Royal Caribbean International holds the title of operating the largest cruise ship in the world with the new Harmony of the Seas, and below are seven helpful suggestions on how to take advantage of some of its less frequented features.
Go Retro with "Grease" and Johnny Rockets
There are two ways to enjoy a blast from the past onboard, and the best way to combine the two is with a Johnny Rockets meal right before or after attending a performance of the ship's signature "Grease" production show. It's particularly awesome to follow the show with a burger and shake to imagine yourself on stage with the characters you just witnessed.
Soak In the Cantilevered Hot Tubs
Dining with Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, he suggested checking out the cantilevered hot tubs in the solarium, half jokingly quipping that they were expensive and thus worthy of attention. But he's right. They offer some stunning vistas at sea or in port, and indeed they are among so many of the special little details that make up the big ship as a whole.
[READMORE]READ MORE: TravelPulse On Board: Harmony of the Seas Review[/READMORE]
Be the King of the World
Also off from the solarium is a neat little feature called the King of the World platform. The sun deck extends out on top of the navigation bridge wings, and on one end, the floor juts out even farther forward for a Leonardo Dicaprio-like photo-op. The floor is even translucent to showcase the dramatic water deflection off the port side bow while sailing.
Save Time at Mini Bites
Excessive crowding never proved to be a problem on the ship, but should you wish to avoid buffet or restaurant lines of any sort, Mini Bites offers a quick alternative on the pool deck to easily grab some smaller but tasty and readily prepared items such as individual pizzas. And just next door are self-serve frozen yogurt machines to complete the meal.
Try Mixing it Up at the Bionic Bar
The Bionic Bar is where robotic bartenders will whip up a drink for you automatically after placing an order digitally from a tablet computer kiosk. There are a number of signature drinks to be had - alcoholic or non-alcoholic - that are worth trying. My favorite, for instance, is the Clone Me featuring Coca-Cola and peach schnapps.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Top 10 Coolest Things Aboard the Biggest Cruise Ship in the World[/READMORE]
Enjoy a Pub and Grub Crawl via Ultimate Abyss
For a wild combination of activities and dining onboard, there's a bar just across the way from the Ultimate Abyss' entrance. Why not grab a drink to start a pub and grub crawl, take a ride down the tallest slide at sea and then enjoy the drinks and dining to be had down by the Boardwalk? Choices there include everything from Sabor (pictured above) Mexican food for some spice and Starbucks Coffee for a pick-me-up.
Bring Your Good Walking Shoes
If there's one thing for certain about Harmony of the Seas, it's that she is a massive ship, and getting around does take quite a bit of footwork. When I captured video of all the venues onboard, in a single day I exceeded a 10K, covering 7.5 miles. Not that you'll clock in at that daily, but we surely suggest bringing comfortable walking shoes either way.
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
