The Charm of the Allure

One of the perks of being a cruise agent is getting to tour some of the new ships.  Recently, I was treated to a VIP tour of Royale Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas; one of a pair of new ships that now makes it home here in Fort Lauderdale.  I was very excited to see what all the buzz was about.  With 6,300 passenger, I was concerned just how crowed the ship was going to feel.  Surprisingly, you don’t notice it nearly as much as you would think.  There were some exceptions in place like the buffet and on the Royal Promenade during embarkation.  But as people began coming aboard and checking in, the myriad of neighborhoods and venues such as the Central Park™ and the Boardwalk® which run down the spine of the ship really absorbed the people and made the ship feel very comfortable.  However, the size of these ships does have some drawbacks such as the limited number of ports that can accommodate them, so the itineraries are limited for now.  However, this isn’t necessary a problem because the ship has so much to offer, that many travelers just opt to stay on board while in port.It goes without saying that the Allure (launched in November of 2010) and her sister ship, the Oasis (launched in November of 2008), are like no other cruise ships in the world.  They currently enjoy the status of being the largest cruise ever built.  They are both 1,181 feet long – with the Allure about 2.0 inches longer than the Oasis which the builders actually credit more to the temperature of the steel when measuring the ships than by design.  They are both around 225,000 gross tons.  In fact, the ships were so large, they needed to be equipped with telescoping smoke stacks in order to pass under bridges in Europe on her maiden voyage from the shipyards to their permanent home here in Fort Lauderdale. 

In addition, these ships also have many firsts and set a new standard in many other ways.  For example, their 1,380 seat theater allows them to put on true Broadway shows such as Chicago®.  They can host amazing synchronized swimming and diving spectacles in their Aqua Theatre®.  They have ice skating rinks on board, a two-deck dance hall and they are the first ships in the world with their very own Starbucks.It must be pointed out, however, that although these ships are indeed very large, they are not at all intimidating and are actually quite fun for just about anyone regardless of what they are looking for.  In fact, if you are looking for a great vacation that has something fun for all generations, these ships are a great option.  There are plenty of adult only activities and even some relatively kid-free locations to spend some quiet time.  However, there are also a ton of things for kids and active adults to do and see including the FlowRiders® which let you actually try your hand at surfing, H2O Zone® aqua park for kids, the Dreamworks® Animation Parade and even Zip Lines that sour above the open atrium. 

As for dining and cabins, the choices are nearly endless.  However, one unique feature of the ship is their interior balconies which are actually open to the sky.  They either overlook Central Park or overlook the Boardwalk where you can often watch some of the Aqua Park shows and even provide views of the ocean off to the side.

Although Royal Caribbean has done a wonderful job making these grand ships fun and entertaining for the whole family, there is no denying that they are very large.  To compensate, I highly recommend planning ahead and making reservations at the more popular dinning venues and facilities.  It’s also a good idea to make up a place to meet at certain times.  Unlike other ships, where you can expect to just run into your cruise mates, you have to think more like rendezvousing in a small town.  In fact, we often joke that when it comes time for departure, you’re never quite sure if it’s the Allure is pulling out of Fort Lauderdale or Fort Lauderdale is pulling away from the Allure.