Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas are both Royal Caribbean Oasis-class ships, and for a long time the choice between them was fairly straightforward.
Although they launched just a year apart in 2009 and 2010, Oasis of the Seas pulled ahead after a huge $165 million refurbishment that added new attractions, venues, and upgraded spaces. Meanwhile, Allure was left looking noticeably more dated by comparison.
That’s no longer the case. After her own major refurbishment in 2025, Allure of the Seas has finally caught up, bringing her much more in line with the rest of the Oasis-class fleet. So if you’re trying to decide between the two now, the answer isn’t quite as obvious as it once was.
Allure and Oasis: Sisters, Not Identical Twins
Allure and Oasis of the Seas are sister ships, but they are not exactly the same. Allure of the Seas is 5 cm (2 inches) longer, and they don’t quite have exactly the same features onboard.
The Allure of the Seas capacity is the same as Oasis – 6,780 passengers at maximum capacity.
Royal Amplification
The ‘Royal Amplified’ program aimed to refurbish ten of Royal Caribbean’s cruise ships over a four-year period, adding innovative new features at a cost of more than $1 billion.
Oasis of the Seas Amplification
Oasis of the Seas was refurbished in November 2019 as part of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Amplified programme, giving the ship a major update and bringing in many of the features now seen on newer Oasis-class vessels.
The upgrade included the ten-storey Ultimate Abyss dry slide, a redesigned Caribbean-style pool deck, and The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides, adding far more high-energy outdoor attractions. Several new bars and restaurants were also introduced, along with refreshed public spaces, updated technology, and enhancements aimed at families and younger cruisers.
As a result, Oasis of the Seas felt noticeably more modern after her refurbishment, setting the benchmark for what cruisers would later expect from the rest of the class.
Allure of the Seas Amplification
Allure of the Seas was originally scheduled to receive her Royal Amplified refurbishment in March 2020. However, the global pause in cruising meant those plans were put on hold, and instead the ship underwent only essential technical repairs to her propulsion system in May 2020.
Fast forward to March 2025, and Allure finally had the upgrade many cruisers had been waiting for. Her refurbishment introduced a refreshed pool deck, new waterslides including the Ultimate Abyss, updated bars and dining venues, and improved family spaces, bringing her much more in line with the rest of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships.
It’s been a long time coming, but Allure of the Seas now offers an experience comparable to Oasis of the Seas – and depending on what you value most, she may even have the edge.
Differences Between Allure and Oasis of the Seas
For a long time, the main differences between these two sister cruise ships were due to the fact that Oasis of the Seas has been extensively refurbished, and Allure of the Seas had not.
But that’s now changed – and so the list of differences between the two ships is much smaller.
Pesky Parrot Bar – Allure
The Pesky Parrot is a vibrant, Caribbean-inspired bar that offers a laid-back paradise atmosphere. Enjoy tropical cocktails made with rum, tequila, and gin, along with refreshing frozen drinks.
This bar made its debut on Utopia of the Seas when she first set sail in mid-2024, so Allure of the Seas is only the second ship to feature the venue.
Mason Jar Restaurant – Allure
Mason Jar is a Southern-inspired restaurant and bar aboard the Wonder of the Seas, Utopia of the Seas and now Allure of the Seas.
Expect a warm, homespun vibe and a delicious take on American Low Country and Bayou classics.
Savour tender BBQ, smoky meats, and bold flavours, alongside brunch favourites like Breakfast Biscuits with sausage gravy or Sweet-Tooth Cinnamon Rolls. In the evening, enjoy comfort food like Gran’s Fried Chicken and Lobster ‘n’ Crawfish Gumbo.
Portside BBQ – Oasis
Whereas Allure got Mason Jar, Oasis has Portside BBQ, which offers authentic, slow-cooked barbecue favourites, featuring tender brisket, pulled pork, burnt ends, and turkey legs.
Pair your meal with crave-worthy sides like homemade cornbread and macaroni cheese. Don’t forget to save room for desserts like the indulgent Banana Dream and Chocolate Brookie for the perfect finish to your BBQ feast.
Amplification Features the Ships Now Share
Most of the features that Oasis of the Seas got in the 2019 Amplification are now shared with Allure of the Seas following her 2025 renovation. Of course, everything will feel a bit newer on Allure, since she got all of these features 5.5 years after her sister:
Enhanced Adventure Ocean
Both ships now have a bigger and better kids’ club where children can choose their own adventures. The enhanced Adventure Ocean area has a kids’ theatre, a science lab and an impressive new teen area with its own outdoor deck.
Water Slides
Each ship has three waterslides – Cyclone, Typhoon and Supercell. Collectively, these are known as The Perfect Storm.
Kids’ Water Park
Both ships now benefit from the Splashaway Bay water park, which has two giant tipping buckets, three small water slides and a selection of fountains and water cannons.
New Pool Areas
The new pool areas on Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas are really nice, with a funky tropical theme and the addition of day beds, hammocks and cabanas. Here is where you’ll also find the new Lime & Coconut bar.
Escape Room
Oasis of the Seas features an escape room game called Mission Control: Apollo 18, and Allure of the Seas has one called Apollo 18: Lunar Landing. This is Royal Caribbean’s newest escape room game, and both are suitable for guests ages 12 and over.
The Ultimate Abyss
The tallest slide at sea has been added to Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas. Not for the faint-hearted, guests can slide down ten decks at a rate of nine miles per hour.
Other Facilities on Both Ships
Features you’ll find across both Oasis and Allure include:
- Zip line
- Rock climbing wall
- Arcade
- Mini golf
- Ice skating
- Flow Rider surf simulators
- Merry-go-round
- Pools and whirlpools
- Sports court
- Table tennis
- Casino
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Restaurants
There are some differences in the restaurants on board the two ships. The table below shows which dining venues you can expect on Allure and Oasis of the Seas.
| Dining venue | Allure of the Seas | Oasis of the Seas |
|---|---|---|
| 150 Central Park* | YES | No |
| Cafe Promenade | YES | YES |
| Chef’s Table* | YES | YES |
| Chops Grille* | YES | YES |
| Coastal Kitchen** | YES | No |
| Dog House | YES | YES |
| El Loco Fresh | YES | YES |
| Giovanni’s Table* | YES | YES |
| Izumi Hibachi & Sushi* | YES | YES |
| Johnny Rockets* | YES | YES |
| Main Dining Room | YES | YES |
| Mason Jar* | YES | No |
| Park Cafe* | YES | YES |
| Portside BBQ* | No | YES |
| Room Service* | YES | YES |
| Sabor* | YES | No |
| Sorrento’s Pizza* | YES | YES |
| Starbucks* | YES | YES |
| Sugar Beach* | No | YES |
| Vitality Cafe | YES | YES |
| Windjammer | YES | YES |
** denotes a restaurant only available for Pinnacle Club members
One much-talked-about highlight is El Loco Fresh. This Mexican fast-food restaurant is included in your cruise fare.
And the key difference is the speciality venues – Oasis of the Seas has Portside BBQ while Allure of the Seas now has Mason Jar.
Bars & Lounges
Oasis of the Seas has more bars than Allure of the Seas. The table below shows which bars and lounges you’ll find on each ship.
| Bar | Allure of the Seas | Oasis of the Seas |
|---|---|---|
| Bionic Bar | No | YES |
| Boleros | YES | YES |
| Champagne Bar | YES | YES |
| Dazzles | YES | No |
| Diamond Club* | YES | YES |
| English Pub | YES | YES |
| Lime & Coconut | YES | YES |
| Pesky Parrot | YES | No |
| Playmakers | YES | YES |
| Pool Bar & Sand Bar | YES | No |
| Rising Tide Bar | YES | YES |
| Schooner Bar | YES | YES |
| Solarium Bar | YES | YES |
| Suite Lounge | YES | YES |
| Trellis Bar | YES | YES |
| Vintages | YES | YES |
| Wipeout Bar | No | YES |
The Bionic Bar is a must-visit, with robot bartenders mixing the drinks. The new Lime & Coconut bar is also a popular choice for poolside drinks.
Final Word
For several years, Oasis of the Seas had a clear advantage over Allure of the Seas. While Oasis surged ahead after her 2019 refurbishment, Allure’s long-delayed upgrade meant she gradually fell behind the rest of the Oasis-class fleet.
That gap has now closed. Following her 2025 refurbishment, Allure of the Seas feels fresh, modern, and fully up to date, with many of the same headline attractions and family-friendly features as Oasis – and in some areas, even a slight edge thanks to her newer venues.
Today, the differences between these two sister ships are surprisingly small. Oasis of the Seas still has a few exclusive favourites, while Allure of the Seas brings newer additions like Mason Jar and Pesky Parrot to the mix. But overall, both ships offer outstanding entertainment, dining, and onboard experiences.
If you’re choosing between them now, it really comes down to personal preference and itinerary rather than one ship being objectively better than the other. Pick the sailing that suits your dates, destinations, and budget – because whichever one you choose, you’re getting one of the best mega-ships Royal Caribbean has to offer.
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Related Posts:
- Royal Caribbean Drinks Package: Is It Worth It?
- Allure of the Seas Suites Guide
- Oasis of the Seas Suites Guide
- Oasis Of The Seas Central Park – Your Complete Guide
Pretty heinous use of AI for some of these renderings.
Thanks for your comment. Cruise lines design areas of the ship before they are build and they release these images for publishers such as myself to use. I find these to be helpful to see what a ship looks like before it exists in real life, which is why they’re used. I’m sorry that you find that to be ‘heinous’, but many of us enjoy seeing the designs in advance. Jenni
Send me quotation for 2023
Hi! If you live in the UK you can get a quote here: https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/cruise-quote/