Harmony Aboard Royal Caribbean

I have been looking forward to our spring break aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas for quite a while. We had sailed on her sister the Allure of the Seas a few years ago and were eager to see all the improvements.

The third Oasis-class ship to join the fleet, Harmony of the Seas, at 226,963 grt and with 5,479 guests (double occupancy), is nearly 1,700 tons larger and able to accommodate 100 more passengers than her sister Allure of the Seas, which previously held the record as the world’s largest cruise ship. And although all sisters are similar in design and features, Harmony of the Seas boasts her own new additions.

Royal Caribbean advertises the ship as its “biggest and boldest adventure to ever set sail,” and I certainly agree. She is geared toward families, couples, and anyone young at heart looking to inject a little adventure into their onboard experience.  Let’s look at what’s in store for those who take to the high seas aboard the world’s largest and arguably most impressive, technology-rich cruise ship.
First impressions of Harmony of the Seas (aside from the fact that she is huge) are fun, bold, and colorful.  The updated modern look and updates over her sisters are very well executed.  She is a true masterpiece in every sense and a feeling of excitement sweeps over you from the instant you step aboard and realize that adventure lies around every corner.

Each of her seven neighborhoods has a distinct feel and vibe, and each are adorned with some of the most incredible pieces of art at sea. Onboard amenities are similar to those found aboard the other Oasis-class ships as well as the line’s Quantum-class ships: spacious, tastefully decorated, and some of the most innovative must-dos at sea. The beauty of the design is that even with 6000 guests on board you never feel crowded!

Dining

When on the world’s biggest cruise ship, you expect a selection of astounding menus, and Harmony of the Seas certainly delivers on her dining options. With no less than 18 venues on board, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Jamie’s Italian, from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, is a new favorite of ours!  The service and food were truly outstanding.  The restaurant also benefits from a great location: right in the middle of Central Park, where you’ll also find Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, and Vintages Wine Bar. After dinner, grab a drink at the Rising Tide Bar for a unique perspective of the Royal Promenade, as the bar slowly ascends and descends between three decks.

We found one of our old favorite specialty dining options - Chops seemed to be a bit too busy for the holiday week.  Although the food lived up to expectation, the service suffered as they seemed to be at over capacity.

150 Central Park by Michael Schwartz had excellent food but frankly was a bit underwhelming for the price.

The Main Dining rooms delivered quality meals with exceptional service and the Windjammer buffet always had tasty selections at all hours of the day.


Activities

So much to do and so little time! 

Our active boys where always busy utilizing the Flowrider, waterslides, zip-line, mini-golf, ice skating, or rock wall. 

One of my favorites was participating in one of the most tech-heavy Escape Rooms on board – The Rubicon ($9pp fee).   If you have never done a good escape room they are a lot of fun as you work as a team to solve puzzles to escape your room within one hour.  I will not give away the puzzles but our group unfortunately perished in space as we failed. According to our ‘guide’ only 30% of the participants finish to ‘escape’. Despite our failure we had an amazing experience.



Onboard Entertainment

There’s no shortage of entertainment options aboard Harmony of the Seas. In fact, you might struggle to fit in everything you want to do. If there is one thing you must see during your cruise, however, it is Grease! The Musical. The production, which makes its debut at sea, is arguably one of the best aboard any ship. Let your hair down and sing along to classics such as “Greased Lightnin’,” “Summer Nights,” and “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee.”




Another show that shares the 1,380-guest Royal Theater is Columbus, The Musical! , which tells the hilarious, imaginary tale of Christopher’s luckless cousin Marvin, as he embarks on a wacky voyage to the Caribbean. This fun performance features a revolutionary set design and is also not to be missed.



The Fine Line and Hideaway Heist are shows that are performed at the AquaTheater, the distinct high-diving, acrobatic performance venue that was first introduced aboard Oasis of the Seas. The Fine Line features mind-blowing stunts, incredible acrobatic performances, and enough adrenaline to keep you gripped from start to finish. Hideaway Heist is fun for the whole family with its comical, 1950s holiday resort vibe.

Other entertainment options include The Attic, Harmony of the Seas’ nightclub, as well as the dance parties on the Royal Promenade that take guests back in time with ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s music. For something different, check out the ice shows in Studio B.

Other Great Spaces

If you want peace and quiet while relaxing in beautiful surroundings then find yourself a lounger in The Solarium. This is a stunning space and, unlike the Solariums aboard other ships, has sectioned breaks in the glass to allow fresh air to flow through. It also has its own bar, so there’s no need to venture far for refreshments. The views are stunning and it’s one of those places that lifts the everyday stresses from your mind the instant you step through the door.

On Land

Labadee – Royal Caribbean’s Private Island.  Visiting private islands is a favorite for us in the Caribbean – a great way to have a simple beach day. But our ‘beach day’ was not simple!  In fact, I think we were in the water a total 30 minutes.  My boys received a ‘Labadee Experience’ for Christmas which consisted of an all-day pass for the mountain coaster and a trip on Dragon’s Flight zip line.  he whole family enjoyed the mountain coaster where you control your own speed down the mountain.  Spectacular views and a thrilling ride!  Add a beach BBQ to round out a perfect day in the Caribbean sun,


Cozumel – We have been to Cozumel too many times to count so we were looking for a different adventure.  Cozumel Amazing Race was just the right type of excursion.  If you have ever seen the CBS show on TV the excursion was very similar.  We had clues we had to solve and then run to our next location.  The course had us going to off-the beaten path locations in Cozumel across almost 4 miles! There even was a clue that required us to take a boat for some snorkeling!   Being the competitive person I am we did not get off to a great start with the first clue … but we covered some lost ground and came in second among a field of 8 teams!


Top  Highlights

Ultimate Abyss: At 10 stories tall, it’s the tallest duo of slides at sea. Towering above the ocean waves by more than 100 feet, it’s not for the faint-hearted.

The Perfect Storm: This trio of waterslides spirals five decks above Central Park. Typhoon and Cyclone are racing slides and Supercell features a champagne bowl that swirls guests around until they come to the final splash.


Grease! The Musical: This is an absolute must-see in the Royal Theater.

Bionic Bar: Although it can take a while to get your drink when it’s busy, it is certainly worth trying at least once, just so you can say that you ordered a drink from a robot bartender aboard the world’s biggest cruise ship.



Signature Favorites: Set a time to try out Chops Grille, Jamie’s Italian, The Dog House, and the Schooner Bar.


Zip-Line: Fly high above the decks as you zip from one side of the ship to other. At 10 decks up and 120 feet above the Boardwalk, it’s not for those afraid of heights!



AquaTheater: Watch an impressive water acrobatics show at sea.

Studio B: A multipurpose studio complex that offers incredible ice shows featuring professional skaters from around the world.

In summary it was a fantastic week ... and we look forward to repeating our favorite activities and restaurants in October for our Dream Vacations National Conference aboard the Harmony of the Seas!