Harmony - where to watch football?

[RoperDK]

I have several fall cruises booked.  Harmony doesn't have Playmakers.  Where are places to watch football, preferably college ball. 

[OCSC Mike]

1 minute ago, RoperDK said:

I have several fall cruises booked.  Harmony doesn't have Playmakers.  Where are places to watch football, preferably college ball. 

 

Was on Harmony last week. There are TV's inside Sabor on the boardwalk that show some sports during the day. There are also 2 versions of ESPN on your stateroom TV. Beyond that, I wouldn't expect you to have much luck. Sorry.

[cruisegus]

this past February on Harmony, there was a lot of sport on at ON Air across from Boleros

[chiguy67]

They play some games on the screens at the Aqua Theater.

[1025cruise]

You might be lucky to get NFL games, but don't hold your breath for college.

[alfaeric]

1 hour ago, 1025cruise said:

You might be lucky to get NFL games, but don't hold your breath for college.

The college games are very much up to ESPN, so if there's something you *really* want to watch, it will have to be streamed.

 

Since there are fewer NFL games- there will at least be the 1pm, 4pm, and 8pm Sunday as well as the MNF games.  Apparently the NFL has some broadcasting agreements with the cruise lines.

[constantcruiser]

Several years ago our family did a Thanksgiving cruise leaving out of Galveston, TX.  It happened to be the last time Texas A&M and the Univ. of Texas played each other, and everyone aboard the ship seemed to be wearing maroon or burnt orange.  On the second day, the Cruise Director announced that they would show the Baltimore game on Thanksgiving Day, and there was nearly a mutiny.  So many passengers called Guest Services to complain that their phone lines were constantly busy.  By the 3rd day, the CD was begging people to stop calling and said they were doing their best to get the rights to the college game.  Every day their progress in getting the game was the highlight of the Captain's update from the bridge.  The day before Thanksgiving, the CD announced the game would be shown in the theatre AND in the largest bar.  It was a very close game; and on that one day, the ship sold more beer than it ever had before!  So don't give up if you REALLY want  a specific game.

[poocher]

We were able to watch the ncaa basketball tournament in Sabor, On Air, the pub (can’t remember the name) the Aqua Theater and in our cabin.  There was also apparently a cricket tournament that got a lot of airtime too!

[RoperDK]

23 hours ago, constantcruiser said:

Several years ago our family did a Thanksgiving cruise leaving out of Galveston, TX.  It happened to be the last time Texas A&M and the Univ. of Texas played each other, and everyone aboard the ship seemed to be wearing maroon or burnt orange.  The day before Thanksgiving, the CD announced the game would be shown in the theatre AND in the largest bar.  It was a very close game; and on that one day, the ship sold more beer than it ever had before!  So don't give up if you REALLY want  a specific game.

I don't understand why they think that college ball isn't important to folks.  We are Bama fans and won't cruise over Thanksgiving because that is the Iron Bowl weekend.  I would love to cruise more in the fall, but big college games aren't shown like NFL games.  I can't always count on streaming so we try to cruise on off weeks or cupcake games.  That can make scheduling a cruise a bit challenging!    

[baelor]

On 6/9/2022 at 5:50 PM, constantcruiser said:

Several years ago our family did a Thanksgiving cruise leaving out of Galveston, TX.  It happened to be the last time Texas A&M and the Univ. of Texas played each other, and everyone aboard the ship seemed to be wearing maroon or burnt orange.  On the second day, the Cruise Director announced that they would show the Baltimore game on Thanksgiving Day, and there was nearly a mutiny.  So many passengers called Guest Services to complain that their phone lines were constantly busy.  By the 3rd day, the CD was begging people to stop calling and said they were doing their best to get the rights to the college game.  Every day their progress in getting the game was the highlight of the Captain's update from the bridge.  The day before Thanksgiving, the CD announced the game would be shown in the theatre AND in the largest bar.  It was a very close game; and on that one day, the ship sold more beer than it ever had before!  So don't give up if you REALLY want  a specific game.

That is crazy dedication to get the ship to show a college game.  Respect the hustle, I guess.

[1025cruise]

1 hour ago, RoperDK said:

I don't understand why they think that college ball isn't important to folks.  We are Bama fans and won't cruise over Thanksgiving because that is the Iron Bowl weekend.  I would love to cruise more in the fall, but big college games aren't shown like NFL games.  I can't always count on streaming so we try to cruise on off weeks or cupcake games.  That can make scheduling a cruise a bit challenging!    

It's all about money. The rights needed to show the games are expensive. That's why they stick to the NFL package. 

[loman]

I cruise in the fall so i can watch a little  NFL football to break up the activities .

I like the Allure as i can watch the game in the On Air Club or just outside it at the Starbucks seating in the promenade .

Roll Tide !

[RoperDK]

3 hours ago, loman said:

I cruise in the fall so i can watch a little  NFL football to break up the activities .

I like the Allure as i can watch the game in the On Air Club or just outside it at the Starbucks seating in the promenade .

Roll Tide !

I enjoy NFL games, too.  My husband is pretty much just a college ball fan.  I have tried to tell him he can watch and follow our favorite college players once they get to the NFL.  He is slowly turning around.  I agree that watching a game on a cruise is a nice change of pace. Actually, the fall is my favorite time to cruise. Such a conundrum. Roll Tide!   

[loman]

28 minutes ago, RoperDK said:

I enjoy NFL games, too.  My husband is pretty much just a college ball fan.  I have tried to tell him he can watch and follow our favorite college players once they get to the NFL.  He is slowly turning around.  I agree that watching a game on a cruise is a nice change of pace. Actually, the fall is my favorite time to cruise. Such a conundrum. Roll Tide!   

With that quarterback factory Coach Saban has going on down there , there are certainly lots of players to follow in the NFL . 

New England got a great pick with Mac Jones, i was hoping my Steelers would of drafted him . Oh well 🙁

[PhillyFan33579]

The problem is most cruise lines stopped carrying the major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox) several years ago. The majority of college football games are broadcast by these networks. Previously ships showed almost every major college football game on Saturdays, but that is no longer the case since they stopped carrying the major networks. 

[jerseyjjs]

In my recent experience onboard Oasis and Symphony last fall, they showed at least 3 12noon ET college game on Espn, Espn2, EspnU and SEC network in the cabin AND Playmakers..  You didn't even have to leave your cabin, but you had to keep changing the channels to view all the games.  After that, at least 2college games would shown at the prime time slots throughout Saturday.

 

   As far as the NFL, Playmakers is hard to beat.  Out of 8 early Sunday games, they had 6 of them showing and then all late afternoon games, the SNF, MNF and TNF games were all shown.

 

When I was on Allure, they had 2 NFL games showing in each time slot in the cabin.  Luck of the draw as to which games they showed.  The OnAir club  on deck 5 would have them on also.....which will be closer to your scenario on the Harmony.

 

    Also, as far as this season goes, I can't tell you if the ships will show the NFL games on Thursday night now that Amazon Prime is taking over that broadcast.

Edited June 12, 2022 by jerseyjjs

[constantcruiser]

Getting the last Texas A&M/Univ. of Texas game on the ship was the only reason my family agreed to a Thanksgiving cruise.  We booked nearly a year in advance and I must have called the Crown & Anchor Society 20 times over the course of those 12 months.  Every time they assured me the game would be shown on board.  If you've ever been on a cruise leaving from Galveston, you know that at least 75% of the passengers are Texans; and others had also checked to be sure the game would be shown.  So it was particularly disappointing when the CD announced they would show the Baltimore game instead.  Frankly I was afraid my family would fly home midway through the cruise and I would be stuck cooking a turkey!

[baelor]

4 minutes ago, constantcruiser said:

Getting the last Texas A&M/Univ. of Texas game on the ship was the only reason my family agreed to a Thanksgiving cruise.  We booked nearly a year in advance and I must have called the Crown & Anchor Society 20 times over the course of those 12 months.  Every time they assured me the game would be shown on board.  If you've ever been on a cruise leaving from Galveston, you know that at least 75% of the passengers are Texans; and others had also checked to be sure the game would be shown.  So it was particularly disappointing when the CD announced they would show the Baltimore game instead.  Frankly I was afraid my family would fly home midway through the cruise and I would be stuck cooking a turkey!

I did not realize people were that dedicated to sports games...Glad you avoided having to cook lol.

[hotsauce126]

On 6/9/2022 at 5:03 PM, RoperDK said:

I have several fall cruises booked.  Harmony doesn't have Playmakers.  Where are places to watch football, preferably college ball. 

 

With college its hit or miss. I was on Odyssey during the SEC championship game. About 30 minutes before the game every seat was filled at playmakers. The bar staff told everyone it would be on. Suddenly the game starts and its nowhere to be found on the TVs. They don't get CBS onboard. They thought it would be on the SEC Network lol

[billslowsky]

A lot of the programming comes through Sport 24, which has a website but not much of a forward looking schedule.

[PhillyFan33579]

On 6/12/2022 at 1:39 PM, jerseyjjs said:

In my recent experience onboard Oasis and Symphony last fall, they showed at least 3 12noon ET college game on Espn, Espn2, EspnU and SEC network in the cabin AND Playmakers..  You didn't even have to leave your cabin, but you had to keep changing the channels to view all the games.  After that, at least 2college games would shown at the prime time slots throughout Saturday.

 

   As far as the NFL, Playmakers is hard to beat.  Out of 8 early Sunday games, they had 6 of them showing and then all late afternoon games, the SNF, MNF and TNF games were all shown.

 

When I was on Allure, they had 2 NFL games showing in each time slot in the cabin.  Luck of the draw as to which games they showed.  The OnAir club  on deck 5 would have them on also.....which will be closer to your scenario on the Harmony.

 

    Also, as far as this season goes, I can't tell you if the ships will show the NFL games on Thursday night now that Amazon Prime is taking over that broadcast.

Last year when I was on Freedom they showed every NFL game in Playmakers on Sundays (2 different cruises). However, when I was on Odyssey they only showed two NFL games at a time in Playmakers on Sundays. I thought it was a little weird that an older ship like Freedom showed every NFL game while Odyssey, their newest ship at the time, only showed 4 NFL games Sunday afternoon. 

[broadwaybaby123]

Your best bet might be Playmakers or Sabors.

 

Also, coming from a NE Pats girl, please keep in mind, not every game may be carried, even by ESPN.

Edited June 13, 2022 by broadwaybaby123

[Willwils]

I sure hope I can watch the NFC playoff football game on a big screen  somewhere on Board. It's  scheduled for 3:00 pm Sunday 1/29/23 Eagles vs. 49s, our Embarkation day. As a diehard Eagles fan I wouldn't want to miss it. Although my wife insists she leave game early & won't miss the 5:15  MDR dinner. But, I'd be OK with hot dog or slice pizza to watch whole game.. 

[jsf]

We were on HoS 2 weeks ago and they were showing many football games in the casino area TV's. Of course these were NFL games but I would think they would show college games in the fall. Years ago we always sailed over Thanksgiving and they would show the games in the Theater.

Good Luck