luv2sailAgain

We sailed on Harmony last summer.  There were 4 teenage girls in a cabin.  Two of the cousins decided that they would rather just keep the beds pushed together. The 3rd and 4th used the sofa.  The sofa was converted to a bed for the 3rd girl and then a trundle was pulled from under the sofa for the fourth. So the 3rd and 4th cousins had semi beds to themselves. It was wall to wall beds, but it worked.  We had balcony cabins.

7 hours ago, NoseWhistle said:

What's a wow band and where to buy it? 

If you are familiar with Disney Magic Bands, it is similar.  It's a "bracelet" for lack of a better definition.  You are not able to get on and off the ship with it.  But you can use it to get into your cabin, buy items/drinks, and get into the shows on Oasis class. I don't like lanyards and I don't like fumbling around looking for my SeaPass card. The Wow band worked for me. I didn't use it all the time, but it came in handy when I did.  When I was on Harmony, Guest Services said that they were out. But then I was walking down the Promenade and was able to buy them at Boleros, I think.  There was a table full of them.  So if you want to give a Wow band a try, check both places.

I liked the Wow Band when I was on Harmony. I wear a lanyard for work and do not like them. Sometimes I am wearing something without pockets. I didn't always use the band, but I was glad to have it.  It was only 5 bucks and I think of it as a cheap souvenir. 

On 10/22/2019 at 8:36 AM, daisyday33 said:

Thank you for your help!

 

Do you know anything about the 'wristband' for $4.99?  Do these work as room keys, and can items be bought with them?  Are they waterproof?  We are considering them for the children so that they aren't as likely to lose them as a room key but I've called Royal twice and gotten two totally different answers...…   Thank you!

I was on Harmony and enjoyed the wristband myself. I am a Disney girl and like the ease of the Magic Bands and Wow bands. We also had 4 cabins on an extended family cruise.  The good thing about the bands in our case was that they enabled me to give a family member not staying in our cabin access to it.  My daughter was staying next door with her cousins and was able to come into my cabin without having to knock.

I wasn't on Symphony, but did experience getting different answers or incorrect answers to inquiries.  The Wow Bands were one of them. I thought the bands were available at Guest Services. When at Guest Services to get a second SeaPass, I was told that there weren't any more bands and they were not available.  Then, we were walking through the promenade and turned to see a table with plenty of the bands. 

We we also be on Symphony next summer and are looking forward to it.  Have a great trip!!

Went from $29.99 all the way down to $27.99 on my sailing.

Great review! Thank you!

We rented a bungalow in Columbus Cove in July.  It was $265.  What I loved was the quiet beach that was roped off for only the bungalows.  I like to meet people, but I don't like to be a sardine on a beach.  The bar and food area was close.  An attendant would get drinks for you if you wished.  There was shade and sun.  You also got two floats.  We loved it and will rent another one for our cruise next summer.  I hiked over very early in the morning to have a choice in bungalows as they are first come first served.  We took the tram back.  We had a bit of a wait, but I didn't mind.  I am just happy to be on vacation.

7 hours ago, ptf2009 said:

Harmony is a GREAT ship....so much to do! The only thing I didn't understand was why they haven't replaced the chairs in the American Icon dining room (deck 3). They are made with bonded leather with most of them cracked and/or torn. The main dining rooms on decks 4 and 5 had beautiful comfortable chairs. 

Agree! We are booked on Symphony next summer and I was checking out pictures to see if it had the same sad chairs.

On 8/12/2019 at 1:47 PM, LMaxwell said:

 

Guidelines will be changing.  

 

Similar to what was happening with people booking multiple suites and cancelling at final payment; created a glut of inventory.  RCI needs to manage demand with inventory.  Luckily, RCI is more savvy than the consumer with this product so they'll win either way. 

I am sorry to be late to the party. After a July cruise on HOTS, I didn't visit CC.  We just booked last week on Symphony and am trying to catch up.

Will the guidelines be changing for all Cruise Planner purchases, or just The Key? I can't recall canceling anything once I buy it.  However, I am interested in the Coco Beach Club pass.  Since it is new and not up and running, I was thinking that I could cancel it if the reviews were not favorable. 

3 hours ago, cured said:

 

 

Do some cabins keep the OBC even though it is no longer a promo or is there a glitch that if you use part of the OBC, you get to keep it?  I am not complaining nor am I going to question it! 😁  Perhaps the moral of the story is to use some OBC before you rebook?

As with so many things Royal Caribbean, I think it is wonky sometimes.  For our HOTS sailing last July, I was able to get two price drops.  My family had 4 separate bookings and all cabins were right in a row.  On the last price drop, I was able to keep my OBC which I had not used yet. However, another family member did not reprice because she was told that she would have lost the OBC credit when she called.  We had the same online travel agent, but we spoke with different people. 

Just booked today!! 244 days - but who's counting?!?!

When we first checked in for our July Harmony cruise, we had Expedited arrival. Then a bit later, it was gone. I don't even remember where it was listed or how I knew it was gone. But it was disappointing to lose it. I don't even remember seeing anything for expedited arrival once at the port.  It seems pretty wonky.

Glad you are back!  We leave on Harmony in 1.5 weeks! Our St. Maarten excursion will bus us over to the French side and then a ferry to Pinel Island.  It has been years since I have been to SXM and am wondering about the damage.  

It is a love/hate relationship with ship excursions for me as well. Too afraid to book them outside. But when I am on the cattle herding excursions, I start changing my mind.  The anxiety of being left behind wins out though.

Thanks for the report!!

My son is wondering about the differences in speeds  between the two.  He would be doing things like Snapchat and Discord.  Thanks for your help.

34 minutes ago, texancruzer said:

Have visited San Juan numerous times ( maybe 20)  We have walked all over Old San Juan - morning , noon and night.  Even walked back to our hotel El Convento from the salsa club we were at at 2:30 am - no problems.  But stay to the main streets after dark - we found lots of police out that early !

Many thanks for the reassurance! This will be my first "on your own" shore excursion without DH. I will also be responsible for my young adult children and nieces. I worry too much!!

8 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

Pretty good route.  Ont he way up and back, you can go a block further on Calle del Cristo past the Plaza Sa Jose to Fr.de Goenaga St.  Turn left and go to the end of the street at the Poor people Park (Parque de Beneficencia). Turn right and you'll be on Del Morro and go straight to the long fort entrance.  Thanks for this idea.  I actually thought more about my route after my first post and was thinking about this way.  This seems like a better way.

 

Come back the same way or just go down Norzagaray to the Quincentennial Sq and connect to Del Cristo that way.

If you're on Pier 1, take Fortaleza to Tanca and turn right, head right to the pier.  If you're on Pier 3 or 4, just stay on Fortaleza until the Plaza Colon and then turn right and follow the street down hill to the post office then take that side street (paseo de Colon) to La Marinia and the pier.  Great tips!  Thanks again!

7 hours ago, JerseyGirlatHeart said:

Is this safe to walk at night?  Our ship will not arrive until 4pm and depart around midnight.

What month are you arriving?  We arrive at 2pm in July.  As far as I can tell, we are the only ship in port that day.  Summer is the low season in the Caribbean.  We are sailing on the Harmony of the Seas.  So there will be quite a few of us.  But compared to the winter months when more than one ship is in port (maybe several ships), I am not expecting huge tourist crowds.

Long story longer. . .😉

Just always be aware of your surroundings when visiting any Caribbean island. No need to worry or anything. Just take care. I have actually been to San Juan twice and lived in the USVI.  But it was quite a while ago.  

7 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

Pretty good route.  Ont he way up and back, you can go a block further on Calle del Cristo past the Plaza Sa Jose to Fr.de Goenaga St.  Turn left and go to the end of the street at the Poor people Park (Parque de Beneficencia). Turn right and you'll be on Del Morro and go straight to the long fort entrance.

 

Come back the same way or just go down Norzagaray to the Quincentennial Sq and connect to Del Cristo that way.

If you're on Pier 1, take Fortaleza to Tanca and turn right, head right to the pier.  If you're on Pier 3 or 4, just stay on Fortaleza until the Plaza Colon and then turn right and follow the street down hill to the post office then take that side street (paseo de Colon) to La Marinia and the pier.

Thank you very much! 

36 minutes ago, kcmrlitz said:

We arrived this morning at 9:25 and dropped our bags and in to our parking spot by 9:30. Very quick and efficient on keeping the traffic separated from those boarding and unboarding.  We went to the terminal entrance and there was a line waiting to get in but it was starting to move. A quick bathroom break and the line was gone.   Checked right in with expedited arrival and were seated in the corral by 9:45. All in all a great experience. Now we wait for boarding!  Bon voyage!

 

Kevin

Thank you for posting! We will follow your lead in three short weeks! 

When I first did online check in, "expedited arrival" showed on my Set Sail Pass.  Maybe it said "expedited check in." Then it disappeared a few days later.  Strange. . .

Wishing you a wonderful trip!!

I will be walking through Old San Juan with my young adult children.  We are sailing into PR via Royal Caribbean. Does this route seem to be safe?

Leave ship

Follow the Paseo de la Princesa

Enter the Puerta de San Juan

Go to Calle del Cristo

Left on San Sebastian

Right to the fort

Tour Fort

Head back to ship via Calle del Cristo

Left on Calle Fortaleza (after seeing umbrellas??)

Right on San Justo towards ship

Thanks for any help/recommendations!

Thank you for this video!  I haven't been to San Juan in 20 some years.  Will be there in a couple weeks with my young adult children.  I was concerned about walking on our own from the port to the fort. Your video gave me confidence to do the walking tour.

What happens after you get into the lane to drop off luggage? 

In Galveston, we parked in a parking garage across the street and lugged our bags to some big room in the terminal and just left them. I felt a little sick to my stomach.  I was worried that I would never see my luggage again. But it arrived at our cabin just fine.

This trip has me worried, as usual. Worry #1 is hoping I am able to pick up my son at the Orlando airport relatively close to schedule (the day before).  Worry #2 is dropping off luggage.  Worry #3 is parking. 

2 hours ago, kcmrlitz said:

Absolutely!!!  I hope y'all have a wonderful trip!

 

Kevin

Thank you!  We sail on HOTS on July 14th.  I would also appreciate hearing about your experience. Happy sailing!

Good to know!  This is one worry that had not crossed my mind yet.

On 6/18/2019 at 10:25 AM, sealeggs said:

Now we are down to 26 days until we board the glorious Harmony Of The Seas!!!

Me, too!!! Making all those last minute plans now!