Simone Clark, managing director of Iglu Cruises, who joined the visit to the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, told TTG that the ship had proved to be one of its best-sellers this year: “Harmony has been selling well – people like to be on a new ship, and it’s an opportunity for people to go on an Oasis-class ship, as they are usually based in the Caribbean.
“I was impressed to see the new dining choices, such as Jamie Oliver’s and Wonderland, which have proved so popular on Anthem of the Seas.”
Clark said she was also impressed by the offering for children. “I have a young son, so the bigger kids swimming area and waterslides look amazing. I’m not an adrenalin junkie but I’m sure the Ultimate Abyss slide will prove popular too. I was also pleased to see that the staterooms are slightly bigger,” she added.
Nick Weir, Royal Caribbean’s vice-president of entertainment, insisted the line’s entertainment had also used the new technology. “We wanted to take some of the technologies we pioneered on Quantum and Anthem and apply them to Harmony.
“In the AquaTheater we want to develop the flying area by using video projection mapping and 3D flying. Abyss is something to provide an additional thrill,” he added.
Weir also revealed that the Ultimate Abyss was inspired by Royal Caribbean’s president and chief executive Michael Bayley: “We were at a brainstorming meeting when Michael said: ‘Let’s build the craziest slide anyone’s ever thought of,” Weir said.
New features onboard Harmony of the Seas
- Jamie’s Italian will be in the Central Park neighbourhood, in the spot where Giovanni’s restaurant is on Oasis and Allure of the Seas.
- The Bionic Bar (above) gets its own room in what was the Champagne Bar on Oasis and Allure.
- The Escape Room – in which players must work with others to find clues needed to solve a collection of puzzles and “escape”.
- Wonderland restaurant will be in a two-deck-height space overlooking the back of the ship, with a bar on the upper level.
- Harmony will also feature new visual art installations throughout the ship.
- The ship will be the largest in the world – 33 centimeters longer than sister ship Allure.
- It will carry 5,479 passengers at full capacity.
- It will also be wider, with longer cabins and wider balconies, but will be 20% more fuel efficient than Oasis and Allure by using new scrubber technologies, a redesigned hull and a “bubble system” which allows it to glide more smoothly through the waves.
A ship that captures the imagination
Agents have helped ensure that Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest ship is almost sold out for its first two sailings, the line’s UK and Ireland sales director has revealed.
Speaking to TTG at the STX shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, Ben Bouldin said Harmony of the Seas – which will be the biggest in the world when it debuts in May 2016 – had “captured agents’ imagination”.
Harmony of the Seas will offer two short cruises from Southampton – to the Netherlands on May 22 and to France on May 26, before repositioning to Barcelona for the summer.
“These two cruises are at a very attractive price point, and we have nearly sold out,” Bouldin said. “This is down to a number of reasons, one of which is that Harmony has really captured agents’ imaginations.
“When we launched the whole “#getmeonharmony” social media campaign we did it for a bit of fun to be honest – we had absolutely no idea how it would take off, [but] agents have absolutely embraced it.”
Agents can be one of the first to experience the new ship by signing up to trade loyalty scheme Club Royal.
Every time they make a Harmony cruise sale – or use social media to mention the ship – they move up a queue to get onboard. There are 3,300 agents in the “queue”, with a total of 500 cabins available for the pre-inaugural May 20-22 sailing.
“With Quantum and Anthem we based the criteria to get onboard on sales. This time we also wanted to find those who used social media to promote the ship,” Bouldin said.
He added: “If you’ve cruised a few times before then perhaps you can make a booking on your own.
“But if you haven’t, then you need the trade to help you through the process. That is why the trade is vital to us.”
Getting Harmony ready - and just how the Brits like it
The number one essential item on a US cruise ship based in the UK is tea, according to the man who “transitions” Royal Caribbean’s fleet.
“PG and Tetley’s – nothing too fancy – that’s what British passengers want,” Tim Steadman, regional product manager for Europe tells TTG.
Steadman’s remit covers everything culturally sensitive, from beverages, entertainment, signage and crew language sourcing, to shore excursions and “revenue” products, such as shops, spa, casino and photos.
He is also responsible for ensuring that traditional British favourites are available onboard for the UK market. These include “English bacon, English sausages, Marmite, mid-afternoon high tea, Scotch eggs, sausage rolls, Tango, slimline tonic, curry corner, hot dessert and pie of the day”.
“We’re creatures of habit us Brits”
After much lobbying by Steadman, Independence of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas – both of which are based here this season – will also offer “a la minute” deep fried fish n’ chips, rather than pre-battered fish hanging around in metal trays getting soggy.
Steadman is in charge of transitioning eight ships from the US to Europe, including the line’s newest and biggest ship, Harmony of the Seas, which will make its world debut in Southampton on May 20 – complete with the right tea bags.
“The right tea bags are actually more important than having kettles in the room,” he insists, “though if a guest wants one we carry about 500 onboard.”
Famously, Anthem carried kettles for the duration of its UK season, removing them just before the ship set sail for the US.
By the time Harmony leaves these shores for Spain in early June, Steadman will have to ensure that Spanish food is onboard (it must be brought on before the ship arrives to ensure the transition is seamless). He will also have to source a Spanish comedian.
“Key for me is to ensure that we retain the core culture and DNA of Royal Caribbean, but at the same time are sensitive to the cultural differences with our guests,” he adds.
