I very seldom hand over the reigns to my blog, but when my 4-year-old son Ryder requested to guest blog on my site, I just couldn’t resist. Long time readers will remember the last time he did so – over two years ago – with his piece, “Big Brother Blues“. This time, the subject matter is much more cheery: our recent adventure with Fisher-Price aboard the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas.
Of course, he may have employed a ghost writer to help just a little – but I promise, the opinions are all his own. And fair warning – it’s a lengthy, detailed account of his entire time on the cruise ship – but if you’re looking to take a family vacation in the near future, you really should read what he has to say. Grab a cup of coffee, sit back and see how Royal Caribbean makes family travel a breeze. Take it away Ryder!
Hello Readers! It’s Ryder again, Lena’s boy. Two weeks ago, my mom – along with her fellow #FisherPriceMoms – took our family on a great big cruise ship. In fact, it was the biggest cruise ship in the entire world! At first I was scared because it meant leaving home for one full week, and then I was sad because I realized that I had to miss school (which I’ve recently come to love). But when we walked onto the ship, it was like I was entering another world. My Mommy kept using the word “majestic” over and over, and my Daddy said “freaking huge” a lot. To me, it was simply my sweet little dreams come to life.
Our first night there, we had a chance to meet all the other families and children who would be traveling with us. My Mommy calls these women #FisherPriceMoms, and they’re just the nicest Moms ever. And, they had a few pretty cute daughters, if you know what I mean…. but more on that later. Our first night was simply magical, because Mommy and Daddy were so at peace. Long after Reid fell asleep, I stayed awake and peeked at them through lidded lashes. They sat on the balcony, quietly talking while Mommy’s hair swayed in the breeze. I’ve never seen her so restful in the evening, and Daddy was grinning from ear to ear. I knew it would be a wonderful trip.
The next day, I woke bright and early, ready to spend the day with my family. But, Mommy had other plans. She took me to a place called “Adventure Ocean” – a place where I could spend time with other children while she attended to business. Since I’m four, I was enrolled in the Aquanauts program, where I had the chance to learn about local customs, do cool science experiments, make great new friends – or just hang out and play with toys.
I didn’t like it at all. I didn’t know why Mommy left me, and I didn’t want to play with the other kids. I wanted Reid! Where was my baby brother? I sat in the corner and cried, and stayed there until Mommy returned two hours later. Doesn’t she know that strange situations make me anxious? I was so relieved to see her. I made her promise not to send me back there again, and she promised – though I could tell she was concerned.
(Later, I heard her tell Daddy that Adventure Ocean was meant to be a wonderful place for children to have fun, so parents could enjoy their vacation too. But you know what? That works for some families, not all – because every child is different. They then decided that the best way to enjoy our first family vacation was to just spend it together. I was so relieved. Reid was asleep, as usual. The dude misses all the good stuff!)
And that’s when the trip really got good for me, because I spent a lot of time with my family, had the most amazing experiences and precious memories, and even had a chance to feel sand in between my toes. It was epic.
Later that day we had a chance to walk around the entire ship for the first time. Since I’m a car buff, I appreciated the little things – like a 1936 Mercedes Benz 540K casually parked in the middle of the Royal Promenade. In this “neighbourhood”, there were also shops, restaurants and even a Starbucks, where I would stand in line with Daddy every single morning. I don’t get it dude, it’s just coffee!
That evening, Mommy dressed us up for a “formal night”. It must have been a pretty big deal, because everyone was dressed so nicely – some men were even wearing tuxedos! Reid and I enjoyed the best chicken fingers we had ever had, and Daddy couldn’t stop raving about fwaw-graw or something like that (it didn’t look very appetizing). Now with My Time Family Dining, the kids can be served their meals first and then picked up by Adventure Ocean staff, so their parents can enjoy the rest of the dinner in peace. I gave Mommy one look that said “please-please-please don’t send me away” and we enjoyed dinner as a family for the rest of the cruise. It was fine! I don’t think she minded. Not much, anyways.
The next day, Tuesday, was simply AWESOME. We visited our first port of call, Labadee, Haiti! I had never been on a beach before and was excited to play in the sand with Reid. (He’s more of a water splasher, but I’m more of a two-feet-on-land kind of guy.) We took a ferry boat to the island and Daddy couldn’t stop marveling about the gorgeous view – but I think he was actually referring to the docked Allure of the Seas.
Mommy loved that the beach is privately owned by Royal Caribbean, so the food and water was straight off the ship and therefore safe to consume without hesitation (she worries about stuff like that). I loved the feeling of sand under my feet, the warm sun on my back, and even the little crab that came out to play! On the way back to the cruise ship, I made my Daddy promise that we could come back the next day. He just smiled… but I don’t think he answered me. Huh.
Back aboard the ship, we each had a shower and a quick nap. Naps on vacation are the best naps ever! I’ve never actually seen Mommy nap before, but even she closed her eyes for an hour or so. It was refreshing and just what we needed after a long afternoon in the sun. But we couldn’t dilly dally too long – there was a Cupcake Decorating Class at 5:00pm!
Reid and I each had the chance to decorate our very own cupcake. Reid had a lot of help from Mommy, but I did a lot of it myself. (Although I did eat the cat’s nose – I just couldn’t resist! How can anyone resist licorice?) It was a lot of fun and a great way to sneak in some creativity before dinner.
After dinner, we discovered the most AMAZING thing ever – the Allure of the Seas Boardwalk! It’s the best of Coney Island in the middle of the sea… and it even has a handmade wooden carousel! I can’t remember how many times Reid and I rode round and round… but all of a sudden it got dark outside, so we must have been there for a while.
Expecting to go back to our stateroom, Mommy and Daddy had the most wonderful surprise for us – the magnificent Oceanaria Aqua Show. It had a very Cirque du Soleil feel about it (or so I overheard) and was complete with high divers, acrobats, trampoline artists and synchronized divers and swimmers. Reid was absolutely mesmerized and I loved it too! I thought that maybe you’d like to hear more about it, so I found this for you:
“Embark on a mystical adventure under the sea as an ancient underwater civilization is revealed. You’ll admire the bravado and gracefulness of the aerialists and divers who navigate the waters with unparalleled speed and accuracy in this amazing AquaTheater extravaganza. The pool comes to life with shooting water and colorful lights that seem to dance to the music. Enjoy this beautiful choreographed fountain show on a starry night.”
The next morning, while we were supposed to dock in Falmouth, Jamaica – Hurricane Sandy interrupted our vacation plans. Of course, safety was always everyone’s main concern (especially mine – I only weigh 38 lbs! I could easily be tossed around in a tropical storm) and so we sailed on until we reached Cozumel on Friday. Having two days at sea was pretty awesome, though – it allowed us to fully appreciate all the Allure had to offer. (Wow, I sounded like Mommy for a second there.)
Our day started bright and early with a very special breakfast – a DreamWorks Madagascar Character Breakfast! In addition to the food being delicious (take a peek at the chocolate pastries below), the larger-than-life characters stopped by our tables for a hug hello. Reid was all for cuddling with them, but I was a teeny bit scared reserved. What can I say? Giant lions freak me out.
Well, since we couldn’t make the sun and sand that day – my Mommy decided to treat us to ice. An ice skating show, that is! We had a chance to see the “How to Train Your Dragon” Ice Show. With fire-breathing dragons, a spectacular light show and wonderful figure skaters (doing those loops and turns that make me dizzy) we clapped and clapped until our hands hurt. Reid was once again glued to the performance, and even I loved how the story was put to ice. Two thumbs up!
Later that afternoon, it was time for a little water play. The Allure of the Seas has four pool areas, but for the most part, we hung with our peeps – you know, the under 12 crowd. The H2O Zone is the interactive water park for kids and families, and it’s filled with geysers, sculpted fountains and waterfalls. You can also play with some cool water toys such as spray cannons and umbrella jets, or just cool off in one of the two splash pools. It’s awesome.
For dinner, Daddy decided it was time to visit one of the fancy restaurants, so we tried the Brazilian Steak House called Samba Grill. To tell you the truth, I don’t know what the heck was going on there. These men kept coming to the table and serving us course after course of barbecued meat! It was confusing, I tell you. So I asked Mommy to find an explanation:
“Samba Grill introduces a sumptuous steakhouse experience with personality and flare. Brazilian music fills the air as the Solarium Bistro transforms to a hearty authentic churrascaria. The dining experience includes a wide selection of nightly prepared soups, salads and appetizers at the buffet. The main course is the feature and includes 13 different meats carved tableside. Samba’s gaucho servers, Brazilian style cowboys, provide a unique flare at the table as guests can choose from each of the featured signature meats that are presented from the churrasco grill and carved individually for each guest.”
Um, whatever. I loved the sausages though, so I’m not going to knock it.
The next morning was an ordinary day at sea – with some extraordinary adventures for us aboard the cruise ship. First, I watched as Reid participated in a Fisher-Price Royal Tots Interactive Play Group. Designed for kids aged 18 -36 months, he pretty much played for about 45 minutes, which Mommy referred to as “learning”. All I know is that the room was filled with a bunch of Fisher-Price toys, and Reid was having a lot of fun.
Next, I made my way down to the boardwalk where I picked up a couple of my girlfriends. Don’t hate.
For lunch, we visited Giovanni’s – another one of the specialty restaurants. This one was MUCH more kid friendly than the night before, though, so I had a great time. I’m not quite sure why, but my parents literally drooled when they brought out the plate of appetizers. I dunno – all this stuff just didn’t do it for me. But the pasta was rather yummy.
After lunch, we had a very special treat: a Little People Birthday Party! Not only did we have a chance to sing, dance and celebrate – but we also got to meet some of our very favourite Little People. Hi Sonya Lee!
Later that afternoon, we had the BEST time on the Fisher-Price Power Wheels Racetrack. It’s really kind of cool – they kick the adults off the basketball court, bring out the most amazing Power Wheels automobiles, and give kids (ages 5 and under) a chance to put the pedal to the metal. Reid and I found a Jeep that seated two and we took it for a spin. It didn’t drive as smooth as my Escalade (just sayin’) but it was a lot of fun nonetheless. Bonus: each child had about 10 minutes each, which was awesome.
That evening, we once again donned our monkey suits for formal night. Daddy wanted to skip it and just have a hot dog on the boardwalk, but Mommy kept insisting that it was lobster night, and over her dead body was she missing lobster night on a cruise ship. So, we went, and I’m pretty sure it was worth it (you decide). Whatever, it’s all the same to me – and I had the chicken fingers.
The next morning, I woke up to find us docked at a strange and beautiful island – Cozumel, Mexico. We had so much fun in Cozumel. First, we enjoyed a two-hour bus tour that included stops along the coast and at historical sites. Next, we spent a few hours at Playa Mia Beach, where Mommy had two margaritas and Daddy took Reid in the ocean to swim. It was very relaxing and I’ve decided that I really like Mexico – especially the tortilla chips and salsa that we snacked on before we left.
When we arrived back at the ship, Daddy decided that he wanted to take a nap until dinner, so Reid and me watched a movie while Mommy worked in the stateroom. Mommy warned us to savour every moment because tomorrow would be our last full day on the ship, which of course made me sad.
We woke up on Saturday morning ready to cram in all the things we hadn’t yet experienced – but then Mommy decided that what we really needed was some more water fun. So off we went to the H2O Zone once again. After we dried off, we took in ImaginOcean – a spectacular black light puppet show that features the underwater adventures of three friends. I suppose Mommy should have paid more attention to the opening announcements, because we got soaked in the front row. It was so funny!
Finally, we ended the late afternoon with a round of Mini Golf. Since the course is on the 15th deck of the ship, it’s such an amazing view and makes you feel like you’re on top of the world. Of course, Reid didn’t really abide by the rules of mini golf, so we had to cut our game short. Still, it was a lot of fun.
That evening we had an early dinner and Mommy did all of the packing. We were all sad to leave the next day. As you can see, every single day held an adventure for us thanks to Royal Caribbean and Fisher-Price. Mommy would call it family travel at its best; I just call it the best vacation ever.
I am a Fisher-Price Play Ambassador and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group.
The opinions on this blog are my own.
That does look like an epic trip Ryder! I can’t believe there are so many things for children to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise. I had no idea!
Thanks RubyRed! I was floored as well, and as a cruising newbie I didn’t know what to expect. But, the kids were so busy and had so much fun!
bahaha Lena! The picture of Ryder with the Madagascar lion is too hilarious! what an amazing vacation! talk about a lifetime of wonderful memories! love all the activities aboard ship – and those are some adorable cupcakes! (the desserts they created are prett great too!). I am taking my mom on a Celebrity cruise in December. my son and husband are staying home. next time, I’ll know of a place to take the whole family!
oh, and I know it wasn’t mentioned, but I read your post on FB about the lightning fast WI-FI in the rooms. I’m going to be mad if they don’t have this. they didn’t the last time we went n 2009! xoxo
Oh I know! He was officially freaked out. Actually I have better pictures of him when he found his comfort level, but where’s the fun in posting those pictures? LOL
I am super jealous that you are leaving the kid and husband t home. Have a great time! And yeah, the WiFi was fabulous – hope you have he same experience!
We took our 15 month daughter on the oasis of the sea, the sister ship to the Allure and it was one of our best trips. our daughter probably won’t remember it but we sure will. Can’t wait to go back when the kiddies are just a tad older to enjoy all the amazing offerings this ship has!
Ah, sounds amazing! I admit I’ve already started looking into booking the Oasis for our next family adventure. I’ll have to grab all the details from you!
Great review Ryder! Looks like everyone had a great time!
We all did! Thanks Alexandra!
I have now been on 4 cruises and this one tops them all by far! We’ll have to go back and see the rest of the ship and experience the night life next time!
Amen! I’m thinking that when both boys can be in Aquanauts together, we’ll ditch them and go dancing ;)
All the photos are breathtaking and I can’t believe how busy the kids were, but they looked like they had a blast! We are a cruising family but I have never considered Royal Caribbean for a cruise, pretty much since I questioned the family friendly aspects. This is all great news for me!
Ah, you simply must change that! It was an incredibly family friendly trip and I loved that the kids were constantly entertained. Very little whining!
I adore this review and am so happy you shared it with us. I think its important to really see all the activities a cruise ship has to offer (espcially for young ones) and often times the brochures just don’t cover it or provide enough detail.
We have been looking at the Oasis of the Seas for some time now but always wondered if we would be better suited to a Disney cruise because of the kid-friendly aspects, and because my two daughters are obsessed with princesses. The only problem is that we will be travelling with my sister and her family, and they have three boys, ages 6,7, and 12. That’s why it’s great to see all the great programs for kids on Royal Caribbean. It definitely gives us another option!
It is absolutely another option. I too thought that family travel was synonymous with Disney – and don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a fabulous option – but it’s good to know that there are other ways to make the most of a family vacation too. ALL of the kids on the Allure looked like they were having a fabulous time!
Oh and the boys will love the boogie board – you’ll have to check it out!
I love this review! I loved Ryder’s first guest post 2 years ago too. The pictures are fabulous and since we have a glimpse into every single day it’s easy to plan our own vacation. This review is bookmarked, thank you!!!
Hahaha thanks for remembering his first guest post ;) You’re welcome, enjoy!
Looks like you had a great time
We did! Thanks Denise!
Looks like the entire family had a great time, and I’m so happy to see a few pictures of you too Lena! I remember your post about moms not getting in the picture and am glad to see that you’re changing that.
I definitely am :) In fact, I have quite a few pictures with the boys from this trip, but this post was all about Ryder!
What a great review! Looks like the family had a great time
Thank you! We did!
Such a fabulous way to review what was obviously an AMAZING vacation! Looks like I had better seriously consider a cruise for my family! Looks like so much fun”)
YES you should! Now that I’ve done it I just want to do it all over again. Loved every moment!
Awwww so cute! :) What a wonderful thing to have written down too, to look back on in the years to come!
STARBUCKS on a cruise ship? That is awesome! :) And I love the picture of the boys all dressed up! What a couple of stunners! :) I cannot believe everything on that ship – a carousel, an ICE RINK? It all sounds incredible… and now I am itching to cruise!
That was part of the plan, of course – I love looking back on journal entries, trip blogs, etc… memories! And yes, I had a Starbucks fix here and there, but my husband was a staple! Definitely look into it – you’ll love it!
Wow! This review should be on Royal Caribbean’s website, no joke! It is so helpful and shows us exactly how to keep the kids entertained. My boss is sailing on the Allure in January, and I’ll be sure to forward it to him. Thanks Lena!
Why thank you for the kind kudos! And hello to your boss – thanks for sending along the link!
Hi Joel! (my boss) I sent it this morning, lol!
This makes me want to go back…right away. Great post, Lena!
Thank you Riza! Trust me, I want to go back too!
This ship destroys the carnival line. I hear it’s the largest ship in the world.
It IS the largest ship in the world, you’re right!
wow, sounds like a lot of fun! so much stuff to do for everyone… kids and parents. massive ship!!
It was an epic adventure. We loved everything about it!
You’ve got to be kidding me… they have an ice rink, a carousel, a race track AND a Starbucks? Sounds too good to be true! Great pics, Lena!
Yes, yes, yes and… YES! And a lot more – I quit after 3000 words and 45 pictures, LOL
Looks like a lot of fun – my family & I have never been on a cruise before.
Then you should change that Sharlene! You’d LOVE it!
Awesome Review Ryder! Looks like you had a great time!
Thanks Katrina! He had an amazing time :)
Fantastic review! Looks like you all had an amazing time. Kudos on the pics! Also, tell your mama I think you need your own blog. You have quite the talent for this ;).
Hahaha duly noted! We had a fabulous time – was hard finding the right pics, and I’m not a very good photographer, so that means a lot!
Wow! I mean WOW! I have seen the Allure of the Seas in port in Nassau and marvelled at it’s majesty. It truly looks like an amazing adventure for the entire family. Amazing. And the fact that there’s a Starbucks on board? Even better.
Hmmm… in Nassau you would have seen her sister ship, the Oasis of the Seas, but she’s just as majestic! We had the time of our lives :)
Wow, sounds like a great trip and you guys had a blast! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Tricha! I can’t stop marveling about how seamless Fisher-Price and Royal Caribbean make it to travel with families. We loved it!
Sounds like you had a great vacation!
We did! Thank you!
Ryder, you definitely have your mother’s writing qualities – excellent post :) Looks like you had an amazing time with the family, and with the other #FisherPriceMoms! We’ve always wanted to take the boys on a cruise, and I’ll definitely keep Royal Caribbean in mind!!
Hahaha thanks Shauna :) Please do – we must do coffee and I’ll tell you all about it. I’ll give it a glowing review, and you’ll want to book right away.
My vacations are all about the food! Thanks for the pics of your dinners. Did the lobster taste as good as it looked?
You’re going to laugh, but you know what tasted even BETTER than the lobster? The shrimp! They were simply divine – juicy, spiced just right with a hit of lemon. YUMMY!
Thanks for the great review!! You’re trip sounded awesome, we’ve been looking at taking a cruise for a long time so this helped a lot. One question – my son has a peanut allergy, how safe is the food? I understand it can’t be all peanut fee, so how do they handle kids with allergies?
Marlon
That’s a very good question, Marlon! Let me find out the answer for you, and I’ll let you know the official response from Royal Caribbean.
Wow! I love this post Lena. Looks like you all had a blast on this trip. The pictures are awesome too. I can’t believe how huge this ship is – looks almost like you guys are walking into a big mall on land. I’ve never been on a cruise ship before but reading all about your great time on this majestic ship, makes me think twice about making plans for this cruise. Thanks for all the update.
You should absolutely consider cruising, Marissa, you’d LOVE it! When we were in the Royal Promenade it did kind of feel like a mall – which was AWESOME, LOL! They even have a Coach store!
Lena, what an amazing trip and thank you for all the wonderful details and pictures. I normally don’t like cruises think that are over rated but it might prove to be the best vacation ever for young families.
Thank you.
It think you’re right Vanda – after seeing how much my boys were entertained, I think it IS the best option for young families. It’s clean, safe, full of entertainment and amazing food – what more could we ask for?
trip of a lifetime! I hope they bring the dragon on ice show to land, we loved that show and it would be a fun on ice production!
Yes it would! It was a fabulous show!
LOVE the review Ryder! Looks like you & your family had an amazing time! Love the photos!
Thanks Kat! It was epic!
Wow!! WOW!!! Looks like paradise! :-) your photos are amazing :-)
Thank you. In fact I didn’t even post the “real” paradise-like photos, since this was mostly a review from Ryder’s point of view. I’ll have to do that!
It looks like everyone had the trip of their lives. Great post! I was checking out Royal Caribbean cruises all afternoon because of you – I’m blaming my missed productivity on this post!
LOL don’t blame me! They’re just so awesome, you SHOULD be checking them out! Let me know if you book!
Loving everything that I see about the Allure of the Seas! Really considering this Lena, thanks!
Lena, I’ve read your post from start to finish and I am so happy you shared all of the details with us. When you first announced the trip I found myself wondering if children as young as yours could really make the most of a cruise. The activities and pictures you posted blown me away, it looks like your kids had the best time! I have a two 3 year old twins and now I need to convince my husband that it’s the perfect time to set sail. You can bet I’ll send him the link to this review!
Amazing. It’s funny, because I kept wondering if maybe the boys were too young before we left, but after coming back, I can confirm that they are the perfect age! I’ve already looked into the Oasis next year!
Are there better times of year to go on a cruise?
I would say avoid hurricane season in the late fall, but other than that, you should be good to go!
Love the review! We are thinking about the Allure and you’ve given me a week’s worth of activity inspiration for my trip! Is it awkward that I’ve read this four times already? lol
LOL not awkward at all! In fact, it’s flattering Abigail, so thank you!
Amazing pictures (and post) Lena. I never thought of myself as a “cruiser” but with all the kid-friendly things to do on the Allure – I am changed.
The Fisher-Price toy room was our favourite area of the ship. I think I took ds there everyday!
Me too, Caroline. It was my first cruise, and you know what they say, go big or go home. And we went really, really big!
Reid still asks to go back to the Fisher-Price room :)
Such a fun read! Looks like an amazing trip! I’ve been considering Allure/Oasis – we love to cruise but wasn’t sure how it would be with our 7 year old – but now will look into it more because it looks like an AMAZING ship and trip! Thanks for sharing!
Cathy, your 7 year old will ADORE it. I traveled with a few 6-10 year olds and they had the most fun! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
I love cruising but have never done a Royal Caribbean one , looks like. Tons of fun!! Next time buddy, have mom and dad take you on a Disney Cruise, they ROCK!! :)!
Haha thanks for the tip!
Great guest post!
Thank you Mag!
You guys look like you had a blast! So jealous!
We had an absolutely amazing time, thank you Patricia!
Oh my gosh! I’ve got shivers just reading this post. Shivers in a good way!! The kind that says “I’m SO excited for you” and “What an incredible and memorable experience for you guys!” The kids must have been in heaven! What amazing experiences they’re getting. So awesome!
I really could not be more thankful for the amazing experiences the kids have received this year! It’s been wonderful!
I hope to go on a cruise someday ****sigh****
All this is on the ship????? Holy cow, I have got to go on a cruise!