PLENARY Allure of the Seas Q Three-Hour Tarmac Rule

CONVENE ON SITE

Allure of the Seas: A Floating Destination

Fu Panda, a guest lecture by artist Peter Max, and the 3-D movie “Megamind.” On the regular seven-day Caribbean cruises, Allure of the Seas will feature the Broadway hit “Chicago.” While most of the 2,700 staterooms

were full, the 1,187-foot-long ship — which beats out sister ship Oasis of the Seas by two inches in length — never felt crowded. Embarking was a breeze. Guests registered online prior to their arrival and, once in the terminal, greeters directed them smoothly through check-in in less than 10 minutes. And despite the ship’s size, its wayfarer electronic map boards make it easy for guests to get oriented. Each stateroom has a delightful

MAKING WAVES: Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas — the largest cruise ship in  the world — can accommodate meetings of 1,500 to 1,800 people.

— Allure of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world. The brand-new vessel, which holds 5,400 passengers, went out on four separate two-day fam trips, starting Thanksgiving weekend, from the Port Everglades terminal in Fort Lauderdale. Once on board, travel industry professionals, including meeting planners, tour operators, travel agents, and media, were wined, dined, and ferried out about 60 miles from land. No matter that it was a cruise to nowhere: The ship is a destination unto itself. Seven “neighborhoods,” including Boardwalk, Sports Zone, Youth Zone, and Central Park, offer activities to suit every taste, from riding a carousel, to wall climbing, to lazing in the glorious Florida sunshine.

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N NOVEMBER, ROYAL CARIBBEAN invited 25,000 guests to experience the launch of its $1.4-billion baby

Guests kicked off their 48 hours with

a tour of the facilities, taking in the 1,300-seat Amber Theatre, 18-foot-deep AquaTheater pool, ice rink, four swimming pools, basketball court, surf simulator, zip-line ride, arcade, lounges, nightclubs, spa, fitness center, rock-climbing wall, 11 whirlpools, comedy club, casino, and 24 eateries, including specialty restaurants and a Starbucks. Entertain- ment included the OceanAria “aqua extravaganza,” the theatrical acrobatic production “Blue Planet,” the “How to Train Your Dragon” ice show, parades of DreamWorks characters, including Shrek and Kung

balcony (portside with ocean view, or inside, overlooking neighborhoods), sofa, flat-screen TV, closet, and bathroom with shower. On deck eight, leafy paths wind around verdant Central Park’s open-air Trellis Bar, past Vintages tapas wine bar, and restau- rants, including Chops, a steakhouse featuring grilled entrees for a flat fee of $25, and 150 Central Park, an upscale venue with a $35 chef’s selection menu. The Solarium, on deck 16, is one of the most relaxing places on the ship. Restricted to adults, the space offers magnificent ocean views, hot tubs, and comfy lounge chairs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

To learn about all the meeting options per ship and per class of ship — including F&B choices for receptions, wine-and-dine programs, and information about the Royal Connect iPhone app, which allows you to upload agendas, access the Daily Compass newsletter, or use a GPS to track your group — visit www.royal caribbeanmeetings.com.

Meetings at Sea On Saturday morning, meeting planners were invited to a special corporate and incentive sales presentation. “We offer a one-stop shop for accommodation, food- and-beverage, entertain- ment, excursions, and transportation,” said Pam Kressley, manager for corporate and incentive

sales, Midwest, West, and Western Canada. “Plus, we have a dedicated business staff and on-board group

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