Having launched the largest cruise ship in the world in 2008 with Oasis of The Seas, it made Allure of the Seas two inches longer in 2009, while Harmony of the Seas - which welcomed a huge trade delegation onboard at the weekend – is two metres longer and a few inches wider again.
“World’s largest cruise ship” certainly grabs headlines more than “another one like the other one”. But Royal Caribbean bosses are clear those extra few inches genuinely make a difference in terms of expanding and improving the experience they can provide onboard.
It’s why on Harmony they’ve been able to install the Ultimate Abyss - the tallest slide at sea. It’s why they’ve been able to create a production of such spectacular scale and quality as Grease (hands-down the best production I’ve seen at sea, and I know my musicals). It’s why they’ve been able to include 20 restaurants, which range from the gargantuan Windjammer buffet venue down to the elegant little Izumi which seats just a handful at a time for exquisite Japanese cuisine. And by cleverly dividing the ship into different ‘neighbourhoods’, its vastness is easier to tackle.
Or, that’s the theory at least.
I met travel agents on board who said Harmony is without doubt the best ship they’ve ever been on, but also one or two that felt the ship was too big for them.
Their mixed response is perfect proof that when it comes to cruising, customers must be very carefully guided (by their friendly travel agent of course) towards the ship that’s right for them - or risk putting them off cruise forever.
So, does size really matter?
It’s certainly a consideration, but I tend to think it’s more what you do with it that counts - and what Royal Caribbean has done with its 18 decks and 226,963 gross tonnes will take some beating.
Pippa Jacks
Editor, TTG
