Each day we are posting a brand new blog post to countdown until Royal Caribbean launches its Harmony of the Seas. There's a lot to get excited about on this amazing ship and we're highlighting it all.

Splashaway Bay

Slides, water cannons, waterfalls and more are waiting for guests of all ages in Splashaway Bay on Harmony of the Seas.

This new "aquatic adventure park" is an 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."

Splashaway Bay will be a focal point of the pool area, and its introduction is yet another "WOW" factor Royal Caribbean is banking on impressing customers to try the ship out. There's no question kids will love playing in this new aqua park (and adults too).

Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas just emerged from a month-long drydock and also received its own Splashaway Bay, which can give us all a good idea of what to expect on Harmony of the Seas.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Harmony!

To celebrate the launch of Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas in less than 100 days, we're counting down each day with some really cool about the ship.  Check out our blog each day for a brand new post all about Harmony of the Seas.

Bionic Bar

Harmony of the Seas is an Oasis class ship, but Royal Caribbean is adding a number of Quantum class features to the ship including one of the more visible ones: the Bionic Bar.

The idea is simple: guests place orders via tablets and then can watch the robot bartenders start mixing the cocktails. Bionic Bar combines two big trends, robotics and mixology.

The single armed robot will get the ice, mints and lemon and then squeeze and shake them to make your drink. Eventually, there wont be a limit on what the drinks the robots can make. The customization is what Royal Caribbean is aiming for.

Royal Caribbean has teamed up with Makr Shakr, a company with ties to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to create the Bionic Bars and on the Quantum class ships, they have become very popular with guests from a pure spectacle standpoint (and they make some pretty good drinks too).

The two robot bartenders can make two drinks per minute, delivered in plastic cups via four conveyor belts.

Guests walk up to tablets, where they can place orders for drinks, choosing from classic cocktails, signature drinks like Mnemonic Madness (a rum, pineapple juice and Midori concoction) or test the robot bartenders’ skills with their own creations.

The bar area is lined with tables, counter seating and even open bar space.

Whatever you order, you can name, and your drink’s name appears on a digital screen so you can track when a robot is at work on your order.

In the evening, a DJ spins tunes and guests often hang out around the bar discussing what they ordered with each other.  There are also crew members to help guests, especially when there's a rush of orders.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Harmony!

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas will debut in less than 99 days and to celebrate, we are counting down every day with a brand new blog post all about Harmony of the Seas.

Construction photo update

We all love following along the construction progress Harmony of the Seas is making and today we have another great photo update to share with you.

Royal Caribbean shared with us new images of Harmony of the Seas under construction at the STX shipyard in France. 

All photos by Royal Caribbean International

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Harmony!

Royal Caribbean held a press conference earlier today at STX France shipyard to discuss Harmony of the Seas with members of the European press.

Present at the question and answer session were Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations Mark Tamis & STX France Responsable d'affaire, Jean Yves Pean.  

The event was hoted by Royal Caribbean Vice President of Entertainment Nick Weir and also featured a video segment with Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley.

At the event, some tidbits and factoids were shared with those in attendance.

• Harmony of the Seas cost is "somewhere north of a billion dollars"
• Harmony of the Seas will be 20% more efficient than the other two Oasis class ships, thanks to improvements in hydronamic design, a new type of engine and product enhancements
  • Harmony of the Seas will benefit from bubbles to lessen hull friction in the water. Tiny bubbles stick to the bottom of the ship's hull so the ship literally is sailing on a cushion of air.
• Harmony of the Seas will be 33 centimeters longer than Allure of the Seas, making it the largest cruise ship in the world.
• Some of the technology from the Quantum class ships Two70 space will be utilized in Studio B.
• The AquaTheater will feature video projection mapping on the two "tusks".
• There will also be an aerial element in the AquaTheater that involves "3D flying", where acrobats can be flown all around the AquaTheater.
• Bionic Bar will replace Champagne Bar on Harmony of the Seas.
• Jamie's Italian will replace Giovanni's Table on Harmony of the Seas.
• A new menu with new offerings will be in Harmony of the Seas' main dining room.
• Wonderland will feature a bar that has "creative cocktails" for guests even if they are not dining in the restaurant.
• There will be more space available in the staterooms by making them longer, especially from deck 6 and above.
• The Stowaway piano player will be onboard Harmony of the Seas.
• Puzzle Break escape room will be on Harmony of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean is counting down the days until its brand new Harmony of the Seas debuts, so for the next 99 days we will be posting something every day about this amazing new ship.

DreamWorks Experience

Ever since Royal Caribbean partnered with DreamWorks to bring their characters onboard Royal Caribbean's cruise ships, it's been a big hit.  Not surprisingly, the DreamWorks Experience will be coming to Quantum of the Seas too.

DreamWorks Animation characters including Po of Kung Fu Panda; Shrek, Fiona and Puss in Boots of Shrek; and from Madagascar, Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, King Julien and the Penguins will be available for guests to meet during their Harmony of the Sea cruise.

In addition to character meets, guests can enjoy DreamWorks Experience activities including

• A DreamWorks Character breakfast in the main dining room
• 'Meet and greet’ experiences throughout the day
• Photo opportunities with the characters

Kids can also get the chance to play with their favorite DreamWorks Animation characters at Adventure Ocean

• Story time
• Dance parties
• Adventures rooted in the popular character stories

Of course, you will be able to watch DreamWorks films in the ship’s 3D movie theater and on a dedicated DreamWorks TV channel in their stateroom.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Harmony!

To countdown the launch of Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas, we're blogging about one aspect of the ship each day for 99 days. Check back each day for something exciting to read about this new ship.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis class ships have been known for offering guests a lot of dining options and Harmony of the Seas will continue in that tradition by offering a new restaurant to the Oasis class.

Wonderland is an imaginative take on specialty dining, where the experience is just as important as the food offered.

READ YESTERDAY'S POST ABOUT ULTIMATE ABYSS

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.

Once in Wonderland, guests can enjoy six exciting themes from the menu: Sun, Sea, Ice, Earth, Fire and Dreams.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate 99 days of Harmony!

We're counting down the days until Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas debuts, with our 99 days of Quantum countdown.  Each day we will post something about this amazing new ship.

Ultimate Abyss

Guests onboard Harmony of the Seas can look forward to a brand new thrill: a story drop on a brand new slide called, "Ultimate Abyss."

Ultimate Abyss will be the tallest slide at sea and also an epic adventure.

READ YESTERDAY'S POST ALL ABOUT GREASE

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.

Launching onto the ride from a glass platform, guests can take one last look at the Boardwalk 10 decks below before climbing onto a customized mat and taking the plunge into the depths of the daunting slides. Spontaneous audio effects within each tunnel create a multi-sensory thrill for daring guests willing to test their mettle while traversing 216 feet through the one-of-a-kind slide duo. The Ultimate Abyss is made up of two separate cylinders, a reflection of one-another, each with a diameter of approximately 2.6 feet and constructed of stainless steel.

Royal Caribbean is counting down the days until its brand new Harmony of the Seas debuts and as of today, there are 99 days until that happens, so for the next 99 days we will be posting something every day about this amazing new ship.

Grease

Ever since Royal Caribbean introduced Broadway shows to its cruise ships, guests have been clamoring for more and Harmony of the Seas will feature a brand new Broadway show that has proven to be a classic for years, Grease.

The all-new, never-before-seen stage production, specially adapted by Royal Caribbean Productions, will boast a soundtrack of crowd favorites such as “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Born to Hand-Jive,” “Beauty School Dropout” and more.

“Grease is a show that speaks to families of all ages and is sure to get guests out of their seats, singing and dancing, which is why we made the unprecedented decision to have it debut on Harmony and premiere it onboard Independence immediately, starting in July,” said Nick Weir, Vice President, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean International. “As the first cruise line to bring Broadway performances onboard its ships, it’s only fitting that we would also be the first to bring Grease to the hospitality industry.”

The fact that tickets to Grease are complimentary is a big deal when you consider how much Broadway show tickets cost, even if the show is on tour off Broadway.

Royal Caribbean has made a name for itself by offering Broadway shows on its cruise ships, including Cats on Oasis of the Seas, MAMMA MIA! on Allure of the Seas, Saturday Night Fever on Liberty of the Seas and now, Grease on Harmony of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post as we celebrate the 99 days of Harmony!