Harmony of the Seas from DCL

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I haven't done RCL yet but most people seem to say that while the Oasis ships are large and have a lot going on it doesn't often feel as crowded as you'd think. As first I was thinking I'd like to try them out then backed out but after hearing how people don't feel as crowded I'd consider it.

At this point in time my husband and I favor small ships, the ship we were on last year and the sister ship to it we'll be on next March are 600 max passengers and we sailed last year with 580-ish I think and it never felt overwhelming in people but part of that was in the design. Their largest ships (the 600 passenger ones) were built 30% bigger than the next level down that holds 450 passengers so there's slightly more room more passenger. That's a lot how people seem to describe the Oasis class ships that there surprisingly a level of may be not fully spread out with other passengers but more room to move than you'd think. And along with that I think the activities on board help because it spreads out people's attentions around.

The Vegas comment well most would consider shows on the caliber of Vegas to be a positive. Having been to Vegas quite a bit in recent years (most recent was Labor Day 2023) there's a lot of quietness we can find, it's not all noise constantly. The cruise ships however may have more steady stream of noise to give the variety of themed areas that ambience. I think relaxed is pretty much something every cruise line will have a place for but that doesn't mean there aren't areas that don't get animated (your main pool, trivia events, sail away events, etc)

 

[Dug720]

the Oasis ships are large and have a lot going on it doesn't often feel as crowded as you'd think.

A lot there will depend on where the ship is sailing and the weather. I was on Anthem out of NJ over Feb break this past school year and it was COMPLETELY sold out. For the first and last day and a half you felt every single one of those people because it was too cold to be outside. Get a rainy day even in a warmer climate and everyone will be inside as well.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

A lot there will depend on where the ship is sailing and the weather. I was on Anthem out of NJ over Feb break this past school year and it was COMPLETELY sold out. For the first and last day and a half you felt every single one of those people because it was too cold to be outside. Get a rainy day even in a warmer climate and everyone will be inside as well.

That's a good point, holidays too could adjust the makeup although the OP sailing so much with DCL would be used to seeing and being around kids.

On our cruise last year with Seabourn it was during the European heat wave (each day was around 105-115 degrees in port), while there were people swimming it was not nearly as many as could be because it was just too hot out and the water in the pools, hot tubs/spas were described as "bath water" so just not a way to cool off. That said the interiors of the ship never felt crowded, more than likely due to that slight additional ship space allotment to passenger ratio, like I said in my comment it was for all purposes a sold out cruise, the missing passengers were mostly due to the Milan, Italy airport strikes and other airport strikes. On the plus side the lounge chairs never filled up for that reason. BUT I haven't been on RCL to know the exact comparison like you do in a sold out cruise however just about everyone speaks to their perception related to the side of the Oasis class and assuming that simply because of the size and the passenger count it's just a crowded mess. That's more of what I was speaking to.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

max is 6,500 with it saying it typically sails at about 5,500. That is ALOT of your closest friends..... but at 226,000 tons - 41 people per ton

Magic is 2,700 at 87,000 tons - 32 people per ton

Disney Wish shows to hold 4,000 at 144,000 tons - 36 people per ton

Disney Fantasy shows 4,000 at 130,000 tons 32.5 people per ton

Yes I know this is a very flawed way of looking at things, but I can't quantify how many people that is in my head except for the feeling of adding 9 extra people in your space everywhere you go on Harmony.

Anyway. that is my math lesson for the day.

Just debating the idea of not going on a cruise at all with DCL, or try and take the chance on RC????

Only one deck can be in direct sunshine. On a beautiful day at sea, one can only hope not everyone wants a deck chair.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

It all boils down to what you enjoy.
This was on the Explorer of the Seas when we sailed.


If you like it, that's fine. Personally, I prefer:



Therefore I'm willing to pay extra for it. Our kids are grown so we can choose our cruises based on price; we're not stuck with high season.

 

[starvenger]

At this point in time my husband and I favor small ships, the ship we were on last year and the sister ship to it we'll be on next March are 600 max passengers and we sailed last year with 580-ish I think and it never felt overwhelming in people but part of that was in the design. Their largest ships (the 600 passenger ones) were built 30% bigger than the next level down that holds 450 passengers so there's slightly more room more passenger. That's a lot how people seem to describe the Oasis class ships that there surprisingly a level of may be not fully spread out with other passengers but more room to move than you'd think. And along with that I think the activities on board help because it spreads out people's attentions around.

That's a good comparison. Mind you, that's only 10% of Harmony's capacity so if you were going from the small ship to an Oasis class that could still be very overwhelming.

This was on the Explorer of the Seas when we sailed.

I personally enjoyed the rock memorabilia and some of the native art on Explorer. I don't think I even saw the stained glass imagery.

For the first and last day and a half you felt every single one of those people because it was too cold to be outside. Get a rainy day even in a warmer climate and everyone will be inside as well.

I remember that when I sailed on DCL Fantasy back in 2015. You simply could not move around due to all the people inside due to the rain. It was a capacity sailing and it felt like it even when it wasn't raining.

 

[tidefan]

I know that this may not be the opinion you are getting elsewhere, but if you are looking at the mass-market ships, quite honestly, we've sailed Oasis OTS, and everyone in our family preferred the Carnival Mardi Gras to it. I know that Carnival has this reputation, however, their 3 new ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee) are very different from the other Carnival ships (in a good way) and while not "quite" the size of the Oasis class, they aren't far off.

In our opinion, where Mardi Gras really shined vs. the Royal ships was in the quantity and quality of included food options.

Also, we felt the entertainment was much better than the older CCL ships...

Just some food for thought...

 

[starvenger]

Personally, I have heard nothing but good things about the new Carnival ships.

 

[Sleepyluke]

I know that this may not be the opinion you are getting elsewhere, but if you are looking at the mass-market ships, quite honestly, we've sailed Oasis OTS, and everyone in our family preferred the Carnival Mardi Gras to it. I know that Carnival has this reputation, however, their 3 new ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee) are very different from the other Carnival ships (in a good way) and while not "quite" the size of the Oasis class, they aren't far off.

In our opinion, where Mardi Gras really shined vs. the Royal ships was in the quantity and quality of included food options.

Also, we felt the entertainment was much better than the older CCL ships...

Just some food for thought...

I just looked......

Other than I can drive to Galveston vs Port Canaveral, it seems rally nice as well!

PC vs the competition makes the price differences even worse. I love WDW, DCL, and all things Disney, I think we have entered that stage of can't justify the price, leaning sharply toward the priced out camp.

 

[tidefan]

I just looked......

Other than I can drive to Galveston vs Port Canaveral, it seems rally nice as well!

PC vs the competition makes the price differences even worse. I love WDW, DCL, and all things Disney, I think we have entered that stage of can't justify the price, leaning sharply toward the priced out camp.

Doesn't Jubilee go out of Galveston?

 

[Robin Ramey]

I know that this may not be the opinion you are getting elsewhere, but if you are looking at the mass-market ships, quite honestly, we've sailed Oasis OTS, and everyone in our family preferred the Carnival Mardi Gras to it. I know that Carnival has this reputation, however, their 3 new ships (Mardi Gras, Celebration, and Jubilee) are very different from the other Carnival ships (in a good way) and while not "quite" the size of the Oasis class, they aren't far off.

In our opinion, where Mardi Gras really shined vs. the Royal ships was in the quantity and quality of included food options.

Also, we felt the entertainment was much better than the older CCL ships...

Just some food for thought...

I have to agree with you. We have sailed on the Oasis and Allure and The Mardi Gras We liked the Mardi Gras so much we have sailed on her 4 times and decided to go on her sister ship The Jubilee next month.

 

[gsdweller]

We have had great fun on Royal in the past, but prefer DCL. We typically refer to most of the RC ships as "The Mall of the Sea". Oddly, one of the primary complaints from our kids was that the main activity deck was always changing what was going on. They couldn't just run up and shoot some hoops whenever they wanted.

 

[LAS2AMS]

We have had great fun on Royal in the past, but prefer DCL. We typically refer to most of the RC ships as "The Mall of the Sea". Oddly, one of the primary complaints from our kids was that the main activity deck was always changing what was going on. They couldn't just run up and shoot some hoops whenever they wanted.

Royal’s ships have sports courts with dedicated basketball courts. Occasionally they may schedule some type event, and sometimes you may have to wait your turn, but you can definitely shoot hoops most whenever you want.

Historically cruising has been an activity enjoyed mostly by older adults, so the industry has invested heavily in activities that target younger demographics. Royal’s ships blow Disney away in the number of activities available. The Disney Wonder has some of the fewest activities of any modern cruise ship. But if you prefer the Disney overlay, it’s something you’ll easily overlook.

 

[gsdweller]

Royal’s ships have sports courts with dedicated basketball courts. Occasionally they may schedule some type event, and sometimes you may have to wait your turn, but you can definitely shoot hoops most whenever you want.

Historically cruising has been an activity enjoyed mostly by older adults, so the industry has invested heavily in activities that target younger demographics. Royal’s ships blow Disney away in the number of activities available. The Disney Wonder has some of the fewest activities of any modern cruise ship. But if you prefer the Disney overlay, it’s something you’ll easily overlook.

Not on all their ships. Some of them use the sports court all day for laser tag, dodge ball, etc. Especially if it an indoor sports court. On the last Royal ship we were on, random basketball was hard to come by.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Not on all their ships. Some of them use the sports court all day for laser tag, dodge ball, etc. Especially if it an indoor sports court. On the last Royal ship we were on, random basketball was hard to come by.

You must’ve been on the oldest and smallest ships. I haven’t been on the Vision or Radiance classes but everything else and none used the BB courts for anything but BB.

 

[gsdweller]

No, it was a Quantum Class ship - Odyssey of the Seas. None of the Quantum Class Ships have an outdoor basketball court.

 

[LAS2AMS]

No, it was a Quantum Class ship - Odyssey of the Seas. None of the Quantum Class Ships have an outdoor basketball court.

Yeah, the SeaPlex. The only time I’ve never seen basketball offered is when they’re using the space after hours as a dance floor. In any event, the SeaPlex is a selling point of those ships. DCL doesn’t compare activities wise and I can’t imagine any teen/twenties (and up) preferring DCL in that regard, unless they’re simply big Disney fans.

 

[Nike4000]

We just sailed Harmony of the Seas the week of Christmas, which is the busiest sailing of the year. The ship had over 6,700 passengers. It never once felt crowded to us. The way the ship has been designed, with multiple "districts" (Promenade, Central Park, Boardwalk, etc.) really separates people and eliminates the bottlenecks typically found on cruise ships. The first time we sailed on HotS (we've sailed on it 3 times so far) we were expecting to be overwhelmed with crowds and were shocked when that sensation never happened.

One of the concerns @Sleepyluke mentioned was a "Vegas" feel. I asked my wife and kids if they felt the ship conveyed that style and they immediately responded no. In fact, they all said that in many ways the ship reminded them of a DCL cruise - excellent service, beautifully designed & appointed areas, great food, clean & plentiful public bathrooms, and so on.

I highly recommend avoiding an interior balcony room. Our most recent HotS sailing was in a balcony room overlooking Central Park. While there was a novelty to overlooking a park on a cruise ship, staring across the gap to a wall of staterooms gave me the feeling of being at a large resort. It was fun to try it out, but I definitely prefer to look out onto the ocean.

Let me know if you have any specific questions, I'm happy to try and answer them. We've sailed on all of the Disney ships, except the Treasure (we'll get that one next year) and are big fans of DCL. However, as OP said, the cost difference is huge and Royal runs a fantastic ship.

 

[gsdweller]

Yeah, the SeaPlex. The only time I’ve never seen basketball offered is when they’re using the space after hours as a dance floor. In any event, the SeaPlex is a selling point of those ships. DCL doesn’t compare activities wise and I can’t imagine any teen/twenties (and up) preferring DCL in that regard, unless they’re simply big Disney fans.

The SeaPlex doesn't have much open time just to go play in pick-up games. Maybe 25% of the time. and it closes fairly early in the evening. I never said it compared in any way to Disney. I said it was one of the primary complaints we heard.

 

[LAS2AMS]

The SeaPlex doesn't have much open time just to go play in pick-up games. Maybe 25% of the time. and it closes fairly early in the evening. I never said it compared in any way to Disney. I said it was one of the primary complaints we heard.

I’ve only been on a Quantum ship twice, and my experience was different than yours, so I’ll assume it varies by the cruise. I did read on CC where they’ve cut back on the activities in SeaPlex, sticking to the tried and true ones. So maybe things have changed.

Not saying you, but many people that come on here have no experience other than DCL and act as if DCL inventing cruising. We’re huge Disney fans and we love DCL but once you venture out, you’ll realize how lacking DCL can be.