Partying in a city on the ocean.

Charleston pictures still aren't on my computer, so I've decided to do a couple simple posts on the cruise I took with my sister and parents...last May. Better late than never? Truth be told, I've been hesitant to write about the trip for a couple reasons. It was the last vacation I took with my mom and even worse, it was also kind of the beginning of the end for her.

With about three days left on the cruise, she started experiencing horrific stomach pain that not only forced her to spend the bulk of her time in the cabin, but also sent her on a couple trips to the ship infirmary (to no avail). The cancer was causing intestinal blockages, so she was unable to eat without extreme pain and vomiting. This would only worsen over the coming months, leading to a botched surgery and her complete reliance on IV nutrition. We spent the last couple days of the vacation in a borderline-dysfunctional state of worry and anxiety that really hindered our ability to relax and enjoy the trip.

But BEFORE that happened, we had a truly amazing time together. I had never been on a cruise before and I was absolutely blown away by the convenience, activities, and amenities on the ship itself. We set sail on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas and now I feel downright spoiled by the experience. There was no shortage of things to do on the ship and it took us a few days to even see the entire thing!

Today, I'll focus on the ship itself. My sister and I shared a room while my parents shared the room next to us. We each had a balcony overlooking the boardwalk with a view of the back of the ship and the AquaTheater. When I say the ship was crazy, I mean THE SHIP WAS CRAZY. Here's what we could do on our glorious days at sea:

- Pools and water park. We spent most of our pool time in the adults-only, relaxing solarium, but there was also a legit water park for kids. Throughout the cruise, the crew hosted dance parties and other events on the pool deck and that was also my go-to spot for soft serve ice cream. There was a FlowRider surf simulator that we didn't have time to try, but we did watch the experts perform a show on it.

Solarium.

- AquaTheater. This theater hosted two different water-related, Cirque du Soleil-type shows that featured high diving and acrobatics. It also boasted an enormous projection screen that was used to show movies throughout the day.

- Ice skating rink and comedy club. We didn't have time to skate ourselves, but we attended an impressive ice skating show one evening and watched some stand-up comedy another night.

- Gym, spa, and outdoor track. Jamie and I admired the ocean views and did quite a few laps on the outdoor track that followed the perimeter of the entire ship.

- Bars and restaurants. Too many to name. Some included in the price of the cruise, others not. Some buffet-style, others a la carte. A 24-hour pizza place, a bakery, a Ben & Jerry's, a Mexican restaurant, a steakhouse, an upscale Italian spot, a candy shop, massive buffets, Starbucks, a sushi joint, Johnny Rockets, a hot dog restaurant, and more. The bars were just as varied - a salsa dancing bar, a piano bar, an English pub, a sports bar, a champagne bar, a dance club, a bar that moved up and down from one level to another, etc. Anything you can imagine was probably on this ship.

Sample menu from one night at dinner. Different options every night!

- Main Theater. This indoor theater hosted a Broadway-quality production of Mamma Mia!, a Beatles tribute band, a Newlywed show, and original shows put on by Royal Caribbean.

- Outdoor sports park. This area of the ship had basketball and volleyball courts, putt-putt golf, ping pong tables, an enormous rock climbing wall, etc. There was also a zip line that went from one side of the ship to the other, but we didn't have time to try that.

- Casino, arcade, library, and art gallery. Pretty self-explanatory. The art gallery hosted art auctions a couple times throughout the cruise.

 - Carousel and Boardwalk. Channeling a Coney Island-like feel, this part of the ship (which we could see from our balcony) housed a big carousel, the Johnny Rockets, the candy shop, the Mexican restaurant, and the hot dog restaurant.

- Central Park. This stunning part of the ship honestly looked like an outdoor park with massive trees, garden tours, and piped-in cricket sounds for the full effect.

Live music. Tons of trivia shows. Towel folding classes. People dressed as characters (Jack Sparrow, Puss in Boots, etc.). Wine tasting. Dance lessons. Outdoor movie nights. Cooking classes. Game shows. Parades. Scrapbooking. Themed parties. Bingo. Shopping on the promenade. Karaoke. Unlimited Diet Dr. Pepper.

That's the bar that traveled up and down between various decks.

We also happened to be on the cruise during Cinco de Mayo, so the culinary staff made the biggest cake I've ever seen in celebration. There was also a Cinco de Mayo fiesta on the promenade.

You truly didn't have enough time to experience everything on the ship.

...and the dinners. Oh, the dinners. We chose to set reservation times for dinner in the main dining room each night. We had a table to ourselves, the same hilarious waiter every evening, and a delicious three-course meal (that you could order seconds of!).

Have I convinced you to peruse the Royal Caribbean site yet?

I'll be back soon with a post on the ports we hit.