Refit review: Allure of the Seas

By Shaun Ebelthite on July 11, 2019 • ( 1 Comment )

Allure of the Seas is joining sister ship Oasis of the Seas in one of the largest refit and refurbishment projects the cruise industry has ever seen. Royal Caribbean have announced a spate of enhancements and changes being made to the ship. Here’s what’s being changed.

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Allure of the Seas’ pool deck will be overhauled to offer some of the thrills and dining options that debuted aboard Symphony of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas, such as the 10-story Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea, and The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell.

In addition, the Splashaway Bay kids aquapark will be added, featuring twin drench buckets, three waterslides, fountains, pools, water cannons and a Splash Pad for tots.

The reimagined pool deck will also now feature The Lime & Coconut signature bar across two locations, a wider variety of seating and shade with cabana-like “casitas,” daybeds, hammocks and swing seats; new whirlpools on the top deck, and a reinvigorated, adults-only Solarium.

New family fun

Expanding on the ways that families can spend time together and on their own are the additions of completely reimagined, dedicated spaces for babies, kids and teens, and popular Royal Caribbean activities. These include:

All-new Adventure Ocean, where younger kids can choose their own immersive adventures across an entirely new layout.

The major makeover will bring to life interactive, personalised and unexpected activities and features in areas redesigned from top to bottom.

These include whimsical rooms with climbable creations at Play Place, hands-on art, science and tech fun at Workshop; friendly competition in physical, interactive games at Arena; the Hangout, to chill and make new friends over gaming consoles or sit back for some quality “me” time.

There’s also AO Babies for babies and tots, and experiential activities at the multipurpose AO Junior space specially designed for 3- to 5-year-olds.

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The teens’ lounge aboard Allure of the Seas will feature a 360-degree transformation, with a secret speakeasy-like entrance leading into an exclusive lounge with gaming consoles, music, movies, places to hang out and a new outdoor deck.

Glow-in-the-dark laser tag will also be introduced aboard Allure, with Clash for the Crystal City and Royal Escape Room – Apollo 18: Lunar Landing, an out-of-this-world expedition that challenges guests to solve puzzle after puzzle before time runs out.

New dining options

Allure of the Seas will have many of her onboard dining experiences upgraded, while all-new options will be added during the refit. These include:

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, a new take on a guest-favorite, offering the beloved family-style, rustic dining experience with an enhanced menu of Italian staples, complete with hand-tossed pizza from the new in-house pizza oven, an expansive charcuterie station and a wide selection of wines and limoncellos.

Portside BBQ will serve up a menu inspired by popular barbecue styles across the United States, including brisket, pulled pork, chicken, burnt ends, mac and cheese, homestyle cornbread and more.

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade for gameday watch parties on big-screen TVs, tournaments, bar bites with a twist and ice-cold brews.

El Loco Fresh, featuring casual Mexican “street fare”.

Sugar Beach, the sweetest spot on board with more than 220 types of candy and ice cream.

Bionic Bar by Makr Shakr, manned by two robot bartenders shaking up classic cocktails and custom orders.

New entertainment venues

Following her refit and refurbishment, Allure of the Seas will offer a range of new options for a “night on the town” with new venues added to the nightlife offered on board.

Music Hall, a Quantum Class favorite, promises to take live music to the next level with revolving setlists and cover bands, ample lounge seating on two levels and room to rock out on the dance floor.

Spotlight Karaoke, a the dedicated karaoke bar with both main stage and private room experiences will feature thousands of songs to choose from, music trivia and themed nights.

From May 2020, Allure of the Seas will sail 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from Barcelona visiting Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Provence (Marseille), France; Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Rome (Civitavecchia) and Naples/Capri, Italy.

In November she’ll reposition to the Caribbean, cruising roundtrip from Royal Caribbean’s new Terminal A in Miami on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, many of which will feature a visit to the new Perfect Day at CocoCay.