WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Royal Caribbean has its own adjectives to describe its newest ship, Allure of the Seas. Words like “revolutionary” and “most innovative.”
As the first passengers came aboard for the preview cruise in December, they added their own: “incredible,” “awesome,” “unbelievable.”
Allure of the Seas is the sister ship of Oasis of the Seas, launched with much fanfare one year ago as the largest cruise ship in the world. Allure is identical to Oasis in most respects, but one in particular stands out: Allure is 5 millimeters longer, making it the largest cruise ship in the world.
A veritable skyscraper on the water, Allure dwarfs the other ships at its home in Port Everglades.
On hand for the preview were plenty of famous names: Jeffrey Katzenberg (chief executive of DreamWorks Animation), Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford from “Today,” and Adam Sandler and Katie Holmes, who were shooting scenes for their upcoming movie “Jack and Jill.”
Here’s a glimpse of what a giant floating city is like.
THE SIZE: How big is the biggest cruise ship ever? It doesn’t really hit home until you are actually aboard.
Overall, the ship exudes an air of elegance, without being stuffy. At full capacity, Allure accommodates 6,360 guests and 2,384 crew. There are 16 passenger decks and 24 elevators. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a few horizontal elevators as well.
Executive chef Jahn Ivo told me part of his daily routine is checking on the more than 20 dining venues scattered across the ship. In one day his pedometer recorded 24,000 steps, which translates to 8 to 10 miles. Can we get this man a Segway?
THE ROOMS: There are 2,700 staterooms, 72 percent with balconies. While the suites are lavish, as you might expect, the rooms for the mere mortals among us are pretty good too. Tastefully appointed, they feature the latest technology, including flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations.
They do a remarkable job of maximizing the space with shelves, cabinets and cubbyholes for all your belongings.
GETTING AROUND: For all the ship’s size, there is a wonderful feeling of flow as you go from one area to another. One thing you hear over and over from the Royal Caribbean executive team is the focus on the “guest experience.” Particularly useful are the interactive touch- screen guides on every deck. With buttons for “What to Do Right Now” and “Room Finder,” I never felt lost.
CENTRAL PARK: Imagine exiting an elevator in the middle of a cruise ship and walking out into the bright sunshine amid thousands of trees and plants, complete with chirping birds and upscale restaurants. It’s called Central Park, and, like its New York namesake, it’s the perfect place to rest and unwind amid walls of plants five decks high.
You can grab lunch at the Park Cafe or reserve a table at 150 Central Park, the most upscale restaurant on the ship with a surcharge of $35 a person. Other venues include a steakhouse, Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table and Vintages, offering a wide selection of wines.
BOARDWALK: If you crave an experience more like Coney Island, proceed to the Boardwalk, where the emphasis is on family and fun. For starters, you can’t miss the full-size carousel, with its 18 hand-carved figures.
Rita’s Cantina is here, a Mexican specialty restaurant (specialty in front of any restaurant means there’s an extra charge, by the way), a Johnny Rockets with its signature dancing waiters, and the Aqua Theater, featuring water and light shows and two 43-foot-high rock climbing walls for the adventurous.
Also here is the surprisingly popular Dog House, where you order from seven varieties of custom- made hot dogs.
THE ENTERTAINMENT: A megasize ship deserves megasize entertainment, and Allure delivers, starting with a full-scale, Broadway-caliber production of “Chicago.” There’s also an ice show, a 3-D movie theater (showing DreamWorks’ “Megamind”), a Cirque du Soleil- style experience, a comedy club, a jazz club, dance clubs, including the two-story Dazzles, and gambling in Casino Royale.
The big story here is Royal Caribbean’s alliance with DreamWorks, whose characters and creations are integrated throughout the ship. That’s why DreamWorks CEO Katzenberg was onboard.
If you want to try surfing, there’s FlowRider. For thrill seekers, attach yourself to a zipline and soar over the atrium. And so much more.
DINING: Allure gives you a chance to eat and drink nonstop at almost every turn. The main dining room is the multideck Adagio, which can seat 3,000. At the Samba Grill, you can eat Brazilian style. Just press “green” on your table light, and more meat selections start coming your way.
There’s something for every taste, from steak to Italian. You can even cook it yourself at Izumi Asian Cuisine, featuring rocks heated to 550 degrees.
Allure also features the first Starbucks at sea, as well as Sorrento’s Pizzeria and The Cupcake Cupboard. (Oh, and there’s a special Coke machine. At a touch of a button you can order up to 106 kinds of Coca-Cola products.)
SHOPPING: Among the many shops is another first for the Allure — a Guess fashion store. Also onboard is the first Britto art gallery, featuring the work of Romero Britto.
THE BARS: Even on a ship this size, there are plenty of places to lose yourself in a quiet, dark corner against a background of jazz or Sinatra. My favorites included the Crown Viking Lounge, where the entertainment includes the sunset; the Champagne Bar, for a taste of the bubbly; and maybe the most unique, The Rising Tide Bar. You enter on the fifth deck, and the whole bar lifts skyward toward the eighth. It’s the only way to fly.
THE EXPERIENCE: A special moment occurred toward the end of Day 2 of our preview when Allure and Oasis met for the first time at sea. Camera flashes erupted from both ships as a small boat ferried a gift exchange between the captains — the ultimate merger of massive grandeur and intimate gesture.
Allure’s allure
Cost to build: $1.5 billion
Time to build: Seven years and 10 million man-hours of design and construction
Weight: 225,282 tons
Length: 1,187 feet
Width: 208 feet
Height: 213 feet from the water line
Cruising speed: 22 knots (25.3 mph)
Passenger decks: 16
Passenger elevators: 24
Passenger capacity: 6,360
Crew: 2,384
Staterooms: 2,700
Dining options: 26
Maiden voyage: Dec. 1, 2010
Ports of call: Caribbean
Home port: Port Everglades, Fla.
