From the time a new ship is just an idea on paper, the Program Manager acts as the project’s Captain, steering the construction throughout all of its milestones. Meet Denise Key-Tielebein, Program Manager for the Oasis class of ships and learn about her interesting journey from the US Army to Royal Caribbean.
In less than two months, Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas will be arriving at her new home port of Port Everglades, Florida, and it will mark her debut in the United States.
Harmony of the Seas is not only the largest cruise ship in the world, but also marks a significant moment for many Royal Caribbean fans because this brand new cruise ship offers so many enticing options.
In anticipation of Harmony of the Seas' arrival, we are counting down the top reasons you ought to be excited to welcome Harmony of the Seas "home".
For guests that enjoy thrills on their cruise, Harmony of the Seas offers some brand new slide experiences that are not only new to the Oasis-class of ships, but offer a lot of fun for the entire family.
Harmony of the Seas features three water slides: Cyclone, Typhoon and Supercell. Cyclone and Typhoon racer slides twist and turn, while Supercell slide is a "champagne bowl" slide, which has clear sections so guests can see those riding the slide. Guests exit Supercell in the Beach Pool.
There is also a slide exclusive to Harmony of the Seas, known as The Ultimate Abyss. This dry slide is 10 stories high and located on the aft of the ship, making it the tallest slide at sea.
The Ultimate Abyss is more than 150 feet above sea level and offers side-by-side slides that send guests down 10 decks at a rate of 9 miles per hour. Once at the top of the slide on deck 16, you will be handed a black mat with an opening to place your feet. You then sit down, lean back, and while holding onto a strap, wait for the "Go" sign to turn green. Screaming is optional.
Royal Caribbean has a reputation in the cruise industry for offering terrific shows on its ships, and Harmony of the Seas has an array of new productions that are must-see once onboard.
Harmony of the Seas features an all-new stage production that has been specially adapted by Royal Caribbean of Grease. The show, which features hit songs such as “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Born to Hand-Jive,” “Beauty School Dropout," is available to see on Harmony of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean also created a number of original productions, including its own musical, "Columbus - The Musical". This new show was created in the spirit of “Spamalot” and “Something Rotten" and tells the tale of Christopher’s luckless distant cousin, Marvin, on a madcap voyage to the Caribbean.
Want more? Guests will find many more shows and events onboard Harmony of the Seas, including new original productions in the AquaTheater, ice skating rink and Royal Theater. And there is still more, including a 90's dance party on the Royal Promenade, escape room experience and the DreamWorks Experience. In short, there is lots to see and do on Harmony of the Seas.
Harmony of the Seas may be the third Oasis-class ship Royal Caribbean has built, but it has some brand new dining experiences that are not found on her sister ships.
Guests dining on Harmony of the Seas can sample the classic Italian creations of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver at Jamie's Italian, which offers rustic Italian dishes made from seasonal ingredients and tried and true recipes.
If you want a little bit of adventure with dinner, Wonderland will capture your imagination (and your taste buds). Wonderland is an imaginative take on specialty dining, where the experience is just as important as the food offered. While Wonderland is on a few other Quantum-class ships, on Harmony of the Seas, this is the first two-story Wonderland restaurant in the fleet.
In addition to these two remarkable restaurants, Harmony of the Seas is filled with a vast array of complimentary and specialty dining choices. Oasis-class ships were designed with dining in mind, and guests on Harmony of the Seas will find a smorgasbord of dining choices!
Families that love to spend lots of time by the pool are going to love the improved aqua park on Harmony of the Seas known as Splashaway Bay. This bigger, better kids aqua park features slides, water cannons, waterfalls and more.
Royal Caribbean designed this area to be a new "aquatic adventure park," for kids and toddlers with sea creature water cannons, winding slides, a gigantic drench bucket and a multi-platform jungle-gym to keep everyone entertained for hours.
Splashaway Bay is another big difference between Harmony of the Seas and the previous Oasis-class ships, and offers an industry-leading spot onboard for families to have a lot of fun exploring (and getting soaked).
At the end of the day, Harmony of the Seas is going to be an exciting moment because she is the largest cruise ship in the world and that alone signifies a big change (no pun intended).
In addition to the key features highlighted in this post, there is lots more to see and do to the point you will have to return a few more times to be able to "do it all."
Royal Caribbean designed its Oasis-class ships to be a floating hub of dining, entertainment and activities, and Harmony of the Seas is included in that mold of amazing cruise ships.
What are you most excited about to experience on Harmony of the Seas? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas is nearing her arrival to the South Florida area later this year, and Royal Caribbean has posted billboards around Miami to advertise the world's largest cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean Blog reader Victor Sacal shared these photos from around Miami, and we wanted to give our readers a "taste" of the excitement this new ship is bringing.
One crew member died and four other crew members were injured on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas earlier today.
During a lifeboat drill that was conducted in Marseilles, France, an accident occurred when a lifeboat, with five people on board, broke free from the vessel and fell.
Royal Caribbean confirmed the injury totals via social media.
Sad news to share that a #HarmonyoftheSeas crew member has died of injuries suffered during a lifeboat drill conducted in Marseille, France.
— RCLcorp (@RCLcorp) September 13, 2016
Four other #HarmonyoftheSeas crewmembers received medical treatment. We're keeping our colleagues & their families in our thoughts & prayers
— RCLcorp (@RCLcorp) September 13, 2016
Local news in France are reporting the accident occurred this morning when the boat detached from the fifth deck while it had five people on board.
Harmony of the Seas is cruising the Mediterranean and departed Rome on September 8.
Royal Caribbean is looking for the right person to be godmother to its newest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas.
Harmony of the Seas will make her debut in the U.S. In November when she arrives in Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and to celebrate the cruise line has partnered with South Florida ABC affiliate Local 10 to find a woman who is inspiring the next generation to dream big and think differently.
South Florida residents are encouraged to visit www.local10.com/godmother and nominate a mentor, educator or teacher whose passion for education and a better tomorrow inspires students to make a positive impact on the world. The winner will not only be honored as godmother of Harmony of the Seas during the ship’s official naming ceremony on November 10, 2016, but a $25,000 grant will also be awarded to her school or non-profit organization to fund education initiatives that will further her mission to inspire South Florida’s youth.
In addition, the godmother will have the opportunity to host a “field trip” for those whose lives she has influenced to be her guests at the Harmony of the Seas naming ceremony, and will set sail later that evening with three guests on a two-night pre-inaugural cruise.
She will also receive a future seven-night cruise for two onboard the ship.
The contest is open to volunteers, full- and part-time employees at of a school or educational organization in Miami-Dade County, Broward County or Palm Beach County. Self-nominations are also accepted. Nominees must be legal residents of Florida and 21 years of age or older at time of nomination and nominators must be 13 years of age or older as of date of entry. Official Rules can be read by visiting www.local10.com/godmother. The Entry Period for nominations ends on September 23, 2016.
“Royal Caribbean’s legacy is built on a dream that began in a small trailer on Biscayne Boulevard,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “That’s why when we thought about the godmother for Harmony of the Seas, a ship that is not just the world’s largest, but the ultimate expression of our history and future, we knew that we wanted to pay tribute to our roots and community with this designation. Who better to welcome Harmony home than an outstanding woman who is inspiring the dreamers and innovators of South Florida’s next generation.”
A maritime tradition and honor historically reserved for heads of state, politicians and celebrities, godmothers not only break a bottle to christen a ship, but also serve as guiding spirits to its guests and crew. Royal Caribbean looks to capture the essence of the role by choosing women whose life lessons and achievements illustrate the kind of courage, dedication and determination that are an inspiration to all. For more information on the maritime tradition of ship godmothers, visit www.royalhometownhero.com.
Sabor's classic Mexican dishes are crafted with modern twists onboard Harmony of the Seas. The taqueria and tequila bar offers guests the vibrant flavors of Mexico, including tasty guacamole freshly made tableside, signature margaritas and other traditional cuisine in a festive atmosphere.
When Royal Caribbean builds a cruise ship as impressive as Harmony of the Seas, it gets a lot of attention not just from cruise fans, but from lots of different people. It makes sense, considering the amount of new innovations, incredible venues and “I can’t believe they did that” features found onboard. Harmony of the Seas has made headlines literally around the world, and has caught the attention of the travel community as well.
From all-new stage productions to high-tech ice shows, amazing theme parties and breathtaking diving performances, Harmony of the Seas is taking entertainment to the next level. Guests can sing-along with Broadway favorite “Grease” in the Royal Theater or be part of the party with high-energy parades, live DJ performances and even a thrilling escape game, Puzzle Break: Escape the Rubicon!
Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, is certainly an impressive and spectacular cruise ship with a ton to offer. Just how impressive, you ask? Check out these two brand new infographics to get a sense of just how much Royal Caribbean has packed into this amazing new ship.
Spark Cooperative recently showcased some of their "Experience Design" works, which includes end-to-end development of The Ultimate Abyss slide on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean commissioned Spark to push the envelope of what a cruise ship can contain and build on the cruise line's innovative reputation with a brand new, thrilling experience.
The Ultimate Abyss is a pair of side-by-side 100 ft- high slides that guests can ride down multiple decks of the ship. Spark worked to offer a slide experience that offered multi-sensory channels, including spontaneous audio effects, bespoke ride mats and custom uniforms and accessories. The attraction is designed to thrill guests while maintaining a sense of heart-pumping anticipation.
As part of this engagement, Spark developed 3D renderings of the Ultimate Abyss, as well as the ride's story, logo, visual identity, and signage package.
Ronnie Farzad, Principle at Spark Cooperative, talked about what makes the work his company did on the Ultimate Abyss so unique, "Brands are increasingly using experiences as marketing differentiators. Research shows customers pay more for a great experience and willing to return for it. The work Spark did for The Ultimate Abyss around a holistic and integrated activation is focused around this need for a memorable guest experience."