In less than a year, Royal Caribbean will debut its newest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas and already guests cannot wait to get onboard.  

While Harmony of the Seas is not the first ship in her class, she will be the first Royal Caribbean ship to offer a number of firsts.

Royal Caribbean may have some more changes and innovations up its sleeve, but here are five ways Harmony of the Seas will be completely different from any other Royal Caribbean ship we have seen yet!

1. Water slides

Royal Caribbean will add water slides to Harmony of the Seas, making her among the first Royal Caribbean ship to have water slides added to a ship.

While other Royal Caribbean ships in the fleet will be also getting water slides, Harmony of the Seas will be the first to have the Perfect Storm water slides, which are a set of three water slides.

The three slide names are Cyclone, Typhoon and Supercell.  Each slide is three decks in height.

For families, these water slides will be a lot of fun and something to try many times while onboard.

2. Splashaway Bay water park

Royal Caribbean has reimagined its kid friendly water play area with Splashaway Bay.

Instead of the H2O Zone that is found on other Oasis class ships, Harmony of the Seas will have a brand new aquatic adventure park.

Splashaway Bay will have, "a vibrant waterscape 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."

3.  Ultimate Abyss

Need more thrills on Harmony of the Seas?  How about a 10-story slide that has a 100 foot plunge!

Ultimate Abyss is a 10 story slide that begins in the Pool and Sports Zone at the aft of the ship down to the Boardwalk neighborhood below.

Unlike the other slides onboard, Ultimate Abyss will not be a water slide and will start at the top of the AquaTheater and bring guests down to the Boardwalk.

4. Two story Wonderland restaurant

Since Wonderland debuted on Quantum of the Seas, guests have fallen in love with the creative aspect of this specialty restaurant.

On Harmony of the Seas, guests will find the first two-story Wonderland restaurant, where guests can enjoy totally inventinve and "maddeningly delicious" cuisine.

Based on artist renderings, it also looks like Royal Caribbean will make this new Wonderland even more intriguing to look at, with a great deal of different decor choices.

5. First Oasis class ship to get a Bionic Bar

Another Quantum class innovation will reach Harmony of the Seas and this is the Bionic Bar.

Harmony of the Seas will be the first Royal Caribbean ship that is not a Quantum class ship to get a Bionic Bar, where guests can order drinks and watch as a robot bartender crafts their concoction from 30 spirits and over 20 mixers.

Like Wonderland, guests have enjoyed watching the robots create drinks and arguably, the spectacle of the drink creation is as fun as the drink tastes.

What are you most excited about on Harmony of the Seas? Tell us in the comments!

Imagine you are onboard Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas and you are in dire need of somewhere to go to sit back and relax.  

Maybe it is to enjoy a drink or finish that book you brought with you. Regardless, you need to go somewhere that offers the most comfortable chairs to facilitate your relaxation. 

We literally walked all over Freedom of the Seas to find that perfect chair for you.  And to be honest, we were surprised by the answer we found!

Honorable mention: Loyalty ambassador lounge

Now that Royal Caribbean has moved the NextCruise operations down to the Royal Promenade on Freedom of the Seas, the Loyalty Ambassador lounge is far less busy than it used to be and those blue leather chairs are a good spot for a nice sit.

For most of our cruise, this area was rarely busy and you can enjoy a nice view out to the Royal Promenade, while being surrounded by Royal Caribbean imagery.

The seats here are worn in, so it is easy to sink right in and get comfortable.  During the day, this is a nice spot to get away from everyone else.

Third place: Olive or Twist Lounge

If you want a view with your comfortable chair, then head all the way up to the Viking Crown for the chairs in the Olive or Twist Lounge.

Located up on Deck 14 in the aft of the ship, there are chairs and couches to choose from and they are all made from a very comfortable cloth material.

The best reason to get comfortable at the Olive or Twist Lounge is for the views of the top decks of Freedom of the Seas.  It can be the perfect spot to people watch.

During the day, it is usually quiet and not a lot of guests around but business picks up at night.

Second place: R-Bar

When Royal Caribbean added the R-Bar lounge to Freedom of the Seas, they did not just add the most popular new bar in the fleet but an array of comfortable chairs too!

Frankly, I love the eclectic style of the chairs, with some being low back loungers, couches and even chairs that look like something Dr. Evil would sit in.  

And then of course there is the "picture frame chair", which is always a hit.  Not only is it comfortable, but you can take fun photos!

Like Olive or Twist, this area is quiet in the day time but from dinner time onwards, it will be busy and packed.  Bring the books for daylight hours only.

First place: Vintages

If you want the most comfortable chairs on Freedom of the Seas, head over to the Royal Promenade and sit yourself down in Vintages wine bar.

All the chairs and couches come with a ton of extra padding and it just makes for the best sitting experience you can ask for.  Try for the couches in the back for optimal seating.

Strangely, Vintages is never busy, even at night.  Perhaps people think they only serve wine here keeps many guests away (they have beer and other beverage options too).

Chops Grille has become a staple of Royal Caribbean dining and it is a restaurant guests come back to time and time again because they really enjoy everything about the experience.

The next time you make a reservation at Chops Grille, whether it is your first visit or you have lost count, be sure to look for these gems that are worth trying!

5. Pretzel bread

I am pretty sure I always forget about the pretzel bread is served at Chops Grille when you are first seated but as soon as I see it, I dig right in.

To be honest, it is difficult to screw up pretzel bread.  It is warm, salty and related to those tasty treats you always smell at the mall.  How can you go wrong?

The pretzel bread is the perfect way to start a meal off at Chops Grille and the only problem is remembering not to fill up on it before you even order anything!

4. All the sides!

Sure, Chops Grille has a lot of great steaks but no entree is complete without a few of Chops Grille's signature sides.

Truffled french fries, roasted mushrooms, mashed potatoes, grilled jumbo asparagus and more are available.  

My recommendation is just order one of everything.  It is the same cost to you and that way you can sample them all.  You will quickly find that the sides are a meal in of itself!

3. The view

Let us take a break from the food for a moment to point out that Chops Grille across the fleet have beautiful views of the ocean.

If you happen to dine in Chops Grille for lunch or have an early enough dinner to catch the sun still up, the view from Chops Grille is hard to beat.

Since I often eat at Chops Grille for dinner, catching a Caribbean sunset while I enjoy some pretzel bread, or some of those delicious sides is a great way to start my evening!

2. Red velvet cake

This part of our countdown is a salute to all of Chops Grille's desserts, but mostly the red velvet cake.  

Everyone has personal tastes about what they like but I dare you not to love this cake.  And the huckleberry cheesecake. And the cookies. But mostly the red velvet cake.

The thing about dessert is usually most guests are stuffed with the amazing appetizers, entrees and sides that dessert just seems impossible.  Until you look at the menu.

Make a note or tie a string around your finger to lay off a few bites elsewhere to save room for dessert because the red velvet cake is worth it!

1. Dry aged steaks

Royal Caribbean introduced dry aged steaks in early 2014 and the steak experience has never been the same.

Dry aged steaks are very popular at the premier land steakhouses, so Royal Caribbean's decision to bring dry aged steaks to sea is a big deal.

For those unaware, a dry aged steak is when steaks are stored in a climate-controlled room for nearly four weeks to achieve the pinnacle of flavor, tenderness and aroma.  It really enhances the flavor of the meat in a way conventional steaks cannot match.

Yes, there is an extra cost to trying the dry aged steaks, but it really does make a difference and if you consider yourself a steak fan, going with the dry aged steak is like a trip to the Vitality Spa for your stomach!

The internet tells me that today is World Photography Day and since we never shy away from an excuse to look at Royal Caribbean photos, here is a collection of beautiful photos recently taken on Royal Caribbean cruises for you to enjoy!

1. Cruise Ship Sunrise

Photo by OliverJD

2. Stairs

Photo by tralain

3. Quantum of the Seas

Photo by Jan Saez

4. Mariner

Photo by Noel Chian

5. IMG_1728

Photo by e_kroll

6. Royal Caribbean ship just hanging out

Photo by Mark

7. Gulf sunset

Photo by Marc

8. Freedom of the Seas - Royal Caribbean

Photo by Matthew

9. View from Royal Caribbean cruise

Photo by Soriya Kung

10. Independence of the Seas

Photo by Ivan Castaneda

11. Enchantment of the Seas

Photo by Stephanie McGucken

12. Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas

Photo by Gary Membridge

13. Allure of the Seas

Photo by Omar Masri

Let me be blunt: I love desserts. And I believe I am not the only one!

Desserts are that indulgent and savory part of any meal, where we forget about life for a few minutes and enjoy the sweet taste of a pastry, baked good or frozen treat.  Royal Caribbean has its fair share of desserts that guests may sample across the ships in the fleet but we wanted to seek out the best desserts in our quest to find the ultimate Royal Caribbean desserts!

After carefully considering all of our options (and saving room for dessert), here are the desserts we absolutely cannot get enough of (despite what our doctors recommend).  Enjoy!

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

Ever since Royal Caribbean partnered with Ben & Jerry to bring premium ice cream to their cruise ships, this has been the spot onboard to get your ice cream fix.

It does not matter which flavor of ice cream hits the spot for you, the thing is, Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop has been a favorite spot to stop in for a treat.

And have you ever walked by Ben & Jerry's while they are making waffle cones? Not sure if it should be a crime to allow that kind of a smell out into the open or if the real crime is not stopping in to get one.

Whether you stop at Ben & Jerry's as a post-meal dessert or you just need a little ice cream break in your day, no Royal Caribbean cruise is complete without at least one ice cream cone!

Red velvet cake from Chops Grille

Chops Grille has become Royal Caribbean's signature specialty restaurant and guests have been flocking to this restaurant for years now.  Sure the steak is really, really, really good but have you ever had the red velvet cake?

Maybe it is the generous serving size or maybe it is the red velvet flavor, but this cake is so good that it cannot be left uneaten.  Trust us, we have tried to resist but it is futile.

The red velvet cake has been a staple of the Chops Grille menu for some time and while it seems like it may have changed a bit over the years, it remains a top dessert pick!

Huckleberry cheesecake form Chops Grille

Yet another dessert from Chops Grille makes our list and this one is relatively new to Royal Caribbean.

When Royal Caribbean revamped Chops Grille's menu in 2014, a new dessert was added, the huckleberry cheesecake.  

I will be honest, I had never had huckleberries before and the name conjured up imagery from the famous Mark Twain character.  Nonetheless, our waiters have been recommending the huckleberry cheesecake ever since.

You get cheesecake with huckleberries adorned on top and the combination is simply perfection!  There is something about the tartness of the berries combined with the richness of the cake and it just equals yum.

Chocolate banana empanadas from Sabor Modern Mexican

While I am not the world's biggest banana fan, my wife insisted the chocolate banana empanadas from Sabor Modern Mexican make the list because they are just amazing.

What you have essentially is melted banana and chocolate inside a fried shell.  

It seems like everyone at Sabor really loved these dessert empanadas and for good reason.  They are rich, moist and small enough that you start to think, "Yes, I should ask the waiter for a few more".

My wife also wishes to give an honorable mention to the churros from Sabor as well.  Like children, it is difficult to pick a favorite.

Cupcakes from the Cupcake Cupboard

The Cupcake Cupboard debuted with the Oasis class cruise ships but they have found their way to many other Royal Caribbean ships and for good reason.  These cupcakes are awesomesauce!

First, the cupcakes are the size of a baseball, which means there is plenty to enjoy. 

Second, the rich frosting and clever designs make these cupcakes just as much fun to look at as eat (although eating is quite good too).

You can get bonus points in our dessert checklist if you try creating your own cupcakes at one of the Cupcake Cupboard cupcake making classes.

There are classes for children and adults and it proves you can have a lot of fun playing with your food.

Carrot Cake Trifle from Chic

Carrot cake may not be everyone's go-to dessert choice but this bad boy is worthy of a taste.

Chic, one of the complimentary restaurants on Quantum-class ships, has simple yet elegant desserts and their carrot cake trifle makes up for in taste what it lacks in size.

You will find spiced cake with a cream cheese mousse and a raisin sorbet.  Trust me, it's muy delicioso.

Cheesecake Lollipops in Cafe Promenade

Whichever genius decided to take little bits of cheesecake, roll it into a ball and place it on a stick has my respect for furthering the human species as a whole.

If you wondering if cheesecake lollipops are as good as they sound, the answer is yes.  Yes, they are.  

The thing about these cheesecake lollipops is you cannot eat just one.  Somehow your brain compels you to get another, and another and yet another because they are so small, how could they bad for you!

Milkshake from Johnny Rockets

Johnny Rockets serves up a lot of classic American food but without a doubt, the item to get on the menu is the milkshake.

You can tell it is good when Royal Caribbean charges extra for just milkshakes but they are worth every penny because of how large, sweet and cold they are.  It is the perfect way to cool down from a day out in the sun or compliment a fresh-off-the-grill burger.

Milkshakes at Johnny Rockets have been a staple of any Royal Caribbean cruise for a while now and year after year, guests flock to their beloved chrome decorated restaurant for a handmade frozen treat.

What are your favorite Royal Caribbean desserts? Be sure to comment below and let us know!

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 107 is available for downloading and this week we are reviewing a listener's recent cruise aboard Brilliance of the Seas.

Matt invites Kris back to the podcast to discuss his recent cruise to Norway and Iceland and discuss what Kris enjoyed about his Royal Caribbean adventure.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 107. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

There is something about having a cocktail on your Royal Caribbean cruise vacation that just puts you into that perfect "now I am on vacation" mood. Maybe it is the little umbrella or perhaps it is the combination of juice and liquor, but it is hard to go wrong with these delicious mixed drinks.

Over the last few cruises, we have engaged in some serious "research" by sampling a number of mixed drinks and frozen beverages on Royal Caribbean ships and came up with our list of their drinks worth trying on your next cruise.

Sweet & Spice Margarita and the Sabor Grand Margarita from Sabor

The New Southern from American Icon Grill

Pineapple Special from the main pool area

Lime & Coconut from Lime & Coconut bar

Labadoozie from Labadee

Mojito from Boleros

Pina Colada from Boleros

Wildberry Lava Flow from the pool bar

Coco Loco from CocoCay

How much are these Royal Caribbean drinks?

If just looking at all these drinks makes you want to get onboard and book a cruise, you may also want to know how much these drinks are selling for.

Most of the drinks will cost around $14, not including any souvenir mugs and before gratuity.

If your drink is the drink of the day, Royal Caribbean will knock 25% off the cost.

Many guests opt for an unlimited alcohol package so they can enjoy plenty of these drinks for a fixed cost.

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What is your favorite Royal Caribbean drink? Tell us (and share a photo of it) in the comments below!

Just how impressive a spectacle is Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis class ship, Harmony of the Seas?  There's a new visual means of understanding how big she is with this new infographic!

In anticipation of Harmony of the Seas' arrival in Europe in May 2016, Royal Caribbean compared Harmomy of the Seas to well known European landmarks including the Eiffel Tower, Leaning Tower of Pisa and Big Ben.

Royal Caribbean will offer a brand new aquatic adventure park on its third Oasis class cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas.

Harmony of the Seas will be the first ship to feature Splashaway Bay interactive aqua park for kids.  

Royal Caribbean describes Splashaway Bay as, "a vibrant waterscape 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."

We first posted photos of Splashaway Bay last week and today we have more confirmation about what guests can expect for this special area.

In addition, Royal Caribbean reiterated its three new water slides known as The Perfect Storm, as well as The Ultimate Abyss slide that features a 100 foot plunge.

Ultimate Abyss is a 10 story slide that begins in the Pool and Sports Zone at the aft of the ship down to the Boardwalk neighborhood below.

The Perfect storm slides of Cyclone, Typhoon and Supercell will offer guests even more thrills, with Supercell featuring a champagne bowl swirling guests around as they descend into their approach towards a big splash finale.

Harmony of the Seas will debut in May 2016 for her inaugural summer season in Europe before heading to her homeport of Port Everglades, Florida in November 2016 to begin offering seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings.