Let me just say as well how fun it was to cruise so close to Christmas! There were so many little touches to celebrate the season! I'm talking holiday meals in the dining room, Christmas music, holiday themed games and activities, a giant gingerbread house, Christmas COOKIES at Cafe Promenade and the Windjammer, giant snowflakes hanging from the ceiling on the Royal Promenade, Christmas movies at the AquaTheater, AND the Big Man himself, Santa Claus, made an appearance for photos!!! I just LOVE Christmas (obviously!) and spending it on a cruise was a blast!
The Size
Harmony of the Seas is the newest ship to Royal Caribbean. Her maiden voyage was back in May of 2016, so the sailing we went on was still part of her inaugural season. The Harmony is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. Yes, you read that correctly, the WORLD. It holds 6,780 passengers and 2,300 crew. When we went on the Harmony, it was a sold out cruise. You would think that my next sentence would be about how crowded it felt and how we missed out on shows because we couldn't get a seat. You couldn't be more wrong. This ship is so huge, and has so much going on that there was never an instance where we felt crowded or missed a show or event. To give you an idea about the size, if they were to stand the Harmony vertically, it's taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the Sagrada Familia in Spain, Big Ben in London, the Tower of Pisa in Italy, and the Colosseum in Italy! Those stats came right off my souvenir t-shirt that I bought on board!
The Neighborhoods
There's more to this ship than just the size. What I love most about the Oasis class ships, is how there are seven distinct neighborhoods on board. This ship feels like a floating city. As you walk from deck to deck, you feel as if you are in a completely different part of town. Each neighborhood is specific and beautiful and designed in such a way to bring you the ultimate comfort and entertainment.
Royal Promenade: The most "happenin'" place on any cruise ship is the Royal Promenade. The Royal Promenade is located on deck 5, and it is where you board the ship on embarkation day. What you will find on the Royal Promenade is a variety of bars, restaurants, and shops. It is also one of the best locations on the ship to cross over from the aft to the forward. So what can you find on the Promenade? The right question is what can't you find?! Hungry? Check out Sorrento's for all you can eat (complimentary) pizza. This is also the location of 2 of the Coke Freestyle machines if you purchased the soda (or higher tiered) drink packages. Also, the cups that you get for buying a beverage package were Christmas themed! LOVE it! If you are trying to go more on the healthy side for a snack, check out Cafe Promenade. Here is your one stop for little sandwiches or wraps. This is also the FREE dessert spot! Cafe Promenade has a variety of cookies, and other "two bite" desserts like cheesecake and brownies. My personal favorite cookie is the Coconut Ranger- if they are fresh and not overcooked! What was fun about this holiday cruise was that they had Christmas cookies! So cute!
If you are searching for an "adult beverage", check out the Boot and Bonnet- an old English styled pub, or the Bionic Bar- where robots create your drink! I talked more in detail about the Bionic Bar in my Anthem of the Seas post- check it out! Another cool Oasis class addition is the Rising Tide Bar. This bar is found on decks 5 and 8. Whether you get on at 8 or 5, you will take a ride on this awesome bar. Check it out here! You can also check out the Latin themed bar Boleros, or head up to deck 6 to check out the Schooner Bar. The Schooner is nautical themed bar that is home to awesome music at night, and trivia during the day. This is probably the largest, most comfortable, and most open Schooner Bar that we've seen on any RCI ship. The Schooner is a favorite of ours, and it's open balcony gives you the perfect view of the Royal Promenade during parades and dance parties. The best part of the Schooner would have to be the couch that is shaped like a boat. Perfect photo op!
If you are bitten by the shopping bug, the Promenade is the spot for you! You will find shops that sell department store brand make-up (Estee Lauder, Clinique, etc.), jewelry stores, a sunglasses shop, liquor, and clothing. Across from the Schooner on deck 6 is a photo shop where you can use one of the iPad kiosks to find and order all pictures that have been taken of you on board by the professional photographers. The Royal Promenade on the Harmony is also home to its very own Kate Spade boutique. They actually did not open the shop until Day 4, and the shop is so small that they only allow a few people in at a time. This is not like the other shops that tend to stay open for longer periods of time. They did have some items marked down, and I did score a pair of earrings I had been pining over for months now. The shop mainly sells handbags but they also had jewelry and sunglasses.
Finally, one of my favorite places on any RCI ship is NextCruise. This is where you go when you are ready to book your next cruise! It's become a running joke when Will and I get home from a trip if we have booked our next cruise and we always say YES! It's the best deal you can find, and you get to talk face-to-face with one of Royal Caribbean's fabulous staff members that can answer all of your booking questions.
Central Park- Take a stroll through Central Park in the center of the ship, deck 8. Central Park is a unique location on any Oasis class ship. The middle of these ships are cut out, so as you walk through Central Park, you really are outside. There are 12,000 trees and plants beautifully groomed in Central Park. This is where you will find your upscale dinner options including Vintages wine bar, Chops Grill, Jamie's Italian, 150 Central Park, and the complimentary Park Cafe. Park Cafe is the spot for a great big salad, or a sandwich if you are getting tired of the buffet scene. Will and I would go and get a caesar salad to-go, and then go eat it at Sorrento's with a couple of slices of pizza- yum! You can also do some high-end shopping at Central Park at store like Cartier, Omega, Bulgari, and Hublot. This is also a drop off (or hop on) location of The Rising Tide Bar, as well as the Trellis Bar. Once inside of deck 8, at the aft of the ship, you will find the 2 story night club Dazzles. You can actually stay in a balcony room with a Central Park view. Central Park is gorgeous and it's a little getaway from all the hustle and bustle of the rest of the ship. It feels like 2 totally different places if you go during the day and at night. Will and I love dressing up and going to dinner and eating out on the patio of of the restaurants- it's the perfect date night! A lot of nights there will be a musician playing live music as well. I can close my eyes and imagine it now! Take me back!
Boardwalk: My FAVORITE place on the ship! At the aft of the ship on deck 6 you will find the Boardwalk. As you step out on to the Boardwalk, all the familiar sites, sounds, and smells of a real Boardwalk overtakes your senses. The first thing you see is the giant carousel that children (and adults!) of all ages can take (free) rides on. You'll immediately smell the hotdogs cooking at the Boardwalk Dog House- stop by for a complimentary hot dog! Across the way you will see a full-service Starbucks. There are a few shops on this deck, including The Shop, home to all Royal Caribbean souvenirs. There's an arcade, Johnny Rockets, and the most amazing Mexican food at sea, Sabor. Sabor has an a la carte menu and is not complimentary. The food is incredible, and the guacamole alone is worth it! The service is fabulous, and it's an open-air restaurant so you can see all the hustle and bustle of the Boardwalk while you eat. In between Sabor and Johnny Rockets, in the middle of the Boardwalk, you will see the exit of the thrilling dry slide, The Ultimate Abyss. I will touch more on this slide later! Just beyond the Ultimate Abyss is the AquaTheater. The AquaTheater is where you will go to see incredible diving and acrobatic shows. They are amazing! On either side of the back of the AquaTheater, you will see stairs that lead up to rock climbing walls. There's so much to do and see on the Boardwalk! At night, if there is not a show going on, the AquaTheater will show movies on the giant screen on either side of the Theater. We were cruising in December, and I tell you what, there is nothing like sitting in your shorts and a t-shirt, watching a Christmas movie in the middle of the ocean with a fabulous sea breeze blowing in. It's incredible! What was even more awesome was when Will went over to Sabor and asked for chips and salsa to snack on in the Aqua Theater as we watched the movie. They did not hesitate! It was so awesome!
Pool and Sports Zone
There are so many reasons why the Harmony's Pool and Sports Zone blows away the competition on any other ship. On the Harmony you will find 3 water slides, 2 dry slides, 2 Flowrider surf simulators, a zip line, miniature golf course, and a water park- WOW! Let's start with the slides:
- Pools: With 3 pools, a splash zone, endless whirlpools, and an adults only area, you will have plenty of space to spread out and chill on those sea days. The Solarium is by far my favorite spot, and the Harmony of the Seas Solarium can't be beat! The amount of seating areas with the new beds, lounge chairs, and couches will satisfy any adult (by the way- this is an adults-only area!). The Solarium Bistro is even conveniently located within the Solarium for lunch and dinner. Of course there is the Solarium Bar for when you need a beverage. If you look hard enough, you will find the King of the World spot in the Solarium. Will you be brave enough to step out on an all glass platform for the perfect picture? It's exhilarating!
- The Perfect Storm: This is a series of 3 waterslides. These slides start on deck 18, and you exit on the main pool deck, deck 16. The Perfect Storm consists of Cyclone and Typhoon- 2 spiral racer slides. These slides have moments of complete sunlight (the tube is clear!), complete darkness, and a little bit of in-between. I will be honest, and I did read this on other blog posts before going on the Harmony, but these slides aren't the fastest waterslides I've ever been on. I read to wear as little clothing as possible (obviously just a bathing suit being the bare minimum- haha!) because it slows you down even more. I went down all of the slides and I did actually come to a complete stop on both Cyclone and Typhoon. You may have to give yourself a little boost to get through the last little bit of the slide. Supercell is the third slide and this slide deposits you into a champagne bowl that you spin around in and then dump out at the bottom. I LOVED this slide! Not only does it have the clear tubes to go through, there are colored stripes on some of the tubes to make you feel like you are sliding through a kaleidoscope! It was so cool! This is definitely the fastest of the 3 water slides, however, must people went around the champagne bowl only one time and then you would have to scoot to the space where you dump out of the bottom. I'm not sure if there's not enough water pressure at the top of the slide, or if the slides aren't angled enough, but my only complaint about the slides would be the speed.
- The Ultimate Abyss: Having quite the opposite effect, the Ultimate Abyss is a FAST dry slide. You start on deck 16 and plummet 10 decks down to deck 6. You sit on a sled-like mat, pull your elbows in, lean back and go! There are lights and sound effects as you spin around 10 decks in this amazing slide. I wish I would not have waited until the last day to ride, because it was a BLAST and I would have loved to have ridden it more than once. Apparently the Ultimate Abyss being built on the new Symphony of the Seas is rumored to have a, "new twist." I can't WAIT to see what it could be! At the base of the slides on deck 6, there is a wall where you can take a picture that says, "I Survived the Ultimate Abyss!" You can also buy Ultimate Abyss souvenirs in The Shop, also located on deck 6.
- FlowRider Surf Simulator: I know that I have touched on the FlowRider in previous posts. The Harmony has 2 FlowRiders to accommodate more people willing to try it out. The FlowRider is a great way to try out your boogie boarding and surfing skills! Check out the video here!
- Zip Line: Ever wanted to fly across a cruise ship 16 decks up?? Well you can on the Harmony! With no additional fee to fly in the sky, it's definitely worth the wait. Make sure you sign the waiver via your stateroom TV or on the Sport's Deck as well as bring a pair of closed toed shoes to wear. If you would rather watch all the action, when you are on the boardwalk (deck 8) you can simply look up and see some high flyers!
- Mini Golf: What is a RCI ship without a mini golf course? You'll find a 9-hole mini golf course on deck 16, directly across from the exit of the zip line. Fun for kids and adults!
The Vitality Spa on board any of the Oasis class ships are fabulous. Whether you want a manicure of pedicure, a massage, a new cut and style from the salon...or if you are one of those crazy people that actually like to work out on a cruise, you'll love the Vitality Spa and Fitness center. I did not take part in any spa services while on board, but I have on the Allure of the Seas. The massage was so good I fell asleep and woke myself up snoring! Will and I just recently sailed on the Liberty of the Seas, and by the Windjammer, the Vitality Spa had a whiteboard on display with daily discounts and deals. The later in the cruise you wait, the better the discount. Days in port are also a great day to slip away to the spa for some discounted services.
Entertainment Place
The 6th of 7 neighborhoods on the Harmony is Entertainment Place. There are so many venues and ways to stay entertained on the Harmony.
- Royal Theater: I LOVE the theater on Oasis class ships! There are 3 stories of seats on these mega-ships. Extended from decks 3-5, you can't find a bad seat in the Royal Theater. Here you will come every night for some sort of headliner show. Whether it's the hit Broadway production of Grease (it was AMAZING!), a comedian, or a RCI Original Production (on this ship it is Columbus, the Musical), you will not be disappointed.
- AquaTheater: The AquaTheater is one of my favorite places on Oasis class ships. You will find the AquaTheater on Deck 6- the Boardwalk. The AquaTheater is at the aft of the ship, and boy does it make the Oasis class ships shine compared to others. The theater has stadium seating with benches in the first few rows to serve as a "Splash Zone" during shows. What I love (because it's cute!) is that the chairs in the AquaTheater mimic brightly colored beach chairs- love it! The Harmony offers two fabulous shows. These shows, like the Royal Theater, are done at night time. The Fine Line features high divers (like REALLY high divers), tight rope walkers, acrobatics, and more! It's truly an amazing and entertaining show. One of my favorites! Another production you will find in the AquaTheater is the Hideaway Heist. This story takes place at a vacation resort in the 1950s. This is a fun show that the kids (and adults!) will love. Not only will you enjoy these quality productions, other RCI activities that are typically held on the pool deck like the Belly Flop contest, World's Sexiest Man, etc. are held here and it's SUCH a better venue for it! On nights that there are not any shows, come to the AquaTheater to watch a movie or whatever sporting event that is going on. What was AWESOME about cruising on this line at Christmas time was the holiday movie selection that they played in the AquaTheater- so fun!
- Studio B: Don't think you can ice skate at sea? Think again! Studio B is not only home to some very cool (pun intended) ice shows, but also the ice can be covered and that venue can be used for other activities such as the crazy game show, The Quest. The two ice shows you will see onboard the Harmony are 1887 and iSkate. 1887 takes place in Paris and is a love story. iSkate is a fun show where the ice skaters chose their own songs and created their own routines. It's more laid back and the music is fabulous! Both shows incorporate some crazy stunts and tricks, lifts and spins- it's amazing what they can do on the ice! The costumes and props are fabulous as well. You will love these shows! Check your Cruise Compass for when Studio B is available for open skating. Make sure you pack a pair of long pants and socks if you plan on ice skating!
- Parades and Animated Characters: The Royal Promenade is the place to be for the Let's Celebrate parade! This is a fun parade that takes place on deck 5 and you'll see all the major holidays represented! There's dancing, floats, and more! I even saw some children from Adventure Ocean chosen to participate in the parade! The Harmony is also home to several DreamWorks characters including Shrek and Kung Fu Panda! Check your Cruise Compass for opportunities to meet these characters!
- Escape Room: How cool is it that the escape room trend is now onboard the Harmony?! Escape the Rubicon is RCI's own escape room and you can find it exclusively on the Harmony of the Seas. An escape room is a group activity where you are locked in a room and have one hour to solve and find clues in order to escape. This is a fun activity to do with a group of friends you are cruising with, or a great way to meet new friends!
- Live Music, Dance Parties, and More!: On the Harmony, every night is a party! You can find live music playing at several different venues. From the latin-inspired bar Boleros, to listening to karaoke in On Air, there's always someone performing somewhere! The Boot and Bonnet Pub often has live music as well. Don't forget to head up to Central Park where there is usually someone performing in the park too! One of my favorite things to attend on any RCI ship is the dance parties. The best dance party, in my opinion, is the Totally Awesome 90's Street Party on the Harmony! The Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers put on quite the performance! It's so much fun, AND they throw out prizes...like t-shirts (we caught one!)!!
You can't forget all the other places to check out onboard the Harmony. Casino Royale on Harmony is top notch. All new slot machines makes for a clean, up-to-date space to try your luck! Mini Bites is located on the main pool deck, 15, and is in the same area as Fuel and The Living Room. Mini Bites provides small, mini sized snack foods for you to grab while hanging at the pool. Hand washing stations and picnic style tables are located within the area as well. The Attic is one of the most unique and really cool venues located on the Harmony. The Attic is the spot for top-notch comedians. The venue itself is just awesome. The decorations and seating areas are just amazing. It's something you definitely want to check out if you cruise on board the Harmony.
You just can't go wrong with an Oasis class ship, especially the Harmony. With all the new additions that you can't get on the other Oasis class ships, it's definitely something to consider the next time you choose a cruise. I know I'm counting down to get back on another Oasis class ship...277 days to be exact!
-Cassie