Royal Caribbean made a lot of changes to Allure of the Seas with her amplification, but I was surprised they didn't do more.
Allure of the Seas recently completed a major $100M amplification to modernize the 15-year-old vessel. The ship saw significant changes, but I was surprised to see the cruise line keep select features I thought would be updated.
While you can find new, exciting features like waterslides and The Mason Jar bar, the cruise line didn’t change everything on the vessel. Several old restaurants remain onboard, for example, and cabins are still lacking in power outlet availability.
From keeping the Italian restaurant to moving the smoothie bar, these are the 6 things I’m surprised Royal Caribbean didn’t change during Allure of the Seas’ amplification.
I’m surprised Royal Caribbean kept Boardwalk Donuts
Allure of the Seas is the only Royal Caribbean ship with Boardwalk Donuts, a casual donut shop in the ship’s Boardwalk Neighborhood.
Each morning, passengers can indulge in all-you-can-eat donuts free of charge, whether a pink-frosted or classic glazed. Complimentary drinks, like coffee and orange juice, are available at the venue, too.
During Allure’s amplification, Royal Caribbean made significant changes to the Boardwalk Neighborhood. They added an Ultimate Abyss slide and removed Sabor Modern Mexican in favor of Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade.
I thought Boardwalk Donuts might be removed as part of the renovation. Donuts can be found elsewhere onboard, and the venue was never as busy as restaurants like Park Cafe or the Windjammer buffet.
I was surprised, therefore, to see Boardwalk Donuts still present on the Boardwalk. For those in search of a quick, sugary breakfast, it’s a great option.
I can’t believe they kept Samba Grill
Allure of the Seas is one of only two Royal Caribbean ships with Samba Grill, a Brazilian rodizio specialty restaurant. The venue serves all-you-can-eat meat and a selection of Brazilian side dishes and salads. It’s located in the Solarium Bistro in the evenings.
I never expected this restaurant to remain post-amplification; it’s far from the most popular specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean. Given that the line only added the venue to two ships, I thought they would use Allure's amplification as an opportunity to remove it.
Other Oasis Class ships also serve dinner in the Solarium Bistro, but it’s a complimentary, Mediterranean-inspired menu. I assumed this is what the venue would be used for on Allure of the Seas, too.
Yet I was bewildered to see Samba Grill remains post-amplification. For meat-loving passengers, it’s a unique dining opportunity to enjoy onboard.
I wish Royal Caribbean added destination elevators to the ship
Royal Caribbean has outfitted its newest vessels with destination elevators, so I was hopeful they would add these innovative elevators to Allure of the Seas. The cruise line had even been testing destination elevators on Allure last year, so I assumed they would add them to the ship.
Destination elevators differ from traditional elevators in that instead of selecting a deck once you step inside the elevator, you pick your deck number in the lobby via a touchpad. You’re then assigned an elevator number with other passengers heading to that same deck.
Destination elevators cut down on wait times on cruise ships with thousands of other guests. It also helps prevent elevators from stopping on every floor.
Unfortunately, Allure of the Seas still has traditional elevators, so passengers can expect lengthy waits at busy times of the day.
I’m surprised Vitality Café is now in the pizzeria
When I boarded Allure of the Seas, I headed to the spa to check out the facilities. To my surprise, Vitality Café was no longer there.
Vitality Café is a staple of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, and it’s a favorite amongst health-conscious cruisers. The café serves a selection of fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies, and protein shakes at an extra cost.
It appears Royal Caribbean is phasing out Vitality Café, as it was not added to Utopia of the Seas, the newest Oasis Class ship.
Nonetheless, I was still surprised to see the venue removed on Allure of the Seas… until I realized it was moved to the pizzeria.
While grabbing a quick slice from Sorrento’s, I noticed a sign for fresh juices and shakes at the pizzeria’s bar. During her amplification, Vitality Café was moved to this area, albeit with a more limited menu.
Sorrento’s seems like a weird spot for a health bar, but I’m glad I can still order my favorite juices and smoothies onboard. The venue is open between 6AM and 3PM each day. At 3PM, the bar in Sorrento's begins serving alcoholic beverages.
I thought my cabin would have more power outlets
Cabins on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships are filled to the brim with power outlets, whether traditional plugs or USB hubs.
I knew Allure of the Seas had limited outlets prior to her amplification, but I thought the cabins would be modernized with additional charging sources.
To my disappointment, they were not, and outlets are still extremely limited in the cabin. There are no charging ports by the bed, and only three North-American style plugs are located on the desk.
Read more: 30 cruise cabin hacks that cruisers love
I naively assumed there would be more charging options in my cabin, so I decided against packing power cubes for my USB cables. I immediately regretted that decision. With such limited outlet availability, charging my electronics has been a headache compared to on the fleet’s newer ships.
Lastly, I thought Giovanni’s Table would be upgraded
Like most Royal Caribbean cruise ships, Allure of the Seas has an Italian specialty restaurant. For a cover charge, guests can dine at Giovanni’s Table, which serves a variety of Italian specialties including pastas, steak, and seafood.
There are three Italian specialty restaurants in Royal Caribbean’s fleet: Giovanni’s Table, Jamie’s Italian, and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.
Giovanni’s Table is the oldest of the three restaurants. It was added to Allure of the Seas for her initial launch in 2009, and has remained a popular choice for those looking for a more elegant dinner onboard.
Yet I’m surprised they kept the venue during Allure’s amplification. Although there’s nothing wrong with the restaurant, it’s considered older in terms of restaurants on Royal Caribbean. The fleet’s latest ships feature Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. This is the line’s newest rendition of an Italian specialty restaurant, which serves both pizza and pasta.
I expected Giovanni's Table to become Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen during Allure's amplification.
At the end of the day, both restaurants serve a nice meal—I actually prefer Giovanni’s Table to the newer version—but keeping the old restaurant was still a surprise.
