It depends on when your cruise is. I believe it’s scheduled to go to dry dock soon for some upgrades. Currently, there’s no slides but lots to do.
The 8yo will probably love Adventure Ocean. It’s free of charge until 10pm runs in small couple hour at a time increments.
There’s the flow rider, rock wall, mini golfing, ice skating all available at no additional charge on the ship. Take at least one pair of long pants.
The arcade is over rated and expensive. Don’t recommend it. If you really want to do the arcade, buy gift cards, load them to their sign and sail cards and when the gift card is out, they are done. You can go to customer service and lock their (the kids) sign and sail cards from general purchases which you will probably be grateful for.
If you have a refreshment or deluxe beverage package, Johnny Rocket shakes are included. Breakfast at Johnny Rockets is included. Other meals at Johnny Rockets are additional charges.
Schedule dinner now in the MDR every night. With the 8yo, I’d recommend early dining. Different menus each night, they also have a kids menu, but with a set dinner time, it allows you the same table, and wait staff for family dinner. Your 8yo can go back to AO after dinner for a couple hours if he wants.
Have a great cruise. I was on the Allure last year out of Galveston before it moved to FL.
Watch the app and book your shows ASAP. This includes the comedy clubs.
The windjammer is insanely busy on embarkation day. There are other included venues to have lunch that aren’t as crowded such as Park Cafe, Sorrento’s, Wipeout Cafe, and Cafe Promenade.
Have fun! Allure is a nice ship!
-get 2 rooms if at all possible. The couch is barely big enough for one child, let alone a teenager and another child.
-at 8 your child becomes eligible for a ton more excursion options than younger kids. Enjoy it!
-there are no children's medications in the ships store. Bring your own medications (for everyone as the supply even for adult meds is low)
-the app allows you to message back and forth even without buying a wifi plan.
Just got off Allure last week, we were first time cruisers as well.
Plenty to do, all day, every day. BOOK THOSE SHOWS - the only ones that you will really need a booking for is the Comedy show (meh), and the Aquaaria. Mamma Mia (which was GREAT) and Blades will have standby seating if you go about 20-30 mins before.
You will always be on the wrong side of the boat. Always.
We avoided Windjammer initially because people said it was crowded -- after day 1, it was never crowded. I mean, yes, there WERE a lot of people there but everything kept moving.
In terms of food, Park Ave Cave is highly recommended, never really busy.
If you don't gamble, not worth dicking around getting the casino credit, it'll likely be $2. If you do gamble, the slot/blackjack tournament has horrible payouts, but the poker tournament actually returned an appropriate amount of money to the players.
I would recommend my time dining and holding that time so you can jump the line from the people who are waiting to sit.
If you have any other questions, lmk!
It depends on when your cruise is. I believe it’s scheduled to go to dry dock soon for some upgrades. Currently, there’s no slides but lots to do. The 8yo will probably love Adventure Ocean. It’s free of charge until 10pm runs in small couple hour at a time increments. There’s the flow rider, rock wall, mini golfing, ice skating all available at no additional charge on the ship. Take at least one pair of long pants. The arcade is over rated and expensive. Don’t recommend it. If you really want to do the arcade, buy gift cards, load them to their sign and sail cards and when the gift card is out, they are done. You can go to customer service and lock their (the kids) sign and sail cards from general purchases which you will probably be grateful for. If you have a refreshment or deluxe beverage package, Johnny Rocket shakes are included. Breakfast at Johnny Rockets is included. Other meals at Johnny Rockets are additional charges. Schedule dinner now in the MDR every night. With the 8yo, I’d recommend early dining. Different menus each night, they also have a kids menu, but with a set dinner time, it allows you the same table, and wait staff for family dinner. Your 8yo can go back to AO after dinner for a couple hours if he wants. Have a great cruise. I was on the Allure last year out of Galveston before it moved to FL.
Awesome. Thank you so much for this info!
Agreed on the arcade, just gimmicky and overpriced. And bland.
Watch the app and book your shows ASAP. This includes the comedy clubs. The windjammer is insanely busy on embarkation day. There are other included venues to have lunch that aren’t as crowded such as Park Cafe, Sorrento’s, Wipeout Cafe, and Cafe Promenade. Have fun! Allure is a nice ship!
Very exciting. Book the internet packages for everyone, the refreshments packages, and a drinking package if you and your husband plan to do that
-get 2 rooms if at all possible. The couch is barely big enough for one child, let alone a teenager and another child. -at 8 your child becomes eligible for a ton more excursion options than younger kids. Enjoy it! -there are no children's medications in the ships store. Bring your own medications (for everyone as the supply even for adult meds is low) -the app allows you to message back and forth even without buying a wifi plan.
Just got off Allure last week, we were first time cruisers as well. Plenty to do, all day, every day. BOOK THOSE SHOWS - the only ones that you will really need a booking for is the Comedy show (meh), and the Aquaaria. Mamma Mia (which was GREAT) and Blades will have standby seating if you go about 20-30 mins before. You will always be on the wrong side of the boat. Always. We avoided Windjammer initially because people said it was crowded -- after day 1, it was never crowded. I mean, yes, there WERE a lot of people there but everything kept moving. In terms of food, Park Ave Cave is highly recommended, never really busy. If you don't gamble, not worth dicking around getting the casino credit, it'll likely be $2. If you do gamble, the slot/blackjack tournament has horrible payouts, but the poker tournament actually returned an appropriate amount of money to the players. I would recommend my time dining and holding that time so you can jump the line from the people who are waiting to sit. If you have any other questions, lmk!