Allure of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, will turn 15 later this year. For the vessel’s birthday, Royal Caribbean is giving it a shiny new coat of paint and so much more during a dry-dock refurbishment that’s costing the line more than $100 million.
When the ship debuted in 2010 as the second member of Royal Caribbean’s famed Oasis Class, it offered more than two dozen bars and restaurants, stand-alone Starbucks and Johnny Rockets locations, two FlowRider surf simulators, a carousel, a zip line, an ice skating rink, and an aft-facing AquaTheater that hosts high-dive performances.
Part of the hull of Allure of the Seas in dry dock in the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
It has always been cutting-edge, but now, with its current dry dock, it’s seeing the addition of several concepts that have proven successful on other ships in the fleet. They include a Playmakers sports bar, the Pesky Parrot and The Lime & Coconut bars, The Mason Jar Southern comfort food restaurant, The Perfect Storm waterslides and a 10-deck Ultimate Abyss dry slide, among other new amenities and face-lifts.
The ship has also been outfitted with 30 additional cabins, including two Panoramic Suites above the bridge (the ship’s control center) which offer 200-degree views of the ocean. The new accommodations will allow space for more passengers per voyage, bringing the new double-occupancy (two cruisers per cabin) passenger capacity to 5,718 people.
Preparing to visit Allure of the Seas at the shipyard. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
When Allure of the Seas emerges from dry dock, it will sail a season of Europe voyages in summer 2025, offering seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades in November 2025. From there, it will sail six- to eight-night Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean cruises.
The vessel is currently under construction at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, and TPG was invited for a tour. Here are photos of the vessel, which is slated for completion in April.
