The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa provided TPG with a complimentary two-night stay so that we could get an inside look at the hotel and its amenities shortly after its renovation. The opinions expressed below are entirely those of the author and weren’t subject to review by the hotel or any external entity.

From direct gondola access to the slopes to fireside dining and apres-ski cocktails, the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa is a self-contained spot in Colorado’s popular Vail Valley that offers pretty much everything one would need for an easygoing ski vacation.

Located conveniently next to Beaver Creek Resort, which is on our list of the best ski resorts in Colorado, the property just unveiled a major renovation that has left it with extra-comfy beds and refreshed, mountain-inspired decor. While the customer service can be laidback at times, most features of the hotel live up to the steep price tag.

Here’s what I experienced during my recent stay at the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, which is part of Marriott Bonvoy.

Related: 17 of our favorite ski-friendly resort hotels you can book using reward points

Getting there

The Westin Riverfront is located in Avon, Colorado, next door to Beaver Creek Resort and a 15-minute drive to the slopes at Vail.

You can fly into Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) and drive about half an hour to the Westin, with ride-hailing services starting around $50 each way. If you fly into Denver International Airport (DEN), the drive will take at least 2 hours and 15 minutes — often significantly longer if you hit traffic (in which case, you may want to spend a night at one of our favorite hotels in Denver).

If you drive to this hotel, be aware that they charge $45 per night for either self or valet parking. This isn’t well advertised on the hotel website, and you’ll need to factor it into your ski trip budget.

Booking details

The Westin Riverfront has 230 accommodations, which it dubs “residences,” ranging from traditional rooms to three-bedroom condos.

On peak ski weekends, prices start around $900 or 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for rooms and studio suites. If you book with cash, the hotel offers a 20% discount for stays of five or more nights during ski season.

Since you can top up Marriott free night award certificates from cobranded credit cards with up to 15,000 Bonvoy points, you could use an 85,000-point certificate plus 15,000 points to book a night here. But remember that you’ll still have to pay the $45-per-night resort fee on award stays.

If you visit during off-peak dates in the spring and fall (prime time for activities like hiking, biking and rafting in the Vail Valley), rates start around $290 or 61,000 points per night.

I stayed in a one-bedroom suite with a balcony and fireplace, which cost $1,364 or 198,000 points per night on my February weekend dates. That comes out to a value of 0.69 cents per Marriott point — right on par with the averages we’ve been seeing since Marriott’s recent devaluation.

You can maximize your points at the Westin Riverfront by booking your stay with a Marriott credit card. Or, if you’d rather earn transferable points and hold The Platinum Card® from American Express, you can book the Westin Riverfront via Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts and take advantage of elitelike perks. You can also book with points or cash through Chase Travel℠   and Capital One Travel.

When booking this Westin, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for Marriott stays, as well as one that possibly offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Platinum Elite status and 25 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Gold Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, automatic Silver Elite status and 15 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program; automatic Silver Elite status; and 5 elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: The best ski resorts in the US for your next trip to the slopes

Standout features

• Very comfortable beds and spa-quality robes in every room.
• Amenities include a well-outfitted fitness center, mountain-view hot tubs, live music on-site and a hot cocoa bar in the lobby.
• Wide-ranging menus and nice service at the in-house restaurant, plus fun tableside service for some menu items.
• Kitchens, connecting rooms and plenty of storage make this hotel a great choice for large groups and extended families. (You can even bring your dog.)
• Convenient location for skiing the nearby Beaver Creek and Vail resorts, plus ski-friendly services like an in-house gear rental service and ski valet.

Drawbacks

• Prices are high during peak ski season, both in points and cash. Between costs like resort fees and parking (even the in-room safes require an extra fee) and add-ons like dining and spa treatments, costs can add up fast.
• If you have dietary restrictions or picky eaters in your group, dining at the hotel isn’t worth the high price.
• The location is convenient for skiing but less so for exploring the Beaver Creek and Vail villages. If you want to spend most of your time wandering the towns’ dining and shopping scenes, you’re better off staying elsewhere.
• The check-in and parking processes can be chaotic, and the front-desk staff weren’t always informed about things like fees and public transportation.
• There are very few accessibility features for visually impaired guests.

The vibe

The Westin Riverfront’s mountain-inspired style embraces what most travelers come here for: snow sports and the great outdoors.

The hotel leans into the beauty of its natural surroundings. Everywhere you turn, floor-to-ceiling windows provide views of the Rocky Mountains.

The decor reflects the outdoors through the use of neutral colors, natural materials and artwork featuring mountains and aspen trees. Fireplaces and firepits abound, providing plenty of cozy spaces to take in the views.

The hotel also highlights its sporting roots with photos of Olympic skiers who cut their teeth in the Vail area and decorative snowboards adorning the walls.

The room

Although I only stayed two nights, my one-bedroom suite had everything I would have needed for an extended sojourn: a full kitchen with breakfast bar and dining table, a washer and dryer, a workspace, plentiful storage, a pull-out sofa, a gas fireplace, a balcony with mountains views and even a humidifier in the closet.

Not all room types offer these amenities, but you can get a fireplace and kitchenette in the studio suite (which costs the same as a standard room). With the high cost of dining in ski towns, you could save a lot of money on your vacation by cooking in your accommodations. Plus, many accommodation types offer connecting rooms, excellent for friend groups or extended families.

As part of its recent renovation, the Westin Riverfront revamped each guest room with Next Generation Heavenly Beds — and mine was indeed heavenly. As someone with back problems who often struggles to get comfortable in hotel beds, I never thought I’d say this, but I loved that bed.

If you bring a furry friend (for a fee of $150 per stay), the front desk will provide them with a Heavenly Dog Bed, too.

The hotel’s renovation also included modern furniture and new Western-inspired artwork, which felt aligned with the views of the Vail Valley outside my window.

The spacious, recently remodeled bathroom included plenty of light and storage as well as Lather bath products. I availed myself of the luxurious bathrobes for nightly trips to the resort’s hot tubs.

Snow sports

As mentioned before, the Westin Riverfront is adjacent to Beaver Creek, a high-end, family-friendly ski resort near Vail.

Although the Westin Riverfront isn’t technically a ski-in, ski-out hotel, it provides a free gondola called the Riverfront Express, which takes you to a chairlift at the base of Beaver Creek’s Bachelor Gulch area in just a couple of minutes. From there, you can ski and take lifts to any other runs or dining venues in Beaver Creek.

If you’d rather start your ski day in Beaver Creek village or explore neighboring Vail, the hotel offers a free shuttle to both Beaver Creek and Vail villages. The Beaver Creek shuttle runs every 30 minutes during peak ski hours; the Vail shuttle runs every three hours or so.

To make it as convenient as possible, there’s a ski valet (free for hotel guests) and ski rental shop inside the hotel. There’s also another gear rental shop and lift ticket office at the other end of the Riverfront Express gondola.

If your vacation plans will take you beyond the ski slopes, you can borrow snowshoes, sleds and other equipment (including gear for summer activities like fly-fishing) right from the hotel.

Beaver Creek offers a good variety of terrain for all skill levels. You could stay in the McCoy Park area if you’re a newbie looking for greens, hang out on the Arrowhead side for intermediate blue terrain or head to the central area for black diamonds. There are also plenty of nice glade runs through evergreen and aspen trees for more experienced skiers.

Both Beaver Creek and Vail are on the Epic Pass. If you’re not an Epic passholder, a lift ticket will set you back $295 per day for adults, $285 for seniors age 65-plus or $204 for children between 5 and 12. Lift tickets include access to both Beaver Creek and Vail.

Related: How to ski for free by showing this airline’s boarding pass

Amenities and service

When you’re done shredding for the day, the Westin Riverfront has good offerings for relaxing and refueling.

Cozy touches like cookies, a hot cocoa bar and live music every afternoon (only during ski season) made the hotel lobby a fun place to relax for apres-ski. Plus, you can warm up at the balcony firepits overlooking the mountains or in the heated saltwater pool and three infinity hot tubs.

On the hotel’s lower level, you’ll find a spacious fitness center with additional rooms for classes like aerial yoga and cardio kickboxing ($20 per class for hotel guests).

The hotel’s Spa Anjali offers a full menu of massage, nail and facial treatments, plus a boutique with spa products and souvenirs.

There’s also 24-hour room service and a grocery shopping service. And the Riverfront Market, open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., peddles everything from toiletries and to-go meals to s’mores kits and board games.

Although the dining staff we interacted with were always on their game, the front desk staff were a little less helpful. The check-in process was confusing since the staff didn’t communicate how parking and luggage transport worked. When we stopped by the front desk later in our stay to inquire about shuttles and transportation, the lobby staff weren’t able to answer our questions, which may have just been due to post-renovation growing pains.

Food and drink

The Westin houses a few dining venues, including the lobby bar and lounge and a Starbucks. But the flagship is in-house restaurant Stoke & Rye, helmed by award-winning chef Richard Sandoval, who has appeared on “Top Chef Masters” and “Beat Bobby Flay.”

Stoke & Rye offers elevated American fare and — as you may have guessed from the name — a large whiskey selection. My husband’s entree, the cacio e pepe pasta with chicken ($45), came with a fun tableside service involving an enormous cheese wheel.

There are limited vegan options on the menu, but the kitchen was happy to prepare an off-menu couscous and vegetable dish for me ($30). I also sampled the butternut squash soup ($16), the broccolini with citrus sweet potato puree ($15), romanesco cauliflower ($16) and a flight of homemade fruit sorbets ($15).

For breakfast, Stoke & Rye typically offers both a buffet option ($25) and an a la carte menu. However, on the Sunday morning we visited, the restaurant was hosting a special jazz brunch ($45 adult, $28 child). The buffet had more options than normal, with all the usual suspects plus a seafood spread, omelet bar and live music with Vail Valley musician Kathy Morrow.

Next door, the hotel operates the aptly named Lookout Bar, a hip spot for cocktails and light bites with stupendous views. We tried the Goshawk and Lamplighter drinks ($24 each), which were delicious — and watching the cinnamon on my drink get smoked with a blowtorch was a fun touch. We also tried the spiced almonds ($10).

Overall, we agreed the Westin’s food was mostly very good, the service was exceptional and the atmosphere was lovely, though the menus were pricy. Foodies with the budget for it will likely indulge, but if you have dietary restrictions or picky kids in your party, you may prefer to eat elsewhere.

Related: Which card should I pay with when dining at a hotel?

Out and about

The surrounding town of Avon has plenty of dining and shopping options, but it’s less charming — and less walkable — than the nearby Beaver Creek ski village, which also offers other activities, like shows and concerts at the Vilar Performing Arts Center and an outdoor ice rink. Fifteen minutes down the highway, Vail village has even more to do.

Free public buses and hotel shuttles make it easy to reach the Vail and Beaver Creek villages from the Westin, though these options run less frequently after ski hours. Be sure to grab a transportation brochure from the front desk and check the schedule before planning your evening activities — otherwise, you may find yourself stuck and in need of a ride-hailing service. You could also opt to drive yourself; just be prepared to pay for parking.

Related: Haven’t booked your ski trip yet? Here are the best places to find snow right now

Accessibility

When I searched hotel availability and opened the Room Details section for each room type, most stated, “This room type does not offer mobility accessible rooms,” or “This room type does not offer hearing accessible rooms.” However, when I contacted the hotel, I was told they offer the following accessibility features at the property:

• Accessible on-site parking
• Elevators
• Self-operating lift or sloped entry in swimming pools
• Service animals are welcome
• Accessible vanities
• Roll-in showers and adjustable-height shower wands
• Bathtub seats and grab bars
• Wheelchair-height toilet seats
• Lowered handles, deadbolts, viewports and night guards on doors
• Lowered electrical outlets
• Hearing-accessible rooms and/or kits
• Closed-captioned TV

It seems the hotel can accommodate guests with wheelchairs or hearing impairments, but be sure to call before you book to confirm. Also, I didn’t notice any Braille signs around the building, so the hotel may be less prepared for visually impaired guests.

Checking out

With its cozy accommodations, array of amenities and easy access to the slopes, the Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa is a great option for a ski trip, especially if you’re traveling with a large group and have the budget for this property. Although there are some kinks that need to be ironed out with the front desk service, I would happily stay here again.

Of course, rates aren’t cheap during ski season, especially when you tack on parking fees and steep menu prices. However, the Westin is more affordable than you might think when compared to ski-out properties like the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch and Park Hyatt Beaver Creek — and getting to the slopes is only slightly less convenient.

Plus, you can save big by forgoing the Westin’s high-end dining scene in favor of in-room kitchens and kitchenettes, and by using public transportation and ride-hailing services to avoid hefty parking fees.

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business overview

The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business is a no-annual-fee business credit card that earns at least 1.5 miles per dollar on every purchase. If your business is searching for a card that earns simple rewards for travel, this may be the right card for you. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business card is a solid option for small-business owners who want a card with no annual fee. This is not only a great card for the budget-conscious, but it’s simple to use because it earns at least 1.5 miles per dollar everywhere. TPG recommends a credit score of 670.

Capital One miles are worth at least 1 cent each when you redeem them as a statement credit to cover a travel purchase, but can be worth 1.85 cents (according to TPG’s March 2025 valuations) if you transfer them to one of Capital One’s 15-plus transfer partners.

Here’s what to know about this card.

The information for the Capital One Spark Miles Select card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Spark Miles Select pros and cons

Spark Miles Select welcome offer

New Spark Miles Select cardholders can earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 in the first three months of account opening.

If you redeem your miles for travel purchases at a fixed value (1 cent each), this bonus is worth $500. However, the option to transfer Capital One miles to travel partners can bump up the value to TPG’s March 2025 valuation of 1.85 cents each, increasing the bonus value to $925.

This is the standard welcome offer for this card, so it may be worth waiting to apply until a higher welcome offer is available.

Related: The best credit card welcome bonuses

Spark Miles Select benefits

The Spark Miles Select is light on benefits compared to other travel rewards cards, but it does come with some travel protections and purchase protections. If you want more perks than that, you’ll have to look elsewhere, but there’s still plenty of value here for a no-annual-fee card.

This card also has no foreign transaction fees, which isn’t common for a no-annual-fee card. If your business spends a lot on international travel, this is an essential perk.

Related: How to choose a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card

Earning miles on the Spark Miles Select

The Spark Miles Select card earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, plus an unlimited 1.5 miles per dollar on every other eligible purchase.

Considering TPG’s March 2025 valuation of 1.85 cents per mile, you get at least a 2.8% return on your purchases.

Since many business cards only earn bonus rewards in common business categories like advertising, shipping and office supplies, this card is great for earning transferable miles for business expenses outside these categories.

However, if a large chunk of your business spending does fall into one of those categories, you’ll want to look into one of the other best business credit cards.

Related: What name should I put on my business credit card application?

Redeeming miles on the Spark Miles Select

The easiest way to redeem Capital One miles is to redeem them as a statement credit for eligible travel purchases at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

According to Capital One, eligible travel purchases include purchases from airlines, hotels, rail lines, car rental agencies, limousine services, bus lines, cruise lines, taxis, travel agents and timeshares.

These fixed-value redemption options are useful, but they almost always have a lower value than your transfer options.

Related: How (and why) to calculate award redemption values

Transferring miles on the Spark Miles Select

With the Spark Miles Select, you also have the option to be like TPG credit card editor Emily Thompson and transfer your Capital One miles to 15-plus airline and hotel partners. This ability to earn and redeem transferable miles is incredibly valuable for a no-annual-fee travel card.

You can get excellent value from your miles by transferring them to programs like Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Avianca LifeMiles and British Airways Executive Club.

Related: Redeeming Capital One miles for maximum value

Which cards compete with the Spark Miles Select?

If you want to earn a different set of rewards or spend enough money to justify a card with an annual fee, a different card might be a better fit.

• If you want to earn more miles on your purchases: The Capital One Spark Miles for Business earns at least 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, so you’ll get a higher return for your spending. However, make sure you’ll earn enough to justify its $95 annual fee ($0 introductory annual fee for the first cardmember year) before applying. To learn more, check out our full review of the Capital One Spark Miles for Business.
• If you want to earn Membership Rewards points: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and earns a flat 2 points per dollar on all purchases (up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Blue Business Plus card.
• If you want to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points: The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card has no annual fee and earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. You can transfer these rewards to any of Chase’s travel partners if you also have a card that earns transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. To learn more, check out our full review of the Ink Business Unlimited.

For additional options, please see our list of the best Capital One credit cards.

Related: The best business and personal credit card combinations

Is the Spark Miles Select worth it?

The Spark Miles Select allows small-business owners to earn rewards at a decent rate without worrying about justifying an annual fee. However, if you put enough spending on your business card to justify paying an annual fee, you’re probably better off using a card with higher earning potential.

Related: How to apply for a Capital One business credit card

Bottom line

The Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business is a unique card that allows business owners to earn transferable rewards without paying an annual fee. That alone makes this card worthwhile for business owners who don’t have enough expenses to justify paying the annual fee on a card with a slightly better earning rate.

But before you add this to your wallet, look at some of our other favorite business cards and choose one that fits your spending habits and goals.

Related: Who qualifies for a business credit card?

For rates and fees of the Blue Business Plus Card, click here.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

You might think Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean‘s second Oasis Class ship, is merely a carbon copy of Oasis of the Seas, but that’s no longer true.

The first-in-class Oasis of the Seas set a megaship precedent in 2009 with its seven-neighborhood concept, a dizzying number of bars and restaurants, and groundbreaking entertainment, such as a high-diving acrobatics show. The cruise line had no need to make changes when it launched ship number two, so Allure originally was an identical twin.

Following an early 2025 refurbishment that set the line back more than $100 million, the ship is more like the current version of Oasis than it was prior to work being done, but there are still a few notable differences.

In this review, I’ll cover the good and not-so-good parts of cruising Allure of the Seas.

Allure of the Seas overview

Allure of the Seas, the second of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, debuted in 2010. Back then, at 225,282 gross registered tons, it was just a smidge larger than Oasis of the Seas, making it the biggest cruise ship in the world — a title it held briefly until it was outdone by subsequent vessels in its class.

There’s a lot to do on the 5,718-passenger ship, which offers a plethora of activities, multiple food and drink options and a stellar kids club. For those reasons, Allure of the Seas appeals to families — particularly those with young children. It also attracts multigenerational families, friend groups and couples.

Oasis Class ships are divided into seven neighborhoods. Below is a brief overview of Allure of the Seas’ major sectors.

Boardwalk

The Boardwalk on Deck 6 is themed around a day at the shore. Food options hit the mark with Johnny Rockets burgers, fries and milkshakes, as well as separate venues for hot dogs, ice cream and doughnuts.

Anyone seeking a carnival-style experience can ride the free carousel, hit up the arcade or check out a high-diving acrobatics show at the wake-facing AquaTheater, flanked by two rock-climbing walls on Deck 10. Look up to glimpse passengers winging their way down the zip line above.

During the ship’s refit, Royal Caribbean added the Ultimate Abyss — a dry slide with twists and turns that cascade down 10 decks — in place of the former Sabor Bar. The Boardwalk is where the slide empties out.

The only unfortunate aspect of this area is that there are few sea views. They’re blocked by inward-facing balconies, which the line pioneered in 2009.

The Boardwalk is also where you’ll now find the Crown Lounge — a strange choice of locations, given how loud the Boardwalk can be. The lounge, which used to be called the Diamond Lounge, is exclusive to members of the line’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program who have reached Diamond level or higher. It was relocated during the ship’s refurbishment and now takes the place of the ship’s former candy shop, which has been removed. Thirteen new inside cabins have been built where the Diamond Lounge and the ship’s library formerly were located.

Central Park

Central Park feels like an actual park, just on a cruise ship. It’s home to more than 17,000 live plants, which are cared for by a team of resident gardeners.

The green space, which takes up a large chunk of Deck 8, is flanked by shops like a Coach store and the ship’s photography studio, as well as Chops Grille steakhouse, 150 Central Park restaurant, grab-and-go Park Cafe, Italian eatery Giovanni’s Table, Vintages wine bar and the Trellis Bar.

Central Park is a lovely space to stroll, grab a bite or sit and enjoy the greenery, but it’s often excessively hot with little shade, despite all the plants. Like the Boardwalk, it’s open to the sky, but the several decks of inward-facing balcony cabins that rise up around it don’t allow for any sea views.

Entertainment Place

If nightlife is what you seek, you’re sure to enjoy Entertainment Place on Deck 4. Clustered together are Comedy Live, a club offering live comedy shows; Studio B ice rink, where passengers can take in ice-skating performances or sign up to strap on a pair of skates themselves; and the Blaze nightclub, which has an inferno theme.

A former jazz club, Jazz on 4, is no longer there; it has been converted into a small nonsmoking casino. Heading aft, the Hall of Odds leads to the art gallery and Casino Royale, the ship’s main casino space.

Pool and Sports Zone

The ship has four pools — Main Pool, graded-entry Beach Pool, family-friendly H2O Zone Pool and Sports Pool, which hosts lap swimming, water polo and badminton — in its Pool and Sports Zone on Deck 15. The area also encompasses six hot tubs, two FlowRider surf simulators that also allow boogie boarding, a miniature golf course and a zip line, as well as a sports court and table tennis.

This neighborhood also has several bars and El Loco Fresh, a complimentary Mexican restaurant. The Windjammer buffet is also located near the pools.

Royal Promenade

One of the ship’s major hubs, the Royal Promenade is reminiscent of a shopping mall and runs nearly the length of Deck 5. There, you’ll find the guest services desk, new bar Pesky Parrot (which was first introduced on sister ship Utopia of the Seas in 2024 and was added to Allure of the Seas during its refurb), the Globe and Atlas Pub, a stand-alone Starbucks, future cruise and shore excursion desks, several shops, a karaoke lounge and Latin music-themed Boleros nightclub.

One overrated attraction is the Rising Tide Bar, which slowly rises and descends between the Royal Promenade and Central Park on Deck 8 at regular intervals while passengers sip cocktails.

Some of the best pizza at sea is in this neighborhood at Sorrento’s, and Cafe Promenade serves up free light bites along with both free and for-fee coffee drinks. (Note that if you have the basic beverage package, you can get free specialty Starbucks coffees there. If you go to Starbucks, your package won’t cover it.)

Hang around the Royal Promenade long enough, and you’ll likely catch a parade or a party, complete with a balloon drop.

Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center

Allure of the Seas’ spa and fitness area on Deck 6 is impressive. It offers a full battery of added-cost spa treatments (massages, facials, IV treatments, cellulite reduction, acupuncture), salon and barber services (haircuts, manicures and pedicures) and a thermal suite.

The space also includes a sizable fitness center with for-fee classes and personal training, along with equipment that’s free to use. These include LifeFitness cardio machines, weight machines, free weights, yoga mats, kettlebells and exercise balls. One deck below, a jogging track wraps around the entirety of Deck 5 (2.4 laps equal 1 mile).

Visit the Vitality Spa Cafe to keep the healthy choices going. Its menu features lighter fare such as salads, sandwiches and smoothies.

Youth Zone

Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean’s stellar kids club, has a vast space on Allure of the Seas. It offers separate areas for Adventure Ocean Babies (6 months to 2 years), Adventure Ocean Juniors (3 to 5 years) and Adventure Ocean Kids (6 to 11 years) on Deck 14 forward. The facility also has dedicated spaces for climbing, competitions, arts and crafts, science experiments and parent-child playtime (for the youngest cruisers).

On Deck 15 aft, tweens and teens have their own areas, separate from the younger kids. The Living Room offers a chill lounge space for kids ages 12 to 17. It’s supervised but less structured with a “come and go as you please” policy, whereas younger children must be signed in and out of Adventure Ocean by a parent or guardian.

Fuel nightclub hosts dance parties and other supervised nighttime events for tweens and teens. The ship also has two pay-to-play arcades — one near The Living Room and one on the Boardwalk.

What I loved about Allure of the Seas

New Schooner Bar menu

As part of Royal Caribbean’s never-ending quest to improve its products, the line debuted a new drinks menu at the nautically themed Schooner Bar in 2023. Although the menu has since rolled out fleetwide, it debuted on Allure of the Seas.

Fans of the wildly popular Lavender Daquiri will be thrilled to know it’s the only cocktail that made the cut from the bar’s former menu. However, they might just discover another favorite after trying some of the new concoctions. These include a Toasted Marshmallow Old Fashioned (my personal favorite), garnished with torched mini-marshmallows; a Peanut Butter Tropic, made with peanut butter whiskey, pineapple juice, bitters and lemon juice; and a Desert Pear Margarita, which includes tequila, desert pear syrup and lime juice.

A nearly constant celebration

I have never experienced more theme parties on a ship than I have on Allure of the Seas. If you enjoy dressing up and participating in quirky themes, be sure to pack attire appropriate for the ’70s. On my voyage, we also had Caribbean and country nights, as well as a White Night and Royal Caribbean’s staple nightclub experience, Red. (Oddly, Red fell on the same night as the country theme.)

In addition to theme parties, the schedule was packed with Royal Promenade celebrations, silent disco parties and other shenanigans that involved dancing and socializing until late. For a street festival vibe, check out the Fiesta Balloon Drop, which covers passengers in colorful balloons and confetti.

What I didn’t love about Allure of the Seas

The removal of Sabor Taqueria

Sabor Taqueria, which Royal Caribbean introduced on select ships in 2015 as Sabor Modern Mexican, was one of my top-five restaurants at sea. It was so popular that it eventually was added to Oasis Class vessels. It served excellent Mexican fare for an added cost, but despite its popularity, Royal Caribbean phased it out.

Allure of the Seas was one of the last vessels to have a Sabor location, but it was removed during the 2025 refurbishment to make way for Royal Caribbean’s sports bar, Playmakers, which also encompasses an arcade.

Although Playmakers offers a menu of tasty pub grub, I was sad to learn about the removal of Sabor.

Sure, complimentary Mexican fare is available at El Loco Fresh (which replaced the Wipe Out Cafe on Deck 15). However, that venue, with its rubbery meat and counter service-style atmosphere, pales in comparison to Sabor.

Trouble with bookings via the app

I have mixed feelings about cruise mobile apps in general, often finding them glitchy at best and nonfunctional at worst. Historically, I’ve had little trouble with Royal Caribbean’s app, but I found it frustrating to make reservations for shows on Allure of the Seas.

When I tried to secure spots for me and a friend traveling in the same group, it said there was availability and took me through the reservation process. When I got to the end and submitted the request, it told me there was no room left. I shut down the app and tried again with the same results.

In the end, I had to call guest services, and they added the booking manually. It was an issue more than once during the voyage — so much so that I resorted to calling guest services first rather than fussing with the app.

Rising Tide Bar fountain

The Rising Tide Bar levitates between decks 5 and 8. When it leaves its base on the Royal Promenade, a fountain rains down from underneath it, complete with colored lights and dancing water jets. The effect makes it seem like the spray is pushing up the bar. It’s a neat idea, but the fountain is absurdly loud and only adds to the already deafening cacophony in the space.

It’s so loud that it often makes it difficult to hear the entertainment staff members who lead trivia at the nearby Schooner Bar. On my sailing, a drink tasting there had to be postponed for 20 minutes until the fountain could be shut off because nobody could hear the bartender talking.

Allure of the Seas cabins and suites

In addition to standard inside (140 to 260 square feet each), ocean-view (179 to 271 square feet each) and balcony cabins (182 to 271 square feet each with balconies measuring 50 to 80 square feet), Allure of the Seas’ accommodations include some specialty options that are worth mentioning.

First is the virtual balcony cabin, which is an inside cabin with a floor-to-ceiling LED wall that features a digital balcony view via a live feed. The effect makes you feel like you’re sailing in a real balcony cabin.

Then, there are neighborhood insides and balconies. They have no sea views, instead looking out over whichever neighborhood they’re in. The insides, found in Central Park and along the Royal Promenade, do have windows gazing out on the public spaces below, while the balconies in Central Park and on the Boardwalk have actual verandas.

The ship’s 174 suites fall into several categories. These include Junior Suites (287 square feet with 80-square-foot balconies), which are glorified balcony cabins; and AquaTheater Suites (323 to 823 square feet with 140-to-772-square-foot balconies), which offer wake vistas and a bird’s-eye view of the AquaTheater and its astounding high-dive performances.

During the ship’s last dry-dock, it received two new Panoramic Suites. Positioned above the bridge, they offer 200-degree ocean views

There are also Grand Suites (371 to 914 square feet with 105-to-238-square-foot balconies) and Owner’s Suites (556 to 1,076 square feet with 161-to-243-square-foot balconies). Loft Suites offer spacious two-story accommodations and come in Crown (545 square feet with 114-square-foot balconies), Star (722 square feet with 410-square-foot balconies) and Royal (1,524 square feet with 843-square-foot balconies) varieties.

My cabin, a standard balcony, offered two twin beds that were converted into a single queen, two bedside lamps, two nightstands with absurdly small shelves instead of drawers (useless for pajama storage), a sofa and a coffee table. The desk/vanity was outfitted with a series of North American 110-volt outlets, a chair, hair dryer, an obsolete alarm clock with an iPhone/iPod charging station and a minifridge.

The TV offers ship channels that include information on shopping and shore excursions, the ship’s position and more. You can also view your onboard bill, live TV and for-fee movies. Be warned: If you pay for a movie, you have only 24 hours to watch it. After that, you’ll have to purchase it again. You also need to save your progress using the remote if you want to pause it, turn the TV off and come back later to watch the rest.

The closet offered a high bar for hanging clothes, including long items like dresses and gowns. Cube shelves offered additional storage space for undergarments, pajamas and swimsuits, and a code-operated safe for valuables.

The bathroom had a glass-enclosed shower that was painfully small but functional, with decent storage space. Royal Caribbean offered its own brand of bar soap for handwashing and hair and body wash in a wall-mounted dispenser in the shower. Passengers booked in more expensive cabins receive individual mini-bottles of the line’s branded shower gel, lotion, shampoo and conditioner.

One odd complaint is that I could never get cold water in my sink; it was always lukewarm at its chilliest.

My balcony was tiny, but it offered two metal and mesh chairs and a full-height table, which was a nice touch. If it weren’t so incredibly hot outside, I would have spent more time out there.

Royal Caribbean has cut its daily cabin service back to once per day; you can choose either morning or evening service. Since the Cruise Compass daily schedule is now available in the mobile app, the line has also stopped printing it for everyone. Ask your room steward if you’d like one left in your cabin each day.

Accessible accommodations consist of eight inside cabins, two ocean-view rooms, 33 balconies and three suites. These cabins offer wider doorways, bathroom grab bars, lowered sinks and cabin vanities, roll-in showers with fold-down benches and handheld showerheads, raised toilets, lowered closet rods, accessible balconies and lowered safes.

Allure of the Seas restaurants and bars

With more than 35 bars, restaurants and places to grab snacks, Allure of the Seas has an astounding number of venues to eat and drink. Options include specialty wine and cocktail bars, pool bars, bars with nautical and Latin themes, and even a bar that levitates.

Complimentary dining options include a three-deck main dining room, a massive buffet and El Loco Fresh Mexican cuisine. Or you can dine for an extra cost at one of several eateries that include steak, Italian, Japanese and American diner venues.

Allure of the Seas restaurants

Free dining

If you’re on a strict vacation budget or don’t want to pay extra for dining, you can have a decent free meal in the main dining room. The space is divided into three sections — American Icon Grill, The Grande Restaurant and Silk — spread across decks 3, 4 and 5. They’re all set up around a central atrium that radiates elegance.

The menu changes daily — often to feature a set cuisine, such as Italian, Mexican or Caribbean. It’s the same across all three eateries.

American Icon Grill is open daily for breakfast and lunch on sea days only. See the Cruise Compass for exact times. For dinner, all three dining rooms are open. American Icon Grill handles early seating at 5:30 p.m., as well as My Time Dining, which allows passengers to eat whenever they want between 6:45 and 9:15 p.m. (I was assigned to My Time Dining, and I learned quickly that reservations are a must if you don’t want to wait in line for 40 minutes during peak times.)

The Grande Restaurant and Silk are open for both early (5:30 p.m.) and late (8 p.m.) seating.

Traditionally, I’ve found Royal Caribbean’s main dining room food unremarkable. It’s edible, but it has never stood out to me in any way — until Allure of the Seas. I thoroughly enjoyed the crispy Parmesan arancini (fried rice, cheese and mushroom balls), polenta fries, pork bao tacos and several spectacular Indian dishes that give Carnival Cruise Line ships — which are known for their fabulous Indian cuisine — a run for their money.

Windjammer Marketplace, the ship’s giant Deck 16 buffet, is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It features several stations serving nearly everything you could possibly desire, including made-to-order omelets, cereal, fruit, salads, sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers, drinks and desserts. It’s likely to be crowded during peak times, so plan accordingly.

Sorrento’s pizzeria on Deck 5’s Royal Promenade is a place I frequented almost daily. Slices are free, and you can order as many as you’d like. They include standard varieties like cheese, pepperoni and veggie, as well as a rotating list of specialty pies, such as a Caribbean pizza with cheese, bacon, pineapple and barbecue sauce. There’s also a gluten-free crust option available.

Cafe Promenade, along the Royal Promenade on Deck 5, provides free snacks that are perfect if you’re feeling peckish between meals. Choose from items like finger sandwiches, cookies, mini-cakes and brownies. It’s also the place to go for specialty coffees if you have a beverage package and don’t want to pay extra for Starbucks. You can order nearly the same drinks for less money (or for free with a package). Be prepared for it to be crowded in the mornings.

Park Cafe, in Central Park on Deck 8, is the place to go for quick fare without the chaos of the Windjammer. It’s generally open from 7:30-11 a.m. for breakfast and from 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. for lunch and snacks, but hours can vary.

In the morning, expect a selection of pastries and doughnuts, fruit, bagels with a variety of cream cheeses, parfaits, breakfast burritos and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Later in the day, you’ll find sandwiches and wraps, salads, fruit and other light items.

In the mornings, Boardwalk Donuts (along the Boardwalk on Deck 6) is stocked with several varieties, including glazed, strawberry and chocolate frosted and cinnamon sugar. They’re free but don’t wait because it’s only open for a couple hours each day.

Mexican from El Loco Fresh includes complimentary items like tacos, nachos and burritos. It’s just OK; think nachos and quesadillas sitting under heat lamps.

Other no-fee options include the Boardwalk Dog House, which has a menu of hot dog selections, such as a classic dog, chicken and pineapple sausage, smoked Bavarian bratwurst and Sicilian pork sausage. Top any of those with sauerkraut, onions and a slew of other toppings, and pair it with a side of coleslaw or potato salad.

For dessert or a snack, head to Sprinkles — soft-serve ice cream machines located on the pool deck.

Added-fee dining

Found on Deck 8 in Central Park, Giovanni’s Table is Allure of the Seas’ upscale Italian restaurant. Its menu consists of items like crispy calamari, minestrone soup, seafood linguine, branzino, garlic and herb shrimp and several desserts. You can choose one starter, one main and one dessert for a set fee. My favorites were the caprese salad and gnocchi gorgonzola.

If you’ve dined there in the past, you might notice that some fan favorites — including the delicious pizza, giant meatballs, pulled pork and pancetta — have disappeared from the menu. They are casualties of Royal Caribbean’s mission to come as close to zero waste as possible, which has seen the line tightening its menus.

Full disclosure: I wasn’t looking forward to eating at Chops Grille, Royal Caribbean’s steakhouse. I’ve eaten there multiple times on different ships with inconsistent results that ranged from mediocre to disappointing. But my experience on this cruise was much better.

This upscale restaurant serves up items like shrimp cocktail, tuna tartare and jumbo lump crabcakes, plus soups, salads, lamb, roasted chicken and, of course, steak. I chose the 9-ounce filet mignon, and — success! — it was absolutely outstanding. It was cooked just right, the flavor was amazing, and it came with a selection of sauces: bearnaise, peppercorn and red wine. I added asparagus and gruyere tater tots as sides, and I was stuffed.

Chops has redeemed itself for me, but I’ll still warn you to stay away from the bacon appetizer. It sounds delicious in theory, but what I received was a seasoned slab of fat.

Combination sushi and teppanyaki restaurant Izumi offers dinner with a show for an extra fee. A trained chef will cook for your group while he cracks the same tired jokes you’ve heard before at teppanyaki locations on land or on other ships.

However, the food — I had the chicken breast — was fantastic, which more than made up for the cringe factor. Everyone receives a salad and vegetable fried rice, as well as edamame to share. Then they choose from several protein or vegetarian options, such as chicken breast, beef tenderloin, tiger shrimp and sea scallops with lobster. Dessert selections consist of crispy sesame balls, chocolate lava cake, mochi and green tea ice cream.

Royal Caribbean shook things up when it brought land-based American diner-style burger restaurant Johnny Rockets onto its ships at the dawn of added-fee dining. For a flat fee, passengers can choose from anything on the menu, except milkshakes and alcohol, which cost extra.

On Allure of the Seas, I opted for The Original burger (a quarter-pounder with lettuce, tomato, relish, pickles, mustard and mayonnaise) with onion rings and a cookies ‘n’ cream milkshake. It was absolutely delicious, and the crew even entertained us with a song-and-dance number while we ate.

Playmakers Sports Bar, found along the Boardwalk, is part sports bar and part arcade. It features a menu of drinks and for-fee food items like nachos, chicken wings and burgers that make for perfect game-day grub.

Although other lines have Starbucks locations on some of their vessels, Royal Caribbean was the first to partner with the brand. Allure of the Seas has a standalone kiosk (like what you might find at a shopping mall) where you can purchase cold snacks (think cake pops, coffee cake and cookies), as well as the usual gamut of specialty coffee beverages.

A la carte prices are similar to Starbucks locations on land. (An automatic gratuity will be added.) The line’s drink packages don’t cover these drinks, but even the basic package will cover similar specialty coffees (made with Starbucks coffee) at nearby Cafe Promenade (see above).

The adults-only Solarium Bistro on Deck 15 forward has its own restaurant attached. On Allure of the Seas, it offers both solarium and air-conditioned dining.

For breakfast and lunch, it’s complimentary, but there’s a surcharge for dinner, when the venue turns into Samba Grill and offers a Brazilian steakhouse menu. On my voyage out of Galveston, it was temporarily converted to a posh barbecue restaurant in partnership with 4 Rivers Smokehouse. Not only was the food mouthwatering — the biggest surprise was the outstanding vegan burnt ends — but the atmosphere made me feel like I was dining in the Mediterranean.

Other restaurants at which you’ll shell out additional money include 150 Central Park, an upscale establishment focused heavily on seasonal menus that use locally sourced ingredients; Vitality Cafe, an eatery that’s located near the ship’s Vitality Spa and serves healthy fare and smoothies; Cups & Scoops, where you’ll find Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and delectable cupcakes in a dozen rotating flavors; and room service, which is available 24 hours a day but levies a per-delivery surcharge.

Allure of the Seas bars

Bow & Stern is Allure of the Seas’ English-style pub, found on Deck 5 in the Royal Promenade. Made to feel dark and wooden like a stereotypical local pub, it serves a decent selection of beers, cocktails (including ones made with beer), whiskey and scotch. Whether you’re there for a pint or a ground-level view of one of the promenade parties, you can’t go wrong with a table outside the pub.

Not too far from Bow & Stern is the Pesky Parrot, a new bar concept carried over from fellow Oasis Class vessel Utopia of the Seas. The Caribbean theme features an animatronic parrot who has a few choice things to say as you order from a menu of beach-worthy cocktails.

Outside the Pesky Parrot is the Rising Tide Bar, which slowly travels between decks 5 and 8 at regular intervals. As the bar rises upward, it appears to be pushed into the air by a giant waterfall cascading from underneath it. It’s a neat — albeit gimmicky — concept that debuted on Oasis of the Seas and carried through to other vessels in the class.

The Schooner Bar, a Royal Caribbean staple, is tucked into a sliver of space on Deck 6, overlooking the Royal Promenade. As is typical, it’s nautically themed, featuring dark woods, fishing nets and a sizable bar with a dedicated menu that was recently refreshed. It’s where trivia is often held, but be warned: Arrive early and sit near the host. Otherwise, you risk not finding a table or being able to hear the questions over the deafening white noise of the Rising Tide Bar’s fountain.

The only bar I didn’t try was the Trellis Bar, which specializes in light, refreshing drinks like spritzes in Central Park on Deck 8.

Allure of the Seas entertainment

Allure of the Seas’ entertainment is as varied as its neighborhoods and its passengers. The plethora of options is what makes the ship such a great fit for families and groups who are likely to have different interests. Whether you prefer a cocktail and some trivia, silly pool games, a jaw-dropping show or comedy act, or a spin class that will help you to burn off last night’s dessert, there’s no shortage of activities to keep you busy.

Allure of the Seas activities

Looking to shop or catch the latest street party or parade? Head to the Royal Promenade. For carousel rides, fortune telling and arcade games, the Boardwalk is your best bet. If you’re feeling like some physical fun or an adrenaline rush, make your way up to the Pool and Sports Zone, which houses surf simulators, a sports court, table tennis, a zip line and miniature golf.

On Deck 14, the card room has been replaced by a for-fee escape room, which features a chance for a group to solve puzzles in order to leave a room in which they’re locked together. The theme is “Apollo 18: Lunar Landing,” where players will find themselves transported back to 1973. They must use clues to successfully land the Apollo 18 rocket before time runs out.

Or head down to Deck 4, where you’ll find the casino and an ice rink that offers open skating a few times per sailing. The ship also has free rock climbing and extra-fee cake decorating classes, a full salon and spa and a fitness center.

For water babies, Allure of the Seas has four pools on Deck 15 midship, overlooking Central Park: the H2O Zone Pool on the starboard side near the kids splash area; Sports Pool, port side, used for events like water volleyball; Main Pool, port, a standard cruise ship pool; and Beach Pool, starboard, offering a wade-in gradual entry. There are also six hot tubs near the four pools.

The Solarium on Deck 15 forward also offers a pool for anyone 16 or older. It’s small and was so crowded on my sailing that you could hardly move. Two additional hot tubs are located just outside the Solarium.

Allure of the Seas has an accessible lift at its Main Pool, along with a lift at a nearby hot tub.

Three bars serve the general area: Pool Bar, Sand Bar and The Lime & Coconut. The Lime & Coconut, which appears on many of Royal Caribbean’s other vessels, has replaced the former Mast Bar and Sky Bar on Allure of the Seas. There’s also a Solarium Bar inside the Solarium. Additionally, the Wipeout Bar (which now also offers shave ice, including spiked varieties, for a fee) serves the Pool & Sports Zone neighborhood and sits all the way aft, between Allure of the Seas’ two FlowRiders.

If you’d rather stay inside and avoid the sun, several lounges offer fun activities and places to grab drinks. Blaze is the ship’s inferno-themed nightclub on Deck 4. It often hosts late-night dance parties and is a great spot to hit after a comedy show in nearby Comedy Live.

Feeling like some Latin tunes? Boleros on Deck 5 in the Royal Promenade is the place to be. Just across the way is the On-Air Club, which hosts trivia throughout the day, though its intended purpose is karaoke. Choose a song, and belt it out as the lyrics scroll by on a digital screen, reminiscent of a stock ticker, outside the venue.

For jazz, drinks and trivia — or a quiet place to read a book or check emails when it’s not in use — Dazzles rises two stories on decks 8 and 9. It overlooks Central Park, making for pleasant views while you’re visiting.

Other daily activities include bingo, pickleball play, basketball shootout competitions, dance classes and themed parties.

Allure of the Seas shows

Nighttime is when Allure of the Seas’ entertainment truly shines — and I’m not talking about just one or two decent shows. Instead, several truly spectacular options appear once or twice throughout each sailing.

“OceanAria” is a combination of high diving and acrobatics that takes place at the Boardwalk’s aft-facing AquaTheater. Set to music and dancing fountains, the show features the ship’s wake as a backdrop. Although this particular show doesn’t include slacklining, tightrope walking or aerial acrobatics like the ones on some of the other Oasis Class ships, the feats performed will still make your breath catch in your throat. It’s free to attend, but reservations are a must; make them early.

It still astounds me that some of Royal Caribbean’s ships have ice skating rinks on board. Allure of the Seas is one of them with its Studio B. In addition to complimentary open skating for passengers, a team of resident professional skaters puts on “Blades” — an ice performance that includes solo, group and couples routines set to popular songs. Guest stars, such as a hula-hooping skater, add to the intrigue.

For years, Royal Caribbean has been known for its Broadway prowess, bringing titles like “Saturday Night Fever,” “Hairspray” and “Cats” to the high seas. In Allure’s main Amber Theater, you can watch a full 2.5-hour production of “Mamma Mia!” It’s just as great as the version I saw in New York several years ago, complete with a score of songs by universal favorite ABBA.

Cruisers can also enjoy “Blue Planet” in the main theater. The storyline follows a young woman who travels to faraway places — including under the sea — searching for ways to protect the planet and its wonders. In this case, said wonders are dancers, singers and acrobats. They’re backed by fantastic scenery shrouded in a sheer curtain that serves as a projection screen.

Allure’s theater also hosts a rotating battery of limited-run talent. My favorite was MO5AIC, a Las Vegas-based five-man acapella group featuring some of the best vocal talent I’ve ever heard — including a beatboxer who serves as an entire percussion section using just his throat and mouth.

Comedy Club on Deck 4 also comes alive after dark, offering two shows almost nightly for adults only.

Allure of the Seas itineraries and pricing

Allure of the Seas is scheduled for a season of Europe voyages in summer 2025. The ship will offer 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 Eastern Caribbean and Bahamas cruises.

Prices for seven-night Mediterranean voyages start from $880 per person ($126 per person, per night) for an inside cabin, and fares for six-night Western Caribbean sailings begin at $586 per person ($98 per person, per night) for an inside cabin.

Prices were accurate at the time of publication but are subject to change without notice.

What to know before you go

Required documents

It’s a good idea to have a passport for all cruise travel, but if you’re a United States citizen sailing Allure of the Seas round-trip from a U.S. embarkation port, you can board with your original birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID instead. If you use a passport, it must be valid for at least six months after your voyage ends.

Gratuities

If you sail on Allure of the Seas, expect service charges of anywhere from $18.50 to $21 per person, per day charged to your onboard account, depending on your cabin type. Although we don’t encourage it, you can visit the guest services desk to have the amount adjusted down or removed. An additional 18% gratuity is attached to all bar, minibar, spa and salon purchases.

Wi-Fi

Allure of the Seas has some of the fastest Wi-Fi at sea, thanks to Royal Caribbean’s VOOM, which is powered by Starlink on all vessels in the fleet. On my sailing, I could text without a problem and stream Netflix shows. I also uploaded more than 200 photos to Dropbox in just a few minutes. Prices vary by sailing length and the number of devices you wish to connect.

Note that you don’t need to purchase Wi-Fi to use the line’s mobile app, which allows you to check in for your sailing, make reservations, monitor your onboard bill and stay in touch with travel companions via app messaging.

Carry-on drinks policy

If you’re sailing on Allure of the Seas, you can bring up to two bottles of wine or Champagne per cabin. The line will charge you $15 per bottle as a corkage fee if you consume it outside your stateroom. Passengers may also bring up to 12 cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic beverages like juice or soda.

Smoking policy

Smoking is not allowed in most public areas on Allure of the Seas. Passengers wishing to light up — including e-cigarettes — must head to designated outdoor areas or the casino. And don’t even think about smoking in your cabin or on your balcony. It’s not allowed, and you face a fine of $250 if you try it.

Laundry

Self-service laundry isn’t available on Allure of the Seas. However, you can have clothing sent out for washing, pressing or dry-cleaning for fees that range from $1.99 to press a shirt to $14.99 to have a suit dry-cleaned and pressed.

Electrical outlets

All Royal Caribbean ships offer North American-style 110-volt outlets and European-style 220-volt outlets in rooms. In my cabin, a duo — one European-style and one North American-style — was hidden under the vanity. On top of the vanity, a multi-port set of three North American outlets was set into a round base.

Currency

The currency on Allure of the Seas is the U.S. dollar. The system on board is completely cashless, which means you’ll use your room key — called a SeaPass card — for charging purchases when you sail. You’ll have to tie either a credit card or a set amount of cash to it before your cruise.

Drinking age

Because the ship sails round-trip from a U.S. port, the drinking age on board is 21 years.

Dress code

Royal Caribbean’s dress code is somewhat ambiguous. In general, casual clothing is fine during the day. Think jeans or shorts with T-shirts, athleisure wear or swimwear if you’re at the pool. (Please wear shoes and a coverup if you venture inside, especially for food.)

At night, resort casual is acceptable in most restaurants on most nights. That means Polo-style shirts with nice shorts, jeans or slacks for men and either a sundress or nice jeans or slacks with a blouse for women.

Weeklong voyages usually have one formal night, where passengers are encouraged to dress to the nines. Sailings of more than seven nights might have more than one of these. I also saw a “dress to impress” dress code listed one night during my cruise (unclear exactly what that meant).

For both types of dress-up nights, you’ll be fine with slacks and a blazer, a suit or a cocktail dress or ball gown if you want to be fancy. Note that, on most sailings, you’re likely to find as many people dressing down as you’ll see dressing up.

Some specialty restaurants claim to have a dress code, but it’s not enforced. For example, Chops, the onboard steakhouse, is supposed to be formal. However, I dined next to a table full of sports jersey-clad passengers who didn’t seem the least bit out of place.

If you like to participate in theme nights, prepare by packing items appropriately colored for the Red Party and white night. Other themes on my voyage included cowboy/country and ’70s.

Bottom line

Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas isn’t a new ship, but it has stood the test of time. Following its 2025 overhaul, it has the latest and greatest amenities the Oasis Class has to offer.

The lineup of scheduled daytime activities is staggering, and it offers something for passengers of all ages, interests and activity levels, whether they prefer trivia, surfing or something in between. At night, instead of one or two standout performances, just about every single show will make your jaw drop.

Food is generally fantastic, and the fact that the line has found a way to get its fleet to a nearly zero-waste status makes me feel even better about having sailed.

Overall you can’t go wrong with a sailing on Allure of the Seas.

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You can get a good preview of the cruise ahead of you by lingering at the pool deck buffet on embarkation day. At lunch on Royal Caribbean‘s Independence of the Seas, I sat a few tables away from a large group of women toasting each other with drinks before bursting out with “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” I lost count of the number of groups I saw wearing matching T-shirts, most proclaiming family reunions, milestone birthdays and bachelorette parties.

I didn’t see the actual bride, who’d boarded earlier. Presumably, she was still at her wedding reception in a private location. (I found out later three couples got married during my sailing.)

The crowd was young on my long-weekend Bahamas cruise. I saw a lot of folks in their 20s and 30s, as well as families with kids on a last hurrah before school started. But the reunion groups spanned at least three generations (possibly four?). The crowd was culturally diverse, and I heard a lot of Spanish on this sailing, but the vast majority of cruisers hailed from Florida.

They all had one thing in common — a desire to have the most fun possible on a quick three-day trip. The ship and its smiling crew members were happy to accommodate, serving up drinks, leading wild competitions and doling out cone after cone of soft-serve ice cream on hot Bahamian afternoons.

Some trips are for seeing the sights or experiencing a new culture. A quick cruise on Independence of the Seas is all about letting the good times roll with some fun in the sun. On that promise, the ship totally delivers.

Overview of Independence of the Seas

The 154,407-ton Independence of the Seas is 15 decks high and carries 3,864 passengers at double occupancy (or 4,627 at maximum occupancy) in 1,932 cabins. It was built in 2008, and its last major refurbishment was in 2018.

The ship is part of Royal Caribbean’s Freedom Class, the precursor to the line’s beloved yet notoriously giant Oasis Class. When they debuted, Independence of the Seas and its Freedom Class sisters (Freedom and Liberty — sense a theme?) were the world’s largest ships. They introduced new concepts to the cruise line, including the FlowRider surf simulator, oversized hot tubs cantilevered off the sides of the ship and a water park for kids.

Related: The 7 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

Fun fact: The ship’s fitness center originally had a large boxing ring in the center and boxing workouts, but the ring has since been removed.

More than a decade later, the ship is no longer the biggest or the most innovative, the Wipeout Bar is gone and the water park has been revamped. Yet it still has all the hallmarks of a modern megaship with multiple dining and drinking venues, wow-factor entertainment (including a Broadway musical), plenty of active fun and room to sunbathe.

The ship still makes the top 40 hit list of biggest ships in the world, beating out much more recently built vessels such as Disney Wish, Discovery Princess and Norwegian Prima. It can accommodate all kinds of travelers, from budget-conscious vacationers booking inside cabins to well-off families staying in the largest suites, and offers activities for folks who like to stay active, those who want to lounge in the sun and partiers looking for a great time.

With so much to do on board, you won’t feel like you’re on an old ship. You’ll feel like you’re on an action-packed ship — one that might be the perfect size for active friends and family looking to have outsize fun on a variety of cruise itineraries.

What I loved about Independence of the Seas

The ship’s energy is high

Short cruises don’t always have the best reputation. “They’re party cruises,” people sneer, as if the megaship is one humongous den of debauchery with thousands of wasted weekend warriors on board. That’s not at all what a short sailing on Independence of the Seas is like.

What a short cruise really translates into is a high-energy sailing because your shipmates know they have only a limited time to make the most of the ship’s amenities and time in port. Onboard events will be packed with guests all in on the fun, whether that’s cheering on contestants in a game show or singing along with a musician in a bar. People screamed for their favorites at the “Finish the Lyric” game like it was a college football game, and I watched three, if not four, generations of families dancing the merengue together at the Latin bar Boleros.

You’ll also encounter a ton of groups — birthday celebrations, bachelor and bachelorette parties, family reunions, anniversaries and even onboard weddings. The upshot is that the whole sailing takes on a celebratory vibe, even when you’re not part of a group. The sense of fun is contagious, and you find yourself wanting to join in wherever the people are because you know you’ll have a good time.

I’m sure that people got drunk on my cruise (stay away from the swim-up and floating bars on Royal Caribbean’s private island if you wish to avoid them). But I didn’t see any sloppy drunk guests stumbling through the public decks or getting sick in cabin hallways. Maybe that’s because I went to bed at a reasonable hour. Mostly, I encountered groups of people ready to have the best time at every event around the ship, whose energy was infectious and made all the activities a bit more high-octane and fun.

Note that the onboard vibe will likely be different on the ship’s upcoming longer cruises in Europe and in Canada and New England.

Independence of the Seas doesn’t feel huge or overly crowded

Royal Caribbean excels at passenger flow on its ships, which makes its megaships feel manageable. Independence of the Seas is easy to navigate, and I rarely had the “you can’t get there from here” experience I’ve had on other cruise lines.

The ship is divided into three sections, top to bottom. The upper decks (11 to 15) are where you’ll find all the outdoor fun and activities, as well as the buffet and spa. The middle decks (6 to 10) contain exclusively cabins and suites, so you can ignore all of these except the deck where your room is located. (You’ll find a smattering of accommodations on the top and lower decks.) The bottom decks (3 to 5) feature the Promenade with its bars and shops and the main indoor attractions — the dining room, casino, theater and ice rink.

Related: Big vs. small cruise ships: Which will I like better? 

I quickly learned where everything was located, essential on a short cruise. Better yet, I didn’t encounter any bottlenecks where too many people were forced into too small a corridor or transit space. The Promenade was always bustling but never shoulder to shoulder. I always found a seat in the performance spaces, even when they were packed.

In short, I never felt like I was trapped in a mass of humanity in the middle of the ocean with no escape.

The buffet is well designed with great choices

As I’ve written about before, I’m not a huge fan of the cruise ship buffet. But for a mass-market cruise ship, Independence of the Seas has a pretty great buffet.

Related to my point above, I never felt that “trapped in a crowd” feeling at the buffet. Sure, it was bustling and busy. Sometimes I had to look around for a table for two. But the size of the venue and the station layout (versus one long buffet line) meant that people could move freely and select their dishes without waiting in slow-moving queues.

I also appreciated that the buffet had a lot of choices at dinner time. I’ve been on Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises ships where I found the options limited at dinner. Independence had as much variety in the evening as at lunchtime, with gluten-free and interesting international (mostly Asian and Indian) stations, as well as a well-stocked salad bar and always-available burgers and hot dogs. Daily-rotating-themed stations offered interesting options, such as Jamaican food, on the night I stopped by.

Related: Cruise ship buffet taboos: 10 things you should never do at mealtime

The breakfast options included everything you’d expect to find, as well as an unexpected international station with Indian breakfast dishes. I admit I didn’t put the made-to-order omelet counter through timed trials, but the steam-tray scrambled eggs were actually pretty moist for bulk-made eggs.

I was sad that I didn’t have time to eat at the buffet for dinner, and that’s a thought I rarely have when cruising!

What I didn’t love about Independence of the Seas

The ship is showing its age

Independence of the Seas had a major refurbishment in 2018, but in the years since then, its cabins have seen a lot of wear and tear.

My balcony cabin was comfortable, with all the space I needed, but I didn’t need a magnifying glass to tell it had been well-used. The couch was stained, the mirrored bathroom cabinets were chipped, the picture frames were scratched — and there was a gap between the bottom of one of the nightstand drawers and the front edge where small items could fall through. When I was putting my toiletries away in the bathroom, one of the triangular shelves fell down, even though I had only put a few items on it.

The cabin decor, with a green leaf-patterned carpet, blonde wood furniture and striped curtains, also doesn’t feel modern.

None of these quibbles affected my enjoyment of the cruise, but set your expectations if you’re hoping for a pristine, Insta-worthy room.

The drink menu is boring

I’m not a big drinker, but I love a craft cocktail — partly because they’re interesting and partly because I can never think of what drink to order and I prefer to select from a preset menu. I’ve been loving going to bars on ships like Carnival Celebration and Oceania’s Vista and checking out all the creative drink options.

So imagine my disappointment when I asked for the cocktail menu at Independence of the Seas’ two specialty restaurants, Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Table, and was handed the same cocktail menu found at every generic bar on board. No, I don’t want a pina colada with my fancy steak, thank you very much. Where were the fun cocktails themed to each restaurant like I found at the Mason Jar restaurant on sister ship Wonder of the Seas?

Related: Royal Caribbean drink packages: Everything you need to know

I did find a more interesting drink menu at the Schooner Bar (desert pear margarita, anyone?), but that was the only time I saw a different cocktail list. For a ship that loves to party, I was disappointed that Royal Caribbean hasn’t hopped on the creative cocktail trend like some of its competitor cruise lines. I’ve since learned the Schooner Bar menu is new, so if it’s successful, perhaps Royal Caribbean will add new cocktail menus to other bars on board.

Since this review was originally published, Royal Caribbean has revamped the menus in both Boleros and the Ale & Anchor pub.

Independence of the Seas cabins and suites

Independence of the Seas offers four main types of cabins: windowless inside cabins, ocean-view rooms with picture windows that don’t open, balcony cabins with private verandas and bigger suites. The latter range from 364-square-foot junior suites to the humongous 1,649-square-foot Royal Suite (sizes include balcony space).

Some of the more unusual accommodations on this ship include inside-facing cabins with windows overlooking the Royal Promenade indoor mall and Panoramic Ocean-view cabins and suites on decks 11 and 12, which have wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows.

Related: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide: Everything you want to know

My room on Independence of the Seas was a regular balcony cabin, facing the sea — the most popular room type on most ships. It offered plenty of room for two people, and I don’t think it would be a problem with an extra person sleeping on the pullout sofa.

The room has two twin beds that can be pushed together into a queen-size bed. Bedside lamps with focused reading lights and one-drawer, one-shelf nightstands flank the beds. The living area features a long sofa that could seat three or four (and transform into a bed) and a glass coffee table.

Opposite is a large desk/vanity with a lighted mirror, six medium and three shallow drawers (one for the hair dryer) and an empty minifridge. Small shelves are hidden behind the two narrow side mirrors, with another glass shelf above the flat-screen TV.

The TV is not interactive. It has roughly 30 channels of sports, news, movies and kids programming, plus a bunch of cruise ship-sponsored channels.

A two-door closet looked small but had ample hanging space for two people on a three-night cruise, plus five shelves and a safe tucked into the corner. I appreciated the full-length mirror and metal hooks by the door for hanging jackets or hats.

The bathroom is small but serviceable. The round shower has two sliding doors, and I didn’t hurt myself when I dropped my conditioner bottle and had to retrieve it off the floor mid-shower. The shower has two metal shelves and a movable wand showerhead.

Storage includes three towel racks and four hooks on the back of the door. The corner mirror hides a three-shelf vanity, and there’s a long shelf below the sink.

Bathrooms are stocked with bath and hand towels, washcloths, one bar of soap, a pump dispenser of a shampoo-body wash combo in the shower and tiny bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash and lotion.

On such a short cruise, I did not spend much time on my balcony, using it mainly to dry wet bathing suits. It had two upright chairs (with one level of recline) and a round table that could easily accommodate a room service breakfast order.

The decor, as mentioned earlier, is rather dated and showing some wear. The room is clearly ready for a refresh, as stains, chips and dings in the furnishings are visible. These minor details didn’t bother me, but if you’re expecting new and modern, please readjust your expectations.

What did bother me was the connecting door to the cabin next door. It was not open, but the sound carried — and this included my neighbor hacking and coughing loudly whenever I was trying to go to sleep. To compare, I couldn’t hear anything from the cabin on the other side without a connecting door.

Related: The ultimate guide to choosing a cabin on a cruise ship

If you wish to upgrade and book a suite on Independence of the Seas, you have a choice of Royal, Owner’s, Grand, Panoramic and Junior Suite options. Different suite types come with different Royal Suite Class perks, which might include access to the Suite Lounge on Deck 14 (just off the Viking Crown Lounge).

Independence of the Seas restaurants and bars

Independence of the Seas offers plenty of restaurant and bar choices. It has a good mix of free and extra-fee, casual and fancy dining options. I enjoyed all my meals on board, but most of them didn’t blow me away. I appreciated the varied personality of the many bars. You could find your favorite and return night after night or try someplace new with every drink.

Restaurants

The heart of Independence of the Seas’ dining lineup is its three-deck-high main dining room, with a Shakespearean decor theme. You’ll be assigned a table location based on your group size and dining time selection.

If you choose early or late dining (where you’ll have the same table location, tablemates and waiters each night), you’ll be assigned to a table on deck 3, 4 or 5 for a 5:30 p.m. dinner or on deck 4 or 5 at 8 p.m. Choose My Time Dining, the line’s flexible dining option, and you can ask for a table on Deck 3 anytime between 6:45 and 9 p.m. and change up your dining time nightly. (If you want to eat at 6 p.m., you’re out of luck, apparently.)

Deck 3 is also where breakfast and lunch are served (not offered every day, so check the Royal Caribbean app for times). Breakfast here offers a similar selection to the buffet, but dishes are made to order and waiter-served. More out-of-the-ordinary options include a breakfast power wrap, a breakfast burrito and a market vegetable breakfast bowl. Lunch is a three-course affair with appetizers, entrees and dessert. Entrees might be a lamb pita, a barbecue pulled pork sandwich, butternut squash risotto or roasted Atlantic cod.

Dinner might be themed (such as Taste of the Caribbean) with an on-theme chef’s recommended three-course meal. Entrees will include seafood, chicken, beef, pasta and a vegetarian option. One Indian dish is offered nightly, usually meat-based with a vegetarian version available upon request. You can order premium selections, such as Maine lobster tail, surf and turf or a filet mignon from the ship’s Chops Grille steakhouse for an extra fee (ranging from $16.99 to $34.99, plus an 18% gratuity).

Wine, soda and cocktails are available for an extra fee.

Related: Royal Caribbean My Time Dining: Everything you need to know

I dined here on Jamaican night and enjoyed a jerk chicken dish that had more spice and flavor than your average cruise ship entree. The waiters were friendly and ready with suggestions of the best choices that evening. After two long dinners the previous nights, I didn’t feel a need to linger over my meal, and the dining room staff was accommodating of my request to be out in time for a 7:30 p.m. show.

Cruise ship buffets don’t always have the best reputation, but I was impressed with Independence of the Seas’ Windjammer Cafe. Found on Deck 11 aft, the expansive dining area is well set up to accommodate the crowds. I easily found tables on all visits (including embarkation day) and never waited in line, thanks to multiple food stations scattered throughout the space. There’s no outdoor seating, but there are plenty of windows. The aft stations are different from the side stations, so do a loop before choosing.

Breakfast has all the obvious options: hot and cold cereal, breakfast breads and pastries, waffles and pancakes, eggs and omelets, breakfast meat, yogurt and fruit. A small Asian section has less-typical choices (not just at breakfast but at all three meals). Lunch features American and continental hot dishes, a salad bar, a burger and hot dog bar, an Asian station and dessert.

Dinner has just as extensive a menu as lunch and often has a theme. In addition to the standard hot entrees, burger bar, meat carving station, salad bar and dessert, I saw counters serving Jamaican specialties, some made fresh at the buffet. I was tempted to skip the main dining room to sample some of the dishes.

A gluten-free counter at lunch and dinner is available for folks with dietary restrictions.

Independence of the Seas has three marquee, extra-fee specialty restaurants and a host of fee-free and a la carte casual options. They’re often emptiest on the first night, but I didn’t see any discount offers for booking on night one.

The ultimate date night restaurant is the ship’s American steakhouse, Chops Grille. You can choose from four steak options, four seafood dishes (including Maine lobster), roast chicken or rack of lamb (our choice — it was very flavorful). Vegetarians will have to request a special order because the menu does not list any meat-free options.

Your protein comes naked on the plate, so dress it up with sauces and sides. The menu also features appetizers, soups, salads and desserts. The pretzel mini-baguettes and mushroom soup are not to be missed. Dessert was enjoyable but did not have a huge wow factor. A meal costs $63 for dinner ($15 for kids ages 6-12) and $27 for lunch.

If you’re going to splurge on dinner, I’d recommend the ship’s Italian eatery Giovanni’s Table instead. It’s a tad cheaper at $48 per person for dinner ($15 for kids) or $23 for lunch, and I thought my meal there was nicer than the one at Chops.

Everything I ordered was delicious, from the bright green arugula salad starter to the gnocchi gorgonzola pasta (save your stomach and order a half portion!) and perfectly cooked branzino fish. You could probably skip dessert here, but a companion and I enjoyed the chocolate-hazelnut cake and panna cotta with strawberry and basil flavors.

Chops and Giovanni’s are located across from each other by the entrance to the Windjammer Cafe buffet. Lunch is not always offered on every cruise in these venues, so check the cruise app for dining times for your sailing.

The third specialty restaurant, Izumi, is tucked away in an easily missed spot on Deck 4 by the Schooner Bar. It’s got five hibachi tables that can seat up to 10 people each. Choose your protein and be ready for a dinner performance that will have food flying, people singing and you in stitches.

Alternatively, come for sushi at the bar or scattered two-tops. Don’t like eating seafood raw? You can order other Japanese favorites, such as beef or chicken teriyaki, ramen, miso soup and gyoza dumplings.

Hibachi reservations should be made as far in advance as possible, but you can only reserve a seat at the sushi bar on board in person at the restaurant. Sushi pricing is a la carte. Hibachi pricing ranges from $60 to $65 per person ($15 for kids) depending on your protein selection. Sushi add-ons to your hibachi meal cost extra.

Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining

The Promenade features a number of casual dining venues. Sorrento’s is the late-night pizza parlor, open until 2 or 3 a.m. nightly. Eat all the pizza you want; it’s included in your cruise fare. Cheese and pepperoni are always available, with a third flavor that changes daily. You can always request vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free pizzas to be made special for you.

Follow up your pie with a sweet treat at Sugar Beach Ice Cream for an additional fee per cup or cone. For free soft-serve ice cream, head up to Sprinkles on the pool deck.

One of the most popular venues on the Promenade is the Cafe Promenade. It does double duty as your morning Starbucks outlet (it opens at 6 a.m.) and late-night snack venue (mini sandwiches and pastries are served until 5 a.m.). If you’re cool with the free stuff, skip the line and head to the self-service coffee and tea station on the far wall.

Put blinders on your kids when you walk by Sugar Beach, the ship’s rainbow-colored bulk candy store. Between the free Froot Loops and cookies elsewhere on the ship, I wouldn’t think you need to spend money on more sweets, but if you need a jelly bean fix, you know where to go.

Playmakers Sports Bar offers a limited a la carte menu of bar favorites — nachos, chicken tenders and wings, sliders, plus meal-sized burgers and worth-the-money desserts (the Campfire Cookie is my fave, but a group could go to town on the Touchdown Sundae with five scoops of ice cream). You can bring your kids to this bar.

Up by Splashaway Bay, Fish & Ships serves a limited menu of fried fish, shrimp and chicken and fries for free, as well as a fried lobster tail basket for $12. One deck up by the kids clubs, Johnny Rockets will fuel your play with burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and the venue’s signature milkshakes (a la carte pricing). Time your visit right, and you’ll catch the waiters singing and dancing.

Finally, room service costs $7.95 per order, occasionally with an 18% gratuity added. Continental breakfast (juice, coffee, tea, pastries and bread, cereal, fruit and yogurt) is complimentary from 6 to 11 a.m. Hot American breakfast (pancakes, eggs, potatoes and bacon/sausage) incurs the fee.

The regular room service menu is available from 11 a.m. all the way through until 6 a.m. and includes soup, salad, sandwiches, favorites (quesadillas, grilled salmon, pasta, pizza, chicken wings and tenders), dessert and a kids menu.

Bars

Your evening bar crawl won’t earn you many steps as the ship’s main watering holes are found on decks 4 and 5.

Starting on the lower deck, Boleros is the line’s signature Latin bar, where there’s often an all-ages crowd dancing merengue, salsa and more and singing along to popular tunes. Next door is Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, where you can watch all the games or play pool, foosball, skeeball or Super Shot basketball while downing beers. (Warn your kids — there are no video games at this arcade.)

The casino has its own bar in the center of the action. Become a regular and you might start getting drinks for free. On the other side of the casino, the nautical-themed Schooner’s is the place to go for piano singalongs and trivia (usually catering to an older crowd). The desert pear margarita is popular, though I preferred the lavender martini.

One deck up on the Promenade, Ale & Anchor is the ship’s British-style pub. Come for a lager and the game, stay for energetic singalongs with the resident guitarist. (The Ellie Finnerty’s Taylor Swift singalong was standing room only, with the indoor and out-on-the-Promenade seating full up.) Across the street, so to speak, is Vintages, your go-to for a sophisticated glass of wine. The venue also hosts wine tastings.

The most understated bar on the ship is the Champagne Bar, just across from the shore excursions desk. If you like bubbly, you can relax on the comfy couches here and toast your vacation success.

But don’t worry — if you’re sunning or sweating on the upper decks, you’ll find plenty of watering holes to wet your whistle. The ship has three pool deck bars: the pool bar by the main pools, the Sky Lounge serving guests lounging just above on Deck 12 and the solarium bar in the adult section.

The Plaza Bar in the Windjammer Cafe keeps you hydrated during meals with morning coffee drinks and mimosas and beer, wine and cocktails with your buffet lunches and dinners.

For a sophisticated drink with a view, head to the Olive or Twist Bar in Royal Caribbean’s signature Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 14 midship. Floor-to-ceiling windows in a 180-degree semicircle overlook the ship’s Splashaway Bay kiddie zone and the sea. It’s a good spot to watch sailaway if you don’t want to be out in the sun. Upper-tier loyalty members and suite guests can get their drink on for free at their respective lounges adjacent to Olive or Twist.

If your idea of a bar is a soda machine, you can find Coke machines by Sorrento’s on the Promenade and on either side of the buffet. They only work with your drinks package-affiliated reusable cup. In addition to soda, you can pour out juice, seltzer water, sports drinks and smart water.

Independence of the Seas activities

A short cruise is all about fun in the sun, making the Deck 11 pool deck a popular spot on Independence of the Seas. The deck is divided into three sections. Forward is the adults-only solarium, aft is the kid-centric Splashaway Bay water play area and center is the main pool area.

The main pool area features two pools, three hot tubs, a bar, a bandstand and dance space and a movie screen. Beginning swimmers can borrow life jackets from the nearby racks. Grab your blue pool towels from the towel station between the main pool and the solarium. You’ll need to sign towels in and out with your keycard; fail to return one and you’ll be charged $25, so keep track of your used towels!

Lounge chairs cover nearly every available surface on decks 11, 12 and 13, and many of them are in direct sunlight. The quietest spots might be on deck 13 forward.

Forward of the main pools, the solarium features two minipools, a bar, shaded lounge space and two oversized hot tubs cantilevered over the sides of the ship — all reserved for adults ages 18-plus. It does not have a retractable roof.

Aft of the main pools is Splashaway Bay. It’s a kiddie water play area complete with junior slides, water sprayers and a dump bucket that soaks everyone nearby, a shallow swimming pool and a separate play area for tots in swim diapers. Two hot tubs here are perfect vantage points for parents — if the kids haven’t taken them over. Not surprisingly, the soft-serve ice cream station and a counter serving fried fish and chicken flank this deck area.

Adrenaline junkies can set up camp on Deck 13 aft, where they’ll find a multipurpose sports court (basketball, pickleball, floor hockey), the FlowRider surf simulator, a rock-climbing wall and the entrance to the two Perfect Storm waterslides. You must be at least 4 feet tall and no more than 250 pounds to ride the Cyclone (220 pounds for the Typhoon); children 12 and under must be supervised by an adult. Both are three-deck-high tube twister slides.

If you dare to boogie board or stand-up surf know that your successes and failures will be cheered by onlookers hanging out in the stadium seating surrounding the FlowRider. Tucker out little cruisers in the Sky Climber, a cat-tree-esque jungle gym for kids, encased in netting.

That weird circular object by the waterslides is the Sky Pad, which used to be a bungee trampoline but no longer. It wasn’t clear what it’s used for now, though I saw open-play archery scheduled there.

A running track weaves around the deck chairs above the main pools on Deck 12. Six laps equal a mile. The only realistic times to run are early morning or in the evening; watch out for wet decking in the morning.

Independence Dunes, the minigolf course on Deck 13 forward, has a fun seaside theme with a lighthouse, whale’s tail and VW bus selfie spot. Cool off with arched misters nearby.

Kick it old school with a game of shuffleboard on the Deck 4 outdoor decks.

If serenity is what you seek, the spa is located on Deck 12 forward, directly above the fitness center. Get your hair and nails done in the salon or melt away your work-life stress with a massage or facial. Acupuncture, medispa treatments (such as Restylane fillers), men’s shaves, waxing and teeth whitening are also on offer. For free stress relief, you’ll find saunas and steam rooms in the men’s and women’s locker rooms.

The expansive gym has rows of cardio machines, Life Fitness resistance stations and free weights. One side of the gym is reserved for spin class, while a workout studio is home to both group classes (yoga, boot camp and more, for a fee) and spa seminars. (Guess what? Based on your footprint analysis, you will need insoles!)

The daily schedule is packed with activities, including trivia, audience-participation games and competitions, art auctions and seminars in the Deck 3 art gallery, sushi or cupcake-making classes, wine or alcohol tasting seminars, silent dance parties and behind-the-scenes ship tours. If you’re over 18, don’t miss the late-night Quest game show, which is decidedly not PG and is absolutely hilarious.

For some retail therapy, browse the shops on the Promenade for souvenirs such as logowear, liquor, beauty products, purses, fine watches and jewelry. The photo gallery and portrait studio are on Deck 3; look up photos on touch screens using your cabin number (we’ve moved on from searching through hundreds of printouts).

The Deck 4 Casino Royale has a special subway-style entrance from the Promenade. Try your luck at the slots and gaming tables. The casino is a popular evening spot, so you’ll have plenty of company to cheer your wins and console your losses.

Related: I earned a ‘free’ cruise in a Royal Caribbean casino — here’s what it cost, plus tips for getting comped

All the fun isn’t just for adults. The kids rule the school on Deck 12 aft, with all the kids hangout spaces conveniently grouped around Johnny Rockets and the arcade. You’ll find numerous table tennis set-ups in the deck areas around the kid spaces.

The Royal Babies & Tots Nursery entertains the youngest cruisers for a fee, but kids ages 3 and up can enjoy supervised fun for free at Adventure Ocean. The different groups of kids — Aquanauts (ages 3-5), Explorers (6-8) and Voyagers (9-11) — have their own play space, but depending on the number of children on board, they might get playtime in another age group’s space. Tweens and teens ages 12 to 17 can play video games and hang out in The Living Room and show off their dance moves in the Fuel teen nightclub.

Note: Kids ages 17 and under must be in their cabins by 1 a.m.

By day, Studio B offers both open ice skating sessions and glow-in-the-dark laser tag (both are free, but require advance signups).

Feeling cerebral? Sign up for the Escape Room, which has a scientific observatory theme. It’s pricy at $44 per person (minimum age 12), and there aren’t as many puzzles to solve as in commercial escape rooms on land. It is a fun way to meet and interact with other guests, but I wouldn’t prioritize it.

Guest services, the shore excursions desk and future cruise sales are all located on the aft end of the Promenade, near the dining room. If you’re looking for a quiet space away from all the hubbub, sneak away to the library on Deck 5 aft. It’s hidden within the Star Lounge lobby, but once inside, you can borrow a book, check email on the computer stations or hide out from the crowds (or your kids, you never know).

Independence of the Seas shows

The resident Broadway musical at the Royal Theater on decks 3 and 4 is a 90-minute version of “Grease.” If that’s not the show you want for some summer lovin’, you can enjoy guest acts, such as comedians and ventriloquists, on the other nights.

Don’t confuse the main theater with the Deck 5 Star Lounge, which is a secondary performance space. Here, you’ll find karaoke and audience-participation games such as “Finish That Lyric.”

Royal Caribbean’s ice shows are always a good time, and Independence of the Seas’ trip through the decades, called “Freeze Frame,” is no exception. You’ll be impressed as much by the numerous costume changes as what the skaters manage to accomplish on a tiny ice rink. Bring a sweater.

I did not have to make reservations for either “Grease” or “Freeze Frame” in advance on this cruise, as I’ve done for shows on other Royal Caribbean ships. Check the cruise app when you’re on board, but unless this changes from cruise to cruise, you’ll only need to show up 15 to 20 minutes in advance to get the best seats.

If you’ve been on other ships in the fleet, please note that the Promenade on Independence of the Seas does not stage parades or concerts. A few themed parties were listed on the daily schedule, but usually, it meant that a DJ was playing louder-than-normal music with nothing else special going on.

Independence of the Seas itineraries and pricing

Independence of the Seas has long sailed short cruises from Florida ports, but in April 2025 the ship will cross the Atlantic to a new spring and summer home port in Southampton, England. From there the ship will sail two- through nine-night cruises to western Europe; seven-night Norwegian fjords cruises; eight-night northern Europe cruises; and a 12-night Canary Islands cruise before sailing back to Florida in October.

The ship will make its fall and winter home in Miami and sail a series of seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, most of which include a stop in the line’s popular private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Related: Eastern Caribbean vs. Western Caribbean cruises: Which itinerary will I like more?

In April 2026, Independence of the Seas will move to yet another new home port, Cape Liberty cruise port in Bayonne, New Jersey. From there, the ship will offer four- and nine-night Canada and New England cruises, five- and seven-night Bermuda cruises and nine- and 10-night Caribbean cruises.

Rates start at the following prices:

• $462 per person for an inside cabin or $697 for a balcony cabin on a three-night Bahamas cruise
• $808 per person for an inside cabin or $1,408 for a balcony cabin on a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise
• $991 per person for an inside cabin or $2,036 for a balcony cabin on a nine-night Canada and New England cruise
• $1,114 per person for an inside cabin or $1,745 for a balcony cabin on a seven-night Spain cruise

What to know before you go

Required documents

When Independence of the Seas sails round-trip from Florida and New Jersey, U.S. citizens can sail with either a current passport or an official copy of their birth certificate and a driver’s license or other government-issued photo I.D.

Guests sailing on transatlantic cruises, sailings from Southampton or one-way itineraries will need a passport. Passports for any cruises must be valid for at least six months.

The name on your reservation must be the same as what’s printed on your passport or other official proof of nationality. Double-check if you’ve recently gotten married or go by a different version of your name.

Related: What documents do you need for a cruise? From passports to printouts, here’s what to take

Gratuities

The room stewards and dining staff on Independence of the Seas are friendly and helpful and deserve an extra thank-you. Royal Caribbean makes that easy by charging you an automatic gratuity of $18.50 to $21 per person, per day, depending on your cabin category, added to your onboard account and final bill. You are allowed to adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking, but please don’t — even if you are disappointed by the service. Gratuities are an important part of crewmembers’ paychecks.

An 18% gratuity is added to bar and specialty dining purchases and a 20% gratuity is added to spa/salon bills. You should not feel pressured to add an additional tip.

Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships

Wi-Fi

Royal Caribbean has one of the fastest Wi-Fi systems at sea, called Voom, and you can take advantage of this on Independence of the Seas. Currently, Wi-Fi packages with streaming bandwidth start at $27.99 per day for one device (or $20.99 per day per device for packages accommodating two, three or four devices), though prices do change over time. You can also purchase 24-hour access for a flat rate of $29.99.

Often you can get the best discounts on onboard Wi-Fi by purchasing your plans online in advance of your cruise. Members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society cruise loyalty program may also be eligible for discounts on Wi-Fi packages.

Certain suite guests and upper-tier loyalty program members receive complimentary Wi-Fi, so know your included perks before you sign up for a package.

Having trouble logging in? A Voom help desk on the Promenade (outside The Collection store) is staffed daily.

Related: How fast is the internet on Royal Caribbean ships? We put it to the test

Carry-on drinks policy

Royal Caribbean guests of legal drinking age can bring one bottle of wine or Champagne onto Independence of the Seas at boarding, plus up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas.

If you want to toast your good fortune in your cabin, you’re good, but if you want to bring your preferred vintage to a restaurant or lounge, you’ll need to pay a $15 corkage fee.

Smoking policy

Smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies, and those who violate this rule will face a $250 cleaning fee.

Passengers can smoke in Independence of the Seas’ casino (cigarettes only) and designated outdoor lounges on decks 4 and 11 portside. The Deck 11 smoking area is adjacent to the seating for Fish & Ships. The casino does offer nonsmoking tables, but the cigarette smoke from the smoking section tends to waft throughout the entire space, and even into the Playmakers Sports Bar next door.

Laundry

Independence of the Seas does not offer self-service launderettes. Passengers can pay extra for laundry, pressing and dry cleaning services.

Electrical outlets

You’ll find two North American-style 110-volt outlets and one European-style 220-volt outlet by the desk/vanity in your cabin. You will not find outlets by the bed or in the bathroom (other than a shavers-only outlet — look up by the mirror as it’s not easy to spot).

Currency

The onboard currency is the U.S. dollar, but you won’t need cash on the ship. You’ll receive a SeaPass card that functions as your shipboard ID, room key and credit card. You’ll charge shipboard purchases (drinks, souvenirs, extra-fee meals, shore excursions and so on) to your onboard account, and Royal Caribbean will charge your credit card on file once the cruise ends. You can check your onboard bill in the cruise line’s app or at Guest Services.

The shops on CocoCay also take your SeaPass card.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on Independence of the Seas.

Dress code

During the day, people dress casually. T-shirts, shorts, athletic wear, casual sundresses and bathing suits are commonly worn on board and ashore. Bring a cover-up to go from the pool back indoors.

In the evening, the ship does have a suggested dress code. On my cruise, the themes were resort casual, dress-to-impress and tropical. Specialty restaurants state their dress codes are smart casual (Giovanni’s and Izumi) or formal (Chops), but on a three-night cruise, the only dress code is nearly anything goes.

I ate at Chops Grille on dress-to-impress night, and I can say that Royal Caribbean cruisers have varied notions of how to impress with their fashion. In Chops, I saw men wearing both shorts and jeans though most were wearing collared polo or button-down tropical-style shirts.

Around the ship on dress-to-impress night, I saw a couple in full-on pirate attire, a group in an across-the-decades theme (one woman wore go-go boots and a mini dress, another wore an ‘80s Jazzercise outfit, and a man had a ‘70s-style shirt and vest with a peace-sign necklace) and several guys in loud tropical-style outfits with matching shirts, shorts and hats. I also saw plenty of guests in floor-length gowns, sparkly dresses and suits.

Figure that the only things that will get you side-eye from the crew in the main dining room and specialty restaurants will be swimwear, bare feet, pajamas and athletic-style tank tops.

Related: Ultimate cruise packing list

Bottom line

Independence of the Seas helps vacationers pack a lot of activity into a quick getaway. The vibe is upbeat and fun, and the ship is large enough to accommodate all types of travelers but not so big as to feel overwhelming on a short cruise. Whether you’re a family with kids, a couple or a group of family and friends, you’ll find your happy place on this ship.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

In the travel credit card world, the options can be overwhelming. You can earn cash back, points, miles or even luxury perks such as airport lounge access or a fast track to elite status. Plus, each card you open can affect which cards and bonuses you’re eligible for in the future. So, you want to make sure that the card you apply for is the right one for you.

Two of the best options are Capital One and Chase cards. Both banks issue a variety of rewards credit cards.

Below, we’re digging into the details to determine which cards are the best in different categories.

Capital One vs. Chase card comparison

The information for the Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Earning rewards with Chase vs. Capital One

All of the cards that earn Capital One miles earn 1.5 to 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase. You’ll also get some specific bonus categories, like hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

With Chase, it depends on which card you have. For example, both the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve earn bonus points on travel and dining. The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, on the other hand, earns 3 points per dollar spent on the first $150,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year in these categories:

• Travel
• Shipping
• Internet, cable and phone services
• Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines

All nonbonus purchases made with these Chase cards earn only 1 point per dollar. However, if you pair your premium card with the no-annual-fee Chase Freedom Unlimited or the Chase Freedom Flex, you can open up even more bonus categories.

Given how easy it is to earn unlimited double miles everywhere with the Capital One Venture Rewards and the Capital One Spark Miles, you’ll find it’s easier to earn Capital One miles unless you spend heavily in Chase’s bonus categories.

Both Capital One and Chase offer cash-back cards that cover a variety of bonus categories, such as dining and travel. Notably, the Freedom Flex and the Freedom Unlimited don’t earn bonus rewards at grocery stores, while the Capital One Savor does.

If you have the right card pairing, you can also turn your Capital One cash-back rewards into transferable miles, making them even more valuable. The same is true for Chase cards; by pairing a cash-back Chase card with an Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you can combine your rewards and transfer them to partners.

Winner: Tie. Both issuers offer valuable earning rates, depending on the card you get.

Redeeming rewards with Chase vs. Capital One

According to TPG’s March 2025 valuations, Capital One miles are worth 1.85 cents each, while Chase points are worth 2.05 cents apiece. This value is based on the average value you can expect to receive when transferring to airline and hotel partners.

You can also use your rewards at a fixed value to cover travel charges or pay for travel. You can use Capital One miles to cover eligible travel charges at a rate of 1 cent per mile, but Ultimate Rewards points can top that number in a few ways.

First, Chase points can be redeemed for 1 cent each as cash back or used to pay for travel booked through Chase Travel℠. When you use points to pay for travel booked through Chase Travel, they are worth 1.25 cents each with the Sapphire Preferred or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card. If you have the Sapphire Reserve, that number jumps up to 1.5 cents each.

Winner: Chase Ultimate Rewards is the winner when it comes to redeeming rewards, thanks to its better transfer ratios.

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?

Transferring rewards with Chase vs. Capital One

Flexibility is key to getting the most value out of credit card rewards. Transferable points and miles are your best friends. Both Capital One and Chase issue cards that earn these rewards.

You earn transferable miles with these Capital One cards:

• Capital One Spark Miles for Business
• Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
• Capital One Venture X Business
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

And you can earn transferable Chase Ultimate Rewards points with these Chase cards:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
• Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

As for transfer partners, Capital One miles transfer to 15-plus airline and hotel partners while Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to 15 programs — but the number of transfer partners doesn’t tell the whole story.

You need to consider the usefulness of each partner loyalty program. Capital One has valuable partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles, Singapore KrisFlyer and Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

Chase points also transfer to Air Canada Aeroplan, Singapore KrisFlyer and Air France-KLM Flying Blue, along with others such as Virgin Atlantic Flying Club (great for All Nippon Airways bookings), United MileagePlus (for booking Star Alliance awards) and World of Hyatt (which is amazing for high-value luxury stays).

Winner: Chase. In all, its points are more valuable thanks to its transfer partners.

Who should get a Capital One card?

Most of the Capital One card offers are great if you prefer simplicity. For example, two of the top Capital One cards, the Venture Rewards and the Spark Miles for Business, both have a $95 ongoing annual fee (waived for the first year for the Spark Miles) and earn 2 miles per dollar.

If you don’t want to worry about juggling cards in your wallet to maximize bonus categories, either of these cards is a great choice to make the most of your spending. Plus, the rewards you earn are super easy to use. There’s a huge value in not having to spend hours figuring out how to squeeze the most from your miles.

Related: Capital One Venture Rewards vs. Capital One Venture X: Worth the extra $300 in annual fees?

Who should get a Chase card?

You must be under the Chase 5/24 rule to qualify for any Chase card. That means you’ll need to have been approved for five or fewer cards from any bank in the past 24 months. If that’s you, start your journey into the world of points and miles with a Chase credit card.

Many of the best airline credit cards, top hotel cards and most valuable general travel cards are issued by Chase. So, it makes sense to get them before you get locked out by the 5/24 rule.

Related: 6 reasons the Chase Sapphire Preferred should be your next credit card

Should I get cards from both banks?

There are some strict application restrictions on applying for cards from Capital One and Chase, but it is possible to get cards from both. Other than the 5/24 rule above, there is no reason not to open cards with Chase and Capital One.

Among the restrictions, Capital One limits you to being approved for one Capital One card every six months.

With Chase, you can’t hold both Sapphire cards simultaneously. Also, if you’ve earned a welcome bonus on a Sapphire card in the previous 48 months, you won’t be able to earn another welcome offer on a Sapphire card.

Bottom line

When it comes to earning credit card rewards, two of the top issuers are Capital One and Chase. Between these banks, you’ll easily be able to find a card to fit your needs.

Chase has cards that earn highly valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which transfer to useful hotel and airline loyalty programs. Capital One has a lineup of cards that earn 2 miles per dollar spent or 2% cash back on every purchase, so you can’t beat the simplicity.

Which issuer is best for you depends a lot on your travel goals and what you want to get out of a card. In most cases, Chase has the more rewarding options, but if cash back is what you’re after, you’ll want to look at what Capital One offers.

Related: Credit cards 101: The beginners guide

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.