Live from the shipyard on Allure of the Seas: Check out this cruise ship’s $100M glow-up

March 26, 2025

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10 min read

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Allure of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world, will turn 15 later this year. For the vessel's birthday, Royal Caribbean is giving it a shiny new coat of paint and so much more during a dry-dock refurbishment that's costing the line more than $100 million.

When the ship debuted in 2010 as the second member of Royal Caribbean's famed Oasis Class, it offered more than two dozen bars and restaurants, stand-alone Starbucks and Johnny Rockets locations, two FlowRider surf simulators, a carousel, a zip line, an ice skating rink, and an aft-facing AquaTheater that hosts high-dive performances.

A view of part of a ship's hull while it's in dry dock at a shipyard — Part of the hull of Allure of the Seas in dry dock in the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

It has always been cutting-edge, but now, with its current dry dock, it's seeing the addition of several concepts that have proven successful on other ships in the fleet. They include a Playmakers sports bar, the Pesky Parrot and The Lime & Coconut bars, The Mason Jar Southern comfort food restaurant, The Perfect Storm waterslides and a 10-deck Ultimate Abyss dry slide, among other new amenities and face-lifts.

The ship has also been outfitted with 30 additional cabins, including two Panoramic Suites above the bridge (the ship's control center) which offer 200-degree views of the ocean. The new accommodations will allow space for more passengers per voyage, bringing the new double-occupancy (two cruisers per cabin) passenger capacity to 5,718 people.

A hand with purple nail polish holding a visitor pass for cruise ship Allure of the Seas — Preparing to visit Allure of the Seas at the shipyard. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

When Allure of the Seas emerges from dry dock, it will sail a season of Europe voyages in summer 2025, offering seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades in November 2025. From there, it will sail six- to eight-night Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean cruises.

The vessel is currently under construction at the Navantia shipyard in Cadiz, Spain, and TPG was invited for a tour. Here are photos of the vessel, which is slated for completion in April.

Pesky Parrot

A cruise ship tiki bar under construction with two totem poles on one side — The Pesky Parrot, which first debuted on sister ship Utopia of the Seas, will replace the Champagne Bar on Deck 5 of the Royal Promenade, across from the guest services desk. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Playmakers

An unfinished cruise ship restaurant under construction with several inward-facing balcony cabins above it — On the newly refurbished Allure of the Seas, Playmakers sports bar will replace former Mexican restaurant Sabor on Deck 6 of the Boardwalk. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Ultimate Abyss

The entrance to a cruise ship slide, which looks like an anglerfish — The entrance to the Ultimate Abyss dry slide on Allure of the Seas. The 10-deck slide starts on Deck 16 and ends on Deck 6. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

The Mason Jar

A cruise ship restaurant under construction with hanging wires, a ladder and other tools and equipment — This space on Deck 15, formerly the teen hangout on Allure of the Seas, will become the Southern comfort food restaurant The Mason Jar. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Ultimate Panoramic Suites

A cruise ship cabin under construction — This space will become a bedroom in one of two Panoramic Suites on Allure of the Seas. The new cabins are located above the bridge on Deck 17 and offer 200-degree sea views. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

The Perfect Storm

A trio of colorful, winding cruise ship waterslides — Royal Caribbean's trio of The Perfect Storm waterslides has been added to Allure of the Seas, running from Deck 18 down to Deck 15 by the ship's main pools. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Splashaway Bay

An under-construction kids water play area on a cruise ship — New for kids on Allure of the Seas is the water play area Splashaway Bay on Deck 15. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Crown Lounge

A public area under construction on a cruise ship — It doesn't look like much now, but this space will eventually be the Crown Lounge for loyalty members on Allure of the Seas. It was relocated to the former teen disco space on Deck 15. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Adventure Ocean

A room with rainbow walls that's under construction on a cruise ship — Allure of the Seas' Adventure Ocean kids club will stay in its current location on Deck 14 — but with a major refresh. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Teen hangout

A small lounge area for teens on a cruise ship under construction — The teen club on Allure of the Seas has relocated to a smaller space on Deck 15, behind the video arcade. It will now go by the name Social298. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Pool decks

A construction zone on an open cruise ship deck with a hot tub nearby — During its refurbishment, Allure of the Seas had new deck space (and two new hot tubs) added on Deck 16, overlooking the main pools on Deck 15. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Cabanas

A cruise ship cabana under construction on the pool deck — Several new cabanas have been added to Allure of the Seas' Deck 16 outdoor area, overlooking the main pools on Deck 15. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Solarium sun deck

An outdoor deck on a cruise ship — During Allure of the Seas' refit, the ship had its Solarium adults-only spaces spruced up, and a brand-new outdoor sun deck area was added at the front of Deck 15. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Carousel

FlowRider

AquaTheater

An outdoor theater on a cruise ship with stadium seating and high-dive platforms — Wooden bench seating and stairs were replaced with prefabricated material at Allure of the Seas' AquaTheater at the end of Deck 6 of the Boardwalk. Otherwise, the space remains largely unchanged. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Other tweaks

Part of a construction zone on a cruise ship during refurbishment — Part of the construction area in Central Park on Allure of the Seas. The space on Deck 8 features thousands of live plants but has not undergone significant changes during dry dock. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Other tweaks to Allure of the Seas include the replacement of worn signage, new carpeting and soft furnishings in some areas, refinished rock-climbing walls, and the addition of an escape room on Deck 14 where the card room used to be.

Find out more about Royal Caribbean:

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Featured image by ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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