ALLURE OF THE SEAS. Just back

[Rick-n-Lisa]

Just a quick review of our 8 night cruise on the Allure. For the inquiring minds that want to know, we were told 3200 passengers on this sailing.  
We had a great time and the service was outstanding in every area we came in contact with.   We ate in the main dining room every night but one and our wait staff team was INCREDIBLE!  We thought the food was good to very good every night which is pretty amazing when you’re serving 1600 meals plus per night.  (That was a rough guess, assuming 1/2 the passengers eat in the dining room- I have no clue what the real number actually is lol). We had great weather most of the time and seas were pretty calm most of the time , no issues there.  Our Sea Day Thursday was cloudy and we dodged some rain but as the captain said there was plenty of sunshine inside the ship!  We didn’t do any activities on board other than the comedy show (twice) , Mama Mia, Headliner Tony Tillman, Dazzles one night and the guitar player in the pub, Pablo, three nights- he was good we thought!  We also went to the Love & Marriage show Thursday night I think.  It’s not as good as it used to be IMHO and not sure why they couldn’t still isolate the couples and let them give their own answers instead of writing down and the cruise director reading them. I think a lot was lost in the translation with this way of doing it but still got a chuckle or two.  Spent a little time in the casino on a few slots.  Some nights were busier than others and no smoking in there was sooo nice.   We made reservations for the comedy shows and the headliner show when we boarded.  We did not have reservations for MMa Mia but we’re able to get in once all guests with reservations were seated.   As far as Covid protocol goes, pretty much the same as the last few weeks, masks on in all public areas including bars and casino unless eating or drinking you can take off, not required outside.   Constant cleaning everywhere, hand sanitizer stations everywhere, bathrooms were normally occupied by someone cleaning so I felt very safe and that all precautions were being taken.  Most everyone I saw was abiding by the mask rules.  It wasn’t that bad except just remembering to out it on when you walk out of the room.  Did not hear of any positive cases on board including crew or passengers and not aware of any clandestine transferring crew off or on the ship.  No issues in any port.  St. Thomas required masks, other places did not mandate except indoors.   Cruise Compasses are on the TV  in the stateroom but you can request a printed one so I don’t have any info, times, etc to share as I did not have any printed ones.  St. Thomas we took a ferry to Water Island and went to Honeymoon Beach,  St. Maarten we took the water taxi to Philipsburg to see our friend Miguel who does chair rentals in front of the Blue ***** Bar.  He has the ones with the Orange umbrellas.  Nicest guy ever!   There were 6 ships in St. Maarten that day!   I’ve never seen more than 2 and once in a great while 3.  The beach in Philipsburg was pretty crowded that day.  On St. Kitts/Nevis we did a side by side tour with Funky Monkey Tours on Nevis.  Highly recommend if you like that kind of excursion.  I wrote a review on the St. Kitts port of call board if you want more info.  
This was our 13th (I think) on Royal and ranks in the top 2 of all I think. It was 4 of us - 2 couples, we were all celebrating our 60th birthday except one friend was turning 64.  We had connecting Oceanview Balcony rooms on Deck 9 and they opened the balcony divider for us.  FYI our best cruise was on the Freedom in 2013 when my son proposed to my daughter in law right as we were boarding. Our other son and a friend of his was with us as well.  So that one holds very special memories.  
 

That’s it. I’ll try to answer any questions if you have any but I’m not one for a lot of details so I apologize in advance for that!
 

[topnole]

So how was Dazzles?   I guess you have to wear a mask if on the dance floor?  Or can you bring a drink on the dance

floor?   My wife loves Dazzles but I doubt she will want to go if we have to wear masks in there.  We go in a few months so a lot can change.  
 

I suppose no issue at the pub because you can sit down with a drink and no masks needed.  
 

Did the ship seem dead at times due to such low capacity?

[MD VBMom]

Thanks for this extensive review!  Looking to possibly schedule a cruise on Allure.  The prices on Allure seem to be lower than on most other ships and I can't figure out why. Is there something wrong with this ship?  Sounds like your cruise was amazing!   Thanks for sharing.  

[Rick-n-Lisa]

Nothing wrong with the ship.  I think she was due for an update right before or during Covid?? Not sure if it happened or not, I’ve read so much on here I get it mixed up lol. But she’s in great shape.  I wouldn’t hesitate to book her again. That was our 2nd time on Allure and we’ve been on Oasis twice.   
fyi hubby is from Maryland, I’m from VB. 

[Rick-n-Lisa]

We wore masks INTO Dazzles but no one sitting around or dancing had them on.  We overheard someone say no masks beginning in March possibly, depending on CDC guidance at the time I suppose. 
 

Ship never seemed dead.  There was a review of someone on board I think 3-4 weeks ago and only 1200-1400 passengers.  And I just read someone’s post going next week that said it’s at full capacity.  

Edited February 13, 2022 by Rick-n-Lisa