Very disappointed
Harmony of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western
Contributor Level:
Purser
Cruises: 1 cruise (first)
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 48
7 Night Western Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)
Sail date: July 29, 2017
Ship: Harmony of the Seas
Cabin type: Balcony
Cabin number: 10668
Traveled as: Couple
Reviewed: 7 years ago
Review summary
As far as the cruise goes there are a lot of things That are not disclosed about pricing that should be. Especially when it comes to dining and food packages. We found that when you get the drink package and I mean just regular beverages there is only 2 machines on Dec. 5 in 2 machines up in the buffet for getting soda that makes it difficult when you want something to drink in your in the different part of the ship. Know if you have the ultimate drink package you can get soda at any bar but you're gonna pay for that from $50 compared to $8 so you can see the price difference for convenience. Also when you purchase an alternate dining package you should be explained that it is not an ultimate package that there are items you still have to pay for if I would have known this prior to booking a cruise I would have never went on a cruise I would have went somewhere else. Also when it comes to excursions some of them are quite expensive for what little you get it seems like cattle calls and I mean that they try to cram as many people in so they can make money and you don't always get the best experience. So this was my 1st cruise for me in my wife it was our birthdays back-to-back so we thought we would do something special it was my wife's 40th and we were very disappointed to us it was a large waste of money and I still had an $800 bill when I got off the ship and that was just from tipping the mandatory tips they charge you which I did not understand that should be explained much clearer and a couple of the excursions I wanted to do-and the extra money for the meals so you can see how things add up quite quickly. I also try to rake the cruise on Caribbean's 4 days later through my email but it told me it expired so I could even complain to Royal Caribbean's that's just icing on the cake that was just our experience I hope you have a better oneEmbarkation
The lines move quickly and very smoothly it was like going through customs it was a very good experience
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
After all the hype in everyone telling us how great the food was I was solely solely disappointed. The buffets were far too small and I mean there was only one buffet for 6000 people. The food on the buffet was mediocre at best. I went to 1 captains meal got up and left because the food was so bad and the captain was in even at the meal. Also I paid for the ultimate meal package which they do not inform you things on the menu are not included you will still have to pay I got a bill for $80 for just one meal on top of the package I already paid for I am so disappointed I will never go on a cruise again this was our 1st cruise and my last. If it wasn't for the specialty restaurants I May not have eaten on the cruise at all. But like I said if you don't pay attention to the menu there are items that you still have to pay for even after you spend hundreds of dollars on their so called ultimate meal package how disappointing in what a scam.
Onboard Activities
There were quite a few activities but most of a more not gear towards older people and when I mean older people were only in our forties. We did attend a bingo game which cost us almost a $100 in the only head one cruise to give away even if 20 people 1 they were only giving 1 away that was a bunch of crap too. It just seemed to me that Everything was geared towards money.
Entertainment
Some of the shows were very very good while others were OK there was plenty of choices for a 7 day cruise
Service and Staff
I can't say enough for the staff and how clean our Room was in the ship in general this is one thing that I have to say was excellent and exceeded my expectations. This made the cruise much more enjoyable for all the dissatisfaction I had with everything else the people the people is what made this cruise great. I don't think they get enough recommendation for how much they go out of their way to make you feel like you're part of a family it was just a very wonderful experience on that level.
Ship Quality
I gave this a fire if star excellent reading but the only thing that does need to possibly be improved is the soundproofing between the rooms and the hallway the kids running up-and-down and jumping was quite annoying at-times especially at around one or 2:00 in the morning but as far as cleanliness in design goes it was incredible the ship was incredible looking it was large in very very clean again the crew did absolutely wonderful job keeping up with so many people in there were a lot of pigs leaving crap everywhere but the crew smiled picked it up and went on with their merry way it's a Testament to these people and how much pride they have in their job.
Cabin / Stateroom
The cabin itself was quite roomy in very clean are tended did a great job the bed was not as comfortable as I would a liked little lumpy seem like maybe 2 twins pushed together for the amount of money you spend you would think they could have a much more comfortable bed if nothing else. We had a problem with the shower backing up flooding the bathroom but the attendant was right on it and got it taking care of Right away. Other than that the Room was quite nice
Ports of call
Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida
Again very overpriced hotels because of the location year-the cruise port but we did find transportation was easy to find but again overpriced
Thumbs Up
2
Labadee (Cruise Line Private Island)
I found this place to be very nice the beaches were beautiful in the offered all the same amenities that you found on the ship the food again was not quite as good as you would have thought but it was at-least free.
Out of all the places I enjoy Jamaica the most the people that pick this up to take us to work scursion were extremely helpful very knowledgeable and friendly if I ever went back I would go with those people on A-day trip to the local areas to see how things are. We went on a resort for A-day excursion it was nice but overpriced as it seems like every tourist related thing is that all these ports of call everything is inflated so bring plenty of money you're gonna need it. I have traveled all-over the world-and I found now that cruising is not for me and it is way overpriced
Was so disappointed with Cozumel Mexico the price of everything was incredibly inflated . My wife went on the dolphin excursion that also included lunch which was absolutely terrible and that was the lunch the swimming with the dolphins she absolutely loved but it was very crowded they kept bringing people in and it just kept getting more and more crowded as the day went on and their so called food buffet was horrible I've had better Mexican food here in the States at Taco Bell and that's not saying much. I will never visit caught cozmel Mexico again
Disembarkation
We chose to take our luggage ourself to avoid waiting on the ship for our number to be called we were number 65 which was at the very end which would put us off the boat around noon now we Docked at around 6:00 a.m. so that would have been 6 hours on the boat and most of the things we're closed at that point so you're sitting in a designated area which was not for us. We took our bags and left the ship in less than 20 minutes from the time we left our deck to the time we were in the customs area and another 20 minutes till we were out in the parking lot waiting for our shuttle to our rental car it was the smoothest disembarkation I've ever been through in a customs related situation anywhere in the world my hat's off to that.
Traveler Photos
1 Comment
samanthafowler 7 years ago
we love RC. sorry u had a bad experience. u didnt have to eat at the speciality restaurants that was an ex option all cruises has that now. also the people onboard the ship that wash your sheets and clean your room, maintain the ship, cook, etc get paid peanuts. you are made well aware of the gratuities they charge before you go. every cruise line charges that too. the excirsions are more exspensive cause you get to go and relax knowing that if you get stuck on your excursion the boat will wait for you. so its like a insurance policy. you can book any thing on your own but if u get stuck bye bye ship.