Sea-ing Stars - Allure OTS April 23 - 30, 2023

[MamaShark]

 

   On 3/30/2023 at 8:29 AM,  melmar02 said: 

@calvink669 Let me know if you have any questions, and I'll try to get answers for you. I have been searching for a video of the suite side of the cruiseterminal since it opened back in November and finally found one a couple weeks ago.  
 

@melmar02 i’m reading along realizing that I have a lot of Allure memory refreshing to do.  We’ll be in Suite 1740 in May. Since it’ll be our first time @ the new Galveston terminal, I watched your video walking through the new lounge twice …and THEN I caught a cameo/glimpse in the background of Alan R, who will be our genie next month!  
The video triggered me to re-check where I keep my passports (like I haven’t touched them in at least 2 weeks) 

Thanks also for jarring my memory that it’s Giovanni’s on Allure!  I was ready to ask Genie have the old reliable “Jamie’s meat n cheese plank” delivered for lunch— at least one day.
Oops, flashback of SYM/DEC. 

I’ll definitely be brushing up and enjoying your blog! 

[melmar02]

DH finally said "whatever you want" in regards to meals, so I emailed Smitha back this evening with our hibachi time and a couple of changes. Except for CK night one, 150 on night 2, and our two dining reservations, we really are flexible with where we eat. Heck the kids would be happy in the WJ or at Sorrento's and El Loco Fresh all week! 

She did ask we use WhatsApp starting embarkation day to communicate with her - is that still debated? I remember people asking about that previously. 

[MamaShark]

No doubt my 30ish adult children enjoy using WhatsApp, far more than I do.  WhatsApp works best on board for time sensitive information, changes, arrangements or list, sharing with genie.  Once on board, it’s a relief not having to exchange info on emails like we did in the past; but I’m also guilty of not checking my phone for messages or texts regularly several times day.  

[melmar02]

9 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Do you and your family find shopping to be a chore? I hate shopping, I have a system where if I see something I just get it, as opposed to waiting until I have cruise/vacation booked. My brother used to laugh at me because I have specific cruise/vacation clothes, he now understands.

Also...........congrats on your weight loss. I am down quite a bit, and it is great to pull out clothes I wore almost 10 years ago, and they fit again. 

The only time I really buy new clothes is for a cruise, so it's only once or twice a year. For me anyway. The kids won't stop growing so I just pick up replacements (clothes, not kids) as needed. 

[ScooterScott22]

11 hours ago, melmar02 said:

She did ask we use WhatsApp starting embarkation day to communicate with her - is that still debated? I remember people asking about that previously. 

What is the debate about?  Happy to share some of our experience.  

It seems that WhatsApp is the more common method of communicating with the Genie these days.  We used it this past September with Genie Jay sailing in 1740 on Allure and it worked well.  The other Genies were using that same method.  Have had it for a number of years but really mostly use it for some friends that live internationally.  It seems to be a little better for texts out of the US so guess that's why it is used. 

The only issue that might be noted is if you don't have the app yet or if you don't have your notification settings correct.

Happy planning!

[asquared17]

10 hours ago, melmar02 said:

The kids won't stop growing so I just pick up replacements (clothes, not kids) as needed. 

i will admit i laughed harder than i should have at this

[melmar02]

4 hours ago, ScooterScott22 said:

What is the debate about?  Happy to share some of our experience.  

It seems that WhatsApp is the more common method of communicating with the Genie these days.  We used it this past September with Genie Jay sailing in 1740 on Allure and it worked well.  The other Genies were using that same method.  Have had it for a number of years but really mostly use it for some friends that live internationally.  It seems to be a little better for texts out of the US so guess that's why it is used. 

The only issue that might be noted is if you don't have the app yet or if you don't have your notification settings correct.

Happy planning!

Not so much a debate - poor word choice on my part. TBH I haven't paid too much attention to star class blogs until the last year or so since we didn't have one booked. I read a bunch all at once and I guess the policies of the older and newer ones overlapped in my brain. I remember some people say genies wanted WhatsApp, some wanted something else, others are still saying request a dect phone (saw that one on FB just yesterday).  

Personally, I'm fine with WhatsApp - already have Smitha's number loaded as a contact and counting down the days until I can use it.

[melmar02]

3 hours ago, asquared17 said:

i will admit i laughed harder than i should have at this

Not gonna lie...there are times I consider the other option. lol

 

[MLH]

A couple of questions if you don't mind.  Can you order lunch on embarkation day to your room?  Is the Escape Room open?

Thanks!  We sail in 39 days and your review will wet my appetite for sure!

[WAAAYTOOO]

3 hours ago, MLH said:

A couple of questions if you don't mind.  Can you order lunch on embarkation day to your room?  Is the Escape Room open?

Thanks!  We sail in 39 days and your review will wet my appetite for sure!

Room service lunch on embarkation day is a bit problematic.  CAN you ?  Usually (although I have read of some Genies telling their guests "no") however, the Genies try and steer guests away from room delivery of lunch.  For one thing, only a couple of restaurants are even open....but mostly b/c boarding day is just too hectic.  This is definitely something that is Genie (and ship) specific.  The best advice I have is just ask when your Genie contacts you.  I would be prepared to do something else and if they say they can swing it, then you will be pleasantly surprised !

[melmar02]

5 hours ago, MLH said:

A couple of questions if you don't mind.  Can you order lunch on embarkation day to your room?  Is the Escape Room open?

Thanks!  We sail in 39 days and your review will wet my appetite for sure!

Thanks @WAAAYTOOO for the answer - we didn't even ask. 

I do not believe Allure has an escape room. I think that was something that was supposed to be added during her cancelled amplification. Instead, I believe someone posted recently about an escape room type activity, but it's not really an escape room - it's held in one of the bars, like triva, and you solve puzzles as a team. I'll see if I can find that post.

[melmar02]

Heard from Smitha today with an updated schedule. We have the "hard to schedule" meals (chef's table and hibachi) so I'm sure she can work her magic to iron out any lingering details and changes. 

I noticed our set sail passes have Star and our casino status listed again. I saved them just in case that disappears again. I feel official!

Lots of activities have dropped into the planner in the last couple days. No headliners are listed yet.

 

I doubled up the kids school load and we finished a couple subjects this week. We'll finish 75% of their subjects by next Thursday, and I told the kids they can work at their own pace now. If they want to work extra and finish it all next week they can. Fingers crossed because my work schedule is packed pretty tight, and no school the week before we go means I can take my time packing. Just in case, I have all my cruise clothes separated in the closet - just waiting to pull out the suitcases!

[melmar02]

@MLH I found the game I mentioned. It's showing on day 7.

 

[MLH]

2 hours ago, melmar02 said:

@MLH I found the game I mentioned. It's showing on day 7.

 

Thank you.  I havent seen it before.  will put it in my planner.

[JohnK6404]

5 hours ago, melmar02 said:

@MLH I found the game I mentioned. It's showing on day 7.

 

 

If this is anything like the Puzzle "escape-the-room" activity on Wonder, it might be a disappointment for some. We signed up for it on our January sailing and found out it was just held in one of the rooms in Adventure Ocean... mostly table activities/puzzles. We decided to skip it...

This was the activity on Wonder of the Seas...

[melmar02]

3 hours ago, JohnK6404 said:

 

If this is anything like the Puzzle "escape-the-room" activity on Wonder, it might be a disappointment for some. We signed up for it on our January sailing and found out it was just held in one of the rooms in Adventure Ocean... mostly table activities/puzzles. We decided to skip it...

This was the activity on Wonder of the Seas...

 

Interesting. We don't have an option to reserve a time on ours, and thankfully I don't see the age restriction yours had in the description on mine. Our youngest at 11 would be very disappointed to miss this. Both the kids love escape rooms, and I think if we prep them that it's the puzzles, but not the actual room, they would be interested. I'll definitely report back if we decide to take part.

[JohnK6404]

2 hours ago, melmar02 said:

Interesting. We don't have an option to reserve a time on ours, and thankfully I don't see the age restriction yours had in the description on mine. Our youngest at 11 would be very disappointed to miss this. Both the kids love escape rooms, and I think if we prep them that it's the puzzles, but not the actual room, they would be interested. I'll definitely report back if we decide to take part.

Great idea setting their expectations. I think your children will still enjoy themselves.  

Just an FYI for other folks that may have higher expectations believing that this is more like the full escape room experience like with Apollo 18 on Oasis. Yes, please let us know how it was if you take part!

[Peter D]

Does Allure offer All Access Tours?  If so, did you consider requesting it from your Genie?

[melmar02]

2 hours ago, Peter D said:

Does Allure offer All Access Tours?  If so, did you consider requesting it from your Genie?

They do, but we didn't ask.

[ScooterScott22]

19 hours ago, Peter D said:

Does Allure offer All Access Tours?  If so, did you consider requesting it from your Genie?

16 hours ago, melmar02 said:

They do, but we didn't ask.

Many of us are planners and the Genies like to have somethings worked out ahead of times, but one of the biggest perks of Star Class is spontaneity.  If you decide that you don't want to do something that was planned, or do want to do something that wasn't, usually it will be worked out for you.  You will be getting to chat with you genie about your day and adjust plans the day before and day of, as needed.  It really is nice to find something that you really want to do and be confident that the genie will adjust plans accordingly, no worrying about not getting to do something just because you didn't set it up in the cruise planner months ago.  

[Lovetocruise2002]

On 4/6/2023 at 7:55 AM, MLH said:

Can you order lunch on embarkation day to your room?

100% ship dependent. Allure is a bit more flexible so you might get a yes if you ask. It all depends on the ship's F&B team.

On 4/4/2023 at 12:08 PM, melmar02 said:

I remember some people say genies wanted WhatsApp, some wanted something else, others are still saying request a dect phone (saw that one on FB just yesterday)

Almost all of them use Whatsapp now (ever since the pandemic restart). Prior to that, they were using email or some Genies would tell their guest to call their dect phone. A few Genies even gave guests a dect phone. Whatsapp is a welcomed change to the program but there are still a few lingering SC guests who are used to the "old ways" who may still talk of wanting a dect phone. But I hear that less and less now.

BTW, Smitha responds super fast to Whatsapp.

[jbrinkm]

On 4/6/2023 at 1:53 PM, melmar02 said:

@MLH I found the game I mentioned. It's showing on day 7.

 

We just did this on Allure. It helped us a LOT that we had someone in our group that had done a similar puzzle on a Royal ship - otherwise, we would have been really clueless. I would describe it more like a game of Clue rather than an escape room, since you're not trying to get out. We had a few issues with the organization of the activity. If it doesn't seem like too much of an inconvenience, you might want to ask them to review what is in your sealed packets when it is time to open them... we were missing a really important document (as were a three other groups, out of probably 20 total groups) and didn't realize until it was too late, plus one of the stations in the room was missing 2 important pieces (realized this sooner than the other, and at least everyone was on a level playing field with this mishap). 

Our experienced player said that it helps to have a bigger group. You have to have a group of 5-10, but the more people you have, the more can be working on challenges at the same time. I actually thought 7 was a great number of people to have in a group.

It is good to have one or more people just figure out what the challenge is, while others immediately start working on the puzzles to get more clues. I honestly never really figured out what the exact main puzzle was because I was always off solving one of the smaller challenges for clues. When I got back to my bigger group, they were already in the weeds with the final challenge, so I just watched them without really figuring it out.

 

[melmar02]

10 days to go!

 

A little clothing drama to go with the @Ampurp85 and @asquared17 blogs. I ordered a new swim suit since one of the two that fit me last season was way too big now. I was busting out of the other one last year, and it now fits well. I'm usually a tankini girl since I'm only 5'1", and I can get a top that's big enough without all the extra length in a one piece. One piece shopping is usually very unproductive for me because by the time I find one big enough for the top part to fit, I have a good 3 inches of extra material hanging from my bum. However, my plan is to do the flow rider with my son, so I need a one piece for this trip.

I found a cute one at a place that offers cup sizing and ordered my new smaller size and a skirt to go with it for the pool and beach. The suit was purple ombre that turned navy toward the waist with ruched fabric crisscrossing the front, and the skirt I ordered to go with it was navy with adjustable side ties. I was really excited about this swim suit, and when it came in on Saturday evening, the length looked perfect...but there were giant holes in it and the criss cross fabric was unfinished and not attached everywhere. It really looks like someone took a pair of scissors to it. The back has matching cuts.

I didn't have time to return and wait for a new one as delivery took about 2 weeks the first time around. We had plans with my MIL that night, but I did manage to make it into one store that evening only to be disappointed in the options. The next day, Easter, I couldn't go look for anything as the stores were all closed. I scoured the internet Saturday night and Easter Sunday trying to find something local that was in stock, and at this point I figured I was out of luck. DH didn't understand that I needed to mourn the loss of this article of clothing, so I turned to cleaning. I started with that stupid swim suit drawer and decided to throw out all the too big sets. Buried in the bottom of the drawer was an old swim team style suit I haven't worn in for-ev-er. I quickly tried it on and low and behold it fit (with only about an inch of baggy-ness at the bottom). I was planning to wear jogging shorts that have a draw string over the new suit for the flow rider, so I'll wear them over the old suit and it will be fine. Crisis averted for the flow rider, and I could purchase my go to tankini top to go with the cute new swim skirt that arrived undamaged. Whew! 

I know this was such a first world problem, but swim suit shopping is traumatic for us ladies. Adding the time restriction to get a replacement definitely put me in a mood for a couple of days. 

 

Since I have stuff strewn all over the house, our pups have realized something is up. DH, last minute packer that he is, hasn't started trying on clothes yet. 

They always know! The little one has been extra clingy for a few days, and the black one has been extra grumpy...like his mama shopping for swim attire.

 

 

[WAAAYTOOO]

My goodness....that WAS a drama.  So glad you went through your drawer and found a loyal and long-forgotten friend !

[Ampurp85]

I love the doggies, so cute. Pets always know when we are leaving. My kitty has been sitting on my carry-on giving me random death stares all week.

Sorry about the swimsuit drama. 

 

[asquared17]

2 hours ago, melmar02 said:

DH didn't understand that I needed to mourn the loss of this article of clothing, so I turned to cleaning.

this is my coping method as well. the deeper the clean, the more aggressive the emotional damage. if i get the BLEACH OUT? GOODBYE FOREVER WORLD. and if i start cleaning out DR AW ER S???

BEST FIND YOURSELF A NEW HOME FOR AT LEAST 12 HOURS.

we are your PEOPLE!!

2 hours ago, melmar02 said:

but swim suit shopping is traumatic for us ladies.

SWIM SUIT SHOPPING IS TRAUMATIC, FULL STOP.

i found a brand/style that i love and i basically just keep buying every time they have sales. i have stockpiled way too many swim separates still in the packaging/new with tags FOR THIS PRECISE reason.

i am glad it was all okay in the end but UGH what a wrench in the works!!

also your doggo is SO cute

[jbrinkm]

Very cute pups! Ours got into our luggage and curled up when I was unpacking, like - if you are leaving again, I AM GOING!

Swimsuit shopping is absolutely traumatic, as @asquared17 said. Have you ever looked at Swimsuits for All? I think I've finally found my ideal form of swimsuit shopping on that site. I hope you're not also looking for a new jumpsuit for petite figures for your trip  

[melmar02]

4 hours ago, jbrinkm said:

Very cute pups! Ours got into our luggage and curled up when I was unpacking, like - if you are leaving again, I AM GOING!

Swimsuit shopping is absolutely traumatic, as @asquared17 said. Have you ever looked at Swimsuits for All? I think I've finally found my ideal form of swimsuit shopping on that site. I hope you're not also looking for a new jumpsuit for petite figures for your trip  

I have not. Land's End has been a good fit for me for the last few years, so that's where I ordered from this time around. I knew their measuring charts were accurate, so I went with them for the purple suit. I'll have to check out your suggestion - my goal is to shrink out of these two suits by our Halloween cruise. 

I want a jumpsuit to work for me so bad! I tried on one romper at a consignment store a couple weeks ago, and it was quite comical.

 

[asquared17]

i can see i will need to add jumpsuit hunting to my current deliverables 

[asquared17]

11 hours ago, asquared17 said:

also your doggo is SO cute

TWO DOGGOS  i was clearly not awake when i replied to this post

[Ampurp85]

I almost thought they were the same, but I realized they had different fur. The doggies look like vintages, lol especially the second one with less hair.

[melmar02]

21 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I almost thought they were the same, but I realized they had different fur. The doggies look like vintages, lol especially the second one with less hair.

 

That little brown one on the edge of the hot tub is only 4 years old. She definitely looks younger when her hair is grown out - it gets curly and she is scruffy - cute. The black one is about 15 and has quite a lot more gray than when we got him from the shelter when he was just a pup.

[melmar02]

 

Seven days to go! I've been watching the Galveston webcams off and on all day, but I'm not sure it has been making time go any faster.  

DH finally tried on clothes last night and fortunately neither of us are good about throwing out old clothes. He too was able to fit back into quite a bit of a smaller wardrobe he had tucked in the back of the closet, and he will only need a couple pairs of nice shorts, a belt, and maybe a swim suit - I couldn't get him to try his on last night. After all the dress clothes, he was kind of done. He can pick up all that up after work tomorrow. One more check mark!

Here's my packing list - it's served me pretty well over the years, and I use it for land travel too. I just leave certain stuff off like the magnetic hooks. I print it out and on the back I list the details for the outfits I plan to wear kind of like this:

Day one / embarkation - blue shorts, tie dye shirt, tennis shoes

Day one / dinner - yellow floral dress, brown sandals, silver bangle bracelets

On the front, in the blanks around the clothes, I just list a short description of everything. Once I pack, I put the list in my suitcase so I can make sure I repack everything. 

Packing list.pdf

I decided I need a new pair of black heels. I tried wearing just black flats the last two cruises, and it worked ok. But my formal night dress will look better with heels and while I'm 5'1", DH is 6'4" so I think it's a valid purchase.  I have them picked out, just need to pick them up tomorrow while running some errands for this week's cake order. I would have done it today to get one more day of break in time, but DS's Blue & Gold Cub Scout ceremony is this evening, and we've been doing some prep work for that. 

[Sweety]

Your dogs have the same look like my dogs. When we get back they have the look like are you done traveling.

[asquared17]

1 hour ago, melmar02 said:

On the front, in the blanks around the clothes, I just list a short description of everything. Once I pack, I put the list in my suitcase so I can make sure I repack everything

i am LIVING for your packing list!!!! i love it. and the cruise essentials section

i might do that on mine to make it more congruent because not every trip is a cruise so this would make it easier to keep track and not leave anything behind. 

thanks for sharing!!!

let us know how the shoes work out

[jbrinkm]

We really need a new thread about JUST packing lists.

[melmar02]

2 hours ago, asquared17 said:

i am LIVING for your packing list!!!! i love it. and the cruise essentials section

i might do that on mine to make it more congruent because not every trip is a cruise so this would make it easier to keep track and not leave anything behind. 

thanks for sharing!!!

let us know how the shoes work out

It's actually an excel sheet because I thought it would be easy to update as things change, but the only thing I ever seem to correct is the trip info at the top.

[Sweety]

I keep one bag pack with essentials all the time. I call it the journey bag. Ready to go anytime.

[melmar02]

2 hours ago, jbrinkm said:

We really need a new thread about JUST packing lists.

It can go right next to the thread with @asquared17 's styling advice.

[melmar02]

15 minutes ago, Sweety said:

I keep one bag pack with essentials all the time. I call it the journey bag. Ready to go anytime.

Other than the big suitcases, we use our bags for different things when not traveling, so I keep a "cruise box" in the closet. It has all the towel clips, hooks, luggage tag holders, passport holder, etc. Easy to pull down and distribute the stuff between everyone's bags so I'm not lugging it all!