Allure of the Seas Inaugural in Fort Lauderdale
Updated March 2019
WOW! It's all in the name, Allure means to attract through personal charm, and Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas certainly does that. We sent Claire from our sales team on a 3-day venture onboard to find out more about holidaying on this stunning ship. Read on to find out just what she thought.
Day 1
The transfer from Miami airport to Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale was around 40 minutes, and check in was smooth and fast. When I embarked the ship, it felt like I walked into a different world. My balcony stateroom was located on deck 9 midship and was a good size. I was impressed by the flat screen TV, especially because it enables you to send emails from your stateroom with no need for a laptop - there is a wireless keyboard so you can just sit back, sign up and connect. Very simple.
Being on such an innovative ship for such a short time meant planning was essential. I highly recommend you book all your shows and speciality restaurants on day one to avoid disappointment. The amazing ship carries 6,296 guests - so move fast to see it all. I booked the Blue Planet Show and Chicago: The Musical. There was also a choice of several DreamWorks Animations productions, from Shrek 3D in the Amber Theatre to How to Train your Dragon on Ice in Studio B.
After booking shows and restaurants, I attended the mandatory boat drill followed by a late afternoon snack (a toasted panini - highly recommended!) at Central Park Cafe on Deck 8. It felt like I was in a real park thanks to the 12,175 plants and 56 trees that make up the backdrop. After this, I just had to experience the Rising Tide Bar which moves slowly up and down between decks five and eight while you enjoy a tasty cocktail. It's a fun experience.
I then visited the Vitality at Sea spa for a look around and ended up booking a quick pedicure, it took only 20 minutes and very affordable. My dinner reservation was the second seating (8:45 pm) at Adagio Dining room on deck 4, where the service was fast and the food was tasty. After dinner, there was a 70's disco street party on the Royal Promenade to get the nightlife started which was lots of fun.
Day 2
I had breakfast in the Windjammer Marketplace on deck 12, where there was a great variety to choose from including delicious, freshly made omelettes. At 10:30 I watched the "Move it! Move it!" parade on the Royal Promenade, that featured the likes of Shrek and Kung-Fu Panda - the little ones loved it. Next, I went to "the first Starbucks at Sea" on the Royal Promenade on my way to the Royal Caribbean business catch up.
After the meeting, I had a quick lunch at the Boardwalk Dog House, where I found a great menu of all sorts of different hot dogs. Of course, then I needed dessert - I recommend the chocolate brownies at Cafe Promenade on deck 5. Next headed straight for the zip line on deck 15, where you zip line 10 decks above the Boardwalk and across the interior of the ship - very scary! The crew talk you through it though, and it's very safe and fun to try, though it's very quick! They say adrenaline is addictive though, and I then headed off to the rock-climbing wall on deck 7 for a little more!
After all this action I finally relaxed in the adults-only Solarium on deck 15. I enjoyed a soak in the indoor Jacuzzi while watching the sunset, what more can u ask for? It was then time to get ready for a cocktail in the Dazzles nightclub on deck 8, where I enjoyed delicious snacks and some Champagne before moving on to yet another stunning dinner in the Adagio Restaurant.
After dinner was a stroll to the Aqua theatre, where I watched an impressive fountain show that used a selection of lights and music perfectly choreographed to the movement of the water. This was lovely to watch before heading to the Blue Planet show in the Amber Theatre. This performance was exquisite - the dancers were very talented. The only way to end this fun-packed day was to dance it away in the Blaze Night Club on deck 4.
Day 3
I woke up to a beautiful hot day and ordered room service, again the food exceeded my expectations. I then took a walk around the ship as there was still so much to see, and I still had to try the Flow Rider surf simulator. This was loads of fun - the first attempt was really hard but the second time around I was much better. If this sounds too much you can try the miniature golf course right next door. After this, I had a little time to relax and soak up the sun, so I settled in one of the many deck chairs and enjoyed the helpful crew who were around to look after every need.
With it being Thanksgiving, I had the opportunity to see the Turkey Pardon on Deck 5, and at that moment I was giving thanks that I was lucky to be on such a fantastic ship.
In the evening I was excited to see Chicago: the Musical (which started at 5 pm), and I kept thinking I was in London's West End. After the show, I had dinner in Central Park at Giovanni's Table, one of the five speciality restaurants onboard. The menu was superb, I couldn't decide so the waitress brought us all her recommendations and she was spot on. It was the best Italian cuisine I have ever tasted!
After dinner, I went next door to Vintages for a nice glass of Pinot Noir. Then on to the Aqua theatre to watch the Oceanaria Aqua show - this one is not to be missed. Matt Yee's Dive Live was next in the Scooter bar on deck 6 - if you want to laugh your socks off go see him. He was such a treat after an action-packed day.
Overall all I can say is that three days was not enough to experience this unique, one of a kind, ship. It's great for families with all the youth activities, has enough romantic escapes for couples, and enough entertainment for groups of adults or single cruisers. All in all perfect for everyone.
If you're feeling inspired and want to experience this beautiful ship for yourself, take a look at our range of Allure of the Seas cruises.