Harmony of the Seas

[Kamehameah]

6 hours ago, mrpie90 said:

they normally have a shuttle bus from the ship to opposite the cathedral.

it used to cost i think $10 return.

This cathedral is near the playa major beach?

3 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Welcome to CC - yes, all should have some discounts available to them (the on board discounts may vary depending on C&A status).

I hope i can find good discounts, because online were really expensive the Italian Excursions

[Steeler Nation At Sea]

11 hours ago, Kamehameah said:

This cathedral is near the playa major beach?

 

No.  They are in opposite directions from the port. The beach is about a 20 minute walk, but, taxis will also be available to take you.

[steamboats]

22 hours ago, Kamehameah said:

In mallorca I would go by on my own to Plaja Mayor, is easy to go? do  I need a taxi?

 

If you don´t mind walking... 800 m from the pier at the port entrance public bus No. 1 terminates. It´s less than 2 Euro to go downtown.

 

steamboats

[Steeler Nation At Sea]

4 hours ago, steamboats said:

 

If you don´t mind walking... 800 m from the pier at the port entrance public bus No. 1 terminates. It´s less than 2 Euro to go downtown.

 

steamboats

 

The beach, Playa Cala Major, is in the opposite direction from downtown and can be reached from bus number 4 stops at the port.  Easy to do so long as you are not docked at the farthest Naval pier (don't know the name), but, it's a bit of a walk from there to the correct bus stop.

 

OP - use Google to map routes from Puerto de Palma Mallorca to Playa Cala Major and from Estacion Naval de Porto Pi to Cala Major if you are docked at the farthest pier.  It is walkable from there, also.

 

Edited to say that I suspect Harmony will dock at that farthest naval pier. 

Edited August 29, 2021 by Steeler Nation At Sea

[xxHadleyxx]

On 8/21/2021 at 2:52 PM, FionaMG said:

The price increases I've seen for my sailing on 26 September are similar to the ones @dorts mentioned. I think it's a pretty poor show of Royal to do this and quite disrespectful of the passengers who've supported them by keeping their bookings rather than cancelling. I'm  sure they really can't expect anyone to book at these prices; it's just a ploy so they can offer  50% discount on board. 

 

One new option that has been added is a 3-excursion package for the Italian ports at $199 and including a bit of sightseeing, walking, shopping and a snack in each.

For my sailing, price increases we're mostly around 30-50 euro for full day tours.  In all cases"lunch on your own" and blocks of time to explore on your own have been replaced with a group lunch provided (including wine) and guided touring at all times... probably both mandatory under current Italian guidelines to keep us in the bubble.   I figure feeding us and not having breaks for the guides legitimately adds to the price.

 

[Kamehameah]

1 hour ago, Steeler Nation At Sea said:

 

The beach, Playa Cala Major, is in the opposite direction from downtown and can be reached from bus number 4 stops at the port.  Easy to do so long as you are not docked at the farthest Naval pier (don't know the name), but, it's a bit of a walk from there to the correct bus stop.

 

OP - use Google to map routes from Puerto de Palma Mallorca to Playa Cala Major and from Estacion Naval de Porto Pi to Cala Major if you are docked at the farthest pier.  It is walkable from there, also.

 

Edited to say that I suspect Harmony will dock at that farthest naval pier. 

We changed our plan, we will go to the downtown with the shuttle bus. We will visit the downtown and then we will go by walk at playa ca'n pere antoni

[CaroleC]

Just booked this cruise for the 12th September departure. Are we required to complete a Passenger Locator Form for Italy prior to checking in at Barcelona?

[FionaMG]

23 hours ago, xxHadleyxx said:

For my sailing, price increases we're mostly around 30-50 euro for full day tours.  In all cases"lunch on your own" and blocks of time to explore on your own have been replaced with a group lunch provided (including wine) and guided touring at all times... probably both mandatory under current Italian guidelines to keep us in the bubble.   I figure feeding us and not having breaks for the guides legitimately adds to the price.

 

 

I do agree with you to a certain extent but I'm seeing price increases to the order or 70-100 euros on the full day tours I've been tracking since May last year and that to me is over the top. Now, if the onboard discounts they're supposedly going to be offering brings those increases down to the amounts you're seeing then in terms of cost, fair enough, but it's still disrespectful to the customer because to all intents and purposes it's like when the stores put prices up just so they can offer a "sale" price a few weeks later. They should just put the actual prices on the website and not pretend to be offering generous discounts. 

[xxHadleyxx]

I much prefer the actual prices than fake "sales" (though RCI does that with actual cruise fares too, along with most mass market cruise lines, sigh).  We never saw such gigantic jumps in prices on our excursions at all...and have been tracking them all year, so no idea why that is.  Strange.  Maybe some of the sailings happening sooner demand picked up enough that supply dwindled and that pushed prices up?  Or itm ight have to do with which specific excursions interested us.  Or maybe RCI is just playing pricing games.  

 

Regardless, I do think it is reasonable to point out that these are not the exact same excusrions as they were and that they do include food and 100% chaperoning by guides, which will add at least some cost to running the excusrions, rahter than acting as if nothing has changed but the price, which seems to be what a lot of people were thinking (and would be easy to think had you not looked carefully at details before and after, I don't blame peopel for not realizing).

[Sianli]

16 hours ago, CaroleC said:

Just booked this cruise for the 12th September departure. Are we required to complete a Passenger Locator Form for Italy prior to checking in at Barcelona?

Are you from the U.S. and vaccinated? Not as of now. However, we are watching the latest restrictions on US passengers inbound today and it is not very promising. We sail Harmony, Sept 19th. Not sure when we could re-use our airfare if this cancels us since we already have many unused credits expiring in the next 6 months. 

[Kbonner]

Currently on HM. You do not need an Italian health form. All Italy tours are guided, no on-your-own-walkings.

We also thought that the Italy tour prices were generally up to 50%off when booking onboard. Wrong, all interesting tours are overprized, the price for Amalfi coast or cinque terre are insame high

[Mbc023]

53 minutes ago, Kbonner said:

Currently on HM. You do not need an Italian health form. All Italy tours are guided, no on-your-own-walkings.

We also thought that the Italy tour prices were generally up to 50%off when booking onboard. Wrong, all interesting tours are overprized, the price for Amalfi coast or cinque terre are insame high

 

...and this is exactly why I canceled my cruise. Cinque Terre excursion was going to cost me almost $300 a person, and it didn't even go to the fishing villages that I mainly had interest to see. What I wanted to do would've cost me maybe $35 most (getting around the villages). I wanted to lay on the beach in Monterosso, and make my way to Manarola for a nice meal at Nessun Dorma. 

Additionally, I wanted to do Capri and see the Faraglioni Rocks and Blue Grotto. Nope - not able to do that either. If I want to go to Capri I'd have to pay $200... to visit a villa and garden. The excursions are ridiculously overpriced and not interesting. I'm saving my hard earned money until I'm able to do as I wish when visiting these places. 

 

[CaroleC]

3 hours ago, Sianli said:

Are you from the U.S. and vaccinated? Not as of now. However, we are watching the latest restrictions on US passengers inbound today and it is not very promising. We sail Harmony, Sept 19th. Not sure when we could re-use our airfare if this cancels us since we already have many unused credits expiring in the next 6 months. 

No, we’re UK residents and are fully vaccinated. The rules are changing tomorrow for us which means that we can now enter Italy without the need to quarantine for five days. However, I can’t work out if pax from the UK are required to complete a PLF for Italy prior to boarding 🤷‍♀️
 

Yes, I agree, it’s not looking at all promising for travellers from the US. I was reading a report earlier and indications are not good. Sorry, hope it works out for you.

 

 

Edited August 30, 2021 by CaroleC

[Travelbugs2.2]

6 hours ago, Kbonner said:

Currently on HM. You do not need an Italian health form. All Italy tours are guided, no on-your-own-walkings.

We also thought that the Italy tour prices were generally up to 50%off when booking onboard. Wrong, all interesting tours are overprized, the price for Amalfi coast or cinque terre are insame high

Hi @Kbonner

whats the mask policy on Harmony at the moment?

I’ve read somewhere that masks must be worn everywhere indoors unless actively eating / drinking?  Is this true?

 

are they any areas for vaccinated only guests whereby masks don’t need to be worn?

Particularly the casino - are masks to be worn in the casino?

 

sorry for all the questions & hope you’re enjoying the cruise!

 

thanks

[steamboats]

8 hours ago, Travelbugs2.2 said:

I’ve read somewhere that masks must be worn everywhere indoors unless actively eating / drinking?  Is this true?

 

are they any areas for vaccinated only guests whereby masks don’t need to be worn?

Particularly the casino - are masks to be worn in the casino?

 

According to the EU recommendations masks have to be worn everywhere indoors. We do not differ between vaccinated and non vaccinated people regarding the mask obligation. And that´s the rule on all cruise ships in the Med so far.

 

On the Harmony there can be only unvaccinated kids. All adults have to be vaccinated.

 

As for the "new" EU restrictions regarding the US. There is no real change. It´s just a "countries please reconsider your regulations as the US (and 5 other countries) have high numbers again". So for Germany there is no change at all as the US are on the high risk country list. If you are vaccinated you have no restrictions to fly into Germany. The only restriction is that you have to fill in the only entry form.

 

The Italian PLF has to be filled out by everyone who enters Italy regardless the nationality. As kbonner says they don´t have to fill it out because of the bubble shore tours none of you has to fill it out (neither in advance nor onboard). So obviously there is an expemption for cruise ships (and on the other hand all cruise ships have to do bubble shore tours).

 

steamboats

 

[Kbonner]

15 hours ago, Travelbugs2.2 said:

Hi @Kbonner

whats the mask policy on Harmony at the moment?

I’ve read somewhere that masks must be worn everywhere indoors unless actively eating / drinking?  Is this true?

 

are they any areas for vaccinated only guests whereby masks don’t need to be worn?

Particularly the casino - are masks to be worn in the casino?

 

sorry for all the questions & hope you’re enjoying the cruise!

 

thanks

There is no discrimination between vaxed and unvaxed. All pax are vaxed except the children onboard. So no special areas all sit in one boat.

outdoor - no masks

indoor - all masks to include casino. 

indoor - masks may be removed while eating/drinking

suite lounge, pin lounge and diamond lounge walking in and out-masks. When sitting - no masks 

The cruise is a blast, the crew is doing the extra mile. No wonder while the HM is only occupied by 10% of its pax-capacity.

 

Edited August 31, 2021 by Kbonner

[MelKaps]

21 hours ago, Kbonner said:

Currently on HM. You do not need an Italian health form. All Italy tours are guided, no on-your-own-walkings.

We also thought that the Italy tour prices were generally up to 50%off when booking onboard. Wrong, all interesting tours are overprized, the price for Amalfi coast or cinque terre are insame high

Thanks for all of the insight. Would you be able to provide us with copies of the daily cruise compass?

[Kamehameah]

38 minutes ago, Kbonner said:

There is no discrimination between vaxed and unvaxed. All pax are vaxed except the children onboard. So no special areas all sit in one boat.

outdoor - no masks

indoor - all masks to include casino. 

indoor - masks may be removed while eating/drinking

suite lounge, pin lounge and diamond lounge walking in and out-masks. When sitting - no masks 

The cruise is a blast, the crew is doing the extra mile. No wonder while the HM is only occupied by 10% of its pax-capacity.

 

Only 10 % of the capacity?? 
I will be on HM the 2 September.... for me would be fantastic if the ship will be at 20% load capacity

[Kbonner]

2 hours ago, Kamehameah said:

Only 10 % of the capacity?? 
I will be on HM the 2 September.... for me would be fantastic if the ship will be at 20% load capacity

Yes only at 10% capacity. Also a Brit-free ship due to Italy constraints. When you board the HM this should be history and you must be aware of beginning chair hogging and  chair hoarding in the lounge 😧

[Steeler Nation At Sea]

On 8/30/2021 at 11:02 AM, Kbonner said:

Currently on HM. You do not need an Italian health form. All Italy tours are guided, no on-your-own-walkings.

We also thought that the Italy tour prices were generally up to 50%off when booking onboard. Wrong, all interesting tours are overprized, the price for Amalfi coast or cinque terre are insame high

 

Hi and thanks for all of your responses this week.  Was wondering if you had any insight on the theater shows Grease, 1887 and Columbus returning? It was reported they weren't available last week.

[FionaMG]

Hi @Kbonner, 

 

If you get the chance, could you tell me the onboard prices for the "Pisa and Lucca Highlights" (from La Spezia) and "Island of Capri" (from Naples) excursions, please?

[Kbonner]

1 hour ago, FionaMG said:

Hi @Kbonner, 

 

If you get the chance, could you tell me the onboard prices for the "Pisa and Lucca Highlights" (from La Spezia) = 174,99$ pp and "Island of Capri" (from Naples) = 219,99$ pp excursions, please?

We are currently in La Spezia, it is a total mess . All tours are waiting because the Italian mafia officials changed their minds. Last week bubble tours here without any problems, today the Mafia required all tours to be antigen tested before leaving the ship. 

Not Royals fault, but typical Italian self-importance.

[Kbonner]

6 hours ago, Steeler Nation At Sea said:

 

Hi and thanks for all of your responses this week.  Was wondering if you had any insight on the theater shows Grease, 1887 and Columbus returning? It was reported they weren't available last week.

I only know, no musicals this week. I doubt they are coming back before TA

[FionaMG]

44 minutes ago, Kbonner said:

We are currently in La Spezia, it is a total mess . All tours are waiting because the Italian mafia officials changed their minds. Last week bubble tours here without any problems, today the Mafia required all tours to be antigen tested before leaving the ship. 

Not Royals fault, but typical Italian self-importance.

Oh boy! 😒

Thanks for the prices. Much appreciated. I hope the rest of your day goes better.

[xxHadleyxx]

How disapointing about the musicals