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Harmony of the Seas Review - Western Caribbean (7/29/17 - 8/5/17)

NaplesGoBlue
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ptf2009

ptf2009

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Two questions for the OP:

 

My DH would like to know if the Park Cafe has roast beef sandwiches.

 

I would like to know if any of the food places has turkey burgers.

 

Thank you for your time. Like so many others, I am looking forward to reading more about your experiences on HOS

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NaplesGoBlue

NaplesGoBlue

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Day 2:

Day number 2 began with the Harmony chugging along on a direct course for the beaches of Haiti. We intended to go the the MDR for breakfast, as visions of two-inch high french toast (*available only off the menu*) had been dancing in my head since our last year's cruise. Our boys in the adjoining room, however, had other ideas. Trying to persuade two college kids to get up, get showered, and get dressed for an 8:30 breakfast is the biblical equivalent of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. Vegas bookmakers actually have the odds of pulling this feat off set at 750:1. For comparison, it's only a 600:1 bet that a Pinnacle member -- wearing a suit constructed entirely of U.S. $50.00 bills -- could go completely unnoticed while strolling through the Nassau, Bahamas straw market.

 

So, I missed my first opportunity at the two-inch high french toast, and we headed to the Park Cafe for breakfast sandwiches. These are basically Egg McMuffin clones with regular bacon substituted for Canadian bacon. They're pretty decent, and you're in and out of there in a hurry. Speed was important today, because we had signed up for the Cruise Critic Meet & Mingle at Dazzles which was scheduled to begin at 9:30 am. We had never attended one of these things, but I read about them and it seemed like it might be a chance to meet other friendly cruisers, share stories, make frien-----Okay, okay. Forget all that. I'll come clean -- I was there for the prizes. I've read all kinds of reviews where people won fabulous prizes, and I wanted in on that action. So we headed up to Dazzles with our positive attitudes -- four leaf clovers & rabbits feet in hand.

 

Activities Director Jerry did a great job hosting the event, and was later joined by multiple officers of the ship, including the Captain. All that was great and everything, but let's skip the appetizers, and dive right into the entree -- prizes. Jerry commented that 40+ people had registered for the Meet & Mingle, but my rapid scan of the room quickly revealed that only 20 or so showed up. An enticingly large pile of shiny, sparkling gifts lay on a table at the head of the room. With lightning speed my mind quickly began running the numbers: 40PeopleAboutADozenPrizesFourMembersInMyFamilyWithOneTicket

EachMultiplyByXCarryTheOneApplyThePythagoreanTheoremAndFinallyRoundToTheNearestInteger. Okay.....Okay. I think I had it figured out. Our odds were basically the same as every other person in the room. The first few prizes were bottles of wine, champagne and a complimentary in-room movie. We didn't want any of these, because we don't drink wine or champagne, and the idea of watching a movie in our sarcophagus wasn't high on my list of "must-do's". Other prizes continued to be called off, and one group was absolutely destroying it. I think everyone in their family won something. The gleaming cache of prizes began to dwindle....right along with my once high hopes of snagging some high-seas treasure. Then it happened. Jerry called an 8. I had an 8. Next he announced a "1".....I had that too. This pattern continued for 4 more digits, as we finally reached that most important and final number. Time froze for just a moment. Jerry's head was fixed and motionless -- his eyes surveying the room, moving slowly, deliberately from left to right. Tiny beads of perspiration glistened on his upper lip. The room fell silent. "7". I looked down at my trembling hand, trying my best to focus on the red paper ticket clenched between my index finger and the vice-like pinch of my thumb. "7"???. My final number was......7. It was now assured -- No matter what happened on this cruise for the remainder of this week, this one thing was certain, and could never be changed. That glorious number "7". I rose up and claimed my prize. A cellophane gift bag containing a backpack full of RCCL stuff -- most of which I will never need or use. But on this one triumphant day -- as the majestic Harmony of the Seas danced across the sparkling blue waters of the Atlantic -- that cellophane bag of RCCL stuff I may never use was mine. As I sit here at my computer writing this, I take a moment to proudly hoist my factory-new aluminum RCCL water bottle in the air for all to see.

 

I wanted to take a moment here to thank the Cruise Critic member that organized the Meet & Mingle. I'm sorry -- I don't recall her name, but she did an excellent job putting it all together. Also, sincere thanks to Jerry, and the entire group of officers that took time out of their very busy day to meet with us. It was my first M&M, but I will make it a point to attend on all my future cruises. RCCL's commitment to client service and individual attention really shines at this event, and I encourage anyone who has not gone to a M&M to give one a try.

 

The next item on our morning agenda was the Crown & Anchor event at the Aqua Theater. Another thing I would recommend attending. They offer complimentary drinks -- punch and Mimosas (I think) -- both with and without alcohol. The event features a short diving show as well, along with an introduction of the ship's officers.

 

We cut out of the C&A event early, as what would be the first of three table tennis tournaments for the week was starting on the sports deck. My younger son ended up winning the thing, but the most memorable part was actually the antics of this one particular guy. I'll refer to him going forward as "guy in the white shirt". This 60 year old or so gentleman was in the enclosed table tennis area wielding his own fancy personal racquet while playing a pick-up game. The tournament organizer (a very cool guy from England) arrived just before the 11:00 scheduled start time, and made the announcement for player sign-ups. The guy in the white shirt was engrossed in a back and forth match-up with some other dude. More microphone-aided announcements followed, as players trickled in to register. The guy in the white shirt and his opponent played on. The "last call for sign ups" declaration bellowed over the PA system, as white shirt guy continued his heated contest. Finally, the the rosters were full, registrations officially closed, and the first round match-ups were announced. Players now paired off and began play.

 

Right about this time, white shirt guy saunters up to see which competing participant has the fortuitous privilege of playing his majesty. This is also apparently the moment when he discovers that to play in the tournament, one actually has to register for said tournament. He proceeds to express his obvious displeasure regarding this seemingly sudden turn of events. The unfortunate sports staff member takes the full brunt of all of this, while white shirt guy cursed all things remotely related to rules, organization, and just plain common sense. He eventually tires, and leaves the area. The tournament somehow manages to continue without him -- (though he would return for tournament number 2 later in the week -- more to come on that).

 

All of the ping-pong related drama made us hungry, so we headed down to lunch in the MDR. Lunch was great -- mainly because of the giant cake station. Tables are set up directly between the buffet area and the entrance to the MDR. On these tables are four giant cakes, each approximately 30 inches wide and 10 inches high. Double Chocolate (take this one), Blueberry, a Strawberry Shortcake style thing (take this one too), and Black Forest. You can order from the menu, and/or opt to go straight to the buffet, which also features the Tutti Salad bar. Or simply skip all of that trivial nonsense and proceed directly to the cake.

 

The rest of the afternoon was spent exploring more of the ship and attempting to reduce the overall weight of the vessel by strategically eliminating cargo in the form of cookies and banana bread. This activity was sandwiched between losing a few bucks at the casino, and also losing our 748th consecutive RCCL Regalia jewelry raffle.

 

We made our way back to our cabins, as the first formal night was upon us......

Edited by NaplesGoBlue
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ramja96

ramja96

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But. instead of waking up 90 years early and seeing Jennifer Lawrence in the control room, you wake up 90 minutes late for morning trivia and see a 74 year old senior citizen sporting his metallic gold Speedo in the hallway.

 

Wow - you took one glorious image in my head and gruesomely pulled a quick-switch on me! :o I think I have whiplash ...

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NaplesGoBlue

NaplesGoBlue

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Hello Naples.. we too are in naples! Can you comment on the movement of the ship during your 7 days. I am very sensitive to rocking etc.. was it smooth? Some rocking? I heard summer Caribbean waters can be rough due to storms in that area and rain.. thanks

 

Don't be concerned at all.....this was our fifth time on an Oasis class ship, and we have never had any major movement that I can recall. On this recent trip we were in the Royal Theater watching the final comedy show on the last evening. The curtains on stage started swaying a bit during the show, and I remember realizing it was the first noticeable movement of any kind we really had all week. Oasis ships are so large and stable, most of the time you forget you're even on a cruise ship....

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buzzard05

buzzard05

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Don't be concerned at all.....this was our fifth time on an Oasis class ship, and we have never had any major movement that I can recall. On this recent trip we were in the Royal Theater watching the final comedy show on the last evening. The curtains on stage started swaying a bit during the show, and I remember realizing it was the first noticeable movement of any kind we really had all week. Oasis ships are so large and stable, most of the time you forget you're even on a cruise ship....

 

My wife is also very sensitive to movement and had no issues at all on Harmony. I was worried about her since we had a high (Deck 12) aft cabin (and being high and in the back of the ship is supposed to make the motion more noticeable). However, the only "motion" we noticed up there was a very slight "bump", "bump", "bump" (almost like going over a slightly bumpy road). We didn't notice any side to side rocking at all. The last night of the cruise was the "worst" (if you can call it that), to where the hangers in our closets were rattling a bit....that was it.

 

My wife did wear a motion sickness patch all week, but never once complained of feeling the least bit queasy. I think you will really enjoy this ship.

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