zenworks911

Yikes, I bet the medication thing could get out of control.  I never thought about bringing an extra month supply in case of quarantine. 

Also, why can't they bring you booze or pringles?  Seems like a no brainer easy thing to do.

We were just on Summit and there was a number of opportunities for ballroom and latin dancing in the Rendezvous lounge between 5:30pm and midnight to live music and singing.  

I got quite a few espressos from Al Bacio on the Summit last week and they were very good quality.

Summit will be more quiet and laid back than FOS.  Shows on FOS will most certainly be more professional IMO. 

I like the pool areas on the Summit better and the food is fairly similar.  I might give an edge to the Summit for wait times though.  Throughout the ship and restaurants it seems like there is less waiting.  The one exception I am aware of is the lounges can have slow drink service from maybe 6pm-9pm?

I have been on both.  I personally like the atmosphere on Summit better.  The bands can be hit or miss on either but right now on summit the Moon light band or whatever they are called were very good and played a wide variety.  The Rendezvous Lounge is very good for ballroom and latin dancing. They even have 5:30PM pre-dinner dancing at this point.  

From what i remember I believe the FOS would have more variety of entertainment, but some of it did take place past our bed time LOL.  We are in our 40s but both ready for bed by 11.  From what I recall both Summit and FOS have stuff later at night (after 10pm) but it is better attended by passengers on the FOS.

some random thoughts...

Thanks for all the information.  I appreciate you all taking the time to share.  I feel more confident to give booking YC a shot.

Seems like a lot of the new "Suite Experience" "ship within a ship" locations are putting everything at the front of the ship.   While our family doesn't tend to be seasick  under "normal" conditions (13 cruises under our belt), we have always booked middle or aft staterooms.  I will also admit that on a half dozen occasions in "rougher" seas I have needed seasick medicine and my daughter has too.  My recollection from walking around all those ships over the years is that the up and down at the front of the ship can be quite significant. 

Can anyone comment on their experiences with this?  I wanted to book a YC stateroom Caribbean Cruise on the Meraviglia next Jan/Feb, but I am having 2nd thoughts.  I mean, the restaurant, lounge, and stateroom are all right up there at the front of the ship.  If seas were rough could it be we won't even use the YC? LOL

Thanks,

zenworks911

I heard one more rumor that I wondered if someone could confirm and then I will quit. 

Someone said that the ship's captain is actually named Captain Morgan.  Is that true?

Someone said they have a cruise ship size "Ding King" and that it actually worked.  Can anyone confirm?

https://www.ebay.com/p/Ding-King-Do-It-Yourself-Dent-Repair-Kit/1773018601?iid=283360610667&chn=ps

Seriously, don't count on the app, on Harmony, some stuff would show up on calendar one day and then be gone the next, leaving you to wonder if your reservation was cancelled or if you forgot to make one.   I would print your reservation schedule just before cruise.  Everyone in are party had same issues.

I think I have a copy of it at home.  I will try to get it for you.  Don't trust the app, when you get onboard, get a hard copy of schedule from spa.

We did self disembark and left room at 7:30am.  We were in a taxi at 7:45am.  This was Harmony of the Seas last week.  However I am not sure if you can count on that.  We took stairs and did the luggage valet.  You would not qualify for luggage valet because your flight is before 11:30am (i believe that is the cut off time).  The elevators were already very busy and full.

10 hours ago, JayhawkFans said:

So the $8 fee for the Royal App isn’t a working option?  We were looking forward to that as a way to keep in touch with the other 4 couples we are going with next eeek

No it didn't work, i tried, and I also asked at the help desk and they said it was discontinued.  Your best bet is an iphone or internet plan.  Someone mentioned google voice, not sure if that really works though, i didn't try.

18 hours ago, jenmatt12 said:

I am trying to decide on an excursion in St. Maartin.  Any suggestions about which beach is best?

Sorry no.  I have been to St Maartin but I don't recall.

22 hours ago, FionaLouise said:

Hi, 

 

We are sailing on our first cruise ever on Harmony of the seas. Excited, anything you suggest is a must on the ship?

 

i see you said they have done away with the souvenir cup what does this mean?

 

Also what ports did you stop at?

Labadee, Falmouth, and Cozumel.

22 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Some traffic does get through on Android devices as well just not the one that would enable native texting- other apps like Google Voice can be used for texting and do work. 

Wish I would have known that.

22 hours ago, Ashland said:

Cabin you were in ?

We were on Deck 14 aft with balcony's.  Very nice cabins.  If Possible, I would like to have been a bit more forward towards the elevators as we could feel the ship moving a bit more than we care for as we were pretty far back.

23 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

The free iMessage capability on Harmony only works on IOS devices.  Also, this could be blocked at any time.

This is correct and this does not have anything to do with Royal App.  This is simply just using the normal text feature of an iPhone.  The iPhone can be in Airplane mode and connected to the ships wifi.  No you do not need an internet plan.  It works for free.

23 hours ago, bonniew88 said:

The Royal Caribbean app on my galaxy says we can use it for free  wifi...is it for certain that it only works with an i-phone?

Thanks!

Yes, you can use it for free but it is quite fussy, expect some headaches connecting, but it does work.  Try disabling wifi and reconnecting if it claims it can't connect.  Also, expect the app to behave erratic, sometimes some features of the app work and sometimes they don't.

On 1/8/2019 at 8:19 PM, bandjwayne said:

What time was your boarding assignment & what time did you arrive?  Our boarding time is 11:00 and somewhere on the website it says to arrive no later than 2 hours before our boarding time.  Does that mean we really have to be to the cruise terminal by 9 am...seems very early to me!  Thanks! 

You should be fine at 10 or 10:30am.  I think the 2 hours thing is before all aboard.  I would not push it in case something goes wrong.  I would get there earlier in the day.

On 1/8/2019 at 3:30 PM, renza said:

What do u mean got rid of  souvenir cup?  The cup u get soda in with the magnet in bottom. It’s gone?

They still have the cups if you get a drink package.  However, for the most part the bar staff that used to walk around the ship with stupid plastic cups and drinks that drink package people didn't qualify for are gone.  I think I only saw one or two at events, but I don't recall what events.

On 1/8/2019 at 2:52 PM, Swank Pad G said:

Curious if you had a favorite bar that you liked? We loved the Champagne Bar but I understand Harmony does not have it.

Not really,  honesty, I found the chairs in Boleros very uncomfortable, and kind of the same for the Bionic Bar.  We didn't even make it to the rest of the bars.

On 1/8/2019 at 2:33 PM, katiel53 said:

What time did boarding start?  What time were people doing self assist with their luggage get to leave the ship?  

 

Thanks for your help and info.

I believe boarding started pretty early.  I don't know 100% but we were there about 10:30am and it appeared that people were boarding the ship.  We boarded around 11:30am as we were waiting for some fellow travellers.  Embarking was quick and easy.

We did the luggage valet and it went pretty good.  We got off the ship around 7:30am and traffic was still pretty light.  Breezed right through customs (5 minutes max)  I think people started for sure by 7:15am.  Possibly earlier.

Had a decent cruise on Harmony of the Seas.  Anyone have any questions?

A few random notes:

• iPhones could text each other for free using the wifi while in Airplane mode.  Android could not.
• RoyalIQ option has been discontinued and cannot be used for texting or calling on Harmony.
• The new app was terrible and mostly unusable and often inaccurate.  Sometimes the cruise compass was inaccurate too.
  • Example: One day the app had Yoga at 9am, cruise compass had it at 8:45 and the Spa had it at 8:00am.  It was at 8:00am.
  • Example: The rising tides bar schedule was not correct at least one of the days as it was closed for private event.
• Bionic bar was cool but was frequently "Down" and not working properly.  I hope they can get it fixed.
• Food was worse than average for RCI but we were always able to find something enjoyable on the menu.  Don't be afraid to punt and order something else if your favorite dish shows up overcooked or obscenely bland (there was definitely a "bland" theme on this cruise).
• Really appreciated how they seem to have gotten rid of the "souvenir" cup thing.  That drove us crazy!  Thank you RCI!
• Service was generally very good.

Did your family use either of the Royal Caribbean apps on your phones for texting other family members onboard or schedules?  We weren't planning on buying an internet package.  I wasn't clear what the current status was as things seem to have changed for the Harmony of the Seas in the last month or so.  We have a mix of iPhones and Android phones.

Nice posts. Are there crepes onboard? Any good? pics? LOL