Last week I was lucky enough to spend 3 days aboard the Harmony of the Seas for training with 45 awesome travel planners from my agency!

We sailed from Port Canaveral to Nassau on the second largest ship at sea!

The ship is absolutely incredible! There is something for everyone. While I am not super adventurous, I kept thinking how much my 15 year old would have loved some of the activities I was too scared to try. This ship offers ziplining, rock climbing and an insane slide called the Abyss!

There is also plenty for younger kids and adults who don’t want to take their lives into their hands. There are three really fun water slides, a splash zone with a dump bucket, mini golf, surfing and body boarding lessons, ice skating and a carousel.

Harmony of the Seas features what they call “neighborhoods.” On this ship you can enjoy a variety of activities and dining on the Boardwalk or you can dine and relax surrounded by the lush greenery of Central Park. Both have Balcony Staterooms that overlook the neighborhoods and have special inclusions, such as a drink package and dining at Johnny Rockets. I really loved the vibe of the Boardwalk and even took a ride on the carousel. Central Park was just such a nice place to grab a salad or sandwich and relax.

Speaking of Balcony rooms, I stayed in an Oceanview Balcony Stateroom and it was so roomy. As with any ship, Harmony of the Seas has a variety of Stateroom categories. This ship offers neighborhood balconies, virtual balcony and Oceanview, suites and basic inside or Oceanview.

In addition to recreational activities, Harmony had so many fun shows ! They are currently presenting a very lively production of “Grease”, as well as a heart stopping Aqua Show and an ice skating show. Throughout the day you will come across live bands performing on the Promenade.

While I didn’t have the chance to experience any of the kids clubs, rest assured that Royal Caribbean takes great care of your kids while you enjoy some adult time. Whether it’s soaking up sun with a cold, fruity adult beverage at the adults only Solarium or trying your luck in the Casino or at one of many games happening throughout the day, there is plenty for you to enjoy while your kids are looked after in their own very cool space!

Now – onto the best part of a cruise for many people- the food! Harmony of the Seas has several complimentary dining options and some really outstanding specialty dining venues. On this trip, I focused on the complimentary options.

I started my day at the buffet – they have so much to choose from! I enjoyed breakfast there on my first morning and lunch on two of my three days. I tried some new things, including an Indian chicken dish that was out of this world, and enjoyed a few standard favorites. It may sound silly, but this buffet had the best egg salad sandwich I have ever had.

At breakfast, the staff was actually seating people. At first, I found this odd. I have never been seated at any other buffet on any other cruise, but then I remembered back to those cruises where you wander around with a plate full of food looking for an open table and I sort of appreciated being seated.

On my last Sea day, I had the best salad and roast beef sandwich at the Park Cafe. This is an a la carte option for dinner, but breakfast and lunch are complimentary. It was nice to eat in a different space for those meals.

We ate in the main dining room each night as a group. The food was delicious and delivered at a very nice pace. Sometimes those multi course cruise meals can take a really long time to get through. We weren’t rushed at all, but they did keep things moving.

So – onto a few pro tips for the next time you cruise.

First – if you have never cruised and are not sure if you would enjoy it, all cruise lines offer three and four day sailing options. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with cruising and is also budget friendly. Most of these itineraries will include a stop at a private island.

Next – on sailing day, avoid the buffet for lunch if at all possible. Most of the time there are a few smaller dining venues open that are complimentary. The buffet on sailing day is a madhouse! You will get plenty to eat and have plenty of time to visit it another day.

Third – if you are docked at a port you have previously visited or do not really have an interest in, stay on the ship and enjoy pool decks, dining and activities with much smaller crowds. I have been to Nassau several times and now use that day to just relax on the ship. The picture of the adult solarium above was taken while we were docked in Nassau.

Lastly, take advantage of the complimentary Continental Breakfast in your room. While normal room service has a delivery fee, the continental breakfast does not incur any fee. It is a great way to start a day where you may have an early excursion scheduled.

So – have you cruised before? What’s your favorite ship you’ve sailed on?