What not to miss on Harmony of the Seas

[seaandsea]

We will be on Harmony in May, staying in a star class suite. Never been on Harmony, so I would love to hear from all the Harmony experts, what not to miss. It is such a big ship, I want to make the most of our 7 days.

Thanks for any info!

Cheryl

[island lady]

Aqua theater show!!   

[jsf]

Aqua show was nice ,Grease was good, Columbus was OK. Your right it is a big ship so pack your patience,when using elevators and WJ. MDR food was less than great but that's subjective.The ship is very nice but it did seem crowded at times.

[PompeySailor]

2 minutes ago, jsf said:

Aqua show was nice ,Grease was good, Columbus was OK. Your right it is a big ship so pack your patience,when using elevators and WJ. MDR food was less than great but that's subjective.The ship is very nice but it did seem crowded at times.

They are sailing Star Class

they probably won’t see the MDR or WJ 😉

Enjoy your suite and use your Genie 🧞‍♀️ well 

Edited February 5, 2023 by PompeySailor

[PompeySailor]

1 hour ago, seaandsea said:

We will be on Harmony in May, staying in a star class suite. Never been on Harmony, so I would love to hear from all the Harmony experts, what not to miss. It is such a big ship, I want to make the most of our 7 days.

Thanks for any info!

Cheryl

Make sure you get your Genie to get you to try every speciality at least once and also enjoy some speciality in room dining.

plus take Advantage of trying every cocktail the ship has to offer 

All included 😎

[queenfrostine22]

The house band was really great at Dazzles. The fine line is terrific. Have your genie sit you at least 3 rows back so you don't get wet. They do some aggressive kicking of the water in that show! Columbus was a cute show. Lots of newer music. Try and get a little cabana on the suite sun deck at least one day. Even if you only use it for a few hours it is a nice private place to be. (only thing is that the Genie can't save it for you so someone has to get up EARLY and just hang out there.) The hot tub on the suite deck is nice. Never crowded. The Boot and Bonnet pub is also a nice place to listen to current music. They  usually have a guitar player in the evening.  Try the rising tide bar if there is a parade or musical thing going on at the promenade. You will get the benefit of seeing everything without the crowding.

All the specialty restaurants are good.  Try them all. Hope you get a great Genie!

 

[Ret MP]

Are you an experienced Star Class Cruiser?   If not, I'll pass on some info for ya!

[seaandsea]

1 hour ago, Ret MP said:

Are you an experienced Star Class Cruiser?   If not, I'll pass on some info for ya!

We have cruised quite a bit, but we are not experienced Star Class cruisers, this will be our first time. I am taking my kids and grand-kids. I wanted a room large enough for all of us to be together. I would love to hear any advice that you can give.

Thanks!

[Hutcha]

8 hours ago, seaandsea said:

We have cruised quite a bit, but we are not experienced Star Class cruisers, this will be our first time. I am taking my kids and grand-kids. I wanted a room large enough for all of us to be together. I would love to hear any advice that you can give.

Thanks!

Sounds like you have the same room that I did last year. A two bedroom aqua theater. I was in 8730. I have the same room on Allure this year.

 

If you haven't seen it yet, I have some info on the whole experience in this comparison thread...

 

Also take a look at the F@ce b00k group "Star Class Cruisers.

 

You have the perfect group to be in a Star class room. All different ages, wanting different things, at different times. Make sure you lay out all of your wants and expectations to your genie. There's not a lot that they'll say no to.

[Ret MP]

7 hours ago, seaandsea said:

We have cruised quite a bit, but we are not experienced Star Class cruisers, this will be our first time. I am taking my kids and grand-kids. I wanted a room large enough for all of us to be together. I would love to hear any advice that you can give.

Thanks!

 

You're going to love Star Class.  I hope you get the best Genie out there, Marla!  

 

You will get an email from your Genie anywhere from a week to a month out from debarkation day.  This is a great time to let your Genie know exactly what your expectations are.  Ask for the moon, the Genie will let you know what is possible and what is not.  Keep in mind, they're goal is to never say NO to a guest.  

 

This is what we do, we tell the Genie, in that first email, what kind of beer, soft drinks, water (bottled and/or sparkling), juices, and so on we want stocked in the suite.  Let him/her know what kind of snacks you like to have in the suite waiting on you when you arrive and replenished daily.  This is a time to be creative, once we asked for and got a Sundae Bar, 3 or 4 flavors of ice cream and many choices of toppings.  On our last cruise we had a cold cut and fruit mini buffet set up in suite.  If you are celebrating anything, let the Genie know and he/she and he/she will have the suite decorated and/or have something special set-up for you at a venue somewhere.  This is also a good time to let the Genie know what specialty restaurants you want to go to, how often you want to go to one or the other and how you want to be scheduled to go to eat in a relaxed way, and then scheduled for the theater either before or after eating but never be in a rush to do either. Let him/her know that you either do or don't want him/her to escort you into any venue that you may want to visit and pass the line, you paid for it, use it.  Let him or her know if you want to be escorted off the ship in port(s) of call.  My experience is that they will take you to a portal that is used by the crew and there is absolutely no waiting to get off.  Getting back on, you are on your own, I guess you can make a special request for that, we never have.    

 

The Genie will either meet you in your Suite and escort you to the specialty restaurant(s) or meet you while in the restaurant, just to see if everything is going as desired.  He/she will also meet you in the main theater with your reserved seats, usually right up front by the stage.  We don't like to be that close so we have him/her reserve seats a little further back and without a row of seats in front of us.  

 

Also let the Genie know when you plan on arriving at the Terminal.  Keep in mind that you are only one of 3 or 4 parties that he/she is meeting at the Terminal.  So, a little flexibility may be required.  We've always been accommodated with the time we desired.

 

DO NOT GIVE YOUR LUGGAGE to the port porters.  Take your luggage to the purple "STAR" banner that is located in front of the Terminal.  The Genie will already have a ship's, not port, porter set up to get your luggage, take it through security screening and directly into your suit waiting on you.  Unless the ship was running late coming back to port, your suit will be ready for you when you enter the ship.  If it isn't ready when you arrive, he/she will escort you to the Coastal Kitchen (or other nice venue) and encourage you to have a bite to eat while waiting.   Whenever you get to your suite, the Genie will sit-down with you for a few minutes to get to know you and your party, get a feel of your personalities, want's, dislikes, and so on. At this time he/she should have already worked on your schedule and he/she will go over it to verify that that is what you want.  If it is, he/she will print a schedule or put it in the App., or correct it.  I always get a printed schedule in addition to the App.

 

One last thing, if available, you can reserve the Rising Tide Bar during the Prominade 80's/90's party.  It will cost you by the hour for the bar itself.  But, the bar is include with the Star Class perk.  I think we paid $40.00 per hour for it.  It was well worth it.  We had a large party of 14 on it.  So, we had it to ourselves, except for the DJ, who is also on the Rising Tide Bar with you, had a couple of young ladies with him.  If you are a party of less than 8 - 10, you may have another party join in.    

 

The initial back and forth of emails are probably the most important communication you and your Genie can have.  Make sure you get, as stated, creative. 

 

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them for you, if I can. 

 

 

[Tin can]

44 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

 

You're going to love Star Class.  I hope you get the best Genie out there, Marla!  

 

You will get an email from your Genie anywhere from a week to a month out from debarkation day.  This is a great time to let your Genie know exactly what your expectations are.  Ask for the moon, the Genie will let you know what is possible and what is not.  Keep in mind, they're goal is to never say NO to a guest.  

 

This is what we do, we tell the Genie, in that first email, what kind of beer, soft drinks, water (bottled and/or sparkling), juices, and so on we want stocked in the suite.  Let him/her know what kind of snacks you like to have in the suite waiting on you when you arrive and replenished daily.  This is a time to be creative, once we asked for and got a Sundae Bar, 3 or 4 flavors of ice cream and many choices of toppings.  On our last cruise we had a cold cut and fruit mini buffet set up in suite.  If you are celebrating anything, let the Genie know and he/she and he/she will have the suite decorated and/or have something special set-up for you at a venue somewhere.  This is also a good time to let the Genie know what specialty restaurants you want to go to, how often you want to go to one or the other and how you want to be scheduled to go to eat in a relaxed way, and then scheduled for the theater either before or after eating but never be in a rush to do either. Let him/her know that you either do or don't want him/her to escort you into any venue that you may want to visit and pass the line, you paid for it, use it.  Let him or her know if you want to be escorted off the ship in port(s) of call.  My experience is that they will take you to a portal that is used by the crew and there is absolutely no waiting to get off.  Getting back on, you are on your own, I guess you can make a special request for that, we never have.    

 

The Genie will either meet you in your Suite and escort you to the specialty restaurant(s) or meet you while in the restaurant, just to see if everything is going as desired.  He/she will also meet you in the main theater with your reserved seats, usually right up front by the stage.  We don't like to be that close so we have him/her reserve seats a little further back and without a row of seats in front of us.  

 

Also let the Genie know when you plan on arriving at the Terminal.  Keep in mind that you are only one of 3 or 4 parties that he/she is meeting at the Terminal.  So, a little flexibility may be required.  We've always been accommodated with the time we desired.

 

DO NOT GIVE YOUR LUGGAGE to the port porters.  Take your luggage to the purple "STAR" banner that is located in front of the Terminal.  The Genie will already have a ship's, not port, porter set up to get your luggage, take it through security screening and directly into your suit waiting on you.  Unless the ship was running late coming back to port, your suit will be ready for you when you enter the ship.  If it isn't ready when you arrive, he/she will escort you to the Coastal Kitchen (or other nice venue) and encourage you to have a bite to eat while waiting.   Whenever you get to your suite, the Genie will sit-down with you for a few minutes to get to know you and your party, get a feel of your personalities, want's, dislikes, and so on. At this time he/she should have already worked on your schedule and he/she will go over it to verify that that is what you want.  If it is, he/she will print a schedule or put it in the App., or correct it.  I always get a printed schedule in addition to the App.

 

One last thing, if available, you can reserve the Rising Tide Bar during the Prominade 80's/90's party.  It will cost you by the hour for the bar itself.  But, the bar is include with the Star Class perk.  I think we paid $40.00 per hour for it.  It was well worth it.  We had a large party of 14 on it.  So, we had it to ourselves, except for the DJ, who is also on the Rising Tide Bar with you, had a couple of young ladies with him.  If you are a party of less than 8 - 10, you may have another party join in.    

 

The initial back and forth of emails are probably the most important communication you and your Genie can have.  Make sure you get, as stated, creative. 

 

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them for you, if I can. 

 

 

 

Wow that's a great post, never been Star Class but after reading that I do now. 

[seaandsea]

57 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

 

You're going to love Star Class.  I hope you get the best Genie out there, Marla!  

 

You will get an email from your Genie anywhere from a week to a month out from debarkation day.  This is a great time to let your Genie know exactly what your expectations are.  Ask for the moon, the Genie will let you know what is possible and what is not.  Keep in mind, they're goal is to never say NO to a guest.  

 

This is what we do, we tell the Genie, in that first email, what kind of beer, soft drinks, water (bottled and/or sparkling), juices, and so on we want stocked in the suite.  Let him/her know what kind of snacks you like to have in the suite waiting on you when you arrive and replenished daily.  This is a time to be creative, once we asked for and got a Sundae Bar, 3 or 4 flavors of ice cream and many choices of toppings.  On our last cruise we had a cold cut and fruit mini buffet set up in suite.  If you are celebrating anything, let the Genie know and he/she and he/she will have the suite decorated and/or have something special set-up for you at a venue somewhere.  This is also a good time to let the Genie know what specialty restaurants you want to go to, how often you want to go to one or the other and how you want to be scheduled to go to eat in a relaxed way, and then scheduled for the theater either before or after eating but never be in a rush to do either. Let him/her know that you either do or don't want him/her to escort you into any venue that you may want to visit and pass the line, you paid for it, use it.  Let him or her know if you want to be escorted off the ship in port(s) of call.  My experience is that they will take you to a portal that is used by the crew and there is absolutely no waiting to get off.  Getting back on, you are on your own, I guess you can make a special request for that, we never have.    

 

The Genie will either meet you in your Suite and escort you to the specialty restaurant(s) or meet you while in the restaurant, just to see if everything is going as desired.  He/she will also meet you in the main theater with your reserved seats, usually right up front by the stage.  We don't like to be that close so we have him/her reserve seats a little further back and without a row of seats in front of us.  

 

Also let the Genie know when you plan on arriving at the Terminal.  Keep in mind that you are only one of 3 or 4 parties that he/she is meeting at the Terminal.  So, a little flexibility may be required.  We've always been accommodated with the time we desired.

 

DO NOT GIVE YOUR LUGGAGE to the port porters.  Take your luggage to the purple "STAR" banner that is located in front of the Terminal.  The Genie will already have a ship's, not port, porter set up to get your luggage, take it through security screening and directly into your suit waiting on you.  Unless the ship was running late coming back to port, your suit will be ready for you when you enter the ship.  If it isn't ready when you arrive, he/she will escort you to the Coastal Kitchen (or other nice venue) and encourage you to have a bite to eat while waiting.   Whenever you get to your suite, the Genie will sit-down with you for a few minutes to get to know you and your party, get a feel of your personalities, want's, dislikes, and so on. At this time he/she should have already worked on your schedule and he/she will go over it to verify that that is what you want.  If it is, he/she will print a schedule or put it in the App., or correct it.  I always get a printed schedule in addition to the App.

 

One last thing, if available, you can reserve the Rising Tide Bar during the Prominade 80's/90's party.  It will cost you by the hour for the bar itself.  But, the bar is include with the Star Class perk.  I think we paid $40.00 per hour for it.  It was well worth it.  We had a large party of 14 on it.  So, we had it to ourselves, except for the DJ, who is also on the Rising Tide Bar with you, had a couple of young ladies with him.  If you are a party of less than 8 - 10, you may have another party join in.    

 

The initial back and forth of emails are probably the most important communication you and your Genie can have.  Make sure you get, as stated, creative. 

 

If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them for you, if I can. 

 

 

Thank you so much for that information, it will be very helpful. We are staying in the 4 bedroom family villa, so we will have plenty of room. My husband and I will probably eat a few meals in the room with the grandkids and let our kids go out and relax. If you reserve the Rising Tide Bar, can the we bring the grandkids? They are 3 and 10. Again, thank you so much for the useful information.

[Ret MP]

3 hours ago, seaandsea said:

Thank you so much for that information, it will be very helpful. We are staying in the 4 bedroom family villa, so we will have plenty of room. My husband and I will probably eat a few meals in the room with the grandkids and let our kids go out and relax. If you reserve the Rising Tide Bar, can the we bring the grandkids? They are 3 and 10. Again, thank you so much for the useful information.

That's the exact suite we stayed in when we had 14 in our party and had the Rising Tide Bar.  You'll love it.  I'm sure of it.  

 

I forgot to mention, we don't care for Wonderland, too fufu for us.  But, we like the desserts, so we had the Genie have delivered desert for 14, all of which were the mushroom looking things and the melting chocolate ball.  

 

Yes, we had our Gkids with us, they were a little older than your but it doesn't matter, you can bring a new born if you want LOL.  I'll attach a video of it.  They'll move it up or down depending on your needs to go to the restroom or back to your cabin.  What ever you want/need.  But, while you are on it, it sits between the Promenade deck and Central Park.  Great view of the party.  

 

And to be clear, I kinda screwed that sentence up, you pay to rent the Rising Tide Bar, but the drinks are included in your Star Class fare, of course.  We had a bartender AND a server on with us.  It was soooooooo kewl.  ALSO, when the Genie sits down with you and your party initially in the suite, that's another good chance to ask any and all your questions/concerns.  He/she will also discuss how you can contact him/her at any time.  On our last Star Class cruise, he preferred WhatsApp.  It worked out well.  Not sure what will be available on your cruise.  I actually had an issue at the Pub on the Ovation later in the evening, I texted the Genie and he was there in about 4 or 5 minutes and several of the Hotel management were falling over themselves apologizing to me. I think, no matter what communication preferences the Genie uses, he/she knows your location on the ship at all times.  The Genie always showed up even if it wasn't a scheduled event on our agenda. I loved it.

 

 

[Ret MP]

BTW, we were on the Symphony on that Video, not Harmony.  I'm not sure if the Harmony has Wonderland.  Go with the flow.  Apparently, it does.

Edited February 6, 2023 by Ret MP

[Morecruisesplz]

4 hours ago, Ret MP said:

BTW, we were on the Symphony on that Video, not Harmony.  I'm not sure if the Harmony has Wonderland.  Go with the flow.  Apparently, it does.

We like the Symphony. Doing a transatlantic in Oct. But that cabin must be big bucks.

[Ret MP]

2 minutes ago, fredmdcruisers said:

We like the Symphony. Doing a transatlantic in Oct. But that cabin must be big bucks.

14 of us for a 7 day/night cruise >$32,000.00.  

[Morecruisesplz]

4 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

14 of us for a 7 day/night cruise >$32,000.00.  

Thx! Good to know. 

[Ret MP]

Damn, I should quit going back a rereading my posts.  In my original response I said, "You will get an email from your Genie anywhere from a week to a month out from debarkation day.  Obviously it should have been "Embarkation day".

[molsonschooner]

On 2/5/2023 at 1:43 PM, island lady said:

Aqua theater show!!   

I did not care for the Aqua show on Harmony. Too much splashing around, the spinny guy got boring real quick. Not enough diving. I did like the slack rope balancing act.