Boarding the Harmony?

[topnole]

5 hours ago, island lady said:

 

I miss "Fine Line".   They only had it for a short time...loved it.  Probably staff shortages...or costs.  Not sure.  

My least favorite aqua show by far.   Maybe because I had to watch all week on Allure as they practiced for Harmony before it was launched.  

[cruisegirl1]

5 hours ago, island lady said:

 

I miss "Fine Line".   They only had it for a short time...loved it.  Probably staff shortages...or costs.  Not sure.  

Fine line is being performed this week on harmony.  We saw it last night. 
 

m

[bucfan2]

On 7/7/2022 at 1:40 PM, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

Reading I am concerned about the chaos when boarding. We will be cruising on the Harmony out of Port Canaveral in September. Those who have cruised on it last month or this month, can you tell me how your boarding went. What about debarkation?

Posted again, as original was deleted…gotta love moderatos looking for these tips that are apparently banned lol. Weigh the risk/ratio if you have a later check in.  We boarded before noon…never checked our assigned time (we had 1130 but would have rolled the dice regardless). 

[island lady]

19 hours ago, topnole said:

My least favorite aqua show by far.   Maybe because I had to watch all week on Allure as they practiced for Harmony before it was launched.  

 

Did you see it at night?  That was when it was more dramatic...the lighting was really wild.  

 

My least favorite was Hideaway Heist.  Felt like a trip to Disney Land.  Just silly.  

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 12, 2022 by island lady

[island lady]

19 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Fine line is being performed this week on harmony.  We saw it last night. 
 

m

 

Hope we get to see it again when we return to Florida in September.  🙂   Thanks for the update!  

[wednesday]

On 7/11/2022 at 8:36 AM, island lady said:

OP:  Most important thing...arrive at your assigned check in time.  Things will go much smoother if everyone did.  

 

We have a new system now.  Since I prefer parking inside the garage...we arrive early to drop off luggage with porters to score one of those parking spots, then leave our carry on bags in the vehicle.  

 

Walk over to Grills for a couple of delicious Bloody Marys to enjoy on the deck.  Then we walk back to  collect our carry on bags, and saunter down for our check in time.  Easy Peasy...walk right in.  And of course mood is slightly better to deal with crowds as well by that time. 😉 😄 

Thanks for the tip!  We have a 10:30 AM boarding time and live about 2 hours from the port, so this is doable for us.  What time do you usually get there?  

 

Oh and does anyone have a suggestion for lunch on embarkation (don't mind paying) that's not Windjammer, we did that last time we were on Harmony and never again.  We've been sailing Celebrity mostly and you get embarkation lunch in the MDR with concierge cabins, which is nice.  I want a relaxed experience.

[topnole]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

Did you see it at night?  That was when it was more dramatic...the lighting was really wild.  

 

My least favorite was Hideaway Heist.  Felt like a trip to Disney Land.  Just silly.  

 

 

 

 

 

Yes.  I saw it on Harmony a few times as well.  I still like all the shows, but this is my least favorite.   Might be the over dramatic lead guy several years back.    And I say that because I watched him every day for a week on Allure too.  Who knows.  The story lines are far from what makes these shows interesting and fun.  So they are all good to me.  

Edited July 12, 2022 by topnole

[island lady]

37 minutes ago, wednesday said:

Thanks for the tip!  We have a 10:30 AM boarding time and live about 2 hours from the port, so this is doable for us.  What time do you usually get there?  

 

Oh and does anyone have a suggestion for lunch on embarkation (don't mind paying) that's not Windjammer, we did that last time we were on Harmony and never again.  We've been sailing Celebrity mostly and you get embarkation lunch in the MDR with concierge cabins, which is nice.  I want a relaxed experience.

 

We also had a 10:30 boarding time this last time.  Though when I asked...the boarding time was to start at 10:15, which it did.  That is always assuming something has not held it up.  We did not walk back over until after 11 am, but with booking suites...you can arrive an hour earlier or later.  

 

The porters actually start taking bags for drop off by 7:30 am!  😮  (yes, I asked).  We got there around 9:30 to get that inside garage parking spot.  

 

If I am reading you right...you book full suites (GS and above)?   If so, take the elevator up to 17, and have a relaxing lunch in Coastal Kitchen.  Wine, bubbly, beer included for no charge.  If not a suite, one of our favorite alternatives is Solarium Cafe, all the way forward.  Am with you...no..no...won't do the WJ on embarkation day.  😮 

 

Or...as you said "don't mind paying"  Chops is a great place for lunch, or Jamies.  Can book in advance online.  

 

Enjoy your cruise.  🙂 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 12, 2022 by island lady

[island lady]

Just now, topnole said:

Yes.  I saw it on Harmony a few times as well.  I still like all the shows, but this is my least favorite.   My be the over dramatic lead guy several years back.    And I say that because I watched him every day for a week on Allure too.  

 

Yeah, I can sure see how that can get tiring.  😉 

[wednesday]

10 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

We also had a 10:30 boarding time this last time.  Though when I asked...the boarding time was to start at 10:15, which it did.  That is always assuming something has not held it up.  We did not walk back over until after 11 am, but with booking suites...you can arrive an hour earlier or later.  

 

The porters actually start taking bags for drop off by 7:30 am!  😮  (yes, I asked).  We got there around 9:30 to get that inside garage parking spot.  

 

If I am reading you right...you book full suites (GS and above)?   If so, take the elevator up to 17, and have a relaxing lunch in Coastal Kitchen.  Wine, bubbly, beer included for no charge.  If not a suite, one of our favorite alternatives is Solarium Cafe, all the way forward.  Am with you...no..no...won't do the WJ on embarkation day.  😮 

 

Or...as you said "don't mind paying"  Chops is a great place for lunch, or Jamies.  Can book in advance online.  

 

Enjoy your cruise.  🙂 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thinking I might shoot for a 9 am arrival to the port, I want to hop onboard as soon as they will let me.

 

Sadly not in a suite, on Celebrity we book "concierge class" which are ocean view balconies with extra perks.  We are booked in an OV balcony for this cruise but I did royal up bid on 7 different suite categories and have fingers and toes crossed that one of them is accepted.  So the Solarium cafe, Jamie's and Chops are all open on embarkation?  Might book Chops if this is the case, I want to try their beef carpaccio, love that stuff and it's tough to find in restaurants around here.

 

Thanks for the helpful tips!

 

 

[cruisegirl1]

46 minutes ago, wednesday said:

Thinking I might shoot for a 9 am arrival to the port, I want to hop onboard as soon as they will let me.

 

Sadly not in a suite, on Celebrity we book "concierge class" which are ocean view balconies with extra perks.  We are booked in an OV balcony for this cruise but I did royal up bid on 7 different suite categories and have fingers and toes crossed that one of them is accepted.  So the Solarium cafe, Jamie's and Chops are all open on embarkation?  Might book Chops if this is the case, I want to try their beef carpaccio, love that stuff and it's tough to find in restaurants around here.

 

Thanks for the helpful tips!

 

 

This week, they did not put you into your respective lines at the terminal till after  10.  The terminal doors opened about 10:15.  Full suites/pinnacle/key were allowed into the building first   We checked in, and sat in our respective areas till about 11. Then of course boarding begins by categories.
 

Pinnacle/ suites

diamond plus

diamond

key

and so on down. 
 

Enjoy. 

 

 

[wednesday]

18 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

This week, they did not put you into your respective lines at the terminal till after  10.  The terminal doors opened about 10:15.  Full suites/pinnacle/key were allowed into the building first   We checked in, and sat in our respective areas till about 11. Then of course boarding begins by categories.
 

Pinnacle/ suites

diamond plus

diamond

key

and so on down. 
 

Enjoy. 

 

 

I am planning on using Island Lady's idea of getting there early, dropping bags, parking in the garage and then going to Grills for a cocktail while we wait for our boarding time (10:30.)  Wanting to get the vacation started as early as possible!😃

[island lady]

2 hours ago, wednesday said:

Thinking I might shoot for a 9 am arrival to the port, I want to hop onboard as soon as they will let me.

 

Sadly not in a suite, on Celebrity we book "concierge class" which are ocean view balconies with extra perks.  We are booked in an OV balcony for this cruise but I did royal up bid on 7 different suite categories and have fingers and toes crossed that one of them is accepted.  So the Solarium cafe, Jamie's and Chops are all open on embarkation?  Might book Chops if this is the case, I want to try their beef carpaccio, love that stuff and it's tough to find in restaurants around here.

 

Thanks for the helpful tips!

 

 

 

You are most welcome!  Enjoy your cruise.  🙂 

[island lady]

1 hour ago, wednesday said:

I am planning on using Island Lady's idea of getting there early, dropping bags, parking in the garage and then going to Grills for a cocktail while we wait for our boarding time (10:30.)  Wanting to get the vacation started as early as possible!😃

 

It is indeed kind of cool standing on the deck there with Bloody Mary in hand and looking at the Harmony next door as our new home for the week.  😉  

[JSR]

We depart this Sunday, June 17. We are in a suite and are diamond plus. By the time I checked in (I was out of the country with no wifi) the earliest time I could get was 1:00 pm. We will be in limbo from 11-1. When we cruised out of Miami on Royal they had a lovely suite lounge for check-in. Can we hang out there until our time? Is there a way to get an earlier time that I am missing?

 

Thank you. 

[island lady]

4 minutes ago, JSR said:

We depart this Sunday, June 17. We are in a suite and are diamond plus. By the time I checked in (I was out of the country with no wifi) the earliest time I could get was 1:00 pm. We will be in limbo from 11-1. When we cruised out of Miami on Royal they had a lovely suite lounge for check-in. Can we hang out there until our time? Is there a way to get an earlier time that I am missing?

 

Thank you. 

 

If you are in a full suite (GS and above) you can check in up to an hour before your assigned check in time, at the terminal entrance.   The lounge is inside the terminal...so you have to adhere to your check in time to get inside to sit there.  

 

So in your case...you can check in at noon...and most likely the ship will already be boarding...so no need to sit in the waiting lounge.  

 

D+ does not get you anything except earlier boarding than D and under once inside the terminal.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 12, 2022 by island lady

[JSR]

@island lady Thank you that is helpful. I will plan on arriving at noon. I think I board on June 18 and we are on the same cruise. We have a sky suite and our daughter and her boyfriend have a junior suite. I am assuming they can tag along with us, I will play dumb if that is not the case and wing it from there. I find it funny that if the kids stayed in our suite they get benefits but since I bought them their own cabin they do not. Though I have found in the past that the concierge gets that and makes arrangements for them. 

 

Do they still use wrist bands? We had those on the Symphony in November 2019. 

 

Any other hints or helpful tips? This is our first time on Harmony.  

 

Also, disembarking, what time does it start and what time does it end? About how long does the process take? We found it went very quickly in New York. 

Edited July 12, 2022 by JSR

[Biker19]

20 minutes ago, JSR said:

Do they still use wrist bands? We had those on the Symphony in November 2019. 

 

Also, disembarking, what time does it start and what time does it end? About how long does the process take?

No new Wow bands since the restart.

 

That usually starts 30-45 minutes after arrival, and they usually want everyone off by about 9AM. Walk off duration depends on crowds but could be as little as 5 min.

[JSR]

@Biker19 thank you. 

More questions:

- with a suite we did not reservations for any of the shows, is that still the case?

-if we need reservations, how far in advance can you make them? (our cruise is this coming Sunday). 

 

Thank you

[Biker19]

33 minutes ago, JSR said:

we need reservations, how far in advance can you make them?

You can’t book till on board - use the app. 

[island lady]

17 hours ago, JSR said:

@island lady Thank you that is helpful. I will plan on arriving at noon. I think I board on June 18 and we are on the same cruise. We have a sky suite and our daughter and her boyfriend have a junior suite. I am assuming they can tag along with us, I will play dumb if that is not the case and wing it from there. I find it funny that if the kids stayed in our suite they get benefits but since I bought them their own cabin they do not. Though I have found in the past that the concierge gets that and makes arrangements for them. 

 

Do they still use wrist bands? We had those on the Symphony in November 2019. 

 

Any other hints or helpful tips? This is our first time on Harmony.  

 

Also, disembarking, what time does it start and what time does it end? About how long does the process take? We found it went very quickly in New York. 

 

I am on Sept. 18th.  Again....  😉 

 

I have not seen the wrist bands...but really did not look for them...as I don't like them..

 

I also sail in Suites.  As soon as we board the ship, we take the elevator up to 17 right away.  You won't have your sea pass cards yet (you get them when you are able to access your cabin later when they are ready).   You will have to be let in the door if it is not left open.  Go right to the host desk once they are on duty and explain about your daughter and boyfriend, that you would like to have them join you in Coastal Kitchen.  It will be under their discretion according to how booked up they are.  "Better to ask permission, than to beg for forgiveness" I always say.  😉 

 

You will also get an email from the Suite's concierge about 6 days prior to boarding.  Return that email to make your dining reservations.   

 

Disembarking for suites guests is very easy.  The last time, we simply met in the Bionic bar for our escort off the ship by the SL concierge.  Easy peasy, follow him/her right on out.  Facial recognition is super quick once you enter baggage claim, then collect your "red tag" bags in the suites/pinnacle area...then off you go.  I think the first time to meet was 7:30, then the next one at 8:00.  

 

Enjoy your cruise.  🙂 

[island lady]

16 hours ago, JSR said:

@Biker19 thank you. 

More questions:

- with a suite we did not reservations for any of the shows, is that still the case?

-if we need reservations, how far in advance can you make them? (our cruise is this coming Sunday). 

 

Thank you

 

The only real reservation you need to make is to the Adult comedy club.  You can make that with the SL concierge, or on the App.  

[JSR]

On 7/13/2022 at 5:07 AM, island lady said:

You will also get an email from the Suite's concierge about 6 days prior to boarding.  Return that email to make your dining reservations.   

@island lady- We never heard from the concierge. We are 3 days out. Is there a way to write the concierge or should I just wait until we are onboard at this point? 

 

Thanks  for all the help

[island lady]

7 hours ago, JSR said:

@island lady- We never heard from the concierge. We are 3 days out. Is there a way to write the concierge or should I just wait until we are onboard at this point? 

 

Thanks  for all the help

 

That's odd.   I have never failed to receive an email from the SL concierge, usually about Monday morning, the day after previous sail away.  I know you can email the concierge, but unfortunately have never done so except for a return on their email to me.  Perhaps someone can chime in here that has that.  

 

Otherwise, most likely you will be just fine to simply make your reservations as soon as you board, with the dining room host/hostess.  Grace was still there when we were on board last month, but I know she was leaving soon.  You may want to do it that anyway, since you are trying to bring in your daughter and her boyfriend with you.  

[molly361]

9 hours ago, JSR said:

@island lady- We never heard from the concierge. We are 3 days out. Is there a way to write the concierge or should I just wait until we are onboard at this point? 

 

Thanks  for all the help

HM_Concierge01@rccl.com, HM_Concierge02@rccl.com