World’s biggest cruise ship to sail in Europe – Royal’s Allure for the Med

The biggest cruise ship in the world will be making Europe its home for the first time during summer 2015. Allure of the Seas, allegedly two inches longer than sister ship Oasis of the Seas, will be operating seven-night cruises in the Mediterranean from May until October.
It also coincides with the deployment of brand-new ship Anthem of the Seas from Southampton, starting in spring next year.
Long-anticipated – ever since Allure was launched in 2010 Royal Caribbean bosses have refused to rule out deployment outside American waters – the move follows a brief season of European cruises for Oasis of the Seas later this year.
While the cruises on Oasis are squeezed into a few weeks either side of a scheduled dry docking, Allure will be here for a whole season, taking on passengers in Barcelona and Civitavecchia, the port for Rome.
Other ports of call on the itineraries include Palma de Mallorca, Marseilles, La Spezia (for Florence and Pisa) and Naples.
Fares have yet been to be announced, but the cruises go on sale to members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society next Wednesday, February 12, and on general sale from February 18.
The 4,180-passenger Anthem will replace 3,634-passenger Independence of the Seas, providing an additional 546 berths per week. Allure, carrying 5,408 passengers, replaces Liberty of the Seas in the Med, bringing an extra 1,774 berths each week.
At a London press conference held in The Shard, UK managing director Stuart Leven said the move “shows there is an appetite for cruising within the UK.” It was a decision based on the company’s confidence in the ship and in the market, he added.
While the UK is expected to be the source for most passengers, Royal’s Dominic Paul said he expected substantial interest from Spain and Italy, as well as Brazil, Australia, and the US.
Extra terminal facilities will be provided in Barcelona and Civitavecchia, and dredging will be required at some ports to accommodate the 1,181-ft long ship, which has a draught of 30 feet.
Allure has a cavernous Royal Promenade inside the ship – filled with bars, restaurants and shops – and an open-air Central Park with thousands of plants and shrubs.
Its main theatre stages performances of the musical Chicago, and there is an open-air AquaTheatre and an indoor ice rink. Adrenalin junkies can take part in zip-wiring, rock-wall climbing, and surving on the ship’s two FlowRider simulators.