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Harmony of the Seas has water slides over Central Park, Bionic Bar, revamped Dynamic Dining

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Harmony of the Seas - water slides over Central Park
Royal Caribbean International's third Oasis-class ship will have three-story water slides twisting and turning over Central Park 10 decks below, Quantum-class features like robot bartenders and a revamped Dynamic Dining program, as well as super-fast Wi-Fi. Some staterooms will be larger, too.

Harmony of the Seas is set to launch in April 2016.

Like Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas will have seven distinct neighborhoods: Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.

Cruisers can test their mettle on the ship’s three multi-story water slides, positioned high over Central Park. One of the slides will feature a champagne bowl that swirls riders around.

'The Oasis-class ships continue to astound and delight both new and experienced cruisers. They shatter preconceived notions of what cruising can be and continue to stand in a category by themselves,' said Richard Fain, chairman and ceo of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. He added that Harmony of the Seas will make 'the most exciting experience at sea even better.'

The ship will feature a Bionic Bar on the Royal Promenade, borrowing the robotic bartenders concept from Quantum of the Seas. WOWbands using RFID technology will give passengers access to their staterooms and the ability to make on-board purchases and reservations. As on Quantum, Oasis and Allure, super-high-speed Internet will enable video streaming, Skyping and social media sharing.

While Oasis and Allure offer some of Royal Caribbean's largest staterooms, on Harmony of the Seas some categories will be even larger. Interior accommodations will be outfitted with virtual balconies, while single travelers will have studio stateroom choices. Suite guests will get exclusive new areas, from a suite lounge and a private suites-only restaurant called Coastal Kitchen (another concept borrowed from Quantum) to an exclusive full-service Suite Sun Zone sun deck.

With Dynamic Dining revamped following its Quantum debut, passengers who prefer a more traditional cruise dining style can select the 'Classic' option which offers two set seating times. With the 'Classic' option, diners rotate through each of the main complimentary restaurants at an early- or a late-seating time throughout their cruise with their dining group and the same assigned waiter each evening.

New specialty restaurant concepts will provide more variety including Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, with a new teppanyaki menu, and the Sabor modern Mexican restaurant. The new Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine, which debuted on Quantum, will provide an unusual culinary adventure in a whimsical setting serving imaginative fare.

The 227,700gt Harmony of the Seas will span 16 decks and have double-occupancy capacity for 5,479 passengers. The ship has 2,747 staterooms.

Itineraries for Harmony of the Seas, and for 2016's Quantum-class newbuild, Ovation of the Seas, will be announced in March.