Cruising the Med with Royal Caribbean

In April, I was lucky enough to be invited to experience the newly amplified Allure of the Seas first-hand. This Royal Caribbean fan favourite has undergone a $100 million upgrade, and I was among the first guests to sail aboard they newly improved ship from Barcelona to Rome.

Now offering over 35 dining and drinking spots, Allure is bursting with both thrills and chills. There’s a stunning adults-only area with Jacuzzis, cosy lounges and excellent bar service. For kids young and old, check out the zip line, FlowRider, climbing wall, 10-storey dry slide, crazy golf, carousel, multiple pools, kids' clubs, and the world-class shows. My favourite was Aqua 80 Two, an incredible water shows that truly wowed!

Despite over 5,000 guests on board, the ship never felt crowded. Even on sea days, there was no scrabble for sunbeds. something that really surprised me as a first-time big ship cruiser.

The on-board dining really impressed too. Gone are the days of quantity over quality at huge buffets! El Loco Fresh served up tasty lunchtime Mexican bites, and we returned to The Mason Jar three times for its fab food and cocktails. The three-deck Main Restaurant offers à la carte dining, and there’s a fantastic selection of speciality options too.

We docked in Palma and La Spezia. As I was attending Seminar at Sea, we didn’t have full days to explore, but it was still easy to hop off and enjoy the local areas. We grabbed a taxi into Palma and explored the beautiful old town in no time. Whether you book excursions through Royal Caribbean (who will wait if you’re delayed!) or go your own way, it’s all very flexible.

The atmosphere on board was lively but relaxed. We met solo travellers, couples, families and retirees, it truly caters to every age group. Royal Caribbean have a fitting reputation for top class service, the crew were warm, helpful and always on hand with a smile.

If you’re cruise-curious but unsure where to start, I offer personalised cruise consultations to help you find the perfect fit.

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Top Tips: Bring an extension lead – not enough Irish plugs in the cabins Pre-book your shows and speciality dining to avoid missing out Bag a great deal by booking your cruise at the Next Cruise desk on board for the best possible offers, but don’t worry I can still manage it for you and add flights etc.