drdestructo

Day 2 – At Sea

This morning we were all up shortly before our beverages arrived. We then ate breakfast in Coastal Kitchen. Today was a lounge day with time on the balcony.  After breakfast, we headed up to the Mast Bar to meet Sally and Tom and pick our 2nd and 3rd cards in the poker run.  We chatted for awhile and invited them to join us for lunch on the balcony.  We had arranged with Romina to have Johnny Rockets delivered to the room for lunch.  At first, they were reluctant but after some coaxing, they decided to join us. I asked what they would like for lunch and Sally asked for a Chicken Caesar Salad.  Tom did not want lunch.  We asked them to meet us at Noon.  We went back to the room and relaxed.  Tom and Sally joined us shortly before Noon and food was delivered promptly.  Everything was great except that Sally’s Salad was missing the grilled chicken. A quick call corrected that and Tom ending up eating the extra salad as a new one with Grilled Chicken was delivered.  The burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes and Cherry Cokes were a big hit with the group.  After lunch Sally and Tom visited awhile longer before they went to do their own thing and we lounged some more. 


 
For Dinner we had reservations at Giovanni’s Table at 5:30pm.  We met Romina and she ensured we were seated, and we chatted briefly about our plans for our first port stop of Cozumel.  She would meet us at the room in the morning.  We arranged to meet her at 9:45pm for our reservation for the headliner show (Tony Tillman) scheduled at 10pm.   Dinner was fantastic, as we all ordered an entrée and our server TJ brought out everything else family style so we could sample everything. After dinner, we split up and moved around the ship trying to walk off dinner. We also had more pictures taken. We met up with Romina at the Amber Theater for the headliner show.  I had seen and heard mixed reviews on Tony Tillman, but he was quite the performer infusing a great deal of energy into his show. Our group agreed that we all enjoyed it.  Following the show, you guessed it…back to the casino.

Day 3 – Cozumel, Mexico

In my correspondence with Romina, I expressed concern of getting my dad (82) and my wife (extremely bad knees) from the ship to the cab stand in Cozumel and asked her for suggestions. As mentioned, we had my dad’s scooter and I rented another one from Special Needs at Seas for Martha to use as she wanted.  Covid has limited some Genie flexibility as they are not allowed off the ship.  Romina worked with the Port Authority to have two people from the port meet up with us at the gangway and assist dad and Martha all the way to the cabs.  This saved them countless steps.  We were told that we should let  Port Security know when we returned and they would escort them back as well. 

When we were notified of the itinerary change, we made reservations at Mr. Sanchos as four of us had been there previously and liked it.  The six of us were placed in a van and driven to the beach resort.  On the way, as I spoke with the driver, he said he would remain the whole day and drive us back when we wanted to return to the ship.   There did not seem to be too many people at the cab stand, so I could see why he would want a dedicated fare and tip both ways.  He did not want to accept the first fare until our return, but I gave it to him anyway when we arrived.  We took the obligatory picture at the entrance and then paid our entrance fee.  We were some of the first folks at the resort and had our choice of locations.  The boys chose a shaded area near the swim-up bar while the ladies chose a palapa near the beach.  Norberto was our server, and he took extremely good care of us.   Food and drinks were good and plentiful.  We spent time in and out of the water at the beach and pool and took in the beautiful weather while applying sunscreen liberally.  When it was time, Norberto alerted our driver who made sure the van was cool for our return trip to the port.  We provided a nice tip to Norberto for taking such great care of us.  We left a little early to allow some shopping time at International Pier.  After arriving back at the port, we walked around a bit and shopped before we met up with the port employees to use the wheelchairs to help get dad and Martha back to the ship. We let Romina know that we were returning and she met us as we got back on the ship and secured an elevator for us. With a swipe from her magic Genie key card, we had the express back up to deck 17.   

For dinner, since we were back from a day in the sun and an all inclusive resort, we asked Romina for a low key dinner of some pizzas delivered to the balcony where we could watch sail away as well.  We all showered and went to the Boardwalk where we rode the carousel and enjoyed some Ben and Jerry’s at Cups and Scoops. Then we met up with Romina at 9:45pm at the Aqua Theater for the 10pm Aqua Show.  This show was fantastic as we continue to marvel at the athleticism of the performers.  After the show it back down to the casino.  Next up…Costa Maya.

Day 4 – Costa Maya

The day started as usual with our morning beverage delivery.   I had made arrangements with Maya Chan Beach Resort for our group. Martha and I were the only ones who had been here previously.  When I contacted the owner’s son David, I asked if we could have a specific location near the pool and restrooms. He quickly responded and our reservations were set.  We found out when we arrived that this was only the fourth day they had been re-opened. 

Romina had also worked with the Port Authority to allow dad and Martha to take their scooters to the security gate where we would only have a short walk to meet the bus to take us to Maya Chan.  This was extremely helpful as it is quite a hike from the ship to this gate.  Security had us leave the scooters in a covered area where we could retrieve them upon our return.  We crossed the street and met the representative from the resort. A short time later a huge van arrived and we were on our way.  After a 20 minute trip where the driver skillfully maneuvered around the unpaved road, we arrived and David greeted us and explained the layout to those who had not been there previously.  We were guided to our cabana which was nice appointed and had the right mixture of sun and shade.   Moments later, rum punch and chips, salsa and guacamole arrived.  We arrived around 9:30am and at 11am we were told by our server that lunch was ready, so we headed over to the dining area and bar.  I had prepped my dad about the food, since he is picky eater and usually not open to trying new things.  I assured him none of the food was spicy unless he added some spice from the taco bar.  We had a choice of corn or flour tortillas, fresh fish, chicken, pork or beef and toppings of choice which was served by the staff. Everyone loved the food, but I was floored when my dad asked for seconds!  This was a very chill experience versus Mr. Sanchos and we enjoyed the change of pace.

This was a short port day and we asked for a return taxi at 2pm.  The return was seamless as the van stopped just inside the gate where we retrieved the scooters and did a little shopping in the port.  Once again a call to Romina and she escorted us back up to our room once we were back on ship. 

Plans tonight include 5:30pm Izumi Hibachi and Mama Mia at 8:30pm.  After we all got back to the room, we showered and relaxed a bit and then it was off to Izumi.  The food and presentation were great.  Our group of six were joined by another couple and we all had fun.  After dinner we sauntered around until it was time to meet Romina for Mama Mia.  I did not know if I would enjoy this show a second time as I had seen it on the Allure in 2018, but in discussing with my wife, we think we liked this performance better.  Great cast with great energy and of course the music. Back to the casino after the show, but the long days, sun and fun were catching up with us.

Day 4 – Costa Maya

The day started as usual with our morning beverage delivery.   I had made arrangements with Maya Chan Beach Resort for our group. Martha and I were the only ones who had been here previously.  When I contacted the owner’s son David, I asked if we could have a specific location near the pool and restrooms. He quickly responded and our reservations were set.  We found out when we arrived that this was only the fourth day they had been re-opened. 

Romina had also worked with the Port Authority to allow dad and Martha to take their scooters to the security gate where we would only have a short walk to meet the bus to take us to Maya Chan.  This was extremely helpful as it is quite a hike from the ship to this gate.  Security had us leave the scooters in a covered area where we could retrieve them upon our return.  We crossed the street and met the representative from the resort. A short time later a huge van arrived and we were on our way.  After a 20 minute trip where the driver skillfully maneuvered around the unpaved road, we arrived and David greeted us and explained the layout to those who had not been there previously.  We were guided to our cabana which was nice appointed and had the right mixture of sun and shade.   Moments later, rum punch and chips, salsa and guacamole arrived.  We arrived around 9:30am and at 11am we were told by our server that lunch was ready, so we headed over to the dining area and bar.  I had prepped my dad about the food, since he is picky eater and usually not open to trying new things.  I assured him none of the food was spicy unless he added some spice from the taco bar.  We had a choice of corn or flour tortillas, fresh fish, chicken, pork or beef and toppings of choice which was served by the staff. Everyone loved the food, but I was floored when my dad asked for seconds!  This was a very chill experience versus Mr. Sanchos and we enjoyed the change of pace.

This was a short port day and we asked for a return taxi at 2pm.  The return was seamless as the van stopped just inside the gate where we retrieved the scooters and did a little shopping in the port.  Once again a call to Romina and she escorted us back up to our room once we were back on ship. 

Plans tonight include 5:30pm Izumi Hibachi and Mama Mia at 8:30pm.  After we all got back to the room, we showered and relaxed a bit and then it was off to Izumi.  The food and presentation were great.  Our group of six were joined by another couple and we all had fun.  After dinner we sauntered around until it was time to meet Romina for Mama Mia.  I did not know if I would enjoy this show a second time as I had seen it on the Allure in 2018, but in discussing with my wife, we think we liked this performance better.  Great cast with great energy and of course the music. Back to the casino after the show, but the long days, sun and fun were catching up with us.

Day 3 – Cozumel, Mexico

In my correspondence with Romina, I expressed concern of getting my dad (82) and my wife (extremely bad knees) from the ship to the cab stand in Cozumel and asked her for suggestions. As mentioned, we had my dad’s scooter and I rented another one from Special Needs at Seas for Martha to use as she wanted.  Covid has limited some Genie flexibility as they are not allowed off the ship.  Romina worked with the Port Authority to have two people from the port meet up with us at the gangway and assist dad and Martha all the way to the cabs.  This saved them countless steps.  We were told that we should let  Port Security know when we returned and they would escort them back as well. 

When we were notified of the itinerary change, we made reservations at Mr. Sanchos as four of us had been there previously and liked it.  The six of us were placed in a van and driven to the beach resort.  On the way, as I spoke with the driver, he said he would remain the whole day and drive us back when we wanted to return to the ship.   There did not seem to be too many people at the cab stand, so I could see why he would want a dedicated fare and tip both ways.  He did not want to accept the first fare until our return, but I gave it to him anyway when we arrived.  We took the obligatory picture at the entrance and then paid our entrance fee.  We were some of the first folks at the resort and had our choice of locations.  The boys chose a shaded area near the swim-up bar while the ladies chose a palapa near the beach.  Norberto was our server, and he took extremely good care of us.   Food and drinks were good and plentiful.  We spent time in and out of the water at the beach and pool and took in the beautiful weather while applying sunscreen liberally.  When it was time, Norberto alerted our driver who made sure the van was cool for our return trip to the port.  We provided a nice tip to Norberto for taking such great care of us.  We left a little early to allow some shopping time at International Pier.  After arriving back at the port, we walked around a bit and shopped before we met up with the port employees to use the wheelchairs to help get dad and Martha back to the ship. We let Romina know that we were returning and she met us as we got back on the ship and secured an elevator for us. With a swipe from her magic Genie key card, we had the express back up to deck 17.   

For dinner, since we were back from a day in the sun and an all inclusive resort, we asked Romina for a low key dinner of some pizzas delivered to the balcony where we could watch sail away as well.  We all showered and went to the Boardwalk where we rode the carousel and enjoyed some Ben and Jerry’s at Cups and Scoops. Then we met up with Romina at 9:45pm at the Aqua Theater for the 10pm Aqua Show.  This show was fantastic as we continue to marvel at the athleticism of the performers.  After the show it back down to the casino.  Next up…Costa Maya.

Embarkation Day   

Cruise day had finally arrived.  We loaded the 6 of us in two vehicles with luggage and a mobility scooter for dad and made our way to the port. We had an official check in time of 1pm, but Romina explained that we could be within an hour of that time. It was a little after 11am when Mike and I dropped off the scooter, luggage and the ladies at the Star Class stand while we went up to park. When we got back downstairs the attendant at the Star Class banner had arranged for porter to get our bags and follow us in after an initial check of our vaccination cards, passports, and Negative Test Results.  We had printed these out and this proved to be much quicker than bringing it up the few times it was requested from our smart phones. A side note, it appeared that a few folks decided to gamble and arrive before their “appointments”, and I did not see anyone being turned away.  

After the initial document check, we were led inside by the Star Class representative to the next area where our documents were checked again. This is where we received wristbands that they asked to keep on the remainder of our time on the ship.  The Star Class rep then led us through baggage x-ray and on to an elevator (we had the scooter) to the 2nd floor.  This is where we first met our Genie Romina.  Romina brought us to another access point where our documents were scanned, and then she led us to the terminal exit leading to the ship. This was the fourth and last time our documents were examined. Romina led us onto the Allure and asked if we had watched the safety videos.  Since we had done so, she brought us to our muster station, and we were checked in and completed within a few minutes. It was only 11:30am and we now made our way to the room.

While we had viewed videos of the Royal Suite, it did not compare to seeing it in person. We let Martha use her key card to open the door and when we entered, tears of joy streamed down her face as she was thrilled to be back on a cruise.  Romina was quick to ensure that Martha was okay, and they did a fist bump.  We wanted to go to the Park Café for lunch and Romina was alerted that another Star Class Guest was ready to board, so we planned to meet later in the room where she would go over the itinerary that she had planned for us.  At this time, we also met our room stewards Derry and Putu.  We chatted briefly and they went over the features of the Royal Suite.  We asked them to set up the jacuzzi tub on the patio as we planned to use our massive balcony for sail away.  My family also presented them each with a bag of chocolates which they seemed to genuinely appreciate.


 

 
Since it was only 11:45am and very few people were on the ship at the time, we were the only people in the Park Café for the first half hour, then other cruisers began to trickle in. All the personnel we encountered seemed genuinely happy to have folks back on board.  The made to order salads and roast beef sandwiches were as good as were remembered.  After lunch we explored the rest of the ship to show the newbies around.  We then went back to the room to unpack.

Just as we finished unpacking, Romina came to the room, and we all went over the plan for the week. Pre-cruise, I had requested early dinners, and early shows as we like to spend time in the casino afterwards.  We made a few minor adjustments to her plan but overall, it suited us well. We also put in a standing order for Starbucks, fresh Orange Juice and a few chocolate milks to be delivered to suite each morning.  We then enjoyed the next few hours relaxing on the balcony and using the jacuzzi.  One note…due to our dining schedule and advice from this board, we asked Romina not to have afternoon snacks sent to the room to avoid food comas and waste. 

For dinner, we had requested Coastal Kitchen (thank you Sabrina) as it was Filet night.  Romina met at 5:30pm and all 6 of us ordered the filet.  It was outstanding as usual.  After dinner, we moved around the ship some more, and we took some group photos until we were to meet up with Romina at Studio B for the Ice Show at 8:45pm.  Romina had seats reserved and bar service lined up for us as we arrived. We thoroughly enjoyed the show.  As a matter of fact, we really enjoyed all the entertainment this week.  After the show we made our way to the Trellis Bar to meet some Cruise Critic members from our unofficial roll call.  One couple Sally and Tom had set up a poker run for anyone interested. Our whole group participated and we drew our first cards. Then per our custom, our group ended the evening in the casino.

Embarkation Day   

Cruise day had finally arrived.  We loaded the 6 of us in two vehicles with luggage and a mobility scooter for dad and made our way to the port. We had an official check in time of 1pm, but Romina explained that we could be within an hour of that time. It was a little after 11am when Mike and I dropped off the scooter, luggage and the ladies at the Star Class stand while we went up to park. When we got back downstairs the attendant at the Star Class banner had arranged for porter to get our bags and follow us in after an initial check of our vaccination cards, passports, and Negative Test Results.  We had printed these out and this proved to be much quicker than bringing it up the few times it was requested from our smart phones. A side note, it appeared that a few folks decided to gamble and arrive before their “appointments”, and I did not see anyone being turned away.  

After the initial document check, we were led inside by the Star Class representative to the next area where our documents were checked again. This is where we received wristbands that they asked to keep on the remainder of our time on the ship.  The Star Class rep then led us through baggage x-ray and on to an elevator (we had the scooter) to the 2nd floor.  This is where we first met our Genie Romina.  Romina brought us to another access point where our documents were scanned, and then she led us to the terminal exit leading to the ship. This was the fourth and last time our documents were examined. Romina led us onto the Allure and asked if we had watched the safety videos.  Since we had done so, she brought us to our muster station, and we were checked in and completed within a few minutes. It was only 11:30am and we now made our way to the room.

While we had viewed videos of the Royal Suite, it did not compare to seeing it in person. We let Martha use her key card to open the door and when we entered, tears of joy streamed down her face as she was thrilled to be back on a cruise.  Romina was quick to ensure that Martha was okay, and they did a fist bump.  We wanted to go to the Park Café for lunch and Romina was alerted that another Star Class Guest was ready to board, so we planned to meet later in the room where she would go over the itinerary that she had planned for us.  At this time, we also met our room stewards Derry and Putu.  We chatted briefly and they went over the features of the Royal Suite.  We asked them to set up the jacuzzi tub on the patio as we planned to use our massive balcony for sail away.  My family also presented them each with a bag of chocolates which they seemed to genuinely appreciate.


 

 
Since it was only 11:45am and very few people were on the ship at the time, we were the only people in the Park Café for the first half hour, then other cruisers began to trickle in. All the personnel we encountered seemed genuinely happy to have folks back on board.  The made to order salads and roast beef sandwiches were as good as were remembered.  After lunch we explored the rest of the ship to show the newbies around.  We then went back to the room to unpack.

Just as we finished unpacking, Romina came to the room, and we all went over the plan for the week. Pre-cruise, I had requested early dinners, and early shows as we like to spend time in the casino afterwards.  We made a few minor adjustments to her plan but overall, it suited us well. We also put in a standing order for Starbucks, fresh Orange Juice and a few chocolate milks to be delivered to suite each morning.  We then enjoyed the next few hours relaxing on the balcony and using the jacuzzi.  One note…due to our dining schedule and advice from this board, we asked Romina not to have afternoon snacks sent to the room to avoid food comas and waste. 

For dinner, we had requested Coastal Kitchen (thank you Sabrina) as it was Filet night.  Romina met at 5:30pm and all 6 of us ordered the filet.  It was outstanding as usual.  After dinner, we moved around the ship some more, and we took some group photos until we were to meet up with Romina at Studio B for the Ice Show at 8:45pm.  Romina had seats reserved and bar service lined up for us as we arrived. We thoroughly enjoyed the show.  As a matter of fact, we really enjoyed all the entertainment this week.  After the show we made our way to the Trellis Bar to meet some Cruise Critic members from our unofficial roll call.  One couple Sally and Tom had set up a poker run for anyone interested. Our whole group participated and we drew our first cards. Then per our custom, our group ended the evening in the casino.

My family and I just got off the Allure. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with a Live Blog but wanted to share our wonderful experience.

Background

My wife and I had been in Star Class on the Allure in May of 2018. We traveled with my dad in a Star Loft Room and had Susan Flannery as our Genie. She was fantastic. We looked for other Star Class trips that we could do with family and chose a 2 Bedroom Aqua Theater Suite in 2019 that got interrupted by the pandemic. After a new search, using a Casino Discount and Future Cruise Credits, we got a great price and booked the Royal Loft Suite on what was to be the amplified Allure of the Seas, in September of 2021.  Due to Covid-19 the full Amplification never happened, but we still liked the ship and what it had to offer and obviously the room was a big factor.

Joining us (Bob and Martha) on the trip in this fantastic room would be my dad, my youngest sister (Sandy), our niece (Dina), and our recently widowed family friend of 40 years (Mike). 

As the months went by, I would send our family group video clips of the room, pictures and features of the ship, menus, etc. to heighten the anticipation.  We were getting nervous about the resumption of cruises, but when we saw the Allure do a test cruise, and then begin income generating cruises, the reality was setting in that we may go on the trip.

Our original itinerary included Nassau, Falmouth, Jamaica, Labadee, and Coco Cay.  After the unrest and earthquake in Haiti, we received notice from Royal Caribbean that the Labadee and Falmouth would be replaced by Cozumel and Costa Maya, and Nassau would be the moved to later in the cruise instead of the 1st stop.   

Embarkation

Cruising

Cozumel

Costa Maya

Cruising

Nassau

Coco Cay

Disembarkation


 
Our group liked this itinerary better.  We booked a day at Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel, and Maya Chan in Costa Maya.  We did not plan anything for Nassau but did have something special for our group at Coco Cay…more on that later.

We filled out the Star Class pre-cruise questionnaire when it arrived and got more excited when we received our first correspondence from our Royal Genie, Romina Gheorghe.  We had not heard a great deal about her, but we made a few requests to her in our initial correspondence.  We shared a few emails in the week leading up to the cruise and she always responded quickly which made us feel comfortable.  Since my wife and I and my dad had sailed Star Class before, we did our best to prepare the others on what they could anticipate.

My wife and I live in the Orlando area, and we were sailing from Port Canaveral, so we were the hub for this trip. The cruise started on a Sunday, and my dad, sister and friend were flying in together from Chicago on Friday afternoon.  My niece was driving down from her place in Myrtle Beach late on Friday as well.  The plan was to get rapid antigen tests on Saturday morning and then chill at our place until leaving for the port on Sunday morning.  As time drew nearer to the cruise, my wife and I and Mike got rapid tests done on Thursday which was still withing the accepted protocol at the time. The protocol changed to testing no later than 2 days prior to cruising the day after we left Port Canaveral.  Martha, Mike and I were thrilled when we got our Negative test results.  3 down and three to go. I had made the test appointments for everyone but Mike at a local CVS near us.   On Saturday morning, we took my sister, my dad and my niece to get their tests.  About an hour later, there was much rejoicing as all tests were negative and we were psyched to be able to get on board the next morning.


 

Day 3 – Cozumel, Mexico

In my correspondence with Romina, I expressed concern of getting my dad (82) and my wife (extremely bad knees) from the ship to the cab stand in Cozumel and asked her for suggestions. As mentioned, we had my dad’s scooter and I rented another one from Special Needs at Seas for Martha to use as she wanted.  Covid has limited some Genie flexibility as they are not allowed off the ship.  Romina worked with the Port Authority to have two people from the port meet up with us at the gangway and assist dad and Martha all the way to the cabs.  This saved them countless steps.  We were told that we should let  Port Security know when we returned and they would escort them back as well. 

When we were notified of the itinerary change, we made reservations at Mr. Sanchos as four of us had been there previously and liked it.  The six of us were placed in a van and driven to the beach resort.  On the way, as I spoke with the driver, he said he would remain the whole day and drive us back when we wanted to return to the ship.   There did not seem to be too many people at the cab stand, so I could see why he would want a dedicated fare and tip both ways.  He did not want to accept the first fare until our return, but I gave it to him anyway when we arrived.  We took the obligatory picture at the entrance and then paid our entrance fee.  We were some of the first folks at the resort and had our choice of locations.  The boys chose a shaded area near the swim-up bar while the ladies chose a palapa near the beach.  Norberto was our server, and he took extremely good care of us.   Food and drinks were good and plentiful.  We spent time in and out of the water at the beach and pool and took in the beautiful weather while applying sunscreen liberally.  When it was time, Norberto alerted our driver who made sure the van was cool for our return trip to the port.  We provided a nice tip to Norberto for taking such great care of us.  We left a little early to allow some shopping time at International Pier.  After arriving back at the port, we walked around a bit and shopped before we met up with the port employees to use the wheelchairs to help get dad and Martha back to the ship. We let Romina know that we were returning and she met us as we got back on the ship and secured an elevator for us. With a swipe from her magic Genie key card, we had the express back up to deck 17.   

For dinner, since we were back from a day in the sun and an all inclusive resort, we asked Romina for a low key dinner of some pizzas delivered to the balcony where we could watch sail away as well.  We all showered and went to the Boardwalk where we rode the carousel and enjoyed some Ben and Jerry’s at Cups and Scoops. Then we met up with Romina at 9:45pm at the Aqua Theater for the 10pm Aqua Show.  This show was fantastic as we continue to marvel at the athleticism of the performers.  After the show it back down to the casino.  Next up…Costa Maya.

Embarkation Day   

Cruise day had finally arrived.  We loaded the 6 of us in two vehicles with luggage and a mobility scooter for dad and made our way to the port. We had an official check in time of 1pm, but Romina explained that we could be within an hour of that time. It was a little after 11am when Mike and I dropped off the scooter, luggage and the ladies at the Star Class stand while we went up to park. When we got back downstairs the attendant at the Star Class banner had arranged for porter to get our bags and follow us in after an initial check of our vaccination cards, passports, and Negative Test Results.  We had printed these out and this proved to be much quicker than bringing it up the few times it was requested from our smart phones. A side note, it appeared that a few folks decided to gamble and arrive before their “appointments”, and I did not see anyone being turned away.  

After the initial document check, we were led inside by the Star Class representative to the next area where our documents were checked again. This is where we received wristbands that they asked to keep on the remainder of our time on the ship.  The Star Class rep then led us through baggage x-ray and on to an elevator (we had the scooter) to the 2nd floor.  This is where we first met our Genie Romina.  Romina brought us to another access point where our documents were scanned, and then she led us to the terminal exit leading to the ship. This was the fourth and last time our documents were examined. Romina led us onto the Allure and asked if we had watched the safety videos.  Since we had done so, she brought us to our muster station, and we were checked in and completed within a few minutes. It was only 11:30am and we now made our way to the room.

While we had viewed videos of the Royal Suite, it did not compare to seeing it in person. We let Martha use her key card to open the door and when we entered, tears of joy streamed down her face as she was thrilled to be back on a cruise.  Romina was quick to ensure that Martha was okay, and they did a fist bump.  We wanted to go to the Park Café for lunch and Romina was alerted that another Star Class Guest was ready to board, so we planned to meet later in the room where she would go over the itinerary that she had planned for us.  At this time, we also met our room stewards Derry and Putu.  We chatted briefly and they went over the features of the Royal Suite.  We asked them to set up the jacuzzi tub on the patio as we planned to use our massive balcony for sail away.  My family also presented them each with a bag of chocolates which they seemed to genuinely appreciate.


 

 
Since it was only 11:45am and very few people were on the ship at the time, we were the only people in the Park Café for the first half hour, then other cruisers began to trickle in. All the personnel we encountered seemed genuinely happy to have folks back on board.  The made to order salads and roast beef sandwiches were as good as were remembered.  After lunch we explored the rest of the ship to show the newbies around.  We then went back to the room to unpack.

Just as we finished unpacking, Romina came to the room, and we all went over the plan for the week. Pre-cruise, I had requested early dinners, and early shows as we like to spend time in the casino afterwards.  We made a few minor adjustments to her plan but overall, it suited us well. We also put in a standing order for Starbucks, fresh Orange Juice and a few chocolate milks to be delivered to suite each morning.  We then enjoyed the next few hours relaxing on the balcony and using the jacuzzi.  One note…due to our dining schedule and advice from this board, we asked Romina not to have afternoon snacks sent to the room to avoid food comas and waste. 

For dinner, we had requested Coastal Kitchen (thank you Sabrina) as it was Filet night.  Romina met at 5:30pm and all 6 of us ordered the filet.  It was outstanding as usual.  After dinner, we moved around the ship some more, and we took some group photos until we were to meet up with Romina at Studio B for the Ice Show at 8:45pm.  Romina had seats reserved and bar service lined up for us as we arrived. We thoroughly enjoyed the show.  As a matter of fact, we really enjoyed all the entertainment this week.  After the show we made our way to the Trellis Bar to meet some Cruise Critic members from our unofficial roll call.  One couple Sally and Tom had set up a poker run for anyone interested. Our whole group participated and we drew our first cards. Then per our custom, our group ended the evening in the casino.

My family and I just got off the Allure. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with a Live Blog but wanted to share our wonderful experience.

Background

My wife and I had been in Star Class on the Allure in May of 2018. We traveled with my dad in a Star Loft Room and had Susan Flannery as our Genie. She was fantastic. We looked for other Star Class trips that we could do with family and chose a 2 Bedroom Aqua Theater Suite in 2019 that got interrupted by the pandemic. After a new search, using a Casino Discount and Future Cruise Credits, we got a great price and booked the Royal Loft Suite on what was to be the amplified Allure of the Seas, in September of 2021.  Due to Covid-19 the full Amplification never happened, but we still liked the ship and what it had to offer and obviously the room was a big factor.

Joining us (Bob and Martha) on the trip in this fantastic room would be my dad, my youngest sister (Sandy), our niece (Dina), and our recently widowed family friend of 40 years (Mike). 

As the months went by, I would send our family group video clips of the room, pictures and features of the ship, menus, etc. to heighten the anticipation.  We were getting nervous about the resumption of cruises, but when we saw the Allure do a test cruise, and then begin income generating cruises, the reality was setting in that we may go on the trip.

Our original itinerary included Nassau, Falmouth, Jamaica, Labadee, and Coco Cay.  After the unrest and earthquake in Haiti, we received notice from Royal Caribbean that the Labadee and Falmouth would be replaced by Cozumel and Costa Maya, and Nassau would be the moved to later in the cruise instead of the 1st stop.   

Embarkation

Cruising

Cozumel

Costa Maya

Cruising

Nassau

Coco Cay

Disembarkation


 
Our group liked this itinerary better.  We booked a day at Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel, and Maya Chan in Costa Maya.  We did not plan anything for Nassau but did have something special for our group at Coco Cay…more on that later.

We filled out the Star Class pre-cruise questionnaire when it arrived and got more excited when we received our first correspondence from our Royal Genie, Romina Gheorghe.  We had not heard a great deal about her, but we made a few requests to her in our initial correspondence.  We shared a few emails in the week leading up to the cruise and she always responded quickly which made us feel comfortable.  Since my wife and I and my dad had sailed Star Class before, we did our best to prepare the others on what they could anticipate.

My wife and I live in the Orlando area, and we were sailing from Port Canaveral, so we were the hub for this trip. The cruise started on a Sunday, and my dad, sister and friend were flying in together from Chicago on Friday afternoon.  My niece was driving down from her place in Myrtle Beach late on Friday as well.  The plan was to get rapid antigen tests on Saturday morning and then chill at our place until leaving for the port on Sunday morning.  As time drew nearer to the cruise, my wife and I and Mike got rapid tests done on Thursday which was still withing the accepted protocol at the time. The protocol changed to testing no later than 2 days prior to cruising the day after we left Port Canaveral.  Martha, Mike and I were thrilled when we got our Negative test results.  3 down and three to go. I had made the test appointments for everyone but Mike at a local CVS near us.   On Saturday morning, we took my sister, my dad and my niece to get their tests.  About an hour later, there was much rejoicing as all tests were negative and we were psyched to be able to get on board the next morning.


 

Day 4 – Costa Maya

The day started as usual with our morning beverage delivery.   I had made arrangements with Maya Chan Beach Resort for our group. Martha and I were the only ones who had been here previously.  When I contacted the owner’s son David, I asked if we could have a specific location near the pool and restrooms. He quickly responded and our reservations were set.  We found out when we arrived that this was only the fourth day they had been re-opened. 

Romina had also worked with the Port Authority to allow dad and Martha to take their scooters to the security gate where we would only have a short walk to meet the bus to take us to Maya Chan.  This was extremely helpful as it is quite a hike from the ship to this gate.  Security had us leave the scooters in a covered area where we could retrieve them upon our return.  We crossed the street and met the representative from the resort. A short time later a huge van arrived and we were on our way.  After a 20 minute trip where the driver skillfully maneuvered around the unpaved road, we arrived and David greeted us and explained the layout to those who had not been there previously.  We were guided to our cabana which was nice appointed and had the right mixture of sun and shade.   Moments later, rum punch and chips, salsa and guacamole arrived.  We arrived around 9:30am and at 11am we were told by our server that lunch was ready, so we headed over to the dining area and bar.  I had prepped my dad about the food, since he is picky eater and usually not open to trying new things.  I assured him none of the food was spicy unless he added some spice from the taco bar.  We had a choice of corn or flour tortillas, fresh fish, chicken, pork or beef and toppings of choice which was served by the staff. Everyone loved the food, but I was floored when my dad asked for seconds!  This was a very chill experience versus Mr. Sanchos and we enjoyed the change of pace.

This was a short port day and we asked for a return taxi at 2pm.  The return was seamless as the van stopped just inside the gate where we retrieved the scooters and did a little shopping in the port.  Once again a call to Romina and she escorted us back up to our room once we were back on ship. 

Plans tonight include 5:30pm Izumi Hibachi and Mama Mia at 8:30pm.  After we all got back to the room, we showered and relaxed a bit and then it was off to Izumi.  The food and presentation were great.  Our group of six were joined by another couple and we all had fun.  After dinner we sauntered around until it was time to meet Romina for Mama Mia.  I did not know if I would enjoy this show a second time as I had seen it on the Allure in 2018, but in discussing with my wife, we think we liked this performance better.  Great cast with great energy and of course the music. Back to the casino after the show, but the long days, sun and fun were catching up with us.

Day 3 – Cozumel, Mexico

In my correspondence with Romina, I expressed concern of getting my dad (82) and my wife (extremely bad knees) from the ship to the cab stand in Cozumel and asked her for suggestions. As mentioned, we had my dad’s scooter and I rented another one from Special Needs at Seas for Martha to use as she wanted.  Covid has limited some Genie flexibility as they are not allowed off the ship.  Romina worked with the Port Authority to have two people from the port meet up with us at the gangway and assist dad and Martha all the way to the cabs.  This saved them countless steps.  We were told that we should let  Port Security know when we returned and they would escort them back as well. 

When we were notified of the itinerary change, we made reservations at Mr. Sanchos as four of us had been there previously and liked it.  The six of us were placed in a van and driven to the beach resort.  On the way, as I spoke with the driver, he said he would remain the whole day and drive us back when we wanted to return to the ship.   There did not seem to be too many people at the cab stand, so I could see why he would want a dedicated fare and tip both ways.  He did not want to accept the first fare until our return, but I gave it to him anyway when we arrived.  We took the obligatory picture at the entrance and then paid our entrance fee.  We were some of the first folks at the resort and had our choice of locations.  The boys chose a shaded area near the swim-up bar while the ladies chose a palapa near the beach.  Norberto was our server, and he took extremely good care of us.   Food and drinks were good and plentiful.  We spent time in and out of the water at the beach and pool and took in the beautiful weather while applying sunscreen liberally.  When it was time, Norberto alerted our driver who made sure the van was cool for our return trip to the port.  We provided a nice tip to Norberto for taking such great care of us.  We left a little early to allow some shopping time at International Pier.  After arriving back at the port, we walked around a bit and shopped before we met up with the port employees to use the wheelchairs to help get dad and Martha back to the ship. We let Romina know that we were returning and she met us as we got back on the ship and secured an elevator for us. With a swipe from her magic Genie key card, we had the express back up to deck 17.   

For dinner, since we were back from a day in the sun and an all inclusive resort, we asked Romina for a low key dinner of some pizzas delivered to the balcony where we could watch sail away as well.  We all showered and went to the Boardwalk where we rode the carousel and enjoyed some Ben and Jerry’s at Cups and Scoops. Then we met up with Romina at 9:45pm at the Aqua Theater for the 10pm Aqua Show.  This show was fantastic as we continue to marvel at the athleticism of the performers.  After the show it back down to the casino.  Next up…Costa Maya.

Day 2 – At Sea

This morning we were all up shortly before our beverages arrived. We then ate breakfast in Coastal Kitchen. Today was a lounge day with time on the balcony.  After breakfast, we headed up to the Mast Bar to meet Sally and Tom and pick our 2nd and 3rd cards in the poker run.  We chatted for awhile and invited them to join us for lunch on the balcony.  We had arranged with Romina to have Johnny Rockets delivered to the room for lunch.  At first, they were reluctant but after some coaxing, they decided to join us. I asked what they would like for lunch and Sally asked for a Chicken Caesar Salad.  Tom did not want lunch.  We asked them to meet us at Noon.  We went back to the room and relaxed.  Tom and Sally joined us shortly before Noon and food was delivered promptly.  Everything was great except that Sally’s Salad was missing the grilled chicken. A quick call corrected that and Tom ending up eating the extra salad as a new one with Grilled Chicken was delivered.  The burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes and Cherry Cokes were a big hit with the group.  After lunch Sally and Tom visited awhile longer before they went to do their own thing and we lounged some more. 


 
For Dinner we had reservations at Giovanni’s Table at 5:30pm.  We met Romina and she ensured we were seated, and we chatted briefly about our plans for our first port stop of Cozumel.  She would meet us at the room in the morning.  We arranged to meet her at 9:45pm for our reservation for the headliner show (Tony Tillman) scheduled at 10pm.   Dinner was fantastic, as we all ordered an entrée and our server TJ brought out everything else family style so we could sample everything. After dinner, we split up and moved around the ship trying to walk off dinner. We also had more pictures taken. We met up with Romina at the Amber Theater for the headliner show.  I had seen and heard mixed reviews on Tony Tillman, but he was quite the performer infusing a great deal of energy into his show. Our group agreed that we all enjoyed it.  Following the show, you guessed it…back to the casino.

Embarkation Day   

Cruise day had finally arrived.  We loaded the 6 of us in two vehicles with luggage and a mobility scooter for dad and made our way to the port. We had an official check in time of 1pm, but Romina explained that we could be within an hour of that time. It was a little after 11am when Mike and I dropped off the scooter, luggage and the ladies at the Star Class stand while we went up to park. When we got back downstairs the attendant at the Star Class banner had arranged for porter to get our bags and follow us in after an initial check of our vaccination cards, passports, and Negative Test Results.  We had printed these out and this proved to be much quicker than bringing it up the few times it was requested from our smart phones. A side note, it appeared that a few folks decided to gamble and arrive before their “appointments”, and I did not see anyone being turned away.  

After the initial document check, we were led inside by the Star Class representative to the next area where our documents were checked again. This is where we received wristbands that they asked to keep on the remainder of our time on the ship.  The Star Class rep then led us through baggage x-ray and on to an elevator (we had the scooter) to the 2nd floor.  This is where we first met our Genie Romina.  Romina brought us to another access point where our documents were scanned, and then she led us to the terminal exit leading to the ship. This was the fourth and last time our documents were examined. Romina led us onto the Allure and asked if we had watched the safety videos.  Since we had done so, she brought us to our muster station, and we were checked in and completed within a few minutes. It was only 11:30am and we now made our way to the room.

While we had viewed videos of the Royal Suite, it did not compare to seeing it in person. We let Martha use her key card to open the door and when we entered, tears of joy streamed down her face as she was thrilled to be back on a cruise.  Romina was quick to ensure that Martha was okay, and they did a fist bump.  We wanted to go to the Park Café for lunch and Romina was alerted that another Star Class Guest was ready to board, so we planned to meet later in the room where she would go over the itinerary that she had planned for us.  At this time, we also met our room stewards Derry and Putu.  We chatted briefly and they went over the features of the Royal Suite.  We asked them to set up the jacuzzi tub on the patio as we planned to use our massive balcony for sail away.  My family also presented them each with a bag of chocolates which they seemed to genuinely appreciate.


 

 
Since it was only 11:45am and very few people were on the ship at the time, we were the only people in the Park Café for the first half hour, then other cruisers began to trickle in. All the personnel we encountered seemed genuinely happy to have folks back on board.  The made to order salads and roast beef sandwiches were as good as were remembered.  After lunch we explored the rest of the ship to show the newbies around.  We then went back to the room to unpack.

Just as we finished unpacking, Romina came to the room, and we all went over the plan for the week. Pre-cruise, I had requested early dinners, and early shows as we like to spend time in the casino afterwards.  We made a few minor adjustments to her plan but overall, it suited us well. We also put in a standing order for Starbucks, fresh Orange Juice and a few chocolate milks to be delivered to suite each morning.  We then enjoyed the next few hours relaxing on the balcony and using the jacuzzi.  One note…due to our dining schedule and advice from this board, we asked Romina not to have afternoon snacks sent to the room to avoid food comas and waste. 

For dinner, we had requested Coastal Kitchen (thank you Sabrina) as it was Filet night.  Romina met at 5:30pm and all 6 of us ordered the filet.  It was outstanding as usual.  After dinner, we moved around the ship some more, and we took some group photos until we were to meet up with Romina at Studio B for the Ice Show at 8:45pm.  Romina had seats reserved and bar service lined up for us as we arrived. We thoroughly enjoyed the show.  As a matter of fact, we really enjoyed all the entertainment this week.  After the show we made our way to the Trellis Bar to meet some Cruise Critic members from our unofficial roll call.  One couple Sally and Tom had set up a poker run for anyone interested. Our whole group participated and we drew our first cards. Then per our custom, our group ended the evening in the casino.

My family and I just got off the Allure. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with a Live Blog but wanted to share our wonderful experience.

Background

My wife and I had been in Star Class on the Allure in May of 2018. We traveled with my dad in a Star Loft Room and had Susan Flannery as our Genie. She was fantastic. We looked for other Star Class trips that we could do with family and chose a 2 Bedroom Aqua Theater Suite in 2019 that got interrupted by the pandemic. After a new search, using a Casino Discount and Future Cruise Credits, we got a great price and booked the Royal Loft Suite on what was to be the amplified Allure of the Seas, in September of 2021.  Due to Covid-19 the full Amplification never happened, but we still liked the ship and what it had to offer and obviously the room was a big factor.

Joining us (Bob and Martha) on the trip in this fantastic room would be my dad, my youngest sister (Sandy), our niece (Dina), and our recently widowed family friend of 40 years (Mike). 

As the months went by, I would send our family group video clips of the room, pictures and features of the ship, menus, etc. to heighten the anticipation.  We were getting nervous about the resumption of cruises, but when we saw the Allure do a test cruise, and then begin income generating cruises, the reality was setting in that we may go on the trip.

Our original itinerary included Nassau, Falmouth, Jamaica, Labadee, and Coco Cay.  After the unrest and earthquake in Haiti, we received notice from Royal Caribbean that the Labadee and Falmouth would be replaced by Cozumel and Costa Maya, and Nassau would be the moved to later in the cruise instead of the 1st stop.   

Embarkation

Cruising

Cozumel

Costa Maya

Cruising

Nassau

Coco Cay

Disembarkation


 
Our group liked this itinerary better.  We booked a day at Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel, and Maya Chan in Costa Maya.  We did not plan anything for Nassau but did have something special for our group at Coco Cay…more on that later.

We filled out the Star Class pre-cruise questionnaire when it arrived and got more excited when we received our first correspondence from our Royal Genie, Romina Gheorghe.  We had not heard a great deal about her, but we made a few requests to her in our initial correspondence.  We shared a few emails in the week leading up to the cruise and she always responded quickly which made us feel comfortable.  Since my wife and I and my dad had sailed Star Class before, we did our best to prepare the others on what they could anticipate.

My wife and I live in the Orlando area, and we were sailing from Port Canaveral, so we were the hub for this trip. The cruise started on a Sunday, and my dad, sister and friend were flying in together from Chicago on Friday afternoon.  My niece was driving down from her place in Myrtle Beach late on Friday as well.  The plan was to get rapid antigen tests on Saturday morning and then chill at our place until leaving for the port on Sunday morning.  As time drew nearer to the cruise, my wife and I and Mike got rapid tests done on Thursday which was still withing the accepted protocol at the time. The protocol changed to testing no later than 2 days prior to cruising the day after we left Port Canaveral.  Martha, Mike and I were thrilled when we got our Negative test results.  3 down and three to go. I had made the test appointments for everyone but Mike at a local CVS near us.   On Saturday morning, we took my sister, my dad and my niece to get their tests.  About an hour later, there was much rejoicing as all tests were negative and we were psyched to be able to get on board the next morning.


 

My family and I just got off the Allure. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with a Live Blog but wanted to share our wonderful experience.

Background

My wife and I had been in Star Class on the Allure in May of 2018. We traveled with my dad in a Star Loft Room and had Susan Flannery as our Genie. She was fantastic. We looked for other Star Class trips that we could do with family and chose a 2 Bedroom Aqua Theater Suite in 2019 that got interrupted by the pandemic. After a new search, using a Casino Discount and Future Cruise Credits, we got a great price and booked the Royal Loft Suite on what was to be the amplified Allure of the Seas, in September of 2021.  Due to Covid-19 the full Amplification never happened, but we still liked the ship and what it had to offer and obviously the room was a big factor.

Joining us (Bob and Martha) on the trip in this fantastic room would be my dad, my youngest sister (Sandy), our niece (Dina), and our recently widowed family friend of 40 years (Mike). 

As the months went by, I would send our family group video clips of the room, pictures and features of the ship, menus, etc. to heighten the anticipation.  We were getting nervous about the resumption of cruises, but when we saw the Allure do a test cruise, and then begin income generating cruises, the reality was setting in that we may go on the trip.

Our original itinerary included Nassau, Falmouth, Jamaica, Labadee, and Coco Cay.  After the unrest and earthquake in Haiti, we received notice from Royal Caribbean that the Labadee and Falmouth would be replaced by Cozumel and Costa Maya, and Nassau would be the moved to later in the cruise instead of the 1st stop.   

Embarkation

Cruising

Cozumel

Costa Maya

Cruising

Nassau

Coco Cay

Disembarkation


 
Our group liked this itinerary better.  We booked a day at Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel, and Maya Chan in Costa Maya.  We did not plan anything for Nassau but did have something special for our group at Coco Cay…more on that later.

We filled out the Star Class pre-cruise questionnaire when it arrived and got more excited when we received our first correspondence from our Royal Genie, Romina Gheorghe.  We had not heard a great deal about her, but we made a few requests to her in our initial correspondence.  We shared a few emails in the week leading up to the cruise and she always responded quickly which made us feel comfortable.  Since my wife and I and my dad had sailed Star Class before, we did our best to prepare the others on what they could anticipate.

My wife and I live in the Orlando area, and we were sailing from Port Canaveral, so we were the hub for this trip. The cruise started on a Sunday, and my dad, sister and friend were flying in together from Chicago on Friday afternoon.  My niece was driving down from her place in Myrtle Beach late on Friday as well.  The plan was to get rapid antigen tests on Saturday morning and then chill at our place until leaving for the port on Sunday morning.  As time drew nearer to the cruise, my wife and I and Mike got rapid tests done on Thursday which was still withing the accepted protocol at the time. The protocol changed to testing no later than 2 days prior to cruising the day after we left Port Canaveral.  Martha, Mike and I were thrilled when we got our Negative test results.  3 down and three to go. I had made the test appointments for everyone but Mike at a local CVS near us.   On Saturday morning, we took my sister, my dad and my niece to get their tests.  About an hour later, there was much rejoicing as all tests were negative and we were psyched to be able to get on board the next morning.


 

Day 4 – Costa Maya

The day started as usual with our morning beverage delivery.   I had made arrangements with Maya Chan Beach Resort for our group. Martha and I were the only ones who had been here previously.  When I contacted the owner’s son David, I asked if we could have a specific location near the pool and restrooms. He quickly responded and our reservations were set.  We found out when we arrived that this was only the fourth day they had been re-opened. 

Romina had also worked with the Port Authority to allow dad and Martha to take their scooters to the security gate where we would only have a short walk to meet the bus to take us to Maya Chan.  This was extremely helpful as it is quite a hike from the ship to this gate.  Security had us leave the scooters in a covered area where we could retrieve them upon our return.  We crossed the street and met the representative from the resort. A short time later a huge van arrived and we were on our way.  After a 20 minute trip where the driver skillfully maneuvered around the unpaved road, we arrived and David greeted us and explained the layout to those who had not been there previously.  We were guided to our cabana which was nice appointed and had the right mixture of sun and shade.   Moments later, rum punch and chips, salsa and guacamole arrived.  We arrived around 9:30am and at 11am we were told by our server that lunch was ready, so we headed over to the dining area and bar.  I had prepped my dad about the food, since he is picky eater and usually not open to trying new things.  I assured him none of the food was spicy unless he added some spice from the taco bar.  We had a choice of corn or flour tortillas, fresh fish, chicken, pork or beef and toppings of choice which was served by the staff. Everyone loved the food, but I was floored when my dad asked for seconds!  This was a very chill experience versus Mr. Sanchos and we enjoyed the change of pace.

This was a short port day and we asked for a return taxi at 2pm.  The return was seamless as the van stopped just inside the gate where we retrieved the scooters and did a little shopping in the port.  Once again a call to Romina and she escorted us back up to our room once we were back on ship. 

Plans tonight include 5:30pm Izumi Hibachi and Mama Mia at 8:30pm.  After we all got back to the room, we showered and relaxed a bit and then it was off to Izumi.  The food and presentation were great.  Our group of six were joined by another couple and we all had fun.  After dinner we sauntered around until it was time to meet Romina for Mama Mia.  I did not know if I would enjoy this show a second time as I had seen it on the Allure in 2018, but in discussing with my wife, we think we liked this performance better.  Great cast with great energy and of course the music. Back to the casino after the show, but the long days, sun and fun were catching up with us.

Day 3 – Cozumel, Mexico

In my correspondence with Romina, I expressed concern of getting my dad (82) and my wife (extremely bad knees) from the ship to the cab stand in Cozumel and asked her for suggestions. As mentioned, we had my dad’s scooter and I rented another one from Special Needs at Seas for Martha to use as she wanted.  Covid has limited some Genie flexibility as they are not allowed off the ship.  Romina worked with the Port Authority to have two people from the port meet up with us at the gangway and assist dad and Martha all the way to the cabs.  This saved them countless steps.  We were told that we should let  Port Security know when we returned and they would escort them back as well. 

When we were notified of the itinerary change, we made reservations at Mr. Sanchos as four of us had been there previously and liked it.  The six of us were placed in a van and driven to the beach resort.  On the way, as I spoke with the driver, he said he would remain the whole day and drive us back when we wanted to return to the ship.   There did not seem to be too many people at the cab stand, so I could see why he would want a dedicated fare and tip both ways.  He did not want to accept the first fare until our return, but I gave it to him anyway when we arrived.  We took the obligatory picture at the entrance and then paid our entrance fee.  We were some of the first folks at the resort and had our choice of locations.  The boys chose a shaded area near the swim-up bar while the ladies chose a palapa near the beach.  Norberto was our server, and he took extremely good care of us.   Food and drinks were good and plentiful.  We spent time in and out of the water at the beach and pool and took in the beautiful weather while applying sunscreen liberally.  When it was time, Norberto alerted our driver who made sure the van was cool for our return trip to the port.  We provided a nice tip to Norberto for taking such great care of us.  We left a little early to allow some shopping time at International Pier.  After arriving back at the port, we walked around a bit and shopped before we met up with the port employees to use the wheelchairs to help get dad and Martha back to the ship. We let Romina know that we were returning and she met us as we got back on the ship and secured an elevator for us. With a swipe from her magic Genie key card, we had the express back up to deck 17.   

For dinner, since we were back from a day in the sun and an all inclusive resort, we asked Romina for a low key dinner of some pizzas delivered to the balcony where we could watch sail away as well.  We all showered and went to the Boardwalk where we rode the carousel and enjoyed some Ben and Jerry’s at Cups and Scoops. Then we met up with Romina at 9:45pm at the Aqua Theater for the 10pm Aqua Show.  This show was fantastic as we continue to marvel at the athleticism of the performers.  After the show it back down to the casino.  Next up…Costa Maya.

Day 2 – At Sea

This morning we were all up shortly before our beverages arrived. We then ate breakfast in Coastal Kitchen. Today was a lounge day with time on the balcony.  After breakfast, we headed up to the Mast Bar to meet Sally and Tom and pick our 2nd and 3rd cards in the poker run.  We chatted for awhile and invited them to join us for lunch on the balcony.  We had arranged with Romina to have Johnny Rockets delivered to the room for lunch.  At first, they were reluctant but after some coaxing, they decided to join us. I asked what they would like for lunch and Sally asked for a Chicken Caesar Salad.  Tom did not want lunch.  We asked them to meet us at Noon.  We went back to the room and relaxed.  Tom and Sally joined us shortly before Noon and food was delivered promptly.  Everything was great except that Sally’s Salad was missing the grilled chicken. A quick call corrected that and Tom ending up eating the extra salad as a new one with Grilled Chicken was delivered.  The burgers, fries, onion rings, shakes and Cherry Cokes were a big hit with the group.  After lunch Sally and Tom visited awhile longer before they went to do their own thing and we lounged some more. 


 
For Dinner we had reservations at Giovanni’s Table at 5:30pm.  We met Romina and she ensured we were seated, and we chatted briefly about our plans for our first port stop of Cozumel.  She would meet us at the room in the morning.  We arranged to meet her at 9:45pm for our reservation for the headliner show (Tony Tillman) scheduled at 10pm.   Dinner was fantastic, as we all ordered an entrée and our server TJ brought out everything else family style so we could sample everything. After dinner, we split up and moved around the ship trying to walk off dinner. We also had more pictures taken. We met up with Romina at the Amber Theater for the headliner show.  I had seen and heard mixed reviews on Tony Tillman, but he was quite the performer infusing a great deal of energy into his show. Our group agreed that we all enjoyed it.  Following the show, you guessed it…back to the casino.

Embarkation Day   

Cruise day had finally arrived.  We loaded the 6 of us in two vehicles with luggage and a mobility scooter for dad and made our way to the port. We had an official check in time of 1pm, but Romina explained that we could be within an hour of that time. It was a little after 11am when Mike and I dropped off the scooter, luggage and the ladies at the Star Class stand while we went up to park. When we got back downstairs the attendant at the Star Class banner had arranged for porter to get our bags and follow us in after an initial check of our vaccination cards, passports, and Negative Test Results.  We had printed these out and this proved to be much quicker than bringing it up the few times it was requested from our smart phones. A side note, it appeared that a few folks decided to gamble and arrive before their “appointments”, and I did not see anyone being turned away.  

After the initial document check, we were led inside by the Star Class representative to the next area where our documents were checked again. This is where we received wristbands that they asked to keep on the remainder of our time on the ship.  The Star Class rep then led us through baggage x-ray and on to an elevator (we had the scooter) to the 2nd floor.  This is where we first met our Genie Romina.  Romina brought us to another access point where our documents were scanned, and then she led us to the terminal exit leading to the ship. This was the fourth and last time our documents were examined. Romina led us onto the Allure and asked if we had watched the safety videos.  Since we had done so, she brought us to our muster station, and we were checked in and completed within a few minutes. It was only 11:30am and we now made our way to the room.

While we had viewed videos of the Royal Suite, it did not compare to seeing it in person. We let Martha use her key card to open the door and when we entered, tears of joy streamed down her face as she was thrilled to be back on a cruise.  Romina was quick to ensure that Martha was okay, and they did a fist bump.  We wanted to go to the Park Café for lunch and Romina was alerted that another Star Class Guest was ready to board, so we planned to meet later in the room where she would go over the itinerary that she had planned for us.  At this time, we also met our room stewards Derry and Putu.  We chatted briefly and they went over the features of the Royal Suite.  We asked them to set up the jacuzzi tub on the patio as we planned to use our massive balcony for sail away.  My family also presented them each with a bag of chocolates which they seemed to genuinely appreciate.


 

 
Since it was only 11:45am and very few people were on the ship at the time, we were the only people in the Park Café for the first half hour, then other cruisers began to trickle in. All the personnel we encountered seemed genuinely happy to have folks back on board.  The made to order salads and roast beef sandwiches were as good as were remembered.  After lunch we explored the rest of the ship to show the newbies around.  We then went back to the room to unpack.

Just as we finished unpacking, Romina came to the room, and we all went over the plan for the week. Pre-cruise, I had requested early dinners, and early shows as we like to spend time in the casino afterwards.  We made a few minor adjustments to her plan but overall, it suited us well. We also put in a standing order for Starbucks, fresh Orange Juice and a few chocolate milks to be delivered to suite each morning.  We then enjoyed the next few hours relaxing on the balcony and using the jacuzzi.  One note…due to our dining schedule and advice from this board, we asked Romina not to have afternoon snacks sent to the room to avoid food comas and waste. 

For dinner, we had requested Coastal Kitchen (thank you Sabrina) as it was Filet night.  Romina met at 5:30pm and all 6 of us ordered the filet.  It was outstanding as usual.  After dinner, we moved around the ship some more, and we took some group photos until we were to meet up with Romina at Studio B for the Ice Show at 8:45pm.  Romina had seats reserved and bar service lined up for us as we arrived. We thoroughly enjoyed the show.  As a matter of fact, we really enjoyed all the entertainment this week.  After the show we made our way to the Trellis Bar to meet some Cruise Critic members from our unofficial roll call.  One couple Sally and Tom had set up a poker run for anyone interested. Our whole group participated and we drew our first cards. Then per our custom, our group ended the evening in the casino.

My family and I just got off the Allure. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with a Live Blog but wanted to share our wonderful experience.

Background

My wife and I had been in Star Class on the Allure in May of 2018. We traveled with my dad in a Star Loft Room and had Susan Flannery as our Genie. She was fantastic. We looked for other Star Class trips that we could do with family and chose a 2 Bedroom Aqua Theater Suite in 2019 that got interrupted by the pandemic. After a new search, using a Casino Discount and Future Cruise Credits, we got a great price and booked the Royal Loft Suite on what was to be the amplified Allure of the Seas, in September of 2021.  Due to Covid-19 the full Amplification never happened, but we still liked the ship and what it had to offer and obviously the room was a big factor.

Joining us (Bob and Martha) on the trip in this fantastic room would be my dad, my youngest sister (Sandy), our niece (Dina), and our recently widowed family friend of 40 years (Mike). 

As the months went by, I would send our family group video clips of the room, pictures and features of the ship, menus, etc. to heighten the anticipation.  We were getting nervous about the resumption of cruises, but when we saw the Allure do a test cruise, and then begin income generating cruises, the reality was setting in that we may go on the trip.

Our original itinerary included Nassau, Falmouth, Jamaica, Labadee, and Coco Cay.  After the unrest and earthquake in Haiti, we received notice from Royal Caribbean that the Labadee and Falmouth would be replaced by Cozumel and Costa Maya, and Nassau would be the moved to later in the cruise instead of the 1st stop.   

Embarkation

Cruising

Cozumel

Costa Maya

Cruising

Nassau

Coco Cay

Disembarkation


 
Our group liked this itinerary better.  We booked a day at Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel, and Maya Chan in Costa Maya.  We did not plan anything for Nassau but did have something special for our group at Coco Cay…more on that later.

We filled out the Star Class pre-cruise questionnaire when it arrived and got more excited when we received our first correspondence from our Royal Genie, Romina Gheorghe.  We had not heard a great deal about her, but we made a few requests to her in our initial correspondence.  We shared a few emails in the week leading up to the cruise and she always responded quickly which made us feel comfortable.  Since my wife and I and my dad had sailed Star Class before, we did our best to prepare the others on what they could anticipate.

My wife and I live in the Orlando area, and we were sailing from Port Canaveral, so we were the hub for this trip. The cruise started on a Sunday, and my dad, sister and friend were flying in together from Chicago on Friday afternoon.  My niece was driving down from her place in Myrtle Beach late on Friday as well.  The plan was to get rapid antigen tests on Saturday morning and then chill at our place until leaving for the port on Sunday morning.  As time drew nearer to the cruise, my wife and I and Mike got rapid tests done on Thursday which was still withing the accepted protocol at the time. The protocol changed to testing no later than 2 days prior to cruising the day after we left Port Canaveral.  Martha, Mike and I were thrilled when we got our Negative test results.  3 down and three to go. I had made the test appointments for everyone but Mike at a local CVS near us.   On Saturday morning, we took my sister, my dad and my niece to get their tests.  About an hour later, there was much rejoicing as all tests were negative and we were psyched to be able to get on board the next morning.


 

My family and I just got off the Allure. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up with a Live Blog but wanted to share our wonderful experience.

Background

My wife and I had been in Star Class on the Allure in May of 2018. We traveled with my dad in a Star Loft Room and had Susan Flannery as our Genie. She was fantastic. We looked for other Star Class trips that we could do with family and chose a 2 Bedroom Aqua Theater Suite in 2019 that got interrupted by the pandemic. After a new search, using a Casino Discount and Future Cruise Credits, we got a great price and booked the Royal Loft Suite on what was to be the amplified Allure of the Seas, in September of 2021.  Due to Covid-19 the full Amplification never happened, but we still liked the ship and what it had to offer and obviously the room was a big factor.

Joining us (Bob and Martha) on the trip in this fantastic room would be my dad, my youngest sister (Sandy), our niece (Dina), and our recently widowed family friend of 40 years (Mike). 

As the months went by, I would send our family group video clips of the room, pictures and features of the ship, menus, etc. to heighten the anticipation.  We were getting nervous about the resumption of cruises, but when we saw the Allure do a test cruise, and then begin income generating cruises, the reality was setting in that we may go on the trip.

Our original itinerary included Nassau, Falmouth, Jamaica, Labadee, and Coco Cay.  After the unrest and earthquake in Haiti, we received notice from Royal Caribbean that the Labadee and Falmouth would be replaced by Cozumel and Costa Maya, and Nassau would be the moved to later in the cruise instead of the 1st stop.   

Embarkation

Cruising

Cozumel

Costa Maya

Cruising

Nassau

Coco Cay

Disembarkation


 
Our group liked this itinerary better.  We booked a day at Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel, and Maya Chan in Costa Maya.  We did not plan anything for Nassau but did have something special for our group at Coco Cay…more on that later.

We filled out the Star Class pre-cruise questionnaire when it arrived and got more excited when we received our first correspondence from our Royal Genie, Romina Gheorghe.  We had not heard a great deal about her, but we made a few requests to her in our initial correspondence.  We shared a few emails in the week leading up to the cruise and she always responded quickly which made us feel comfortable.  Since my wife and I and my dad had sailed Star Class before, we did our best to prepare the others on what they could anticipate.

My wife and I live in the Orlando area, and we were sailing from Port Canaveral, so we were the hub for this trip. The cruise started on a Sunday, and my dad, sister and friend were flying in together from Chicago on Friday afternoon.  My niece was driving down from her place in Myrtle Beach late on Friday as well.  The plan was to get rapid antigen tests on Saturday morning and then chill at our place until leaving for the port on Sunday morning.  As time drew nearer to the cruise, my wife and I and Mike got rapid tests done on Thursday which was still withing the accepted protocol at the time. The protocol changed to testing no later than 2 days prior to cruising the day after we left Port Canaveral.  Martha, Mike and I were thrilled when we got our Negative test results.  3 down and three to go. I had made the test appointments for everyone but Mike at a local CVS near us.   On Saturday morning, we took my sister, my dad and my niece to get their tests.  About an hour later, there was much rejoicing as all tests were negative and we were psyched to be able to get on board the next morning.