New to RC.. ??

[eeudj]

Hello, I am new to Royal C and am thinking of booking the Harmony for my family of 4, sailing next June. My party consists of DH, DS (20) DD (20) and myself, We have sailed Carnival numerous times and Disney twice. My "kids" want to try the Harmony out of Orlando. It looks wonderful!! Just some questions, I am aware the price is a bit more than Carnival, but it looks like it is worth the upgrade. Can you please tell me what is included in the price, (truly) .. you know free places to eat etc and what I can expect to pay out of pocket. I am also interested in the drink packages, what they include and the cost, we normally do this on Carnival, the alcohol ones for the parents and the soda/coffee for "kids".

 

I am looking into two separate rooms and am thinking of Boardwalk balcony to try a different experience, my husband really wants an Ocean balcony so... any opinions on one versus the other is appreciated.

 

TIA and I hope I do not become a pest on these boards the next couple of months LOL

[Clarea]

This will give you and explanation and approx costs of drink packages:

 

http://www.cruisingpoweruk.co.uk/uploads/news-product_19_256722736.pdf

 

The soda package may be up to $9.50 per day now. Prices of the other packages vary, you won't really know until you have a cruise booked and can see the prices for your sailing in your Cruise Planner.

[CruisingMarch2016]

You can spend very little on additional dining if you so choose. There is plenty of dining options without paying extra. Boardwalk rooms get free soda package for 2 so the kids will be taken care of. The drink package is the way to go, if you have 2-3 frozen drinks a day it pays for itself and everything else is gravy. No limit on drinks per day. Depending on your activities or extra $$ needed, there is the casino, excursions at port, shopping at port, spa, and specialty restaurants.

[suesnake2002]

I was on harmony, and loved it. I would stay away from the boardwalk/central park balconies. All that i spoke to on that cruise didn't care for them.

Citing the novelty wore off fast and it was like being in a city apt, with neighbors right across the way.

Another complaint was there were no shears with curtains on slider doors. So either you were open to all ur neighbors, or in darkness

 

I believe i paid $47 per person per day for ultimate package prior to cruise.

The restaurants, we only ate in the for fee. We bought the ultimate dinning plan ($168pp) and that included all the specialty restaurants, and lunches.

If worried about cost, try one of the older oasis class ships. They won't have the abyss. But you can decide if the slide is worth the price difference

 

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[CruisinBarb63]

We will be sailing Harmony in 2019 and I did a lot of research before choosing cabins. I will share with a friend and my 23 & 20 yo dd will share. We chose Central Park balconies. We did consider an OV balcony and CP Balcony across the hall from each other but we all wanted to try the CP experience. There are a lot of included food venues...dining room, Windjammer buffet, Solarium Bistro, Park Cafe, Mini Bites, Sorrentos, Boardwalk Dog House...I may have missed one or two. You say your DS and DD would like soda and coffee so they would like the Refreshment drink package that includes all non-alcoholic drinks, water, specialty coffee and teas (Starbucks not included). The "regular" price is $26 plus 18% gratuity, per person, per day. Watch for sales as your cruise approaches. You can always purchase and if the price drops, you cancel the purchase and repurchase at the lower price. Enjoy your cruise!

[cb at sea]

I would get the ocean balcony for you and hubby, and a BW for the "kids"...that way you will have views of both!!! And, it will give the kids the package they might use.

[eeudj]

I would get the ocean balcony for you and hubby, and a BW for the "kids"...that way you will have views of both!!! And, it will give the kids the package they might use.

 

Great idea!!!

 

Thank you all very much...

[not-enough-cruising]

I would get the ocean balcony for you and hubby, and a BW for the "kids"...that way you will have views of both!!! And, it will give the kids the package they might use.

 

 

 

Plus 1 on this, it is exactly what we did, and our girls (19 and 24) LOVED the boardwalk balcony. The Harmony is a fabulous experience.

 

 

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[Cruisegirl6]

Hello, I also have taken numerous Carnival cruises as well as RC/Princess/NCL cruises and I honestly can tell you that last May we were on the Harmony we loved her so much we went on the Oasis in October and going back this week and in October this year, we love this class of ship! Your family are all going to find so many things to enjoy on this ship.

 

Free places to eat:

Complimentary dining

 

• Windjammer- B,L,D
  
• Park Cafe- B, L, early evening snacks
  
• Boardwalk Dog House- usually 11-6pm
  
• Solarium Bistro (breakfast and lunch only)
  
• Wipeout Cafe
  
• Sorrento's- Open till 3am, pizza
  
• Cafe Promenade- Open 24/7, specialty coffees here, sandwiches/cookies/pasteries/etc always available
  
• Room Service
  
• Main Dining Room
  
• Johnny Rockets (breakfast only)- 7.95 fee other times not including milkshakes
  
• Vitality Cafe- offers smoothies, juices, fresh fruit, yogurt, etc.
  

Frozen yogurt out near the pool and at the wipeout cafe

Pay out of pocket- any of the drink/beverage packages, specialty dining (packages available for discount rates), spa, Starbucks, Ice Cream Polar, Cupcake Shop, Arcade, Internet package, Photos, excursions, shops, bingo, casino, room service charge of $7.95 per room order for upgraded items, candy shop

Ultimate Beverage Package- unlimited alcoholic and non -alcoholic drinks, fresh squeezed OJ, soda, bottled water, sparkling water, specialty coffees and teas at Cafe Promenade...by the way, RC puts out discounted beverage/internet/dining packages every now and then, so look for these at 20% up to 30% off the price, depends on sailings.

 

Boardwalk balconies- no privacy, could be noisy at times, if you get one of these go on high deck, much prefer Oceanview balcony!!

[SilkySal]

DH and I prefer the Boardwalk balcony cabins the farthest aft (rear) on Deck 8!! Deck 8 is for easy access to the Central Park Cafe for morning specialty coffees!!:hearteyes: Also, those cabins are best for viewing the aqua theater shows from the balcony!!:cool: Not noisy at all after the shows are over. We have the farthest aft cabins on Deck 8 for Oasis and Harmony both next year and can't wait to enjoy them!!;)

[akcruz]

Plus 1 on this, it is exactly what we did, and our girls (19 and 24) LOVED the boardwalk balcony. The Harmony is a fabulous experience.

 

 

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We did this also. This way we could all use both types of balconies and the kids enjoyed having the inside ones to see what was going on.

 

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[39august]

Room service is included only for continental breakfast. All other food and drink is a $7.95 fee. And I think the smoothies at the Vitality cafe near the spa/gym are for a fee. They were when I was on HOTS about a year ago.

[Pstreet12]

If you are looking for some savings, you might consider Oasis or Allure. They are the same class and have the same features, but since they are older, their rates have been pushed down a bit. Sometimes the price differences are significant; sometimes, not so much.