Cruising with Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas

Canadian cruise-lovers now have easy access to the world’s largest passenger cruise ship – Royal Caribbean International’s new Harmony of the Seas is now sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The $1.5-billion-dollar vessel, which debuted her maiden season in Europe this past summer, Harmony is the line's third Oasis-class ship, joining her sister ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, which were delivered in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Harmony of the Seas is an evolution of the Oasis-class design, boasting elements seen on both  Oasis and Quantum-class ships, and at 1,188-feet in length, Harmony boldly sets itself apart with gross registered tonnage of 226,963, width of 215.5 feet, and cruising speed of 22 knots. 

“There is no other cruise ship in the world like this, she truly is spectacular," Lisa Connell, director of sales, Canada at Royal Caribbean International, told PAX at a two-day inaugural sailing event last week (Nov. 8-10) on board the Harmony of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Nassau, Bahamas, and back.

Harmony of the Seas docked in Nassau, Bahamas

The sailing, which welcomed more than 5,000 travel agents, partners and media from around the world, gave participants a chance to experience the ship for themselves, and discover why Harmony of the Seas offers an adventure at sea like no other.

After spending two nights on the ship, here are five things PAX learned about the colossal new vessel:

1. Boarding Harmony of the Seas is quick and hassle-free. 

Painful check-in procedures and long lines can be an all-too-common nightmare with cruises, but boarding Harmony was quite the opposite.

Even without a pre-registered SetSail pass, it took us exactly 14 minutes and 43 seconds to board ship.

This was likely due to Royal Caribbean’s state-of-the-art terminal, which includes “90 agents at multiple check-in desks during embarkation to ensure a smooth transition from curb side to shipboard in less than 15 minutes,” Mary Ogaki, national accounts manager at Royal Caribbean, told PAX.

Royal Caribbean's Lisa Connell and Mary Ogaki

Quick access to Harmony’s lightning-speed Wifi (called VOOM) also made a good first impression.

"Royal Caribbean really knows how to deliver the wow,” Connell told PAX. “We do not cut corners.”

2. Whether you’re seeking late night dancing or quiet time, there’s something for everyone.

With 18 total decks, 24 guest elevators, more than 2,100 international crew members (totaling 76 different nationalities) and an ability to accommodate 6,780 guests with triples and quads, it’s easy, at first, to feel overwhelmed by the pure size of Harmony of the Seas.

These anxieties washed away however the moment we discovered the ship’s seven distinct neighborhoods – Central Park, Royal Promenade, Boardwalk, Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality Spa and Fitness, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone. Each space embodies a different energy and experience, from dancing to fine dining to shopping to chilling with a book.

Grease is the word aboard Harmony of the Seas

World-renowned entertainment offerings were equally diverse with mega shows such as the Broadway hit Grease, Columbus the Musical! (a Royal Caribbean original), the AquaTheatre’s high-flying, acrobatic, water-diving must-see The Fine Line, the ice skating 1887, among many others.

  3. Slides are everywhere.

Not for the faint of heart, the Ultimate Abyss is a pair of curving 216-foot-long dry slides that drop 10 storeys from the Sports Zone on Deck 16 to the Boardwalk on Deck 6. 

After entering the mouth of sharp-toothed, piranha-like monster fish, riders holding special mats climb a set of stairs that lead to a glass-plank floor that offers heart-pounding view of the 100-foot drop below.

The entrance of the Ultimate Abyss (top)...and the 10-storey drop (below).

The ride itself sends you screaming (and laughing) into a dark tunnel of flashing lights and swooshing out a funnel into the gaze of curious onlookers parading the Boardwalk.

The ship’s trio of waterslides, called The Perfect Storm, are equally thrilling, giving you a wet n’ wild ride you’ll want to experience again and again. Slides for kids can be found in Splashaway Bay, which also includes water cannons and a massive drench bucket.

Two of three Perfect Storm waterslides on Harmony of the Seas

Serious thrill-seekers can either catch a wave at one of two Flowriders surf machines or go zip-lining 10 decks up, 120 feet above the Boardwalk. Hot tip: don’t look down.

4. Jamie Oliver and robotic bartenders get people talking.

Rustic Italian fare won over our taste buds at Jamie’s Italian by celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver, one of the many restaurants on Harmony. Reservations are a must at this high-demand dining spot, which got all the foodies on board talking.

Mixology and technology come together at the Bionic Bar

The ship’s Bionic Bar, too, generated ongoing buzz. Order a drink via smart pad and watch two robotic arms mix, shake, pour and deliver your order with precision.

5. Royal Caribbean cares about travel agents.

The Royal Caribbean executive took time to meet with travel agents in the ship’s Royal Theatre, a 1,400 seat venue, and hold an informative Q&A.

The session, led by Royal Caribbean International's senior vice-president, sales, trade support and service Vicki Freed, president and CEO Michael Bayley, and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. chairman and chief executive officer Richard D. Fain, gave agents an opportunity to delve into a variety of topics concerning their business.

From left: Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International; Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.; and Vicki Freed, senior vice-president, sales, trade support and service, Royal Caribbean International.

Will Royal Caribbean be adding more ports? “If we can get commitments from you on group space, we’re happy to put these products [such as the Panama Canal] into market,” Bayley said to one U.S.-based agent. “Lots of competitors have products in market but they don’t tell you how well it’s doing.”

What about offering an open bar for everybody? “Very good question,” Freed replied to another agent, explaining that open bars can lead to sloppy passengers, which undermines Royal Caribbean’s family-friendly reputation. Non-drinkers can also feel like their subsidizing the drinkers in their cruise ticket, said Freed, adding that beverage packages can still be purchased, if desired.

The team’s pledge to helping the trade succeed was clearly evident. “We learn a lot from these [sessions],” Fain told the crowd. “The fact you’ve made the effort [to be here] says something about your commitment to clients.”

For more on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, visit royalcaribbean.com.