A ROYAL HARMONIOUS 55th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION-PTR - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I figure since we are now able to book some things onboard, it's time to start another PTR!!
I know you guys pretty much know me and Muffin but I will tell you some background anyway along with introducing our best friends and long time travel companions, the Adler's.
When: January 20th-28th
Where: Eastern Caribbean cruise on the beautiful Harmony of the Seas
Why: It's my 55th birthday!!
Our cast:
Me-Tara O'Hara- I am a labor and delivery nurse and lover of all things travel and all ways to get there!! I especially love Disney and cruising!! I will be 55 on January 22nd and celebrating my birthday on a cruise ship is second only to celebrating it at WDW!! I'm pretty sure my coworkers appreciate the fact that I am not around for my birthday most years as I tend to make it a national holiday
This is me in my new favorite picture:
Muffin- just Muffin-The lucky man who got me for a wife! He is a small business owner and also a travel lover. He just turned 60 and I think he looks terrific!! Muffin has been my travel inspiration for the past 34 years. I can't believe all of the places we have been!!
Here is Muffin in a picture from our Bermuda cruise:
Adrienne- Adrienne has been my best friend for 34 years. I met her through Muffin and we instantly bonded. She is one of the only people I can share my soul with and not be afraid of judgement. Adrienne will be 56 at the time of this cruise. She is not a proponent of flying or cruising but she loves us and we can talk her into pretty much anything. She and Dave have been on one other cruise with us back in 2007 and loved it so she is ready to try it again.
Here is Adrienne:
Me and Adrienne with our beautiful daughters
Dave- Muffin's best friend since high school. Seriously. They have known each other for 45 years!! Dave is married to Adrienne. In fact, they got married the same year we did and we were in each other's weddings. He will be 61 at the time of this cruise. He also loves to travel! These two have been on many, many trips with us including two WDW trips, three trips to Vegas and the cruise in 2007. They are family and we have spent every single Christmas and New Year's Eve together since 1982.
This is Dave:
Muffin, Dave and Adrienne
If you guys remember from my Bermuda cruise long winded explanation about how it came to be, this adventure was also part of the deal! You lucky people can skip this entire next part although I really did try to condense it!!
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So! We were originally going to take a cruise to Europe for Muffin's 60th birthday. Then we were going to Bermuda and on this cruise. Then we were going to China. Then we got back to Bermuda and this cruise! Anyway!
We loved Bermuda and can't wait for this cruise with Dave and Adrienne. You know how you try vacationing with different people and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't? Well our vacations with the Adler's always works!!
They are the easiest people in the world to vacation with. They really are. They go wherever we want and do whatever we want and honestly have a good time just being with us! Muffin usually winds up being the tour guide and I usually wind up being the planner.
The four of us can make a really good time out of nothing at all and we absolutely love traveling with these guys!! Our last trip with them was in March 2016. We went to Las Vegas and had an amazing trip!!
As I mentioned in the previous post, cruising is not Adrienne's favorite vacation. For one thing, she can't swim. It took us some time to convince her to go on a cruise in 2007. Also, she was not sure she would do well on a ship. Well, she did amazing and didn't even need a scope patch or Dramamine or anything!! We went to the Western Caribbean on the Liberty of the Seas and we had a ball!!
Still, it has taken us this long to convince her that another cruise was in order. Adrienne works for Muffin and he told her that she had won employee of the year and that her prize was a free cruise. Seriously. He says she is the best worker he has and it was totally worth the price.
Well, it was hard to argue with that so she reluctantly agreed. However, after Muffin and I talked about it, we decided that we didn't want to force the issue if she really wasn't comfortable and told her that she really didn't have to accept her prize if she didn't want to.
It took her all of two days to think about it and she said that she was totally ready for another cruise!! Since we already had this cruise booked, we made a reservation for those guys and that was that. We were super excited as our last cruise with Dave and Adrienne was to the Western Caribbean and pathos one happens to be to the Eastern Caribbean!!
The Eastern route is our favorite and we were so happy to be able to share these beautiful islands with our best friends. Also, this is a brand new ship!! It has only been in operation since May 2016. Also!! This is our favorite class of ship on Royal Caribbean!! We have been on her sister ship, the Allure of the Seas three times and absolutely love it!!
Anyway!. We booked the Adler's a Central Park view balcony stateroom. They are on the same deck as us. Adrienne will love this because it faces the inside but is still open and she loves horticulture.
Next: We are all booked!............So now what?!?!?!
We just cruised with my best friend and her husband (she and I have done trips together, and they joined us at the beach this summer, but this was the first trip with just the four of us). Cruising is a great way to vacation with friends, as if you have different touring styles (and we do) you can be together when you want and easily do your own thing at other times.
And extra nice that you both are such good friends with both of them. That doesn't always work out so nicely!
We just cruised with my best friend and her husband (she and I have done trips together, and they joined us at the beach this summer, but this was the first trip with just the four of us). Cruising is a great way to vacation with friends, as if you have different touring styles (and we do) you can be together when you want and easily do your own thing at other times.
And extra nice that you both are such good friends with both of them. That doesn't always work out so nicely!
That is awesome that you guys have that too!! That is a gift. Cruising is the best way to travel with anyone for that reason!! We have vacationed with other people. Honestly, many of them I would vacation with again but there are a few that while I love them, there is no way!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezp
They sound like the perfect cruise partners. Wow, how cool to be cruising on a brand new ship as well!
They are and we are over the moon about the ship!!
We booked the Adler's about 6 weeks ago, so now we had to sit around and wait until things opened up for reservations. Royal Caribbean generally opens booking for shows and such about three months in advance. I check the cruise planner for this reservation every single day and just today, I saw that the entertainment is now available online..........OR SO I THOUGHT!
Royal Caribbean's website stinks!! I don't usually have any trouble on The Disney site. I know that some of you do so I am telling you that I can totally relate!! So now the website has all of the available shows to choose from to book but when you actually go to book them, it won't let you!!
You can get to the webpage and put on the number of guests and that's it! It won't let you select dates or times. However! I know from experience that this will resolve itself in a couple of days so I will just hawk the site until it lets me actuallly book shows!!
At least now, I can see what's available and it looks like a terrific lineup!! This is from the Royal Caribbean blog website:
Harmony of the Seas will feature two headline shows for guests to enjoy in the Royal Theater that can accomodate 1,380 guests.
Grease
Harmony of the Seas will offer guests the musical classic, Grease, which has been specially adapted by Royal Caribbean Productions. It will boast original choreography, costumes and aerial elements set to amaze the most seasoned theater goers.
Featuring 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, guests will follow the romantic twists and turns of Sandy and Danny as they navigate the tricky social waters of Rydell High School while keeping their reputations – and relationship – together.
Columbus, The Musical!
An original Royal Caribbean production created in the spirit of “Spamalot” and “Something Rotten,” the story recounts the imagined history of Marvin Columbus, Christopher’s fictional, down on his luck, distant cousin.
Banished from his family’s kingdom, Marvin sets sail on a madcap voyage of discovery in the hopes of claiming his own place in history. Unforeseen romance and a “happily ever after” story are on the map as Marvin Columbus crashes into his Caribbean destiny.
A breathtaking and revolutionary set design, transporting the audience across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, will awe the entire family and adults will thoroughly enjoy the smart, nuanced humor.
AquaTheater
Harmony of the Seas will offer two shows in the AquaTheater, the distinct high diving, acrobatic performance space introduced by Royal Caribbean with the Oasis class of ships, that feature two 10-meter high platforms and the hydraulic-floored pool, the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea, below will serve as podiums for high-diving, hair-raising aerobatics that AquaTheater audiences have come to love.
The Fine Line
A journey from extreme to extraordinary, The Fine Line is the AquaTheater redefined with high-flying feats, mind blowing stunts and physically demanding acrobatics brought to life by the world’s best extreme-sport athletes. Designed as a 360° immersive entertainment show, revelers will be wishing for eyes in the back of their head to take in all the action happening around them.
Hideaway Heist
A dive into hilarious escapades, guests will steal some laughs and experience amazing wows with Royal Caribbean’s new comedy dive show, Hideaway Heist. This action packed comedy aqua show jumps into the world of a swanky 1950’s holiday resort where guys ‘n’ dolls take the audience on a frolicking escapade in, on and around the pool as an undercover detective, playing the part of a high-rolling vacationer, pursues a crafty burglar. Guests can expect plenty of family-friendly fun and awe-inspiring performance tricks as the staff of the Hideaway Resort solve the crime of a century.
Studio B ice skating
Royal Caribbean's ice rinks have been home to some amazing shows in the past, and Harmony of the Seas will feature world-class skaters that can perform extraordinary skills as stunning multimedia visuals, audio and state-of-the-art technology provide a sight and sound theatrical extravaganza.
1887
An original Royal Caribbean production about love and adventure that begins in Paris on February 14, 1887 at the height of the career of Jules Verne, renowned author of timeless adventure novels such as “Journey to the Center of the Earth” (1864), “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” (1870), and “Around the World in Eighty Days” (1873).
Beginning their journey on the frozen River Seine, Juliet and her mysterious time traveling companion, the Tempus, travel in multiple dimensions to discover the wonders of the world, and of the heart. World-class skaters and striking technology combine in a unique way that is guaranteed to leave audiences both breathless and emotionally touched.
iSkate Showcase
A Studio B ice show unlike any other where Royal Caribbean’s talented skaters put their best blade forward in a dazzling showcase of their very best moves set to their own favorite tunes. The cast goes rogue and anything can happen!
Royal Caribbean is also adding entertainment that guests have enjoyed on other Royal Caribbean cruise ships including:
Puzzle Break Escape the Rubicon
A puzzle that transports players to another world and another time where they must ESCAPE! Players will collaborate with friends, old and new, as they attempt to find the hidden clues needed to solve a collection of puzzles that will eventually unravel the mystery of the Rubicon.
With only 60 minutes of life-support, the suspense builds with every tick of the clock. For the first time, this remarkably popular activity will take place in a dedicated space designed in partnership with ShowFX Inc., a staple for Hollywood studios’ engineering, design and fabrication of custom entertainment equipment.
Red Party
The hottest high-energy party at sea. With DJs, surprise performances, special effects and technology, this all out nightlife extravaganza is an experience not to be missed.
Stowaway Piano
The pop-up piano player, which originally debuted on Anthem of the Seas, heads to Harmony. Behind the door. Around the corner. In the elevator. By the pool. Guests never know where the Stowaway Piano will turn up next.
Royal Promenade
Guests can enjoy on its Royal Promenade some great themed nights and parades.
Totally Awesome 90s
Harmony of the Seas debuts the evolution of Royal Caribbean’s much-loved Promenade 70s Party as the clock is pushed forward to the 90s. Guests can party it up in a new era when soundtracks are dominated by teen pop, dance-pop and the growing popularity of hip hop. A live DJ spinning favorite 90s hits, live pop-up performances and crazy neon track suits set the stage to transport partygoers back to this totally awesome decade.
Let’s Celebrate!
When on a cruise, vacationers really don’t need an excuse to celebrate, but Royal Caribbean is giving guests one anyway with Let’s Celebrate! – the ultimate celebration of celebrations. Halloween, Birthdays, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve will all be celebrated at once, in a wild and crazy parade that’s truly unforgettable.
“We are taking entertainment to the next level on Harmony of the Seas with more captivating, immersive entertainment experiences than ever before,” said Nick Weir, Vice President, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean International. “The level of innovation that has gone into our latest lineup is truly mind blowing, and Harmony guests can expect the unexpected with our biggest, most awe-inspiring stage yet.”
It all looks fabulous and I don't honestly know if we will be able to do everything listed but we sure are going to try!!
I can't wait to see how I can work most, if not all of these into our schedule!!
We have already booked the dining package again and Adrienne and I have drink packages. We can't wait to see what activities are offered as well!!
Next: Where we are going and our plans so far for my birthday week!!
About This Page: 
I'm pretty sure my coworkers appreciate the fact that I am not around for my birthday most years as I tend to make it a national holiday
He is a small business owner and also a travel lover. He just turned 60 and I think he looks terrific!! Muffin has been my travel inspiration for the past 34 years. I can't believe all of the places we have been!!
Dave is married to Adrienne. In fact, they got married the same year we did and we were in each other's weddings. He will be 61 at the time of this cruise. He also loves to travel! These two have been on many, many trips with us including two WDW trips, three trips to Vegas and the cruise in 2007. They are family and we have spent every single Christmas and New Year's Eve together since 1982.
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Can't wait to read this adventure. 
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