On Allure currently. Some issues.

[WestTexasCruiser]

I’m booked on the Nov 11 maiden voyage out of Galveston. Good to hear the ship will be gussied-up, but I’d be really upset if I were on her this sailing!!

[3yorkies]

Since the only outside area I frequent is the solarium, I would be very, very PISSED OFF about this were I on board.   If they are going to do away with the solarium, then they need to provide another adults only outside area for those of us who choose to avoid the over-abundance of children on the ship.    You should get at least a 50% refund for this.  Sheesh! 

[not-enough-cruising]

2 hours ago, HBE4 said:

Not to go to far off-topic but I read on another website whose name I can't mention (Not Matt's) that Royal is going to resume their Amplification program with the Allure scheduled for first half of 2023. The article was dated Aug 2022 so it's fairly recent.

 

Checking the Allure's schedule for 2023, I didn't see any large gaps that would permit such major work.  Are they going to try to partially AMP her by doing lots of little mini-updates here and there?  Maybe not the purple slide but swap out restaurants and renovate one pool at a time?

This is certainly a false report. 

[cruiselvr04]

I would not be happy since the solarium is where we spend all our sea days and some ports days.  I always try to not let things ruin a trip for me but I certainly would be writing a letter after…..Just like I would be unhappy if I wasn’t notified if the resort I’d booked was going to be under construction.  
 

Hoping those on board can still enjoy but it would be different for us.  I’d have to find a new place to park myself.  

[cruisin from florida]

12 minutes ago, cruiselvr04 said:

I would not be happy since the solarium is where we spend all our sea days and some ports days.  I always try to not let things ruin a trip for me but I certainly would be writing a letter after…..Just like I would be unhappy if I wasn’t notified if the resort I’d booked was going to be under construction.  
 

Hoping those on board can still enjoy but it would be different for us.  I’d have to find a new place to park myself.  

We live in the Solarium on our cruises. I'd be upset, too, and would ask for compensation (obc or fcc) too.

[HBE4]

35 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

This is certainly a false report. 

 

Thanks. That's why I thought I would ask. I only saw that report on one website & nowhere else. 

 

Edited October 30, 2022 by HBE4

[BermudaBound2014]

2 hours ago, WestTexasCruiser said:

I’m booked on the Nov 11 maiden voyage out of Galveston. Good to hear the ship will be gussied-up, but I’d be really upset if I were on her this sailing!!

 

Unless of course the work isn't finished.

 

The NCL Epic has had the spice area closed for quite awhile. It's taken them significantly longer to work on than they initially reported. Guests onboard are getting $50 obc. 

[Ourusualbeach]

2 hours ago, WestTexasCruiser said:

I’m booked on the Nov 11 maiden voyage out of Galveston. Good to hear the ship will be gussied-up, but I’d be really upset if I were on her this sailing!!

There is no Nov. 11 voyage.

 

There is a 4 night Trade event from Nov 9 to the 13th then the first scheduled sailing on the 13th for paying guests

[Ocean Boy]

2 hours ago, WestTexasCruiser said:

I’m booked on the Nov 11 maiden voyage out of Galveston. Good to hear the ship will be gussied-up, but I’d be really upset if I were on her this sailing!!

 

27 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

There is no Nov. 11 voyage.

 

There is a 4 night Trade event from Nov 9 to the 13th then the first scheduled sailing on the 13th for paying guests

Well, that seems to be a little problem.

[Ourusualbeach]

2 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

 

Well, that seems to be a little problem.

Just a bit.  We will be enjoying Cozumel on the 11th.

[Ocean Boy]

15 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Just a bit.  We will be enjoying Cozumel on the 11th.

👍

[clskinsfan]

Spoke with guest services because they called my stateroom to ask what I thought about the key so far. I said it's great but don't think having a third of the deck seating shut down for construction is good at all. He said he understood and they were told to write down every single complaint they have gotten so higher ups can see how big of a problem they have. He said the list is VERY long. Feet bad for the poor guy. Not his fault. He said they were not told it was going to happen and people just showed up in Ft Lauderdale to begin the demolition. I told him I find that hard to believe as I know the ship is being repositioned after this cruise and they have an event for the big wigs coming up. He offered nothing at all. I will be writing to Royal when we get home. In the mean time I am going to enjoy this guitar player in Bow and Stern and pound another few drinks. 😀

[Jimbo]

5 minutes ago, clskinsfan said:

Spoke with guest services because they called my stateroom to ask what I thought about the key so far. I said it's great but don't think having a third of the deck seating shut down for construction is good at all. He said he understood and they were told to write down every single complaint they have gotten so higher ups can see how big of a problem they have. He said the list is VERY long. Feet bad for the poor guy. Not his fault. He said they were not told it was going to happen and people just showed up in Ft Lauderdale to begin the demolition. I told him I find that hard to believe as I know the ship is being repositioned after this cruise and they have an event for the big wigs coming up. He offered nothing at all. I will be writing to Royal when we get home. In the mean time I am going to enjoy this guitar player in Bow and Stern and pound another few drinks. 😀

Any pictures as to what is going on? Pictures will do wonders for your case and others?

 

Once other Cruise Critic Members see what is going on then Cruise Critic Members can really go off on Royal Caribbean. 🤣

By the time you pull into your final destination we will have local Tv stations there, etc. 

Edited October 31, 2022 by Jimbo

[Baron Barracuda]

My brother is aboard.  Haven't spoken to him but since embarkation but he had told me his group on that other web site has 750 members aboard.  Properly coordinated  that sized group could raise quite a stink.

[cruisegirl1]

16 hours ago, tampadee said:

Brings back memories of the maiden voyage of Quantum of the Seas in 2014, starting in New Jersey and ending in Shanghai.  The ship was destined to sail out of a port in China so major changes were made while we were onboard.  They remodeled the casino, added really expensive retail shops.  Johnny Rockets was renamed Kung Fu Asian Noodle Shop.  Then we received a letter from the captain which alerted us to the fact that there may be Pirate attacks along the way and we were required to close our drapes after dark every night.  Lights were turned off early in upper decks. 

 

We weren't happy either! 

This is common practice for travel in many areas.  We had the same in the Gulf of Aden on Rhapsody a few years ago.  We had a "safe haven" drill, as I suspect you did as well.   I didn't mind lowering the lights/closing curtains as it allowed the extra security on board to get a better view of surroundings.   

 

M

[cruisegirl1]

The renovation situation seems awful.  Closing the solarium is bad enough but closing off another major pool as well must be a mess.  I am surprised that there was no communication about the renovations/closures. 

 

M

[cruisegirl1]

16 hours ago, mconthehighseas said:

When a major venue shuts down, they need to either provide an alternative or a price reduction.
In this case, they should have made some other venue all -adult, even if it couldn't be a pool.

If you have access to a concierge, I recommend insisting on a partial refund or some other compensation. If you don't have a concierge,  call or visit the front desk when they are not busy.  If they tell you they aren't allowed to handle this kind of request, tell them you will be happy to have someone who can handle it reach you. And don't be afraid to get others to join you. 

What does having a concierge have anything to do with the issue?   Those not in a suite, or those who don't have C&A status are inconvenienced as well. The concierge has NO authority to do anything in this situation, except maybe take your complaint.   I feel badly for the GS staff, but the company put them in a difficult situation.  Simple communication to passengers might have alleviated the  issues. 

 

M

Edited October 31, 2022 by cruisegirl1

[Ourusualbeach]

20 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

The concierge has NO authority to do anything in this situation, except maybe take your complaint

The concierge is actually part of the guest services team and has been extremely helpful in getting refunds, FCC's and OBC for less than stellar service or issues on board.

[A&L_Ont]

17 hours ago, tampadee said:

Brings back memories of the maiden voyage of Quantum of the Seas in 2014, starting in New Jersey and ending in Shanghai.  The ship was destined to sail out of a port in China so major changes were made while we were onboard.  They remodeled the casino, added really expensive retail shops.  Johnny Rockets was renamed Kung Fu Asian Noodle Shop. 

 

Then we received a letter from the captain which alerted us to the fact that there may be Pirate attacks along the way and we were required to close our drapes after dark every night.  Lights were turned off early in upper decks. 

 

We weren't happy either! 

 

I would not be happy with the venue changes, but the lights out for pirates is fine by me. 

 

The lights out at night is a common long time occurrence while sailing through certain areas off the coast of east Africa, specifically Yemen and Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. A Google search brings up this topic. 

 

[Ocean Boy]

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

This is common practice for travel in many areas.  We had the same in the Gulf of Aden on Rhapsody a few years ago.  We had a "safe haven" drill, as I suspect you did as well.   I didn't mind lowering the lights/closing curtains as it allowed the extra security on board to get a better view of surroundings.   

 

M

I am curious. When they do lights out do they close the outside decks or can people still access the outside decks in the dark? I would not mind as long as I could still go out.

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

The concierge is actually part of the guest services team and has been extremely helpful in getting refunds, FCC's and OBC for less than stellar service or issues on board.

Yes - they can assist is several issues, but I can't imagine they can do anything about closed venues   under construction.   If they can, great.  

 

M

 

[cruisegirl1]

10 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I am curious. When they do lights out do they close the outside decks or can people still access the outside decks in the dark? I would not mind as long as I could still go out.

I think we walked outside on   the outside promenade deck after dinner a night or two.  We had interesting conversations with the security staff.   Not much was open outside at night, (pools were closed) so no reason to use the pool deck.  Honestly can't recall if the upper outside  desks were open.  I would guess they were not, simply for  passenger safety issues as the ship was dark.   

 

I recall we were allowed on the balcony but were asked to leave the lights off in the cabin. 

 

For us, it was only for 3 or so nights of a 15-night cruise.  

 

M 

[John&LaLa]

18 hours ago, tampadee said:

Brings back memories of the maiden voyage of Quantum of the Seas in 2014, starting in New Jersey and ending in Shanghai.  The ship was destined to sail out of a port in China so major changes were made while we were onboard.  They remodeled the casino, added really expensive retail shops.  Johnny Rockets was renamed Kung Fu Asian Noodle Shop.  Then we received a letter from the captain which alerted us to the fact that there may be Pirate attacks along the way and we were required to close our drapes after dark every night.  Lights were turned off early in upper decks. 

 

We weren't happy either! 

 

Pirate precautions happen on every Suez canal transit

[sowhat]

15 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

This is certainly a false report. 

Royal Caribbean has decided to pause the scheduled Royal Amplification refits of Allure of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas.
Allure of the Seas was to undergo a 58-day, $165 million dry dock that would have added new enhancements including the Ultimate Abyss and Perfect Storm slides; a Music Hall; an expanded Giovanni's specialty dining venue, and all-new Adventure Ocean spaces for kids and teens, in addition to general refits throughout the vessel.
Explorer of the Seas would also receive its very own $100-million Royal Amplification refit. The ship was going to receive The Perfect Storm racer waterslides, a redesigned pool deck with The Lime & Coconut, and other enhancements.

Plans for both vessels have now been shelved indefinitely.
 

Edited October 31, 2022 by sowhat

[John&LaLa]

18 hours ago, Jimbo said:

That's what my post was referring too, Customers onboard mean nothing to Royal compared to what image they impress the Free Loading Trade Show people due to come  onboard.

 

Look forward to seeing some pictures posted.

 

Kinda like when grocery stores spend Wednesday afternoon and evening swapping out next weeks sale items.

 

Don't understand why they don't do that after they close. Likely labor savings, but still a big inconvenience to paying customers fighting the chaos