If you’re looking for a family vacation that is sure to please everyone, look no further than the Allure of the Seas Cruise. With its exciting activities, luxurious amenities, and world-class entertainment, this cruise has something for everyone—from toddlers to grandparents!
Eden and I just got back from our most recent cruise out of Galveston, TX, Allure of the Seas by Royal Caribbean. Here’s a look at our experience enjoying the thrilling adventure on board Allure of the Seas.
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Allure of the Seas
The Allure isn’t a new ship, but the cruise terminal in Galveston certainly is. Royal Caribbean built an all-new terminal in Galveston that can accommodate a bigger ship. That means that Allure of the Seas can now sail from Texas. It’s the biggest ship to ever sail from Texas.
Find Deals on the Allure of the Seas!
Activities Galore
The first thing that stands out about Allure of the Seas is its wide variety of activities and entertainment options. From zip lining and rock climbing walls to Broadway shows and ice skating rinks, there are so many fun things to do on board. Up on some of the top decks you will find two flow riders, multiple pools, tons of hot tubs, pickle ball courts, mini golf, and more.
For kids, that may not want to swim, but still want to have water fun there is the H2O Zone Water Park. They can swim or should they choose they can just enjoy the splash pad part of the park.
One thing I LOVED was the free life jackets readily available onboard next to the pools. Always put a life jacket on your kid!
The fitness center was massive with all the equipment you could want. We were able to get in a solid workout every day thanks to the surplus of cardio equipment and weight machines. We had to pass through the entrance of the spa to get there and I must say the spa looked NICE. Sadly, I didn’t try it out for myself.
They offered personal training and I think they had a handful of classes you could take but we didn’t do any of those.
Live Entertainment
The shows on board were unbelievable, by far the best I’ve ever seen on a cruise. They have an Aqua Theater were they put on a diving, acrobat show called Oceanaria. Now this may sound out but when you see it in person it’s excellent. Then there is an ice skating show called Skate Games. I love ice skating and was super impressed with the skaters. There are more shows but these were the only two we saw. I heard their Mama Mia production is quite good as well.
Ocean Adventure Allure of the Seas
The children’s area is extensive. Obviously, my kids are quite big now so I didn’t experience this firsthand but it looked amazing. There’s also another area of the ship that’s just for teens that looked fun as well.
Delicious Dining Options
With 22 restaurants onboard ranging from casual fast food eateries to upscale fine dining experiences, every meal became an adventure in itself. We loved trying different cuisines and flavors from around the world—from Italian dishes at Giovanni’s Table to Mexican food at El Loco Fresh. There are also numerous bars scattered throughout the ship offering specialty cocktails, local beers, and wines from around the globe.
There were two we visited that were such standouts I am breaking them down separately.
150 Central Park
The service was super slow here but worth it considering how excellent the food was overall. I had the braised short rib, paired with creamy mascarpone polenta, crispy onions, roasted heirloom carrots and natural jus. Whatever you do be sure and save room for dessert. They have a fried cheesecake that is a must-try!
Giovani’s 
This place has phenomenal Italian food. Be sure to get the carbonara. You can do pasta orders half-size if you like so you can try something else as well without being wasteful. We celebrated Eden’s birthday here.
Main Dining Room
Most of our meals were in one of the Main Dining rooms. All of the food we had there was excellent as well. I basically went with the steak every time because when else can you have a steak dinner this good every night? Only on a cruise! (I always tell myself to eat vegan while traveling but then there’s steak and I completely forget.)
On the weekend they even offer a brunch in the Main Dining that is quite delicious. I had the fried chicken and waffles which were delicious and Eden went with the more traditional eggs benedict. They also serve some pastries that were good too.
Seriously Sweet Suites
At night we retired to our spacious stateroom with its own balcony overlooking the ocean. The beds were comfortable and clean. Towels were always fluffy and fresh thanks to housekeeping’s daily attention while our room was kept spotless by friendly staff members who went above and beyond during our stay onboard Allure of the Seas Cruise ship. They do not have conditioner in the shower so be sure to bring your own.
We were in a regualar balcony suite, but we got to take a tour of lots of different rooms and they were all way better than ours! Just check out the photo! A two story suite!
All in all, Eden and I had an amazing time aboard the Allure of the Seas cruise ship! There were so many activities for all ages that it was hard to choose which ones we wanted to do each day! Plus, with delicious food choices available at every turn along with luxurious accommodations provided by friendly staff members – it was truly an unforgettable experience! We would highly recommend this cruise for any family who is looking for an adventure-filled getaway! Check current rates/specials now!
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Get Travel Insurance
Unfortunately, there are a lot of things that can go wrong on any trip. Be prepared for the worst with travel insurance. We use Travelex or Safety Wing (often cheaper).
Book Flights
I use Skyscanner to find flights. I use it so much, I wrote an entire guide to finding cheap flights with Skyscanner! My second favorite site to find flights is Momondo, another great site for finding cheap flights.
Book a Place to Stay
I recommend using Expedia.com or Hotels.com for most hotel bookings. I prefer to book directly with Marriott when I stay there because of their excellent military discount.
If you prefer staying in a vacation rental instead, I recommend VRBO.
Rent Clothes
Rent clothes for your trip with Travel Style Expert for only $50 a month! The first 30 days are free!
Choose Activities and Tours
To find great activities in any area I use Get Your Guide and Viator. If we are visiting a city with lots of popular attractions I always check CityPass and GoCard to see if they have discount cards available.
When I want to book a full-on multi-day tour I use TourRadar. They’ve got fantastic weekly deals. If I am going somewhere in Mexico or the Caribbean I use Apple Vacations.
Rent a Car or Take a Lyft
More often than not Lyft is cheaper than Uber. Use my Lyft link for an $18 credit! For a car rental in any country, I recommend Discover Cars.