A megaship that somehow still feels human
I went aboard Allure of the Seas expecting to feel like a number among six thousand, and I was pleasantly proved wrong. The genius of the Oasis class is the neighbourhood layout: split a giant into seven smaller worlds and it stops feeling like a giant. I spent my quietest evening under the real trees of Central Park with a glass of wine, and my loudest afternoon on the Boardwalk watching kids ride the carousel while divers rehearsed at the AquaTheater next door.
Where Allure shows her age a little is in the details: she is a 2010 ship that has been refreshed rather than reinvented, so some cabins and corridors feel of their era. But the bones are excellent, the crew were genuinely warm, and the sheer choice on board means you can make the week whatever you want it to be: non-stop action or, if you plan it right, surprisingly relaxing.
My honest verdict: a brilliant first big-ship cruise and still one of the best-value ways to try the megaship experience, as long as you go in with a plan for the busy moments.
- Central Park, a genuinely calm, green space at sea
- The AquaTheater high-diving shows, unlike anything on smaller ships
- How rarely the ship feels crowded for its size
- The breadth of dining, from the Main Dining Room to specialty venues
- Warm, attentive crew throughout the week
- Lifts get very busy at peak times, so expect to wait or take the stairs
- A few venues and experiences carry an extra charge on top of the fare
- Embarkation can be slow on turnaround day at Fort Lauderdale
- Some 2010-era cabins and corridors feel a little dated
- Book specialty dining and the headline shows online before you sail: the best slots go fast
- Use the forward and aft stairs between decks 5 and 8; it is quicker than waiting for a lift
- For a quiet dinner, grab a Central Park table on deck 8 rather than the busy Windjammer
- Boardwalk-facing balconies give you free AquaTheater views (lovely), but pack for a little more noise