Strong demand across the cruise industry has sent fares soaring, with travelers continuing to prioritize memorable experiences.
Not only that, but optional onboard add-ons, such as drink and internet packages, specialty dining, and shore excursions, have also become more expensive.
Although it's no secret that newer, bigger vessels tend to cost more than older ships like Vision of the Seas or Radiance of the Seas, I generally prefer paying more for a newer ship experience.
From expansive pool decks and modern accommodations to better entertainment venues and a wider variety of dining options, the latest mega-ships feel like floating resorts — they are a destination in and of themselves!
Recently, I embarked on a short cruise aboard Harmony of the Seas from Barcelona, Spain, to Palma de Mallorca and Marseille, France.
Sailing from Europe meant my overall expenses would naturally be higher once airfare, hotels, and pre-cruise costs were factored in.
However, I couldn't say no to the opportunity to sail on this recently revitalized Oasis Class ship with my sister before she begins medical school, knowing that her availability will become far more limited once classes and clinical rotations begin.
With all the enhancements, from the tropical Pesky Parrot bar to Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, I couldn’t wait to get on and check out everything new on the amplified ship, as well as explore new ports of call.
We tacked on pre- and post-cruise stays in Barcelona to our short three-night sailing, after which my sister opted to extend her vacation to Spain and Portugal. For our portion, however, my sister and I spent around $5,900 on our five-night European trip aboard Harmony of the Seas.
On a nightly basis, this means we spent around $1,172.40, or roughly $2,931 per person. In this article, I'll provide a full breakdown of what we spent during my Harmony of the Seas cruise, including travel-related expenses and onboard spending.
Our round-trip plane tickets from North Carolina to Barcelona, Spain, cost almost $2,430.
Airfare prices have recently increased due to the ongoing fuel crisis. However, flights out of Charlotte, North Carolina, have been unreasonable for quite some time.
In fact, it's pretty common for round-trip tickets to places like Miami or Orlando on American Airlines to cost upward of $400 per person — yikes!
Although I am usually a devout American Airlines flyer, I couldn't justify the flight prices from Charlotte to Barcelona and instead booked a cheaper option aboard Lufthansa, which cost $1,054.63. This price included a checked bag, but I could not select my seat assignment until 24 hours before departure.
I couldn't convince my sister to join me because she wanted to use her American loyalty benefits. She flew separately from Greensboro to Philadelphia, and then onward to Barcelona.
Her flight cost $1,375.83, and she arrived much earlier than I did, so she took advantage of nearly a full extra day in Barcelona while I was stuck in the Munich airport during a lengthy layover. This meant that between the two of us, our airfare cost more than the cruise itself, coming in at $2,430.46.
We arrived one day before the cruise and stayed at a centrally located hotel in Barcelona. Our room cost over $340.
Usually, I'm not a stickler when it comes to pre-cruise hotels and am fine with basic accommodations near the hotel or port. However, with limited time in Spain before our sailing, I wanted somewhere convenient and safe, so we could comfortably explore the city without wasting time going back and forth.
In the end, we settled on the Catalonia Portal De L'Angel Hotel, with our one-night stay coming to $347.37. This location was perfect, just steps away from the Cathedral of Barcelona and around a five-minute walk to the famous tree-lined La Rambla boulevard.
My sister arrived earlier than I did, and the hotel let her store her bags while she ventured off to grab breakfast, browse nearby stores, and take in the sights, since the room was not quite ready.
We spent around $320 in Barcelona before the cruise.
This was our first visit to Barcelona, so we weren't in a budget mindset when it came to exploring the city. Between meals, attractions, transportation, and spontaneous shopping, we focused more on making the most of our limited time than staying within a specific budget.
Here's a breakdown of what we spent:
- Taxis from BCN airport to our hotel: $74.75
- Two coffees from D Origen Coffee Roasters: $11.20
- Dinner at Tantarantana: $48.76
- Viral tiramisu dessert coffee from Coffee Casa: $17.44
- Casa Batlló admission: $93.18
- Lunch at Gusti Toscani: $14.42
- Souvenirs: $35.17
- Taxi from hotel to Barcelona cruise port: $23.35
Total: $318.27
The three-night sailing aboard the Harmony of the Seas ship cost $1,286.74 for a windowless inside cabin.
With just three nights aboard the massive 226,963 gross-ton Oasis Class ship and no sea days, we did not mind saving money on our cruise fare. A balcony seemed pointless since we wouldn't have time to fully enjoy it!
We booked a Category 4V Interior Stateroom through my travel agent for $1,286.74, or $643.37 per person, including gratuities. This came out to around $429 per night for both of us.
The room wasn't anything fancy, but it was a comfortable enough space to rest up after long days ashore in Spain and France.
We also loved the location, as it was steps from the aft elevator bank. This made navigating the massive vessel a little easier.
The price of our Royal Caribbean cruise covered more than the room, too — ranging from unlimited meals to basic beverages, unique entertainment, and transportation from Barcelona to Palma de Mallorca and France.
On Harmony of the Seas, there are multiple pools, water slides, a fitness center, a three-deck-high dining room, ice skating shows, and high diving performances, among other activities and amenities.
In short, even when we weren't exhausted from spending all day ashore, the ship made it easy to stay entertained and busy.
We racked up $424.34 in other charges, including Wi-Fi, shore excursions, and souvenirs.
We kept our onboard spending pretty low while aboard Harmony of the Seas. Since it was such a short voyage, we did not bother with specialty dining, and my daily Diamond vouchers meant we did not need to splurge on a pricey drink package.
In total, we spent $123.17 on the ship. This included Wi-Fi, dessert at Playmakers, a few arcade games, and our excursion in Marseille to Aix-en-Provence. Our booking included a $50 onboard credit, which helped decrease the overall cost of our spending, as we would have spent closer to $170 without it.
While ashore, we spent an additional $301.17 in Palma de Mallorca and Aix-en-Provence, with miscellaneous charges ranging from souvenir shopping to sweet treats. The biggest splurge was pearls in Palma de Mallorca. Since they're my sister's birthstone, she couldn't resist picking up a few special pieces of jewelry to bring home.
Before we knew it, it was time to get off the cruise ship and meet our dad in Barcelona for some much-needed time together!
My dad flew to Spain to meet us before he continued traveling with my sister. Unfortunately, I didn't have the PTO to join them since I had just returned from a Disney cruise aboard the brand-new Destiny ship. Still, I'm glad we got to spend a little time together in Spain before my sister effectively disappears for med school.
Here's a breakdown of what we spent:
- Hotel: $432.65
- Taxi from Barcelona cruise port to hotel: $19.72
- Breakfast at the Barcelona Coffee House: $52.09
- 1.5-hour tour of the Sagrada Família: $267.30
- Lunch at La Pepita: $83.37
- Admission to Park Güell: $62.76
- Dinner at La Selva: $82.21
- Taxi from the hotel to the Barcelona airport: $54.71
Total: $1,054.81
Between travel-related expenses, food, shopping, and the cruise itself, we spent nearly $5,900 on our Harmony of the Seas vacation.
My six-night vacation to Europe, including a three-night cruise on the Harmony of the Seas ship and an overnight flight, was not cheap, but it was an unforgettable experience — and a great way to visit Spain for the first time!
Plus, with Harmony recently renovated, she offers even more ways to play, drink, and dine than ever before, ensuring that vacations aboard the Oasis Class vessel are exciting for first-time cruisers and longtime Royal Caribbean fans alike.
While this trip was definitely a splurge, coming in at $5,861.99, combining the three-night itinerary with a pre- and post-cruise stay in Barcelona made for the perfect introduction to Spain and a way to justify flying across the pond for a short cruise.
