Review: Harmony of the Seas

Known as the world's biggest cruise ship, The Harmony of the Seas has a lot to offer for cruisers of all ages.  There are 3 water slides (The Perfect Storm), an ice skating rink, 2 rock walls, two flow riders, a 10 story dry slide (The Abyss!), 3 pools, a splash area for the little ones, a sports court, the adults-only Solarium, a zipline, broadway quality shows, live music everywhere, a HUGE spa and state-of-the-art fitness center, great shopping, fantastic specialty dining options, and...I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

The ship includes seven neighborhoods: peaceful outdoor space Central Park; bustling amusement park style Boardwalk; the Royal Promenade for shopping, dining, drinking and dancing; Entertainment Place, for comedy, jazz and production shows; Youth Place, for the kids; Vitality Sea Spa and Fitness Center, for working out and getting pampered; and Pool and Sports Zone, for playing, swimming and being active.  Sometimes you forget you're even on a ship, which can be a good or bad thing depending on one's preferences.  The neighborhood plan is designed to improve flow and reduce traffic, and it does for the most part.  With almost 6,000 othee cruises on the ship you are bound to run into a crowd here and there.  

 

The variety on this ship is astounding.  There are all kinds of activities going on all day, and tons of different food & drink options are available.  You can grab a hot dog and a beer on the boardwalk, hit the buffet in Windjammer, or sit down to a nice meal in the main dining room(s) or at a high end specialty restaurant.  Oh, and STARBUCKS!  Everything I ate on board was very good, and I am not usually a big fan of the food on Royal Caribbean.

  

Your kids won't even want to see you, with all of the fun they'll be having.  Between all of the slides, Dreamworks movie time, carousel, and all of the kids programming the HOTS offers, you will be able to enjoy your vacation as much as the kids do.

I feel I need to point out the negatives, so I'm going to get picky here.  I love that there are 2 closet spaces (one on each side of the bed) but the hangers in them tend to rock back and forth and make noise.  Since they're right next to the bed, that can be annoying.  Speaking of the bed, holy moly was mine hard as a rock.  I like a firm bed but this was extreme.  I also would like to see a better beer selection on board, and if you are going to call Sabor a tequila bar, there should be a variety of tequila.  And in the sports bar, On Air, it seems like the 14 television screens should be showing a variety of games.  I'm not a sports fan, but my travel companions were very dismayed by this.

Having mentioned those few things, I would absolutely sail on this ship again, and with excitement.  This ship is perfect for families, and especially a family reunion.  There is something for everyone.  As a couple with no children, I would likely book while school is in session and hang out in the Solarium and Central Park a lot.  

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Hibiscus Tea...and a Bonus.

I don't know about you, but this election has jacked up my blood pressure.  Word on the street is that hibiscus tea is good for your blood pressure.  I have also seen claims that it can relieve high cholesterol, reduce inflammation, improve immune function, and even speed up metabolism.  All I know is that it's pretty and tastes delicious.
Hibiscus leaves can be very inexpensive if you don't buy them at a tea shoppe (a tea shop is fine but if there is an extra "pe" on the end you are going to pay through the nose).  I have found them for 90 cents per ounce in bulk at the health food store and the carniceria/bodega in my neighborhood.  I paid $4.59 for 2 oz at the tea shoppe.  Never again.
There are a couple of ways to make the tea.  One is the typical way where you boil some water and steep the leaves for about 5 or so minutes.  My new favorite way is to use a pitcher with a tea infuser and let it cold brew over night.  I don't like this method for all teas, but it's great for this one.  I use one-ish teaspoon for every 8 oz of water.  To cold brew, just fill it with as much water as you want, put the corresponding amount of hibiscus leaves in the diffuser, and pop it in the fridge.  In the morning remove the leaves.  And that's it!  I like it unsweetened but it's great with some simple syrup or agave too.

Which brings me to the bonus... When you are done brewing your tea (either method), don't throw those beautiful red leaves away yet!  You can get a second use.  Hibiscus simple syrup.  You can use the syrup to sweeten your hibiscus tea, make homemade hibiscus soda (!!!!) with some club soda or sparkling water, or use it in a cocktail.  All you need to do is combine equal parts sugar and water (I used 1/2 cup of each) with your used hibiscus leaves in a saucepan and simmer until all of the sugar has dissolved.  Then strain it and put it in a jar.  It should last a week or two in the fridge.  I hear a hibiscus martini calling me...