Allure ots picture review 10-19-2014

[sed610]

 

 

 

This JS was awesome!

Notes about the room:

-Our bed already had the egg crate mattress topper on it. I loved it. Unfortunately my husband's side of the bed was kind of sunken in. We didn't really realize it until halfway through the week, his back was hurting...and we figured it was unlikely they would bring us in a new mattress so we just dealt with it.

-Everything was kept very clean except for areas that aren't often used, like some of the shelves or the coffee & teapot...they were very dusty, that shouldn't be acceptable.

-I never used the tub, but it was great just having the extra space compared to a regular cruise ship shower

-Our balcony had 1 lounger, 1 lean back chair with footstool, and 2 chairs. 1 table. We were on the slant of the hump. Great balcony.

[pepsigirl64]

:D GREAT review and pictures. We are going on the Allure in April for the first time, so I am interested in your report. Thanks for taking the time sharing your trip!! :D

[davwen81]

We are doing this cruise in 2016 on Allure so thrilled to read your great review, keep it coming cheers, Wendy and David 🚢

 

 

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[wildernesslady]

We also ate lunch at Giovanni's on embarkation day on your cruise! Hopefully we were there after you or didn't annoy you too much as we were a big group of 10. By the time we left it was only officers eating in the restaurant. Last year they did the consecutive cruiser lunch in Allure for lunch and they were turning people away. So it does seem like you have a good chance of getting in, but if there's some sort of travel agent lunch or consecutive cruiser lunch it may be trickier.

 

My husband and I were at the window table next to your group. What a great start to the cruise.

[sharktums]

^Small world! Yes, I believe my mother apologized to you for our big group and we tried to remain civil. It's just so exciting boarding Allure and having a wonderful sit down meal without lines, crowds, or annoyances!

[BillOh]

Hello fellow Buckeye. Enjoying the review and looking at the pictures. Been on Allure twice, but it always helps to look through the eyes of others. We will try Oasis next. Looking forward to hearing what you did at the ports.

[clochette]

Great review, I look forward to reading more

[sed610]

After checking out the room, we headed to speak with the Maitre D'.

 

About a month before the cruise I found an email for the allure dining staff (found it here on CC somewhere). I emailed them and requested a table for 2 by the window if possible. They responded within 1 day saying that we were set for table 531, deck 4 by the window for 2. I even confirmed this table a few days before we set sail.

 

Unfortunately, when we got our seapasses, they said Deck 3 table 113 which was with a large group. We were just a little uneasy about sitting with people we didn't know and wanted to spend more time to ourselves. We went to the MDR to get everything straightened out - I think it was on deck 5. They had a nice waiting area with refreshments while they looked into everyone's problems.

 

 

I ended up pulling up the email on my phone and they seemed more willing to get us what we were promised. They were able to get us table 631, which was the same table we were promised - just on the other side of the deck.

 

 

It was obviously a little frustrating to need to go and straighten things out when I thought it was taken care of, but I was satisfied that they were able to fix things.

[BillOh]

 

How terrible you had to look at the dock every night at dinner! ;)

[ashpam]

How terrible you had to look at the dock every night at dinner! ;)

 

 

I wish cruise critic had "like" buttons for posts! :p

 

 

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[laedw]

More please!:)

[dasania41]

Gorgeous table! We are on the allure in February. Do you the email dares you used to request the table area?

 

 

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[Clarea]

Gorgeous table! We are on the allure in February. Do you the email dares you used to request the table area?

rcldining@rccl.com

[Jenhem31]

I emailed them and requested a table for 2 and they obliged. On board Allure now!

 

 

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[creativediff]

Just emailed them as well - will let you all know what we find out!

 

 

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[sed610]

I didn't use the email that others have posted. I used this - AL_RestaurantOperationsCoordinator@rccl.com

 

I found this email address somewhere on the boards and they emailed me back quickly. It looks like both emails work though.

 

I am back this evening to post more!! :D

[sed610]

After the dining room we went to explore the ship for a bit before the muster drill.

 

Casino:

 

Aft of ship:

 

We ended up going and sitting in the nice chairs on the jogging track to enjoy the view. Not sure why I don't have any pictures of the view :(

 

We went back to the room probably around 2:30-3, and our luggage arrived so I was able to unpack. SO glad I did not live out of the suitcase this vacation! For some reason I usually don't unpack when we go on vacations, and then I regret it later in the week!

 

At 3:45ish we headed to the muster drill....unfortunately I had 4 set in my mind for the drill, and it was actually at 4:30. So we kind of waited around for it. Our location was in the promenade right by where the entrance to the ship was while in port. Being in the promenade was such a bad location - we had to stand the entire time (and being there early made it even worse). When the people spoke about safety we couldn't hear them, and they played a video above us that I wasn't able to see. I wasn't a very happy camper at the drill!

 

After the drill was finally over we went to get a drink of the day for myself and then head back to the room for sail away. Word to the wise on the drink of the day: I told the bartender "no souvenir cup" thinking I would save a buck. I got no souvenir cup and paid the same price if I would have gotten the cup to keep! Sorry if I'm the only one who would think of that, kind of stupid I guess!

 

At least the drink was good!

 

Sailing away from Ft Lauderdale - when we realized we will never do below a balcony again! We love the time alone and not being in crowded areas.

 

View looking down from our balcony:

I think every balcony would be able to see these - For some reason before the cruise I was thinking this was such a drawback, but it's really no big deal.

[sed610]

Here is the chops menu for you all to salivate over, hopefully I will be able to pick this back up tomorrow.

 

 

 

I forgot to mention that we went and made the reservation for dinner right after we ate lunch at Giovanni's. I made the reservation for 6PM no problem. They had a special list of people who had complimentary dinners through their TA's, and we were not on the list! I was a little worried, but they had it straightened out by the time we came for dinner. I was thankful that I didn't have to fight at guest services later on :D

 

Sorry that this review may be a little slower than others, I have a lot going on in my life but I am determined to keep writing!

[sed610]

Chops was very good.

 

Pretty empty 6PM:

We had a table for 2, it was a very nice quiet & private dinner for the majority of the time. By the time we were done eating (probably around 7), there were other couples seated very close to us. Still very nice setting though.

 

Bread:

The butter was flavored somehow, but we couldn't figure out what it was! We both liked it.

 

My husband had the bacon for his appetizer - sorry no picture. It was 1 piece of thick bacon with a glaze on it. Luckily I got to try it because it was very good!

 

Colossal Shrimp:

I love shrimp, but these were horrible. They were huge but very tough, like as tough as sirloin steak. I would try to take a bite and not be able to chomp through! I guess they were just overcooked? Also the cocktail sauce that came with it was the spiciest sauce I've ever had - and I generally like spicy. So, not a good appetizer for me.

 

We both had the 10oz filet:

We loved that they brought around sauces and the plates were made for the sauce to be on the side. We tried all 3 sauces they had and they were great (Bearnaise, peppercorn, and red wine). The steaks were great - DH ordered medium well and I ordered medium, and maybe they got ours mixed up because we ended up switching steaks after a bite. No big deal we were happy being able to just switch!

 

For sides to share we ordered the tater tots and the truffled corn:

DH liked the tots, I didn't think they were anything special. The truffled corn was a creamed corn finished with truffle oil. My husband didn't like it, but I loved it. On this trip we found out that I love truffle oil even though I don't like mushrooms. The whole trip I wished I could get more of this corn, LOL it was great.

 

Warm chocolate cake with coconut ice cream:

This was a decent dessert, not my favorite of the week though.

[sed610]

Red velvet cake and in the back a glimpse of huckleberry cheesecake:

Red velvet cake was OK - the cake didn't have much flavor but the cream cheese icing was very flavorful.

DH said the cheesecake was awesome.

 

After dinner we just explored the ship for a while, then headed to see Chicago:

This show was great - great performers/singers. DH and I didn't really know anything about the show before going, and once we saw how provocative it was I couldn't believe the amount of kids I saw there. Not OK in my opinion, but I know I'm not a parent yet.

I would consider this a show not to miss - and make sure you have reservations!

[TryingCruising]

Great review! I'm reliving our fun on the Allure last spring. Also looking into sailing her again in 2015 :D

[SeaTeach]

Thanks for taking the time to do this review. Waiting for more!!

[sed610]

Anyone still out there? I want to keep writing and posting my pictures, so I am going to post as I have the time. Hopefully the info will help someone out there :)

 

Here is some room service:

We ordered room service probably at least once a day, it wasn't always the best, but very convenient for those late night cravings when we didn't want to leave the cabin! The pizza was pretty good, spinach dip, not very good.

 

Room service cheesecake:

 

Room service cookies:

For the first half of the trip, these cookies from room service were AWESOME...seriously couldn't believe it. Unfortunately, after a few days when we would order cookies they would send us hard/dry cookies that were nothing like these. Oh well though, plenty of other sweets on this trip!

 

Day 2 - CC Meet & Greet Gift:

The meet and greet only had about 20 people show up in Dazzles. It was still fun, but quick! The couple we chatted with had been in the same hotel shuttle with us to the port! That was neat.

 

Buffet breakfast:

Not that impressed, but decent enough...we aren't big fans of the buffet since there are always other great options. Breakfast is by far the busiest time for the buffet during the week, and it kind of makes me crazy!

Edited April 2, 2015 by sed610

[HALcruiser2]

Love the review. We're sailing on the Allure in November...can't wait!!

[pepsigirl64]

:D Thanks for the pictures. We are sailing on the Allure on April 12!!!