In January 2024, daughter Jill and I spent 10 days in southern Florida and the Bahamas—a fabulous escape on land and by sea. Click HERE to read a short introduction.
In this story, the third of a series, I share my most memorable experiences on board the Allure of the Seas.
In this story, the third of a series, I share my most memorable experiences on board the Allure of the Seas.
Jill in the Royal Promenade
On the Allure of the Seas (January 19-22, 2024) The ‘Red Rocker,’ Sammy Hagar—American songwriter, singer, and guitarist—released his song Cruisin’ & Boozin’ back in January 1977.
Just-a cruisin’ and boozin’
Trying to have a good time,
ain’t tryin’ to do nothin’ wrong
Cruisin’ and boozin’
Out with friends of mine
Trying to have a good time,
ain’t tryin’ to do nothin’ wrong
Cruisin’ and boozin’
Out with friends of mine
“Sammy Hagar’s song is a classic rock anthem,” wrote Jamie Leach on oldtimemusic.com, “that captures the spirit of youthful rebellion and the desire to have a good time.”
This was an apt description of many, perhaps most, of the 5,000+ guests—whose average age was closer to Jill’s than to mine—who sailed with us on the Allure of the Seas.
It was a boozin’ crowd, to be sure, especially in the evening at the bars and lounges that flanked the Royal Promenade. The pulsating beat of music, from high tempo merengue to amped up rock, reverberated from every venue as it competed with a cacophony of chattering voices and raucous laughter from energetic and enthusiastic partygoers who stood elbow to elbow. Most had a drink in hand, and some were clearly drunk.
But as the lyrics said, they “ain’t tryin’ to do nothin’ wrong”, they were just “trying to have a good time” on their extended weekend getaway.
They did...and so did Jill and I!
This was an apt description of many, perhaps most, of the 5,000+ guests—whose average age was closer to Jill’s than to mine—who sailed with us on the Allure of the Seas.
It was a boozin’ crowd, to be sure, especially in the evening at the bars and lounges that flanked the Royal Promenade. The pulsating beat of music, from high tempo merengue to amped up rock, reverberated from every venue as it competed with a cacophony of chattering voices and raucous laughter from energetic and enthusiastic partygoers who stood elbow to elbow. Most had a drink in hand, and some were clearly drunk.
But as the lyrics said, they “ain’t tryin’ to do nothin’ wrong”, they were just “trying to have a good time” on their extended weekend getaway.
They did...and so did Jill and I!
We followed the gangway from the cruise terminal to Deck 5 near the forward end of the Royal Promenade—the central atrium on many Royal Caribbean ships.
I checked my watch. It was nearly 1PM.
I checked my watch. It was nearly 1PM.
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The two-level promenade, designed as an open-floor area, looked like a high-end shopping mall, glitzy and luxurious…except the space was dominated by restaurants, lounges, and bars with a few retail shops thrown in here and there.
“You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve sailed on a ship with a Royal Promenade,” I said to Jill. She had an expectant look on her face, so I continued. |
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“Your mom and I were on the Navigator of the Seas in 2010—a five-day cruise in the Caribbean. As I recall, we stopped in Belize City and Cozumel. Anyway, the Navigator had a Royal Promenade.”
“Did it look the same as this one?” Jill asked.
“It did, although it was smaller—one deck, not two, and narrower and not as long— because the Navigator is a smaller ship.”
I wished I had these photos to show Jill that day…
“Did it look the same as this one?” Jill asked.
“It did, although it was smaller—one deck, not two, and narrower and not as long— because the Navigator is a smaller ship.”
I wished I had these photos to show Jill that day…
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The Allure of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship launched in 2010, is the seventh largest cruise ship in the world.
So…how big is the Allure? It weighs more than 225,000 gross tons and is nearly 1,200 feet long and more than 200 feet wide. The ship has 16 guest decks—and 18 decks in total—with 2,748 staterooms that will accommodate 5,496 guests at double occupancy and 6,826 guests at full capacity. And there has no shortage of places to eat and drink—12 complimentary eateries, 11 specialty (upcharge) restaurants, and 19 bars and lounges. |
Credit: Royal Caribbean
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And, like all Oasis Class ships, the Allure of the Seas was designed around neighborhoods to “help spread out crowds and provide unique on-board experiences.” There are seven neighborhoods--something for everyone, I thought—on the Allure of the Seas: Royal Promenade, Boardwalk, Central Park, Pool and Sports Zone, Entertainment Place, Youth Zone, and Vitality Spa and Fitness.
Big ship, right? Right!
In fact, it was the biggest ship I’d ever sailed on—until a few days later, that is, when Jill and I boarded the Icon of the Seas, the first Icon Class ship and the largest ship in the world.
“Man, this is a long walk,” I half-joked as we made our way down a seemingly endless corridor to our balcony stateroom, located on the starboard side of Deck 7—nearly as far aft as a cabin could be. If I had to guess the distance we walked, I’d say it was half the length of the ship, about 600 feet—the equivalent of two football fields. I counted more than 70 cabin doors along the way.
“We’ll certainly get our exercise the next three days,” Jill said with a laugh. “Here we are.”
Big ship, right? Right!
In fact, it was the biggest ship I’d ever sailed on—until a few days later, that is, when Jill and I boarded the Icon of the Seas, the first Icon Class ship and the largest ship in the world.
“Man, this is a long walk,” I half-joked as we made our way down a seemingly endless corridor to our balcony stateroom, located on the starboard side of Deck 7—nearly as far aft as a cabin could be. If I had to guess the distance we walked, I’d say it was half the length of the ship, about 600 feet—the equivalent of two football fields. I counted more than 70 cabin doors along the way.
“We’ll certainly get our exercise the next three days,” Jill said with a laugh. “Here we are.”
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Our stateroom was nice but not elegant. Storage was a bit skimpy based on our experiences on other cruise ships, and the bathroom shower was ‘old-style’—round with little room to maneuver once inside. On the plus side, it was nice to have a full-size couch and desk, both of which we made good use of throughout the cruise.
“I’ll call Housekeeping and ask that they remake the queen bed as two twin beds,” said Jill. She did…and then we were on our way. |
“Where to first?” I asked.
“Let’s take a walk in Central Park,” Jill answered.
“Let’s take a walk in Central Park,” Jill answered.
A Note to My Readers
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Don’t worry…I won’t burden you with a long story of every waking hour on our cruise, as you’d be bored in no time flat. Rather, what follows are a trio of experiences—ones most memorable for me.
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Central Park
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I LOVED Central Park! It was my favorite place on the ship—one I came back to time and time again.
Located on Deck 8, Central Park was designed to resemble a real park, and while it did not mirror its namesake in New York City, it was a lush outdoor environment with more than 10,000 live plants, vines, flowers, and trees cared for by a team of resident gardeners who managed this floating garden. |
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That first day, Jill and I strolled along a winding path, where we passed a bench that invited us to sit for a spell–not yet, I thought, but soon--and a handful of restaurants, lounges, and shops. Central Park opened to the sky—and to the elements, as I learned one rainy evening—which made this a truly outdoor experience. It was easy, I found, to forget I was on a ship that was soon to be in the middle of a vast ocean.
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I’d not seen anything like Central Park on another cruise ship, and I thought it was fantastic!!
Scotch Tasting Party
On the second full day of our cruise, Jill and I were invited to a Scotch Tasting Party that evening in Vintages, a wine bar located in Central Park.
On the second full day of our cruise, Jill and I were invited to a Scotch Tasting Party that evening in Vintages, a wine bar located in Central Park.
I. WAS. STOKED!!
Why? Because the Scotch we would taste came from an exclusive collection produced by Macallan, a 200-year-old distillery known for the exceptional quality of its single malt Scotch whisky.
Allow me this short digression…
Allow me this short digression…
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Many, many years ago—it was in the 90s, when my wife Debra and I lived in Long Grove, a village 35 miles northwest of Chicago—a good friend introduced me to single malt Scotch. Not one, but many. I’ve long since forgotten the names of the distilleries whose Scotch we sipped that evening, but the experience changed my perspective on spirits forever. From that point forward, my drink of choice was single malt Scotch whisky.
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Jill and I had dinner that evening at 150 Central Park—Urban Garden Martini, Braised Short Rib, Lamb Wellington, and Fried Cheesecake. And as we ate dessert, which was crispy outside and creamy inside, Jill said, “You know…I don’t drink Scotch…never have, probably never will,” she said, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to beg off from the tasting.”
“That’s fine,” I replied. “I’ll catch up with you afterwards, about ten.” I joined seven guests around a high-top table. Soon we were talking about Scotch—go figure, right?! And from the conversation, it was clear that a couple of guests were true Scotch afficionados. |
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Our host, a senior bartender who hailed from the Philippines, opened bottles of the four single malt whiskies in the Macallan Quest Collection—Quest, Lumina, Terra, and Enigma—and poured an ounce or so of each into flights of empty glasses, a flight for every guest. And then our host ‘introduced’ the whiskies to us, one at a time. The introduction to Quest went something like this…
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Quest, which is pale gold in color, has a soft blend of citrus fruits balanced with sweet vanilla oak. This whisky is matured in four different casks—American bourbon, European sherry, American oak, and hogshead. It was a journey, not a race, to choose the right combination of casks and the order in which to mature the whisky, so Macallan named this whisky Quest. It was the first whisky in the Quest Collection, and it is the least expensive of the four—on average, about $95 for a 750ml bottle.
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Then our host said, “This is what I would like for you to do before you drink this Scotch. First, hold the glass to your nose and smell it. Second, turn the glass at a slight angle and look at the color. Third, take a small sip and hold it in the front of your mouth before you swallow. In this way, you will discover the character of this exceptional Scotch.”
I followed his directions.
I brought the glass to my nose. Ahhh…I smelled hints of citrus, and a bit of spiciness.
I tilted it. It WAS a pale gold color.
I took a sip. It was smooth with a bit of a smoky aftertaste.
I enjoyed it as much, and maybe more so, than many of the single malt whiskies I tried over the years. And so did the afficionados.
Each whisky in the Quest Collection was slightly different from the others, from color to taste to price—largely a function, if I understood our host, of the type and number of casks used to mature each whisky.
“Soooooo,” I ventured, “what does a bottle of Enigma cost?”
If it’s not too much, I thought, maybe THAT’S the bottle I’ll buy.
Well, that WAS my thought until I heard the price.
“About $400,” our host answered.
Yowsa! Debra would have my head. At least I can brag that I enjoyed a VERY EXPENSIVE—and exceptional—single malt whisky!
I followed his directions.
I brought the glass to my nose. Ahhh…I smelled hints of citrus, and a bit of spiciness.
I tilted it. It WAS a pale gold color.
I took a sip. It was smooth with a bit of a smoky aftertaste.
I enjoyed it as much, and maybe more so, than many of the single malt whiskies I tried over the years. And so did the afficionados.
Each whisky in the Quest Collection was slightly different from the others, from color to taste to price—largely a function, if I understood our host, of the type and number of casks used to mature each whisky.
“Soooooo,” I ventured, “what does a bottle of Enigma cost?”
If it’s not too much, I thought, maybe THAT’S the bottle I’ll buy.
Well, that WAS my thought until I heard the price.
“About $400,” our host answered.
Yowsa! Debra would have my head. At least I can brag that I enjoyed a VERY EXPENSIVE—and exceptional—single malt whisky!
Chef’s Table
Jill and I had THE MOST MEMORABLE dining experience—the Chef’s Table—the first night of our cruise. And it was, without a doubt, one of the best meals I’ve ever had!
Jill and I had THE MOST MEMORABLE dining experience—the Chef’s Table—the first night of our cruise. And it was, without a doubt, one of the best meals I’ve ever had!
As VIP and Intimate as Can Be
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Welcome to Chef’s Table, the most exclusive and elevated dining experience on our ship. Join an intimate group of fellow foodies on a private epicurean journey led by the ship’s Chef de Cuisine...spotlighting five exquisite courses…expertly paired with the perfect wine to highlight every flavor on the menu.
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~ Royal Caribbean
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The Chef de Cuisine, or head chef, is the fellow in the center of this trio. He appeared at our table before each course to tell us what he prepared and how it was made.
The young lady on the right is the Pâtissier, or pastry chef. We first met her when she introduced the dessert she prepared for us. Shame on me, as I did not learn their names. However, I learned the name of the chap on the left, who was our waiter and sommelier— Nicolae, a native of Romania. |
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Great smiles all around, wouldn’t you say?!
With intention, our dinner was slow paced—about two and one-half hours from start to finish—and relaxing, with plenty of time between courses for conversation and a few laughs as we (the 13 guests) shared snippets of information about past travels and our lives. |
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We started our meal with Scallop Carpaccio served with yuzu vinaigrette and crispy quinoa. It was paired with Attems, a pinot grigio from Italy.
(I apologize for the poor lighting in my pics, which does not do justice to the dishes we dined on.) |
It was DELICIOUS! As was each and every course we had, so I will (try to) hold the superlatives to the end.
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For our second course, we had Smoked Tomato Soup sprinkled with garlic focaccia croutons and parmesan. The presentation, by the way, was lovely (I know, that’s a superlative…and I said I would hold them to the end...but I could not help myself!), as Nicolae poured each bowl separately. The Smoked Tomato Soup was paired with Conundrum, a white wine blend from California.
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The third course was a Maine Lobster Salad with hearts of palm, pineapple cilantro, and vanilla dressing. It was paired with a glass of Peter Yealands sauvignon blanc from New Zealand.
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Chef de Cuisine prepared Roasted Branzino—a mild white fish sometimes called European bass—for our fourth course. It was served with grilled zucchini, peppers, lemon confit, and pesto, and paired with a chardonnay from Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley.
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Our fifth course was Grilled Filet Mignon, drizzled with bordelaise sauce and served with truffle potato puree and asparagus. It was paired with the only red wine that evening—a cabernet sauvignon from Sequoia Grove, also from Napa Valley.
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In case you wondered how I remembered the particulars about our five courses, the answer is easy: I snapped a pic of the menu!)
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Are you full? I hope not, as it was time for the ship’s signature dessert, The World, which blends peanut butter ganache, Valrhona chocolate mousse and salted caramel gelato. Dessert was paired with a salted caramel expresso martini.
Nicolae dripped warm caramel over The World, and, before my eyes, the hard shell melted to reveal the ultimate sweetness inside. |
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Jill asked which course I enjoyed the most. Truthfully, it was hard to pick a favorite, but I felt obliged to answer my little girl's question…
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My meal was superb from start to finish—a real pleasure—and the service was impeccable. To answer your question, though, I enjoyed most the grilled filet mignon. It was so tender that cutting it was like slicing through butter, and every bit was flavorful!
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Jill and I were active throughout our three-night cruise, and so I have many more good memories of my experiences on board the Allure of the Seas.
One was Oceanaria, a spectacular water show at the outdoor Aqua Theater, which mixed beautiful and mesmerizing dance, Olympic-level high dives from twin 30-foot platforms, aerial acrobatics on a trampoline, and even a bit of comedy.
Another was Blades, a dazzling and captivating ice show—one routine combined hula hoops with ice skating—set to music and performed by a cast of talented skaters.
Perhaps, when time permits, I’ll write and share stories about these shows and other experiences I had. Until then, I’ll leave you with this…
One was Oceanaria, a spectacular water show at the outdoor Aqua Theater, which mixed beautiful and mesmerizing dance, Olympic-level high dives from twin 30-foot platforms, aerial acrobatics on a trampoline, and even a bit of comedy.
Another was Blades, a dazzling and captivating ice show—one routine combined hula hoops with ice skating—set to music and performed by a cast of talented skaters.
Perhaps, when time permits, I’ll write and share stories about these shows and other experiences I had. Until then, I’ll leave you with this…
I had a great time on board the Allure of the Seas!