Just back from Allure of the Seas - Eastern Caribbean

[DontGetMeStarted]

Hi all
Just returned from our 3/3/2013 sailing out of FLL to the Eastern Caribbean and cannot recommend highly enough..some highlights were the following - never felt like 6000 people and 2000 staff. We had never cruised before so we were not sure what we were in for but have to say it was fantastic and the RC people certainy know how to move thousands and then entertain them.

• 10 whirlpools, two of them cantilevered whirlpools overlooking the ocean
• 4 pools including the Solarium, an adults-only retreat
• Zip line, nine decks in the air and 82 feet across - tried this
• Two FlowRider surf simulators
• Two rock-climbing walls, each 43 feet high
• Hand-carved carousel
• 25 dining options - Johnny Rockets, Ritas Cantina - Speciality Restaurants
• Broadway hit musical Chicago / Headliner Act - Johnny Tillman / Comedy Shows
• AquaTheater shows, ice shows and other live entertainment
• Lots of kids shows with character

We booked via Our Vacation Centre and earned Velocity Points too, travelled on AA from Honolulu on a status run and made Gold Status as well so all in all a great trip. The port of Nassau was a bit grotty but we had limited time there anyway and loved St Thomas and St Maarten and even got to Maho Beach where the jets land on the air strip close to the beach. Did realise though that I could not do more than 2 days at sea without going a bit stir crazy and even though everyone said I would not feel sea sick there were a few days that I definitley did. So if your thinking about a Caribbean cruise I would really give the Allure which is the sister ship to the Oasis a go. We even paid a $100 deposit down for another cruise which we can decide on later and the deposit never expires and gives you up to $200 back in credit so now looking at a Med cruise for 2014. Happy to answer any questions if I have missed something

 

[mella2007]

How did you earn VA points? Never heard of Our Vacation centre and thought only Cruise Pilot offered VA points? Or do you mean with your CC?
I've heard that not many people like Nassau. Fantastic re Chicago!
I'm off on the NCL Epic in July and can't wait! First cruise ever for me

 

[smit0847]

I've never been on a cruise myself but a good friend is on her first right now - a Carnival cruise out of Sydney. The only feedback I have heard so far from her about it is 'boat full of mordibly obese people who do nothing but eat and eat and eat all day long'.

Is this indicative of all big cruise ships?!

 

[ksthommo]

How did you earn VA points? Never heard of Our Vacation centre and thought only Cruise Pilot offered VA points? Or do you mean with your CC?

Cruise Pilot / Our Vacation Centre are the same, invoices etc have the Cruise Pilot logo etc with Fulfillment by: Our Vacation Centre Pty Ltd .
Also booked through Cruise Pilot to garner a few Velocity Points, we head off on Monday Week, Celebrity Solstice, Sydney - Hawaii via Noumea,
3 spots in Tahiti and Maui, 19 nights all up.

 

[AVC]

We are booked on the same vessel over Christmas. Where was your stateroom?

And what is the best way to get to Juliana airport, thats one of the main reasons I chose this cruise, beachfront plane spotting (and the Dreamworks experience for little Miss)

 

[chrisb]

And what is the best way to get to Juliana airport, thats one of the main reasons I chose this cruise, beachfront plane spotting (and the Dreamworks experience for little Miss)

I'm interested in that too - We're booked on the Allure in June.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

We are booked on the same vessel over Christmas. Where was your stateroom?

And what is the best way to get to Juliana airport, thats one of the main reasons I chose this cruise, beachfront plane spotting (and the Dreamworks experience for little Miss)

Hi Chris and AVC

You will love this ship. We stayed on Deck 7 Balcony Cabin 7178 Port Side...Found this to be an excellent spot close to lifts but also close the stairs for when the lifts were busy. Deck 6 below was the Boardwalk where there is lots of entertainment for the kids a great Carousel and Aqua Theatre and above on Deck 8 is Central Park and its lovely gardens and restaurants. We booked Bernards Tours on St. Maarten to take us to Maho Beach to see the jets land Bernards SXM Tours - they were great, we paid a $5.00 deposit each from here and then the balance in cash of $35.00 each when they met us at the port in St. Maarten - we chose tour 2 which included a visit to an Iguana Farm, some other beaches and then Maho Beach where we had about 45 minutes, we did manage to see quite a few planes land but if you want longer there then I believe they do a tour solely for Maho now and gives you a few hours there. We were on a small bus with about a dozen others, free drinks provided along with a rum punch. Our guide called "Sexy" was fantastic, really knowledgable of this island and took time to point out all the islands high points. One thing to watch out for though maybe if you have very young children we did briefly pass through a nudist beach but did not stop. The kids will love the Dreamworks experience and shows. We booked our shows as soon as they were available - Chicago, Comedy and Headliner Act but missed out on the Aqua Show. Children are very well catered for on this ship with play areas and pools but there are also areas where the adults can relax too like the Solarium with its own restaurant, pools and hot tubs. Happy to help with any other questions too while it is all fresh in our minds and Cruise Reviews, Cruise Deals and Cruises - Cruise Critic is a great site too. You will love it.

 

[Kangarucci]

We also did a tour with Bernards and had the same tour guide, Sexy. Didn't enjoy the so called iguana farm but the tour gave a view of the French side of St. Maarten. Had a swim at one of the beaches which was most enjoyable. The AA plane was delayed and we just caught its arrival over Maho beach. Paid in full at the end of the tour. Booked online.

 

[ksthommo]

Cruise Pilot / Our Vacation Centre are the same, invoices etc have the Cruise Pilot logo etc with Fulfillment by: Our Vacation Centre Pty Ltd .
Also booked through Cruise Pilot to garner a few Velocity Points, we head off on Monday Week, Celebrity Solstice, Sydney - Hawaii via Noumea,
3 spots in Tahiti and Maui, 19 nights all up.

Enjoyed the cruise, few dramas with novovirus between Tahiti and Hawaii, around 10% of the passengers were affected. Lucky we were fine.

Velocity points have not posted automatically which is disappointing. Did the online missing points claim a couple of weeks back, still waiting.

 

[Orca]

I've just booked the same cruise on Allure later this year as part of our honeymoon. Anyone else recently gone on this big beast of a boat? Our first cruise so we're quite looking forward to it but not sure what to expect!

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

I've just booked the same cruise on Allure later this year as part of our honeymoon. Anyone else recently gone on this big beast of a boat? Our first cruise so we're quite looking forward to it but not sure what to expect!

Orca it's been 12 months since we sailed but if I can help with any specific questions feel free to ask or pm me I also found that the Cruise Critic forum was great We were first time cruisers too and by going on this ship you might be spoilt for anything else

Also if you need some suggestions for hotel in FLL. We stayed at The Aqua and really enjoyed it. We had 4 days pre. Cruise there

 

[Orca]

Orca it's been 12 months since we sailed but if I can help with any specific questions feel free to ask or pm me I also found that the Cruise Critic forum was great We were first time cruisers too and by going on this ship you might be spoilt for anything else

Also if you need some suggestions for hotel in FLL. We stayed at The Aqua and really enjoyed it. We had 4 days pre. Cruise there

Thanks - I'll be sure to direct any Q's I stumble upon your way! Been browsing through Cruise Critic today - some really helpful stuff on there. I'll check out the Aqua too, appreciate the tip.