My View: Family of the Seas takes on Harmony...again (Semi-live)

[brillohead]

2 hours ago, Ren1216 said:

ADPMom... sorry if you already mentioned this and I have forgotten:  Did you still have "formal" nights or has Harmony converted to the "dress your best" phraseology?  And if you had to guess, what percentage do you think still dressed formally?  This matters to some of the older, more traditional cruisers in my group (they don't want to bring formal wear this time but are concerned about under dressing).

Sidebar conversation here.... why is everyone so concerned about "formal" vs "dress your best" vs "dress to impress" anyway?

If they don't want to bring formal wear, don't bring formal wear -- even on formal night only maybe 5% (if that!) of the passengers are actually in "formal" clothing (tux and ball gown).  A dress shirt and slacks for guys (jacket and tie completely optional) and any kind of dress or dressy top and slacks/skirt for women is perfectly fine, even on formal night.  

[APDMOM]

Sea Day Lunch

 

Look at those desserts:

 

Stormy seas... I always said that you can not feel the ocean movement on the Oasis class ships, because in our past 4 experiences on Oasis class ships (including Harmony) I do not recall feeling any movement.  This cruise was definitely different.  With the cold front moving through, we could feel the ship moving quite a bit.  It was nothing that made us feel sick, but the captain reported at captain’s corner that there were plenty of people uncomfortable the previous night around 2 a.m.  I slept through it all 😂

 

[APDMOM]

Rising Tide Bar:

 

After lunch, my dad and I decided to check off another item on our ‘last-minute’ to-do list.  We picked up coffee for my mom (who does not like alcohol, except the free tequila tasting kind), and purchased a beer and Amaretto sour.  We took the rising tide bar up and down.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we got to the top, my bodyguards were waiting for me in Central Park:  😁

 

Edited November 20, 2019 by APDMOM

[APDMOM]

Hideaway Heist:

 

The weather cleared up very nicely and they announced that Hideaway Heist was back on.  Unfortunately, we were still on the Rising Tide Bar and knew that we would not get good seating as we would arrive late.  So, off to deck 7 we went to sit by the rock climbing wall.  We had a good view and no crowds to wrestle with.

 

TIP:  You can watch the diving shows from deck 7.  There are chairs overlooking the water that can be moved to face the Aqua theater.  After the show, just enter the glass door next to the rock climbing wall, and you can even avoid the crowds dismissing by walking past the cabins on deck 7, as opposed to walking on the Boardwalk.

 

 

 

 

 

The High Dive:

 

Hitting the Water from the High Dive:

 

Definitely a fun show!

[APDMOM]

Deck 14 - lookout:

 

Tip:  On deck 14 of the Solarium, you can still look out over the helipad.  Harmony has a glass floor where you can stand and look down at the ocean from 14 decks above.  You can also enter from deck 14, as opposed to going through the Solarium.  Just walk forward past the cabins on the port (left) side of the ship.

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

The Parade:

 

Tip:  If you want seating, you have to show up very early - at least 45 minutes before the parade.  We got there 20 minutes prior to the parade starting and every seat had been taken.  We found a GREAT viewing spot though... on the spiral stairs below the photo shop (Picture This!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jagsfan]

Great photos and tips!

I took screen shots and will email them to myself. They’ll go in my Harmony folder so I don’t have to rely on my diminishing memory!!

thank you 👏👏

[APDMOM]

My View: Final Sunset at Sea for this Cruise

 

 

Last Solarium Bistro Dinner (with a special shout out to Ida and Anak, who did an excellent job serving us)!
 

 

 

“Nanna” was not impressed with the seafood 😂

 

Edited November 20, 2019 by APDMOM

[APDMOM]

3 minutes ago, jagsfan said:

Great photos and tips!

I took screen shots and will email them to myself. They’ll go in my Harmony folder so I don’t have to rely on my diminishing memory!!

thank you 👏👏

Good plan!  Your family was on the cruise, right?  Did they enjoy it? 🙂

[jagsfan]

8 minutes ago, APDMOM said:

Good plan!  Your family was on the cruise, right?  Did they enjoy it? 🙂

 

8 minutes ago, APDMOM said:

Good plan!  Your family was on the cruise, right?  Did they enjoy it? 🙂

It was our DD, her DH and 8 of their posse, and they all had a blast. 

Poor Lisa wound up with a sore throat and missed a catamaran/snorkeling excursion. 

Slept the day away!

The bad throat didn’t stop her from eating and drinking otherwise, though. 

They and their friends do girls trips to NYC, etc, and took their husbands to Nashville last year. 

Thank goodness they travel well together. 

I’ve seen people cruise with their best friends and come home frenemies!

[APDMOM]

My View:  End of Day 7 - The Cruise Graveyard

 

[APDMOM]

Day 7: Cruise Compass

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Tomorrow, I will close up with our disembarkation experience, a few ship pictures, tips for the cabin, and a summary of our overall experience.

 

Happy Cruise Planning!

[Ren1216]

5 hours ago, APDMOM said:

TIP:  By the way... you can order lobster on formal night in the Solarium Bistro.  Our waiter offered it to my husband, but we are not fond of lobster.  So, if you are after the lobster or good meals from the MDR, just ask the waiter in the bistro 😉 (And we tip accordingly)

I know you can get Lobster Tail for an up-charge any night in SB, but are you saying on formal night you can get the lobster that's being served in the MDR at no extra cost?

 

Thanks for all the wonderful TIPS... priceless!  Especially about the space on Deck 7 near the Rock Wall for viewing the Aqua Theater.   I'll definitely check that out.  You got a couple really sweet photos of your parents.

[JamesEM]

As for your CP tour, I took that tour, asking questions and listing to guide/officer was like trying to get a drink of water out of a fire hose.

[cravingthis]

On 11/19/2019 at 10:33 PM, APDMOM said:

Tip:  Sit on deck 3 if you want to ask questions.  Although they did send one of the mic’s up to deck 5 for one question, sitting on deck 3 will be more of a guarantee that your question will be answered

 

Your tips are absolutely amazing! Thank you so much for sharing !

How many questions was the captain able to answer?

 

15 hours ago, APDMOM said:

Sea Day Lunch

 

Look at those desserts:

 

Stormy seas... I always said that you can not feel the ocean movement on the Oasis class ships, because in our past 4 experiences on Oasis class ships (including Harmony) I do not recall feeling any movement.  This cruise was definitely different.  With the cold front moving through, we could feel the ship moving quite a bit.  It was nothing that made us feel sick, but the captain reported at captain’s corner that there were plenty of people uncomfortable the previous night around 2 a.m.  I slept through it all 😂

 

 

 

You weren't kidding when you said the desserts in the MDR at lunch (sea day) are better!  I don't feel so bad now that I'll be missing the chocolate buffet.  D

 

A real dessert lover here, what were some of your favorites?

 

Did you have lunch just once?  Wondering if they have the same or different desserts since we have three sea days.

 

14 hours ago, jagsfan said:

Great photos and tips!

I took screen shots and will email them to myself. They’ll go in my Harmony folder so I don’t have to rely on my diminishing memory!!

thank you 👏👏

 

I've been copying and pasting them to a document for my cruise tips!  It's a lot to remember!

 

[APDMOM]

23 hours ago, Ren1216 said:

I know you can get Lobster Tail for an up-charge any night in SB, but are you saying on formal night you can get the lobster that's being served in the MDR at no extra cost?

 

Thanks for all the wonderful TIPS... priceless!  Especially about the space on Deck 7 near the Rock Wall for viewing the Aqua Theater.   I'll definitely check that out.  You got a couple really sweet photos of your parents.

Good question.  My husband got the distinct impression that he was referring to the MDR lobster.  I also read on another review that the Solarium brought a favorite meal from the MDR for another CC member.  So, it seems like you can.  🙂 

 

We did buy the lamb chops for $9.99 the last night, and I wish I had done that sooner!  I would have ordered those at least 2 nights.  Delicious and perfectly prepared - Melt in your mouth!

[APDMOM]

13 hours ago, red-dragon said:

How many questions was the captain able to answer?

At least 20-30 questions were answered.  They spent quite a lot of time with us.  It was in the theater, which was so much better than in the past when there was no seating in the promenade on Freedom... 

[APDMOM]

13 hours ago, red-dragon said:

A real dessert lover here, what were some of your favorites?

 

Did you have lunch just once?  Wondering if they have the same or different desserts since we have three sea days.

 

My mom loves the flan while I like the black forest cake.   Crepes in the Windjammer are always a favorite - they have such great toppings.  🙂

 

We did lunch for both afternoons.  The desserts were basically the same at the buffet area in the MDR, but the lunch menu had different desserts.

[APDMOM]

My View:  Debarkation Day ...final view from the balcony

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Debarkation Experience:

 

TIP: If you are not in a hurry to get off the ship, the MDR is a great way to end the cruise.  It is a very relaxing experience while others hunt down cutlery in the Windjammer.

 

We had luggage tag number 29 and disembarked right after our breakfast (just before 9 a.m.).  Facial recognition worked fairly well, except for our 15-year old.  His face had to be scanned 3 times while he tried to smile/grimace in a way that would recognize him. 😂

 

We basically kept moving from the time we left the dining room until we were in the car... almost no waiting, as the line moved smoothly.  We had parked at the port and just carried our luggage up two flights of stairs, as there was a very long line at the elevator of the parking garage.

 

The parking garage is very close - right by the ship/terminal:

 

 

Final view of the ship:

[APDMOM]

My Final View/Thoughts: 

 

    This has been an unforgettable experience for may reasons, primary being the time we got to spend with my parents.  Trikes Cozumel was the highlight of our vacation.

 

    The staff and crew on Harmony are amazing.  They are as friendly as ever and there seems to be an overall very positive atmosphere on the ship.  It was similar last year, and we know this comes down from the top.  Captain Gus has a great sense of humor, but I can also tell that he cares about the staff and crew on the ship.

 

    For us, a balcony is a ‘must have’ on the Oasis class ships.  We love using the balcony on the busy sea days in order to avoid the crowds.  Oasis class is still one of my favorites.  It is getting more difficult to choose a favorite, as we really liked MSC Seaside this past summer (nothing beats the Bridge of Sighs).  DH has determined that MSC is his new favorite cruiseline.  I still lean a bit more toward Royal, but we will see what I decide after Christmas on Meraviglia.  Two things I like better on MSC are the shows in the main theater and the buffet food (including dessert). 

[APDMOM]

Disembarkation information:

 

 

[APDMOM]

Teen Program:

 

We noticed that there seemed to be fewer teens than before on our cruise.  The teen program confirmed that, as ages 12-17 were combined.

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Stateroom 10606:

 

We chose this cabin since it has an angled balcony, which is a bit larger.  Since it is the first one on the angle, it was the same price as other, regular balconies.  The size difference ended up not being that noticeable.   You can see in the first picture that there is an extra panel in the balcony - making it that bit deeper on one side.