Allure of the Seas is the second ship in the Oasis class of ships and is owned by Royal Caribbean International. Allure's maiden voyage was November 2010, and it was built in STX Europe shipyard in Turku, Finland. At 220,000 gross tons, this ship hosts 5400 guests and 2165 crew. This is one of the first ships to have interior stateooms with balconies facing interior open spaces. The ship features a zip-line, a casino,a mini-golf course, multiple night clubs, several bars and lounges, a karaoke club, comedy club, four swimming pools, volleyball and basketball courts, theme parks and nurseries for children. Onboard activities are organized into seven themed areas called neighborhoods. Neighborhoods include Central Park, Pool & Sports Zone, Spa & Fitness Center, Boardwalk, Royal Promenade, Youth Zone and Entertainment Place. The sister ship to Allure of the Seas is Oasis of the Seas. Both ships sail from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean. more

From the glory of Greece to the grandeur of Rome, the triumphs and treasures of Western Civilization gleam like jewels along the shores of the Mediterranean. The Eastern Mediterranean is the birthplace of civilization, as we know it and is defined primarily by the region between Eastern Italy, Greece, Turkey, and Israel. Cruise lines offer three types of cruises to Eastern Mediterranean cruises: Athens and the Greek Isles, Ancient Turkey and the Holy Land Cruises. Depending on your ship and departure date, you could visit a number of these countries and ports: Greece - Athen, Mykonos, Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Patmos; Israel - Ashdod, Haifa; Egypt - Port Said and Alexandria; Italy - Venice and Cyprus. Cruises to the Eastern Mediterranean can be very active. They range from 7 to 14 nights and are offered between April and October. Other than the obvious opportunities to visit a number of historical sites, the area has wonderful shopping and offers excellent bargains. The people are friendly and the US dollar can go a long way. more