Royal Caribbean – Allure of the Seas • September 7–14, 2014
About This Experience
This seven-night Western Caribbean cruise featured family-friendly stops in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica. Activities included beach breaks, nature parks, and short excursions suitable for all ages. The itinerary balanced sea days with accessible port adventures, ideal for travelers seeking low-effort outings and warm-weather relaxation.
🌴 1. Gardens at Sea and Salsa on Shore
In September 2014, we slipped away from our daily routine and flew south for a much-needed getaway—destination: the tropics. The timing felt perfect—summer’s final breath lingered back home, but we were headed for balmy breezes and sparkling seas.
🎭 Ship Note: The Allure was, at the time, the largest passenger ship in the world—its seven “neighborhoods” were designed to divide crowds and give passengers a variety of experiences in one sailing.
We arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida the day before embarkation and checked into the Embassy Suites, a pre-cruise ritual that always makes a difference. With palm trees swaying outside the lobby windows and a warm Atlantic breeze greeting us, anticipation buzzed like static before a storm. The next morning, it was finally time to board Allure of the Seas—an engineering marvel and floating metropolis we’d long dreamed of sailing.
🚢 2. Embarkation
Embarkation at Port Everglades was smooth and well-organized. After a brief wait, we stepped aboard and entered a world that felt part Broadway, part resort, and immensely alive.
🌅 Sailaway Trick: For one of the best (and uncrowded) sailaway views on Allure, head to the running track on Deck 5. It wraps around the ship and offers a low, peaceful vantage point close to the waterline.
Our stateroom—Cabin 11233, an inside Central Park balcony cabin—opened onto a lush, open-air atrium filled with live greenery, birdsong, and café music. While we didn’t have an ocean view, we traded that for the novelty of a shaded garden scene, complete with winding paths and twinkling lights below.
🗓️ 3. Cruise Itinerary: Daily Logs
Sunday, September 7 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
📍 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Flordia
🕒 Departure: 5:00 PM
⏳ Time Spent: Embarkation Day
We boarded early, dropped our carry-ons in the cabin, and headed straight to lunch. The ship’s design demanded attention—Central Park with its open sky above and Boardwalk with its carousel and Aqua Theater felt like different worlds connected by a steel spine. By Sailaway, we were on deck, fruity drink in hand, watching the Florida coastline fade as the ship’s horn gave its signature goodbye. Vacation had officially begun.
Monday, September 8 – At Sea
📍 Location: At Sea (Atlantic Ocean)
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
This first sea day was made for discovery. We explored the adults-only Solarium, peeked into the ice rink and theater, and watched families try their balance on the FlowRider. Central Park became our go-to retreat—peaceful and green, especially when paired with a quiet coffee or a good book. With no agenda, we let the day unfold: reading in shady corners, grazing at the buffet, and finding our rhythm on the ship.
Tuesday, September 9 – Labadee, Haiti
📍 Location: Labadee, Haiti
🕒 Arrival Time: 8:00 AM | Departure: 5:00 PM
📌 Event: Labadee Historic Walking Tour
We stepped ashore onto Royal Caribbean’s private peninsula, greeted by sun, surf, and the sounds of steel drums. First on the agenda was the Labadee Historic Walking Tour, a one-hour guided stroll through the lush, lesser-seen corners of the property.
After the tour, we reunited with family and spent the rest of the day enjoying Labadee’s beach paradise—lounging in chairs, and sipping on frozen drinks under coconut palms.
Wednesday, September 10 – Falmouth, Jamaica
📍 Location: Falmouth, Jamaica
🕒 Arrival Time: 10:30 AM | Departure: 7:00 PM
📌 Event: Independent Exploration – Port Walk & Rum Shopping
There were no tours booked for Jamaica, and that suited us just fine. We disembarked casually and wandered the vibrant port area, filled with craft stalls, music, and friendly banter.
Thursday, September 11 – At Sea
📍 📍 Location: Caribbean Sea
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
We slipped into quiet routines that made each day feel more personal. Mornings began with breakfast sandwiches from Park Café, the cozy little eatery nestled just beneath our stateroom in Central Park—a hidden gem that never felt crowded.
☕ Hidden Gem: For a quieter alternative to the Windjammer buffet, Park Café offers a more relaxed lunch experience without the lines or noise.
In the evenings, we’d return to our balcony and listen to the soft notes of a piano drifting up from below.
Friday, September 12 – Cozumel, Mexico
📍 Location: Cozumel, Mexico
🕒 Arrival Time: 8:00 AM | Departure: 7:00 PM
📌 Event: Salsa, Salsa and Margaritas
Along with our brother-in-law Brian and his wife Susan, we joined the Salsa, Salsa and Margaritas excursion held at the Hotel Cozumel & Resort. The experience began with a hands-on salsa-making class. Each pair was provided with a traditional molcajete (a stone mortar and pestle) to grind and blend fresh ingredients into authentic Mexican salsas.
Following our culinary endeavors, we delved into the rhythmic world of salsa dancing. The instructors employed a memorable method to teach us the steps, using cues like “ship side,” “shore side,” and “bar side” to help us navigate the dance floor. We departed with satisfied palates, and a newfound appreciation for salsa dancing.
Saturday, September 13 – At Sea
📍 Location: Gulf of Mexico
⏳ Time Spent: Full Day at Sea
With the cruise nearing its end, this final day at sea was all about soaking in our last moments. We walked the ship one last time, revisiting favorite spots—Central Park, the Boardwalk, the quiet Solarium. We packed, watched the sun dip behind the wake, and gave ourselves over to that bittersweet closing chapter that every cruise has.
Sunday, September 14 – Return to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
📍 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
🕒 Arrival Time: 6:15 AM
⏳ Time Spent: Disembarkation
Disembarkation was smooth, though always a little sad. With luggage in hand and a head full of memories, we stepped back onto land, grateful for a week of sunshine, laughter, and family.
🍽️ 4. Dining Experiences
We skipped the seafood and stuck to what we love: pasta, steak, and the kinds of comfort foods that taste even better after a day in the sun.
Main Dining Room dinners were a highlight—familiar, consistent, and wonderfully social. We dined with family each evening, returning to the same table where stories, inside jokes, and laughter flowed just as freely as the iced tea. The service was excellent, the setting cozy, and the food satisfying.
One evening, we tried Canaletto, the Italian specialty venue. It wasn’t upscale or intimidating—just the kind of warm, pasta-laden experience we were craving. Between the lasagna and spaghetti, we had full bellies and happy hearts.
🧃 Drinks Tip: On sea days, bartenders in the Solarium often experiment with off-menu tropical drinks. Ask for the “bartender’s favorite” and you might get something not listed but worth sipping.
🎭 5. Onboard Entertainment
While this wasn’t a themed sailing like our earlier Dancing with the Stars cruise, Allure of the Seas didn’t need a gimmick. Its production shows, live music in the atrium, and Boardwalk Aqua Theater performances kept things alive and real.
We caught a few of the big-stage performances—Broadway-level with impressive set design and choreography—and often ended our evenings in quieter ways: either sipping drinks on our balcony while the piano player performed below in Central Park, or taking strolls along the upper decks, soaking in the warm Caribbean air.
💫 6. Favorite Moment
Cozumel stands out—not just because of the dancing and margaritas, but because of who we were with. Sharing the Salsa, Salsa and Margaritas excursion with Brian and Susan brought out laughter and fun we hadn’t shared together in years. The setting, the silliness, and the shared experience made it one of those rare, perfect cruise moments that still makes us smile whenever we think back.
📋 7. Cruise Details
📍 Embarkation Port: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
🗺 Itinerary: Western Caribbean – Labadee, Falmouth, Cozumel
🚢 Cruise Line & Ship: Royal Caribbean – Allure of the Seas
📆 Sailing Date: September 7–14, 2014
⏳ Duration: 7 Nights
Cruise Itinerary Disclaimer:
Cruise itineraries shared on OceansAfoot are independently written and based on personal sailings. OceansAfoot is not affiliated with any cruise line and does not receive compensation or direction from operators referenced in these narratives.
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