My 2 weeks aboard Harmony of the Seas (review)

[Single Cruiser]

Hi.

 

So I've decided to write a review from my perspective of the events and experiences onboard Harmony of the Seas from 22nd May - 5th June.

Apologies now if this takes a while but I was straight back to work on the 6th and only just got around to uploading pics etc which hopefully I'll be able to share during these posts.

 

 

First some background.

 

I'd sailed onboard Allure of the Seas last May and enjoyed it so much that I immediately booked the Harmony of the Seas Maiden Voyage for the 29th May when I got home.

A few months later my agent contacted me and said Royal had added two new preview cruises from Southampton, a 4nt and a 3nt. After some deliberation I decided to get a price for these two as a b2b2b cruise. And so the bookings were complete.

 

I had the same cabin. A Central Park balcony for the 3nt and 4nt and then an inside for the 7nt (due to it being a lot more expensive on the 7nt than the cost of the two 3nt and 4nt preview cruises combined).

 

Shortly after booking these two and linking all 3 bookings I received a call saying Royal had offered me a free upgrade on the 7nt to an external sea-facing balcony. How could I not agree with that? 😀

 

And so the journey began..

[eileen226]

Looking forward to reading your review!

[melted2002]

looking forward to you review

[Single Cruiser]

As I was flying back from Barcelona I had two issues to address. First was luggage allowance on flight back (15KG!) and I would be away for 15 nights in total. The second departing Southampton but flying back.

 

I opted to buy extra bag allowance and combine it as only wanted to take one big bag and then drove to Birmingham Airport, dropped the car off and headed on the monorail over to the station and a direct (albeit 2.5hrs) train journey to Southampton, arriving late afternoon.

 

My pre-booked slot for check-in was 11:30-12PM and as I was staying at the nearby Novotel had decided to take a leisurely walk down to the port in the morning.

 

Despite a trip to the hotel bar I was awake as she pulled in about 5AM in the morning..

 

[Single Cruiser]

After a fairly early breakfast I was waiting in my room. My setsail passes in hand and clock watching.

 

10:30 - a knock on the door and the hotel cleaner was already trying to get in to do the room.. I decided I'd take a slow walk down with my case and get a few pics.

 

I was there by 10:45. Pics enroute:

 

 

The previous 2 days they had agents and pinnacle guests onboard for a 2nt free cruise and as I neared the terminal you could hear the tannoy constantly calling all remaining guests to leave the ship, in some quite stern tones.

 

She was berthed between 101 city cruise terminal and 102 a fruit terminal so that they could have two virtual terminals using a very large marquee area.

 

I'd checked in with the new iPad method on Anthem of the Seas the previous year and so knew what to expect and after dropping off my luggage about 10:50 I headed into the terminal. They looked at my setsail pass and then directed me straight to security and towards the far tent. Odd I thought as usually the staff check with the iPads and stamp the set sail pass. I headed down to security and asked again, when they saw I hadn't got the stamp I was sent back and the head guy came marching up.

 

It appears on the previous cruise they had some agents past security in the far tent to check in but this one all were doing it at the main entrance.

A quick 5mins later and I had my stamp, through security. 10mins sat down I connected to royal_wifi and got hold of the compass after registering with room and dob details. We were then called onto the ship, boarding not long after 11AM.

 

Having been on Allure you don't get the "wow" factor inside as the ones never been on this class who were stood just staring along the promenade. Boarding was onto deck 3 and up the escalator.

 

Room corridors were closed off with the notice rooms would be ready at 1PM so I headed up first to the abyss and witnessed the first paying passengers to use it.

 

 

The weather looked threatening so I headed over to the front and the Solarium for my first drink onboard.

 

I noticed the slight differences between the Allure and Harmony solarium. It seemed more open and missing the mini pool, instead having a misting area. Also first sign of some workmen doing some work to the deck.

I also noted that to go down to 14 and over the bridge wing the new glass floored viewing area.

 

 

 

I stayed there for a drink or two before heading down for 1PM to check out my cabin. I'd previously been on Allure so had offered a social media group to do a guided tour of the ship around 2PM..

[LuCruise]

Subscribing...great review and pictures so far. How lucky you could spend 2 weeks on Harmony!

[Single Cruiser]

My room for the first two cruises was a Central Park balcony on deck 11. Just aft of the centre of the ship.

 

 

The room style was very similar to Anthem/quantum class with dark wood, wardrobes either side of the bed.

Next to the desk there was USA, Euro sockets and 2 USB ports and also another USA socket next to the bed which I think will please those who need medical appliances plugged in at night.

 

The balcony had two part reclining chairs and a very large table, unlike external balconies which have the traditional wooden drinks style table.. (Pic of that on day 8)

 

 

I dropped my hand luggage off and had a quick chat with the room steward and headed up to meet the group of about 18 people I was going to do the tour of the ship with.

 

Back in Solarium for the meeting point/start point and the heavens opened up..

 

 

The solarium seems a lot more open and most of the area got drenched through the big air gaps in the roof.

[Kayla103]

Loving the review so far :-)

[Single Cruiser]

Dodging the rain it took just over an hour to do a full tour of the ship, mainly heading back and forth on the decks and then down aft, through the park, down front along promenade, down to Casino and through to entertainment place and studio B.

My phone app said it was about 1.2 miles in total

 

Oh you want to see some pics? Ok.. Here goes.

 

As you can see one big building site 😀

The first notice of anything major was when we reached the aquatheatre and noticed the big tents erected and thought no performance of that anytime soon.

 

[ken_nyc]

Keep it coming, great review so far!! :)

[kdnurs]

Great so far....can't wait to read more :D

[Single Cruiser]

Sorry only allowed so many pics per post.

 

These are the card room / Internet cafe on deck 14 aft and then below that 11 and 10 wonderland

 

[TxStacey]

Subscribing! Thanks for the review!

[Single Cruiser]

So by the end of the tour it was nearly time for the drill with bars shutting etc.. So headed back to my cabin, still no luggage and quite a lot had there's in the corridor which seemed strange since I'd dropped mine off like 5/6 hrs ago now..

 

My muster station for week 1 was in the bionic bar. The walk down from deck 11 to 5 every crew stationed at the landings shouting have card in your hand, show me your card.. I know they are only doing their job but I knew where I was going and after 4/5 flights just gave them the glare!

 

I thought our muster station with like 30 seats for over a 100 was bad but at least we were indoors, it was raining and one muster station, think it's G1/2 is in the aquatheatre! :eek:

 

A few teething troubles, the screens didn't come down, they did 4 days later when I repeated it for the 3nt but they still couldn't turn off the piped music which was still playing on the prom. After about 20mins we were dismissed and the usual rush for the lifts.

 

Now 6 flights up to my cabin I ummed and ahhed but hit the stairs... Still no luggage and no sign of anymore arriving, corridors now mostly bare, starting to get a bit nervy I headed up for sail away. It was a bit of a damp squid, unlike the fanfare 7 days later for the maiden voyage.

 

It's too big too turn in the lower basin so she had to head up to the freight terminal and turn around and then head back past the terminal and down Southampton Waters. This took about 30mins so I decided to use the time to grab something from the windjammer, a nice roast beef if I recall..

 

Still thinking of lack of luggage I headed back and still not there so headed down to deck2 to see the security team incase they'd quarantined but they said no, all had been claimed. Now was really starting to panic.

 

We were due to meet up in Central Park at 7PM for drinks and it was now past 6PM. The security guy did take my cabin no. And another passenger came down from a loft suite at the same time with same issue. He too was one of first onboard.

 

Back to my cabin and the steward was starting his night turn downs, he said a lift wasn't working but all that had come up he had delivered. Half hour later I heard a noise outside the door and there it was dripping wet! Luckily only a bit had penetrated inside however one lady I spoke to later said her room was now a Chinese laundrette as everything was soaked.

They never apologised but I can only assume ours were outside at the lunchtime downpour and they'd held them downstairs hoping they'd dry out a bit before delivering!

 

Needing a stiff drink I headed down to Central Park and the Trellis bar..

 

[Single Cruiser]

I'd originally booked the comedians for the first night however it was announced that Bobby Davro was the headline guest onboard. With majority of Brits onboard I guess they tailored the ents accordingly. I'd see him again a couple of times over the next couple of cruises....

 

He was great, and a hour later we were all grinning and singing leaving the theatre. First couple of nights there wasn't many bar waiters and I don't like the theatres where the bar is only behind the scenes unlike say the freedom class.

 

Post theatre I popped into the Boot and Bonnet and a great entertainer Kieran Cox was singing and playing guitar.

 

There was no nightclub mentioned in the cruise compass, the comedy club now where the blaze nightclub is on the oasis class ships with the diamond lounge moved down to where the comedy club was, all this to accommodate wonderland on deck 11/10. Someone said dazzles but on reaching dazzles at 12 they were kicking people out so decided to call it a night and head back to the cabin to finish unpacking the case.

 

The following day was a sea day and I'd also got some bad news that my shore excursion planned for Rotterdam had been cancelled.. My alarm clock the next day wasn't of my choosing..

 

But you'll have to wait until tomorrow .

 

Coming up... grease, ice shows, the construction site, the parties.. And lots lots more...

Edited June 8, 2016 by Single Cruiser

[mike x ftc]

We were on the 29th sailing from Southampton, looking forward to hearing how you got on, we had a really good time!

[Teacherloves2Cruise]

Loving it, thanks for sharing!!

[MrsKC08]

Subscribing. I'm sailing on her in November and can't wait to see more photos and hear more of your thoughts on the ship in general!

 

Thank you for your time and review.

[xxHadleyxx]

This is great. Thank you for taking the time to post it

[Single Cruiser]

So my cabin was 3 decks below the kids Splashaway bay and I was awoken by a loud grinding noise.. I looked at my phone and it said 8:15.. I later discovered that it was in fact 7:15 as the Capt had taken a Southerly route and my phone had picked up a French mobile cell and updated the time.

 

I was told some 900 contractors were onboard, you couldn't really tell and I think a lot of them were working night shifts.

 

It was though nowhere as bad as the press reports. Basically they were doing finishing work and snagging lists. Where decks had been damaged by containers they had to sand and replace.

At the start the kids water area, the three water slides, zip line and one of the flow riders were not operational. The suite sun decks was not unpacked and the teens outdoor deck was being used as the workshop base / storage area.

 

I'll include some pics but won't dwell on this. Over the first week nearly everything was opened as soon as it was ready.

I'll stress that 90% of the work was on the upper or open decks. Rarely saw any contractors in the lounges, bars, entertainment venues etc..

 

Some of my fellow passengers did lose water when a big pipe burst and some had issues with their toilets but my cabin worked 100% , lights, bathroom, Tv, air con, etc..

Workman repairing seals on one of the water slides.

 

Deck repairs

[ISABELLA]

Sorry only allowed so many pics per post.

 

These are the card room / Internet cafe on deck 14 aft and then below that 11 and 10 wonderland

 

 

I think Wonderland on the Anthem is much nicer restaurant. Decor was very whimsical.

[Single Cruiser]

Day 2 was the first time that the phrase "preview cruise" was used by both the cruise director Ken Rush as well as Capt Gus.

They confirmed the aqua theatre show would not be operational for this cruise. As there is currently only one musical Grease showing, the second one Columbus is due to start in the next couple of weeks they had a lot of headliner acts filling in the slots in the theatre. Typically three shows a night.

 

Tonight I saw the 7:00 showing of Grease, it's 1.5hrs long straight through but didn't seem it. Some great tunes and the cast were great. Most people in the theatre who'd also seen the show in the West End commented this shortened version was as good if not better than the West End production.

 

I was back in the theatre at 10:30 for the late night performance by Britains Got Talent finalist Ventriloquist Gareth Oliver.

 

This time in the compass it confirmed that from 11:30 onwards the attic Comedy club becomes the nightclub (same location as Blaze) so headed on in..

As they had cancelled my shore excursion I had no reason to get up early.. They turned the lights on and started moving us out at 03:15am .

 

[MMLEsq]

Eagerly awaiting your next installment. Thanks for posting. We had contemplated a cruise on the Harmony, but then couldn't pass up a great deal on an Avalon river cruise, so we're doing that instead. Maybe we'll try for a cruise on the Allure or the Harmony in 2017.

 

The pictures are wonderful (making a mental note to bring my actual camera on my next cruise and not just take pictures with my phone).

[Single Cruiser]

We arrived into Rotterdam early apparently (I was still asleep :D ) and no grinding noises.

 

When I surfaced for late breakfast ( I grabbed a full cooked one in mini bites) it was still cold and overcast out. The upper decks were deserted.

 

 

When it came to sail-away the banks of the river were lined with spectators. We had to reverse back about 30 minutes before we could spin around. I was stood at the aft of the ship and it was then that the guys next to me turned round and said oh zip line is open and went on it. So another activity open.

 

[TamaLee]

Loving your review. Thanks for taking the time to do it.