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Thee Royal Caribbean ships will delay departure times because of Hurricane Matthew

In:
07 Oct 2016

The effects of Hurricane Matthew are still being felt with three more Royal Caribbean ships that will have a delayed departure.

To give guests more time to arrive to the ship with transportation issues for Freedom of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.

New departure times are:

  • Oasis of the Seas sailing from Port Everglades on Saturday, October 8, will now depart at 7:00 p.m.
  • Allure of the Seas sailing from Port Everglades on Sunday, October 9, will now depart at 7:00 p.m.
  • Freedom of the Seas sailing from Port Canaveral on Sunday, October 9 will now depart at 9:00 p.m.

If there are any questions, please contact Royal Caribbean at 866-562-7625.

Best spots on Allure of the Seas throughout the day

In:
03 Oct 2016

Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas offers as much to see and do as it is impressive in nature.  This ship was designed to be a major focal point of your cruise vacation, and is arguably a Royal Caribbean ship that redefined what a cruise ship can offer.

With so many options onboard, here are our top picks for places on Allure of the Seas to go, depending on what you are looking to do!

Have breakfast

A hidden gem for breakfast on Allure of the Seas is Johnny Rockets, in the Boardwalk neighborhood. Unlike the Windjammer, which tends to get crowded, Johnny Rockets does not get nearly as crowded.

On Allure of the Seas, Johnny Rockets is open for breakfast and offers some great traditional breakfast items, such as pancakes, omelettes, French toast, and more.

The best part? It's complimentary!  Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast on Allure of the Seas (lunch and dinner at Johnny Rockets still cost extra).

Have breakfast (without a wait)

While Johnny Rockets is a good spot for breakfast, if you are in a hurry (like on a port day), the best spot for a quick grab-and-go breakfast is Park Cafe in the Central Park neighborhood.

Park Cafe tends to be less crowded than the Windjammer and offers a great breakfast spread, complete with a make-your-own bagel bar.

Guests with a drink package can also get their premium coffee or tea at Park Cafe.

Be sure to come back to Park Cafe later in the day for a wonderful kummelweck sandwich!

Get the best snack

We just invoked the spirit of the kummelweck sandwich, but our choice for the best snack on Allure of the Seas has to be the guacamole at Sabor Taqueria & Tequila Bar.

The tableside created guacamole at Sabor will change your life for the better.  It is amazingly good and the kind of food that illicit daydreams like a bad Wayne's World dream sequence.

There are two ways to get this most awesome snack.  You can opt to dine at Sabor and only pay for what you order, or go to the Sabor bar on the Boardwalk and order up a serving to take with you elsewhere on the ship. 

The Sabor bar is the circular bar area outside the entrance to Sabor and they serve up the same great guacamole the sit down restaurant has!

See what's around you

Whether you are about to sail away, are in port or just want to enjoy the vista of the ocean around you, be sure to go to the deck wings on deck 14 for the best view onboard.

These bridge wings extend away from the side of the ship, giving guests a very unique view of your surroundings, and Allure of the Seas itself.

To get to the wing viewing areas, go all the way forward in the deck 14 on the port side. Once you arrive at the end of the corridor, there will be a glass door on the left.

Do something totally different

If you are the "been there, done that" kind of cruiser, then you should try the Prohibition Party on Allure of the Seas.

Part mystery, part jazz club and all fun, the Prohibition Party is a private event that combines live music, unlimited alcohol and a loose storyline to provide all guests with a very memorable evening.

The premise of the Prohibition Party is you are going to a 1920's-style speakeasy, where guests dress up and play the part of Prohibition-era people looking to have a good time.

Grab a Coke

Guests that purchase an unlimited drink package will receive a souvenir Coca-Cola cup that can be used with the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines.  There are machines around the ship, but usually there is just one machine per location.

If you want the best spot to use the machines, head to the Royal Promenade and look for the machines next to Sorrento's Pizza.  There are two machines there, which means there is double the usual capacity for just one location and that means shorter lines!

Find a spot to relax

Looking for somewhere that is shaded and is quiet and a great spot to sit and relax?  

Head to deck 5 and go all the way to the aft of the ship.  You will find chairs that have a great view of the ocean and are usually without many other passengers.

Find a less crowded bar

Bars are great for mingling, but sometimes you just want a drink without the wait and our top pick is the Wipe Out Bar in the Pool and Sports Zone neighborhood on deck 16.

Not only is the Wipe Out Bar usually less crowded than other bars, it offers a great view of the FlowRider surf simulators, as well as a view of the ocean behind you.

With seating for 36, the alfresco bar also offers uninterrupted views over the stern.

Honorable mention to Vintages, which tends to be the least crowded bar on any Royal Caribbean ship.

Date night

Anyone looking to celebrate an evening on Allure of the Seas with a nice evening out, should consider spending their time in Central Park.

Once the sun goes down, Central Park becomes even more beautiful with the fantastic lighting through the neighborhood.  The ambiance gets even better with the regularly scheduled live string music in the evening.

Of course, Central Park is home to a number of incredibly popular and fantastic restaurant choices: Chops Grille, Giovanni's Table and 150 Central Park.

Cap it all off with an evening stroll and maybe a private photo shoot in the 

Royal Caribbean changes itineraries for two more cruise ships because of Hurricane Matthew

In:
01 Oct 2016

The projected path of Hurricane Matthew has forced Royal Caribbean to change the itinerary for two more cruise ships.

Cruise Critic is reporting changes to Allure of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas due to this massive storm.

Allure of the Seas will depart from Port Everglades as scheduled on October 2, but will change the order in which she visits her ports. 

  • October 2: Depart Port Everglades at 4:30pm
  • October 3: Sea Day
  • October 4: Cozumel 7am - 6pm
  • October 5: Sea day
  • October 6: Falmouth 7am - 4pm
  • October 7: Labadee 9:30am - 6pm
  • October 8: Sea Day
  • October 9: Port Everglades 6:15am

In addition, Enchantment of the Seas has canceled both of her stops in the Bahamas. Instead, she will sail on a Western Caribbean itinerary

  • October 3: Depart Miami at 4pm
  • October 4: Sea Day
  • October 5: Cozumel 8am - 2pm
  • October 6: Key West 1:15pm - 7pm
  • October 7: Miami 6:15am

Royal Caribbean changed the itinerary already for Adventure of the Seas and Allure of the Seas earlier this week to avoid the path of the storm that has become Hurricane Matthew.

Royal Caribbean changes Allure of the Seas itinerary due to tropical disturbance Invest 97L

In:
27 Sep 2016

Royal Caribbean sent a letter to guests aboard Allure of the Seas yesterday to tell them that their itinerary will change due to the anticipated path of a tropical disturbance.

Allure of the Seas had been scheduled to sail on an Eastern Caribbean itinerary to the St. Thomas and St. Maarten.  Royal Caribbean noted that the path of this disturbance is expected to track through the east-southeast region of the Windward Islands.  For the safety and comfort of guests and crew, Royal Caribbean has decided to revise Allure of the Seas' itinerary as follows.

DayPortArrivalDeparture
September 25Port Everglades, Florida 4:30pm
September 26Nassau, Bahamas7:00am2:00pm
September 27At sea  
September 28Labadee, Haiti8:00am4:00pm
September 29Falmouth, Jamaica9:00am7:00pm
September 30At sea  
October 1At Sea  
October 2Port Everglades, Florida6:15am 

Guests that booked shore excursions in St. Thomas or St. Maarten will have those funds refunded to them in the form of onboard credit.  

The ship's Captain, Ronald Holmes, sent a letter to each guest's stateroom explaining the change, "We have been closely monitoring the storm to ensure you have an enjoyable, safe and comfortable cruise. Your safety and that of our crew members is always our foremost concern."

Thanks to Kevin Korman and TickledBlue for providing information in this post.

Patti LaBelle performs for guests aboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas during President's Cruise

In:
22 Sep 2016

Guests aboard Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas were treated to a special performance by Grammy award-winning legendary artist Patti LaBelle.

The VIP performance was for guests on the first-ever Royal Caribbean President's Cruise that featured President and CEO Michael Bayley

LaBelle was onboard to treat members of the cruise line’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program to an exclusive performance of her best hits including “Lady Marmalade,” “New Attitude,” “On My Own” and “You Are My Friend.”

During the special seven-night Caribbean cruise, sailing round-trip from Fort Lauderdale, FL,  guests onboard Allure are visiting popular ports of call including Nassau, The Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

Royal Caribbean planning a photo opportunity with all three Oasis-class cruise ships

In:
20 Sep 2016

A really big photo is being planned by Royal Caribbean that involves all three of its Oasis-class cruise ships in one place very soon.

Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley confirmed that the company will take photos of the three ships together in coordination with Harmony of the Seas' arrival in the United States in a few short weeks.

"We're trying to arrange all three Oasis-class to be next to each other, off the coast of Florida on November the 4th in the afternoon," Bayley said at an event aboard Allure of the Seas earlier today.

The plan is for Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas to appear together on November 4, 2016.  Royal Caribbean will also invite guests up to the helipad for additional photo opportunities.

Royal Caribbean held a similar event back in 2010, when Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas met at sea.

Six beautiful photos of Royal Caribbean ships in Port Everglades

In:
04 Apr 2016

We love looking at beautiful Royal Caribbean photos and today we have a handful of great ones to share.

Photographer Rob Starling shared these great shots of four different Royal Caribbean ships coming and leaving Port Everglades, Florida.

Liberty of the Seas

Legend of the Seas

Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas

Independence of the Seas

All photos copyright Rob Starling.

Fun Finds: Royal Caribbean drink floaties

In:
28 Mar 2016

While we were on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas, we were browsing the the Royal Caribbean gift shop and ran across quite possibly the cutest drink cozies ever.

The "drink floaties" offer inflatible life preservers for your drink that fit around most beverages or cups.

The floaties come in a few different colors, including orange, green and yellow.

If you are looking for a fun way to enjoy a cold beverage, you might consider this!

A 4-pack of drink floaties are available for $14.95 and were sold in the Allure of the Seas gift shop.

Will you be adding these floaties to your collection? Share with us in comments below!

Spotted: Sushi to go on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas

In:
07 Mar 2016

Ever since Royal Caribbean launched the Izumi specialty restaurant on Oasis of the Seas, the concept of having high quality sushi on a cruise ship has really taken off with guests.

While on Allure of the Seas last week, we spotted a new sushi option in the Royal Promenade that is perfect for guests on the go.

This new sushi option was on the Royal Promenade on embarkation day, and featured three types of maki rolls that guests could purchase on the spot and take with them anywhere onboard.

  • Salmon Lovers roll: $13
  • Crispy Spicy Shrimp roll: $13
  • Snow crab California roll $13

While onboard Allure of the Seas, we did not see any other times sushi to go being offered, but it was something different to see.

Would you buy one of these sushi to go options? Tell us in the comments!

Royal Caribbean resumes visits to private destination of Labadee

In:
26 Jan 2016

Royal Caribbean was able to resume stops at its private destination of Labadee, following three cancelled scheduled stops due to local protests.

Allure of the Seas was able to dock in Labadee earlier this morning, and its guests were able to disembark and enjoy the activities onshore.

Good morning Haiti #royalcaribbean #labadee #haiti

A photo posted by Brittany (@_brittnaynay_) on

Royal Caribbean has been working closely with local and government officials in Haiti to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of its guests.

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