Harmony of the Seas

[s_kuegeler]

54 minutes ago, poocher said:

Not only do we share rooms but we share ONE room!!  And our offspring are adults!  What fun is a vacation if we can’t torture our kids during it?!?!!

Originally we had booked one room as well, but with the new specials for the October Mediteranien Cruises here in Germany it was cheaper to cancel the cruise and rebook it to two rooms. Saved us 200€. When we are going to Florida we are usally sharing one room as well.

Perhaps it gets easier sharing. At the moment both of them are in their puberty and we parents get difficult and ebarassing.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

13 minutes ago, s_kuegeler said:

At the moment both of them are in their puberty and we parents get difficult and embarrassing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[s_kuegeler]

18 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

😅🤣😂

So true.

We just got a mail from our travel agent with the room numbers. One is on deck 12 and one on deck 14. I thought about bidding on an upgrade and we decided to try that. Perhaps we will be given rooms next to each other than. Otherwise I will try to phone RCCL or, if that won't help ask at check in.

[Steeler Nation At Sea]

6 minutes ago, s_kuegeler said:

😅🤣😂

So true.

We just got a mail from our travel agent with the room numbers. One is on deck 12 and one on deck 14. I thought about bidding on an upgrade and we decided to try that. Perhaps we will be given rooms next to each other than. Otherwise I will try to phone RCCL or, if that won't help ask at check in.

 

I'd call and get adjacent first, then try your bidding.  At 13 and 16, I would have wanted them close by, especially my 2 boys, for whom my eldest daughter did not prepare me very well.  😉 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

11 minutes ago, s_kuegeler said:

😅🤣😂

So true.

We just got a mail from our travel agent with the room numbers. One is on deck 12 and one on deck 14. I thought about bidding on an upgrade and we decided to try that. Perhaps we will be given rooms next to each other than. Otherwise I will try to phone RCCL or, if that won't help ask at check in.

put your TA to work to get you on the same deck.

 

[poocher]

2 hours ago, s_kuegeler said:

Originally we had booked one room as well, but with the new specials for the October Mediteranien Cruises here in Germany it was cheaper to cancel the cruise and rebook it to two rooms. Saved us 200€. When we are going to Florida we are usally sharing one room as well.

Perhaps it gets easier sharing. At the moment both of them are in their puberty and we parents get difficult and ebarassing.

My son now has 4 kids (!).  I have become the fountain of wisdom.  Every time he opens his mouth, my many pearls of wisdom come out.  

[dougaldog]

Hi there, we are sailing on the 17th and my two boys are having a complete meltdown re testing.....  

They had a bad experience in Spain two months ago where the medic insisted on doing the swabbing himself - he was extremely rough and as a result they are terrified of being swabbed.

 

They were so excited about the cruise, until they realised that they will have to get tested.....  they are now saying they don't want to go on the cruise as they are terrified that they are going to get hurt again.....  I swab and test them twice a week for school (they are fine with this)......

 

My question is - will I be allowed to swab them or do the authorities insist on doing the swabbing?  Hoping we will be allowed to swab ourselves so I can tell them and put their minds at rest.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

 

[Travelbugs2.2]

@FionaMG@hummy0605

Hi

thanks for both posting re your cruises!

What was the mask wearing requirements in the cruise these days?

Do masks need to be worn everywhere unless eating or drinking?

Eg … even if walking through Central Park or outdoors on the sun decks ?

Also - do you know what the mask wearing requirement is in the casino?   If gambling at a roulette table for example , and with drink .. do you need to wear a mask?

 

thanks!

[FionaMG]

46 minutes ago, Travelbugs2.2 said:

@FionaMG@hummy0605

Hi

thanks for both posting re your cruises!

What was the mask wearing requirements in the cruise these days?

Do masks need to be worn everywhere unless eating or drinking?

Eg … even if walking through Central Park or outdoors on the sun decks ?

Also - do you know what the mask wearing requirement is in the casino?   If gambling at a roulette table for example , and with drink .. do you need to wear a mask?

 

thanks!

Hi @Travelbugs2.2,

 

Masks were required indoors unless actively eating or drinking and in all show venues, including the aqua theatre despite that venue being outdoors. The only place that I encountered where they were not required indoors was the gym and you had to put it back on as soon as you exited. When going from outdoor spaces into indoor spaces, there were "masks on" signs to remind you.

 

On the whole, most people seemed to be compliant and the staff would politely remind you to put your mask on if they noticed you weren't wearing it in a space where it was required. In the casino, I saw several passengers being reminded about it, including one who ignored the first request and was promptly intercepted by another staff member whose request was a bit firmer. I didn't pay much attention to the tables in the casino but I did notice a large roudy table of Ukrainian passengers in there on one evening, all of whom had drinks and all of whom were wearing masks, so given the close proximity to the dealers, I'm guessing you'd be asked to wear it between sips of your drink. 

 

The masks were a bit of a nuisance in the WJ. You'd take it off to eat and then forget to put it back on when you got up to fetch something else, so you'd be half way across the room before you'd remember or get spotted and then you'd have to go back and put it on. 

 

I did notice that compliance started waning towards the end of the week; in the theatre on the second-last night I would say probably 50% of the audience took their masks off after the lights went down and at the Captain's Corner in the Aqua Theatre on the last morning only a very few people were wearing them.

 

Edited October 8, 2021 by FionaMG

[Travelbugs2.2]

25 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

Hi @Travelbugs2.2,

 

Masks were required indoors unless actively eating or drinking and in all show venues, including the aqua theatre despite that venue being outdoors. The only place that I encountered where they were not required indoors was the gym and you had to put it back on as soon as you exited. When going from outdoor spaces into indoor spaces, there were "masks on" signs to remind you.

 

On the whole, most people seemed to be compliant and the staff would politely remind you to put your mask on if they noticed you weren't wearing it in a space where it was required. In the casino, I saw several passengers being reminded about it, including one who ignored the first request and was promptly intercepted by another staff member whose request was a bit firmer. I didn't pay much attention to the tables in the casino but I did notice a large roudy table of Ukrainian passengers in there on one evening, all of whom had drinks and all of whom were wearing masks, so given the close proximity to the dealers, I'm guessing you'd be asked to wear it between sips of your drink. 

 

The masks were a bit of a nuisance in the WJ. You'd take it off to eat and then forget to put it back on when you got up to fetch something else, so you'd be half way across the room before you'd remember or get spotted and then you'd have to go back and put it on. 

 

I did notice that compliance started waning towards the end of the week; in the theatre on the second-last night I would say probably 50% of the audience took their masks off after the lights went down and at the Captain's Corner in the Aqua Theatre on the last morning only a very few people were wearing them.

 

Thank you!

I was hoping maybe the mask wearing would have relaxed a bit by this stage - but it is what it is I suppose!

Thanks again 😊

 

[danilija]

Just arrived barcelona! Going on board this sunday 🙂 you who have already been on the cruise, how did you get yourself to the port? Any chance to get by metro or is taxi easiest?

[Biker19]

11 minutes ago, danilija said:

Just arrived barcelona! Going on board this sunday 🙂 you who have already been on the cruise, how did you get yourself to the port? Any chance to get by metro or is taxi easiest?

Might also scour the roll call threads for an answer.

[FionaMG]

14 minutes ago, danilija said:

Just arrived barcelona! Going on board this sunday 🙂 you who have already been on the cruise, how did you get yourself to the port? Any chance to get by metro or is taxi easiest?

I guess it depends on where you're staying. There's a good map here: https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/maps/barcelona-metro-map.html but it doesn't look to me like there's a station close to the port. And even from the bottom of the Rambla it's a very long walk, especially if you have luggage. I would definitely just get a taxi and save yourself the hassle.

[Preziosa]

We took the blue Cruise bus which drive from  the morning.

we were Living at a hotel on Las Ramlas.

just went to the end of Las Ramlas by the harbour and turned right. Follow the signs

[Steeler Nation At Sea]

https://www.cruisebus.barcelona/

[CaroleC]

1 hour ago, danilija said:

Just arrived barcelona! Going on board this sunday 🙂 you who have already been on the cruise, how did you get yourself to the port? Any chance to get by metro or is taxi easiest?

We stayed in a hotel near the marina which is further away from the cruise terminal than Las Ramblas. Hotel rang a taxi for us on Sunday morning, only cost €11 to the port. Far easier than hauling luggage on the bus.

[Eragon666]

Did anyone get a WOWband on Harmony of the Seas? We asked for it last trip, but they didnt know what a WOWband was, after asking around they told that they dont have them on Harmony. But on the royal website Harmony is added as a compatibel ship. 

[Biker19]

9 minutes ago, Eragon666 said:

Did anyone get a WOW band on Harmony of the Seas?

Availability and usage is probably just paused for now - she is certainly compatible and the bands were in use pre COVID.

[CaroleC]

13 minutes ago, Eragon666 said:

Did anyone get a WOWband on Harmony of the Seas? We asked for it last trip, but they didnt know what a WOWband was, after asking around they told that they dont have them on Harmony. But on the royal website Harmony is added as a compatibel ship. 

We didn’t get one on our September 12th sailing

[RoamingRetirees]

Now Royal is working on the tracelet. My guess that will replace the wow band. No idea when it will be rolled out. 

[Biker19]

3 minutes ago, RoamingRetirees said:

Now Royal is working on the tracelet. My guess that will replace the wow band. 

As of now, I don’t believe the tracelet  is capable to function as the Wow band does. 

[RoamingRetirees]

17 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

As of now, I don’t believe the tracelet  is capable to function as the Wow band does. 

I'm sure it doesn't now, but I read they have a contract to use it in place of the sea pass card. What else does the wow band do? 

Edited October 8, 2021 by RoamingRetirees

[Biker19]

4 minutes ago, RoamingRetirees said:

I read they have a contract to use it in place of the sea pass card. What else does the wow band do?

Functions as the Seapass card except for debarkation. I don’t think the current tracelet has the capability to function as such (the RFID guts of it may not work to open the cabin door for example). It is just semantics at this point whether you call it a Wow band or tracelet since eventually all functions will likely converge into one item which can do everything (and the RCI marketing folks will come up with a clever name for it, you know, so they can charge even more for it). 

Edited October 8, 2021 by Biker19

[RoamingRetirees]

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

Functions as the Seapass card except for debarkation. I don’t think the current tracelet has the capability to function as such (the RFID guts of it may not work to open the cabin door for example). It is just semantics at this point whether you call it a Wow band or tracelet since eventually all functions will likely converge into one item which can do everything (and the RCI marketing folks will come up with a clever name for it, you know, so they can charge even more for it). 

It sounded like the tracelet will replace the Wow band. The articles didn't say how long before it is operational.

[s_kuegeler]

On 10/6/2021 at 5:11 PM, s_kuegeler said:

😅🤣😂

So true.

We just got a mail from our travel agent with the room numbers. One is on deck 12 and one on deck 14. I thought about bidding on an upgrade and we decided to try that. Perhaps we will be given rooms next to each other than. Otherwise I will try to phone RCCL or, if that won't help ask at check in.

I bid for the upgrade on the centralpark view rooms and now we have two rooms on the same deck with 3 rooms between us. We had a long talk with the kids and decided to try to give them one room and the other one for us. I it won't work out, we still can swap back. It isn't their first cruise and they know the rules the cruise line has, as well as our rules. So I hope it will work out.