WhiteSoxFan

I agree that RC need to try something different, The never ending (despite what they say) BOGOHO promo is getting old and, for many sailings, isn't even a deal,  although the addition of the OBC in the last one got me to book a 4 day cruise.  I saw the NCL ad and agree that is a pretty nice offer.  Something like that from Royal would be nice but this time they need to let us C & A members take our discounts with it also.

I'm guessing the OP is from the UK.  I noticed they use the word hire where we use as rent. 

 

We've done this in the past working both ways, Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale and back.  There are several rental car agencies located at FLL a quick ride from the port.  Some of them, Alamo and National that I know of, have a free shuttle service to and from the port to the rental car center at FLL.  Otherwise the cab ride is around $12 if I recall correctly.

 

If Disney is your destination and you will not need a car there, look at one of the companies with a location in or near Disney where you can drop the car.  Alamo/National has multiple locations on Disney propertiy and Avis and Hertz have locations at the hotels near Downtwon Disney. If you are going airport to airport rent a car from an agancy located on the grounds of MCO just for convenience sake.  The nice thing about both airports is most rental car companies have locations in the parking garages at the airport so returning is easy as you drop the car and then just walk into the terminal.

Completely agree, Matt. Everyday last week was pool/beach weather in every port including San Juan. In addition, the nighttime temperatures are quite warm (70-75f), meaning that it's pool weather even at 2 am if you're at a hotel with a 24 hour pool like we were.

That sounds great, hope you had a good time, I head out on the Jewel in 12 days!

 

2) We hit Diamond level before the Oasis cruise, and now we get 3 drinks a night loaded onto our card for consumption between 5-8pm (not valid in the dining room though).

 

 

We have plenty of reason not to buy it this cruise, we have only have one sea day and we are in a suite so we have the drinks available in the Concierge Lounge.  After this cruise we will also be Diamond so we will have the three free drinks also.  BTW just grab a drink in at the bar and carry it into dinner.

Until my daughter was in college we cruised in late March during spring break. With the exception of once when it was cool in Miami we've always had warm weather.  We have sailed the Allure in early January and it was warm. We also sailed out of Tampa in early January and there were a lot of people in the pool prior to sailaway.  I suppose we may just be lucky.

 

As others have noted, start in San Juan and you have no problem.  We head to SJ in 12 days, a few days ago there was an 88 degree delta between here and there.

Personally I think the easiest way would be to split up into a 2 or 3 taxis.  They are plentiful and it is a short trip to the airport.  It's about $12-14 dollars as I recall.

Right beside the pier is a hotel called the El Cid, also a little further down is the Park Royal, both offer day passes.  Just do a quick google search.  You will find an El Cid day pass available on the Resort for a Day website.

Definitely worthwhile, we did this on the Allure when we had a 10:20AM flight.  We were off the ship, to the airport and through security before 8:00AM.  One word of warning, at least at Port Canaveral, If you do not have a free hand (ie. you are holding or pulling bags in each hand) they make you stand in line to use the elevator as opposed to going down the escalator, this can be a slow process.

I agree with Matt, hard to go wrong there.  We have gone twice, although it used to be free for the chairs and they asked you to spend $10pp in food and/or drinks.  Still $3 for chairs and $15 for the Fun Pass is reasonable. Taxi's are plentiful for your return to the ship.

I booked to go on Allure last week for one week in September.I went to my usual travel who we have been using for 15 years.she first phoned Royal for us to get a price from them I couldn't believe how much they wanted.For a week with just flights which they couldn't say if they were direct or indirect.They wanted for 3 of us in a junior suite deck 8 midship 7 grand.We said thankyou but no thankyou.My agent phoned someone else and got a great price.A 4* hotel pre cruise plus one night post cruise.Direct flights all transfers included and gratuities deck 8 midship junior suite for just over 4 grand.We didn't take the all inclusive as we didn't need the drinks package.I couldn't believe how much cheaper we got the cruise for.

 

My take on this was that he purchased a cruise on a different line, not RC.  No doubt this would be an expensive cruise, Allure is in the Mediteranian in September.

 

Good points, Michelle.

 

The TA I use doesn't offer any perks unless the agency has a promotion with the cruise line.  We often get a small gift once onboard (e.g., $25 OBC, photo, or bottle of wine) as a thank you, but nothing big or upfront nor expected.  While I know I can get better deals out there, I'm loyal to myth tried and true TA as she makes time for me and doesn't charge a fee to rebook if prices drop.

 

I looked into a warehouse club agency once because of an add and past experience with them on a land trip. However, when I asked about price drops, they informed me that there'd be a $75 change fee each time.  In addition, I could never speak to the same person and often had to wait 20 minutes on hold each time.

This is exactly the same sentiment I have.  I called a warehouse club once and was told they do not hold cabins, you must pay the deposit then and there. That is another advantage to my TA, I get a hold longer than the 24 hours RC gives you (and certainly infinitely langer than the warehouse club :) )

While I can't specifically comment on the Allure, I have heard that Johnny Rockets is another option for breakfast that is complimentary.

This is true, JR is complimentary for breakfast.  It has a limited menu.

Hello All,

 

I will be on Allure of the Seas in February and I am very excited. I am calling it the Superbowl Cruise since it is during the Superbowl! Anyhow, for those of you who have been on Allure before, can you tell me how the food at the Windjammer is onboard? I have heard that the Windjammer on Allure is not that good. I cruised on Vision of the Seas this past May and I thought the Windjammer was pretty good... Hit and miss but overall good. Also, what speciality restaurants are not to be missed? We stuck to the main dining room and Windjammer on Vision and would like to branch out more this time. Thanks in advance!

This won't necessarily help you with your question but I have sailed the Allure twice and never eaten in the WJ, which is our normal spot for breakfast and lunch on any cruise. There are so many choices on board and the WJ was always crowded when we were looking for food. My personal favorite spots for breakfast and lunch were the Park Cafe and the Solarium Bistro.  Solarium Bistro has great healthy options. It is my daughters favorite place to eat.

 

One great feature on the Allure & Oasis, that has also been expanded onto other ships, is the ability to view the crowd levels for all the available dining options on the ship.  This can be done via your stateroom TV or on one of the wayfinding TV's near the elevator lobbies.

We just purchased this cruise for February.  Thank you for the pics!

 

Greg

Thanks, we are sailing her in 6-1/2 weeks, the last week of January.  If you, or anyone else, is looking for any information let me know and I'll try and have an answer for you on my return.  I will definitely be bringing back the Compasses which I will send to Matt to post on the site.

I booked my Southern Caribbean cruise online through RCCL today then called them to answer some questions.  The rep answered our questions, including having to research a couple with other departments.  I don't think a TA would have done any better or any faster.  I did purchase airfare on my own for less money.  Also, my wife and I are going down to San Juan a couple of days early and I made hotel reservations on my own at a considerable savings over the RCCL approved hotels.

 

All is good so far!

 

Greg

As DocLC said, RC is notorious for their CS reps give out incorrect information, not a lot necessarily, but enough that it is a common topic on message boards.  This and other cruising forums are great places to get answers on most any questions you have.

Any color is fine.

 

Don't forget the porters have tags too.  Granted, it takes more time for them to do it but if you forget or printer is being bad, then don't sweat it.

On our last cruise it would have taken no extra time as the porter told us to go ahead and go inside.  Being the anal guy I am, I stuck around to make sure he put the right cabin number on  the tags and that they wound up on the bags.

Matt, you should call RC for your cut. :D

Only 61 more days for me!

I forgot about the elevators, great view!

 

Also if you go up to the Loyalty Ambassador area you can look straight down in to the center of the Centrum.  Like so:

Many people enjoy the Seaview Cafe, deck 12 aft.  It has limited hours so you have to check your Compass for hours. 

 

When you go to the Windjammer (buffet) don't miss the covered outdoor seating.  It is all the way in the back through the Windjammer. 

 

Deck six has the Schooner Bar, Game Reserve (with self leveling pool tables) and The Safari Club, all nice.

 

Also take a walk out to the helicopter pad. To get there take the deck four promenade walkway forward and go up the staircase.

 

I would love to see the compasses when you return if you are up for keeping them and scanning them.

 

If you want to see some pics of the Jewel (almost 100) click the following link:  https://plus.google.com/photos/114954313618841672974/albums/5835722288306398337?banner=pwa

It's find of like asking when is the best time to buy airfare, the prices always seems to fluctuate. 

 

I usually book well in advance.  I have booked 22 months in advance when I wanted a specific cabin, but usually I book about a year out.  The key is to regularly check the pricing to see if there has been a price drop.  Up to the time of final payment you just have to call RC or you TA and get the price adjusted.  You can check the pricing yourself by going through the booking process on RC's website or there are websites that track prices and show the pricing history.

The whole decision seems to revolve around "value" and, for some, control.  How does one define value?  To some it is the lowest price, to others it is perks (and the lowest price), and to others it is simplicity and time savings.  Of course there is also the contingent that like to have everything in their control. Should you use a travel agent, only you can decide I guess. 

 

Are there bad TA's? Sure, but like anything else, don't condemn an entire industry based on the incompetence of a few.

 

My personal take is, thanks to RC's pricing policy, I am not going to get a better price either way.  Can I spend hours searching around and possibly get a little OBC, a free excursion or another perk?  Yes, but my time is more valuable than that.  I also think that from a societal aspect it pays to help support a local business.

 

As I stated previously, my TA has come through for me in the past and saves me time every time there is a price drop or I make some other kind of change.  To me that is enough to give her my business.

I always use a TA, the same one I have been using for years.  They are a regular brick and mortar shop nearby.  Even though I do most of the research and legwork I like to support a local business. I also can make changes to cabins or price adjustments with a quick email instead of a phone call to a customer service rep at RC.

 

A couple years back we were booked on the Jewel when someone on our roll call thread noticed a great price on Grand Suites.  I called my TA who quoted a MUCH higher price going through the TA portal.  When she went through the standard web interface she saw the lower price.  She set about checking on it and called 45 minutes later to say she had gotten us the lower price.  When I checked back on the roll call thread another person who had tried to get the reduced price was told it was for new booking only ( a standard RC practice for last minute deals).  Needless to say my TA really came through for me there.

Renovations are taking place now.  On Allure they have the Doghouse instead of the Donut shop but they do have donuts located across the boardwalk from the Doghouse.  After watching the kiddies stick there hands in there and handle the donuts without removing them, however, I decided to pass.

 

I'm disappointed that they are building Grand Suites where the "secret" balconies are.  Both times we have sailed the Allure we have had cabins a short walk from them.  It is a great place to go watch Oceanaria.  I can only assume the same changes will be made to the Allure in the near future.

We have cruised on every RC class of ship except the Vision class and I think they all have there own attraction.  We kept going bigger and kept loving it but took a 4 day on the Jewel a couple of years ago.  I too wondered if we would miss things we loved on the big ships, large solarium area, promenade, Central Park, Boardwalk, etc. when we sailed the Jewel.  While the Jewel did not have those items it has a charm all its own and we loved it so much we are heading back in January.  My daughter, who has been on every cruise we've ever taken,  just sailed the Vision last month and also liked that.

 

Smaller doesn't necessarily mean less crowded, we have been on the Allure twice and I think it feels less crowded than other ships.  There is so much public area and the crowds get distributed so well that you don't feel like you are sailing with 6000 other people.

Also, at least in the US, drinks purchased in port are subject to local sales tax.