Sascol

What do you think the percentage of American guests? We got off Harmony on the 14th and I have to say it was only about 25-30% if that. Trying to decide if it is just this time of year, port, itinerary or ship. A lot of us had issues with language barriers and rudeness.

 

Not trying to start an issue, but trying to decide if we need to skip October all together.

No way. We were on the cruise that ended on the 14th as part of a back to back. Way over 50% American. American passengers were the majority. I'd put it easily at 60%.

Thank you for posting your experience. We are on harmony in december for our first b2b. One quick questiondid you get to keep your sea pass card from the first cruise? I am wondering because we have a collection of all our cards. Thank you.

My wife had the same concern! We did. They collected them at the turnaround meeting and then gave them back to us in the cabin later in the week.

 

I spent quite a bit of time near you. The solarium bar was one of my regular spots :)

 

Was nice there because when the door to the elevators opened you'd get a nice, cool breeze!

The service was fantastic. Oasis last year left a lot to be desired and Harmony this year was a home run. I didn't notice that many children in the solarium other than a couple times. I spent a ton of time there so I'm not sure I can relate to your complaints about so many children in the solarium as I was on the cruise. Even for breakfast, I think just 1 or 2 tables had a kid in the bistro (where they are allowed supposedly). During the day I don't think I really ever saw kids there except for the family who thought the misting trees were a splash pad./quote]

 

We spent probably 25% of our free time in the Solarium. Specifically, in the seats at the top near the bar up on deck 16. Thought our time there we could hear kids from the two decks down below. This was not kids in the Bistro. We'd peek over and could see them on many occasions in loungers below.

 

On the last day of the cruise a family of six came to the bar to get drinks and one of the women next to us went nuts (correctly so) when one of the kids started to climb the support pole next to the bar. She yelled at them and the bar staff reacted to get them out even though it is not really their job to monitor this. This was the extreme example but we saw the little ones in there most days on both legs of the cruise.

Cruise background:

• We're early 50s
  
• 22nd cruise in 22 years
  
• 5 RCCL the rest split between Princess & Celebrity
  

First let me say that overall we had a nice time. Below I will point out a few things that were great and some that were not so great. If you'd like more specifics, please ask and I will do my best to address as I have time.

POSITIVES

1- Things to do. There is plenty to do on this ship. You want action, you have action. You want quiet, you have quiet (mostly, except for the one minus related to this below).

2- Specialty restaurants (food quality). Every one we did the food was great and worth the extra $$. Service was equally good.

3- B2B turnover. Very well organized and easy to do (our 1st time B2B). There were 72 people that did this total on our sailing, less than I thought there'd be.

4- Service. Great, fast service at all bars and restaurants with the exception of the Café Promenade. This place has a lack of organization. Not the staff's fault - it is more of a design flaw in the way the lines are set up. Overall positive staff attitude throughout the ship.

5- Fine Line water show. I am not a fan of shows on ships but this one was awesome. Well worth doing.

6- Plenty of open loungers at almost all times in the Solarium.

NEGATIVES

1- Kids, kids, kids oh my god kids. Over 1000 on the 1st leg, just under 1000 on the 2nd. We always cruise in the fall to avoid large numbers of children but for an October cruise there were waaaaaaay more than we thought there would be. The ship is a lot more 'family oriented' than all the others than we have sailed so we did expect a few hundred kids but 1000? Not anticipated at all. Maybe our fault for not researching enough but we dug pretty darn deep before booking and did not expect so many this late in the season.

2- NO enforcement of the 16+ rule in the Solarium. The ship has an over 16 policy in the Solarium but it was not enforced. I know kids are allowed in when it is raining and the pools are not usable but there was not much rain on either cruise and on sunny days there was no enforcement of the policy. Went to guest services to point this out - they agreed and cleared the kids out immediately but an hour later a new batch returned. Again, I get it, family oriented ship but when we pay for a trip and know part of what we are paying for is an adult area, we want an adult area.

3- Rude passengers. Let's face it, not the cruise line's fault but we saw a lot of rude/nasty behavior. Passengers yelling across the ship to get the attention of other people 100 feet away, finger licking in the buffet, folks in the cabin next to us smoking pot (yes I said pot) on the balcony. No issue with smoking pot...but on a ship, really people? Get your buzz on at home.

In summary, while we did have a nice time and came home with an overall positive experience, we would probably not sail this class of ship again. Glad we did it but there were just a few too many negatives as detailed above. Not enough to make us negatively view the vacation, but enough to make us not consider this class of ship again.

What was bad for us may not be bad for you so keep in mind that these are only our opinions and they are specific to the two dates noted above.

You can leave him at home!

One of the grossest thing we ever saw was on a cruise out of N'awlins

 

Wife and I were at seated at the Lido buffet and there was a large extended family at the next table. Young boy about 5 or 6 was all over the place. His parental units finally got him to sit still when he grabs a salt shaker and begins licking the top of it. The mother would take it from him and set in on the table where he would then pick it back up and lick away again. This went on for a few long minutes

 

They get up to leave and the mother puts the salt shaker down for the final time and they all walk away.

 

We had to flag someone down to tell them what happened. Hopefully she didn't wipe it and put back on the table.....

Seen it too but with a ketchup bottle. Kid was sucking on it for 10 minutes like it was his binkie then the family got up and left as though it did not happen. We flagged down a waitress and the immediately disposed of the bottle.

I think the optimal thing to do would be to carry your own hand sanitizer and do your hands once you’re at the table ready to eat your food then again if you want to go back to buffet. But who’s going to do that Forums

I do that!

You do all realize that many of these people are eating with there hands at their table, and then going back up for seconds (or thirds) and touching the tongs...I do eat at the buffet, and use proper etiquette, but try not to think about who's grubby hands may have touched my food :)

This is why I use my Purell after I use a buffet utensil before I eat.

Parents need to be confronted and until they are nothing will change and THEY know it.

Agreed. In many cases though the parents are not even around. Another part of the issue.

While this is not aimed at everyone, it is aimed at quite a few. You know who you are. Please engage in a little buffet etiquette by NOT LICKING YOUR FINGERS prior to handling serving utenseils.

Yesterday I was waiting in line in the windjammer to load up a taco when the woman in front of me started snacking on whatever she had on her plate already. She got food on her fingers and proceeded to lick each one to clean them off. At this point she then grabbed the taco utensils and again licked her nasty fingers when she got sour cream on them.

As she left I flagged down an attendant so they could change the utensils.

I suspect this happens at every station every day but to witness it is another thing.

Please folks, use a little common sense.

Hi mate, doing a B2B in December on Harmony. How did they transition you from one cruise to the next? Did you stay on board or did you have to get off for a while? Any complementary lunch ?? Any heads up would be appreciated. Cheers!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

It was very well organized. Met in the Schooner Bar at about 9:30. Got off the ship with our passports to get new cruise cards and go through customs. We were back on the ship within 30 minutes and later we had a special, very good lunch in the dining room set up for us. Between 10 and about 11:30 you mostly have the ship to yourselves. It's very nice.

One night in Central Park there was a group of young boys sitting by the guitarist. They sang one song with him which was adorable, but then they kept interrupting him during his other songs which was not so adorable! No parents were with these boys and they were probably around 9 years old. This was around 10:00 p.m. also.

Yup. We were there at the same time and saw this too. Cute for a song but it got old fast. The poor guitarist tried to discourage them after a while but there is no polite way to say get out of here. Where were the parents? We gave up and left to go elsewhere.

Solarium is supposed to be adults only. No enforcement here either. Got frustrated one day and went to guest services to complain. They swept the place of kids but the next day they were all back. Just enforce the rules (yes this one is a rule) and there will not be any problems. As a paying customer I expect adult designated areas to be just that. Before anyone asks, no it was not raining. I know they relax the rules when the uncovered pool areas are not usable.

Let the three year old babysit the baby....problem solved!:cool:

We purposely book after school starts so this was not expected. Even as I type there are so many kids running around outside our cabin that the floor is shaking.

This is part of our planning process as well. We have the hall runners here on Harmony too. Try a quick opening of your cabin door when you hear one coming. Scares 'em silly assuming they can stop in time.

FAR FEWER KIDS!

Second week of a B2B. Hard to say how many less kids but I'd guess maybe 1/3 fewer.

Still a lot more than we originally thought we'd see when we booked this. As many have said it is because of the features of the ship (anticipated and factored into our decision) and I guess many U.S. parents have no issues taking kids out of school for a vacation (not anticipated and not factored into our decision). This would not have happened in my wildest dreams as a child!

Thank you. One quick question did they allow you to keep your old sea pass card? We collect all of our sea pass cards. Thank you.

Sort of...

They took them all but promised to send them back to us by day three. My wife was concerned about this too!

If possible would post your turn around day experience. We are on harmony in December for our first b2b. Thank you. :)

Flawless. We had a total of 72 b2b cruisers. Met in the schooner bar at 9:30. Left the ship at about 10:15. Went through customs, got new cards and were back on within 30 minutes. Had a special lunch in the dining room at noon that was quite tasty. All of our new things (drink package, dining reservations, etc.) were ready and waiting.

We had the same cabin so that made things easy as well.

We will be on the Harmony a week from tomorrow. Any advice? What to do what not to do?

Do's:

Fine line water show. I am not a fan of production shows but it was awesome.

Flow rider was fun and not too crowded when we did it.

If you can time it right around kids, try the specialty restaurants. All were good.

Sit in Central Park after dinner and listen to the guitarist. Very relaxing.

DON'Ts

Do not sit in the Prominade area before the open the cabins at 1pm. It's madness. Chill in the solarium and relax.

Windjammer is sooooo crowded. Avoid during peak hours if at all possible. No different than any other ship though.

Don't sit in the front row of the comedy show unless you like being picked on!

You waited 10+ minutes for drinks? You sure you were just on Harmony? I was downing 15+ drinks a day all over the ship and I don't think I waited more than 1 person ahead of me at any point. Were you at busy venues in the evening?

 

You had exactly the opposite experience I had. They were smiling, cordial, fast, polite, and total rockstars at the bars. Mind you, I do tip the bartenders and they recognize me and smile and chat me up - pour me doubles/heavy pours, etc.

Not for 15 drinks, but I would agree. The ONLY place we waited more than 2 minutes for a drink was at the Cafe Promenade. We had No interaction at all with anything less than friendly employees.

We are on for a second week beginning today. I'll report on the number of kids this time once I get a feel for it.

On Harmony as well and I don't think there is an overwhelming amount of kids. Especially not compared to a July sailing. I would agree that the parenting is generally pretty bad, though I've noticed more issues with adults. Mostly south Americans and Europeans who don't seem to understand even the basics of social interaction, courtesy, and manners.

Oh my gosh there are so many kids. Less than a July cruise sure, but even if it's 10% (just a guess) that is so many more than any other October Caribbean cruise we have ever taken. Again, we expected more due to the ship, but not this many more.

Had another "issue" with a wild child in Jamie's last night but thankfully he left about 15 minutes after we were seated.

like any other location in the tropics, there is very little variation in temps throughout the year.

That would be a issue for sure. But its the parents fault not the child's. If a child can not sit in their seat and be quiet with a ipad or book or some entertainment one parent or both should leave. Its not the place for them.

 

I have kids who eat at Chops. My kids have eaten out their whole lives, I am not a great cook and I hate to cook. Even at under 5 there is a certain level of behavior that should be expected. At under 5 mine could not sit thru a 2 hour dinner so until they could behave they didn't get to go to Chops I think they where like 8 and 6 before they got the joy of Chops.

Spot on. Some people get it.

Last night we had our first real issue. We had dinner at Chops at 8:30. Many, many children under the age of 5. Of course after 10 minutes at that hour they get cranky. Lots of yelling, running, no parental control. Hate to sound like an old grump but please control your children in situations like this. No reason for a 2 year old to be in Chops at 9:00. Very discouraging.

You could do a longer cruise and avoid the young ones some. We did a celebrity cruise, 11 days ending last Friday. Only saw about 10 passangers under the age of 14. A hand full of teens, and the rest adults!

This is actually what we usually do but we did want to give this class of ship a try. Part of the adventure I guess!