My wife and I have sailed on a number of different ships on a variety of cruise lines, ranging from the 650-passenger Pacific Princes to the 6,500-passenger Harmony of the Seas. I have also looked at deck plans for dozens more. What we have discovered is that most cruise ships are very similar. I suspect this is the result of studies and evolution of design. Thinking back on my cruises, I realized that four ships on which I have sailed stand out as unusual for a variety of reasons. My main criteria is that each provided a very unique cruise experience. This is not to say that the other ships were not good – many were excellent as well. But they did not provide that uniqueness.
This is the first in my series of unusual ships, starting at the bottom. Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas was definitely a different experience. Say tuned for the top three to come shortly.
4. Harmony of the Seas
I realize that Harmony of the Seas is not unique unto itself. Royal Caribbean has several mega-ships and is adding more. These large ships do provide a very different cruise style than any other ship I have sailed. First of all, their size allows for many additional venues, such as the aqua theater at the rear. The design with interior balconies overlooking Central Park and the Boardwalk provides additional cabin options. Our balcony room overlooked the Boardwalk.
Our room was fine and the staff met our standards for great service, which we have come to expect on cruise ships. This was our first Royal Caribbean trip, so we did not know what to expect. In addition to the items I discuss below, this ship has a lot of unique and interesting features, way to many to discuss in this post.
What I liked about Harmony of the Seas
There is much to like about the Harmony of the Seas. Without a doubt, it offers a greater variety of entertainment and activities that any smaller cruise ship. While this comes with some downside, I recommend everyone try one of these mega-ships at least once to understand their attraction (or repulsion) to many.
Fantastic Entertainment
Without a doubt, the entertainment on Harmony of the Seas was the best I have ever experienced. The production shows were top notch and equal to any Broadway show I have attended. Likewise the skating shows were also fabulous, as was the aqua show. The trip was worth while just for these shows.
Active Promenade
The Promenade is long and open with shops, restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues lining both sides. Since it is extremely wide, it reminds me more of a mall than a ship. The Promenade is always busy, but, unless there is something happening there, it was not overly crowded.
Festive Night Life
There is plenty to do on-board. They have the standard trivia and games that seemed to be less popular than on other ships. There are lots of restaurants and places to sit and talk. With three major show venues, a night club, and various other entertainment options, there is plenty to do at night.
Quiet Central Park
The fore section of the open deck that forms the center of the ship is fashioned after Central Park. It is quiet and a peaceful place to stroll at night. There are few crowds here and plenty of benches for sitting and taking in the atmosphere. We enjoyed walking here after dinner to help us digest our food.
Family-oriented Boardwalk
The aft portion of the open deck is the Boardwalk, fashioned after a beach boardwalk. It even has a carousel. There is always something happening on the Boardwalk. It is lined by coffee shops, hamburger joints, and shops that remind one of an old-fashioned boardwalk. The 10-story slide terminates in the Boardwalk and there is a climbing wall at the aft for those adventurous enough to try it. Overhead is a zip line that is also free to use. Needless to say, the Boardwalk was one of the more crowded areas on the ship, attracting the younger passengers and families.
Exciting Aqua Show
At the end of the Boardwalk is the aqua theater which has a ten story diving platform. The show is only performed when weather permits. Although we experienced some technical difficulties as well, we did get to enjoy some shows, which are unbelievable. Even better, since we had a balcony overlooking the Boardwalk, we could watch shows from our balcony.
Art Gallery and Auction
I have attended many art auctions on other ships, but the gallery and auction on the Harmony of the Seas was the best so far. I think it was the combination of an excellent staff, large display area, and artists I enjoyed. We even bought a Thomas Kinkade painting and another piece – the first and only time we purchased artwork on a cruise ship. I definitely recommend checking out the art gallery and auction, even if you do not wish to purchase anything. They have a great selection, provide lots of entertaining background, and are extremely gracious to all.
Expansive Pool Deck
Deck 15 is where the pools, solarium, hot tubs, and general lay-in-the-sun areas are. Harmony of the Seas has four pools, one of which is designated for adults, so it is easy to find a place to swim. They have morning aerobics classes for free. For the kids, there is a special pool and two crazy slides. I like the solarium area at the fore of this deck. It provided a great place to sit in the sun and read a book without all the noise. There is also a Bistro on this deck, which had great meals. Best of all, self-serve custard machines were available. This is a great place to spend free time.
Fast Embarkation
I was probably most surprised by how quickly we embarked. I was expecting a long wait but we were on board within 20 minutes of stepping off the shuttle. This process was extremely efficient.
Loyalty Club
Although this was our first cruise on Royal Caribbean, we had sailed many time on its sister line, Celebrity. Royal Caribbean has a great policy with regard to loyalty points. They give you status based on your points on any of their lines, so we were provided with Platinum status and given a free soda package, along with a few more amenities, even though this was our first cruise on Royal Caribbean. This was an unexpected benefit and greatly appreciated.
Soda Machines
To our surprise, Royal Caribbean gave us complementary soda packages. With this package, they give you a large cup with a chip in the bottom. There are several soda machines with great selections around the ship where you can get your drinks. The bad part is that you need to carry this cup with you. The great part is that they had a wonderful selection. I don’t drink sodas, but like sparkling water, which they had. Even more surprising, these machines were seldom crowded so it was quick to get a drink.
Robot Bar
A clever robot bar, called the Bionic Bar, is located on the Promenade. To purchase a drink, you place your order at a kiosk. The robotic arms then select a cup and prepare your drink. It is a lot of fun to watch, even if you are not drinking.
What I did not like about Harmony of the Seas
Need Reservations for Show
Without a doubt, the biggest complaint I heard from other passengers was the need to make reservations for the shows. Unlike other cruises, there were only two production shows (versus a different show each night), two ice shows, and one aquatic show. I was fortunate and realized the need for reservations, so made our months in advance. To me, this is a real hassle as I do not like to plan my cruise in such detail. This meant I had to plan meals (which also required reservations) and shows for the entire trip. Even worse, having a reservation did not mean you would get a good seat. People with reservations had to line up 45 minutes prior to the show to get good seats. While I normally go early to get good seats, this seems to defeat the purpose of a reservation. About 10 minutes before the show, they open the doors to persons without reservations who can take any open seats.
Dining Ends at 9 PM
There are few dining options after 9 PM. Even the buffet is closed, which surprised me when I went there for my late evening snack. The only open venues are a small snack bar with finger sandwiches (same every night) and the pizza parlor, plus some paid venues. This was very disappointing and I am told it is a standard policy on Royal Caribbean. I learned to pick up my late night snacks early and take them to my stateroom. While room service was an option, they did not have what we wanted and there was a charge for room service.
Dining Options
We requested fixed dining but ended up with anytime dining, which was difficult to plan. Even though we made reservations and asked for a table with others, we were consistently made to wait and were given a table for two. The food and service were okay, but not up to par with what we get on Celebrity and Princess. Still better than most restaurants. We did use the buffet for breakfast and lunch. It is a nice buffet, but can be very crowded. We ate at the Chops Grille one night – food there was fantastic.
There were a number of other dining options including paid restaurants, pizza, and specialty restaurants, but we ate most of our meals in the main dining room and buffet. The biggest issue we had was that many of the dining venues were crowded, which we expected on such a large ship, and little was available after 9 PM. If we go on one of the mega-ships again, we would make sure we got a fixed seating for dinner and would plan our other meals around less crowded times.
Mall-like Atmosphere
There is a lot to do on this ship. In the evening, much of the action happens around the Boardwalk and Promenade. By “mall-like”, I mean that the atmosphere is like waling around a mall – large hallway with lots of shops on either side and items in the middle of the hallway. Unfortunately, vistas of the ocean are not easily available from the Boardwalk, Promenade, or Central Park, so one does not feel like they are on a ship. This works great for kids and families, but is a very different cruise experience. For us, it was less desirable, but others would love it.
Only Two Elevator Banks
One surprise is that there are only two banks of elevators on this ship. Looking at the deck plans, this does not seem too bad. However, the walk from our room to the nearest elevator at the center of the ship was a long walk and then we had to walk to our destination. Sometimes, the elevators were very crowded. Anyone who has mobility challenges will find the walking can get very tedious. We allowed significant extra time to account for the walking and potentially crowded elevators.
No Views of Ocean
As I mentioned above, we missed the ability to sit in a lounge and watch the ocean go by. Since we had a balcony overlooking the Boardwalk, we did not end up seeing much of the ocean on this trip. I found great comfort in the Solarium where I could sit and relax, while watching the ocean. However, I did not find many other spots for ocean watching.
Crowds
Our cruise had nearly 6,500 passengers plus a large crew. We expected crowds at certain times and in certain locations. For the most part, the crowds were not bad. To our surprise, Royal Caribbean managed the exit from and entry onto the ship at the ports very efficiently. Of course, we encountered crowds in the buffet and the shows. The Promenade and Boardwalk, which often had bands and activities, had continuous traffic and occasional crowds. Many of the shows and activities filled up quickly, so one could not find a seat. We discovered that Central Park was a good place to get away from all the noise and bustle.
Port Limitations
Not all ports can handle a ship of this size. Although many ports are expanding their docks to accommodate the mega-ships, there are still many ports that cannot support a large ship or the number of passengers. This means that the mega-ships have a somewhat limited itinerary. This may or may not be a problem, depending on your objectives. There is plenty to do on the ship to keep you busy and the ports that are visited are lovely. Since we have been to many of the Caribbean ports, our purpose for taking this cruise was to check out the ship.
Hectic Debarkation
I am sure this was a problem with a new ship and crew. Despite a very efficient embarkation, our debarkation was less organized. We had scheduled a tour that dropped us off at the airport, so we had an early departure. All went well until we got into the port building and our luggage was nowhere to be found. The staff seemed very confused, but they did their best to help us. In the end, it turned up that they had left several carts of luggage on the ship, one of which had our bags. To their credit, Royal Caribbean did hold up the excursion for us and we had a great time after we got off. There are a lot of passengers to disembark, so be prepared for potential difficulties.
Who Should Cruise on Harmony of the Seas?
All said, the Harmony of the Seas is an incredible ship. Just the logistics to manage over 6,000 passengers is an incredible feat. We were on one of the initial Caribbean cruises for this ship, so we did expect some glitches. To be honest, there were fewer problems that we would have expected. We had a great time. The shows are fabulous – better than any other ship we have sailed. Entertainment was great. If you are traveling with a family which includes young adults and children this is a great ship for you. There are plenty of activities to keep everybody busy.
The ship is a destination unto itself. The Harmony of the Seas (and its sister ships) are a completely different experience. There is lots to do and a high level of activity. If you want to just relax, there are also locations where you can relax out of the way of the crowds. My recommendations when cruising on one of these ships are:
Select Your Cabin Location Carefully
As we learned, your cabin location will play a significant role in how you experience the Harmony of the Seas. We made several mistakes in selecting our cabin location.
First, we chose a balcony cabin overlooking the Boardwalk, thinking this would prove entertaining. While that was true, we did not anticipate was the noise level, especially at night. The configuration of the ship in essence creates a canyon where sound echos. Between the shows at the aqua theater and other bands and activities in the Boardwalk, the noise levels were excruciating. It was not possible to really enjoy the balcony and, even with the balcony closed, the noise levels made it difficult to relax in the cabin. At times, we could not even hear the TV well.
Second, consider how far you are from the stairwell. On the deck plans, it looked like our cabin was pretty close to the stairwell. However, that proved not to be true and we had a long walk from our cabin to the elevators. Many others closer to the aft of the ship had even longer walks. Pay close attention to the deck plans when selecting your cabin.
Third, you do not see much sea unless you choose a cabin with a view. Overlooking the interior was an interesting experience, but having an ocean facing room would have been more cruise-like and quieter.
My recommendation is that you select a cabin between the two banks of elevators to provide easier access to ship facilities. Also, consider an ocean facing cabin versus the inward facing cabin. If you want something facing the inside, pick a balcony overlooking Central Park. This will be quieter and the view is very pretty, especially at night.
Make Your Show and Dinner Reservations Early
Get online as early as you can and make your reservations for shows and meals. They do fill up quickly and you will be disappointed if you wait until you get on board. We heard many passengers complaining that they did not know about the need to make reservations for shows and were disappointed that they could not see the shows when they wished. My recommendation is to pick all your show times first. Keep in mind any excursions you might be taking so you don’t have to rush back – look at the port times to help you select. After you have the shows picked, they you can figure out dinner times.
Likewise, you might want to schedule your excursions early, especially if you have one that might have limited capacity and will fill up quick. Keep in mind that you are competing with 6,000+ passengers for these times. I found that the need to plan activities was a nuisance, but it does pay off. If you don’t like your time so regimented, this is probably not the ship for you.
Be Prepared for Lots of Walking
This is a large ship. The deck plans do not do justice to how large it is. You will be walking a lot inside the ship. Unlike other ships where you can get to any point in a few minutes, it will take time to get around this ship. In addition to the distances, the elevators can be packed at certain times. Take the stairs if you can. For persons with no mobility issues, the ship can be fun. Even with all this walking, there is so much to see that you do not realize how much you are walking. That helps keep off some of the pounds you might be adding with all the food.
Make Time to Explore
Variety is what this ship is about, so take the time to explore. Don’t forget to check what is located at the bow and stern of the ship. I was frequently amazed to find some hidden gem in the least expected places. Locations for lounging with a great view, ice cream stations, uncrowded eating locations, and more. Every day was an adventure as I was constantly discovering new features of the ship.
Be Patient and Have Fun
Yes, you will encounter crowds and lines. There are a lot of people on this ship. Normally, it does not feel crowded, but dinner and show venues can get crowded. Get to your show early and be prepared to stand in line. Schedule your dinner, but be on time. Accept whatever table they give you. We like tables with others, but they seemed to have more small tables available so we frequently got a table for two instead. Give yourself time so you are not rushed and you will enjoy this ship. I found the crowds added to the fun at certain times, but was upset when some of the activities in which I wanted to participate filled up quickly. However, there is so much to do that I was never idle unless I wanted to be.
Conclusion
I do hope you will try one of Royal Caribbean’s mega-ships, It is kind of like going to a busy port to get the experience of that port. You don’t avoid the port just because there are crowds. You accept the crowds as part of the culture. Harmony of the Seas had a very different culture from any other ship we have sailed. I am glad we tried it, even if it is not the cruise experience we desired.
If you have sailed on a mega-ship, let me know what you enjoyed or disliked in the comments below. Likewise, let me know what ships you think are unusual or unique.
