When Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas debuted in 2016, it was the largest cruise ship in the world, carrying 5,479 guests at double occupancy and as many as 6,780 at capacity. Rather than a reinvention of the brand, this ship is part of the Oasis class but contains select elements of Quantum class — namely the Bionic Bar and larger staterooms, including Inside Staterooms with virtual balconies — blending highlights from each to create a new experience.
"Grease" Is the Word: We never rave about the stage shows on cruise ships, but this new production floored us. Great costumes, sets, props, acting, and singing … it has it all, and we actually saw the first performance.
The Ultimate Abyss: The most exciting popular feature on board is easily The Ultimate Abyss, the 10-story slide that loops off the back of the ship from deck 16 to deck 6. Lines grew quickly and stayed long from the first day as cruisers queued up with mats to stand up on the glass platform overlooking the ocean and feel like they were going to be plunged into the sea.
Super-Fast Internet at Sea: The ship's Wi-Fi, called Voom, has its own dedicated satellite beam, resulting in Internet that is among the fastest at sea. You can post images on Facebook, stream your favorite TV shows, and Skype or FaceTime with folks back home. For cruisers who fear being unplugged, this is an impressive improvement — although the daily fees to connect aren’t exactly cheap.
Fast Embarkations: While there’s no denying this ship is big, Royal Caribbean has found a variety of ways to reduce the pain points that usually come with mega-ship cruising. Online check-in means the embarkation process is far less painful than it can be on ships that are half the size — most passengers can walk straight from the curb, up the gangway, and right to their cabin, where the key cards are waiting on the door. Added bonus: You can upload a photo at home, rather than having one taken at the port, where your bedraggled travel-weary image is memorialized.
Small Cabin Upgrades: There are little design improvements that will stand out to past passengers, such as luxurious, satiny drapes dividing rooms in suites, and well-designed bathrooms with plenty of drawers, ledges, and medicine cabinet space to stash all of your stuff.
The Perfect Storm: This colorful trio of corkscrew-shaped racing slides provides lots of twists and turns as you travel down the height of three decks. These were among the first waterslides on any Royal Caribbean ship (Liberty of the Seas debuted The Perfect Storm in 2016 as well), a surprising fact for a line that's known for pioneering high-adrenaline activities on board.
Central Park: This outdoor space — with grass and plenty of landscaping — is really the highlight of the Oasis-class ships, and it doesn’t disappoint here either. An array of shops and restaurants line either side of the garden, and on a warm night it’s a lovely place to sit outside for lunch or dinner.
Bionic Bar: As on the Quantum-class ships, this bar manned by robot bartenders draws a crowd night and day.
Studio B: Like the Oasis class, Harmony has the Studio B ice rink. In addition to seeing shows on ice, passengers can rent skates and take a spin on the ice themselves.
Wonderland: This fanciful "Alice in Wonderland"-themed restaurant uses molecular gastronomy techniques to wow guests. (Picture noodles that melt into their broth and olives that explode in your mouth.) On this ship, the restaurant is two stories, with a bar that is quickly becoming the best place to drink on the ship.
Families with Kids or Teens: Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean kids club features a science lab, theater where kids can participate in shows, and a studio for creative crafts, while the teen spaces are designed for hanging out, listening to music, and gaming. And thrills such as the Perfect Storm waterslides, The Ultimate Abyss, FlowRider, the Zip Line, and Escape the Rubicon escape room will keep all ages entertained for hours.
You Might Miss What’s Missing: This is an Oasis-class ship after all and some fabulous features weren’t ported over from Anthem of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas — including the cover band venue, Music Hall. Instead, bands play street party-style in the echoing mall-like Promenade space, making the ship feel … louder. Adrenaline seekers will also miss the skydiving simulator and bumper cars. Also, the design is just less dramatic: The Solarium doesn’t have the same sexy, oasis-like feel.,