WE SOON got used to the screaming.
We were aboard Harmony of the Seas on its inaugural cruise, to date the largest cruise ship in the world, lining up for milkshake and burgers at Johnny Rockets, and the terrified shrieks coming from the Ultimate Abyss located just a few steps away blended curiously with the ’50s music blaring from the diner.
Diner waiters, all dolled up in retro red and white stripes costumes, danced rock ’n’ roll to entertain the long queue of customers, doing so quite flawlessly amid the wailing and yowling nearby.
Screams were coming from the Royal Caribbean’s most daring thriller slide yet, the Ultimate Abyss, that sent you plummeting 10 stories down through a dark tube of twists and turns.
There were flashing lights on the way down, but that didn’t stop the screams of either excitement or sheer panic.
The ride was the fastest way to get to the bottom. A “dry” ride—you slipped into a blanket before the plunge—started on the 16th floor down to the 6th, in just 11 seconds, where the Boardwalk, an amusement zone, was located.
About 100 meters from the drop zone of Ultimate Abyss was a carousel, the classic pastime for those who liked to take it easy.
There was also a Starbucks that instantly made us feel at home.
Shopping, eating
Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas is divided into seven districts or zones.
The Solarium, for example, is an adults-only zone, for people who don’t like to be bothered with children running around.
At the center of the ship is a green region called Central Park, with trees and vertical gardens, with such shops as Cartier and Bulgari.
It also has the British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s famous Jamie’s Italian restaurant, and the fine-dining 150 Central Park, a tasting menu experience created by Miami’s award-winning chef and restaurateur Michael Schwartz.
With over 20 restaurants, diners can choose between a sit-down dinner or grab-and-go.
A skylight shines directly down to the Royal Promenade, for more duty-free shopping—Kate Spade, Michael Kors, TAG Heuer, Hublot, Breitling and more—dining, dancing and drinking.
“As the largest cruise ship, that means a lot of choices for our customers. The variety alone is what this ship brings. You can have an active cruise or a relaxing cruise,” said Sean Treacy, managing director, Singapore and SE Asia, Royal Caribbean Cruise.
The zones are created to redirect traffic from the main road (The Royal Promenade), and in most cases it does. We found ourselves in tight spaces like the amusement center, and in quiet solitude at Central Park or The Solarium.
17 stories
The ship is huge—17 stories high and weighing 227,000 tons. It’s practically a small town.
Harmony of the Seas can hold up to 6,700 guests and over 2,000 crew.
But it’s not just a ship; it’s a destination.
It has a relaxing spa, live music for dancing and parties, Broadway show (“Grease”), three large pools and lounging areas, three water slides collectively called The Perfect Storm, two rock-climbing walls, an ice skating rink, a zip line that travels across the ship, two surf simulators and Ultimate Abyss.
So who said cruises are for old retirees?
“That’s a misconception, particularly for our Southeast Asian visitors where we are seeing a younger demographic,” Treacy said. “Harmony of the Seas is an amazing destination for young people. Filipinos, for example, almost always come in multigenerational families—parents, children, grandparents. We make sure there’s something here for everybody.”
There’s a Youth Place for kids, Pool and Sports Zone, Royal Entertainment Place for production shows, comedy club and jazz club.
Bionic Bar
In just a few minutes, we had forgotten we were aboard a ship. Given the size of Harmony of the Seas, we experienced a smooth sail despite the rough weather outside.
And let’s not forget the bars. Harmony of the Seas has a Bionic Bar, where robots, instead of bartenders, mix your favorite cocktails. Just input your poison of choice, and the robots will do the rest. It’s a novelty on the ship, and the line is always long.
A caveat, though. If you don’t know the ingredients of your Daiquiri or Manhattan, your drink will not taste the way your favorite bartender makes them. What you input is what you get. And, unlike your favorite bartender, you can’t pour your heart out to the robots.
Love wine? Vintages Wine Bar serves some of the finest wines sourced from around the world. A nightspot at sea is the Rising Tide Bar that levitates and descends across three decks. If the drink doesn’t make you tipsy, that trippy little ride will.
Harmony of the Seas has many surprises. On the other end of the Bionic Bar is a robotic human head made of reflective mirrors that spins in slow motion. It makes a conversation piece, as many people stop to watch the head turn, one horizontal piece at a time.
Broadway’s ‘Grease’
But perhaps its biggest feat so far is acquiring the rights to the famous Broadway show “Grease.”
Nick Weir, vice president for entertainment and executive producer, said the production was a cross between the John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John movie and the Broadway show.
“We have been trying to show ‘Grease’ for years, and now we finally have it here aboard Harmony of the Seas,” he said. “There will be some scenes taken from the movie, and others from the original Broadway show. So there’s that little surprise there, too.”
Jules Verne
Another pride of the Royal Caribbean Entertainment is “1887,” an original ice-skating show, a love story through time and space set in Paris and inspired by the pioneer French sci-fi writer Jules Verne.
Accommodation is no less impressive. In our staterooms, the bathroom was much larger than those in many cruise ships.
The Royal Suite Class is a three-tier suite to rival that of the best hotels around the globe.
On June 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28; Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25; Oct. 2, 9 and 16, Harmony of the Seas will take off from Barcelona, with one-day stops at Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Florence (Livorno), Rome (Civitavecchia) and Naples before going back to Barcelona.
“There’s no better way to see Europe,” said Treacy. “Plus, you get all the entertainment aboard for free, and almost all the food for free. For a price of just almost $200 per day, we offer the best value for money.”
Caribbean
In November, when it’s cold in Europe, the ship moves to the Caribbean for a warmer climate. On Nov. 12, 26; Dec. 10; Jan. 7, 21; Feb. 4, 18; March 4, 18; April 1, 15, Harmony of the Seas will sail to Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, then back to Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades).
Royal Caribbean International is at 3/F PCCI Corporate Center, 118 Leviste St., Salcedo Village, Makati. Call 8922701 to 03.
