Allure of the Seas- Itinerary

I am finally getting around to writing my review from the Allure of the Seas- December 18-25^th, 2011.  This will be in sections to make it easier to locate the information you want to read about.

Itinerary

We left Fort Lauderdale, Sunday right on time.  I didn’t like that I was on the Starboard side of the ship for sailaway.  I love watching the beach goers.  We chose to stay out on our balcony and saw a family waving at the Coast Guard station instead…

Our first stop was Labadee (Royal Caribbean's lease section of Haiti), been there once before on the Oasis.  I like beach days but it was cloudy and drizzled at one point.  I’ll talk more about what we did there later.

Next we went to Falmouth, Jamaica.  I don’t know why people are complaining about this port.  It looks nearly finished to me.  The shops were open, vendors were no-more pushy than any other port, and I actually found the port complex to be very pretty!  When we arrived the Navigator was in port with us.  I thought they had already gotten off the ship.  I was sorely wrong.  When we returned later in the day we saw the Navi was gone.  Turns out they tried from 6am-10am to dock and the water was so rocky that they couldn’t let anyone off the ship and Navi left.  We were having some problems that morning but capt Johnny supposedly ran the engines all day to keep the ship right up next to the pier.  We did an RCI tour there because I am not familiar with Jamaica and wanted to be ensured I’d get back to the ship.  We ended up leaving Falmouth over an hour late because of tours (booked through the ship) were late.

Last stop was Cozumel, I’ve been there 5 times previously and I find something new to do every time.  We booked a tour via an outside company.  Probably one of the BEST things I’ve done there!  More about that later.  We left Cozumel late also.  Being starboard had it benefit here.  The captain was calling for a couple on the ship to report to guest services.  I watched them pull up the gangway and the ship started to move.  Suddenly we were back up against the pier.  The couple was running to the ship.  They put the gangway back up and let them on.  Lucky them!  Something funny also happened.  The Norwegian Pearl was next to us in port.  A guy on the balcony across form mine had a conch shell.  He was blowing in to it, the sound was almost like a ship’s horn.  All that was going through my mind was “the Sea is calling, but from the wrong ship!”

 Here's a snippet of it.

....and it figures!  My photo hosting site goes down as I type this out.  :(

Allure of the Seas Pictures

I have posted photos of the ship on the Sunkissed Adventures Facebook page.  If you are interested in general photos please visit the link:  Allure of the Seas.

Personal photos of our crazy antics are coming soon ;)

An Alluring Christmas

Last year, I escorted a group of 11 people on a Christmas Cruise aboard the Majesty of the Seas.  We had a great time.  It was nice to get away for the holidays.  It was also a good test for this year.  My husband, my mother, and her boyfriend had already booked the Allure of the Seas for 2011.

At this moment I am still drained mentally and physically from the trip.  We really did it up.  Full excursions in two ports and making sure to hit nearly everything on the ship.  So my review may take some time to finalize. 

Here is a sampling of where we went. 

How Do You Do It?

Many people that know me are well aware that I have been on nearly 10 cruises in the last two years.  Some people think I am crazy, others think I am lucky.  Every single one of them has asked me how in the world I do it!

So I thought I would dedicate this blog entry to my secret.  Which really is no secret at all!  I will go through each of the last cruises I have been on describing how I was able to get the awesome prices that I did.

Jewel of the Seas- 11-night Ultimate Caribbean & Panama Cruise (Our Honeymoon) November 2009.

This was was booked in April of 2009.  So approximately 7 months in advance.  We paid around $81 per day for this one because we booked it in advance.  The prices went up as we approached the sail date.

Carnival Imagination 3-day Bahamas- January 2010

Booked in July of 2009 with an Early Saver Rate.  About $60 per day.  Not sure of the price fluctuations on this one, but an awesome price!

Oasis of the Seas- 7-day Western Caribbean.  May/June 2010.

Booked on a special rate not available for the public so this one doesn't count.  BUT had I sailed as a regular client I would have paid about $140 per day had I booked.  Which is an amazing deal for a 6 month-new ship that regularly runs close to the $170 range.

Grandeur of the Seas- 4-day Western Caribbean- June 2010

Booked in January 2010. Six months in advance.  Paid $90 per day for a June/summer cruise.  Fabulous deal.


Liberty of the Seas 7-days Eastern Caribbean- November 2010

Booked in January 2010.  11 months in advance.  Paid $64 per day!!


Majesty of the Seas.  3-day Bahamas Christmas Cruise.  December 2010.

Booked in July 2010.  Booked 5 months in advance.  Florida resident rate.  $100 per day.  Great price for a cruise over Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.

Norwegian Sky.  3-day Bahamas.  April 2011.

Booked 4 days in advance.  Paid $59 per day.

Navigator of the Seas- 4-day Western Caribbean.  April 2011.

Booked 3 months in advance.  Paid $100 per day.

Coral Princess.  7-day Alaskan Inside Passage.  June 2011.

This is another one that doesn't count.  Booked as a special agent rate.  Sorry.  Would have been $314 per day had I booked it as a regular guest on May 31st.

Allure of the Seas- 7-day Western Caribbean.  December 2011.
Photo Coming Soon!

Booked 18 months in advance.  Paid $100 per day.  Prices went as high as $200 per day from December 2010 to the time it sold out.

So the theme here is- out of all the cruises I have taken in the last two years only ONE was booked at a great rate last minute.  Most of the others were good deals because we booked more than 6 months in advance.

I know that some people find it difficult to plan things so far out in advance.  But if you're willing to book when the rate is good and then wait it out, you too can sail as much as me :)

Budget Travel's Awe-Inspiring American Monuments

Budget Travel's 16 Awe-Inspiring American Monuments
I was browsing through the list of monuments that Budget Travel deems to be the best in the country.  After reviewing the article I realized I have been to many of those places!  Check out my Awe-Inspiring Travels :)

Golden Gate Bridge- 1992 & 2009 
Went with my parents when I was 9, then again for a conference in 2009 with a girlfriend of mine. I love San Fran!

Highway 1 - 1992

Don't have the pictures, but I certainly remember riding in the backseat of the car at 10 years old getting car sick along the way :(

Hollywood Walk of Fame- 1992

Have them but buried somewhere in my mom's guest room closet...

Las Vegas Strip- 2011

My first and I guarantee it won't be my last.  :)

Hoover Dam- 2011

A great stop on the way from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon! 

Mount Rushmore- TBA

So this is one of the ones I have not yet been to.  My mom has always wanted to go, but there doesn't seem to be much else out there...  One day we'll make it!

French Quarter, New Orleans- TBA

Would love to do a road trip out to Texas and stop here along the way ;)

Gateway Arch, Saint Louis- TBA

Haven't had the burning desire to go there, but I'm sure I'd have a great time tasting the amazing ribs and sampling the local music scene!

National Mall, D.C.- 1994, 1997, 2009, 2010, 2011

Do you think I like the place??? I see something new every time I go.  Our country has a fabulous "downtown."

Independence National Historical Park- 2008

Silly me didn't get a picture in front of Independence Hall- but I have a picture of me inside it with a teacher tour group.  The following picture is at the National Park as well- Liberty Bell!

 Statue of Liberty- TBA

I'm hoping to get there in the summer of 2012 or 2013. 

 Times Square- TBA

I'm hoping to get there in the summer of 2012 or 2013. 

 

Grand Canyon Skywalk- 2011-not really but...

Okay I have a rant.  It's a small one.  While it is an awesome concept, the Skywalk is located in the Western Rim (not the best view).  There is a laundry list of things you can and cannot do (including bring your own camera...)  The South Rim is by far a better view and there is lodging, so you can make it an extended stay.  The South Rim is also where you can hike down and camp, raft, etc.  I did extensive research this summer when heading out there.  I chose South Rim- when talking to locals they all said that the West Rim is somewhat of a "trap".  So here are my pictures from the amazing South Rim from 4 different locations within the National Park ;)

 Millenium Park, Chicago

Haven't been there, yet...

Fenway Park, Boston- 1994

I am pretty sure we went there when we took a family vacation when I was 10.  Again, the photos are buried in my mom's closet!

So wouldn't you rather have an agent working for you that's been there and done that?!?  

If you're interested in the article feel free to read it here: Budget Travel's Awe-Inspiring Monuments

Promote! Like a Norwegian

So I will have to search for those missing posts.  They are lost out there somewhere on the internet!!

In the meantime I wanted to say a few words about Norwegian Cruise Line.  About 6 months ago I was in an agent webinar with NCL when they announced they were going to begin a program for travel agents.  They didn't give many details but said that it would be well worth it.

At the next month's webinar they revealed some of the features of this program.  Over the course of the last 5-6 months they have been truly supportive of travel professionals.  The programs and incentives are great, they make a full force effort to engage the agents. 

Here si what this tells me: they realize that more people book cruises with agents than without.  They realize that if they can get the agents onboard, both metaphorically and in reality, it will help spread the word about their ships and experiences.

I have only sailed on the Norwegian Sky, a quick 3-night Bahamas run. I have toured a nuber of their ships- Dawn, Jewel, Pearl, and Epic.I will be on the Epic in March to have the full week experience.  We're in a balcony room, so I will report on whether I had issues with the "peek-a-boo" bathrooms.

And now I will leave you with their brand spankin new TV commercials!

Oh No!

I appears as though we have had a malfunction on the blog!   I had it set up on, what I thought was, an automatic posting system.  I guess it didn't work as planned.  Boy do I have a lot of posting to catch up on :)

I will be finishing the Alaska trip review and providing more information about upcoming trips for Sunkissed Adventures and our monthly features!

Sorry to have been gone for so long!!