Allure of the Seas – Bahamas Magic and Mishaps

I decided to explore the Bahamas on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas. I chose one of their shortest trips to ensure that no one was prone to sea sickness and to just make sure we all liked it before we considered a longer cruise. My daughter and I traveled with my sister and her family over Spring Break in 2024. My daughter was 10 at the time, and my nephew and niece were 11 and 14.

Because this cruise goes to the Bahamas, you do need passports for each member of your group.

Below, I’ll give an honest review of our trip. I’ll also give our itinerary, tips, and the one thing (our day 2 excursion) I’d change if I could do this again.

If you want to see my final opinion and what I personally liked and did not like in terms of a cruise, scroll to the bottom of the post.

Allure of the Seas Ship

Allure of the Seas is an Oasis-class ship from Royal Caribbean. There are 17 decks with a vast array of places to go and things to do! One of the coolest things about this ship are the “neighborhoods” integrated within the ship. This includes Central Park, the Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade.

This ship has had a major renovation since we took our trip. In addition to the main pool, beach pool with sloped entry, surf simulators, and multiple hot tubs, there is now an interactive splash water park for kids and a 10-story Ultimate Abyss slide.

There are also still two 43-foot-high rock-climbing walls, a full-size basketball/volleyball court, mini golf, table tennis, zipline, and a carousel.

Entertainment on Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas also offers an array of entertainment options. To ensure a seat at one of the shows, you’ll want to reserve it ahead of time.

• Aqua Theater – high flying water acrobats, tumbling, and diving shows such as “OceanAria”
• Amber Theater – Broadway musical Mamma Mia!; also Dreamworks movies, comedy performances and guest entertainers
• Studio B – ice skating shows
• Comedy Live – stand-up comedy (generally 18+)
• Entertainment Place – central hub featuring an array of entertainment including “Jazz on 4” club
• On Air Club – karaoke lounge
• Boleros – Latin-themed lounge
• Blaze – nightclub (generally 18+)
• Casino Royale – hundreds of slot machines, numerous table games (blackjack, poker, roulette, craps), and a dedicated high-roller area; (generally 18+)
• Outdoor Movies – screenings on main pool deck
• Dreamworks Experience – includes parades and character photo opportunities
• Adventure Ocean (Kids’ Club) – split into age groups to enjoy an array of activities: babies (6 to 36 months), juniors (3 to 5), and kids (6 to 11); all of these are parent sign in and sign out
• The Living Room/Fuel – teen area for ages 12 to 17; teens can move in and out without parents
• There is also an array of onboard activities – just check the calendar for each day of your cruise schedule

Included Dining on Allure of the Seas

Allure of the Seas has plenty of restaurants to choose from. Some are included in the cost and some you must pay extra for.

I thought the Main Dining Room (decks 3, 4, and 5) was extremely good! I love food, so the fact that I got an appetizer, meal, and dessert for each dinner was very exciting! We chose to do the “My Time Dining”, so we could come at any time between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. though reservations were highly recommended for times between 6:30 and 8.

Other than the main dining room, there were a variety of other dining options included in the cost of the cruise.

• Windjammer Marketplace (Deck 15) – buffet with a variety of international dishes
• Park Cafe (Central Park/Deck 8) – sandwiches and salads for breakfast or lunch
• Sorrento’s Pizza (Deck 5) – New York-style pizza
• Boardwalk Dog House (Deck 6) – hot dogs and sausages
• El Loco Fresh (Deck 15) – Mexican
• Solarium Bistro (Deck 15) – adult-only buffet for breakfast and lunch
• Boardwalk Donuts (Deck 6) – donuts and pastries generally from 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Cafe Promenade (Deck 5) – coffee, pastries, and quick bites such as sandwiches.
• Vitality Cafe (Deck 6) – healthy snacks, wraps, and fresh juices located in the spa area

*There is also free, soft-serve ice cream near the pools!

Specialty Dining on Allure of the Seas

Additionally, there are 9 specialty dining places that cost extra money. Ideally, you’ll want to reserve these ahead of time. Kids 5 and under are free, and kids aged 6 to 12 are at a reduced rate of $14.99. Most also are cheaper at lunch than dinner. You can also reserve specialty dining packages ahead of time which can save up to 40% (prices for kids on these packages are adjusted once you’re aboard).

• Chops Grille (Central Park/Deck 8) – high quality steaks and seafood
• 150 Central Park (Central Park/Deck 8) – upscale venue with a set tasting menu
• Giovanni’s Table (Central Park/Deck 8) – Italian
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi (Deck 4) – Japanese
• The Chef’s Table (various) – A 5-course meal with wine pairings hosted by a chef
• Samba Grill (Deck 15, Solarium) – Brazilian steakhouse
• Playmakers Sports Bar and Grill (Boardwalk/Deck 6) – bar bites including burgers, wings, and appetizers
• Johnny Rockets (Boardwalk/Deck 6) – classic burger joint with milkshakes

Beverages on Allure of the Seas

Included beverages with your cruise price include tap water, basic coffee, tea, iced tea, lemonade, milk, and limited juices (usually at breakfast). Alcohol, sodas, bottled water, specialty coffees and teas, mocktails, and special drinks like smoothies and milkshakes require an individual purchase or a purchased package.

Packages include a basic soda package, a refreshment package which includes everything else other than alcohol, and a deluxe beverage package which includes anything including alcohol. If you purchase the deluxe package, everyone 21+ in the same room must purchase it. The other two beverage packages can be purchased per person. It is almost always cheaper to book these packages in advance.

*Each guest is allowed to bring up to 12 non-alcoholic sealed cans or bottles (17 oz max) on the cruise.

Other Packages on Allure of the Seas

Besides the dining and beverage packages, there are a few other things you can add on before your cruise other than excursions. The first is VOOM Internet which offers high-speed Wi-Fi packages for one or multiple devices. Additionally, there are spa packages and photo packages. Again, these are all cheaper to purchase before your board than once you get on the ship. Finally, there is the Key which was the only additional package I purchased other than one excursion.

The Key

The Key is an optional VIP add-on program that offers many benefits for $25 to $50 per person per day. The benefits include priority boarding, internet access for one device, a special lunch after boarding, luggage carry-on and drop-off (all guests get checked luggage delivered to room), priority tender access (not needed for this cruise ship), specific private hours for activities, reserved seating for shows, and an exclusive breakfast on departure day along with priority disembarkation.

I personally wanted internet and reserved times for activities. Additionally, I was not sure if the kids would be able to get on the rock wall, FlowRider, etc., so I liked the idea of having private hours. I am not sure if that part was needed, but with everything else offered, it was nice to have it just in case.

I had also heard that the typical embarkation lunch is crazy busy because so many people are all trying to get lunch at the same time, so the idea of a sit-down exclusive lunch was also appealing. It even had high end options. I had the filet, and it was absolutely delicious!

If you’re buying an internet package anyway, then this may be especially worth it. Otherwise, I’d say it depends on how many people are in your room (because you have to pay for the package for anyone in your room 6+) and what the price is. Our trip was short, I only had two of us, I got a good deal, and I wanted to ensure that we’d have the best chance at a good experience, so I bought it. In the future, if I could get a good deal, I’d get it again. Otherwise, I wouldn’t worry about getting it, and I don’t think I’d miss it too much.

Best Time to Book Allure of the Seas Cruise (or any cruise)

Generally, the best time to book a cruise is during the “wave season” which runs from January through March 12 to 24 months in advance. Cruises generally run major promotions including onboard credit, reduced deposits, and discounts during this time frame. Another good time is during Black Friday/Cyber Monday for flash sales. Sometimes you can find last minute deals (30 to 90 days out), but there are fewer cabin choices.

The cheapest time frame to actually cruise is from September to early November (hurricane season in some places). The most expensive times to cruise are spring break, summer months, and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. We went during Spring break, but I did book over a year early, and we got a good deal.

If you want really good weather though, hurricane weather is a risk. February is the supposed sweet spot for The Bahamas, but if you’re going to be in the water, April and May are probably the best. We went in March, and I thought the water was chilly but somewhat tolerable.

Room Types on Allure of the Seas

There are a variety of room types available on Allure of the Seas. The most luxurious would be one of the suites. There are different levels of suites all at different price points. They also come with different sets of special services and amenities. Most people on a cruise are not staying in the very expensive suites though! In addition to the suites, there are interior stateroom, ocean view staterooms (windows to see ocean), and balcony staterooms. The balcony staterooms can be a balcony to the ocean or one of the neighborhoods on the ship like Central Park or the Boardwalk.

We chose to stay in a balcony ocean view room towards the middle of the ship (room 9578). When you’re booking, you can choose the location of your room for an extra cost. We chose the middle to have the least amount of ship rocking just in case anyone was prone to sea sickness (like me since I get motion sickness in general). We also chose an ocean view balcony so we could have access to fresh air and views. I made sure our room didn’t have obstructed views as well, but I think all of the ocean view balconies are free from direct obstructions.

Although our room was small, I thought it was plenty of room for the two of us. There was a bed, desk area, closet, and a couch area. The bathroom was small along with the shower though I think it’s bigger than most showers on cruises. The balcony also had a couple of chairs and a little table which was nice to have.

Because my sister has 4 people in her family, she chose to book two balcony rooms that were adjoining.

Tips and Secrets for Allure of the Seas

After researching a lot before our trip, I came across some tips and more elusive places that you could generally escape crowds if needed along with a couple of other tips for Allure of the Seas:

• Secret sun deck – deck 14, forward elevators, all the way forward through the hallways; accessible through a door on port side
• 2 small balconies overlooking central park off deck 9 just outside elevator lobbies (just a table with two chairs though)
• Deck 5 has Adirondack chairs around running track
• Best breakfast is at Johnny Rockets, and it’s the only time the restaurant is free (before 10:30 a.m.)
• Pre-book shows to guarantee seating
• Pack a swimsuit in personal bag if you want to swim before luggage gets to your room
• Carnival games through app (select game on app and then point to poster on phone on boardwalk)
• If don’t have a specific international phone plan or SIM card, you could always put your phone on airplane mode. You could even still use Wi-Fi if you pay for it (including calling people through Wi-Fi calling). Royal Caribbean also offers a free chat feature in its app.

Recommended Items for Cruise

There are a few additional things I made sure to bring for our trip that you may not think about besides the obvious things. The links below are affiliate links at no cost to you. I was definitely worried about sea sickness, so I took my Bonine every day just in case. With that and the calm water we had, I didn’t need the motion sickness bands, but I had them just in case!

• Bonine Non-Drowsy Motion Sickness Relief – I personally prefer Bonine to Dramamine
• Motion Sickness Bands for me and my daughter
• USB hub since outlets in the cabin are limited
• Magnetic hooks to hang and organize some things since the cabin has metal walls which came in very handy
• Portable charger
• Waterproof phone case
• Lanyard to hold Seapass card
• Royal Caribbean Luggage Tag Holder to ensure the printable luggage tags don’t get ripped off
• Insulated water bottles – these are my current favorite
• Wide brimmed sun hat – this one is foldable and has a place for a ponytail; this is the hat my daughter typically uses though I don’t see her exact pattern anymore.
• Pool/beach bag

Additional Recommendations that I Did Not Bring

I did not bring our fans since it was March, but that would be another good option when it’s warmer. We have handheld fans and ones that go around your neck, and I really like both.

There are a few other options I have since come across that may be helpful on a cruise. The first is an inflatable chair float if you like relaxing in the water (not allowed in cruise pool though). The second and third are to make your cabin more comfortable if needed. If you’re in an interior cabin, there is no natural sunlight coming in, so you may like an alarm clock that mimics the sunrise, so you have a sense of what time it is. Also, many cabins don’t have a digital thermostat, so if you want to know what the temperature is before guessing how to adjust it on the knob, one may be helpful.

*You will NOT need to bring a beach towel on your Allure of the Seas cruise. You can take the ones from the ship. They do check them out to you though, so you need to return them instead of leaving them lying around so you’re not charged.

Departure Port

Our Allure of the Seas Cruise departed from Port Canaveral in Florida. We chose to drive down from our home in Western North Carolina, so it was about an 8-hour drive. We chose to drive down the day prior to have absolute certainty that we’d be there on time. I had read horror stories about people being late and missing their entire cruise.

Originally, our plan was to check out the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station before going to our hotel. We didn’t have a ton of time based on their opening hours though, so we decided to skip it. However, if you are in the area for the day before or the day after departure, it would be an awesome place to check out.

We did play some putt-putt at Golf N Gator that was close by before settling for the night which was fun!

Where We Stayed the Night Before the Cruise

We stayed at TownePlace Suites the night before our cruise started. I chose this hotel because they had a good package that included free parking throughout your cruise. They also offered free breakfast and a shuttle to the port with luggage for a small fee.

Embarkation Day on Allure of the Seas

Typically, 45 days before the sailing at midnight EST, you can check in through the Royal Caribbean app and get your embarkation time. Earlier slots are best secured by checking in right away. You then choose your 30-minute slot. We chose to actually upgrade to The Key which I outlined above. One of its perks is that you get early check-in guaranteed.

Once we got on the ship, we were able to have a special lunch that was also exclusive to key members. There are other places available for lunch if you’re not a key member (see included dining options above). After that, we were free to explore the Allure of the Seas ship. We had to wait for our room to be ready, but they had taken our luggage beforehand, so we would have rather explored the ship anyway!

After exploring, we went to the pool area on deck 15. By the time we got there, it was somewhat crowded but not too bad yet because many people were either still boarding or waiting to board. We enjoyed the pools, hot tubs, lounging and some food from El Loco Fresh once we got hungry again. Eventually, the ship was ready to leave the port. At that point, we went to the port side of the ship and watched us officially be on our way.

After swimming and hanging out for a while on deck 15, we went to our room where our luggage was waiting for us.

The rest of that day on Allure of the Seas included eating dinner, more exploring, and relaxing before going to sleep.

Day 1: At Sea on Allure of the Seas

Our first full day on our cruise was a “day at sea”. We tried most of the activities that were offered on Allure of the Seas. This included swimming, putt-putt, basketball, the zipline, rock climbing, and the carousel. We also ate at a few of the included dining options throughout the day including the Windjammer, Park Cafe and Boardwalk Dog House. In between, we relaxed and lounged around.

We reserved the ice-skating show, Blades, in Studio B for the evening. The show was fantastic with incredible stunts, music, and choreography.

After our show, we tried the main dining which is the included 3 course meal, and it fantastic! It was so good I made sure to eat here the remaining evenings as well.

The first night of our cruise was designated as 70s casual. We did not bring anything for it, and most people I saw also didn’t have anything related to 70s attire.

Day 2: Nassau, Bahamas

Free Options

The Allure of the Seas Cruise Ship is able to dock directly at Nassau without using tenders. In fact, this ship does not utilize tenders at all. There are typically multiple cruise ships here, so the port is crowded.

If you do not want to book an excursion, there are still a number of things you can do. You can walk and shop around Nassau Straw Market for souvenirs or walk down Bay Street for duty-free shopping.

You can also walk to the Queen’s Staircase and Fort Fincastle for historic, scenic photo opportunities or head to the Pirates of Nassau Museum. In addition, you can check out the government buildings in Parliament Square and even visit the Government House which is the official residence of the Governor-General with free access to grounds.

If you want to grab some food or drinks, you could go to Fat Tuesday, Senor Frogs, or John Watling’s Distillery which has a free tour and tasting.

If you want to hit up a beach, the closest within walking distance is Junkanoo Beach which is a 10-to-15-minute walk away. You can also catch a taxi and head to Cable Beach. These beaches offer public access without entrance fees, though amenities like chairs often cost extra. You can even take a ferry to Atlantis to visit the casino, Marina Village, aquariums, and even the white-sand beaches like Cabbage Beach. Atlantis is a cashless resort, so keep that in mind if you visit.

You could also stay on the ship and enjoy the vibe with most people off. This would especially make sense if you’ve visited Nassau multiple times in the past and don’t want to do a pricy excursion.

Excursion Options in Nassau, Bahamas

There are many, many excursions that Royal Caribbean offers for Nassau, Bahamas. From tours around the city to snorkeling and other beach options, to encounters with animals such as dolphins or pigs to boats, to water parks, the options are wide and varied. Instead of listing them all here, I have linked to them above. Prices vary depending on when you book, time of year, etc.

Below, I’ll go into detail on what we chose to do and the frustrations I experienced with it.

Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark

Multiple times I have looked into taking a trip to Atlantis, but it is very expensive, and there’s not a ton more I’m interested in doing in Nassau, so I have never pulled the trigger. One of the biggest reasons I booked this Bahamas Cruise was to visit the waterpark at Atlantis with a day pass. The day pass is still very pricy. I thought it would be worth it to have a chance to experience this resort. Ultimately, it was not unless your expectations are tempered from the onset or you do your own travel and possibly booking instead of booking through the cruise.

Getting to Atlantis

We booked through the cruise mainly to ensure we’d get our money back if for some reason the port got cancelled. I’ve since learned you can book through some third-party sites that will refund your money if your port gets cancelled too, so those may be better options. Booking directly with Atlantis in the last option, but they do not offer refunds.

Anyone who had an excursion booked through the cruise had to meet in certain places on Allure of the Seas to be organized and accounted for before leaving. We got to our meeting location towards the very beginning of our time window of 7 to 8 a.m. I was hoping to be towards the front. We were given a number and a location to go sit and wait….and wait… and wait. Slowly, many other groups (other excursions) were called. We were one of the last excursions to leave – after 8:30 a.m.

Then we were escorted off the ship in a mass herd with all of the other people going to Atlantis for the day. So much for trying to be one of the first ones. It took some time to get our group over to the buses that transport to Atlantis. Once there, we waited in another ridiculously long line to get on one of the buses. We did not get on one until 9:50 a.m., and it was very crowded.

By the time we got dropped off, waited in another line to check in, and walk to the park, it was about 10:30 a.m. We could not find a single chair anywhere by this point. We did get a locker and quickly got situated to try and make the most of our limited time.

What We Did at Atlantis

We headed to the main slides at the Mayan Temple area first. Here is an interactive map for reference. Every slide had very long lines. Originally, I really wanted to be able to do each slide, but it was going to eat up so much time, that we would’ve hardly had time to do anything else. We spent about an hour doing two slides out of the 4 in that area and the lines were getting longer, so we decided not to do the other two.

After the two slides, we went to swim at the Mayan Temple pool for a little while. Then we headed to their Rapids River which was by far my favorite part of Atlantis.

The Rapids River is a mile-long, high-intensity adventure river rather than a traditional lazy river. It features tropical scenery, 7-foot drops, powerful wave surges, white-water rapids, and a conveyor belt lift system. This is so fun, we rode it twice.

Once we finished there, we got some pizza and fries at the Riverbend Cafe. It was okay, but certainly not worth the price. However, it is typical for this type of place, so it wasn’t alarming. By the way, Atlantis is a cashless resort, so you have to have a credit card to use if you plan on purchasing anything.

After lunch, we went to check out one of the beaches, and got some cool Atlantis photos along the way there and back. Then we started heading back toward the area for buses to get back to our cruise ship, but my daughter did jump into the Royal Baths pool on the way out for about 5 minutes.

Bus Transport Back

We were told that the last bus back to Allure of the Seas would be leaving at 3:30, so we made sure we were to the bus by about 3. Had I known how long the line would be, I would have possibly taken a taxi when we first exited the hotel, but we had to walk a little way to get to the line, so we just waited instead of turning back.

The line took some time. I was worried we wouldn’t make the last bus back, but we did. I am not sure how many more buses they sent after their last time of 3:30 because the line was just as long when we boarded our bus as it was when we arrived at the line. There was also traffic coming back, so the bus ride back took quite a bit longer than going to Atlantis. We made it back in plenty of time, but I wouldn’t have wanted to push it more than we did.

Was It Worth It?

In my opinion, the way we did it was definitely not worth it. Perhaps if I had booked through a third party and got my own transportation to Atlantis, I would’ve felt differently, but I am not sure. Waiting so long at the beginning of the day and then when we got there for the slides put a very sour taste in my mouth. I do not feel we got to really experience the water park. We simply did not have time to do many of the slides with the crowds.

If you don’t care about slides, and you just want to enjoy the pools and beach, then it would be better, but the cost would be way too high for just that in my opinion. Also, most of the slides were a 48-inch height requirement, so that is also a factor if you have younger kids.

I am glad I got to see Atlantis because it really is a place I’ve always wanted to check out. Plus, their Rapids River was amazing. However, when you also think about some of the other excursions offered in Nassau, Bahamas, I feel your money is better spent elsewhere. If you really want a waterpark, there is also a day pass offered to Baha Mar that is cheaper and supposedly way less crowded.

I am also glad I didn’t stay at Atlantis. Way too much money for that many crowds!

After Our Excursion on Allure of the Seas

Once we got back to the ship, we got first got some hot dogs. Then, we took showers and just relaxed for a while. I read on the balcony, and my daughter took a nap because she was exhausted.

After relaxing, we had a late dinner in the main dining room. This night on Allure of the Seas was Caribbean night, and we did dress for that. At one point during dinner, a lot of the servers came and danced with Caribbean music playing. They invited people to get up and dance, and my daughter really enjoyed joining along!

After another really good meal in the main dining room, we walked around a little bit before catching our show for the night at the OceanAria aqua show. This show really captivated us the whole time; it was phenomenal (description given in the entertainment options earlier in the post).

Then we went back to get another night’s sleep before our last big day on the cruise.

Day 3: Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

CocoCay is Royal Caribbean’s own private island. Many things are free here including complimentary dining at 5 different locations throughout the island. There are multiple, free beach areas where you can relax, swim, snorkel, etc. There is also the Oasis Lagoon which is the Caribbean’s largest freshwater pool. It has a swim up bar and plenty of space. In addition to those, there are splash areas for kids to play and plenty of places to just lounge and relax. There is also a free tram that can take you from one place to another on the island since it’s big.

Optional upgrades include the Thrill Waterpark, the adults-only Hideaway Beach, zipline, helium balloon ride, and cabanas. We did not purchase any upgrades and still had an incredible time. I was so relieved after our previous day! If you have paid for a drink package or Wi-Fi, it extends to the island, so that is a bonus!

The first awesome thing about this place is the ease to access the island. You simply get off the ship and walk to the island. We got to the island decently early to try and get front row seats on the beach. We ended up getting a few rows back, but we still felt good about it especially since we deliberately slept in a little bit (arrived close to 9).

What We Did on CocoCay

The first thing we did was snorkel at Chill Island along the rock jetties and floating platforms. There are even a sunken wreck and airplane near the floating platforms. We brought our own snorkel stuff, but there is also equipment that can be rented. We saw a decent number of fish, but nothing spectacular – still fun though. The only main downside was the temperature of the water – definitely on the cold side in March, but warm enough to tolerate it. The floating platforms were also a further than they appeared from the water. I consider myself a good swimmer, and it was tiring getting out there and back.

After snorkeling, we went to hang at the Oasis Lagoon. I was hoping it would be heated, but it is not, and it was too cold for me to get in. Two of our kids braved the water and had fun for about an hour.

After the pool, we went to eat. There were many different food options which I loved because I got a little of everything. I thought the vast majority of it was good.

Next, we hung at the beach again just relaxing for another hour or so. The kids played in the water a lot more as well.

Before heading back to the ship, we also checked out the two complimentary splash areas. Splashaway Bay has slides, fountains, pool, and huge water buckets. Captain Jill’s Galleon is a ship with splash zones, water cannons, and slides. My daughter had a blast at both!

After CocoCay

We mainly relaxed again once we returned to the Allure of the Seas ship and cleaned up. We did eat in the main dining room again, and walk around a bit more, but we did not attend any shows on this night. Since we were getting up early the next morning, we went to bed decently early.

Disembarkation from Allure of the Seas

Because we were key members, we got to enjoy a dedicated, private breakfast. This breakfast typically goes from 6 to 8 a.m. We were there by about 6:45 to still take advantage of the priority disembarkation for key members which usually starts shortly after 7:30 a.m.

Once we were off the ship, we went and got our luggage. We had the option to carry it ourselves or have it out in the hall the night before. Then we met our hotel shuttle who was waiting for us to take us back to the hotel where are car was located.

We started our 8-hour drive once we returned to our car.

Final Thoughts

I have mixed feelings about the cruise overall. First, I did enjoy the Allure of the Seas ship itself. I also very much appreciated the ship traveling to a new location while still enjoying the freedom of walking around and doing activities. This is one of the main draws to potentially doing a cruise on the Mediterranean for example. The other being the chance to see a lot of different places in a relatively short amount of time!

I also appreciated the fact that most things were inclusive, so I didn’t have to worry about shelling out money every time I wanted to do something. Finally, I enjoyed the main dining room, activities, and entertainment options.

Although, I liked the main dining room, the other food options were getting old even after our short cruise. I imagine if I were cruising for a week, I’d want to add a dining package. That would cost more though. Although the crowds weren’t necessarily desired, they were expected and did not detract much from my experience other than our excursion on day 2.

Biggest Drawback

The biggest drawback for me personally was the feeling of being at the mercy of the cruise timeline on port days. Nassau, Bahamas had a few excursions that looked fun, but we only had time for one. Even with the one we chose, we were on a strict time schedule to get there, try and enjoy for several hours, and then be back by departure. I thought that aspect was stressful. I like being able to explore on our own time without worrying as much about a schedule.

On the way down, I was very excited for the cruise and was already planning on potentially doing a cruise the following Spring Break. I thought it would be fun to explore Cozumel, Belize, and Roatan, but after the cruise, I knew I didn’t want to do that. I felt each port would be way too busy and rushed to truly explore and appreciate it. You can only get so far from the port to make your return time.

We did end up going to Belize the following Spring Break. However, we stayed in the country for the entire trip which I highly recommend. Even though we didn’t get to see a little of several places (only did one place), we got to see a lot and truly experience Belize.

If you are like most people, and do not want to plan almost anything, then I also think a cruise would be very appealing. I actually like planning trips, so that is not a perk for me. If anything, I start looking at everything offered in an area and realize how limited the cruise options are.

Maybe in the Future

I definitely could see myself doing a cruise – maybe even on Allure of the Seas again. It is just not my priority or preference at this point in my life. If I did do one, it would probably be with friends to just enjoy time together or a smaller cruise like a river cruise. If I had a lot of money, then I’d love to do both. Since I have to choose, I am going to choose destinations over a cruise for now.

I did very much enjoy going somewhere warm during Spring Break since it’s still cold where I live in March. The previous Spring Break, we had taken our road trip around Kentucky, and it was cold enough to even snow in Cincinnati. I loved that trip, but it also taught me I prefer warmth during this time frame. It’s the tail end of winter in March where I live, so I’m over the cold by that point.

Once I finish the trips that come before it, I’ll also link to our trip the following Spring Break which was to Belize and is one of my favorite trips thus far!