Fun Caribbean Cruise

Item: Harmony of the Seas
Rating: 3.4
Author: justjoshinnn

Harmony of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

justjoshinnn

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 29

Overall rating:

3.4 out of 5

7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Ft. Lauderdale Roundtrip)

Sail date: November 25, 2018

Ship: Harmony of the Seas

Cabin type: Balcony

Cabin number: 9614

Traveled as: Family (young children)

Reviewed: 5 years ago

Review summary

Dining situation desperately needs to be fixed on this vessel. Should be allowed to set dining time in advance on website. This was not allowed for this cruise. Main dining was effectively unavailable for people with small children unless willing to eat late at night.

Embarkation

3 out of 5

Royal Caribbean wanted us to upload photos to speed up check in. Photos were taken of my wife and I, and our 2 small children. The photos were uploaded while checking in online. Unfortunately this was a complete waste of time as we had to get our photos taken again checking in at the terminal. Instead of giving us our cards at check-in, the card is left outside the door of stateroom. This is highly questionable, especially since the card is linked to my credit card, and nothing prevents anyone from taking the card.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

1 out of 5

My-time dining is a total sham on this vessel. I cannot stress this enough. We have cruised 5 other times with variety of companies, and my-time dining worked well. Not at all on this vessel. Every dinner, we were forced to wait a long time only to be told to come back later. We would show up immediately when the main dining room opened. Constantly told to set up a set dining time, but only time available was 7:30 pm or later. 7:30 is when we start getting our 1 and 2 year old children ready for bed. We tried to set up a set time months before sailing date, but the website said this can only be done on board. All but one night, we were forced to eat dinner at the mediocre buffet. Specialty dining prices have nearly doubled in price from previous cruises. Italian restaurant more than double the price compared to previous cruise. Dining experience truly poor on this vessel.

Johnny Rockets

2 out of 5

Waited at the sign that said wait to be seated for 15 minutes with only about 7 people sitting at tables. Decided to go up to the bar to try to get service. Completely ignored, so we left.

Main Dining Room

2 out of 5

Wait staff and food are good if you can actually get a table. My-time dining does not work on this vessel. Only dining available was 7:30 pm or later. Would not allow to set dining time ahead of time online before cruise. Told to set up on board.

Chops Grille

3 out of 5

More than half of the steak was fat. Service was truly awful here. Not sure if it was the waiter's first night on the job. Significant price jump from previous Royal Caribbean cruises.

Bionic Bar

4 out of 5

Neat to watch. Had small problems when we were there. Only working in evening. Sometimes glass would over flow, and other times it would be half full. Did not put ice in drinks.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

Focus

3 out of 5

Computers froze routinely. At one point, all the computers went down, and the attendant had no idea when it would be back online.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Boleros

1 out of 5

Highest priced tacos ever seen. How can this be considered specialty dining when it only offers tacos and quesadillas? No variety, crazy prices.

Children's Programs

4 out of 5

Service and Staff

3 out of 5

Only made towel animals on 2 nights for a 7 night cruise, even with having small children who would obviously appreciate even more.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

Not sure if room attendant wasn't cleaning the toilet or perhaps septic gas was slowly leaking in toilet, but every time toilet lid was opened it smelled like a portable toilet. Ship itself is laid out fantastic, and does a far better job than Norwegian Cruise line spreading out all the cruise guests in different areas.

Cabin / Stateroom

4 out of 5

Toilet smelled awful every time lid was opened. Balcony was deeper size than other ships which was nice to stretch out on.

Ship tip

Try to set a preferred dining time any way you can, especially when sailing with children or it could ruin your cruise.

Thumbs up

Ports of call

Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida

3 out of 5

No covered garage for parking.

Thumbs Up 0

Philipsburg, St. Maarten

4 out of 5

San Juan, Puerto Rico

4 out of 5

Labadee (Cruise Line Private Island)

4 out of 5

Disembarkation

3 out of 5

Fortunately shore side people were offering to help with carrying luggage otherwise it would be a very stressful check out.

8 Comments

dianedeedee 5 years ago

We signed up for my time dining and the set a time in advance for 5:30 everyday. This really shouldn't be called my time but they do it different on the bigger royal caribbean ships. No problems with not getting the times we requested, but if you don't use the website and reserve you'll eat later.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

ItJustMyReaction 5 years ago

Geesh

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

nicoleandjay 5 years ago

Haha! True!

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

TXatsea 5 years ago

I vote for “miserable fraud”

Thumbs Up 1

Flag

nicoleandjay 5 years ago

You are a miserable person... or a fraud.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

slemaire195 5 years ago

Dining preference for early or late can be set online in the same place that you set up My Time Dining.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

BASSON61 5 years ago

One of my cruises we booked almost a year ahead of time and could not get early dining they offered late dining but I opted for my time dining which I’ll never do again did not like that so when I book a cruise if I cannot get early dining I will not take that cruise keep on cruising I love to cruise ship

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

capttrips 5 years ago

You choose early or late dining, it has nothing to do with children. Maybe you didn’t book early enough to have a choice.

Thumbs Up 0

Flag

Other reviews of this sailing

JUST WOW!

Not what we expected loud booze cruise food poor quality

The Biggest