Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas was launched as a Royal Caribbean Oasis-class ship in 2010. For six years Allure of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world, prior to sister ship Harmony of the Seas being launched in 2016. The Oasis-class vessels Allure, Oasis and Harmony are a Royal Caribbean initiative in response to the demands of 21^st century cruisers. Variety is the spice of life on mega cruise ships, so much so that the vessels are comprised of distinct neighbourhoods for specific attractions and entertainments.

Allure of the Seas was built to the same specifications as Oasis of the Seas, although Allure is 5cm longer. Considering the ships are 362 metres long, the difference is minuscule. Allure of the Seas   underwent a refurbishment in 2015, resulting in several changes to attract high-end cruisers including upgraded dining options and fast Wi-Fi for the new cruise generation. To put the sheer magnitude of the ship in perspective, Allure of the Seas is almost as long as four football fields and seven metres taller (above the water line) than the Sydney Opera House. A lot of fun can be had on a ship as big as Allure of the Seas.

Sustainable sailing on Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean is one or the world’s largest cruise companies, and its ships are a boon to the Caribbean cruise industry. Year-round sailing to tropical destinations is a Royal Caribbean speciality and passengers are loving the experience. Hosting 5,492 passengers and 2,384 crew, a visit from Allure of the Seas is a tourism boon too good to miss and Caribbean locals are as welcoming as ever.

Allure adheres to stringent environmental guidelines and is energy and fuel efficient, recycling some of its own power. Allure produces its own fresh water thanks to huge seawater purification systems. Waste is retained in holding tanks for recycling and the ship itself is designed to limit drag under water. Recent engineering and technological breakthroughs have resulted in a stable vessel that self-adjusts to wave motions and is remarkably manoeuvrable in smaller harbours.

The end result is a cruise ship with a style all its own and large enough to accommodate everyone from solo travellers to extended families and sports teams. Many passengers attribute the success of Allure to the unique neighbourhood concept that allows individual cruising expression.

Allure of the Seas neighbourhoods

The seven distinct neighbourhoods facilitate smooth movement of passengers around the ship. Entertainments and activities of similar style are grouped together to attract specific passenger types. For example, teens and youngsters naturally gravitate toward active pursuits at the Pool & Sports Zone and Youth Zone while couples and relaxed travellers might instead prefer the Vitality Spa or Royal Promenade.

With 24 restaurant and dining venues onboard the choice between fine dining, buffet dining and fast food dining also reduces the incidence of bottlenecks, queues and overcrowding. All in all, the neighbourhood approach is a winner.

• Central Park: The centrepiece of Central Park is indeed the park. This lush tropical area features decorative gardens and dozens of trees in an area the size of a football field. The park, which opens to the sky, is a relaxing green space adjoining the Allure of the Seas piazza, a night time gathering place for entertainment and dining. A quality gift store, art gallery and portrait studio are also nearby.
• Boardwalk: This neighbourhood is a real family favourite for amusements and dining. Boardwalk features include the thrilling AquaTheatre, rock-climbing walls and an ornately carved carousel that will make anyone nostalgic. Johnny Rockets is a favourite eatery for families and the ice cream parlour is hard to pass by without stopping. And if in doubt as to what to do next, try Madame Zamara’s psychic and tattoo parlour for some guidance.
• Royal Promenade: Oasis-class vessels have the largest promenades at sea. This thriving place is a people-watchers paradise and great place to mingle. A highlight is Rising Tide, a bar which levitates up and down, spanning three decks. Resembling an upmarket shopping mall, the Royal Promenade is great for coffee followed by retail therapy and lunch. The neighbourhood gets even livelier in the afternoon and evening as patrons are drawn to their choice of bar or pub for a refreshing drink.
• Pool & Sports Zone: Passengers have a choice of four main pools, with additional splash areas for the little ones. Sun loungers are popular and the private cabanas beside the traditional pool are much coveted. Kids and kids at heart can range between the pools, surf on the FlowRiders, try rock-climbing, or rewind with some mini-golf or ping pong. The Solarium is a serene retreat with cantilevered whirlpools, and cooling off on the inside is as easy as visiting one of the four bars in the Pool & Sports Zone. For an additional rush, take a ride on the Zip Line and soar nine decks above the Boardwalk.
• Vitality Spa: This attractive health, beauty and exercise neighbourhood houses state of the art exercise equipment, a thermal suite for rejuvenation, massage suites, an all-service beauty salon, a separate youth spa and the Vitality Cafe for healthy food and drink selections. Allure also has the largest jogging track at sea. Whether you want to pump weights, lose weight or take the weight off your feet, Vitality Spa is the place to be.
• Entertainment Place: Centrally located and accessed by a dramatic staircase, Entertainment Place houses a traditional cruise ship theatre for spectacular shows and smaller venues hosting a range of entertainers and musicians. The Opal Theatre seats 1,380 guests for enjoying Broadway-style productions, while Blaze is a nightclub with a large dance floor and intimate seating arrangements. The jazz and blues lounge, Jazz on 4, is for music aficionados and Comedy Live has a real club feel. Dazzles is a chameleon-like venue that transforms its theme on a daily basis for different musical tastes.
• Youth Zone: Age-appropriate activities are all around the Youth Zone neighbourhood. Professional and experienced staff oversee programs for babies, toddlers, children and teens, and the kid cruisers enjoy making friends with people their own age. Highlights include a large gym activities area, computer games, a DJ booth, teen disco, theatre classes, talent shows and much more. Looking after the kids on vacation has never been easier.

Cabins

A huge cruise ship provides plenty of cabin options. The majority of cabins on modern cruise ships have a balcony, with many overlooking the above mentioned neighbourhoods. Accommodations range from basic interior cabins to expansive Loft Suites and AquaTheatre Suites that span two deck levels and feature wraparound balconies. All cabins and suits are comfortably appointed and designed for relaxation.

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Twin beds are convertible into queen size and storage solutions mean passengers feel at home in their own space. Flat-screen TVs broadcast a range of programming for chill-out times, possibly accompanied by treats from the room service menu. Whether you want to view vistas of distant horizons or have an upstairs vantage point for AquaTheatre shows, Allure has a cabin choice that is just right.

• Interior: These smallest accommodations are suited to people who want their own onboard hide-out, although some interior cabins have Promenade-facing bay windows for overlooking the main thoroughfare.
• Oceanview: Larger than the interior cabins, Oceanview cabins have a window for viewing outside. Cabins vary in size depending on the location and some come with a Boardwalk view.
• Balcony: All balcony cabins have an outdoor space large enough for a table and chairs so you can enjoy the outside environment. Traditional ocean-facing cabins are always popular, although there are options for overlooking Central Park or the Boardwalk.
• Mini-Suite: This category of accommodation are a third larger than the Balcony cabins due to the addition of a seating area with a sofa plus a tub instead of shower.
• Suite: Although more expensive than the above mentioned accommodations, the price of the seven suite categories is offset somewhat by Allure of the Seas perks that include access to the popular Coastal Kitchen restaurant and Suite Lounge, free drinks at the nightly cocktail hour, reserved theatre seating and priority check-in. Full menu in-cabin dining is also available for suite passengers. For people wanting to splurge, suites get incrementally bigger with increased opulence, the largest being the Royal Loft Suite which is the size of a nice home, replete with enormous wraparound balcony, a baby grand piano, private whirlpool and master bedroom.

Dining

The worldwide culinary revolution has certainly gained traction on the mega cruise ships. Allure of the seas provides gourmet delights from all corners of the world, with restaurant menus established by master chefs. The ship’s configuration provides the opportunity for a quick bite to eat, a full service formal dining experience and everything in between.

• Main dining room: The major restaurant was overhauled during the 2015 refurbishment, resulting in three separate venues, American Icon, Silk and The Grande. Passengers now have the choice of fixed seating arrangements at Silk and The Grand or flexible My Time Dining at American Icon. Meals are complimentary and extremely varied. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it’s quite possible (and satisfying) to try a different main course for every night of the cruise.
• Windjammer Marketplace: The go-to alternative to the main dining establishments, Windjammer Marketplace is a self-service buffet with a huge variety of meal options. Serving stations provide access to favourite foods such as pasta, fries, salads, cold cuts and more.
• Sorrento’s Pizzeria: Open almost all night, Sorrento’s is where passengers migrate to during a night out on Allure. Assembling your own special pizza topping is a decadent experience worth trying at least once.
• Johnny Rockets: Complimentary breakfasts include waffles, hash browns and breakfast-style sandwiches.
• Boardwalk Dog House: A range of six European and American all-you-can-eat hot dogs will surely tempt passengers at some point during the cruise.
• Boardwalk Donut Shop: This self service donut joint is definitely a nod to the patronage of cruisers from the United States. Also providing Seattle’s Best coffee, it’s a fine way to fill up and get the day started.
• Cafe Promenade: Open 24-hours, Cafe Promenade is an addictive way to cruise, with coffee, croissants, sandwiches and brownies available. It also provides self-service Seattle’s Best coffee. 
• Vitality Spa Cafe: Conveniently located next to the spa complex, this cafe provides healthy options, fresh juice, yoghurt parfaits, and protein shakes to revitalise and replenish.
• Park Cafe: Build your own bagels, enjoy a custom made salad and devour tasty gourmet sandwiches. The park cafe secret is out and passengers are voting with their taste buds.

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The menu choices get even grander at Allure of the Seas for-fee dining venues. Izumi is the Asian experience for the taste of sushi and sashimi, while Sabor is for all things Mexican. Chops Grille is a dinner time steakhouse and Giovanni’s Table is an Italian institution. Vintages is a wine and tapas bar for tasty treats while the popular 150 Central Park offers a creative six-course tasting menu. Other for-fee favourites include real Starbucks coffee and the Chef’s Table, an exclusive dining experience for only 14 passengers on every evening of the cruise.

Cruise ship dining has improved and expanded with every new vessel launched and culinary options abound all around Allure of the Seas. At other times while onboard, the easy alternative involves a simple call to room service for snacks and treats to satisfy the hunger cravings.

Deck Plan

You can browser the latest version of the interactive deck plan on the official Royal Caribbean website here.

Allure of the Seas Stats

Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas visits the Eastern and Western Caribbean year-round, soaking up the sunshine and transporting passengers to a pristine wonderland. An ocean cruise is still about the destination, but getting there has become a large part of the fun. Exotic destinations visited by Allure of the Seas include St. Maarten, Labadee, Cozumel and Falmouth to name just a few.