TRAVELCruise ship tours: Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the SeasAt 226,963 tons, Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas was the largest cruise ship in the world when it debuted in 2016.Michel VerdureHarmony is a larger version of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, the current size leaders in the cruise world. It is, notably, wider than the earlier ships by almost three feet and a tad longer, too. It measures nearly 1,700 more tons.Simon Brooke-Webb, Sbw-photoHarmony boasts a massive water slide complex, something that is relatively new for Royal Caribbean ships.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYDubbed the Perfect Storm, Harmony's water slide area features three distinct slides that spin around the top decks of the vessel above the open-air Central Park neighborhood.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYDubbed the Perfect Storm, the water slide area on Harmony of the Seas includes a swirling yellow-and-green bowl slide.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHarmony's water slides twist and spin above the ship's open-air Central Park neighborhood.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Perform Storm water slides on Harmony as seen from the ship's Central Park neighborhood.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYMore than 100 cabins with balconies overlook Harmony's Central Park area.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYPassengers access Harmony's there water slides from a platform on Deck 18 and ride them down to the pool area on Deck 15.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAmong the most unusual new features on Harmony is Ultimate Abyss, a dual slide that drops 10 stories from the top of the ship to one of its lowest decks.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYUltimate Abyss drops from a platform at the back of Deck 15 to the Boardwalk area on Deck 6.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe two slides of the Ultimate Abyss mirror each other as they swirl down the back of the ship.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Ultimate Abyss is the longest slide ever built on a cruise ship.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHarmony has three large pool areas on its top deck, one of which is the Main Pool, located just in front of the Perfect Storm water slide area.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Beach Pool has a faux sand beach where water laps up along colorful beach chairs.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA covered hot tub in the Beach Pool area.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHarmony is home to Royal Caribbean's largest-ever kiddie aqua park, Splashaway Bay. It offers slides, water cannons and waterfalls as well as a dump bucket.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLike Oasis and Allure, Harmony offers an adults-only Solarium at the front of the ship.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCozy lounge chairs for two are sprinkled across the adults-only Solarium.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocated at the back of Deck 15 is Harmony Dunes, a miniature golf course.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHarmony of the Seas' top decks also are home to two Surfrider surfing pools.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe pool bar is located on Deck 15 between the Main Pool and the Sports Pool.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA teen zone on Deck 15 includes the Challenger's Video Arcade.Gene Sloan, USA ATODAYLike sister ships Oasis and Allure, Harmony has an open-air, tree-lined Central Park area at its center.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Central Park area is home to such high-end stores as Bulgari.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCentral Park is open to the elements and features thousands of live plants.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCentral Park is home to the no-extra-charge Park Cafe, which serves up paninis and salads.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCentral Park also features Jamie's Italian, the first restaurant by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver on an Oasis-class ship. Oliver already operates restaurants on Royal Caribbean's new Quantum-class vessels.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCentral Park also is home to Vintages, a wine bar found on other Royal Caribbean ships.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYRoyal Caribbean's signature steakhouse, Chops Grille, is located in the Central Park neighborhood on Deck 8.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAt the back of Harmony on Deck 6 is Boardwalk, a family fun zone that is the endpoint for Ultimate Abyss, the ship's massive dual-slide attraction.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAs on Oasis and Allure, the Boardwalk area of Harmony features a hand-carved carousel.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYBoardwalk also is the location of Harmony's arcade.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYFilled with eateries, bars and shops, the Royal Promenade is an iconic feature for Royal Caribbean ships.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAmong the venues along the Royal Promenade is the On Air Club, a karaoke bar.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAs on other Royal Caribbean ships, the Royal Promenade also is home to a pub called the Boot and Bonnet.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Boot and Bonnet pub serves up a wide range of beers and offers live music nightly.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe first Kate Spade boutique at sea is among the retail outlets along Harmony's Royal Promenade.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYBags for sale at the Kate Spade store on the Royal Promenade.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYRegalia Fine Jewellery is among the shops along the Royal Promenade.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHarmony features a Bionic Bar where a robot bartender serves the drinks, a concept that made its debut in 2014 on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Bionic Bar is located on Deck 8 along the Royal Promenade in a location that houses a champagne bar on Oasis and Allure.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHarmony is the first Oasis-class ship with a Bionic Bar.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA vintage Jaguar is on display in the Royal Promenade.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocated on the Royal Promenade, Bolero's is a Latin-themed bar and lounge that serves up Latin-inspired drinks like mojitos and caipirinha.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe bar at Boleros.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocated along the Royal Promenade, Bolero's offers Latin music nightly.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Rising Tide Bar moves ascends three decks from the Royal Promenade on Deck 5 to Central Park on Deck 8.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe nautically-themed Schooner's Bar, an icon of Royal Caribbean ships, is located on Deck 9 overlooking the Royal Promenade.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYOne deck down from the Royal Promenade on Deck 4 is music venue Jazz on 4.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYJazz on 4 is home to live jazz and blues nightly.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAlso located on Deck 4 is The Attic, a venue for late-night adult comedy shows and other performances.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocated on Deck 4, the ship's casino features dozens of slot machines and table games.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCalled Casino Royale, Harmony's casino is one of the largest at sea.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHarmony is the first Oasis-class ship with one of the fanciful Wonderland restaurants that made their debut on Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHarmony's Wonderland restaurant spreads over two decks and overlooks the Boardwalk area.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYWonderland is located on Decks 11 and 12.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe artwork in the Wonderland restaurant is hand-drawn onto the walls.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe three-deck-high main dining room on Harmony features different decor on each level.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe main dining room on Harmony of the Seas.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHarmony's spa and fitness center, dubbed Vitality at Sea, is one of the largest ever on a cruise ship.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA lounge area within the Vitality at Sea spa.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Vitality at Sea spa on Harmony offers a wide range of treatments in 25 treatment rooms.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYVitality at Sea's Relaxation Lounge is available exclusively to passengers getting treatments in the spa.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Vitality at Sea spa also houses a Thermal Room with eight heated lounge chairs.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYSpinning classes are among the daily activities in the fitness center.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLife Fitness equipment fills the Vitality at Sea fitness center.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Vitality at Sea's spacious fitness center has dozens of stationary bicycles, stair-climbing machines and running machines.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHarmony has 2,747 cabins, of which 1,768 are balcony cabins such as this one.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAmong the larger cabins on Harmony are its Owner's Suites, which measure 556 square feet.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYOwner's Suites have a large living area with table and sofa.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYOwner's Suites have a marble foyer with a table area and built-in cabinets.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYOwner's Suites feature a large, built-in closet area.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCabins on Harmony come with miniature refrigerators.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYOwner's Suite bathrooms have separate tubs and showers as well as a double-sink area.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYOwner's Suites have separate showers enclosed in glass.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYSuites on Harmony come with upscale L'Occitane toiletries.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAmong the little touches in suites on Harmony are Keurig-style coffee machines.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe most common type of cabin on Harmony is the balcony cabin.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYBalcony cabins on Harmony measure 182 square feet and feature two twin beds that convert into a royal king.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYBalcony cabins also have a sitting area. The design of the room is similar to what is found on Royal Caribbean's Quantum class vessels.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYBalcony cabins have two built-in armoires, one of which has shelving for clothes, a personal safe, drawers and an area for hanging clothes.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA second built-in cabinet in balcony cabins has more room for hanging clothes.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYBalcony cabins have balconies that range from 47 to 53 square feet in size.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYBalcony cabin bathrooms have built-in vanities and showers but no tubs.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe shower in a balcony cabin bathroom.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYWindjammer Marketplace offers buffet-style breakfasts and lunches in a casual setting. In the evening, it transforms to offer restaurant-style service.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA seating area in Windjammer Marketplace.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAcrylic signs around Harmony point to its seven 'neighborhoods.'Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA seating area at the entrance to the Schooner Bar on Deck 6.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYMore shops along Central Park.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Pool and Sports Zone at the back of Harmony features a basketball court in addition to two FlowRider surfing pools.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCentral Park runs down the center of the ship and is lined with restaurants and shops.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAt 126,963 tons, Royal Caribbean's new Harmony of the Seas is the largest cruise ship ever built.Simon Brooke-Webb, Sbw-photoHarmony is a larger version of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, the current size leaders in the cruise world. It is, notably, significantly wider than the earlier ships, by almost 19 feet, and a tad longer, too.Royal Caribbean