Tell me about the Harmony...

[Neversay]

Hi All,

 

Its been years since we have sailed on Royal - we have been devoted Disney cruisers for  many years and have also snuck in a few NCL cruises but this year we are looking at Royal on Harmony of the Seas.

 

So please share with me your thoughts, good, bad, ugly, and perfect about Harmony.  Also, I am very interested in knowing about drink packages and pricing, dinning packages and in general what upcharges we could expect.  We would be sailing with 3 15yr olds and I suspect that many or the activities also have upcharges?

 

Enlighten us and help us make a smart decision!

 

Thanks in advance!

 

NeverSayNever

 

[Clarea]

 

Start here:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/search/?type=forums_topic&search_and_or=or&search_in=titles&nodes=51&q=harmony

 

Prices vary constantly, once you have a booking you can look in your Cruise Planner for your prices.

[Neversay]

Thank you for the reply.... I too did a search on Harmony, but unfortunately most of the posts that I located related to the drink packages ere several years old and not much on any other type of upcharges.  I welcome any input or possible other search criteria.

 

Thanks again,

[CruisingMarch2016]

Reviews at top--search Harmony of the Seas--gives a great variety of the good, bad, and ugly. As with any cruise these are very subjective.

Drink packages vary depending on time of sailing, time of booking, ship, etc. etc. etc.

Up charges are only for specialty restaurants, escape room, starbucks, arcade, and drink packages--maybe a few more.

I'm sailing in April and I know this ship and details from reading posts and reviews online. 

Spend the time you too can learn all there is too know. 

[Crazy planning mom]

For the 15 year olds there is tons to do with no extra charge,

Waterslides, flow riders, rock climbing wall, ice skating, abyss dry slides, zip line are all

included.  Fabulous shows included in your fare from Grease to Comedy to Ice Skating to Aquatic shows.  Reserve the shows in advance through your cruise planner.  You can wander into the Pub, Jazz on 4, Boleros, or Dazzles to hear terrific live music.  Also, there is usually a musician playing a guitar in Central Park at night.

 

Tap water, iced tea, regular coffee and tea,  juices that aren't fresh squeezed are all included.

Soda, fresh squeezed juices, bottled water , and alcoholic beverages are extra.  They sometimes have $2 mimosa specials in the casino and champagne is served at art auctions.

 

There are 3 different drink packages-

a soda package,

a refreshment package that includes soda, bottled water as well as fresh squeezed juice, specialty coffees and smoothies

third package includes the first 2 packages plus unlimited alcoholic beverages below $13? in value

 

For dining packages, there are 3 or 4 night packages , ultimate dining packages and there are also bogo packages.

Included dining- The main dining room, Windjammer buffet, Park Cafe (Kummelwick sandwiches), Sorrentos Pizza, Boardwalk Dog House, Minibites, and breakfast at Johnny Rockets.  Plenty of included dining if you dont want to spend money a specialty restaurant.  Make sure you enjoy lunch on a sea day at the main dining room.  They have a delicious salad bar and dessert bar.

Edited March 19, 2019 by Crazy planning mom

[MrFunInTheSun]

Harmony of the seas is a beautiful ship. You will have an amazing time. Below is a review I did this past September. In that review I had the Ultimate Dining Package which I highly recommend. In that review there are lots of photos, menu and food photos too.

 

You're in for an amazing cruise!

 

 

[LC2626]

Sailing for the first time on Harmony next Friday so my only insight is prices for drink package. The lowest the drink package price has been is 49/day. Drink package with Internet has been 57/day.  This is an off 9 night we are sailing on but, I was able to get $700 total in price drops and we are in a balcony.  

[katytinks]

We just returned from Harmony and loved the ship.   Many if not most of the activities are included as indicated in previous post.  Sports deck with wave rider, basketball, mini golf will be fun.  Rock climbing wall is great.  They will probably enjoy the water shows.  Plenty to keep 15 year olds busy. The solarium Is wonderful but only for 16 and up if the adults need a break. There are a variety of places to eat that are included.  We enjoyed park cafe for breakfast and lunch and solarium bistro for breakfast. Teens will enjoy mini bites.   Never stepped foot in windjammer. We had the three night specialty dinner package which was perfect to give us a change from the main dining room.  I think we found it on sale for $75 per person. Wonderland was great fun for dinner. 

[SuiteLady]

LOVED the HOTS!!  As stated, most of the activities are free!  They also have ping pong tables and activities that include trivia games throughout the ship at varying venues....I believe they also had roller skating, as well as, ice skating....along with all the above activities listed.  I found the lines to be minimal for all things!  On Air has Karaoke every night, which can be very entertaining and your kids may want to get in on that!  They also had sport tournaments like basketball and I believe ping pong too.  They did not lack for things to do!!  The Merry Go Round is fun to ride, which is also free.....The windjammer gets extremely busy....After the first day, I did not step foot in there again!  Went to the Solarium for breakfasts/lunches and MDR for dinners.  Worked out great!.  There are also free ice cream machines on the pool deck.  I had my reservations due to the size, but never felt crowded- then again I went in January, which may have helped!  Enjoy your cruise!

[Dunfer]

If you book a Boardwalk balcony cabin, you get two soft drink packages and one Johnny Rockets meal for 4 included.  Two cabins, would double that.  You also get perks from a Central Park balcony cabin, a bottle of wine, and lunch at a different place than Johnny Rockets, I think.  Neither of those cabins  are much more than an inside room, and give you more space with the balcony, especially if there are 4 of you in one cabin!

[Andy C]

Sailed on her 3 times.  She is a beautiful vessel.  Showing a little bit of wear and tear throughout the public areas and the last two times our Suite was also showing it's age.  Nothing that will ruin your cruise but they just don't keep them up like they used to.  Lot's of faded and stained furniture in the Suite Lounge.   Again, nothing that will impair your enjoyment of the cruise but it is there.  

 

If you like Applebee's, Golden Corral, Outback, Sizzler, etc... you will LOVE the food on Harmony. 

 

Expand my signature below and you can read my 2 LIVE reviews both done on Harmony.  

Edited March 21, 2019 by Andy C

[sisocialworker]

the food in most venues is mediocre-what else when cooking for 6000 people  ....some specialty restaurants are better..150 central park is the best....now if you're in a suite..and ask/tip nicely you may be able to have the chef in the coastal kitchen cook you up some "private" food ..which is real tasty.....

 

reading Andy C reviews highly recommended......I will be on her next week and report back  

 

in general the ship is more like a floating water/amusement park, than a traditional ocean cruising vessel

Edited March 21, 2019 by sisocialworker

[BobbyD]

Just returned on Sunday from the HOTS with my wife.  Had a great trip!  We had previously cruised twice on the Allure.  We are Diamond and did not make use of the drink packages although they were still advertising them for $49 a couple of days prior to sailing.  I believe the dining package was $79 prior to sailing.  We received a free night at a specialty restaurant so we went to Jamies, which was very good.  Plenty of food!  The rest of the cruise we ate in the MDR and enjoyed the food, as we always do.  I felt that the food quality and temperature were better than on the Anthem this summer.  We ate lunch a couple of times in the Windjammer and breakfast as well, although we managed to avoid the busy times.  The hand washing station is what bogs everything down (although necessary).  We also had lunch at the Solarium Bistro and Park Cafe.  I may or may not have had a "couple" of slices of pizza from Sorrentos and dogs from the dog house.  Just to try it out, of course!

 

Loved the balcony cabin which was very "Anthem-like".  Two closets, plenty of outlets with one by the beds.  No table in the middle of the room and the desk was movable.  Deep balconies with foot rests.

 

We tried the water slides and I tried the Ultimate Abyss.  Enjoyed them all.  I am not a small guy and there were no problems at all with the slides.

 

Plenty of loungers throughout the ship although the chair hogs were certainly present.  Seemed to consistently be able to find space in the hot tubs in the solarium without a big squeeze.

 

Debarkation was very smooth.  From our number being called to arrival at FLL by UBER was 45 minutes.

 

Lots of kids and multi generational families.  All were behaved, in my opinion. More international travelers than recent cruises.  I had heard that there were 35% Canadian on board and I wouldn't doubt it. Not many spring breakers in the traditional (loud and drunk) sense.  At least not that I saw.  At least no more than usual!!

 

Hope this helps.