My pre-crusie tips and checklists for Allure in the Mediterranean

[elleran]

Despite the warning, I want to try and "do" as much as possible when I sail on the Allure in a few weeks. I've been keeping notes and lists from various posts and compasses for a while now and thought I would share. Sorry that I don't have attributions for the various tips. None of this is from experience.

 

Note I am gold C&A staying in a cheap cabin and am not interested in shopping, casino, spa, dreamworks, paid restaurants etc. and these notes reflect that. Also this doesn't include my notes about the ports.

 

Pre-reservable shows

Get there 45min - 15 min before if you have reservations.

Seats roped off for people with gold cards are where the best view is. Open up 10 minutes before the show to anyone.

 

Amber theatre

Is at the other end of the ship to the dining room. Maybe leave 2h 15m between MTD dining reservation and start of show time

Can get cold

Can enter deck 4 or 5 (5 usually has less line)

Mama Mia - center mezzanine or floor

Blue Planet - on the balcony

Gold card have first 2 rows center deck 5

 

Studio B

Best seats at the end of a row.

Don't sit behind the big pillars

Gold card have 3 front rows on the left

 

OceanAria

Sometimes cancelled due to weather - book one earlier in the cruise in case.

Front 3 rows are splash zone

Gold cards get middle section? 2 rows at the top?

Beach chairs are more comfortable than benches

Sometimes the chairs are a bit dirty

 

Comedy - more likely to be picked on at the front

 

Other timed events/shows

Barcelona

Boarding may be at 10:30

Guest Assembly Drill 5pm (have seen it at 4:30 too)

Sail away party 5:30

 

Palma

Captain near car 7:45 pm - 8;20 pm, speech at 8:30 pm

Majority Rules Game Show 10:30pm

ESCAPE Party by Malibu 11pm - 1:30pm

80s party 11:15pm

 

Marseilles

Motown/funk/hiphop party 10:30

 

La Spezia

How to train your dragon ice show 7pm and 8:45pm (was only one show 9pm before)

Magic show in the casino 8:45pm

70s party 10pm

 

Rome

Guest Assembly Drill 5pm for those boarding in Rome

Parade 7:45pm

50s & 60s party 9:45pm

Battle of Sexes 11pm (sometimes at 9pm)

 

Naples

White party on the boardwalk 10pm (replaces glow party in Studio B)

"Twenty" by Absolut Party 11:45pm

 

Sea Day (if there are replacement Oceanaria shows some of these are cancelled or moved)

Captain's corner 10:30

Let You Entertain Me - noon

Men's International Belly Flop Competition 1pm

World's Sexiest Man 1:45pm

FlashMOB dance class 1:45, performance 2:55

Michael Jackson dance class 4:30

Family Magic Show 5:15pm

Flowrider Show 5:30pm

60 seconds or less 9:30pm

PJ Dance Party 10pm or 11pm

 

Not on for Mediterranean cruises: Quest, Love and Marriage, Central Park Tour, art tour

 

Evening entertainment in compass (other than shows)

Blaze - ballroom dancing then nightclub

Jazz on 4

Boleros - latin dance music

Bow & Stern - pub entertainment

Schooner Bar - piano and vocal

On Air Karaoke - Hard to see the words without turning around. Open Barcelona, Rome, Naples, Sea Day. Competition Round 1 Palma, Round 2 Marseille, Final La Spezia

Central park music, sometimes quite early

Dazzles - dance(nice view during the day too)

Fountain show 10:45 Marseilles, 9pm La Spezia sometimes?, 9:45pm Rome, 9:45pm Naples, 10:45pm sea day

 

Food - Breakfast

 

MDR

Deck 3 American Icon. Has buffet and table service.

Best for things that suffer on a buffet (e.g. French toast and pancakes)

Specials of the day include Spanish style omelet, Huevos Rancheros (baked beans, avocado, jalapeno etc), Onion and bacon quiche, Country style something, Asian Inspired scrambled eggs with baby shrimp, Eggs benedict. Will usually make eggs benedict for you even if it's not on that days menu.

Chocolate breakfast - same days as the dreamworks breakfast that you can find online. For us Marseille and Sea day. e.g. chocolate banana bread, pancakes, milkshake (free)

 

Johnny Rockets

Free for breakfast only, has soy meat

 

Park Cafe

Bagels

 

Wipeout cafe

Made to order eggs

 

Windjammer

Isn't always full when the screens say it is

Has free smoothies at breakfast?

 

Solarium

 

Room Service

 

Food - Lunch

MDR

Sea day and "casual buffet" Palma 1-2pm

Tutti Salad

 

Other usual options are windjammer (till 3:30pm), solarium (till 3pm), wipeout (till 5:30pm) and Park cafe (till 6pm)

 

Food - Dinner

MDR

You can get things from the kids menu every night, e.g. tortilla chips with sour cream and guacamole, mini brownie.

Supposed to leave 1.5-2 hours but can probably make it faster, esp with MTD and a smaller table

MTD deck 3 American Icon 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm.

Busiest first night and formal nights.

 

Menu Order and formal nights. Seem to keep changing - these are from mid-July.

Barcelona Mojo (has also been listed as Arugula in addition to Marseilles)

Palma Saffron, Formal

Marseilles Arugula

La Spezia Pimiento

Rome Shiitake

Naples Jasmine, Formal (no free lobster)

Sea Day Pomodoro (has also been listed as Pimiento)

 

Snacks

Room service 24 hours with service charge midnight - 5am

Cafe Promenade 24 hours

Sorrentos pizza - usually open around 11:30am - 3am

Dog House - usually open noon - 6pm

Donuts - usually open 8am - 11am

Ice cream machines between the pools, one on each side and one in wipeout usually 11 am - 6:00 pm

Vitality Cafe - banana bread, granola bits, fruit, yogurt etc. free in the morning?

Get crushed ice from the soda machines without a soda package

 

Food - Paid

Sabor $19 tasting menu is enough food for two

Johnny Rockets milkshakes 2 for 1 ($5) with C&A coupon on seapass card

Can often get a discount on the ship for dinner on the first night or perhaps the formal nights esp if you have MTD

 

Food recommendations

Cafe Promenade

cheesecake lollipops

 

Room service

Chesse plate

 

Park Cafe

Roast beef sandwiches

Soup

 

MDR food by night

 

Everyday/Often

Shrimp Cocktail (not every day, but many)

Beef sliders

Savory bites (bread)

BBB creme brulee

Chocolate sensation

 

Mojo

Horseradish encrusted salmon

Prime rib

Blueberry peach crumble

 

Saffron (Formal)

Chilled Banana and Rum soup

Bay Scallop Gratin

 

Arugula

?? Rare menu

 

Pimiento

Lasagna al forno

Garlic tiger shrimp

Chicken marsala

Eggplant Parmigiana

Dessert sampler for the flourless chocolate cake (which will probably also be available in windjammer by itself)

Sticky bread pudding

 

Shiitake

Sugar free coconut terrine

 

Jasmine (Formal)

Creamed wild mushrooms

Grand Marnier souffle

 

Pomodoro

Rosemary Lamb Shank

Key Lime Pie

 

Room

Can remove paid items from the fridge to fit you own things

Can ask for ice

Can stick things to the walls or door with magnets

Sinks are shallow

Ask for shampoo and conditioner and they will probably bring some

 

Packing

Shirt and board shorts to wear on flow rider

Socks for ice skating and rock climbing

Long pants for ice skating

Closed shoes for zip line

Neon/white/glow in the dark items for white party (can purchase glow in the dark items on the ship)

Clothes that cover knees and shoulders for the churches

 

Activities

Opening time in compass may not be accurate

 

Flow rider

Most early mornings and evenings + sea day

2 min average per person

 

Rock climbing

Mostly evenings + sea day

 

Ice skating

Some times are teen only

At night in Barcelona, Rome, Naples

Sea Day 9am - 2pm

 

Zip line

Maybe take turns so someone can hold things.

 

Mini golf 11:30am - 11pm every day

Carousel

Sports Court 11:30am - 11pm every day

Gym 8am - 1am

Running track 24 hours except during aquatheatre shows

Pools and hot tubs 24 hours

Shuffleboard - behind the aqua theatre deck 6

Table tennis 24 hours

Boardwalk mirrors and bean bag toss

 

Tips for before you leave home

Book shows (and possibly MTD dinner etc)

Sign the sports waiver online (but still have to go to the sports desk to get the bracelet)

OBC is coded as OBR refundable (e.g. from TA) or OBN (non-refundable). If you have a cash account (no credit card on file), you can withdraw either type of OBC from the casino without paying 5%

Email web_reservations@rccl.com before your cruise to ask about the headliner

Check how many other ships will be in port at the same time http://ships.cruisett.com/schedule/Royal_Caribbean_International/Allure_Of_The_Seas/August_2015/

Check Italy strikes http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/planning/strikes.htm

Cruise compass says you can get off the ship 15 min after dock time (in Naples estimated at 30 min), back on the ship 30 min before leave time

 

Tips on the ship

Less lines (e.g. for elevators) on the port side

Red carpets indicate starboard side and green carpets indicate port. Ship pictures always face the correct way

Check your messages on the TV. Compass on the TV is more up to date too.

Small wonders list http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=45241354#post45241354

Wash and fold seems to be offered both Palma and La Spezia

Good sunrise and sunset at naples

On the sea day, sail between land around 9 or 10am

Free meclizine hyrdocloride 25mg for motion sickness at guest services (take max 50mg a day).

Towels are at the main pool or the kids pool

Day 1 is the only day you can explore the kids section and the spa.

On Air Club Video Postcard Booth where you can email pics to your friends & family for free (make sure you know their email addresses)?

 

Other spots (particularly quiet or out of the way places)

Solarium and cantilevered hot tubs

Champagne Bar

Rising tide bar

Deck 9 small balcony over central park

Sun deck at the front of the ship deck 14 port side access

Chairs at the back of the running track deck 5 (exit near Champagne Bar or stairs from deck 6)

Balcony at the base of the rock climbing wall deck 7 - wraps around to the side of the ship

Library deck 11

Card room deck 14

Balcony where the diamond lounge used to be overlooking the promenade (near 6585 but through the elevators)

Computers and printer deck 7 and 9 front staircase and in the card room. Can print boarding pass for flight without an internet package?

Art Gallery/Hall of Odds (between Casino and entertainment place port side)

 

That's it! Feel free to correct me or add tips.

[Theredofshaw]

"Comedy: most likely picked on if in front."

 

Just don't be the person whose family member sits up front and then the comedian standing to the side hears you say "grandma, you never sit in the front row at a comedy show". he was also probably the tallest person on the ship/I've ever seen (6'7"). Dude got all sorts of attention by moving back a few rows lol

[Ksma23]

What a great checklist. I've saved it to my phone for quick reference :)

We are cruising Allure for the first time here in just over a week so perfect timing.

Hope you enjoy your cruise!

[groispb]

Thank you!

[koopmanclan]

Fantastic...thanks so much. I have been making a list too but yours covers so much more. Much appreciated.

 

Are you going to share your 'Ports' tips list too.....would be really helpful if you had time.

 

Thanks again

Edited July 28, 2015 by koopmanclan

[suekay]

Wow! I'm impressed. I'm going to print off your notes when we go on Allure at the end of August. Thank you for sharing☺

Edited July 28, 2015 by suekay

[gingernm]

Hi,

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

When are you and those who've responded going on Allure? I'll be sailing on her 23rd August out of Barca.

 

Regards

 

Rob.

[Bobal]

deleted

Edited July 28, 2015 by Bobal

[cb at sea]

OMG...you've got too much time on your hands! You're gonna waste precious mins. on the ship consulting your list!

[Langley Cruisers]

Yeah.. seeing this list reminds me of what I already experienced and know about Oasis class: it's not a relaxing vacation. ;):D;)

[koopmanclan]

Hi,

 

Thanks for sharing!

 

When are you and those who've responded going on Allure? I'll be sailing on her 23rd August out of Barca.

 

Regards

 

Rob.

 

We go 9th August :)

[Sammy Sailor]

September 13th! Thank you! :)

[California kitty]

September 13th...thank you!!!

[SpainAlien]

Sept 20th, thanks for the info

[suekay]

August 30th

Edited July 29, 2015 by suekay

[freeon]

Embarking September 17. When you say some areas for gold card what do you mean by that.

[Langley Cruisers]

Embarking September 17. When you say some areas for gold card what do you mean by that.

 

Gold card holders are Suite guests. The color of their Sea Pass card is gold, so staff can see at a glance that they are in a suite.

[kalliekae]

I think you covered everthing on the ship. I make notes when I read CC too, so this is great! Thanks for sharing.

[bfap9903]

This is so detailed, thanks for sharing! BOARDING SEPTEMBER 27TH.

[LetsGoToDisney]

Thanks for sharing, that was a lot of work. I'll use some of it if you don't mind!

[Lady Arwen]

Thank you! We're October 4th and your list has just become our list!! Good job!

[cocod08]

Great list saved this for my Allure cruise even though its a Caribbean one

[suite dreams]

August 30. Thanks for the list. I have been on the Allure once before and I still appreciate you putting everything in one list. I wish I knew how to print a copy.

By the way, have you checked out the Prohibition Party?

[Theredofshaw]

August 30. Thanks for the list. I have been on the Allure once before and I still appreciate you putting everything in one list. I wish I knew how to print a copy.

By the way, have you checked out the Prohibition Party?

 

highlight, copy and paste into microsoft word or another document program ;)

[suite dreams]

Thanks, I will give it a try.