts!

 

Okay as for Specialty Dining, they have:

 

Giovanni's

Chops

Izumi

Chef's Table

150 Central Park

Samba

Ritas

Vintages

 

Bolero's is a Latin dance club. The Character breakfast is great if you want to wake up early otherwise they have Character greetings throughout the day at different spots throughout the ship (Usually Royal Promenade).

 

Question: What ship were you on? How many days and did you enjoy it? From the video it looks like you did:)

[CaLigUrL1216]

we really wanted to go on allure but our schedules didn't match up! so we took Enchantment. We went for 4 days but had 6 more spread out to do Disney, Universal, and some waterboarding (I fell everytime:(). At this point, I think I qualify as an addict :o:D I am missing my cruise fix so much, I am getting it through your review and beautiful pictures :D:D:D

Edited October 23, 2013 by CaLigUrL1216

[VegasChic]

We headed back to port, returned the jeep and walked around the shopping area. I was looking for a few things; a hand carved wooden cross, a wine stopper and a Christmas Tree Ornament! DD did a little shopping of her own; bongo drums, Maracas and a dress! She has the music and an outfit (it’s the Latin blood, LOL). Okay I walked through most stores and no-one had a Wine Stopper, WTH is up with that?? So at the duty free store I asked an employee and he said they are forbidden from selling them because it’s considered a weapon by the cruises. Really?? Well they sell one in the Allure gift shop (I guess that one is not considered a weapon - how convenient!). One thing about me is that I like to buy useful gifts and who doesn't drink wine? If I ever won the lottery I would buy a vineyard and name my wine Viv Cabernet Sauvignon:D I’m a huge dreamer I come up with a new business idea at least once a month. Okay so after walking around a bit I did find a Christmas Ornament, some really pretty Maracas (not the $1 ones either) these were $20 and a Guadalupe Bell for Mother. On our way to the ship we ran into a Mariachi Band I tipped them and filmed a bit of their performance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once onboard we headed straight to our cabin. Along the way I stopped in at Chops to check out their availability for the evening. The hostess said she could accommodate us at anytime but we had dine outside as they were quite booked. Even though I had booked the Central Park Package, I had not made the reservations. I tried to make reservations on the TV but there was only availability at 5:30. Back at the cabin we ordered room service for the 1st time. Room service was for DD so we got her pizza and just in case we also ordered the Breaded Honey Chicken Breasts w/ sweet potato fries. I ordered it on the TV and as soon I placed the order, I received a phone call from room service confirming the order. Awhile later, the room service attendant knocks at the door. It’s the same person who delivered warm milk and coffee one morning. I’m putting on make-up and DH is walking around in a towel. We give her a tip but she stays in the cabin making conversation with dd. I was so annoyed as I didn’t want to be rude but this was not the time to have a 15 minute talk with room service. Let me tell you, the honey chicken and sweet potato fries was so yummy, hubby and I kept eating it.

[VegasChic]

We dropped dd off at AO then headed to Chops.

 

 

We had to wait a few minutes and while we waited DH told me to go outside with him. He took me a few steps away where the ship photographer was taking portraits. We played around taking pictures but it was incredibly windy and my hair was all over the place I didn't purchase any pictures. After our mini photo-shoot we headed back and were escorted to a table on the outdoor terrace, it was nice but hubby said he was hot. We were seated next to a gentleman who was dining alone for purposes of this review I will call him Mr. Jones; his table was cleared of silverware, flowers, silverware, etc., completely empty. A waiter came by and asked him if was finished, he responded and said he was waiting for his steak. There was a bottle of champagne chilling next to him and I think it was empty. Meanwhile, hubby and I engaged in some conversation (cannot remember what about). Oh, I remember I mentioned the waiter was young and really cute and wondered if he had a lot of Girlfriends on-board! DH was playing the jealous card (whatever!) We brought our second bottle of wine to dinner and paid the $25 corkage fee. They use this neat mini decanter which I wanted to buy but the waiter never brought it and I forgot to ask him for it.

 

 

Meanwhile Mr. Jones was eating his porterhouse afterwards, he ordered not one but two Crème Brulee’s (my favorite dessert!). They came out flaming and as he ate, he turned and looked at me. “Looks good” I said, he replied “better than the crap downstairs.” I’m not sure how the conversation started but he told us he was on a world expedition and mentioned all the countries and cities he was visiting next. I was so jealous, but intrigued I kept asking him questions but he was hard of hearing. I ordered the mushroom soup (so freaking delicious!!), Shrimp Cocktail (I think – cannot recall), the petite Filet and the Flaming Crème Brulee. Everything was divine!

 

 

 

Mr. Jones keeps looking at my husband and asks him to see his necklace. My Husband takes it off and hands it to him, He starts to weigh it with his hand then, grabs it by the clasp and starts to twirl it in a circle. He proceeds to tell my husband that he should not wear metal meaning the thick gold necklace and his Rolex as metal drains the body of energy. He also rambled something about wearing fully closed leather shoes to protect the feet. A few other things he mentioned; We should sleep with our head pointing North

If our daughter has issues sleeping to place holy water under her bed;

He kept saying he was giving us a gift and that he couldn’t read my future (what does that mean?? That I might not have one??:eek:)

 

He rambled on more stuff I cannot for the life of me remember. He was pretty intoxicated at this point with that bottle of champagne then he ordered a Cointreau (the waiter was totally clueless and said he had not heard of that!) He was adamant about it and said to check with the Trellis Bar. I’m not sure what he ended up drinking but after he drank it, all of a sudden he raced off to the restroom but instead of the restroom he just walked outside holding his stuff and looking puzzled in both directions (I thought he was going to fall over). The waiter came by looking for him and a few minutes later I saw the hostess running out chasing him down (LOL).

We then saw a snail crawling up the glass and that sparked up a conversation with the couple sitting behind DH.

 

 

They told us some wild stories about some of their experiences on other sailings. Like witnessing a live robbery of the Atlantis Casino and having a stranger walk in to their Aqua-theater Suite and take a seat in the living room claiming it was his room and they needed to get out. Apparently Guest Relations gave this gentleman the wrong room key by mistake. It was an entertaining conversation.

 

After chatting with our waiter a bit more about his plans to work a few more years on the ship then he was going back home (Turkey) to buy and build his dream house, I needed to get out of there, three hours had passed and it was about 11 pm. We picked up DD from AO and headed back to the cabin for the night! DH ventured out again to the casino.

 

Allure vs. Epic Comparisons:

 

Chops vs. Cagneys – It’s a tie - they are both excellent.

 

Room Service – Allure Wins by far!

 

 

Up Next: Day 7 – At Sea

Packed

Madagascar – Let me entertain you show!

Belly Flop Competition

Bingo

Family Talent Show

Lunch at the Park Café

Blue Planet Show

Farewell Parade

Rising Tide Bar

Dinner at the MDR

Family Comedy Show

Boleros

On Air

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Well, you certainly had a more entertaining evening at Chops than the one we had.:D We simply had a delicious dinner.;)

 

We saw this snail outside Chops one evening. I wonder if your snail was the same one? Could explain the escargot shortage.....all the snails escaped the kitchen and are hiding out in Central Park!

[North_Country_Cruiser]

Awesome review! You are an amazing photographer, and have a gorgeous family!

 

You said that your DH rented the jeep in Cozumel. I was thinking of doing the same in couple of weeks (my DW HATES taxi's). Anything you can share about the price, where he rented it from, etc.?

 

Thanks!

[swim13]

I believe we did the same excursion in Cozumel!! Wasn't the other side of Cozumel amazing?! You're stunning pictures capture just how it looks, it is really a great little piece of paradise! :)

[chanat]

Love your review and the wonderful pics! Thanks for taking so much time on this. It will help me when planning for our Feb. cruise on the Allure

[VegasChic]

North_Country_Cruiser......

 

We rented the car right at the International Cruise Pier right near the exit there are two or three car rental companies. They all have little booths and I cannot recall which one we went with but the Jeep was somewhere in the range of $75-$90 per day w/insurance my hubby cannot remember the exact cost but said it was not more than $90 total. Make sure you ask to see the vehicle first and that the it has A/C is that is of interest to you. The first jeep my husband was offered had no A/C and was falling apart, then after complaining they gave us a newer one. Forgot to mention that while at the beach we left the top off and it poured the entire inside was soaked.

 

So I found this map that list most of the beaches in Cozumel, the pink scribbling is a diagram of where we went. Mr. Sancho's is right next to San Francisco Beach and Nachi Cocum is right after San Fran Beach (It was hard finding a map that listed everything).

 

Hope this is helpful!!

 

[maureencruiser]

Okay I walked through most stores and no-one had a Wine Stopper, WTH is up with that?? So at the duty free store I asked an employee and he said they are forbidden from selling them because it’s considered a weapon by the cruises. Really?? Well they sell one in the Allure gift shop (I guess that one is not considered a weapon - how convenient!).

 

Viv, My guess is you were talking to someone who didn't know the difference between a wine stopper and a corkscrew, I can see how this could be considered a weapon.

 

 

 

 

 

He kept saying he was giving us a gift and that he couldn’t read my future (what does that mean?? That I might not have one??:eek:)

 

Was is this guy?

 

[VegasChic]

Viv, My guess is you were talking to someone who didn't know the difference between a wine stopper and a corkscrew, I can see how this could be considered a weapon.

 

 

 

Well I explained to the guy like he was 3 years old, I didn't take his word for it I just looked through every freakin item in the store, couldn't find one!!

 

 

 

Was is this guy?

 

 

Okay ROTFLMAO!!!! I almost splattered my wine on my labtop. Boy did I need that laugh tonight it's been a rough day. But to answer your question, No Mr. Jones was a bit older, white with white hair and heavier. However, this guy probably would have given me a better read!!! Cannot stop laughing!!!

[CaLigUrL1216]

Hi VegasChic!

 

Hope you are having a beautiful day. Just letting you know I'm loving your recent pictures :)

[balcony4u]

Thank you for posting the map of beaches in Cozumel! It looks like a great way to spend the day!

[gottogocruisin]

gottagocruisin...how long has your niece been a officer in vegas? I am asking because my DH has been for almost 25 years. hopefully will retire in March.

 

I believe only about 3-4 years. She and her husband moved from NYC.

[VegasChic]

Well, you certainly had a more entertaining evening at Chops than the one we had.:D We simply had a delicious dinner.;)

 

We saw this snail outside Chops one evening. I wonder if your snail was the same one? Could explain the escargot shortage.....all the snails escaped the kitchen and are hiding out in Central Park!

 

Yes it was quite the evening! DH and I joked about the escargot:)

[VegasChic]

Hi VegasChic!

 

Hope you are having a beautiful day. Just letting you know I'm loving your recent pictures :)

 

Sweet, thanks! I had a decent day - I took my daughter on a field trip with her class then worked! Tomorrow though is another story, I'm finally going back to the Gym, I just joined Equinox :eek: then back to back meetings all day!! BTW, you should post your video over on the CC Video thread!

[VegasChic]

Love your review and the wonderful pics! Thanks for taking so much time on this. It will help me when planning for our Feb. cruise on the Allure

 

Thank you, although it's more of my adventure I'm hoping some of the information will help with other's planning. It's definitely more time consuming than I thought (at least the way I'm doing it is). Luckily I'm almost done, then on to eh video!

 

Thanks for stopping by and the nice comments :)

[jktheangel]

I believe only about 3-4 years. She and her husband moved from NYC.

 

 

oh shes probably on street patrol still and hes not so he probably wouldn't know her. I hope she stays safe each work night.