Harmony of the Seas Review

You would be hard pressed to take part in everything on offer on the 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas in a week. The sheer number of entertainment offerings, both day and night, is bewildering; it's a bit like being at a massive floating theme park, with everything from simulated surfing to ziplines, an ice rink, rock climbing walls and a 10-story dry slide.

Harmony of the Seas Deck Plans Offer All the Entertainment You’ll Ever Need, Plus Serene and Adult-Only Spots

Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas is part of the hugely popular Oasis class of ships, the largest cruise ships afloat. The ship is almost a carbon copy of its fleetmates, which pioneered a "neighborhood" concept, with deck plans that group activities into different areas on the ship. So, you have the buzzy, amusement park-style Boardwalk; the serenity of Central Park, with its real trees and plants; the Pool and Sports Zone for outdoor activities, including a large kids’ splash park; and the Royal Promenade for indoor shopping and entertainment.

The sheer size of Harmony of the Seas is astounding; it's easy to forget you're on a ship, especially when you're hanging out on the Royal Promenade, which feels more like a Vegas hotel than a cruise ship. It also means you're less likely to feel the waves, a big plus for those prone to seasickness. At this point, you may be wondering just how big the Harmony of the Seas is. The answer is an impressive 1,188 feet long (almost 4 soccer pitches!), which is only slightly smaller than the newer Symphony of the Seas.

In a Harmony of the Seas vs Symphony of the Seas face-off, the latter wins in size, but both ships offer an almost identical experience. Probably the biggest difference between them is the lack of a plunge pool in the adults-only Solarium on Harmony of the Seas. The smaller cruise ship, however, has a great bar in that area, which the Symphony does not.

With 18 decks, 24 restaurants, 23 pools and whirlpools, 2,747 staterooms and suites, a massive casino, and hundreds of onboard activities, Harmony of the Seas stands out for the variety it offers. Even cabins in the ship's lowest category are thoughtfully designed and comfortable, with space for relaxing and plenty of storage.

Likewise, the entertainment onboard, whether small scale, like an acoustic guitarist, or larger than life, like the production of "Grease," is simply outstanding. The ship's restaurants offer everything from low-key grab-and-go meals to multicourse, hours-long culinary extravaganzas, though be prepared for a variety of quality with the extra-cost venues generally being much better.

If you're happy sharing your cruise vacation with 6,779 other passengers (at full capacity), of all ages and with a lot of families, then Harmony of the Seas is about as good as it gets in terms of activities, entertainment and fun at sea -- throw yourself in, and you'll be kept busy all week.

Health & Safety on Harmony of the Seas

Before Boarding in European ports

• Proof of completed vaccination at least 14 days prior to sailing
• All guests 2 and up take a rapid antigen test at the terminal, pre-registration required
• Pre-embarkation in-app health questionnaire
• In-app check-in and arrival time slot required
• Masks required for all guests over age 2 during the entire embarkation and debarkation process, and while on any form of transportation

Additional requirements before boarding in Florida

• Negative PCR or antigen test within 72 hours of embarkation for all guests over age 2
• Negative PCR test for unvaccinated guests 2-11 years old within 72 hours or embarkation; additional testing for unvaccinated children during the trip
• COVID-19 insurance required for unvaccinated guests age 12 and over

Onboard

• Masks are optional for fully vaccinated guests. Unvaccinated children should wear masks indoors and in crowded settings. Masks are required for all children 2 and older at the Adventure Ocean youth program. Children under 2 do not have to wear a mask.
• Additional screenings are done as needed
• All guests take a final test before the end of the cruise
• Buffet food is served by staff
• Physical distancing is suggested
• Dining reservations are strongly recommended; parties are limited to eight and must be with your travel party or those of a linked reservation
• Muster drill done individually using the Royal Caribbean App and/or the stateroom TV, followed by a check-in with your muster station
• Sanitizing and hand-washing stations all over the ship
• Unvaccinated guests are provided specific hours to utilize some facilities like the fitness center; others, including some specialty restaurants may be unavailable to unvaccinated guests throughout the cruise
• Vaccinated guests and children too young to be vaccinated receive COVID-19 Assistance in the form of no-charge onboard medical treatment for COVID-19 and more lenient refund policies for cancellations or changes due to COVID-19

Off the ship

• Local mask ordinances vary, but indoor locations often require masks to be worn by passengers 2 and up (or 6 and up in some countries).
• In the Caribbean, unvaccinated guests are limited to controlled tours in ports other than Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is Royal Caribbean’s private island.