Our fabulous week on the Allure! 3/9/14 Sailing

[BillOh]

Hi, glad you enjoyed the Allure, I'm sorry that you fell for the shuttle scam at many of the hotels. A cab ride from the hotels in your area is only about $12 - $15, so it makes no sense for you to pay $14 for two and need to wait for the shuttle. The hotels push everyone to the shuttle because they get a kick-back from the shuttle company. Next time just ask for a taxi. It's so bad at some hotels, you may need to make the call to the taxi company.

 

When I boarded Allure from the same hotel there were at least 5 taxis waiting to take people to ships. We hired a private limo service.

[Jazzzy]

Enjoying your review very much!

 

Thank you for sharing :)

[dz9yvr]

When I boarded Allure from the same hotel there were at least 5 taxis waiting to take people to ships. We hired a private limo service.

 

 

That's good to hear, but that doesn't show the hotels aren't trying to push the shuttle service. The last two hotels we used tried to sell us the shuttle service in the hotel airport shuttle before we even got to the hotel. During an earlier stay at the "E" hotel, they didn't call for a cab until I stood and watched.

 

We stayed at the "HP" hotel a few weeks ago and the taxi driver was surprised that we wanted to go to the cruise port because most cruisers get talked into the more expensive shuttle.

[cruisebabe50]

Totally enjoying your review! I can't wait to see more!:D

[debbs0723]

We boarded and headed back to shower since we'd had enough sun and water for the day. Once all cleaned and cool again, we wandered the ship a bit. We ended at the boardwalk area and settled at the boardwalk/lighthouse bar for a little bit.

 

We enjoyed a beer while watching some rehearsal go on in the Aqua theater on the trampoline.

 

I mentioned earlier out love for the Wipeout bar, this was our second favorite. It was an easy trip back up to our stateroom or a deck down to the track and a great area aft with some chairs. This bar also had the best beer selection onboard besides the pub. Here's a photo of the beer selections here. They did have Bass at the beginning of the week but it didn't last long.

 

After chatting a bit with the bar tender, watching the above rehearsal, and savoring vacation time, we noticed the ship start to move. We popped down to the aft section of 5 to watch us sail away. It was bright and sunny where we left Lababee and dark and stormy looking on the other side. We headed up to our balcony to read a bit and watch as we sailed along the cloudy coast of Haiti.

 

We freshened up for the evening and headed to our Oceanaria reservation. I was really excited to finally see the aqua theater in action. We waited a bit because the show was delayed due to some technical difficulties.

 

The show was great! I could not believe how much flash photography there was after numerous pleads to not distract the performers. One women kept taking photos until someone came out from backstage and told her twice to stop. I was getting to the point where I wished someone would just take her camera!

 

It is absolutely unbelievable and sad to me that people don't listen to the request to not use flash photography. People need to learn to take their eyes away from their cameras and enjoy the moment. The pictures are never going to do any show justice. Not only is it an annoyance for other guest it is dangerous to the performers. It is just selfish and blows my mind every time. If I was that lady I would have been mortified after the first time they asked me to stop and probably would have left.

 

Enjoying your review.

 

Debbie

[Junbug]

Once we started to feel hungry again, we headed down to the Park Cafe for lunch.

 

It was time to try the much talked about roast beef sandwich. We loved them! They were the perfect lunch option. We split a made-to-order salad and bag of chips to go with them. I also discovered the flavored strawberry kiwi water available in the Park Cafe. It was a refreshing drink! The hubs enjoyed the mango flavored water.

 

After lunch it was up to the Wipeout bar. I have to stress again our love for the kind bar tenders up there. We grabbed a beer, sat and chatted, and watched the Flow Riders. We moved towards the back rail and watched the wake for a bit. I love watching the water change to that Caribbean blue as we sail on! I think that is why this quickly became one of my favorite areas on the ship.

 

We wandered a bit around the sports deck area and took some pictures.

 

It was amazing to us that this ship had so many people but they were so well spread out. Of course the pool deck was crowded on sea days, but it was no worse than what we've experienced on other ships. You were always able to find a lounger somewhere.

 

This particular afternoon, we settled back near the sports pool and took a dip. This time we utilized the chairs along the narrow side. The water was freezing! I just didn't expect it. It certainly felt warmer than the Atlantic at home, but it was still cold to me. We watched some volleyball games before heading back to our stateroom to shower and enjoy some more reading on the balcony. We had reservations for Giovanni's Table and Chicago tonight.

 

 

 

Are the roast beef sandwiches an extra charge?

[Clarea]

Are the roast beef sandwiches an extra charge?

No extra charge for the roast beef sandwiches.

[TryingCruising]

I didn't forget about all of you following along!

 

Work took over this week. I'm feeling the need for another cruise already, but revisiting this one will have to do.

 

I will post more this weekend. Stay tuned :D

[sharpasice]

It is absolutely unbelievable and sad to me that people don't listen to the request to not use flash photography. People need to learn to take their eyes away from their cameras and enjoy the moment. The pictures are never going to do any show justice. Not only is it an annoyance for other guest it is dangerous to the performers. It is just selfish and blows my mind every time. If I was that lady I would have been mortified after the first time they asked me to stop and probably would have left.

 

Enjoying your review.

 

Debbie

 

I think that if they threatened to boot people for using flash and then DO IT..that would help out a lot.

[NancyB84]

I didn't forget about all of you following along!

 

Work took over this week. I'm feeling the need for another cruise already, but revisiting this one will have to do.

 

I will post more this weekend. Stay tuned :D

 

 

I'm enjoying your review. Thank You for taking time to post. I'm debating between Allure and Serenade for my 50th birthday cruise... Your review is selling me on trying Allure.

[larka]

Wonderful review. Hope to be on the Allure May 18, just 6 weeks away.

 

Did they have Escargots each night on the menu?

[BecciBoo]

The quality of your video is excellent and we are able to see our cabin 11729 last one on deck 11 very well....thanks!

 

BTW there are really 6 secret balconies. one on each side on deck 11 12 and 14, the lower balconies are private. Here's a good pic we took of her when we docked next to her in Cozumel that shows these 3 upper balconies. You can tell by the loungers as the Aqua suites have the wicker furniture.

 

Great job.

Edited April 5, 2014 by BecciBoo

[TryingCruising]

We decided to sleep later today and scheduled our room service for the 8:30-9:00 window. We had no big plans in Jamaica and were just going to stroll the port and enjoy the ship a bit. The coffee was delivered, with the fruit we ordered, right at 8:30. We watched the ship sail into Jamaica from our balcony.

 

This morning we decided to go to the Windjammer buffet for the first time. It was busy, but we were shown to a table right at the window. That's when we noticed that Independence was in port with us for the day. The Windjammer was great! We avoided it based on fears of crowds and such, but it worked out well for us on this day. I loved the breakfast options and enjoyed a waffle, hard boiled egg, grapefruit, and my favorite fried hashbrowns.




After second breakfast (counting the small room service food), we explored the deck 14 sundeck and stared out at the port and the Independence of the Seas.

 

 

It was a hot sunny day. We exited the ship and wandered the shops in the port. There were stands with beer, a guy selling coconuts, and a few restaurant options. We decided to settle on enjoying a couple red stripes in Margaritaville.

 

The bar tender at the back by the pool was very friendly.

 

Pool at Margaritaville

 

There were many competition games going on...not sure if this is all the time, but I bet it was stepped up because it was spring break. Side note:a lot of people have mentioned not cruising during spring break. It's our only option of a winter escape and we love it. Yes sometimes there are younger college kids overindulging, but I've never seen any rude younger people. There were also less spring breakers on the Allure...the ones we did meet were cruising alongside family.

 

We decided to return to the ship for lunch. On the way we stopped at the duty free shops. We'd never bought anything before but a delicious bottle of bourbon, that cost less for a liter than you'd pay for about half at home was too tempting. So we did it. I also love that we now sip the bourbon and dream of our days in paradise! It was very easy to check our duty free purchase just past the security checkpoint.

[TryingCruising]

We enjoyed the saying on this chair in Margaritaville. We say this when on vacation and enjoying an adult beverage in the daylight hours!

 

The Allure looked huge behind the port.

 

When taking the above picture, I noticed some guys hard at work. The maintenance crews seemed to work nonstop to keep these ship in top condition.

 

We rode the escalator back onboard. I find it so funny this ship has an escalator! I kept trying to get a decent picture, and every time I did a different crew member commented that they'd never seen anyone photograph that. I know it mustn't be true since I've seen some other reviewers take photographic evidence!

 

We enjoyed lunch at the Park Cafe. That was our favorite lunch spot onboard. Although the paninis all sounded tempting, we always went with splitting a salad and each enjoying a roast beef sandwich. I'll have to get back onboard to try other options.

 

It was HOT in the sun at this point and we were eager to cool off. We set up by the beach pool for the first (and only) time.

 

I had pictured this being our favorite spot. While the loungers are cozy and the sloped pool neat, it was always so incredibly crowded. It was one of the only areas of the ship that always seemed loaded with people lounging, standing, talking, and trying to relax. So on this afternoon we enjoyed some time in the pool, relaxing, cooling off, and meeting some other kind cruisers. We dried off on loungers for a bit before retreating from the sun. We retreated up to the beautiful shaded lounging area in the Solarium bar. It was the perfect spot to read when you needed a break from the sun. We started joking that it felt like a library. Whenever we'd go, everyone was reading!

 

After enjoying a soda and some time in the Solarium, we strolled back to our room, stopping for an icecream cone along the way. We got ready for dinner and approached the dining room for the first time without reservations. We put our name in and waited about 5 minutes before we were escorted to our same table. (I can't remember if I mentioned this yet, but we ended up at the same table, with the same server, all but one night) Tonight's menu wasn't super appealing to me but everything I had tasted just fine. I'll start posting the menu here and put dessert in the next post since I'm out of pictures. Tonight was the basil menu.

 

 

It was then off to our nightly stroll on the track. We enjoyed a nightcap in Central Park and wandered through the Britto store. We had reservations for the 11:30 comedy show but found ourselves extremely tired. While sad to miss out, we knew it was time to crash. Our first couple nights had been late followed by eager early morning wakeups so we didn't want to rain ourselves in the middle of this amazing vacation.

[BecciBoo]

I'm just loving this review....your details are so helpful! We are so excited about our Allure trip which is the other itinerary, but your info about Jamaica will be extremely helpful for our Celebrity cruise in Nov. It goes to Jamaica and Labadee. We have been to Montego Bay on Voyager but never this new port. Thanks! I think we might just spend the day at Margaritaville.

 

Keep it coming!!!!:D

Edited April 6, 2014 by BecciBoo

[TryingCruising]

[purplethorn]

really like your writing .... 90% i just scroll though the pics on other reviews lol ... subscribed

 

 

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[TryingCruising]

I'm just loving this review....your details are so helpful! We are so excited about our Allure trip which is the other itinerary, but your info about Jamaica will be extremely helpful for our Celebrity cruise in Nov. It goes to Jamaica and Labadee. We have been to Montego Bay on Voyager but never this new port. Thanks! I think we might just spend the day at Margaritaville.

 

Keep it coming!!!!:D

 

I'm glad to hear it's helpful! I think it'd be hard not to love Allure!

[TryingCruising]

really like your writing .... 90% i just scroll though the pics on other reviews lol ... subscribed

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Thanks! I'm so happy people are enjoying my review. I'm hear to pay back the excitement I enjoyed reading others.

[lovetinktink]

enjoying your review! We leave in 6 days on the Allure, your tips are great!!

[MisterMom]

Hi-

 

Wonderful review so far. Any chance you'll be scanning and posting the Compasses? (apologies if someone else requested.) I'm taking my special needs Aunt in June and would like to give her an idea of what to expect when.

 

Thanks!

[Ocean View]

Really a wonderful review!!! Thanks for helping to pass the time till June 1. I love reading this post when I relax at night! Did you go into the pool at margaritaville?

 

 

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[PathfinderEss]

Enjoying your review and nice photo's.:)

[anandaindonesia]

Wow... great review!

Thanks for sharing.

 

It helps to prepare for our cruise next week.

[TryingCruising]

Hi-

 

Wonderful review so far. Any chance you'll be scanning and posting the Compasses? (apologies if someone else requested.) I'm taking my special needs Aunt in June and would like to give her an idea of what to expect when.

 

Thanks!

 

I hope to share the compasses. I need to scan them at work and our fancy scanner printer combo is down at the moment. Hopefully next week!