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Although we had purchased the Central Park Dining Package (which included Giovanni's Table, Chops Grille and 150 Central Park), the majority of our meals would still be at Adagio (the main dining room aboard the Allure of the Seas). In the past decade or so, we've seen cruise lines building bigger ships and offering more dining choices. However, that has also meant the introduction of cover charges as well. Love it or hate it, at the very least, there is an option for those who want to pay for possibly better or more diverse food options.
On our second night aboard the Allure of the Seas, we dined at Adagio for our first formal night. We found an interesting mix of items on the menu. One of which was the Bay Scallop Gratin with garlic herb butter and olive bread stick. Essentially, they replaced the escargots with baby scallops. Hence, the flavors of the dish were very similar being buttery and rich. With the use of baby scallops, the dish was lacking in substance though. We also had the Shrimp Cocktail which was pretty typical with medium-sized shrimp which had a nice meaty snap. All of us had a bowl of Lobster Bisque which was thick and brimming with lobster essence. The bits of lobster were chewy though while the amount of sherry was minimal. Furthermore, it suffered from the dreaded "salty bisque" phenomenon. It would've been fine with half the amount of salt used.
Onto our mains, I tried the Shrimp Ravioli consisting of wilted spinach, creamy thyme and corn all in a lobster sauce. The pasta was al dente and light while the sauce was salty (much like the bisque). The bits of shrimp were good though, yet the filling was mushy and not that appealing. Next up was the Roasted Duck with black currant sauce, sweet red cabbage and golden potato croquettes. Surprisingly, the dish was constructed of an intact half duck (really filling). The meat from the thigh to the breast was moist with the natural taste of duck. Accenting the meat was the sweet currant sauce which was quite mild. We would've liked to see the croquettes a bit more crispy though.
My dad ordered the Pan-Fried Silver Corvina Fillet with saffron-infused cauliflower, fondant potatoes, tomatoes, capers, sultana grapes and pine nut relish. We found the fish to be overcooked where the flesh was mushy in a Tilapia-type manner. Moreover, there were little bones strewn throughout. On the other hand, the raisins, tomatoes and capers provided a nice balance of flavors. Both kiddies had the Chicken Strips and Fries (with some buttered veggies added to give the appearance of some healthiness). They were a bit dry on the inside and crispy on the outside. The fries were the starch-coated variety. The veggies were good though being cooked just enough.
Onto desserts, the Sky High Lemon Meringue Pie looked strangely like a lemon tart with meringue on top. In that sense, it ate like a tart with a firm crust surrounding a sweet and zippy floury filling. It was okay tasting, but I wasn't fond of the texture. My mom had the Chocolate Souffle which was eggy with a crisp-textured top. We didn't find it too sweet nor chocolatey either. The maple sauce did add some flavor though. Lastly, we had the Strawberry Cheesecake that was fairly decent. It was sweet with a lack of cheesiness while the tart strawberries helped balance the flavors. As you can probably ascertain, the food was pretty average where the duck stood out amongst all of the other dishes. We were scheduled to return to Adagio the next night to see if anything else could create a memory or not...
So on the 3rd night, we once again filed into the main dining room on cue with all of the other hungry passengers. Funny, it reminded me of a cattle call of sorts... Ironic I suppose. Anyways, it was deja vu for us as we started with the started with the Antipasti and the Eggplant Parmigiana (which was an entree on this menu) much like our meal at Giovanni's. The antipasti featured nicely grilled zucchini and ripe cantaloupe. Interestingly, the eggplant was less salty than the one at Giovanni's. It did exhibit some nice features such as tart tomatoes and plenty of cheese. Our favorite appie happened to be the Creamy Roasted Garlic Soup. It was creamy as advertised with an intense roasted garlic hit. It wasn't very salty, which allowed the natural flavor of the garlic to shine.
Heading into our mains, I ordered the Filetto di Maiale Arrosto con Salvia (slow roasted pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto and sage with Provolone potato bake, broccoli, carrots and a truffle reduction). Despite the impressive sounding title, the pork was ultimately dry and pretty bland. That was somewhat of a surprise since there was prosciutto and other flavoring elements including a curiously ineffective truffle reduction. My mom went for the Garlic Tiger Shrimp which were very much like scampi. They were garlicky with a meaty texture. The accompanying vegetables were still firm and vibrant. Viv decided on the Chicken Marsala (sauteed Chicken Scaloppine, Marsala-mushroom sauce, buttery mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables) and it pretty good. Being moist and tender, the chicken was much less flavorful than its appearance would suggest.
My dad went for the one of the dishes available every night being the Broiled Fillet of Atlantic Salmon. As expected the fish was completely overcooked and dry. On the flip side, it was seasoned nicely and accompanied by crisp veggies. We also sampled another constant on the menu which was the Aged Hand-Cut Manhattan Strip Steak. Despite being prepared medium-rare as requested, the steak was curiously dry and mealy. It was as if the moisture was missing. Hence, it was not really all that enjoyable to eat. My daughter decided to not order off the kid's menu and went for the Lasagna al Forno instead. I do believe she's related to me! It wasn't half-bad with well-constructed layers which held together after each bite. The half and half of cream and beef bolognaise sauces created a balance of sorts.
For dessert I decided to try the Dessert Sampler featuring flourless chocolate cake, vanilla cheesecake and elderberry mousse with strawberry jelly. I found the cake to be rich and chocolaty with a slight bitterness accented by a mild sweetness. The cheesecake was somewhat sweet with a smooth texture while the mousse was not too sweet exhibiting some tartness. My mom had the BBB Creme Brulee which was a complete fail. The sugar topping was non-existent and in fact, was not even torched properly. Therefore, it was just overly sweet runny Bailey's-flavored custard. This was a pathetic attempt at a creme brulee. Viv decided on the Tiramisu and had a weird jello texture. Rather than creamy marscapone, it was stiff and bland. As you can ascertain, the desserts on night 3 were terrible, period.
After dining at Chops Grille on night 4, we returned to Adagio for our 2nd formal night (aka lobster night). I started with the Royal Seafood Salad consisting of crab, shrimp and lobster on a jicama slaw and citrus drizzle. I didn't mind this as it was sweet and fresh tasting. It wasn't overdressed and I liked the crunchy elements as a textural contrast. I also had the Roasted Poblano Pepper and Corn Soup with cilantro oil drizzle. I really liked this as it was spicy and smooth with the sweet pop of corn. It was natural tasting and wasn't the victim of overseasoning. It was somewhat like a spicy version of a cream of corn (no, not like the canned version). Viv opted to try the Double Duck Consume with aged port and julienned vegetable melange. This was also quite good as it was not over-salted. It was sweet and reminded us of BBQ Duck in a consume.
Viv also had the Duck & Port Wine Terrine made with smoked duck and accompanied by prosciutto, mixed baby lettuce, shaved Anjou pear, brioche and red currant port syrup. Naturally, the terrine was "livery" with a hit of port. The color was an off-putting grey but it was smooth enough to spread on the soft brioche. Our daughter ended up ordering off the regular menu again and ended up with the Creamed Wild Mushrooms served with flaky puff pastry. This was a pretty straightforward appie that featured nicely sauteed mushrooms with a creamy and rich sauce. The puff pastry was indeed flaky and crispy. Although officially listed as an entree, the Snow Crab Salad should've been an appetizer. It was merely a few small portions of snow crab legs atop lettuce and tomatoes. We found the crab to be rather salty and somewhat spongy.
Onto the mains, we all had the Fisherman's Plate consisting of a broiled lobster tail, garlic shrimp and veggies. Despite appearing impressive, sadly, the lobster tail was overcooked and chewy. As much as the shrimp exhibited a buttery snap, they were super salty. In addition to the lobster, we tried the Three Cheese Tortellini for kicks. We found the pasta to be far too soft, but the filling was cheesy as was the marscapone sauce. The addition of mushrooms helped break up the monotony. And really for good measure, we shared an order of the Slow-Roasted Prime Rib served with potato croquettes, semi-dried Roma tomatoes, green beans and horseradish au jus. The prime rib was well-seasoned being buttery soft. It was more medium than medium-rare as requested. The sauce was meaty and had depth and only the slightest hint of horseradish.
Moving onto dessert, I decided on the Chocolate Sensation made of espresso sponge, chocolate truffle mousse, almond icing and chocolate glaze. This was decent with a silky texture and not incredibly sweet. I didn't get a huge hit of espresso, but the chocolate was definitely there. My dad tried the Sugar-Free Coconut & Lychee Gateaux which was predictably light in texture and taste. I thought that the lychee could've been more pronounced though. Lastly, my mom had the Grand Marnier Souffle. As you can see from the picture, it didn't really rise and/or it settled. Whatever the case, it was fine though being soft with a sweet vanilla sauce.
We skipped night 6 in favor of 150 Central Park only to return on the last night for dinner. It was only Viv, myself and the kids as it was my parents turn at 150 Central Park. Viv started with the Chilled Pineapple and Lychee Soup. I don't know about you, but I'm not a huge fan of fruity soups because they tend to eat like a tropical drink. In this case, it was no different as it was sweet, yet refreshing. The addition of coconut made it taste like a pina colada. For myself, I had the Eggplant and Kalamata Olive Tartar with roasted red pepper hummus. I found the texture of the eggplant to be just right neither being too firm or mushy. There was a nice tartness to it while the red pepper hummus was smooth and flavourful. Both of us also had the Pan Seared Sea Scallops and Chorizo with cauliflower puree and crispy pancetta & herb crumble. Buttery soft and retaining a bite, the scallops were nicely accented by the crunchy topping and creamy puree. This was well-prepared.
Onto our mains, I opted for the Rosemary Lamb Shank with green beans, caramelized pearl onions, roasted pumpkin and Cabernet jus. This was a substantial portion where the meat was gelatinous and moist. The sauce had depth while bordering on salty. The buttery and fluffy mashed potatoes helped soak up all the jus. Viv went for the impressive-sounding Fish, Seafood and Mash, but it was really just a plate of fried seafood. Consisting of cod fillet, sea scallops, shrimp, minted peas, mashed potatoes and a remoulade, this would've been something one would find at any "seafood" joint. With that being said, the fish was flaky, albeit soggy and not crispy at all. While the shrimp was okay, we found the scallops to be overcooked and hard.
As for my daughter, she skipped the kid's meal (good girl!) and had the Roasted Turkey with apple bread dressing, cider gravy, roasted red bliss, brussel sprouts, carrots and cranberry sauce. Despite its dry appearance, the slices of turkey were relatively moist. The gravy was on point with plenty of meat flavour and essence. We also got an extra entree being the Rigatoni Pasta in a prosciutto-Chardonnay sauce topped with grated Piave cheese. The rigatoni was quite soft and not close to being al dente. As for the sauce, it was creamy and cheesy. The overall flavour profile was just plain salt as it overwhelmed everything else. I loved the crispy prosciutto on top though.
For dessert, we only had 2 starting with the Frozen Strawberry Souffle. As the description stated, it was refreshing and frozen. Naturally, it really wasn't a souffle. Rather, it was more like really cold strawberry mousse. Lastly, we shared the Key Lime Pie which was pretty good. It was tart and only semi-sweet with a nice silky texture. The crust exhibited a light crunch which contrasted well with the pie. This was a good end to an up and down overall experience at the main dining room aboard the Allure of the Seas. We could appreciate the challenges of producing so many plates of food for a ship this large, yet some of the items were just not prepared properly. With that being said, nothing was inedible and there were a few gems. Comparing to the most recent cruise before Allure, I have to say the food aboard the Oosterdam was better.
The Good:
- There is no extra charge to eat here
- The service we got was pretty attentive
The Bad:
- Inconsistent food execution
- Seating can be a bit tight
On our initial night aboard the Allure of the Seas, we went to the first specialty restaurant (Giovanni's) in our Central Park Dining Package. Buying this ahead of time online essentially meant we got 3 restaurants (Giovanni’s, Chops and Central Park 150) for the price of 2 if purchased separately. However, our kids had to pay full price even if they ate off the children's menu (boo!). Giovanni’s emphasizes a family-style theme and it showed with its large sharing dishes.
With that in mind, we started with the Capesante al Forno (oven-baked, almond crusted scallops with red pepper pesto) which were quite good. Nicely presented on a half-shell and buttery-soft, the scallops were just barely cooked. They were naturally sweet with a mild flavour from the pesto. We didn’t detect any red pepper, but then again, the sauce did not interfere with the delicateness of the scallops. Next up was the Mozzarella in Carrozza alla Giovanni (warm mozzarella and prosciutto bake on crispy ciabatta with mixed greens and Dijon mustard drizzle). Although a bit large in size and filling, the bouncy mozzarella was flavoured nicely by the freshly shaved prosciutto. This was a good, if not unremarkable appetizer.
A visit to an Italian restaurant is not complete without an Antipasti per Due constructed of salami, freshly-sliced prosciutto, anchovies, olives, artichokes, peppers, zucchini and Gambonzola cheese. Most things were pretty typical except for the remarkably not salty olives. That meant Viv actually ate some of them (as she hates salty olives). We also had the Carpaccio di Manzo made of thinly sliced tenderloin, crispy lettuce, shaved fennel, julienned sundried tomatoes, crispy garlic chips and herb oil drizzle. I liked the melt-in-my-mouth beef as well as the complimentary ingredients which provided texture and acidity, however, I felt there should’ve been more salt.
Moving along, we had the Melanzane alla Parmigiana (baked eggplant). Although the eggplant was tender and caressed with tomato sauce and cheese, there was a lack of acidity and an overabundance of salt. We did like that the dish wasn't overly greasy though. On the topic of too much salt, the Cioppino con Pesce Misto (fennel-scented tomato-seafood stew) was exactly that. Too bad really since the fish, calamari and shrimp were cooked just right. The thick broth (served table side) would’ve been fine with half the sodium since it had a nice sweet fennel flavour. My dad had to pick out the seafood to avoid eating all that salt.
As part of this alla famiglia style of dining, we shared 2 pastas next. The Pappardelle alla Crema di Radicchio e Panchetta (pappardelle pasta in radicchio cream and pancetta) was the better of the 2 consisting of al dente pasta with a minimal amount of sauce. It was flavourful, tomatoey and meaty, yet suffered the same fate as the cioppino being really salty. We weren't really all that impressed with the Ravioli di Polpa di Granchio (Maryland crab ravioli with sweet corn and crab meat sauce) as the pasta was far too dense and doughy. Furthermore, the crab filling was totally lost, having no impact on the dish whatsoever.
Onto the entrees, I had the Ossobuco alla Piemontese (veal ossobuco au jus with tomatoes, mushrooms, cheese polenta and sautéed green beans). I guess I was hungry as I forgot to take a picture of it! Anyways, I thought this was done quite well being moist and tender. The sauce had depth but was once again salty. Fortunately, the tomatoes helped with some acidity. Despite being cheesy, I found the polenta to be overly stiff. Unfortunately, Viv had the Fagottini di Vitella Ripieni al Funghi Porcini (veal tenderloin stuffed with porcini mushrooms, provolone cheese and ham) which was plain terrible. The meat was so dry and hard, it was barely chewable. Furthermore, the sauce was consistent with everything else being laced with salt. She was only able to have a couple of bites. My mom ended up with the Gamberoni al Forno (baked jumbo shrimp) which were somewhat like scampi. However, they were bland and overcooked.
For dessert, they wheeled out a cart with all of the available options. We first started with the Tiramisu which was served table side. It was sweet with a pleasing soft texture, but there was not enough of a coffee hit. Next was the Cannoli filled with a creamy ricotta, chocolate and rum. The exterior was flaky and light while the filling was light and had a significant hit of rum. Lastly, we had a couple of Custards which were too sweet and completely forgettable. Considering that Giovanni's is a specialty restaurant with a cover charge, we felt the food as a whole was not really worth it. Sure, a few dishes stood out, but not enough to warrant a departure from the main dining room.
The Good:
- Something different from the main dining room
- Intimate setting
- More focused service
The Bad:
- Doesn't warrant spending a cover charge
- Salty
Going way back and I mean waaaaay back, our first ever cruise was aboard Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas in 1997. Viv and I were just young pups. Little did we know that it would be the start of many more cruises, albeit with other cruise lines. Despite our satisfaction with that trip, we never sailed with RCCL again. Shortly after our Alaskan cruise last year on Holland America's Oosterdam, we made preliminary plans to do the Western Caribbean aboard RCCL's Allure of the Seas.
Fast forward to Summer 2013 and not only were we booked for that cruise, we had tacked on 2 more weeks of fun including Orlando and Miami. Along the way, we picked up my parents in Ft. Lauderdale as they were joining us for the cruise. So what brought us back to RCCL? How about boosting the largest cruise ship in the world in sister ships Allure and Oasis. Able to accommodate 5400 guests (6296 max) and 2384 crew, the Allure and Oasis are in a league of their own. With a dedicated terminal at Port Everglades, the embarkation was a breeze as we sailed (sorry for the pun) through the check-in and made our way upstairs to the waiting area. By virtue of being past customers, we were placed in the gold lineup and boarded earlier than the regular lineup. On board, we headed up to the Windjammer Buffet for some lunch before exploring the ship (more on that later). Our room was an outside cabin with porthole. We would've preferred a balcony, but it was just a bit too pricey. Much like many regular staterooms on cruise ships, this one was limited in space (especially with the 2 kiddies with us). The washroom featured a shower stall with a rounded door which meant there was a bit more space. However, the shampoo dispenser was poorly positioned as it could be knocked off with an errant elbow.
On the other hand, our room was not the main draw here as the public spaces were awesome. Outside on deck 6 was the Boardwalk where we found a carousel, Johnny Rockets, Rita's Cantina, Ice Cream Parlour, candy shop, Boardwalk Dog House and Boardwalk Donut Shop. Oh yeah, there was Zoltar too. On the level below mid ship was the Royal Promenade that could easily be mistakened for an actual shopping mall complete with Starbucks and Guess. You'll find guest services, the photo gallery and various lounges and bars. The food options here included Sorrento's (pizza) and Cafe Promenade (little treats and sandwiches). Finally, a neat little bar in front of Cafe Promenade called Rising Tides acted like an elevator moving up and down from deck 5 to deck 8 (Central Park). In its wake, it left behind a water fountain. And about that Central Park (where Giovanni's, Park Cafe, 150 Central Park and Chops Grille are located)... whoever had the gall to design a cruise ship with an actual park on board could be considered a genius or nuts. For me, I loved it as I could literally sit there and actually forget I was aboard a ship. Yes, the trees and plants were real.
In addition to these marquee neighborhoods, there was the usual RCCL rock climbing wall, zip line, wave rider, mini-golf and ice rink. For some of the activities, a waiver needed to be signed first, which we did online to save time. Complimenting the other pools on board, there was a kiddie section which featured a spray park, river and shallower pool. Adjacent to that was complimentary frozen yogurt. On the same level was the Wipeout Cafe which offered up fast food consisting of hamburgers and hot dogs. Due to the sheer amount of passengers on the ship, the main dining room (Adagio) consisted of 3 floors rather than the usual 2 on most cruise ships. It was tastefully appointed featuring a large chandelier overlooking a grand piano and floor-to-ceiling mural. As for the actual food, it was hit and miss (more on that in separate post). And if you got lost on the ship or didn't know what was going on, there were information screens everywhere.
Now onto the food... As per the usual cruise ship embarkation ritual, we headed up to the Windjammer Buffet for lunch. Typically, the buffet food found on most mainstream cruise ships tries to appease a variety of tastes. Hence, don't expect to find gourmet dining nor much in the way of overly creative offerings. They did try though as there was a variety of Asian dishes including Vegetable Curry, Lamb Curry, Dhal, Beef & Shrimp Rice and Nasi Goreng. In addition, there was Seafood Paella, Grilled Wahoo, Mushroom & Pork Ragout, Creamy Pasta, Honey Stung Chicken, Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and a selection of salads and soups. Of course, the usual suspects including Hot Dogs, Hamburgers and Fish & Chips were there as well. Nothing much to rave about, but it served to fill our tummies while we waited for our rooms to be ready.
Despite the fact we would be dining every 4 hours or so, we would grab food in between meals at several places. Located on the Boardwalk, the Dog House offered up different varieties of specialty dogs such as the German, Smoke House, Big Apple, Wunderdog, Warsaw, Sicilian and Coney Island. I tried a few and although they were pretty average, I give them props for not merely serving plain hot dogs. The one pictured was the Big Apple made of a chicken sausage with bits of apple in a Parmesan cheddar baguette. Directly across was Boardwalk Donuts which featured 6 different donuts. I think the kids ate at least one every day. The donuts in the picture (from left to right) included Key Lime, Chocolate Glazed and Strawberry with Sprinkles. Although the donuts were dry and too sweet, the kids didn't seem to mind.
For us, one of the best no charge alternative dining spots was Park Cafe in Central Park. Mainly a lunch spot, it offers up made-to-order salads, soups, freshly-made paninis and the popular roast beef sandwich. We actually visited the place 2 times to avoid the mad rush for food at the Windjammer buffet. On our initial visit, we had tried out both of their soups including the Creamy Vegetable and Onion. The vegetable was indeed creamy with soft bits of carrots. Although it was well-seasoned, we could still pick out the natural sweetness. The same couldn't be said about the onion soup as it was salty and artificial tasting.
Viv tried out their made-to-order salads. I personally like this idea as the ingredients aren't all messed up by everyone poking at them. There was actually a good selection of ingredients and available dressings. This was a nice light alternative to the heavy offerings at the buffet and main dining room. Okay drum roll... Yes, we had the much talked about Roast Beef Sandwich. Well, it wasn't life-altering, but I'll concede that it was good. The slices of roast beef were really moist and tender while the jus-soaked salted roll was a good choice of bread. Lastly, we sampled the Cuban Panini. Predictably, it was as close to a real Cubano as a Miley Cyrus performance is to being classy. Whatever the case, it was grilled-to-order and served its purpose (as edible food).
Located down below in the Royal Promenade on deck 5, Cafe Promenade offered up free coffee, milk and ice water to go along with their little bites. Often, there was a selection of mini sandwiches, pastries and cookies. For those who are watching their sugar, there was always sugar-free cookies available. Since it was open 24 hours, it was a good place for us to grab a quite snack. In addition to their daily donuts, the kiddies had their fill of cookies as well. I had to remind them that when we got home, there would be no display case of endless cookies nor cabinets in the wall with trays of donuts... We also visited Sorrento's a few times for pizza, but it was pretty typical slice pizza and it didn't photograph well either (hence no picture!).
Near the sports deck, the Wipeout Cafe offered quick eats in the form of hot dogs, hamburgers, salad and fries. Flavoured water was available at no charge here, but depending on who filled it, it could range from flavorful to tasteless. Also available at an extra charge was Johnny Rocket's. We didn't eat here since paying for burgers was not really necessary due to the other better eating options aboard. However, breakfast was free and we took advantage of that on the day we arrived at Cozumel. It was less busy than the Windjammer buffet. Nothing ground-breaking here as the breakfast items were pretty typical. Of note, the food took forever to arrive. So if you are in a rush, I would skip it.
For those who are more health conscious, the Solarium served up healthier options in a buffet setting. It featured items such as turkey bacon, sauteed veggies, yogurt and granola. I tried it once and it wasn't bad. I particularly liked the venue as it was relaxing and full of light. At night, the space becomes Samba Grill offering a Brazilian BBQ experience. Restaurants that we didn't visit included Izumi (cover charge + a la carte pricing), Rita's Cantina (Mexican), Vitality Spa (smoothies) and the Chef's Table (exclusive tasting menu). As you can clearly see, you won't run out of options in terms of dining on the Allure of the Seas. That goes the same for the activities too. We had a blast and would gladly go again.
The Good:
- Enough dining choices for everyone
- Lots of activities and shows
- Amazingly fast embarkation
The Bad:
- Can get crowded at times
- Main dining room food pretty average
- Disembarkation was a nightmare (mostly due to US Customs)
Helpful Tips:
- Make sure you use the online check-in on rccl.com
- Fill out all of your waivers for activities online prior to boarding
- Make all of your dining and show reservations online before the cruise
- Book shore excursions online (but you can do your own as well)
- Dining and beverage packages are slightly discounted over single bookings
- Put all your important items in your carry on, not your checked-in luggage
- If you want to have lunch on the first day, arrive at 11:00am at the pier
- Once on board, either head straight up to the Windjammer Buffet or Park Cafe for lunch, however, the Windjammer is usually packed
- Ice and hot water is available 24 hours a day at Cafe Promenade
- Donuts are only available until 11:00am
- Arrive at least 1/2 hour before any shows for decent seating (or even earlier)
- If you want your photos taken and not wait forever, arrive at any of the photo stations 1/2 hour before they start (usually at 5:30pm)
- Lobster is served in the main dining room on the 2nd formal night
- Do the zip line, flowrider and rock climbing wall earlier on the cruise
- Pack some lanyards for your cruise cards
- If you have kids, get them signed up for the Adventure Ocean program
- You can sign out towels for beach days up on the pool deck
- On Labadee, there are many buffet stations, you don't need to eat at the first one near the dock, it's very busy
- In Jamaica, there is not much to do at Falmouth, so either book an excursion or get a taxi/tour to Montego Bay or somewhere else
- There is no extra charge to ride the carousel, so ride it to your heart's content
- Don't wait until the last day to inquire about anything including charges at guest services, the line is loooooong...
- For you trivia buffs, the cruise trivia is progressive, so if you miss the first one, you're out of luck
- Bring 2-way radios if you intend to split up with your party on the ship
- Make sure you plan out your day to maximize your time, there is so much to do and eat
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Although we had purchased the Central Park Dining Package (which included Giovanni's Table, Chops Grille and 150 Central Park), the majority of our meals would still be at Adagio (the main dining room aboard the Allure of the Seas). In the past decade or so, we've seen cruise lines building bigger ships and offering more dining choices. However, that has also meant the introduction of cover charges as well. Love it or hate it, at the very least, there is an option for those who want to pay for possibly better or more diverse food options.
On our second night aboard the Allure of the Seas, we dined at Adagio for our first formal night. We found an interesting mix of items on the menu. One of which was the Bay Scallop Gratin with garlic herb butter and olive bread stick. Essentially, they replaced the escargots with baby scallops. Hence, the flavors of the dish were very similar being buttery and rich. With the use of baby scallops, the dish was lacking in substance though. We also had the Shrimp Cocktail which was pretty typical with medium-sized shrimp which had a nice meaty snap. All of us had a bowl of Lobster Bisque which was thick and brimming with lobster essence. The bits of lobster were chewy though while the amount of sherry was minimal. Furthermore, it suffered from the dreaded "salty bisque" phenomenon. It would've been fine with half the amount of salt used.
Onto our mains, I tried the Shrimp Ravioli consisting of wilted spinach, creamy thyme and corn all in a lobster sauce. The pasta was al dente and light while the sauce was salty (much like the bisque). The bits of shrimp were good though, yet the filling was mushy and not that appealing. Next up was the Roasted Duck with black currant sauce, sweet red cabbage and golden potato croquettes. Surprisingly, the dish was constructed of an intact half duck (really filling). The meat from the thigh to the breast was moist with the natural taste of duck. Accenting the meat was the sweet currant sauce which was quite mild. We would've liked to see the croquettes a bit more crispy though.
My dad ordered the Pan-Fried Silver Corvina Fillet with saffron-infused cauliflower, fondant potatoes, tomatoes, capers, sultana grapes and pine nut relish. We found the fish to be overcooked where the flesh was mushy in a Tilapia-type manner. Moreover, there were little bones strewn throughout. On the other hand, the raisins, tomatoes and capers provided a nice balance of flavors. Both kiddies had the Chicken Strips and Fries (with some buttered veggies added to give the appearance of some healthiness). They were a bit dry on the inside and crispy on the outside. The fries were the starch-coated variety. The veggies were good though being cooked just enough.
Onto desserts, the Sky High Lemon Meringue Pie looked strangely like a lemon tart with meringue on top. In that sense, it ate like a tart with a firm crust surrounding a sweet and zippy floury filling. It was okay tasting, but I wasn't fond of the texture. My mom had the Chocolate Souffle which was eggy with a crisp-textured top. We didn't find it too sweet nor chocolatey either. The maple sauce did add some flavor though. Lastly, we had the Strawberry Cheesecake that was fairly decent. It was sweet with a lack of cheesiness while the tart strawberries helped balance the flavors. As you can probably ascertain, the food was pretty average where the duck stood out amongst all of the other dishes. We were scheduled to return to Adagio the next night to see if anything else could create a memory or not...
So on the 3rd night, we once again filed into the main dining room on cue with all of the other hungry passengers. Funny, it reminded me of a cattle call of sorts... Ironic I suppose. Anyways, it was deja vu for us as we started with the started with the Antipasti and the Eggplant Parmigiana (which was an entree on this menu) much like our meal at Giovanni's. The antipasti featured nicely grilled zucchini and ripe cantaloupe. Interestingly, the eggplant was less salty than the one at Giovanni's. It did exhibit some nice features such as tart tomatoes and plenty of cheese. Our favorite appie happened to be the Creamy Roasted Garlic Soup. It was creamy as advertised with an intense roasted garlic hit. It wasn't very salty, which allowed the natural flavor of the garlic to shine.
Heading into our mains, I ordered the Filetto di Maiale Arrosto con Salvia (slow roasted pork tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto and sage with Provolone potato bake, broccoli, carrots and a truffle reduction). Despite the impressive sounding title, the pork was ultimately dry and pretty bland. That was somewhat of a surprise since there was prosciutto and other flavoring elements including a curiously ineffective truffle reduction. My mom went for the Garlic Tiger Shrimp which were very much like scampi. They were garlicky with a meaty texture. The accompanying vegetables were still firm and vibrant. Viv decided on the Chicken Marsala (sauteed Chicken Scaloppine, Marsala-mushroom sauce, buttery mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables) and it pretty good. Being moist and tender, the chicken was much less flavorful than its appearance would suggest.
My dad went for the one of the dishes available every night being the Broiled Fillet of Atlantic Salmon. As expected the fish was completely overcooked and dry. On the flip side, it was seasoned nicely and accompanied by crisp veggies. We also sampled another constant on the menu which was the Aged Hand-Cut Manhattan Strip Steak. Despite being prepared medium-rare as requested, the steak was curiously dry and mealy. It was as if the moisture was missing. Hence, it was not really all that enjoyable to eat. My daughter decided to not order off the kid's menu and went for the Lasagna al Forno instead. I do believe she's related to me! It wasn't half-bad with well-constructed layers which held together after each bite. The half and half of cream and beef bolognaise sauces created a balance of sorts.
For dessert I decided to try the Dessert Sampler featuring flourless chocolate cake, vanilla cheesecake and elderberry mousse with strawberry jelly. I found the cake to be rich and chocolaty with a slight bitterness accented by a mild sweetness. The cheesecake was somewhat sweet with a smooth texture while the mousse was not too sweet exhibiting some tartness. My mom had the BBB Creme Brulee which was a complete fail. The sugar topping was non-existent and in fact, was not even torched properly. Therefore, it was just overly sweet runny Bailey's-flavored custard. This was a pathetic attempt at a creme brulee. Viv decided on the Tiramisu and had a weird jello texture. Rather than creamy marscapone, it was stiff and bland. As you can ascertain, the desserts on night 3 were terrible, period.
After dining at Chops Grille on night 4, we returned to Adagio for our 2nd formal night (aka lobster night). I started with the Royal Seafood Salad consisting of crab, shrimp and lobster on a jicama slaw and citrus drizzle. I didn't mind this as it was sweet and fresh tasting. It wasn't overdressed and I liked the crunchy elements as a textural contrast. I also had the Roasted Poblano Pepper and Corn Soup with cilantro oil drizzle. I really liked this as it was spicy and smooth with the sweet pop of corn. It was natural tasting and wasn't the victim of overseasoning. It was somewhat like a spicy version of a cream of corn (no, not like the canned version). Viv opted to try the Double Duck Consume with aged port and julienned vegetable melange. This was also quite good as it was not over-salted. It was sweet and reminded us of BBQ Duck in a consume.
Viv also had the Duck & Port Wine Terrine made with smoked duck and accompanied by prosciutto, mixed baby lettuce, shaved Anjou pear, brioche and red currant port syrup. Naturally, the terrine was "livery" with a hit of port. The color was an off-putting grey but it was smooth enough to spread on the soft brioche. Our daughter ended up ordering off the regular menu again and ended up with the Creamed Wild Mushrooms served with flaky puff pastry. This was a pretty straightforward appie that featured nicely sauteed mushrooms with a creamy and rich sauce. The puff pastry was indeed flaky and crispy. Although officially listed as an entree, the Snow Crab Salad should've been an appetizer. It was merely a few small portions of snow crab legs atop lettuce and tomatoes. We found the crab to be rather salty and somewhat spongy.
Onto the mains, we all had the Fisherman's Plate consisting of a broiled lobster tail, garlic shrimp and veggies. Despite appearing impressive, sadly, the lobster tail was overcooked and chewy. As much as the shrimp exhibited a buttery snap, they were super salty. In addition to the lobster, we tried the Three Cheese Tortellini for kicks. We found the pasta to be far too soft, but the filling was cheesy as was the marscapone sauce. The addition of mushrooms helped break up the monotony. And really for good measure, we shared an order of the Slow-Roasted Prime Rib served with potato croquettes, semi-dried Roma tomatoes, green beans and horseradish au jus. The prime rib was well-seasoned being buttery soft. It was more medium than medium-rare as requested. The sauce was meaty and had depth and only the slightest hint of horseradish.
Moving onto dessert, I decided on the Chocolate Sensation made of espresso sponge, chocolate truffle mousse, almond icing and chocolate glaze. This was decent with a silky texture and not incredibly sweet. I didn't get a huge hit of espresso, but the chocolate was definitely there. My dad tried the Sugar-Free Coconut & Lychee Gateaux which was predictably light in texture and taste. I thought that the lychee could've been more pronounced though. Lastly, my mom had the Grand Marnier Souffle. As you can see from the picture, it didn't really rise and/or it settled. Whatever the case, it was fine though being soft with a sweet vanilla sauce.
We skipped night 6 in favor of 150 Central Park only to return on the last night for dinner. It was only Viv, myself and the kids as it was my parents turn at 150 Central Park. Viv started with the Chilled Pineapple and Lychee Soup. I don't know about you, but I'm not a huge fan of fruity soups because they tend to eat like a tropical drink. In this case, it was no different as it was sweet, yet refreshing. The addition of coconut made it taste like a pina colada. For myself, I had the Eggplant and Kalamata Olive Tartar with roasted red pepper hummus. I found the texture of the eggplant to be just right neither being too firm or mushy. There was a nice tartness to it while the red pepper hummus was smooth and flavourful. Both of us also had the Pan Seared Sea Scallops and Chorizo with cauliflower puree and crispy pancetta & herb crumble. Buttery soft and retaining a bite, the scallops were nicely accented by the crunchy topping and creamy puree. This was well-prepared.
Onto our mains, I opted for the Rosemary Lamb Shank with green beans, caramelized pearl onions, roasted pumpkin and Cabernet jus. This was a substantial portion where the meat was gelatinous and moist. The sauce had depth while bordering on salty. The buttery and fluffy mashed potatoes helped soak up all the jus. Viv went for the impressive-sounding Fish, Seafood and Mash, but it was really just a plate of fried seafood. Consisting of cod fillet, sea scallops, shrimp, minted peas, mashed potatoes and a remoulade, this would've been something one would find at any "seafood" joint. With that being said, the fish was flaky, albeit soggy and not crispy at all. While the shrimp was okay, we found the scallops to be overcooked and hard.
As for my daughter, she skipped the kid's meal (good girl!) and had the Roasted Turkey with apple bread dressing, cider gravy, roasted red bliss, brussel sprouts, carrots and cranberry sauce. Despite its dry appearance, the slices of turkey were relatively moist. The gravy was on point with plenty of meat flavour and essence. We also got an extra entree being the Rigatoni Pasta in a prosciutto-Chardonnay sauce topped with grated Piave cheese. The rigatoni was quite soft and not close to being al dente. As for the sauce, it was creamy and cheesy. The overall flavour profile was just plain salt as it overwhelmed everything else. I loved the crispy prosciutto on top though.
For dessert, we only had 2 starting with the Frozen Strawberry Souffle. As the description stated, it was refreshing and frozen. Naturally, it really wasn't a souffle. Rather, it was more like really cold strawberry mousse. Lastly, we shared the Key Lime Pie which was pretty good. It was tart and only semi-sweet with a nice silky texture. The crust exhibited a light crunch which contrasted well with the pie. This was a good end to an up and down overall experience at the main dining room aboard the Allure of the Seas. We could appreciate the challenges of producing so many plates of food for a ship this large, yet some of the items were just not prepared properly. With that being said, nothing was inedible and there were a few gems. Comparing to the most recent cruise before Allure, I have to say the food aboard the Oosterdam was better.
