It was a case of Veni, Vidi, Vici, as Julius Caesar once said, as Irish travel agents embarked on this magnificent ship. They came in large numbers, they saw, and they were totally conquered by the largest cruise ship in the world, Harmony of the Seas. ITTN was onboard to bring you all the pictures and all the interesting facts.
With 18 decks, 2,747 staterooms, 23 swimming pools, 42 bars and lounges, 10,587 plants, over 500,000 individual parts and seven distinct ‘neighbourhoods’ including a theatre, spa, shopping district and even an ice rink, it is no wonder that the Irish travel trade were really blown away by the experience.
Costing $1.5billion, Harmony of the Seas will be the 25th ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet and offers highly anticipated first-at-sea experiences, including:
- A 100-foot drop with Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea, plunging courageous adrenaline seekers 10 storeys down from Pool Deck to the Boardwalk on deck 6.
- 4,700,000 lbs (2,150 tons) of water across 23 swimming pools, whirlpools, two FlowRider surf simulators and water slides, including the Perfect Storm, a thrilling trio of water slides, and the Splashaway Bay water park for young guests.
- The first double-storey Wonderland, the speciality restaurant concept first introduced onboard the global cruise line’s Quantum class of ships, delivering an imaginative feast for all the senses.
- The début of Broadway’s hit musical Grease in the Royal Theatre and spectacular diving shows in the AquaTheatre.
- 11,252 works of art showcased throughout the ship and Central Park, a living park in the centre of the ship, which features a total of 10,587 plants, 48 vines and 52 trees, some over 20 feet (6.1 metres) high.
Will Walsh, Zita Forde and Paul Hackett, the ClickandGo.com team were on the ship
Harmony of the Seas will home port in Barcelona, Spain, and embark on the first of 34 seven-night sailings in the western Mediterranean on 7th June, exploring some of Europe’s most beautiful locations.
In November 2016, Harmony will arrive at her home port of Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from where she will offer seven-night eastern and western Caribbean sailings. The newest member of the fleet will join sister-ships Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, sailing from Port Canaveral and Port Everglades respectively, on the east coast of Florida.
Harmony of the Seas spans 16 guest decks, encompasses 227,000 gross registered tons, carries 5,479 guests at double occupancy, and features 2,747 staterooms.
This ship will be a game changer in the world of cruising, and will also bring down the average passenger age because of her family-friendly facilities.
