Allure of the Seas
Allure of the Seas: At-sea entertainment on a grand scale
Snapshot
Up until 2016 when Harmony of the Seas took the title for a time, Allure of the Seas was the world's largest cruise ship, a few inches larger than her twin sister ship, Oasis of the Seas.
Bring your walking shoes — this ship is big! At 1,187 feet long and 215 feet wide, Allure of the Seas has a lot of deck space to discover. In fact, the ship is designed into what feels like seven neighborhoods. Discover features like the first Starbucks at sea, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "Chicago," and favorite moments with Shrek, Po the panda and more friends in the DreamWorks Experience.
Spice up your sailing with margaritas and Mexican-fare favorites at Rita's Cantina, or with prime cuts straight from the skewer at Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse. And there's still plenty more Oasis-class wows to be had, from the classic carousel on the Boardwalk to aerial acrobats in the AquaTheater and FlowRider surf simulators. Plus, a zip line soars over Central Park, a meandering garden lined with shops and fine restaurants.
Who will like sailing on Allure of the Seas
Because of the size of the ship, Allure makes available many kinds of cruise experiences. This is the Royal Caribbean cruise ship you are looking for if adrenaline and action are on your wish list. The ship is massive, so be prepared to spend extra time getting to and from the various highlights around the vessel.
Where Allure of the Seas sails
Allure of the Seas sails mostly 6-, 7- and 8-night itineraries throughout the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Plus, it offers a transatlantic cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., to Barcelona.
Top dining options
With 25 dining options to choose from, Allure of the Seas offers several novel restaurant concepts for those looking for a range of special epicurean experiences.
- Adagio Dining Room offers complimentary, multicourse dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The ship’s main restaurant features a three-tier venue with a 1920s Art Deco style. Tip: If steak is your thing, you can upgrade to the for-fee premium steaks in the main dining room. For less than $15, you can get a10-ounce Chops Grille filet.
- 13 more complimentary options including Park Cafe, Windjammer Cafe, Boardwalk Dog House, and room service (nominal fee might apply if ordering after hours).
The following is an overview of dining options available throughout some of Allure’s neighborhoods. Some of the restaurants listed below have a surchage, which we have noted on some of the more popular eateries.
The Boardwalk
- Rita’s Cantina: A casual yet vibrant indoor/outdoor Mexican restaurant catering to families by day and adults by night offers a wide-ranging selection of margaritas and live guitar music and dancing for evening entertainment . Expect to pay a $3 service charge to eat at the restaurant, and then each item is added to the bill.
- Boardwalk Dog House: A staple of traditional boardwalks, this hot dog stand offers traditional hot dogs, wieners, brats, sausages and other delicious linked meats and a variety of toppings to split a long bun at no extra cost.
- Boardwalk Donuts: This quick stop offers breakfast and snack options.
- Ice Cream Parlor: A variety of ice cream flavors and toppings take center stage for an additional charge.
- Johnny Rockets: This ‘50s-style diner features servers who double as entertainers, and is an additional cost.
Central Park
- 150 Central Park: This trendy, upscale and intimate restaurant features a tasting menu and customized wine pairings created by Food and Wine’s 2006 best student chef, Molly Brandt, winner of the Allure of the Seas Culinary Challenge co-hosted with The Culinary Institute of America.
- Park Café: The indoor/outdoor gourmet market features salads, sandwiches, soups and pastries.
- Chops Grille: Royal Caribbean’s signature steakhouse offers views of Central Park and premium cuts or quality meats. Expect to pay $30 per person.
- Giovani's Table: This Italian trattoria with both indoor and alfresco seating features Italian classics served family-style. Expect to pay $40 per person.
Pool and Sports Zone
- Samba Grill: The new, Brazilian churascarria features options in which guests choose from a variety of meats, chicken and seafood brought table-side by servers, ready to slice and serve upon request. The grill costs an additional $30 per person.
- Solarium Bistro: This is a health-conscious dining option for breakfast and lunch.
- Wipe Out Café: The self-serve buffet features pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches and fresh salads.
- Izumi: The restaurant's Asian cuisine includes mouthwatering flavors and a sushi bar with hot-rock cooking. Lunch and dinner are available a la carte with an upfront charge of $3 for lunch and $5 for dinner.
Royal Promenade
- Starbucks Coffee Bar: The first Starbucks at sea will feature the full Starbucks beverage menu, from simple espressos to signature lattes, for an additional charge.
- Sorrento’s Pizzeria: The New York-style pizzeria serves up made-to-order pies or pizza by the slice.
- Café Promenade: Offering Seattle’s Best coffee, fruit shakes, pastries and sandwiches all day, Café Promenade is a quick and easy dining option.
- The Cupcake Cupboard: This bakery has fresh-baked gourmet cupcakes as well as parties and design classes. Expect to pay $2.50 per cupcake, and minis are $1.25.
The food verdict
Food is plentiful so there is no shortage of options. The biggest challenge is securing a reservation at the most popular venues. Even the restaurants with surcharges are hard to get into so make sure to pre-reserve or book a suite with the services of the concierge.
Staterooms
In general, unless you have deep pockets to splurge for a loft suite, you can expect standard staterooms that are smaller than average hotel rooms but on standard with resort-style mega ships. What you will want to do is pick a neighborhood that is close to the places you plan to frequent on the ship.
Entertainment & shopping
Entertainment options are diverse and plentiful. Our favorite shows include:
- The Tony Award-winning musical "Chicago"
- The divers at the AquaTheater
- Ice shows
- Karaoke
- Parties and parades on the Royal Promenade
- Rita's Fiesta, a reservation-only themed party in Rita's Cantina that features the restaurant's popular dishes and three non-alcoholic beverages for a cover charge of $10 per guest or three alcoholic beverages for a cover charge of $20 per guest.
- Prohibition Party, a reservation-only 1920s-themed celebration on every fifth night in the Jazz on 4 lounge. Expect to pay $35 per guest.
Royal action & adventure
Allure has the best activities that the Royal Caribbean brand has to offer. If you were worried that cruising is boring, think again. Activities include:
- Zip line, nine decks in the air and 82 feet across
- Two FlowRider surf simulators
- Two rock-climbing walls, each 43 feet high
- Full-sized basketball court
- Ice-skating rink
- Mini-golf course
Kids & families
Allure of the Seas is very family friendly, with several kids experiences and youth programs on board. Here are some of the most popular:
- Complimentary DreamWorks Experience: Memorable moments include character dining, parades, and meet and greets with favorite characters from "Shrek," "Madagascar," "Kung Fu Panda" and more
- Complimentary Adventure Ocean Youth Program
- Royal Babies & Tots Nursery
- Royal Babies and Royal Tots programming featuring specially designed Fisher Price activities
- Teen lounge areas and disco
- H2O Zone kids' water park
- 3D movie theater
- Family-friendly activities such as games, contests, enrichment classes and lectures
Bottom line
Allure is a crowd favorite for those that don't mid a large, mega-ship experience. The key to enjoying the cruise is to pre-reserve dining venues and have a game plan on what type of cruise you want to enjoy. Trying to do everything on the ship is almost impossible, so avoid disappointment by planning ahead.
Interested in a cruise on this ship?
For pricing, itinerary information and to reserve your spot on Allure of the Seas, contact a Cruiseable travel consultant by email or call 1-877-322-3773.
Top highlights on this ship
- The ship's seven districts or "neighborhoods" full of distinctive features
- Several entertainment options
- 25 different dining options
- 10 whirlpools, two of which are cantilevered whirlpools overlooking the ocean
- Zipline that soars nine decks in the air and 82 feet across Central Park
- Two FlowRider surf simulators
Top dining options on board
Fast facts
Overheard
“This stunning ship provides a fine cruise experience and wide range of choices for youthful adults and families with children. It's packed with innovative design elements such as the dramatic Central Park, taking urban greenery to sea..”