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Deep Diving: Allure vs Mariner of the Seas (2024) – An Ocean Loving Complete Guide

Introduction

As I sit in my living room, surrounded by photos and memories of cruises, it makes me smile to think back on them all. I spent walking both Allure and Mariner of the Seas — including one insane month where I hopped on each ship back-to-back — I’ve come to see how those two ships differ.

Friends and family have asked me which ship is ‘better’ among the two and to be honest that is like choosing if chocolate or vanilla are better, they are both great but just different!

So here, I am going to take you through my personal journey on both ships and all the little details that could either make or break your choice of a holiday.

"Wow" Moments of the Ships

Allure of the Seas: A Floating Metropolis

The very first time I stepped onto Allure of the Seas, is a moment forever imprinted in my memory. The mammoth size of everything is somewhat overwhelming and I was positively gob-smacked! I still remember my first day — mouth agape, standing in the middle of the Royal Promenade on Deck 5 as the Rising Tide Bar slipped silently to and from one deck to another.

It felt like you were entering a docked floating city with its own Central Park. As I wandered through the ship that first day, I was stopping to see something new.

When I stumbled upon Central Park — a real park on a cruise ship! The smell of green leaves fused with the smell of fresh salty sea air produced an experience I had never, ever encountered on another cruise ship.

Entertainment and Activities Options	Allure of the Seas	Mariner of the Seas
Spa & Fitness Center	Yes	Yes
Shopping	Yes	Yes
Guest Entertainers	Yes	Yes
Live Orchestra	Yes	Yes
Mamma Mia!	Yes	No
Oceanaria	Yes	No
Ice Games	Yes	No
Blue Planet	Yes	No
Sip, Tour, Brunch	Yes	Yes
Pickleball	Yes	Yes
Captain’s Welcome Aboard Reception	Yes	Yes
SHUSH! Silent Party	Yes	Yes
H2O ZoneSM Water Park	Yes	No
Fitness Classes	Yes	Yes
Zip Line	Yes	No
FlowRider®	Yes	Yes
Pool Parties	Yes	Yes
Outdoor Movie Nights	Yes	Yes
Sports Court	Yes	Yes
Live Bands	Yes	Yes
Arcade	Yes	Yes
Carousel	Yes	No
Solarium	Yes	Yes
Mini Golf	Yes	Yes
Art Collection	Yes	Yes
Wine Tasting	Yes	Yes
Rock Climbing Wall	Yes	Yes
Parades	Yes	No
Ice Skating	Yes	Yes
Night Life	Yes	Yes
Salsa Dancing	Yes	Yes
Latin Fiesta	Yes	Yes
Latin Dance Classes	Yes	Yes
Archery	Yes	No
70s Disco Party	Yes	Yes
Cupcake Class	Yes	Yes
Art Auctions	Yes	Yes
Sushi Making Class	Yes	Yes
Card Room	Yes	No
Adventure Science Lab	Yes	No
Dance Classes	Yes	Yes
Aquanauts	Yes	Yes
Pub Performances	Yes	Yes
Imagination Studio	Yes	No
All Access Tour	Yes	Yes
Scrapbooking	Yes	No
Table Tennis	Yes	Yes
Whirlpools	Yes	Yes
Game Shows	Yes	Yes
Babies and Tots Programs	Yes	Yes
Adventure Ocean®	Yes	Yes
Theme Nights	Yes	No
Voyagers	Yes	Yes
Folding Artistry	Yes	No
Pools	Yes	Yes
Explorers	Yes	Yes
On Air Club	Yes	No
Jewelry Making	Yes	No
Club DJs	Yes	Yes
Scuba Certification	Yes	No
Teen Lounge	Yes	Yes
Adventure Ocean Theater	Yes	No
Away We Go	Yes	No
Ice Under the Big Top	No	Yes
Gallery of Dreams	No	Yes
Original Productions	No	Yes
Center Stage	No	Yes
The Perfect Storm℠	No	Yes
Dancing Under The Stars	No	Yes
Typhoon℠ and Cyclone℠	No	Yes
Royal Escape Room℠: The Observatorium	No	Yes
Pool Table	No	Yes
Library & Card Room	No	Yes
Laser Tag: Battle for Planet Z℠	No	Yes

Mariner of the Seas: Boutique Resort Feels

Mariner on the other hand had an entirely a different first impression. After its impressive modification recently, venturing onto the ship still felt like entering a fancy resort Compared to Allure, mariner of the Seas is slightly smaller but still feels a bit more manageable and intimate than Allure of the Seas.

I actually found myself recognizing fellow passengers by day two, something which almost never happened on Allure! The first and most glaring new feature I noticed was the pool deck on Mariner.

The bright Caribbean colors and chic loungers made me feel as though I had stepped into a trendy beach club. My go-to spot to watch the sunset wasThe Lime and Coconut, a signature multi-level bar that spans one end of the ship.

Showtime: My Nights at Sea (Exploring Shows & Events)

Allure's Broadway Nights

Allow me to give you an example of what my perfect night on Allure is like. I’m settled into the main theater for “Mamma Mia!”. The curtain opens and then you are in Greece, but that actually happens in the middle of Caribbean! There is no doubt about the spectacular quality of production.

That evening, I thought of going a little extravagant and opted for the best seats in the house. I was right next to the stage, being able to see each and every expression made. The energy was contagious; I was quietly (I think) singing along to every ABBA record. At “Dancing Queen,” the entire theater was up and dancing…myself included.

Insider Tip: Reservations of show be booked before you board (yes, even AquaTheater shows). I learned this the hard way on my first sailing when I skipped Oceanaria. Not wanting to make the same blunder twice, I tucked it away for use on our next cruise.

This was when I witnessed the high divers jump from their perch into the pool and at that moment with the sun setting behind them; it truly was a memory I will never forget.

Entertainment & Attractions: Exclusive to Allure

“Mamma Mia!” (Broadway show)
Oceanaria (AquaTheater show)
Frozen Games (ice professional)
Blue Planet (another beautiful show)

One of the biggest surprises was the ice skating show “Ice Games”. It was my first time ice show on a moving ship! I was amazed by the skill of the skaters, executing jumps and spins while adapting to movement of the ship.

Mariner's Modern Thrills

Mariner on the other hand takes a different sort of pleasure, and you know what, it’s just as spectacular in its own right. One of the feelings I had in Battle for Planet Z℠ was a sci-fi movie, with myself participating in a laser tag battle. The following day, my better half and I took the stokers through the Royal Escape Room℠: The Observatorium. We did horribly, but it was one of the most entertaining afternoons we had out on the ocean.

Unique features of Mariner include:

Ice Under the Big Top
Gallery of Dreams
The Perfect Storm℠ slides
Laser Tag & Escape Room Experiences

More Dining Discoveries: Nirvana for Foodies

Allure's Culinary Journey

Mmmm, my tummy is already rumbling at the thought of Allure’s dining scene! Here how my ideal day of dining played out:

Park Café in Central Park for breakfast: The legendary made-to-order breakfast sandwiches. I sit down with my breakfast on a quiet bench amid the gardens.

Lunch: This is really mood dependent, but usually one of three things rotated between a few times:

Sorrento’s (the prosciutto pizza haunts me still)
Park Cafe (their signature Kummelweck roast beef sandwich)
Windjammer (for when I can’t make up my mind)

Dinner: This is where Allure completely shines. My number one favourite has to be 150 Central Park… I mean I still dream about their truffle risotto… GiovanniTable is another good one plus they make pasta fresh daily! On one evening I went the full Chef’s Table experience, and as expensive as it was (it was super-fancy), just for the wine pairings that night, it was worth every penny!

Dining Options	Dining Options Available on Allure of the Seas	Dining Options Available on Mariner of the Seas
Chef's Table	Yes	Yes
Samba Grill	Yes	No
Wipe Out Café featuring El Loco Fresh®	Yes	No
Giovanni's Table	Yes	No
Main Dining Room	Yes	Yes
Izumi Hibachi & Sushi	Yes	Yes
Windjammer	Yes	Yes
Johnny Rockets®	Yes	Yes
Dog House	Yes	Yes
Sabor	Yes	No
Chops Grille℠	Yes	Yes
Solarium Bistro Restaurant	Yes	No
Room Service	Yes	Yes
Café Promenade	Yes	Yes
Starbucks®	Yes	Yes
Sorrento's Pizza	Yes	No
Coastal Kitchen	Yes	No
Park Cafe	Yes	No
Vitality Café	Yes	No
150 Central Park	Yes	No
Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver	No	Yes

Mariner's Culinary Scene

Mariner has fewer spots but boasts quality ones. Jamie’s Italian was an instant classic, fresh made pasta by the beach during a sunset just does something to me. Well one night, I got chatting to the chef himself and he revealed his ‘secret’ recipe for arrabiata sauce (sadly, I’m sworn to secrecy!).

Bar-Hopping Adventures

Allure's Nightlife

Allure’s bar scene is heaven if you are a night owl like me. This would be my evening time route:

Start at Rising Tide Bar (time it right to catch the sunset during its ascent)
Head over to Schooner Bar for Piano Hits
Hit Boleros for Latin music and mojitos
Finish your night dancing to live music at Dazzles

Mariner's Cozy Corners

It is more an intimate bar scene down at Mariner’s but it has the same good atmosphere. I started hitting the Bamboo Room, because obviously their craft cocktails are fantastic and they really get to know you with a shot or two. Playmakers℠ Sports Bar & Arcade is perfect for casual evenings, especially during big games.

Activities and Adventures

Although both boats are masters of keeping people busy… however in different ways:

Allure's Active Options

Take a zip line over the Boardwalk (you have to try this first thing in the morning when there are less crowds!)
FlowRider® (me, after my third attempt finally managed to stand up)
Wall Climbing (the top view is amazing)
Mini-Golf (especially epic in the sunset)
H2O Zone Water Park (family friendly)

Mariner's Unique Features

Perfect Storm℠ waterslides (Typhoon℠ is my favorite)
Laser Tag (best at night)
Royal Escape Room℠ (reservations required)
Sports court (improved for pickup games!)
Enhanced sports court (great for pickup games)

Bar & Lounges Options	Allure of the Seas	Mariner of the Seas
Schooner Bar	Yes	Yes
Trellis Bar	Yes	No
Boleros	Yes	Yes
Rising Tide Bar	Yes	No
Solarium Bar	Yes	Yes
Suite Lounge	Yes	Yes
Pool Bar & Sand Bar	Yes	No
English Pub	Yes	Yes
Dazzles	Yes	No
Champagne Bar	Yes	No
Wipe Out Bar	Yes	No
Vintages	Yes	No
Playmakers℠ Bar & Arcade	No	Yes
Viking Crown Lounge®	No	Yes
The Bamboo Room	No	Yes

Pro Tips from My Experience

Dining Reservations

On Allure: Make reservations at specialty restaurants before your cruise
For Mariner, Jamie’s Italian- on formal night is epic
Best tip we learned on board: Open dining is the way to go — for both ships.

Entertainment Booking

Allure: You should probably book shows ahead, especially AquaTheater
Mariner: Book the escape room immediately

Best Times for Activities

FlowRider®: Early morning or port days
Pools: Least crowded one hour before sunset
Specialty restaurants: First or late to ensure best service

Making Your Choice

My final piece of advice, after all my sailings is:

Choose Allure if:

I mean, you have an endless rabbit hole of options.
You Care About Broadway Quality Shows
You like to check out a different studio every day
You care about free food options
You’re traveling with various age groups

Choose Mariner if:

You focus on the cozy environment
You want to test the newest rides
You love meeting crew members
You love to sail on all newly renovated ship
You enjoy a more manageable ship size

A Personal Note on Atmosphere on Both Ships (Allure Vs Mariner)

The thing usually ignored — the different vibes these ships give. Allure is lively, always something going on in some corner. I absolutely LOVE that about it, but for some, it might be a bit too much.

Meanwhile, Mariner strikes the ideal harmony between doing and resting. When you want excitement it is near, but there are still quiet corners.

Final Thoughts: Allure of the Seas vs Mariner of the Seas

But I have a special connection to these two because of 2 different reasons. I am in awe of the grandeur and expansive opportunities that Allure provides, but equally charmed by the way Mariner blends a full complement of modern amenities with an intimate atmosphere. This is truly a matter of what you, as a vacationer, value most in their cruise experience.

Keep in mind that these are just my personal experiences and tastes – every cruiser is different! What Is Most Important To You In A Cruise? Would be glad to suggest more specific recommendations although it depends on what interests you.

Would you like me to dive deeper into any particular aspect of either ship? Life at sea goes on and on in the endless tune so there is more to write about it.