As cruise addicts and devoted Virgin Voyages sailors, it was tough twisting our arms and opting for another cruise line. In April 2025, Royal Caribbean revealed a newly amplified Allure of the Seas, with a massive $100 million investment that’s apparently ‘upped the ante’.

We selected a 7-night cruise around the Western Mediterranean, starting in Barcelona, with stops in Palma de Mallorca, Rome, and Naples along the way.  Here’s an honest account of what it’s like to sail on Allure of the Seas, along with real, unedited photos from our experience.

Whilst this trip was complimentary, all thoughts and opinions are our own

Everything to know about the ​​Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas

1. Our room was old but spacious

Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas Ocean Balcony Room
Our room was dated but large, with a balcony, seating and desk area.

There wasn’t much evidence of recent refurbishment of our cabin during Allure of the Seas’ amplification. Our Ocean View Balcony room on deck six was worn and dated. I did appreciate its size, and for heavier passengers or those with mobility issues, I can see a room like this being comfortable. I slept soundly on the king bed, while my phone charged on the other side of the room due to a lack of bedside USB ports. Rooms have a TV, but we did not watch anything as it was $11.99 to access each movie.

2. This cruise will entertain your children

Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas Ultimate Abyss slide
The Ultimate Abyss lets you slide all the way down to deck eight of the ship

With water activities aplenty and family-friendly shows, this is definitely a cruise to keep children entertained. Parents, you can join them too on the zip lines or the Ultimate Abyss Slide. F&B options should excite sugar-loving little ones, including addictively good milkshakes at Jonny Rockets (extra charges apply, but it’s included within the beverage package). Basically, the kids will not get bored or hungry.

3. The Japanese restaurant is a speciality dining option worth shelling out for

Izumi Japanese restaurant sushi dish
The sushi at Izumi was good. Note that the speciality restaurants require an extra fee to dine at.

On Royal Caribbean, you have included dining outlets, such as The Windjammer and the Main Dining rooms, and you have optional dining for a fee. We did the Izumi Sushi on deck four, and it was fairly decent. The tempura is the right level of crisp, and the ramen is brothy with all the classic ingredients. Remember, this isn’t Japan, so as long as you set expectations, Izumi will be a delicious occasion. Staff are very accommodating.

4. Gratuity charges are extortionate

Gratuity envelope on bed
Guests must factor in all the added costs before booking this cruise. Gratuity makes up a big portion of the add-ons.

Having taken Virgin Voyages the last few years, where gratuity is included in your sail price, I have to admit I wasn’t a fan of these being added on constantly and separately on Royal Caribbean. Gratuity here is $18.50 per guest, per day, with an additional 18% gratuity added to all pre-cruise and onboard purchases of beverages and beverage packages, speciality dining and speciality dining packages, room service and mini bar purchases. 20% gratuity is added to all pre-cruise and onboard spa and salon purchases. On our final day, we were presented with an envelope to add even more gratuity. 

5. The Wi-Fi is fabulously fast

The pool area on Allure of the Seas
We were able to make video calls all over the ship, thanks to the super-fast Wi-Fi, including right by the pool.

Basic Wi-Fi costs $15.99 per device, per day, but the amount is higher if you want to stream. I had the top package, as I needed to write this article, and I can confirm it worked very well. Pages loaded fast, and you can even watch videos, which curbs the need to purchase a movie on their TV. Actually, this might have been the fastest Wi-Fi I’ve ever had on a cruise (albeit expensive). Bravo.

6. There are three different beverage packages

Juice in a plastic cup
I ordered an orange and carrot juice as part of my beverage package.

Drinking is a big part of this ship, and if you’re teetotal, this probably ain’t for you. There are bars at every turn. Beverage packages come in three options: the classic soft drink package, which I think is more for kids; the refreshment package, which includes fresh-squeezed juices and speciality coffees (note: these are very weak and I recommend always asking for double-shots); and at the top, the deluxe package, which includes alcohol. We had the deluxe package at $128 per person, per day. I’m not a massive boozer, so I would have been better off purchasing drinks individually, because it’d take around a dozen glasses of wine per day to get my money’s worth.

7. Mamma Mia! is plucked right out of the West End

Mamma Mia on stage
Mamma Mia was a full-length show in the style of the West End.

The hit Mamma Mia! musical originated in London’s West End in 1999, and I was delighted to find it aboard. This clearly is where the majority of the ship’s investment went, as the stage set was just like that which I saw at the Novello Theatre. I found the cast talent impressive, particularly as they were the same as the show Blue Planet, which I’d watched a few nights before. If you can get over the fact that the mother and daughter in Mamma Mia! are roughly the same age, then it’s a party (tip: sit at the back and you won’t notice!). This is the cruise’s most popular show, so do reserve and arrive early.

8. Guests must do the work to avoid using plastic

Breakfast to go items
A station of breakfast items comes in single-use plastic.

I was really disappointed at the sheer amount of single-use plastic on the ship, and while there were recycling bins, these were situated far from the cafes, bars and restaurants, so most guests were chucking everything into the same bin. If you’re on Royal Caribbean, you must do your part. Rather than take the packaged fruit, head up to The Windjammer and get it on a plate, or when ordering a juice, ask for it to be put in a glass. I really hope this changes soon.

9. Some port stops are nowhere near the big attractions

Cinque Terre view
Cinque Terre was one of our highlights in Italy. We booked our excursion via GetYourGuide, which partners with quality local providers.

You’ll generally have to pay to travel to the biggies that you thought came with the cruise. For example, for Rome, the ship actually docks over an hour train ride away at Civitavecchia, and to get into the town at Palma de Mallorca, it’s a one and a half hour walk. I used GetYourGuide to save money, booking with local providers who were able to pick us up from cruise ports and give us a more authentic experience. You need to be careful that the time coincides with when you dock, and thankfully, it’s free cancellation up to 24 hours before if you make any mistakes. In Civitavecchia, we did the GYG From Civitavecchia: Tuscany-Latium Wine Tour with Tastings to get a bit off the beaten path, whilst in La Spezia, we did the GYG From La Spezia: Cinque Terre Small Group Tour with Limoncino. 

10. The ship is incredibly crowded, but there are some quieter spots

Central Park on the ship
Central Park is a leafy oasis and we liked sitting here to read with a double-shot coffee.

From lines for the buffet to crowded pools, I did find it hard to find some quiet spots to read, but after much circling, there are some. Go up to the ninth floor overlooking Central Park and you’ll find four private tables away from the noise (minus the sporadic loudspeaker announcements). I also found Central Park peaceful in the early hours of the day, as most of the ship seemed to get up between 8:30 am and 10 am. After that, well, at least there was my balcony.

Final thoughts

While this wasn’t the cruise for me, some demographics might appreciate it. Families with young children will love the slew of rides and grabbing hot dogs by the playground, and those with mobility issues will like the size of the rooms. Extra cash is required as there are many additional charges on board, of which you’ll be spending a lot of time on, considering how far away we were docked at each port.

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