Allure of the Seas - Wow!

I had the fabulous opportunity to be one of the first to see the new Allure of the Seas and this ship has certainly exceeded all my expectations.....! The longest ship in the world (actually 5 centimetres longer than the Oasis) this ship cost $1.2 billion to build and you can see why :- Ship Information Gross Tonnage : 220,000 tons Guest Capacity : 5,402 Total Crew : 2,175 The first thing that hits you when you approach the ship is the sheer size of it - it looks double the width (and probably is) of anything I have seen before - amazing. If you are looking for lots of entertainment and a family-friendly ship you can't do better than this one (apart from the sister ship Oasis which launch the year before). There is so much variety of things to do on board this ship (so much that I don't have the room to list here, so call for more information). The ship is split into sections or neigbourhoods : - Central Park - open air, peaceful area full of lush tropical foliage, restaurants, Vintages Wine and Tapas bar - perfect for a relaxing glass of wine or stroll in the evening Boardwalk - open air next to the Aqua Theatre - bustling with life and activity, featuring the Mexican restaurant Rita's Cantina, Johnny Rockets burger bar and the Carousel Ride Royal Promenade - bars and shops under cover Aqua Theatre featuring Vegas Style shows - the pool is 18ft deep - we were lucky enough to see Oceanaria which was outstanding and they show other shows such as Blue Planet. Pool and Sports Zone - Zip Wire, 2 Flow Riders, 2 rock climbing walls, basketball court and golf putting Youth Zone for teens Entertainment Place - including the Ice Rink Beach Pool Solarium - adult only area for relaxing in the wicker sun loungers, cabanas and jacuzzis - also has a small restaurant for a more peaceful breakfast, lunch or dinner. Spa with Termal Suite ($30 per day/$150 per week charge). Rising Tide - a bar that is in the shape of a space ship that elevates up and down between the Central Park and the Promenade two decks below. Main Theatre - the show is Chicago. Again there are so many catergories of cabin I cannot go into detail here. We were given a sea view balcony cabin (number 8175) which was in a perfect position to get around the ship, just around the corner from the Central Park and Vintages Wine bar. I think that if I were to book onto the ship myself I would prefer the sea-view cabins for a quiet view of the sea but some balconcies looked into the ship onto the Boardwalk or the quieter Central Park area. Each cabin had sufficient bathroom with full shower cubicle (not curtain) and all cabins have an ipod dock/radio. Plenty of sockets (take an adapter) and the storage was adequate. There are also two-story Loft Suites which over look the Sports Zone, Aqua Theatre suites (my personal favourite) and fabulous Presidental and Grand Suites - there is a choice for every taste. The Allure is a dream for families and Royal Caribbean have linked up with DreamWorks (Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar and Shrek) to create an amazing experience for all ages. Character interaction, parades, Character meals, 3D movies and special character shows in the ice rink and AquaTheatre. The chidren's area is split between under 11's (forward) and over 11's (aft) and although they are separate they are the best childrens clubs I have seen. The teens have their own Wipe Out cafe and also a mocktail bar! If you are taking children be prepared to never see them! In summary I would have to say that this ship totally went far and above my expectations, from the amount of facilities on board, the fact that you can find quieter places to relax if you want and the quality and attention to detail is impressive. The service on board was also excellent. Good value for money when you consider the Vegas/West End style shows, variety of eating venues, outdoor activities, children's facilities etc. If you need any further details regarding the Allure of the Seas I will do my best to advise you, so please feel free to call me for a chat regarding this or any other for that matter!