We had a fantastic training from Royal Caribbean International last week ahead of them becoming one of our long-awaited suppliers and this made me think about my cruise last year in one of their ships. I was on Allure of the Seas for a week in September 2019. Although it was part of our company training, it was a fantastic experience. There are so much more to write about Allure of the Seas and my trip, but for this blog I am going stick with just the top 10 things you must do while sailing on her. Very soon, I will be writing a trip report about my week on board Allure of the Sea with all the other details about the ship and the ports we visited during the week.
Allure of the Seas is one of the Oasis class ships owned by Royal Caribbean International. She was first launched in November 2008. She is breathtaking, and her public spaces are broken up into seven neighborhoods. Entertainment Place on Deck 4 has an indoor ice-skating rink, clubs and lounges. If you are a shopping fanatic, then head to the football field length Royal Promenade. The outdoor Boardwalk has family-friendly restaurants, shops, a carousel and the famous Aqua Theatre. The Central Park is covered by nearly 12,000 plants and trees was one of my favourite neighbourhoods.
During the first quarter of 2020, Allure of the Seas was scheduled to have major refurbishment (Royal Amplified Project) in Cadiz Spain. However, due to the pandemic, the project was forced to drop most of the changes and ended up just having the main technical upgrades and regular maintenance works. Among the cancelled upgrades were the Ultimate Abyss (world’s largest waterslide at sea) and The Perfect Storm (3-waterslides complex). Hopefully, the planned refurbishment will take place in the near future and the sailors can experience these soon.
Now, let’s see what you should be doing! While I did not do everything on this list, these are my top ten must do things during your stay onboard. Anything to do with a bit height, I didn’t do it!
1. Ocean Aria:
Aerialists and acrobats will give you a spellbinding performance at the majestic Aqua Theatre with shooting water and colorful lights. At times we were on the edge of our seats in awe as we watched some of the divers bravely dive into the water to beautiful music from the 9-metre diving platforms. This was definitely my favourite.
2. Mama Mia
I’ve watched Mama Mia in London and in my opinion, this was far better. The lead actress was fabulous. Share the drama, laughter and heartache with Donna and Sophie. Sing along to ABBA’s timeless classics and have a fantastic evening. Make sure you reserve through Cruise Planner as early as possible.
3. Blue Planet
Blue Planet celebrates mother nature in its own way. Watch the acrobats and dancers perform to music and listen to them sing in awe. Then be prepared to be surprised during the Tree of life performance. My top tip would be, don’t blink! Otherwise you would miss the surprise unfolding.
4. Ice Games
It is a monopoly themed Ice-Skating show. Along with colourful costumes and ever-changing sets, the skaters keep you on your toes by their breathtaking performance. They do ask guests to participate during the show. Are you ready to get involved?
5. Flowrider
This is a 12m long surf simulator, where you would be up against 100000 liters of water heading towards you. I saw people struggling to even hold on to the surfboard let alone stay upright! If you’re interested in getting more practice, private lessons start at $69. Height restrictions apply.
6. Rock Climbing Wall
Climbers must be 6 years of age or above to do this. I was not brave enough to do this but was more than happy to take photos for a colleague when she climbed. She said the views when she got to the top of this 12m wall was worth the climb. Make sure you have a closed toe shoes if you’re planning to do this.
7. Zip Line
This is another activity I nearly did but chickened out last minute. You will be zipping over 10 decks with views of Boardwalk below! No reservation needed, the guests can just walk in and have a go. Closed toe shoes are required, and weight restrictions apply
8. Merry Go Round
Do you want to feel like a child again? Then you must give this a go. Enjoy the fun with all the family in this colouful carousel with magnificent hand carved animals. This is a highlight of Boardwalk. We had fun revisiting our childhood days on this.
9. Rising Tide Bar
This is an oval shape bar that moves up and down a few decks with guests. An ideal way to soak up the surroundings while you relax and enjoy a drink. The best idea would be boarding the bar from Royal Promenade deck and enjoy the moving venue as it goes up to Central Park deck. The bar stays around half an hour on each deck to let the guests get on or off. Age restrictions apply.
10. Spa and Fitness Centre
Make sure to spare time for a bit of pampering during your stay onboard Allure of the Seas too. From massages to teeth whitening, anything is possible at the Vitality Spa. They use highly acclaimed brands such as Elemis, bliss and La Therapie to give the guests luxury, pampering treatments. Advance booking is advisable.
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