Friday, May 20, 2016

Say What?!?! Harmony of the Seas By The Numbers...

Harmony of the Seas by the Numbers

What’s inside, underneath, all around Royal Caribbean’s newest ship

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Royal Caribbean’s brand new ship Harmony of the Seas may be the world’s largest cruise ship – what with all 18 decks and all – but the vacation experience this ship offers is far beyond her size. After all, what does being big really mean? Is it just about collecting records for being the world’s largest? Hardly.

Harmony has seven signature neighborhoods that present a range of experiences and adventures unmatched at sea; more slides than ever before, more dining options, more cocktails, more entertainment. Not to mention more crew to make sure that your every ask, need or whim is catered to so that all you have to do is sit back and enjoy.

Here’s a look at some surprising stats you may not know about this super-sized vessel:

The Basics

Measuring 1,188 feet long, Harmony of the Seas is 227,000 GRT and 85,000 lightweight tons, not petite. For context, if you stood her up against the Eifel Tower she would be taller, and she weighs more than 10,625 adult elephants. It took 500,000 individual parts to create this ship, which carries 6,780 guests in total. Try putting that together with an Allen wrench.

It Takes a Village

There are 2,100 crew members onboard Harmony of the Seas who hail from all over the globe, and their jobs are as varied as the nations they represent. In addition to wait staff, room attendants, entertainers, the cruise director and of course the captain himself, there is one ice skate sharpener, a face painter, seven high divers, and two tight rope walkers And let’s not forget the two robots who staff the Bionic Bar.

Say What?!?

Did you know that the Central Park neighborhood features 10,587 plants, 48 vine plants, and 52 trees which are cared for by a staff of three horticulturists? Or that Harmony has a secret deck, deck 4.5, that provides AquaTheater entertainers and divers access to the depths of the theater during performances. The Hogwarts Express has nothing on Harmony!

Fresh Feasts

If you thought hosting a dinner party was hard work, try feeding nearly 7,000 people! On a typical seven-night cruise Harmony will go through 350 tons of ice cubes (approximately 110,000 lbs. are made each day), 5,000 dozen fresh whole eggs, 100 gallons of chocolate ice cream, 2,100 lbs. of lobster tail and 2,500 lbs. of fresh salmon. Good thing the food & beverage team, with 1,056 members, accounts for almost a half of the entire crew.

Read more at http://www.royalcaribbean.com/connect/harmony-of-the-seas-by-the-numbers/#HD7o3eZU5iTOytm6.99

Booking Flights?

Cruise 101: When is the Best Time to Book a Flight?

Advice for finding the best fares.

If you are planning a cruise vacation chances are you will need to fly to your port of embarkation especially if it is located on another continent. Here are a few tips to help you find the best airfare.

Book not too early and not too late: This is an obvious one but research from CheapAir.com found that only 34% of travelers booked their tickets within the optimal window for pricing. What is that window? According to Expedia, Inc. and the Airlines Reporting Corporation for trips within North America the lowest fares are 57 days before departure. For international destinations it can range from 77 days for the Caribbean to 176 days for Europe. The further you are flying, especially if it is not one of the uber-popular routes, the earlier you should book.

Time your purchase: Do not buy your ticket on Friday. The Wall Street Journal recently found that Sunday offers the lowest average ticket price. High-fare corporate travelers are rarely competing with vacationers to buy seats over the weekend, particularly Sunday.

Compare fares: Google Flights was the community favorite in a recent survey on Lifehacker, but there are plenty of sites out there that streamline the process of comparing fares. In addition, sites have gotten better at accessing and calculating airlines different add-on fees to give you a complete picture of how much you will be spending.

Consider booking cruise and air together: Cruise lines like Royal Caribbean buy a lot of airline tickets so it is not surprising that they get lower rates based on bulk purchases. In fact, their Air2Sea program offers a lowest airfare guarantee. This means you may want to skip the independent booking. Aside from the ease of one-stop shopping, if there is an issue with your flight, the company will provide travel support. Any snafus with independently booked air travel are up to you to sort out.

Regardless of where you purchase your air travel, remember to allow plenty of time on either end of the trip to eliminate the stress of rushing. One tip, plan to arrive in your port of departure the day before embarkation, and do not skimp on time to disembark the ship and transfer back to the airport.

Alaska and Royal Caribbean International

Alaska, Land that Awes

Destinations for adventure-seekers.

You might already be pondering where to go on vacation this year. Rather than a sandy island paradise, perhaps you’re looking for something off the beaten path. If so, look no further than Alaska: it’s bold, breathtaking, the home of inspiring wildlife and rich with history.

The grandeur of the Alaskan wilderness is unmatched. You will find yourself spellbound by arctic blue glaciers, placid alpine lakes and icy rivers surging between mountains. But the view isn’t all you’ll be getting on your trip. You’ll also be retracing the steps of the spirited pioneers who created the Gold Rush of late 1800s. All in all, it’s the most dramatic history lesson you’ve ever had.

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Hike one of the many rugged adventure trails in the capital city of Juneau, which boasts more trails than roads. You can get a #nofilter shot of the breathtaking glacial landscape from there, or get one from above, in a guided helicopter tour over the Juneau Ice Field. End the day’s adventures with an authentic Alaskan salmon bake, sharing experiences with the locals as you all enjoy fresh-caught king salmon.

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In Skagway, climb aboard a vintage railcar and travel 20 miles and 100 years back in time on the Scenic Railway of the World. You can retrace the original route to the White Pass summit, along the Klondike Trail of 1889 which is still worn into the rocks. Thousands made this trek to pan for gold and search for riches. At the top—2,865 feet above mainland—the panoramic view will blow your mind. Back on sea level, keep your eye out for seals, bears, moose, caribou, and more of Alaska’s rare, majestic native creatures.

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See Alaska’s incredible sights and historical journeys for yourself, available on a variety of Royal Caribbean itineraries.

Read more at http://www.royalcaribbean.com/connect/alaska-land-that-awes/#W21AqtTsQdOuyk74.99

Check out the Epic Harmony of the Seas Sport Zone!

Harmony of the Seas Sport Zone Not for the Faint of Heart

World’s largest ship features biggest thrills - the best of the best.

Harmony of the Seas sounds like it should be a pretty laidback place to enjoy a vacation, and it can be, depending on which of the seven neighborhoods you choose to spend your time in. Come May 2016, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship’s Pool and Sport Zone will deliver plenty of thrills and enough adventure to impress your white-knuckle-challenge-conquering friends. If you can hold your phone steady, it will be a great place for an impressive selfie, too.

The Ultimate Abyss: At 100 feet – that’s like a 10-story building – this is the tallest slide at sea. That’s your first clue that you’re probably going to hear your own heart beating in your ears. Walk out onto the glass platform, 150 feet above the ocean, and take a last look down onto the Boardwalk (where you can ride carousel horses), and then step off into … a 216-foot-long, corkscrew cylinder that pings sliders with audio effects to create a truly multisensory experience.

Then, step out onto the Boardwalk. Maybe have a little lunch at Johnny Rockets or grab a stiff drink at the Sabor Bar. Margaritas anyone?

The Perfect Storm: Circling in the air five decks above Central Park is this trio of waterslides: Cyclone, Typhoon and Supercell spiral together to create The Perfect Storm. Each slide will twist and turn as it descends multiple decks.

FlowRider: Waterslides may be a new feature of the adventures guests can find onboard, but the FlowRider surfing simulator has become a signature challenge for travelers. The Pool and Sport Zone has a pair of simulators ready for experienced surfers, students of the art and just those who are up for the challenge and not embarrassed to wipe out in front of their family and friends.

Zip lines: For a change of pace that still gives you the endorphin shot that comes with climbing to great heights, try out another Royal Caribbean staple – the zip line. You will zoom across the ship nine decks above the Boardwalk neighborhood. That might seem like a piece of cake after taking the 10-story plunge through The Ultimate Abyss.

Splashaway Bay: This interactive aqua park for kids packs in the fun and the fanciful with sea creature water cannons, winding slides, a huge drench bucket and a multiplatform jungle gym.