kirby

Pick your entertainment and then make MTD reservations best you can.  It's very difficult to find anything between 6-8:30, so if that's what you are looking for and it's available, grab the reservation now.   It seems they hold those time slots for walk-ins (those that don't make reservations) and they do seem to have to wait to be seated, especially during those busy times.  
 
Also, show times can change from when you book online to the week of your cruise.  We had a few that shifted slightly by 15 minutes.  Not a big deal for dining.  We never did show up late but there were several nights where we showed up earlier than our reservations and were seated pretty quickly thereafter.      
 
The staff was quite accommodating.     
 
One thing to note which we didn't realize before our cruise, if you find a table, section, server, etc that you like, you can request that for other nights of dining.  We did that with the hostess on our way out one evening after dinner.  

Following up on this thread post cruise (was on a week ago).  I did repurchase the Premium package and it was $404 including gratuities ($49/day or $343 for week plus $64 for 18% gratuities).   My sister-in-law waited because she wanted to apply her onboard credit towards this purchase but she unfortunately was charged either $467 or $477 (honestly I forgot) but it was definitely more.  At first we thought it was because she was in port and they were including a special tax (we had read somewhere that someone was charged a Florida resort tax or something like that) while in port.  So she decided to wait and purchase later in the evening after we left port and it was still the same price.  It wasn't advertised very well but it looks like there had been a sale and luckily I was able to take advantage of it.   Personally, if the price is okay and you don't plan to use your onboard credit toward drink packages, I'd prepurchase before cruise.  Makes life simpler.  
 
I did wait, though, to purchase my daughter's Royal Refreshment (soda) package until we got onboard so she could have access to the soda cup immediately and not have to wait until we were able to get into our cabin.   My cup was in the cabin waiting for me, but I didn't need it for my beverages.  :-)

Your question was brought was brought up when I was on a behind the scenes tour of the Allure recently.
 
Here is the answer to your question according to Captain Johnny on the Allure:
 
The Allure will always pull up to the dock with the starboard side facing the dock.  The reason for this is that the escalators used when in port are only located on the starboard side.  So whenever the Allure comes into port she will spin 360 degrees and back into the dock with her starboard side against the pier.  

For others' reference:  I went ahead and just purchased my beverage package, which will be the "Premium" and the cost ended up being $49/day or $404.74/week including 18% gratuity.     Per my notes, I expected the price to be $477.59/wk (or $57.82/day + 18% gratuity).   Whether real or not, I'll tell myself that I just saved $70 - woohoo!
 
So, either I had it wrong before, or there really is a discount.  Either way, I'm locked in now.   Hopefully if there is (another) discount RC will honor it when I get onboard.  For now, I'm going to gamble with my daughter's soda only beverage package and get that one onboard.    Hopefully I've done (and am doing) the right thing.  It's only money, right???  

I will have to try this.  I enjoy piña coladas even though I'm not much of a rum drinker.  I love amaretto drinks.   This sounds like a great match-up.  Thanks!

I will have to try this.  I enjoy piña coladas even though I'm not much of a rum drinker.  I love amaretto drinks.   This sounds like a great match-up.  Thanks!

I'll add too, that Denali was probably a highlight of the trip.  While booking a cruise through Alaska, try to add on a land package that includes Denali (or do it on your own).  This was a trip my parents took us on, and my Dad pretty much did all the planning, so I don't know what's involved in doing extra land excursions.  I did do a lot of research on port excursions, so feel free to contact me if you need assistance with any of that.  

I was on Radiance of Seas this past June (2015).  We did a 4-night land tour before the 7-night Hubbard Glacier Cruise, which started north and headed south.  We flew from Seattle to Fairbanks.  The land package was Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage and Seward.  Cruise ported at Juneau, Skagway, Icy Point, and Ketchikan.    Final destination was Vancouver, where we spent a day sightseeing, then made our way back to Seattle for another day of sigthseeing, then flew home from there.   It is pricey, but all in all, it was a great trip, especially for our group of 10.   

I was on Radiance of Seas this past June (2015).  We did a 4-night land tour before the 7-night Hubbard Glacier Cruise, which started north and headed south.  We flew from Seattle to Fairbanks.  The land package was Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage and Seward.  Cruise ported at Juneau, Skagway, Icy Point, and Ketchikan.    Final destination was Vancouver, where we spent a day sightseeing, then made our way back to Seattle for another day of sigthseeing, then flew home from there.   It is pricey, but all in all, it was a great trip, especially for our group of 10.   

Lately some ships have been scanning and some have not.  If they do, yes besure to get it scanned on return!
 
Also, you do not have to keep the same one(s) all week.  You can exchange for fresh as many times as you want.

They scan the number of towels you take on your sea pass and when you return them they scan them back.  It's $25 per if not returned so be sure to have them scan your sea pass.

I'll be on Allure March 2016.  We've rebooked all shows except for Comedian, which we are still not sure which night to do that...  
 
Looking into excursions for St. Thomas and St. Maarten and would be interested in any recommendations you may have.   
 
How does the dining work?  We just came off a RC Alaskan cruise where we had assigned seating (for 10 of us) and that worked out great.  Yet, this time around we are only 5 and it sounds like it's open seating.  I'm not interested in the specialty restaurants, but curious if we still need to make a reservation somewhere or just show up to the dining room (or buffet) whenever we want.  
 
What is your recommendation for parking at the port?   We'll have car so am trying to decide Port Everglades vs. remote private lot or at a hotel.  Thinking Port is way to go.  Do you know which terminal Allure typically leaves from (which garage to park at)?