7 night Allure VS 8 night Freedom - Help me choose!

[Robo1098]

I have been on Freedom, Oasis and Allure and enjoyed them all. Although Freedom was great I did find myself saying well Allure had this or that and never vise versa. I found Freedom to feel a little more crowded also. To me although I enjoy them all there is nothing Freedom has that Allure doesn't. You can't go wrong either way.

[riclop]

I would always pick Allure.

[cruzin76]

Best thread I read in a long time. Lots of wisdom. If you can get along go for 8 days.

[LBB]

Everyone here has great points. I am going on the 8-night in January. 1) It feels great on night 7! 2) I like Solarium better. 3) Itinerary is a little better. 4) Got a better cabin.

 

I honesty would be happy on either one and there are great things about each. I love every class of ship. I'd say to pick one and do the other next time around.

 

But...I can't think of many things that beat the feeling of having an extra night.

 

 

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[JamesEM]

I would go with Freedom because of the extra day and I prefer Eastern itinerary.

[--MajestyoftheSeas--]

You have peaked my casual interest, not enough to get me to research, but what are the port choices between the 2 cruises you are looking at? How many port days/sea days will you see?

 

These are the ports that the different ships are visiting:

 

Allure visits these ports:

Labadee

Falmouth

Cozumel

 

Freedom visits these ports:

Labadee

San Juan

St Maarten

St Kitts

 

3 full sea days on both.

[KeywestK]

This is a good problem to have. And there have been a lot of really thoughtful replies. If the ports are important to you as a family, then the Freedom wins hands down. The ports for the Allure are, IMO, nothing to write home about. (Disclaimer: We are doing that exact itinerary on Allure in November, and we booked it for the ship, not the ports.)

 

After reading all the comments, it's clear that people have very high opinions of BOTH ships, and it's a given that you and your family will have a wonderful experience whichever one you pick. Good luck, and let us know what you decide!

[--MajestyoftheSeas--]

How well do the four of you travel together?

 

I once had a B2B of 9 & 5 nights booked for me and my two teenagers.

 

My son said, "I can take the two of you for 9 days, but I don't think that I could do 14!"

 

So I cancelled the 5 nighter.

 

:D

 

Any chance that an 8th day could be the straw that breaks the camel's back of civility for your family?

 

Just throwing it out there!

 

:)

 

Good point but we are used to travelling together (even though not cruising) so that is not a problem.

What is important however is that everyones needs are satisfied, we all have different whishes. Kids need something to happen, doesn't have to be that fancy but something.

Wife needs her relaxation with a book at the poolside and I am also more of the active type.

[Clarea]

These are the ports that the different ships are visiting:

 

Allure visits these ports:

Labadee

Falmouth

Cozumel

 

Freedom visits these ports:

Labadee

San Juan

St Maarten

St Kitts

 

3 full sea days on both.

I also would prefer the Freedom itinerary.

[--MajestyoftheSeas--]

Thanks for you help and advice everyone :)

 

We have almost now decided on the Eastern route with Freedom.

 

I am sure both ships will be great and there will Always be another time for us to try the Oasis class ship.

[BillOh]

Time for a family meeting. The kids are old enough to do some research on each ship and ask them which cruise they prefer, and why.

 

There is a good suggestion (said with sincerity, not sarcasm:D )

[BillOh]

Best thread I read in a long time. Lots of wisdom. If you can get along go for 8 days.

 

I too have been enjoying the tone and information in the thread. Now go fix your signature! :p

[Yorkvillain]

 

We have almost now decided on the Eastern route with Freedom.

 

 

 

Excellent choice.

[BillOh]

These are the ports that the different ships are visiting:

 

Allure visits these ports:

Labadee

Falmouth

Cozumel

 

Freedom visits these ports:

Labadee

San Juan

St Maarten

St Kitts

 

3 full sea days on both.

 

I like the ports on Freedom better, but Sea Days Allure are better. I continue to be no help. If you were buying, I'd do either and enjoy. :D

Edited August 26, 2016 by BillOh

[Ocean Boy]

I have been on Freedom, Oasis and Allure and enjoyed them all. Although Freedom was great I did find myself saying well Allure had this or that and never vise versa. I found Freedom to feel a little more crowded also. To me although I enjoy them all there is nothing Freedom has that Allure doesn't. You can't go wrong either way.

 

Yes there is... a better itinerary.

 

Years ago everyone used to say if you are going with kids you should book a Voyager class ship, then it became a Freedom class ship, now it is an Oasis class ship. If those smaller ships were great for kids a few years ago why are they no longer great for kids?

 

I love Voyager/Freedom class ship as well as Oasis class ships. We go back and forth between the classes. We alternate a lot between which ever ship is doing the 8 night itinerary and the Oasis class. The Aqua Theater is the biggest draw for me on Oasis class. Voyager/Freedom have just about everything else that we need.

[Ocean Boy]

These are the ports that the different ships are visiting:

 

Allure visits these ports:

Labadee

Falmouth

Cozumel

 

Freedom visits these ports:

Labadee

San Juan

St Maarten

St Kitts

 

3 full sea days on both.

 

I much prefer the Freedom itinerary. Very nice itinerary coupled with a very nice ship.

[big_schots]

I had the same dilemma with my two kids, and chose the Oasis. The on the ship experience is just so much better. Just small things, like wind shielded ping pong tables, the zip line, better pool areas. They also have additional casual places to eat (Wipe-out Café, Park Café, hot dog place) that make things so much more accessible and kid friendly. The entertainment on the Oasis class ships blows away anything else at sea, especially with the Aqua theatre. The Freedom ports of call are better, but with kids, all the beaches and activities look the same, no matter the island. Most children don't want to be immersed in the history and culture of an island on some 7 hour island bus tour, but want to have fun. So, even though it is one day less, the Allure would be my choice with children. If it was just you and the wife, then I would definitely suggest the Freedom, with better ports and the extra day.

Edited August 26, 2016 by big_schots

[kearney]

I don't think you can go wrong with either choice. I love the Oasis class ship, but I prefer the eastern caribbean vs western.... 8 days is nice too. The Oasis is such a unique design, really worth experiencing. But it gives you something to consider in the future... by then there will be even more features.

 

I think your kids would like both ships, there is so much to do. RCCL real has focused on families... again you can't go wrong.

 

Once you choose, don't look back and think 'did I make the right choice'. You will enjoy it.

[LisaLisa87]

We were debating between the same two options for spring break 2017 and decided to go with the Allure Western. I liked the Freedom itinerary better and we could have had a grand suite on Freedom for only about $200 more than a JS on Allure, but in the end we still went with Allure. After a handful of Disney cruises followed by a Med cruise on Brilliance of the Seas, we decided we wanted to go big. I'm sure we would enjoy Freedom., but we want something totally different from what we've done in the past. Booking the Allure, for us, was like going ALL IN.

 

 

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[oldmom]

Another thing to consider- do you plan to have your 12 and 14 year olds with you both 24-7? Will they go to the childrens clubs? How-or -are you comfortable with them walking around the ship by themselves? I LOVE- the Oasis class ships-but- it is a hugh ship-lots of walking around. We were NOT comfortable with our minor child walking around a ship unescorted on a Freedom ship- I would be less comfortable on a Oasis ship. Your children-boys -or girls? Do you live in a Big city-or in the country? Is this THEIR first cruise? It is hard to keep in touch with with your children on a large cruise ship-do they have smartphones-are you planning on doing VOOM? It might be easier to do a Freedom size ship the first time with them. I'm not a paranoid Mom-but I liked to be in contact with my child when he was a young teenager on a cruise ship. It was hard to do on a Freedom ship! Would be even harder on the Oasis size ship!

[cruzin76]

I too have been enjoying the tone and information in the thread. Now go fix your signature! :p

 

What do you want me to fix?

[wilmingtech]

Another thing to consider- do you plan to have your 12 and 14 year olds with you both 24-7? Will they go to the childrens clubs? How-or -are you comfortable with them walking around the ship by themselves? I LOVE- the Oasis class ships-but- it is a hugh ship-lots of walking around. We were NOT comfortable with our minor child walking around a ship unescorted on a Freedom ship- I would be less comfortable on a Oasis ship. Your children-boys -or girls? Do you live in a Big city-or in the country? Is this THEIR first cruise? It is hard to keep in touch with with your children on a large cruise ship-do they have smartphones-are you planning on doing VOOM? It might be easier to do a Freedom size ship the first time with them. I'm not a paranoid Mom-but I liked to be in contact with my child when he was a young teenager on a cruise ship. It was hard to do on a Freedom ship! Would be even harder on the Oasis size ship!

On freedom we let our 12 and 14 year olds out on there own. As long as they told us where we would be able to find them and they were there when we checked in with them.

 

The 7 and 10yo were not allowed to run off but enjoyed a chunk of their day in kids club.

 

Most of the time we wanted to stay together as a family. It was just some of the activities the kids wanted to do that were kid-centric.

 

-Sean

[BillOh]

There was an extra tag on one of your future cruises, on my pc it showed and extra , I cant see it on my phone and wont be near a computer for 72 hours.

 

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[cruzin76]

Thanks, been there so long I thought it was normal.

[travelbuddies]

Sounds like the only solution is to do both ships, maybe a B2B?

 

Hitting the like button!