royal caribbean: Harmony of the seas ~ FebRUARY 2020

SHIP/PORTS: Royal Caribbean – Harmony of the Seas – February 2020

St. Marteen, Puerto Rico; Coco Cay, Bahamas

STATEROOM CABIN TYPE: We stayed in the 4 Bedroom Villa Suite which is a STAR CLASS SUITE. This room is amazing and the perfect fit for multi-generational families that like to travel well, and together. It is also a great room for 4 couples or two families. There are multiple options since it accommodates up to 14 guests and can offer great value, but only two exist (Harmony and Symphony both have one each). The suite has two master bedrooms with king size beds and an en suite bathroom. The two interior rooms within the suite only differ in that one has an en suite bath and the other does not (bathroom in foyer/hall). They both have 4 twin beds, 2 of which are pullman beds and the other two can be converted to a king or keep as two twins. The 13 and 14 guests would sleep on the sofa bed in the main living area with access to a full bathroom in the foyer and full size closest and drawers accessible. One of the best things about this room is the large, long balcony that has a 14 -person dining table, a bar, two seating areas and a jacuzzi tub.

EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION PROCESS: Since we were in a STAR CLASS SUITE, we had no issues getting our bags tagged by a STAR CLASS Porter, going through security with our all of our bags at Port Canaveral (porter took the large suitcases and walked alongside us). We did arrive a few minutes early to make sure we knew where we were going.  The parking and drop off area for the Port Canaveral Star Class guests was behind the drop off lanes in the parking structure/area so it was a little difficult to see if you aren’t coming from the back lanes. My advice would be to just keep asking the traffic directors and porters “where is the Star Class Banner/Drop off area?”. Do not just give your bags to any porter!  After checking in (I highly recommend saving time by doing it all online ahead of arrival), we were welcomed into the suite lounge where we waited for our first STAR CLASS experience and finally meeting our Genie (correspondence starts a few weeks prior to sailing). He was highly spoken of and we were so excited! He escorted us onboard after about a 20-minutes. We had no problem waiting and enjoying the complimentary snacks in the suite lounge. The suite lounge in the Port Canaveral Cruise Port Terminal is located in the open area where all of the guests sit. The roped off section for suite guests is a comfortable seating area and has separate restrooms, as well as some complimentary snacks and beverages.  

DINING/FOOD OPTIONS: So many options, not enough days to try them all! Sadly. The Specialty Dining is an included perk for guests in STAR CLASS SUITES and so we were able to enjoy so many great dining options and had plenty of opportunities to try new foods we would otherwise never order. We thought all of them were outstanding and all had an ambiance or food item that we craved and wanted again. We first tried Sabor for lunch and it was so good. Something about Mexican food and being on the ocean. It just goes together, for me.  The tableside guacamole and the cheese quesadillas were delicious.  “Jamie’s Italian” was another favorite for its mouthwatering, fresh Italian cuisine and its upscale but casual atmosphere. The appetizers and desserts may have “stole the show”, but the freshly made pasta was equally amazing.  “150 Central Park” definitely has the “formal night” vibe and it was so fun to get fancy for a few of the nights. The overall experience was very pleasant from the impeccable service to the divine food to the peacefulness of the dining room. A must for any special occasion or to try gourmet foods at a very reasonable price. “Chops Grille” is always a favorite amongst us Loyal to Royal, but we felt it was hit or miss when it came to the service and food. We had Chops twice and both had wrong orders/items. Unfortunately, bad service can lead to other hiccups. We choose to leave before finishing our meals because the kids were tired after sitting for two hours and really wanted to see “Grease” so the moms left and the dads stayed to enjoy. To their defense, we were a party of 12. However, we had better dining/service experiences in other venues throughout the cruise. “Izumi” had great sushi and hibachi. The whole family had a memorable time and left more than satisfied and very full. The flavors were great and what it lacked in “fire” for the show, the Hibachi Chefs made up for it with other fun guest interactions, a little comedy and food fun or should I say, throwing. “Wonderland” we did not try. Not many in our group have the palette for this type of cuisine nor would some enjoy the extra attention while dining. “Costal Kitchen” is a Suites-only dining option and our favorite spot for a quiet sit-down breakfast. The food and service were always top-notch and some servers even remembered our special requests. We would’ve loved to have dined more in the evening or at lunch but there are never enough hours in the day or days at sea.

“Park Café” we loved their sandwiches and its always less crowded and great option to grab something quick. They are very well known for the “Kummelweck Sandwich” which is a sandwich with slices of slow-roasted beef flavored with secret seasoning. It’s legit! They also have great paninis, sandwiches and other sides to easily grab and go.

We didn’t get a chance to try Café Promenade, Solarium Bistro or the Dog House but did get some Sorrento’s pizza and a smoothie at the Vitality Spa Café. The pizza is ok. Not the best I’ve ever had, but definitely not the worst, just average and the kind that would taste great after a long night of partying or just plain hungry with limited options.  The smoothie was pretty good, nothing spectacular.  We did have a couple quick bites in the buffet at the Windjammer. Everyone seemed to find something they liked. It’s a typical buffet, but with many options, as well as various international cuisine. Don’t miss the dessert bar and ice cream sundaes! Overall, the food was excellent on the ship. The complimentary options, as well as the main dining room food, is more than adequate. In the main dining room, the choices are generally sufficient each night (unless someone is a very picky eater, but the servers will generally help with that), and the service is great. The specialty dining is a step above and if you have a chance to try at least one of them, I would definitely recommend it!

ACTIVITIES ON BOARD: There were so many things we didn’t have a chance to try or do but my kids’ favorites were definitely the pools and the waterslides. We also had the privilege to do a Bridge Tour which is always fascinating to see and interact with The Captain and Crew. The kids took a ride on the Carousal every time we passed by it, as well as visits to the Arcade. The kids also enjoyed going down The Abyss to meet us on The Boardwalk. We spent a significant amount of time there. They also played Mini-Golf. It was the first thing they ran to when we got on the ship.

ENTERTAINMENT: We tried to see as many shows as possible. We all loved, loved, loved Grease and my kids watched the movie for months after we returned. Loved giving them that opportunity to see Broadway (off Broadway). The Ice-Skating show and the Aqua Theater shows were enjoyed by all. STAR CLASS Suites enjoy front row seats or perfectly positioned rows for each show, depending on the show. For example, the Aqua Theatre show front row seats can get pretty wet. The kids were mesmerized each and every time. Memories of their little faces and how it made them feel, I will never forget. We didn’t spend too much time in the Casino this trip (small kids; just wanted sleep) and going to the Adult Comedy Show was a blast (don’t sit in the front row unless you want to be apart of the “jokes”) and it was worth staying up a little later than usual. I would recommend trying to do late night show the night before a sea day, if possible.

KIDS CLUBS/CHILD CARE: Adventure Ocean and Royal Babies & Tots (not on every ship) is one of the best parts of cruising Royal Caribbean in my opinion. A nice break for mom and dad (or even the grandparents). So, at this time, we had a 6 month old, 2 year old and a 4 year old. The younger two were in Royal Babies & Tots and although the effort to get reservations for babysitting was a little tough at times, when we did get a break, it was just what the doctor ordered. We felt revived and ready to go again. It was a blessing and a gift to be so reasonably priced. The staff was always kind and attentive. They did everything from feedings, snacks, to naps and diaper changing. They are angels at sea for us tired mommas! However, I know that each kid and situation is different, so the fact that they have a parent/child play area near the nursery, toys you can check out for free and take back to your stateroom, as well as a splash pad for those still in diapers (Note: not on every ship and not that big of an area) is brilliant and makes this cruise ship more compatible for all ages and stages in life.

SHORE EXCURSIONS: Our first stop was in St. Marteen. We did leave one of the smaller kids in the nursery onboard and took the older ones to Maho Beach to see the airplanes fly in and play in the sand. They absolutely loved it!! We used the restaurant next door as a base while the kids played in the sand, in the ocean and between watching the planes fly in. It was truly a thing to see, especially seeing it on House Hunters International so many times! Puerto Rico was a lovely day. We ventured off the ship in to the quaint little town of beautiful architecture and colors. We took a 10-minute walk to the Fort and let the kids roam around, run a little energy off and let them be imaginative, explore and touch history. We tried a little local cuisine and took to the local shops, then leisurely back on board by mid-afternoon. Coco Cay was our final stop on our cruise before heading back to Port Canaveral. We choose not to do the Thrill Water Park passes because our kids are younger and didn’t meet a lot of height requirements to justify the cost (Note: There are many height/weight restrictions, so consider carefully the cost per person for those few hours). There were plenty of complimentary options for water activities or beach/ocean play, as well as a few sports courts/equipment or simply just areas to chill with the ocean breeze and Caribbean sounds. There is more of a party atmosphere at the largest pool in the Caribbean with upbeat music for all to enjoy. Either way, you will have a blast, there is so much to do and so much to eat for free. The best part is that your drink package can be used on the island too.

OVERALL GENERAL EXPERIENCE: Overall, we loved Royal Caribbean, the Oasis class of ships and the STAR CLASS Experience. There is no other way to travel in our opinion, but when its not an option, it won’t stop us. We love cruising and waking up every morning somewhere new, even if it’s in the middle of the ocean. The traveling hotel at sea (with babysitting) is for me!