Being aboard the world’s largest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, is akin to being in a tony neighbourhood that moves on water, finds Mridula Dwivedi

In a casual conversation, I mentioned to the commander of our ship, Captain Guss Andersson, “This is my first cruise.” Without hesitation, he replied, “After Harmony of the Seas, it is going to be all downhill for you.” The statement wasn’t an exaggeration, as I discovered during my two-night stay on the brand new cruise ship of the Royal Caribbean cruise line. At 1,187 ft, the length of Harmony of the Seas is more than the height of the Eiffel Tower, which boasts of 1,063 ft.

With seven ‘neighbourhoods’ and 20 dining areas, the ship floats with a crew of over 2,000 for its 6,000 guests. As I have motion sickness, my first fear was of the rough waters. I did not wish to go green in my face. On this pre-sail for media, we were starting from Southampton, UK, for a little spin in the English Channel. Though gale-force winds were predicted in the area, the ship barely rolled; the anti-nausea medicine stayed firmly in its place in my bag.

With 16 floors on the ship, and just two nights to explore, I was overwhelmed, to say the least. However, after a few deep breaths, calmness prevailed. I could see public areas clearly marked next to the lifts. Some floors have only rooms or ‘staterooms’ as they are called. Soon enough, I was absolutely at home on the ship.

Though there was plenty to do and adventures to partake in, the three activities that stood out for me were the Royal Theatre, the Ice Skating Show, and the Ultimate Abyss. The ship has enough attractions for both adventure seekers as well as those looking for a quiet vacation.

If you’re looking for quiet ‘me time’, the pool area with sun loungers would be the ideal place. Just being there, sitting in the sun with your favourite book or listening to songs and catching the changing colours of the sky is an experience in itself. If you are in the mood for a drink, there is a bar right next to the pool. In fact, there are bars all over the ship, some of them quite glitzy. The highlight, however, is the Bionic Bar, where dancing robots prepare your drink!

Talking of theatre, currently Grease is touring on Harmony of the Seas. On our voyage, the performers got a standing ovation. 1887, the late-night ice skating show, also proved to be a big draw with the guests.

The Royal Promenade on the ship is constantly buzzing, either with street parties or live bands. The ‘giant moving head’ at the promenade is quite an eyeball grabber! One can soak in these experiences while sipping on a drink from the Rising Tide Bar, a moving bar that covers three decks. You will also find cartoon characters moving around making friends with children, and with a separate Teen Zone with a disco, there are plenty of amusement options for guests of all ages.

For those who seek the thrill of adventure, there is a zip line—nine-storeys high—two surf simulators, and a three-storey high water slide. The ice skating rink is also open for guests when shows are not being staged.

Personally, I found the Ultimate Abyss, a 10-storey high dry slide, the most thrilling of them all. I was given a mat and told to keep my arms and legs inside it. Getting in, I held on to the handle; nothing happened for a second. Then, a head popped in, telling me to lie down. Whoosh, I went falling, all the way down. Even as I came out of the slide, my face all white, I could hear people yelling and shrieking as they hurtled down the slide.

Jogging tracks, basketball courts, golf course, you name it, they’re all there. For confirmed shopaholics, there are plenty of brands to choose from. Just in case you run out of money for your buy, there is an ATM on board as well! Going up to the balcony of my room, I put my feet up, watching the animated ocean with waves rising up and falling. With a spa, casino, 3D movie theatre and curated art collection on board, Harmony of the Seas is like a tony neighbourhood that moves on water.

As my trip was a pre-sail, the ship did not dock anywhere. But on a full cruise, there are day excursions available. Currently, cruises are available both in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. And just in case you think you can’t afford to get away from the world for five nights, you can access the Internet via satellite on board, attending to routine emails and calls. That said, during my sojourn, I opted for a digital detox—and would highly recommend the same!

HOW TO BOOK

Looking for a cruise holiday? You can find many options with Tirun Marketing (India). Tel: 1800-11-5464; email: cruise@tirun.com

INDICATIVE RATES

A four-night cruise in Japan costs about $ 1,300 (about ₹ 86,800) for two.
A three-night cruise starting in Singapore costs about $ 1,050 (about ₹ 70,000) for two.

Photographs by Mridula Dwivedi
Featured in Harmony — Celebrate Age Magazine
November 2016