This is my final blog on Allure of the Seas. It’s time to get caught up on cruise news so I’ll get at it tomorrow, when my weekly cruise newsletter will be emailed. Make sure to sign up for it if you’re looking for some outstanding prices. Details for receiving the newsletter are on the right side of this page.
Here are some final random thoughts on the Allure…
Royal Caribbean’s mega ship takes a while to get around, just as it does on Oasis of the Seas — that’s the picture of the two of them the first time they met! However, I discovered you can find pockets of peaceful space, like the Solarium at the bow of the ship. If you’re early enough, you can get a cabana right up front. Even the large hot tubs are located off the wings of the Solarium — they hang over the side of the ship. There are a few other tranquil spots so, when touring the ship, watch for them here and there, then mark them on your map for future reference.
Don’t let this ship intimidate you. Take it one step at a time and you will find that neat place to have a coffee or a drink. If you like things big, well, the Allure is for you.
The DreamWorks How to Train Your Dragon ice show was good — and short, about 20 minutes. What we didn’t get to see was the skill of the skaters and if you didn’t see the movie, the show might not mean much
to you, but it will mean a lot to the kids. The Olympics has turned Canada into a winter sports nation (if it wasn’t already) and the show needs a little more athleticism.
Dazzles caught my eye. If you like to dance, this is the spot. A big band, with all kinds of music from as far back as the ’40s. It has two levels, just like the old-fashioned nightclubs and a fair-sized dance floor.
For the major pay restaurants like Park 150 and Chops, make sure you 
book in advance. The same goes for Sambas, the Brazilian Steak House that is transformed into the Solarium restaurant during the day.
Babies six months or older are welcome on the Allure. You can also order nanny services online and add more time, if available, on board.
This is a very small thing, but in this day and age of hauling around lots of electronic gear, the placing of a round ball of plug-ins on top of the vanity was a perfect and necessary move. Funny how the little things sometime mean a lot.
I haven’t figured out why they charge $2.50 for cupcakes when a hot dog loaded with your favourite condiments is free. Possibly because a specific 
baker is needed to create cupcakes and if Royal Caribbean didn’t charge it wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the demand.
The new Starbucks has street-level pricing. That means what they charge elsewhere is what they charge on Allure.
The Broadway show Chicago is a winner. The show moves smoothly throughout and most passengers would rate it as Broadway or West End quality.
The Allure has the Jazz Club. What it’s missing is all that jazz. Why not get jazz groups to board for a week at a time; different groups so the fee wouldn’t be too hefty — and good jazz musicians could use the cruise as a holiday? You’d probably find they would jam on other parts of the ship. Jazz Club needs some real jazz players.
The deal with DreamWorks by Royal Caribbean was brilliant. All the characters from DreamWorks movies come to life, with a parade on the
Promenade every day and 3D movies in the Amber Theatre, plus breakfasts with the characters. It works.
Adagio dining room: Although it holds over 3,000 diners at each sitting, there are small areas blocked off with panelling that creates the feeling of a smaller room. It’s convention centre size with a feeling of intimacy, depending where you sit.
Most of the cafes along the Boardwalk are free, including the Promenade Café, which serves small sandwiches and desserts. They use Seattle’s Best Coffee.
You can walk or jog around the entire ship but the track is on Deck 5. Most of the view is lifeboats. The gym and the spa are also on Deck 5, and it’s the top level of the Adagio Dining Room, too.
Now some news about getting to the ship…
I am a big fan of the Fort Lauderdale Airport, even when I’m taking cruises out of Miami. It’s much more convenient to get around. So if you’re coming into that airport to catch Allure at nearby Port Everglades and plan to take a taxi, make sure it takes the short route to the port and not the long one. Having said that, if there are lots of ships there could be
a huge back-up, and the commercial gate might make more sense. The short route opens at 6 a.m. so don’t let them fool you…as my driver tried to until I told him I wanted to take the short route. Fort Lauderdale’s airport should ensure taxis are always taking that route. Every time I have been there, I have to ask them to turn at the first entrance to Port Everglades.
There’s an even better option, one that takes a little more time. There is a free — yes, FREE — bus that operates from the car rental building. It’s not far from the terminal (you can see all the ships from the car rental building). It’s a good thing to keep in mind, especially if you’re going to Fort Lauderdale a day or two earlier and renting a car at the airport.
Finally, Allure of the Seas and its older sibling Oasis are not for everyone.
If you’re looking for a more adult ship, consider Celebrity or Holland America. If it’s a floating resort you want, and one that will entertain your entire family, then both these ships will meet your needs.
Like everything that’s big, you have to wait from time to time. That’s part of the deal. But if you use the technology on the ship, that helps.
Finally, it’s possible Royal Caribbean could be ordering a new ship for 2014. Some hints were dropped during the inaugural Allure cruise although nothing is definite. One thing for sure: It will not be in the mega Oasis Class.
My guess is a ship that would fit into the new Panama Canal when it opens in 2014.
All for now.
REPORTERS AT SEA WINNERS: Check out the work done by Canada’s Knol family from Burnaby, BC, during four days of “reporting” on the Allure of the Seas. Click here to view their videos.
