Ft Lauderdale & The Allure of the Seas

2.27.2011/2.28.2011


We forgot to mention another good happening this trip. In Ft Lauderdale on Saturday, after lunch with Roger & Helen, we went to the Fort Lauderdale Art Museum for the Vatican Splendors show. The tickets were to have been $20.00 each, plus audio guides, but a couple rushed up to us while we were in line and gave us tickets. Their children decided not to attend, so had tickets and gave them to us.

Ok, on to the Allure of the Seas, the longest cruise ship in world. It is so big, so different and has a whole different clientele. It will be difficult to describe it in a manner that does it justice.

Embarkation on Sunday was smooth, 30 minutes from exiting the taxi to having lunch at the buffet. One hour later our stateroom was ready. Less than a half hour more for the luggage to arrive. Smooooooth!

We then wandered the ship, exploring decks from 17 down to 9, taking photos as we went. Then, at 4:30pm, we had a very short 15 minute emergency drill. It was very organized, smooth and efficient.

We met with the Maitre D to assure ourselves that they were prepared to supply low sodium lunches and dinners for John. They did not show a low sodium diet request, but had him listed as disabled. Not really the same thing but easily corrected. We were assigned to a table for six at a window with a pair of seasoned cruising couples from Florida.

After dinner Sunday, we went to a musical, Chicago, that was very well done. It ended later than our normal bedtime, but Monday was am ‘at sea’ day, so we did not need to rise early.

On short cruises, 7 days or less, the average age of the passengers is always lower because parents will keep kids from school for a week but usually not longer. This cruise has tons of kids, families and we hear many more languages spoken than normal.

The ship is designed so that it seems more like a street in Disney World than a standard cruise ship. There is a ‘Central Park’ that has great gardens. On our tour Monday morning, they told us they have 96 species of plants and they are all in planters. There are over 12,000 plants and they are in 2,400 aluminum containers so that they are easily removed or replaced without spilling dirt on the walks. Electrical cables also are routed under the planters for ease of access. They use drip irrigation, augmented by misting and extra water for trees and plants that need more. There are three horticulturalists on staff for a very small garden.

On Monday we explored the rest of the ship; one of us climbed the rock wall from the 7th floor to the 11th floor and then took a really deep nap! One of us seems to need to keep proving something!

After dinner, we went to the ice skating show, which was really terrific. Then we decided to retire early. Tomorrow we will be in Haiti!

Colleen & John