

The mind-blowing shows rocking the new world's largest cruise ship

Jodi Ornstein, editor
Porthole Cruise Magazine
A scene from the skating show 1887 on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas.

“We want to impress, we want to show off, but in the end, we really just want to entertain.”

So says Nick Weir, who oversees Royal Caribbean’s on-board entertainment and guest activities as Vice President of Entertainment. Weir also oversees Royal Caribbean Productions, the in-house department that creates, produces, and manages the line’s entertainment operation at sea.

And when it comes to the shows aboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Harmony of the Seas, impressing and entertaining go hand in hand. From original production shows to unique versions of classic shows and activities, it’d be impossible to not stand up and clap at the end of these five favorite shows on board.

1. Grease. Go Greased Lightning! and so many other favorite songs appear in this unique version of this popular cult classic. But what makes Harmony of the Seas’ version of Grease stand out, Weir explains, is that Royal Caribbean had to secure rights from both the Broadway musical and the 1978 hit movie in order to feature the favorite songs and original dance moves from each. Add an amazing cast, state-of-the-art lighting, and high-tech automation to bring your favorite scenes to life, and it’s impossible not to sing along to the classics from Summer Nights to You’re the One That I Want.

2. The Fine Line. The Fine Line is both extreme and extraordinary and will continually leave you asking yourself, “How can they do that?” Performed in the ship’s AquaTheater, the show features amazing high-flying feats, stunts, and acrobatics both in and out of the water. From high diving to tightrope walking, spinning and synchronized swimming, performers soar from two 10-meter Olympic-height diving boards and stun crowds with their brave performances.

3. 1887. Using some of the most stellar examples of high-resolution video projection technology, 1887 was inspired by the city of Paris and French author Jules Verne, and it is a tale of love and adventure. Performed in Studio B, the ice show is a journey of time and space and uses incredible technology to depict the detailed scenes. Weir says to watch for the refill/refreeze sequence as well as the high-resolution 3D graphics that create a perfectly simulated real world environment.

4. Columbus The Musical! Meet the other Columbus in this original production, which tells the story of Christopher Columbus’ down-on-his-luck distant cousin, Marvin, who sets sail on a wacky voyage of discovery to claim his own place in history. Check out the massive boat that is truly a modern stage marvel, and, of course, the flying sharks and tap dancing cheeseburgers. You’ll just have to see it to believe it.

5. Escape the Rubicon. Okay, it’s not a stage show, but when it comes to entertainment, it’s all the rage. As “escape rooms” are popping up across the country, why wouldn’t Royal Caribbean jump on the trend? Escape the Rubicon brings up to 12 participants at a time in a room where they have to work together and use clues to solve puzzles and ultimately escape the room. Built in partnership with Seattle-based escape room specialist Puzzle Break, this on-board version of a Puzzle Break venue uses high-tech design to create a steam-powered starship that truly puts participants in the heart of the action as they go against the clock to escape in 60 minutes or less.

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