Monday, April 1, 2024

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas: Overview and What to Do

harmony cruise boat

Although, the Royal Caribbean drink prices have increased by about $1 from our last trip in 2022. There was also a second more informal show, iSkate, with plenty of upbeat music. Never a disappointment, the Aqua Theater’s Fine Line diving show was a spectacle. On the last sea day, this venue was also home to Big Daddy’s Hideaway Heist, which had a 1950s Polynesian theme alongside the high flying feats of the athletic cast.

Harmony Of The Seas - user reviews and comments

Regionally inspired cuisine is served up each day, from sumptuous breakfasts to multicourse dinners. The dress code on the Harmony of the Seas is casual for the most part. During the day, anything goes, though cover-ups or shirts and shoes are required for indoor dining -- and indoor spaces, in general. The dinner dress code calls for "Resort casual," which for women means dresses or skirts, capris or slacks and blouses. For men, khakis or dress pants paired with button-down or collared shirts work. Formalwear options for women include evening gowns, cocktail dresses or fancy blouses with slacks.

Signature Entertainment

If you are looking for recommendations for specialty dining, be sure to check out Izumi Hibachi, 150 Central Park or Sabor. Royal Caribbean designed all of its Oasis Class shops to be easy to navigate. The cruise line did not want guests getting lost onboard, so they put a lot of effort in making these behemoths surprisingly easy to get around. Their goal was to avoid Harmony of the Seas earning a reputation of being super big and super crowded. Follows a list of fun facts about the Harmony OTS - world's largest-ever passenger ship. Follows the complete list of Harmony of the Seas restaurants and food bars.

Harmony of the Seas Dining and Restaurants

This was a popular late-night dessert option among many cruisers because it was normally busy with people until it closed at 10 p.m. The Main Dining Room on Harmony of the Seas is spread out between three decks with different names - we were on deck three in the American Icon Grill. I stayed in Houston near the airport for my last cruise out of Galveston.

harmony cruise boat

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Central Park also boasts Chops Grille, one of the best steakhouses at sea, as well as 150 Central Park, offering savory farm-to-table cuisine. There are also up-charge options on the Boardwalk including Sabor and Johnny Rockets. For this 7-night Western Caribbean cruise, we dined at two specialty restaurants. Royal Caribbean’s kids club is Adventure Ocean, where children are split into three groups by age, and then given plenty of fun activities to enjoy, all day long.

All accommodations are Balcony cabins, with floor-ceiling sliding doors opening onto a private step-out veranda. While other small cruise lines repurpose old casino ships, American Cruise Lines decided to build brand new boats to maintain the company's reputation for premium quality and services. Each of the newbuilds features most innovative design, spacious indoor and outdoor areas. Each vessel is a traditional US built (at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury Maryland), as well as American-flagged and crewed. Cabins on Harmony of the Seas have all the modern conveniences, including mini-bars, safes, phones and large flat-screen TVs.

Men generally go with dress shirts, ties, jackets and slacks, full suits or even tuxedos. Likewise, the entertainment onboard, whether small scale, like an acoustic guitarist, or larger than life, like the production of "Grease," is simply outstanding. The ship's restaurants offer everything from low-key grab-and-go meals to multicourse, hours-long culinary extravaganzas, though be prepared for a variety of quality with the extra-cost venues generally being much better. The sheer size of Harmony of the Seas is astounding; it's easy to forget you're on a ship, especially when you're hanging out on the Royal Promenade, which feels more like a Vegas hotel than a cruise ship.

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MS American Harmony features innovative interior design concepts - from the 4-story glass-walled Vestibule (Atrium) to spacious indoor and outdoor lounges, large open-deck spaces, floor-ceiling windows throughout the vessel. The 4-decks high Vestibule has floor-ceiling windows (portside and starboard) and SkyLight (transparent glass-roof cover) that allows natural light into ship's interior. With a capacity of just 180 guests, American Harmony has the modern amenities and updated styling that today’s traveler has come to expect. Featured are expansive lounges with large glass windows, offering astounding views. This new ship also features a five-story, glass-enclosed atrium with a large domed skylight, which serves as the central gathering point for the entire ship.

Given the size of Harmony of the Seas, it shouldn’t be a surprise that there are several casual and complimentary food options. As the third ship in the Oasis Class, Harmony of the Seas first launched in 2016. Actually, we sailed on the ship during its maiden season only a few months later.

Ft. of space is your private sanctuary to spread out and make yourself at home. This spacious suite features a full-size bathroom, as well as a separate bedroom and living area. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors let light pour in and allow private panoramic views from every vantage point. An expansive private balcony is a perfect place to savor a calm afternoon or to enjoy breakfast as the sun rises over the riverbank. All Owner Suites include double sinks in the bathroom complete with plush robes for your comfort.

However, something completely unexpected happened during our cruise - our stop in Costa Maya was canceled last minute. Both shows in the Royal Theatre, Grease and Columbus, were fabulous! The last time I was on Harmony of the Seas back in 2022, I remember being wowed by Grease so I was eager to see it again. I admired the singers, dancers, costumes, and music the entire 90-minute show.

The 11th ship in the American Cruise Line fleet, American Harmony blends big-ship amenities with a modern river cruise boat to create something that is unique on the Mississippi. Of course, on a ship of this size, there are plenty of other ways to stay active beyond the sports deck as well. The jogging track is located on deck 5, which allows runners and walkers the ability to get some exercise away from the crowded pool deck. There’s also the typical fitness center with various cardio and strength equipment to burn off some of those cruise calories. On Harmony of the Seas, there were daily open play hours on the sports court, and there always seemed to be a line of players with varying skill levels ready to play.

In addition, other culinary experiences are available on the ship for a fee, including the Chef’s Table, prix fixe menu experience. Junior suites are on the lower end of the suite spectrum, offering less space and fewer flashy details, but you still get all the VIP amenities discussed above. Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas is a relatively new ship, at least by cruising industry standards, at under 10 years old. Debuting as one of the largest ships in the world, since its 2016 launch, the ship has been surpassed by bigger (and, some might argue, better) ships. Harmony of the Seas is one of my favorite Royal Caribbean ships because of the many things you can do onboard.

While you do not need to go any specialty restaurant while on Harmony of the Seas, we think it is not a bad idea to give one or two a try while onboard. Royal Caribbean put a great deal of emphasis on its specialty dining options and enjoying a specialty restaurant or two will likely not "break the bank," and can really enhance your cruise experience. Specialty dining is an choice for guests who want something more than what is offered in the complimentary dining, with an emphasis on certain foods that are otherwise unavailable all the time. Think of specialty dining like you would going out for dinner versus staying home and cooking something. You would be perfectly content with a home-cooked meal, but going out for dinner is a nice treat that comes with a higher cost. Harmony of the Seas is the third Oasis Class ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, but her debut ushered in a set of new features and amenities to the Oasis Class that enhanced an already impressive cruise experience.

While these shows are not the best entertainment in the Royal Caribbean fleet, they were still far better than your typical cruise shows. My Bolognese was a hearty portion with al dente pasta in a rich marina sauce, while Heidi enjoyed her carbonara as well. Based on our waiter’s suggestion, I went with the lamb chops for my entrée which were tender and juicy. Of course, the meal wouldn’t be complete without the Amalfi lemon cheesecake and Epic brownie. Not to mention, our waitstaff of Rohman and Tude were amazing, adding to our overall enjoyment at dinner. On the flipside, there was the addition of a new Indian-inspired dish each night, like the savory and tender aromatic chicken saag.

American Harmony

harmony cruise boat

It documents everything happening during that day, and it is a must-read for any guest onboard. A copy of the Cruise Compass will be delivered to your stateroom each evening by your stateroom attendant. We often hear from first time cruisers that are concerned about how important it is to dine at specialty dining and/or how good or bad the complimentary food is elsewhere. Moreover, some blog readers are worried they will be "forced" to pay for food while on their cruise. The Royal Caribbean Harmony ship exceeds in size and passenger capacity the original Oasis-class vessels Oasis OTS and Allure OTS.

American Harmony Cruise Ship Tour

While the room showed slight signs of wear, it did feature the newer gray and blue color palette. Overall, the room was a comfortable and well-maintained home away from home for the week. We did miss having USB outlets near the bed for charging phones at night, as only one side even had a power outlet. Whether ordering from the bar or at a table in a lounge, the venues were well staffed.

Signature Entertainment

Unlike anything seen before along American waterways, the innovative vessel brings a new dimension to river cruising in the USA. American Harmony integrates contemporary design with no sacrificing the comfort that American Cruise Lines is popular for. Quieter, wider, and faster than any other river ship, it is the most environmentally friendly in the industry. All ACL cruise ships are US-flagged and built by the company-owned Chesapeake Shipbuilding Yard in Salisbury (Maryland USA). When going up to the pools, be sure to stop by the towel station to pick up as many towels you may need during your time there. Complimentary pool towels are provided for guests near the main pool and can be returned when convenient.

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AAL staterooms can be found on the second deck and offer a luxurious 300 sq. Each room is equipped with plush seating, full-size bathroom, and a furnished private balcony with large sliding glass doors that offer outstanding views of the surrounding scenery. These staterooms are the epitome of comfort and relaxation with everything you will need to enjoy your stay. All staterooms include individual climate control systems, in-room Keurig coffee brewers, a dresser with ample storage space, an array of toiletries, complimentary WiFi, Satellite TV, and a DVD player.

ALL CRUISE LINES (1543 SHIPS)

On one of our sea days, we wanted to try Johnny Rockets for lunch. We felt the cost was reasonable for what we got, which was an appetizer, entree, and dessert. The cabin was 172 square feet in size and included a large closet, a vanity with drawers, a chair, a king bed split into two beds, and a bathroom. On embarkation day, my friend and I requested a Lyft to the Galveston port.

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All Royal Caribbean Oasis-class ships are the world's first cruise vessels with a DNV Green Passport. The certificate is not compulsory, but it shows the environmental commitment of the operator line Royal Caribbean International. Another interesting feature is that their hulls have a special non-toxic covering that minimizes friction and saves fuel. On November 4, 2016, world's 3 largest passenger liners (Harmony, Allure and Oasis) met off Florida's coast. The unique event was live-streamed officially by RCI, starting at approx 5 pm EST. The meeting at open sea coincided with the Harmony's arrival at Port Everglades (US homeport), finishing a 13-night Transatlantic repositioning cruise from Barcelona to Florida (Oct 23 - Nov 5).

harmony cruise boat

Choosing a stateroom for your Royal Caribbean cruise is a personal decision that will depend on a variety of factors, but you should know that each category of room has its advantages. It is important to know that if you sail on an Oasis Class ship, you can pre-book entertainment via the Cruise Planner site. Some of the shows have the option to book reservations in advance via Royal Caribbean's site. There is no cost to do this, and we recommend booking any entertainment you can in advance to avoid lines at show time. The evening show is, "The Fine Line", and it is a mix of high-flying feats, mind blowing stunts and physically demanding acrobatics brought to life by the world’s best extreme-sport athletes. Our recommendation for quickly knowing the layout of the ship is to walk around and explore Harmony of the Seas as early in the cruise as you can.

From the coast of Maine, to the mighty Mississippi and Pacific Northwest, our Free Cruise Guide provides detailed information about all of our more than 50 U.S. itinerary options. Guests with mobility issues will find that Harmony of the Seas has wheelchair-accessible cabins in many categories that include wider doors, turning space, and furniture built for convenience. The price for any of these rooms will depend on factors, such as time of year, demand for rooms on the particular sailing, and how many guests in each room. You can refer to our guide to choosing a stateroom for more information on the basics, although there are some special room types worth discussing. The two racer water slides intertwine and offer a fast-paced plunge down.

The improved ship design allows "bow landings" via a retractable and rotating gangway (passenger bridge) that extends from Main Deck (deck 1) to the dock or directly onto the river bank. This feature is available on all traditional-design US paddlewheel riverboats and provides expanded options for river cruise itineraries unmatched by most newbuild river cruise ships. Traditionally for large-sized US riverboats, American Harmony has a fore-located boarding ramp (bow-location on Deck 1) that allows passengers to go ashore at any place along the ship's cruise itinerary route.

On June 7, 2019, the vessel under its own power moved to the outfitting pier for final touches. In mid-July 2019, the new riverboat successfully passed sea trials and received USCG Certification. The inaugural cruise (8-day maiden voyage) is scheduled for August 17 out of New Orleans (roundtrip Mississippi itinerary).

The steel-cutting ceremony (shipyard/hull number A34) was held on September 23, 2013. Complimentary room service is offered to all passengers during mealtimes. You would be hard pressed to take part in everything on offer on the 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas in a week. The bed was closer to the entrance of the stateroom, which is actually not our preferred layout. Still, this did not impact the overall functionality and flow of the stateroom. The sofa was located closer to the balcony, where I was able to get some work done in the afternoons.

If you thought, with all of the above, that Harmony of the Seas offers a ton for cruisers to enjoy and experience, you haven’t seen anything yet. When it comes to finding something fun to do, beyond just chilling in your amazing suite or dining and drinking your way through the ship, your options are near-endless. On October 11, 2018, vessel's lower bow (hull section) was moved/wheeled out from Fabrication Building No.4 to shipyard's Assembly Launchways. Vessel's launch (float-out) was on November 20, 2018, and 4 weeks ahead of schedule. After the float-out, the boat was berthed in shipyard’s East Outfitting Basin to receive its upper deck blocks and outfitting.

A total of 24 elevators (12x forward + 12x aft) provide access all the way to deck 16, while decks 17 and 18 are accessed by 6 lifts. Following an initial series of Mediterranean Sea itineraries, the ship was repositioned to Fort Lauderdale for 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean roundtrip itineraries. There is also an outdoor cafe where you can dine casually outside while enjoying riverside views.

The ship is also home to a zip line flying 150 feet over the Boardwalk neighborhood, a 9-hole mini golf course, the Ultimate Abyss slide, and several ping pong tables. Given the age of the ship, the pool deck felt like it could use some sprucing up, especially compared to the updated Caribbean-inspired pool decks on other amplified Royal Caribbean ships. The beach pool, sports pool, and main pool comprise the lido deck, deck 15. Harmony of the Seas wow-ed when it first made waves in 2016 and it still wows today. As you can see, there are a ton of free dining options aboard Harmony of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's 9-month world cruise is getting attention for "drama", but it's nothing new

9 months cruise

Ticket rates are based on a range of 1,073 staterooms and the full 274-night trip ran from $53,999 per person to $117,599 per person. Designed with acres of glass offering panoramic vistas of sea, sky and land, Serenade of the Seas® is the perfect ship for scenery-scoping. Take in captivating views of Norway’s majestic fjords, gaze at glaciers in Antarctica, and soak up the sun and the sights while cruising through French Polynesia. In between adventures onshore, you can unwind poolside or tee off on the mini golf green. Settle in for dazzling entertainment or dance until dawn beneath the stars. And with top-notch restaurants onboard, every meal turns into a global taste-tour that’s as immersive as your Ultimate World Cruise.

9 months cruise

Linderman was inspired by her brother's family to book the nine-month cruise

Now, people are following their journey like they’d follow a reality show. According to these passengers-turned-social-media-reality stars, here’s what it’s like to live on a cruise for nine months. Bermuda cruises sail from April through mid-November, mostly during Bermuda's beach season. Most people travel during the summer months (June through August), making those voyages pricier, but you'll find deals on spring and fall departures (April through early June and September through November, respectively).

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Why is the 9-month cruise all over TikTok?

Baltic and Northern European cruises have a shorter season, running from April to October. Keep in mind that April and October can still be quite chilly in Scandinavian and Baltic Sea ports. Lines like Viking and Hurtigruten offer Northern Lights sailings to the region's northern reaches from January through March.

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So far we've seen a couple videos with people being unaware of the benefits top tier Royal Caribbean cruisers get on any sailing, but nothing substantial. TikTok is turning the 9-month-long cruise ship into an official reality TV show. Another person created a bingo card for things that could happen on the world cruise. Like so many things on social media, a bigger deal was made out of it than it really is. The problem is the media picked up on it, and is reporting on the sort of things happening so far on the cruise as if it's something new, when it's really not.

The closest thing to drama is that some people are saying that pinnacle members — people with the highest loyalty status with Royal Caribbean — are being treated better than the regular people onboard. This has not gotten much traction, presumably because that’s the point of a loyalty program. And so (there is) an emphasis on just doing all of the things I can do now while I’m healthy, while I’m able, instead of putting them off in hopes that I can do them later, when in reality that may not happen,” she said. She appeared to have one issue, according to a TikTok that she posted, saying she has been repeatedly asked if she is a member of the ship’s staff rather than a traveler. Sisters Brandee and Shannon Lake, who are Black, said they’re sharing a cabin and said that quarantining together during the pandemic prepared them to live in close quarters on the ship for nine months.

A plethora of people on the cruise have realized that there is content to be made on the ship, and they’re starting to link up. The most prolific creator so far has been @amike_oosthuizen, a South African influencer with more than 200,000 followers. If you spent your holiday break mindlessly scrolling through TikTok in order to avoid your mother’s questions about your job/romantic life/plans for the future, then you probably know about the nine-month cruise. Get ready to learn about a group of people whose dads have not explained the plot of The Wager to them. If several months at sea still seems too long, travelers can also join shorter legs of the Ultimate World Cruise ranging from nine to 29 nights, starting at over $1,760 per person.

Finally, the last leg sees passengers touring Europe, with stops in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway over the final 63 nights. The penultimate leg of the trip heads to the Mediterranean and Middle East destinations over the course of another 67 days. Rumors also quickly began to circulate on TikTok, with some people alleging that the ship wasn’t at capacity and how some travelers with better membership status were being treated differently than the others on board. One person began tracking all the content creators on board so that others could easily follow along.

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You'll want to book well in advance for an Alaska cruise between June and August, as itineraries tend to sell out quickly. "This is more of a marathon than a sprint," Linderman said of the nine months she's spending in a cabin. Joshua Terry and his fiancee Ina Ra are among thousands of passengers on the global trip which departed Miami in December, making 150 stops in 275 days before its planned last leg in September 2024. If you’re looking for a more boots-on-the-ground situation, you are in luck.

Alé Kenney and Andrew Kenney, @aa.kenney

If you're choosing between May and September, note that May is the driest month of the Alaska cruise season, so you're less likely to be rained out of your flightseeing tour, glacier walk or other shore excursions. While Australia's weather varies, winter temperatures between June and early September are rarely as extreme in North America. Crowds are fewer, and there are bargains to be had, especially on larger ships and Great Barrier Reef cruises that are available year-round. If you're considering a summer or early fall Hawaii cruise, note that seas can be rough in August.Wondering if September is a good time to go to Hawaii?

But in reading through the comments and looking at the videos, what we're basically seeing is people post about things that happen on any vacation when you have a lot of people together in one place. As soon as the ship set sail, it seemed to ignite an overnight sensation on TikTok among people who were intrigued by the notion of spending almost a year on a cruise ship. You're likely to find discounted rates for cruises from June through November, but keep in mind that both Mexican coasts are affected by hurricanes throughout hurricane season. Cruise fares can be cheaper, though weather in the Riviera Maya and Cozumel will be oppressively humid. While it will still be dry in the Mexican Riviera, weather in Cabo and other Pacific Coast destinations will be incredibly hot.

If spending most of the year on a boat eating buffet food doesn’t sound appealing, you can just go for one of the trip’s “segments,” which still entails being on the ship for months at a time. Wrapping your head around what you might do on a cruise for nine months can be hard, but thankfully there are plenty of “day in my life” videos that can help you out. Life aboard a nine-month cruise is quite different from your typical week-long voyage.

Alaska has a short cruise season that lasts from late April through October. June through August is Alaska's high season, when weather is warmest and summer vacation season is in full swing. However, crowds and high fares are the norm at this time of year and rain is likely, especially in August. The best time to cruise Australia is from late November to March, when late spring crests into Australia's summer months.

At first, she joked about it with her brother and sister-in-law, but it became a reality in August 2022 when she contacted a travel agent to finalize the booking. This cruise has "felt like the light at the end of the tunnel” for the Oregon-based social media manager. One passenger, Angie Linderman, has been chronicling her journey on the world cruise on TikTok as @angielinderman – and viewers are loving it. Since she boarded the Serenade of the Seas, her followers climbed from 100 to more than 103,000 as of Tuesday afternoon. The world's longest cruise, as some have called it, set sail just a little over a week ago.

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