RCCL Allure of the Seas Reviews earns a solid 4.2 out of 5 from cruisers overall in 2026, with the biggest swing in satisfaction coming from her $100 million refurbishment completed in early 2025. Cabins remain the weakest link (many staterooms weren’t touched in the refit), while dining, entertainment, and the new pool deck now rank among the best in the Royal Caribbean fleet. If you’re deciding whether to book her, the short version is this: post-refit Allure is a genuinely different ship than the one older reviews describe, and most of the complaints you’ll find online are now outdated.
I’ve sailed Allure three times: once in 2019 before anyone knew a refit was coming, once during her final “tired” era in 2023, and once in late 2025 after the dry dock. That gives me a rare before-and-after view most reviews can’t offer, and I’ll be pointing out exactly where things changed.
What Nobody Tells You About the 2,800 Cabins
Here’s something the glossy reviews skip: Allure has roughly 2,700 to 2,800 staterooms depending on how you count connecting configurations, and the refit added over 100 new cabins by converting underused space, not by expanding the ship’s footprint. That matters because it changed the cabin mix in ways that affect your actual booking odds.
The added cabins came largely from converting the old Vitality Café area and reshuffling deck 15’s teen space. If you’re booking an interior or ocean-view category expecting the classic Oasis-class layout, know that a slightly higher percentage of cabins on Allure now sit closer to high-traffic zones like Mason Jar and Playmakers than on her sister ships. More cabins means more density at peak times, particularly around the Windjammer buffet and the main pool.
Cabins to Avoid on Allure of the Seas
I get asked this constantly, so let me be specific instead of vague.
Boardwalk Balcony cabins near deck 6-8, aft:
These now face directly into Playmakers Sports Bar, which replaced the quieter Sabor restaurant. Expect noise until close, especially on sea days when games run late.
Central Park interior-facing balconies below the pool deck:
The reggae band and poolside DJ carry sound straight down into Central Park. It’s charming at 6pm, grating at 1pm.
Deck 14 forward cabins near the port-side sun deck access door (14138 to 14144):
Wind whistles through this doorway when the ship is underway. It’s a known quirk, not a rumor.
Cabins directly below Studio B on deck 3:
Ice skating rehearsals and Quest game nights run late. If you’re a light sleeper, skip this stack.
Deck 7 aft, both port and starboard:
This deck has an unusual layout flaw. You cannot walk from the port side to the starboard side through the aft elevator lobby. It’s not a noise issue, just a genuine inconvenience if your cabin is on the “wrong” side relative to dining or exits you use often.
The cabins themselves, regardless of location, are the one area the 2025 refit skipped entirely. Furniture, bathroom fixtures, and closet space are unchanged from the ship’s 2010 build. If you’ve sailed a newer Icon or Oasis-class refresh and expect that level of stateroom polish, adjust your expectations before you board.
What Actually Changed in the $100 Million Refit
Most articles list the new venues and stop there. What matters more is how those changes affect the experience you’ll actually have onboard, day to day.
Dining shifted from “included but forgettable” to “genuinely worth planning around.” Mason Jar (Southern comfort food, extra charge) and El Loco Fresh (casual Mexican, included) replaced tired venues that used to get skipped entirely. My honest take: Mason Jar’s fried chicken and cornbread are worth the upcharge, but El Loco Fresh is fine at best, useful mainly as a faster alternative to buffet chaos on embarkation day.
The pool deck got a real overhaul, not a cosmetic one. New loungers, expanded Splashaway Bay, additional hot tubs, and the Ultimate Abyss dry slide all landed here. If your last Allure cruise was pre-2025, this deck alone justifies sailing her again.
Bars gained personality they never had before. Pesky Parrot (tiki-themed, replacing the old Champagne Bar) and the Lime & Coconut bars scattered across the upper decks give the ship a resort feel it lacked. Drink pricing on Royal Caribbean has climbed steadily fleet-wide though, and Allure is no exception. If you want to know exactly what you’ll pay before you board, I’d check a current Royal Caribbean drink menu rather than guessing from old cruise forum posts, since prices shift more often than people expect.
Two casualties nobody mourns loudly but should be mentioned. The RCCL Allure of the Seas Reviews Vitality Café (a quiet coffee spot) and the library/card room are both gone, converted into cabin space and new venues. If quiet reading nooks or a proper card room mattered to your last cruise, know they’re not coming back.
Entertainment: What’s Actually Worth Booking
Reservations fill fast on RCCL Allure of the Seas Reviews, faster than most first-time Royal Caribbean cruisers expect. Here’s my honest ranking based on three sailings’ worth of comparison:
- Mamma Mia! Still the strongest show on the ship. Book it the moment your reservation window opens.
- Blades (the ice show) Visually sharp, though thinner on plot than older Studio B productions. Worth one viewing.
- AquaTheater shows Weather-dependent and occasionally cancelled on windy days, which is genuinely frustrating if you only have one shot at seeing it. Build in a backup night if this is a priority.
- Blue Planet This one’s aged poorly. If your time is limited, skip it in favor of a specialty dinner instead.
- Comedy Live Lounge Small room, RCCL Allure of the Seas Reviews high demand. Reserve on day one or don’t bother.
Food Beyond the New Venues: What’s Actually Improved
Reviews from 2014 through 2019 consistently flagged the Windjammer buffet and included dining rooms as Allure’s weak point. That criticism largely still holds for the main dining room, where menus remain uninspired fleet-wide, not just on this ship. But there’s a real shift worth noting: specialty dining now carries the ship’s reputation almost entirely.
Giovanni’s Table and Chops Grille remain strong choices, consistent with pre-refit reviews. RCCL Allure of the Seas Reviews What’s new is that the specialty dining discount structure (roughly 20% off when you book three or more specialty restaurants) still applies and gets applied automatically at checkout on many sailings, which is worth confirming with your travel agent since Royal Caribbean doesn’t always advertise it clearly.
Allure vs Her Sister Ships: A Quick Comparison
If you’re weighing Allure against Oasis, Harmony, or Symphony, here’s where she stands post-refit:
| Category | Allure of the Seas (2025 refit) | Oasis of the Seas | Harmony of the Seas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabin freshness | Original 2010 cabins, unchanged | Refreshed in 2019 refit | Newest cabins in class |
| Signature new venues | Mason Jar, Pesky Parrot, El Loco Fresh | Similar mix, added 2019 | Different mix, added at build |
| Pool deck | Fully rebuilt in 2025 | Rebuilt in 2019 | Original, aging |
| Best for | Bargain hunters wanting new bars/dining without newest-ship pricing | Families wanting proven consistency | Cruisers prioritizing newest hardware |
| Typical per-night price (Caribbean, balcony) | Generally lowest of the three | Mid-range | Highest |
The practical takeaway:
RCCL Allure of the Seas Reviews now competes well on venues and pool deck experience while typically pricing lower than Harmony, which makes her a strong value pick if cabin age isn’t a dealbreaker for you.
What Is Actually Wrong With RCCL Allure of the Seas Reviews
I want to answer this directly since it’s one of the most searched questions about this ship. The real, current issues are:
- Cabin age. No amount of new bars fixes a bathroom that hasn’t been touched since 2010.
- Crowding at peak times. More cabins means more guests. The Windjammer buffet gets genuinely difficult to navigate at 8am and 6pm on sea days.
- Inconsistent main dining room quality. This is a fleet-wide Royal Caribbean issue right now, not unique to Allure, but it’s still worth knowing before you book.
- AquaTheater weather cancellations. Not the ship’s fault exactly, but it’s a recurring disappointment for guests who prioritize that show.
- Escape Room pricing. At $55 or more per person, most reviewers (myself included) consider it overpriced relative to what you get.
None of these are dealbreakers on their own. They’re the kind of thing you plan around once you know about them in advance, which is really the point of a review like this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is RCCL Allure of the Seas Reviews Still a Good Ship to Book in 2026?
Yes, particularly if you haven’t sailed her since before the 2025 refit. The new dining venues and pool deck genuinely changed the day-to-day experience, even though the cabins themselves weren’t updated.
How Big Is Allure of the Seas Compared to Other Cruise Ships?
She’s an Oasis-class vessel at roughly 225,000 gross tons, carrying just over 6,300 passengers at double occupancy. She’s among the five largest cruise ships in the world, alongside her four Oasis-class sisters.
What Is the Average Price for an Allure of the Seas Cruise?
Pricing varies heavily by season and cabin category, but interior cabins on shorter 3 to 4 night Caribbean sailings typically start in the low $300s per person, while balcony cabins on 7-night itineraries often run $800 to $1,500 per person depending on demand.
Which Cabins Should I Avoid on RCCL Allure of the Seas Reviews?
Boardwalk-facing balconies near Playmakers, Central Park cabins directly under the pool deck, and deck 14 forward cabins near the sun deck access door are the most commonly flagged for noise. See the full breakdown above for specifics.
Did the 2025 Refit Include the Cabins or Just Public Spaces?
Public spaces only. Bars, dining venues, the pool deck, and entertainment areas were overhauled. Staterooms were left in their original 2010 condition, which remains the most common complaint in current reviews.
Is the Food Good on Allure of the Seas?
Specialty dining (Giovanni’s Table, Chops Grille, Mason Jar) is consistently strong. Included dining, particularly the main dining room and buffet, remains average at best, which mirrors a broader fleet-wide trend on Royal Caribbean right now.
How Does Allure of the Seas Compare to Oasis of the Seas?
They’re near-identical in size and layout since Allure is Oasis’s direct sister ship. Oasis had her major refit in 2019, so her venue mix differs slightly, but both now offer a comparable modernized experience after their respective dry docks.
Is Allure of the Seas Worth It for a First Royal Caribbean Cruise?
Yes, especially now. The post-refit venue lineup gives first-timers a strong introduction to what Royal Caribbean does well, without the premium pricing that comes with sailing a brand-new ship.