Very Disappointing!!

Harmony of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Western

RW17

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 55

Overall rating:

2.1 out of 5

7 Night Western Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: September 30, 2017

Ship: Harmony of the Seas

Cabin type: Inside

Traveled as: Couple

Reviewed: 7 years ago

Review summary

We have been cruising with Royal Caribbean for 17 years now, our first cruise being on Voyager of the Seas in 2000. We have always been very impressed with everything Royal Caribbean has been able to achieve and offer on their cruise ships, that is until our recent cruise on Harmony of the Seas. There are just so many things wrong with this ship and our cruise ended in a huge disappointment for us. Pre-cruise customer service is about non existent – I e-mailed Royal Caribbean (RC) on 20 September 2017 about our concerns regarding our cabin allocation (yes, they put you where they want, no choice here). We are a middle-aged couple and having quiet accommodation is key for our enjoyment of any cruise. But in all their wisdom RC decided to put us right beside the elevators, usually one of the noisiest spots due to all the pedestrian traffic, that in spite of them requesting our ages at booking time. I received an e-mail response exactly 9 days later, unapologetic informing me that the cruise leaves tomorrow (30 September) and to make a cabin change is completely impossible at this late stage. Wow! Thirdly, we found out to our dismay that this is now a party boat! Any peace and quiet on the deck, no; sitting in central park and expecting to enjoy the rustling sounds of the fresh ocean breeze through the trees, not at all, as the aneurism-inducing loud music spilled down from the deck, shattering the serenity; going into the cabin for a quiet nap, no go, as the music penetrates through the sealed window. Going for a peaceful evening in the hot tub in the “adult-only” solarium, no way, as there are usually some band/music activities that is dreadfully disturbing. One evening we tried the hot tub excursion again, only to find 5 of the 7 hot tubs closed (the usual case) for no apparent reason, and the other two filled with noisy, dancing and drinking passengers (if you are drinking and dancing in a hot tub, you are missing the point of a hot tub completely). I was lucky enough to be able to use a hot tub only one evening undisturbed, after navigating my way through the empty glasses and alcohol containers littered like a sea all around the tub. The solarium area is designated as “adult only”, with children below 16 years of age not allowed, but every day we saw multiple children in this area, even unattended.

Embarkation

2 out of 5

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

2 out of 5

Same food every day in Windjammer and other dinning rooms.

Onboard Activities

1 out of 5

5 of 7 hot tubs close early evening and remaining 2 are overcrowded with drinking and noisy people!

Entertainment

3 out of 5

Children's Programs

1 out of 5

Service and Staff

2 out of 5

Ship Quality

1 out of 5

We observed everything, from dishes not washed clean and filthy dirty walls in the Grand Dinning Room, tears in the seats, a broken tap in one of the washrooms running for days, and plenty of the transparent covers in the roof of the the solarium torn and missing. Maintenance is clearly no priority on this ship, which is in very stark contrast with our experience on Allure of the Seas a few years ago, where everything was absolutely perfect.

Cabin / Stateroom

1 out of 5

Our second big disappointment was our cabin – and I am referring to this as a cabin as there is nothing stately about it. We took possession at 13:00, exactly the time that was continually announced via the intercom system, and posted very clearly on the door leading to the passageways. Our cabin looked ready for occupation, with everything like soaps, towels, etc. in place, but on a second look, we were horrified! The cabin was very dirty, hairs and dust in multiple locations, dirty finger marks on the walls, stained and dirty carpet, excrement spots above the toilet, toothpaste on the back splash above the sink, and too many others to mention here. There was even a used floss stick lying on the nightstand. In addition, when putting on my shoes one morning, I caught a movement from the corner of my eye; I saw it go under the bed, and after about 10 minutes of hunting and turning the beds upside down, I found it; a huge COCKROACH!

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

1 out of 5

Labadee (Cruise Line Private Island)

3 out of 5

Falmouth, Jamaica

4 out of 5

Cozumel, Mexico

3 out of 5

Disembarkation

2 out of 5

Traveler Photos

Roof panels in Solariun torn and several missing.

26 Comments

shipwench 6 years ago

Then fact is RW17 has nothing to gain or lose by lying here.

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Cruiselover08 6 years ago

Been on Harmony 3 times. This is a bunch of bull 💩!!!

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shipwench 6 years ago

2murphycruisers - you have got to be kidding me!!! It is NEVER, I repeat NEVER too much to expect cleanliness!!!!!!

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2MurphyCruisers 7 years ago

If you have the ship pick your cabin, you take a chance. You are getting what is left over from those who were smart enough to pick their own cabin. You are going on a cruise where people are on vacation: music, dancing and entertainment are automatically part of it. Middle aged? I know of people in their 80s who are more fun sounding. I truly believe you are overdramatizing much of what you are complained no about or your expectations are way too high.

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Tmoverturf 7 years ago

What if you paid thousands of dollars and your was like this buddy!!!!!!!!!!!

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Tmoverturf 7 years ago

It's not their fault their room was filthy and he cockroaches, and left over dental floss laying around. I would be ticked as much s you pay for a room

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tlohr 7 years ago

I really believe with your age and that you do not like people, music,drinking and entertainment plus you are perfect.My though for a vacation in your house and stay there until you decide to enjoy life.Because life is to short to be miserable

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JTCruiser 7 years ago

Did you book a guarantee cabin? And if so you should expect to get the worse cabin and if you don’t great. Also I haven’t been on that ship since January but it was great my favorite ship on the sea so far also it’s so big that music being played by the pool can barely if at all be heard I was on deck 14. And the bug is common in Florida not a concern

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Tmoverturf 7 years ago

So sorry for your cabin, wht a bummer. Hope you called somebody to come and clean it the way it should of been. I would of been furious!!!! Hope your next cruise is better.

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maggieme 7 years ago

Sorry, venting

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maggieme 7 years ago

A balcony is NOT A SMOKING AREA!! You people are a minority anymore , take it from a past smoker. Quit already! You stink!

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Gloworm2 7 years ago

Now let’s see pics of your house. Any dirt spots?

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bluewingwalker 7 years ago

Perhaps you should have booked a specific cabin, instead of letting them pick one and then complaining about it after the fact.

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JennaFullmer 7 years ago

I was on the ship 2 weeks after this review. There was no tears in the seat like he claimed. I suffer from OCD very bad. I bring my own cleaning supplies to make sure the room is clean to my standards. The room I stayed in was clean, free from dust, and overall sanitary. There will be the situations where corners will have some, dust in them, but they are in hard to reach corners. If I have a problem with dirt or filth I clean it on my own. I cannot expect anyone to cater to my unrealistic expectations. No hotel, or ship can be 100% clean when thousands of people circulate through the rooms every year.

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cacy2550 7 years ago

I sailed on the Harmony, December 10, 2016, September 2, 2017 (the cruise that was extended 3 days, because of Irma), and I'm booked for, April 21, 2018. There's a reason I keep going back, it's a fantastic ship.

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Cruzin2Sunsets 7 years ago

We didn't have ANY of these issues when we sailed on Harmony in April. There is no way anyone could convince me that there was such a drastic change in such a short time.

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flatfoot0158 7 years ago

If you like quiet then you should try Holland America. Everyone is in bed by 9pm.

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willwork4cruz 7 years ago

When you book your cabin and request the cruiseline to select your cabin for you, don't be surprised that they select your cabin for you and that it is probably not the one you would have selected. If you don't want to end up in a location you don't like, choose your own cabin.

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chazphin 7 years ago

Can't believe anything from someone that hides, your profile says no cruises, you live somewhere, and you won't even show anything but negative photos !!! Stay at home no one likes the hatters around anyway. Have a nice life 😀

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JennaFullmer 7 years ago

I was on this ship Sept 30 to Oct 7th. I never saw these issues. You forgot to pack your white glove and black light. Imagine all of the fun things you would have found with that!

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jlbrown 7 years ago

Liar Liar pants on fire!!

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Roti 7 years ago

Who left this review? Carnival? Lol

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PhillyBrownGirl 7 years ago

Hogwash.

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Cruiselover08 7 years ago

Going on Harmony for my third time in December. Last time was the beginning of Sept. Never one problem. It’s always immaculate. That’s why we keep going back.

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cousineddy 7 years ago

I agree with twangster. Don't believe it.

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twangster 7 years ago

Nice try. A for effort.

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