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Allure of the Seas vs Harmony of the Seas: A First Impressions Comparison (2024)
Introduction to My Cruise Adventures
You know the situation when two incredible things present themselves to you at once and you can’t decide between the two? I exactly found myself in the same situation when I was planning our family cruise vacations last year.
Having done several weeks on both Allure and Harmony of the Seas, I can finally reveal my full comparison of these magnificient vessels. Now, let me walk you through my experience on each of those ships!
First Impressions
An Overview Of The Ship My first view of the Allure of the Seas in her home port at Port Everglades is something I will never forget. I was still gasping at the size of it, after all these years of cruising. And the ridiculous part? When I set eyes on the Harmony six months later, the same response occured. Both ships are amazing feats of engineering that made me feel like a kid on Christmas mourning.
The grand Royal Promenade welcomes you as soon as you step on either vessel! When I heard that I said to myself, “How on Earth could this happen on a ship? However, just trust me, you can tell the differences between these sisters quite quickly if you start exploring.
Shows and Entertainment
My Nightly Adventures
Now some basic knowledge about the entertainment: this is where the fun starts! I hummed ABBA songs for days after seeing “Mamma Mia!” on the Allure. The atmosphere in the theater was palpable, and I will confess that I might have been on the borderline of getting up and dancing in my seat a few times! On the Harmony, “Grease” put me back in high school. Both ships deliver Broadway-quality production values, but in two completely different atmospheres.
| Entertainment, Activities & Shows Options | Entertainment, Activities & Shows Options Available on Allure of the Seas | Entertainment, Activities & Shows Options Available on Harmony of the Seas |
|---|---|---|
| Spa & Fitness Center | Yes | Yes |
| Shopping | Yes | Yes |
| Guest Entertainers | Yes | Yes |
| Live Orchestra | Yes | Yes |
| Mamma Mia! | Yes | No |
| Oceanaria | Yes | No |
| Ice Games | Yes | No |
| Blue Planet | Yes | No |
| Sip, Tour, Brunch | Yes | Yes |
| Pickleball | Yes | Yes |
| Captain’s Welcome Aboard Reception | Yes | Yes |
| SHUSH! Silent Party | Yes | Yes |
| H2O ZoneSM Water Park | Yes | No |
| Fitness Classes | Yes | Yes |
| Zip Line | Yes | Yes |
| FlowRider® | Yes | Yes |
| Pool Parties | Yes | Yes |
| Outdoor Movie Nights | Yes | Yes |
| Sports Court | Yes | Yes |
| Live Bands | Yes | Yes |
| Arcade | Yes | Yes |
| Carousel | Yes | Yes |
| Solarium | Yes | Yes |
| Mini Golf | Yes | Yes |
| Art Collection | Yes | Yes |
| Wine Tasting | Yes | Yes |
| Rock Climbing Wall | Yes | Yes |
| Parades | Yes | Yes |
| Ice Skating | Yes | Yes |
| Night Life | Yes | Yes |
| Salsa Dancing | Yes | No |
| Latin Fiesta | Yes | Yes |
| Latin Dance Classes | Yes | No |
| Archery | Yes | No |
| 70s Disco Party | Yes | No |
| Cupcake Class | Yes | Yes |
| Art Auctions | Yes | Yes |
| Sushi Making Class | Yes | Yes |
| Card Room | Yes | Yes |
| Adventure Science Lab | Yes | Yes |
| Dance Classes | Yes | Yes |
| Aquanauts | Yes | Yes |
| Pub Performances | Yes | Yes |
| Imagination Studio | Yes | Yes |
| All Access Tour | Yes | Yes |
| Scrapbooking | Yes | Yes |
| Table Tennis | Yes | Yes |
| Whirlpools | Yes | Yes |
| Game Shows | Yes | Yes |
| Babies and Tots Programs | Yes | Yes |
| Adventure Ocean® | Yes | Yes |
| Theme Nights | Yes | Yes |
| Voyagers | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Artistry | Yes | Yes |
| Pools | Yes | Yes |
| Explorers | Yes | Yes |
| On Air Club | Yes | Yes |
| Jewelry Making | Yes | Yes |
| Club DJs | Yes | Yes |
| Scuba Certification | Yes | Yes |
| Teen Lounge | Yes | Yes |
| Adventure Ocean Theater | Yes | Yes |
| Away We Go | Yes | Yes |
| Grease | No | Yes |
| Learn to Play | No | Yes |
| Aquatheater Shows | No | Yes |
| The Fine Line | No | Yes |
| Hideaway Heist | No | Yes |
| Ice Skating Shows | No | Yes |
| ISKATE | No | Yes |
| 1887 | No | Yes |
| Original Productions | No | Yes |
| Columbus | No | Yes |
| Typhoon℠ and Cyclone℠ | No | Yes |
| Supercell℠ | No | Yes |
| Let’s Celebrate | No | Yes |
| Whirlpools | Yes | Yes |
| Totally Awesome 90s Street Party | No | Yes |
| The Perfect Storm℠ | No | Yes |
| SPLASHAWAY BAY℠ | No | Yes |
| Guest Lectures | No | Yes |
| Harmony High | No | Yes |
| Adventure Art | No | Yes |
| Piano Sing-Alongs | No | Yes |
Aqua Shows and Specialty Experiences
This was where I encounted a few big indicators of differences. An example would be “Oceanaria,” which left me spellbound on the Allure — the divers synchronized with the music left me breathless.
But once I witnessed “The Fine Line” on Harmony? Game changer! It was, however, a much different experience with the modern tecnology. While on Allure one night, I discovered their Latin dance classes.
While the extent of my salsa skills is not dancefloor worthy (I’m not quite Fred Astaire) the instructor was so lovely and patient that I ended up getting the hang of it! The Harmony doesn’t have these types of shows, but makes up for it in other areas such as the “Totally Awesome 90s Street Party” – which, I proudly admit, left me busting out dance moves I hadn’t attempted since college!
Activities at Sea (Allure vs Harmony)
Activities and Recreation
I also had to balance all that great food with some excercise, so I gave the recreational facilities on the two ships some full testing too. The FlowRider on both vessels became my arch nemesis — and I totally wiped out all the time, providing extra entertainment to onlookers.
Water Features In comparison
the water attractions got the upper edge in Harmony. How about those Perfect Storm slides!? I was screaming like a little kid (good screams!). SPLASHAWAY BAY is a wonderland for families. The H2O Zone at the Allure is nice as well, but it’s more conventional by comparison.
Sports and Fitness
I made sure not to say no to anything at least the first time. The zip line on both ships? Terrifying but exhilariting! The rock climbing walls? Eventually, I ended up at the top. However, and this is somewhat of a twist, the Allure has archery, which I tried and immediately fell in love with.
My Culinary Journey: Dining Experiences (Allure vs Harmony)
| Dining Options | Dining Options Available on Allure of the Seas | Dining Options Available on Harmony of the Seas |
|---|---|---|
| Chef's Table | Yes | Yes |
| Samba Grill | Yes | No |
| Wipe Out Café featuring El Loco Fresh® | Yes | No |
| Giovanni's Table | Yes | No |
| Main Dining Room | Yes | Yes |
| Izumi Hibachi & Sushi | Yes | Yes |
| Windjammer | Yes | Yes |
| Johnny Rockets® | Yes | Yes |
| Dog House | Yes | Yes |
| Sabor | Yes | Yes |
| Chops Grille℠ | Yes | Yes |
| Solarium Bistro Restaurant | Yes | Yes |
| Room Service | Yes | Yes |
| Café Promenade | Yes | Yes |
| Starbucks® | Yes | Yes |
| Sorrento's Pizza | Yes | Yes |
| Coastal Kitchen | Yes | Yes |
| Park Cafe | Yes | Yes |
| Vitality Café | Yes | Yes |
| 150 Central Park | Yes | Yes |
| Mini Bites | No | Yes |
| Wonderland | No | Yes |
| Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver | No | Yes |
Oh boy, the food! So let me walk you through my dining experiences on each ship – and yes, I sampled EVERY SINGLE THING (all for research, of course!).
Specialty Restaurants
On the Allure I enjoyed one of my best meals at sea at Samba Grill. Now, just imagine, sitting there in front of the sunset over the ocean, with waiters serving you endless peices of perfectly grilled meats. You can’t get that on Harmony, and I still crave that picanha.
However, Harmony countered with Wonderland, and let me tell you – it’s like nothing else at sea. I sat in awe as my dessert withered before me, showing the bounty held within. Incredible, it’s molecular gastronomy meets Alice in Wonderland.
Casual Dining Adventures Tip
In my experience on both ships, the Windjammer buffet is very busy during “rush hour”. I prefer to either hit it early or late for a more casual vibe.
For lunch, I actually ended up at Park Cafe aboard both ships anyway — there’s just something about a sandwhich and Central Park that makes sense.
I turned to the Allure’s El Loco Fresh for speedy Mexican eats, and on Harmony I discovered Mini Bites, ideal for snacking up between all that running around.
My Night out – Gonzales Bars and Lounges
| Bar & Lounges Options | Bar & Lounges Options Available on Allure of the Seas | Bar & Lounges Options Available on Harmony of the Seas |
|---|---|---|
| Schooner Bar | Yes | Yes |
| Trellis Bar | Yes | Yes |
| Boleros | Yes | Yes |
| Rising Tide Bar | Yes | Yes |
| Solarium Bar | Yes | Yes |
| Suite Lounge | Yes | Yes |
| Pool Bar & Sand Bar | Yes | Yes |
| Bionic Bar® | No | Yes |
| English Pub | Yes | Yes |
| Dazzles | Yes | Yes |
| Champagne Bar | Yes | No |
| Wipe Out Bar | Yes | Yes |
Now, let’s get on to what is close to my heart – the bars and lounges!! Both ships provide fantastic venues, but with different personalities.
I enjoyed A LOT of bubbles and live music during several evenings at the Champagne Bar on the Allure! Perhaps it even became my ritual before dinner! It had a trendy, classy vibe, but you could still talk to people – I made frends with an Australian couple who became our go-to champagne crew! But on the Harmony, I discovered the Bionic Bar. Watch robots mix your drinks? Yes, please!
I probably stayed there too long, but it was hypnotic to watch the robotic Bartenders mix cocktails to exact proportians. They also throw down a solid Long Island Iced Tea — pro tip!
The two ships also share the Rising Tide Bar (yes, I took a few rides on it on both ships.) A cocktail in a moving elevator bar between decks is uniquely fun. However, I did observe that the Harmony version appeared to run more smoothly – likely due to more modern mechanizms.
A Day in the Life: Having a (typical) schedule
So here is a brief description of what a perfect day was like on both ships:
Allure of the Seas
Breakfast at Coastal Kitchen (I sprung for a suite) To begin my mourning on the Allure of the Seas, I went for an extravagant breakfast at the Coastal Kitchen, fully using the luxuries my suite provides me.
Mid-Morning Refueled, I went to a cardio Latin danse class to burn off that rich dinner.
Lunch: Samba Grill I indulged in the delectable dishes at the Samba Grill for lunch.
Swimming and H2O Zone:I mingled around the pool in the afternoon and just settled in around the bustling H2O Zone.
Evening: By the time evening rolled around, however, I was caught up in the musical, “Mamma Mia!” where they sipped refined cocktails at the Champagne Bar.
Late night And finally, I just had to join in for the high energy of the 70s Disco Party, which turned into standing room only for all the ships passengers!
Harmony of the Seas
Breakfast at Mini Bites (quick and easy) I began my day on the Harmony of the Seas with a quick and easy breakfast at Mini Bites so that I could have ample fuel for the fun ahead.
Late morning: The Perfect Storm water slides I made my way to the Perfect Storm water slides where, laughing as I glided down, I whizzed through the exhilarating rides to feel better refreshed.
Lunch at Wonderland (For the hell of it.): I stuffed myself with the cartoons of Wonderland for lunch.
Afternoon: Unpacking the Bionic Bar I made my way to the Bionic Bar in the afternoon and was keenly watching the Robots mix up personalized cocktails.
Night time: “Grease” with The Fine Line aqua exhibit I sat glued to the performance of Grease as the sun was setting and then later in awe of The Fine Line show, an aquatic spectacle.
Late night: 90s Street Party I spent the rest of the night boogying with fellow pasengers at the 90s Street Party, soaking up the vibe of the evening.
In Summary (Allure of the Seas vs Harmony of the Seas)
Which One Would I Pick? Having spent so much time on both ships, people often ask me which one I like better. Honestly? It really depends on what you need. The Allure has a more traditional and sophisticated feel, with its Latin flair and old-school entertainment options.
In contrast, the Harmony welcomes modernity with its updated fetures and technological newness. For families with teens, I think I’d probably recommend him the Harmony — those slides really impress kids and young adults love the contemporary entertainment.
The Allure is better for couples or those who prefer a classic cruise line experience and unique dining options. On both ships, I forged memories ranging from embarrassing the hell out of myself at the Allure danse classes to getting my cocktails served by robots on Harmony.
There is personality in every vessel and that makes the choice such a fun challenge. However, you really can’t go wrong with either ship. Both are floating cities of entertainment, leisuer and adventure.
My best advice? Think about what is most important to you in a holiday and pick as such. If your anything like me during, you’ll be planning the next one before your cruise has even finished!