When we last sailed on Allure of the Seas, we didn’t hold back. She was, in all honesty, our least favorite Royal Caribbean ship at the time—tired, outdated, and in desperate need of some TLC. We gave her a 6 out of 10 and said we wouldn’t be in a hurry to sail on her again.

But now, after a massive $100 million “amplification,” we’re back on board to see if she’s finally been brought up to the standard of Royal Caribbean’s newer mega-ships.

Here’s everything that’s changed, everything that hasn’t—and whether Allure of the Seas is finally worth booking again.

We booked this cruise ourselves and paid full price—Royal Caribbean did not know were reviewing the ship. As always, this review is based entirely on our personal experience. If you’re thinking about sailing on Allure of the Seas, you can search and book here.

🎥 Watch our video of the full experience and see exactly what’s changed onboard Allure of the Seas:

First Impressions: Familiar at First, Then a Quiet “Wow”

When we stepped back on board in Barcelona and onto the Royal Promenade, our first reaction was… not much. It looked the same—the impressive fountains were still flowing, and the Promenade was as lively as ever.

But as we explored more of the ship, subtle differences began to appear. The carpets were new. The décor felt fresher. Public spaces were cleaner and better maintained. Even the elevators now feature touchscreen controls. It wasn’t a dramatic transformation—but there was a clear shift in energy. It felt like the ship had finally been brought back to life.

This wasn’t just a tidy-up—it was a genuine facelift.

What’s New: Bars and Dining

One of our biggest criticisms before was the ship’s use of space. There were areas that felt unloved or completely lifeless. That’s definitely changed. Some of our highlights:

The Mason Jar (extra charge)

Already a favorite on other Royal ships, this Southern-inspired venue replaces the old teen club on Deck 16. Think fried chicken, cornbread, deviled eggs, and apple pie old-fashioneds. It’s quirky, cozy, and absolutely works in the space. The venue is split into a Restaurant and a large Bar. The music is a lovely touch, too.

El Loco Fresh (included)

A brand new addition offering casual Mexican fare. It’s ideal for embarkation day lunch with quiet outdoor seating. The food is… fine. It’s not the best Mexican at sea, but it’s a nice alternative to the buffet chaos.

Pesky Parrot Bar

Replacing the Champagne Bar, Pesky Parrot is bright, fun, and full of personality. The cocktails are inventive and the vibe is much more inviting. We’d love to see this added to more ships in the fleet.

Crown Lounge (Now With Windows!)

The Crown Lounge for Diamond guests has been moved to a bright, airy location with natural light and views—well, not quite ocean views, but it’s a huge improvement.

Playmakers

Sabor is gone (no complaints from us), replaced with Playmakers on the Boardwalk. This popular sports bar adds life to a space that previously felt a bit dull. It’s a great spot for casual bites and watching live sports on the big screens.

Just a heads-up: Playmakers is overlooked by the Boardwalk Balcony cabins, which could mean a bit more noise, especially in the evenings. Curious what it’s like to stay in one? Read our full review of a Boardwalk Balcony Cabin here.

New Entertainment Venues & Revamps

A few additional spaces have also seen change:

Comedy Live Lounge – Replacing the old Crown Lounge space, this is a welcome new venue—but it’s very small for a ship this size. We couldn’t get a booking.
Adventure Ocean – The kids’ area has been fully revamped and looks great.
Social298 – A new hangout space for teens, and it looks far more modern than what was there before.

But… a Few Losses Too

With one hand, Royal gives, but with the other, it takes away:

Vitality Café – One of our go-to quiet coffee spots is gone. Smoothies are now available—ironically—in Sorrento’s Pizza, and fresh juice can be found in Park Café.
Library and Card Room – Both removed to make space for more cabins. A shame, especially for longer cruises.

Outdoor Decks: Bright, Colorful & Much Improved

This is where Allure of the Seas’ $100 million makeover is most obvious. The sun decks have been completely refreshed with brand-new loungers, more hot tubs, new flooring, and upgraded poolside furniture that instantly make the ship feel more modern.

New Splashaway Bay

Brand new—and even larger than before. This expanded water play area is bright, colorful, and packed with fountains, mini slides, and splash zones. It’s a fantastic space for families and always buzzing with activity. Our nephews absolutely loved this area when they were little, and we can see why—it’s fun, safe, and a great way for kids to cool off on sea days.

Ultimate Abyss

The towering dry slide is now onboard Allure and offers a fun (and fast!) way to get from the top deck down to the Boardwalk. It’s free to ride and surprisingly not as scary as it looks.

Water Slides (replaced)

All the water slides have been fully replaced and now look brand new. The area feels fresh, exciting, and far more polished than before.

Lime & Coconut Bars

These tropical-themed bars have been added across the upper decks, and they’re a game-changer. Bright colors, fruity cocktails, and a proper resort vibe make them a favorite hangout spot on sunny sea days.

Shave Ice Bar

A new addition to the pool deck offering icy, refreshing treats—perfect for cooling off between sunbathing and swimming. Small change, big upgrade.

New Hot Tubs

Extra hot tubs have been added to the upper decks, giving guests more space to relax and soak with a view. It’s a small upgrade, but it helps ease the crowds—especially on busy sea days.

Casitas (for hire)

Available to rent for an additional (and honestly, pretty steep) cost. They offer some shade and padded seating, but with very little privacy, we didn’t really see the appeal. For us, they just don’t add enough value to justify the price.

Entertainment: Mostly a Hit

Royal Caribbean’s entertainment is usually top-notch, and Allure largely holds up:

Mamma Mia! remains a crowd-pleaser and still packs a punch.
Blades, the ice show, was visually impressive but a bit light on story.
Blue Planet, one of the original Royal Caribbean productions, felt strange and lacked direction—definitely not a favorite.
Aqua80 Too was sadly canceled due to high winds, but we’ve seen it before on Utopia of the Seas, and it’s excellent when it runs.

Other highlights included glow-in-the-dark laser tag, ice skating, and some fun game shows and live music throughout the Promenade. Dazzles, however, still felt underused and looked dated. And the Escape Room? At $55+ per person, we skipped it. Too expensive for what it is!

Dining: Standouts and Letdowns

The specialty dining additions like Mason Jar and Samba Grill are big wins. We’ll have full reviews of those venues in a future post.

Casual venues like Café Promenade and Park Café were consistent, and thankfully still offer decent snacks around the clock. But please avoid the free coffee—still awful.

The main dining room menus, however, felt uninspired. Portion sizes were fine, but quality and variety were lacking, especially when compared to specialty venues. Sadly, this seems to be a fleet-wide issue lately.

A Big Catch: More Cabins = More People

Here’s the trade-off. Royal Caribbean added over 100 new cabins during the refurb, meaning hundreds more passengers onboard. While we didn’t find it overwhelming during our sailing, areas like the Windjammer buffet were extremely busy—especially at peak times.

If you’re sailing during school holidays or peak seasons, expect longer lines and more competition for pool chairs and show reservations.

Cabins: The One Area That Wasn’t Touched

The one glaring omission in this entire upgrade? The cabins. Ours felt tired and slightly worn. It’s a shame the refurbishment didn’t extend here—especially when the public spaces now feel so modern. We’ll go into more detail in our next post all about our stateroom experience.

Allure of the Seas Cabin — *The cabins haven’t been updated—and unfortunately, they still look dated and tired.*

Final Verdict: Should You Book Allure of the Seas Now?

Yes—especially if you wrote her off before.

We boarded Allure expecting a dated, overstuffed ship. What we found instead was a vessel that’s been brought firmly into the present. The refreshed public spaces, new dining venues, and outdoor deck upgrades have gone a long way in transforming the experience.

She’s still not perfect. The cabins need attention, and the extra cabins onboard do mean busier spaces. But overall, Allure of the Seas now feels like a ship that belongs in Royal Caribbean’s modern fleet.

If you’re new to Royal Caribbean or just want to understand how Allure compares to the rest of the fleet, don’t miss our Guide to the Different Classes of Royal Caribbean Ships. It’s a helpful breakdown of what to expect across the various classes—from the smallest ships to the biggest mega-resorts at sea.

If you’re considering a Mediterranean or Caribbean cruise on Allure, she’s absolutely worth a second look. Click here to search and book Allure of the Seas cruises.

(Booking through our link helps support us at no extra cost to you—thank you!)

Allure of the Seas Review (2025): Is Royal Caribbean’s $100 Million Makeover Worth It?