SFLcruiser

It was fantastic and worth every penny!! So when we got off the ship we had to get on a ferry to Playa del Carmen. If you get the least bit sea sick, take something before you get on!! So many people (including my hubby) lost or almost tossed their cookies on the way over! The staff even has little green barf bags in their pockets and were handing them out like candy lol
Then you meet up with your group and take a 15 min walk to where the buses are lined up and another 15 min ride to the park. We got off the boat at 8:30am and didn't walk into the park until 10:30am, but we got to stay until 4pm (ship time) and back on a ferry by 5pm, at the port by 5:45 and back on board by 6:15, just in time for 6:30 sail away
So the tour guides were great and they have a recommended order that you do the activities, but you are free to go on your own as long as you are back on the bus on time. Definitely go with them to the ziplines first because you get to cut most of the line. There are 2 sets of lines and they will take you to both if you want. 1 set was enough for us and took a good hour to get through. The towers are VERY tall so there's a lot of walking uphill and my lazy 14 year old couldn't cut it anymore lol so she didn't want to do the second line, but there was time. 
So we wandered from the group and went to the amphibious cars which was a blast! My husband thought he was a race car driver lol. Other than wearing your helmet and seat belt there are no restrictions. You drive through water, bridges and caves! We did 2 tracks which took about 20-25min each. Then we went to go eat and when I say that was the best food we had all trip I mean it!! Huge selection, fresh, tasty! Plus they have another bar set for just fresh juices and smoothies. 
By the time we finished eating, we saw the rest of our group walk in. We then went to do the cave swimming-do the long track which takes about 30 minutes to swim through-its worth it! We skipped the rafting because we I've heard from others including our tour guides that its very physically difficult to do and if the person in front of you doesn't know what they are doing, you're stuck and can't move around them. We had just enough time to lay out in some hammocks for a few minutes, get some smoothies and mozy on over to the lockers to clean up and change before having to be back with the group. I think if we had stayed with them, we would have gotten in 2 ziplines, 1 car, and the short cave swim only. 
We  had so much fun were already talking about bringing other family members back with us. Enjoy!

UPDATE: we made it on board with the fishing pole no problems! We have it in a plastic document case and at first security asked what was in it, but said ok when we said fishing pole-walked right on through 

UPDATE: we made it on board with the fishing pole no problems! We have it in a plastic document case and at first security asked what was in it, but said ok when we said fishing pole-walked right on through 

Hubby had this crazy idea that he can bring his fishing pole on Allure....anyone tried/seen this??
 
im making him call Royal bc it's not listed on their prohibited items list

UPDATE: we made it on board with the fishing pole no problems! We have it in a plastic document case and at first security asked what was in it, but said ok when we said fishing pole-walked right on through 

I haven't gone yet (going in July on the Seaside) but I have been following all reviews and comments on many other forums.  They all echo what @DocLC is saying.  The main complaints are lack of variety in buffets for dining, poor customer service.  The main takeaway I have so far, and my opinion is my own, is that you cannot compare it.  If you go, you will need to go with the mindset that you are not cruising a major NA line and that there will be marked differences.  That's not to say that it's going to be better than RC or worse.  Just different.  It's like someone cruising Freedom of the Seas and complaining that there is no Central Park or Aqua Theater.  You just cannot compare it.
I am pretty loyal to Royal.  I'm a huge fan of the Oasis class ships.  The reason why we are going this summer is part curiosity and part pricing.  We are staying in a YC suite and the price of it was less than a JS on any Oasis class ship.  However, hubby and I are going to go with the mindset that it will be a different cruise experience for us.
For yourself, you have to ask, are you open to a non-North American experience?  Are you open to different types and flavours of food?  Are you going to be upset if they don't offer you coffee at the end of dinner and that you might have to ask for it?  Are you expecting RC type entertainment or are you open to more of a European flair on stage (operas?)?  If yes, then consider it.  If no, then maybe stick with RC.  Do your research.  Know what you are getting into first.

It was fantastic and worth every penny!! So when we got off the ship we had to get on a ferry to Playa del Carmen. If you get the least bit sea sick, take something before you get on!! So many people (including my hubby) lost or almost tossed their cookies on the way over! The staff even has little green barf bags in their pockets and were handing them out like candy lol
Then you meet up with your group and take a 15 min walk to where the buses are lined up and another 15 min ride to the park. We got off the boat at 8:30am and didn't walk into the park until 10:30am, but we got to stay until 4pm (ship time) and back on a ferry by 5pm, at the port by 5:45 and back on board by 6:15, just in time for 6:30 sail away
So the tour guides were great and they have a recommended order that you do the activities, but you are free to go on your own as long as you are back on the bus on time. Definitely go with them to the ziplines first because you get to cut most of the line. There are 2 sets of lines and they will take you to both if you want. 1 set was enough for us and took a good hour to get through. The towers are VERY tall so there's a lot of walking uphill and my lazy 14 year old couldn't cut it anymore lol so she didn't want to do the second line, but there was time. 
So we wandered from the group and went to the amphibious cars which was a blast! My husband thought he was a race car driver lol. Other than wearing your helmet and seat belt there are no restrictions. You drive through water, bridges and caves! We did 2 tracks which took about 20-25min each. Then we went to go eat and when I say that was the best food we had all trip I mean it!! Huge selection, fresh, tasty! Plus they have another bar set for just fresh juices and smoothies. 
By the time we finished eating, we saw the rest of our group walk in. We then went to do the cave swimming-do the long track which takes about 30 minutes to swim through-its worth it! We skipped the rafting because we I've heard from others including our tour guides that its very physically difficult to do and if the person in front of you doesn't know what they are doing, you're stuck and can't move around them. We had just enough time to lay out in some hammocks for a few minutes, get some smoothies and mozy on over to the lockers to clean up and change before having to be back with the group. I think if we had stayed with them, we would have gotten in 2 ziplines, 1 car, and the short cave swim only. 
We  had so much fun were already talking about bringing other family members back with us. Enjoy!

It was fantastic and worth every penny!! So when we got off the ship we had to get on a ferry to Playa del Carmen. If you get the least bit sea sick, take something before you get on!! So many people (including my hubby) lost or almost tossed their cookies on the way over! The staff even has little green barf bags in their pockets and were handing them out like candy lol
Then you meet up with your group and take a 15 min walk to where the buses are lined up and another 15 min ride to the park. We got off the boat at 8:30am and didn't walk into the park until 10:30am, but we got to stay until 4pm (ship time) and back on a ferry by 5pm, at the port by 5:45 and back on board by 6:15, just in time for 6:30 sail away
So the tour guides were great and they have a recommended order that you do the activities, but you are free to go on your own as long as you are back on the bus on time. Definitely go with them to the ziplines first because you get to cut most of the line. There are 2 sets of lines and they will take you to both if you want. 1 set was enough for us and took a good hour to get through. The towers are VERY tall so there's a lot of walking uphill and my lazy 14 year old couldn't cut it anymore lol so she didn't want to do the second line, but there was time. 
So we wandered from the group and went to the amphibious cars which was a blast! My husband thought he was a race car driver lol. Other than wearing your helmet and seat belt there are no restrictions. You drive through water, bridges and caves! We did 2 tracks which took about 20-25min each. Then we went to go eat and when I say that was the best food we had all trip I mean it!! Huge selection, fresh, tasty! Plus they have another bar set for just fresh juices and smoothies. 
By the time we finished eating, we saw the rest of our group walk in. We then went to do the cave swimming-do the long track which takes about 30 minutes to swim through-its worth it! We skipped the rafting because we I've heard from others including our tour guides that its very physically difficult to do and if the person in front of you doesn't know what they are doing, you're stuck and can't move around them. We had just enough time to lay out in some hammocks for a few minutes, get some smoothies and mozy on over to the lockers to clean up and change before having to be back with the group. I think if we had stayed with them, we would have gotten in 2 ziplines, 1 car, and the short cave swim only. 
We  had so much fun were already talking about bringing other family members back with us. Enjoy!

Freedom and Adventure are both large ships, whereas Serenade is a smaller ship.  That being said, size alone isn't the entire premise of what makes a ship great or not.
Kids or no kids on this cruise? 
I'd also say the itinerary each ship is doing may be a big factor in picking one over the other.

To us, the Voyager Class (Adventure) is the sweet spot of cruising.  Perfect size and layout of ship with lots to do.

Freedom is the predecessor to Oasis and Adventure is in the class that was the predecessor to Freedom.  All have ice skating rinks, indoor promenades, deck activities, etc.  Serenade is the least like the others.  She is significantly smaller, but offers sea views from just about anywhere on the ship, including from some of the elevators.  I spent two weeks on Serenade on her Baltics run and enjoyed the ship very much, although my wife did miss the Royal Promenade.

I'd spend at least a couple hours walking around.
Looks like you're there 10am-6pm.  When you get off the ship, head down Caroline Street and get something to eat:
Pepe's if you want Breakfast Schooner Wharf often has live music Half Shell if you just want to sit by the docks with some decent seafood B.Os fish wagon if you want conch fritters, onion rings, hot dogs or just about anything fried.  Don't let the appearance fool you, this place is a gem! From there, walk off the food by heading back the way you came and turning left down Duval.  There are some interesting shops and museums between the T-shirt sellers and slushy-rum-thing spots.  If you hang a right on Olivia (about a mile down) you'll walk past the Hemingway house.  I've never done the tour, but have been wanting to--time just got away from us the last few times.
You can backtrack to Duval or hang a right on Whitehead to get to Mallory square and back towards the ship (there's more stuff to see on Duval, but there are a few neat spots on Whitehead).
Overall, skip the ship-sponsored tours, I wouldn't bother with the trolley if you don't mind walking a 2 mile loop at a leisurely pace.  I also would skip the Southernmost Point, it's just a big concrete buoy with a long line of people waiting to take their picture in front of it.

Even better...as we were walking off the ship past the table of confiscated items-among all of the power strips and liquor, there was a toaster oven!!

...and after all of that....it's still in the box ??

Even better...as we were walking off the ship past the table of confiscated items-among all of the power strips and liquor, there was a toaster oven!!

Thanks for the report! 
Honey stung chicken in Windjammer on Embarkation Day seems to be extinct

Security: Hey, what's in there?!
You: Uh, a fishing pole with plenty of dangerous and sharp lures.
Security: Well, as long as it's not alcohol. Go on your way and enjoy the cruise!

UPDATE: we made it on board with the fishing pole no problems! We have it in a plastic document case and at first security asked what was in it, but said ok when we said fishing pole-walked right on through 

Getting ready to sail away on Allure!
no honeystung chicken in the WJ
sabor is now cover charge for $19

Getting ready to sail away on Allure!
no honeystung chicken in the WJ
sabor is now cover charge for $19

This is from my cruise planner, on the web site, and yes I leave in 8 days.

So he called and the woman was like "I have no idea...no one has ever asked before!"
lol but I'm just thinking how is he taking it on with him? Does he need a case, can he just carry it on?? Oh man lol 

The first rule of fight crew is we don't talk about fight crew.