Recently we were lucky enough to receive a FAM trip from Royal Caribbean to become more familiar with one of their ships that we hadn’t sailed on before. This allowed us to gain insights into the Symphony of the Seas for our clients and enjoy some time in the sun on one of the World’s largest cruise ships. The following is a summary of our experience as Covid restrictions begin to wind down.

Covid Protocols

Passengers over the age of 12 are required to be vaccinated. Guests under 12 are not required to be vaccinated, but they have additional testing requirements, and it is recommended that they wear a mask. Vaccinated guests are still required to have a negative Covid test result within two days of departure. I must admit that after over two years of Covid it was strange to see so many people without masks. But with the vaccination and testing requirements we didn’t feel unsafe. The ship was also large enough, with several quiet areas, so that you could avoid crowds if you wanted to. Plus, you could still wear a mask, without getting a second look, if you wanted too.

Impressive Size

I generally prefer smaller ships with a more intimate feel. But I must admit that the Symphony of the Seas was impressive. This Oasis class ship has 18 decks, is 1,184 feet long, and weighs 228,081 gross tons. At full capacity she can accommodate up to 6,680 passengers and 2,200 crew members. (Although on our sailing we were only about 60% to 70% full). They also have seven separate so called “neighborhoods”. At first things seemed a little overwhelming. But it didn’t take long to get your bearings and start to enjoy all that this magnificent vessel had to offer.

The Symphony of the Seas Offers Unparalleled Activity Options

With the ship’s great size came great activity options. There are multiple water slides, a children’s water park, a very popular pool area, rock-climbing walls, a zip-line, two surf/wave machines, a basketball court, a carousel, and an ice-skating rink among other options. In the center of the ship is a large open area known as Central Park. This green space is filled with plants, flowers and a small variety of restaurant and bar options. We found it to be a pretty place to get away from the crowds and people watch or read while enjoying a cocktail.

Impressive Show/Entertainment Options

The entertainment options were also impressive. Under normal circumstances they do a full-scale production of the musical “Hairspray”. With Covid they were unable to assemble a full cast for this. As a replacement their main theater show is a tribute to the history of aviation known as “Flight”. While the song choices and plot may not have been fully Broadway caliber, the production value was. They open with a zero-gravity scene with a space capsule on stage and end with the Wright Brothers flying over the audience. They also have a diving and aerial acrobatics show called “Hiro” at the Aqua Theater. This impressive and popular show always had a long wait list to get in for those who didn’t make advanced reservations. We recommend booking reservations for any show you want to see early just to make sure that you can get in.

There are also two ice skating shows. The first is “1977” and has plot that revolves around a jewel thief in 1970’s Britain. We found the second show, which included popular songs and skaters performing their favorite tricks, to be even more enjoyable. In addition to the formal shows the ship also offered a never-ending variety of bands, nightclubs, piano players, comedians, karaoke, and several other entertainment options.

The Symphony of the Seas Offers Varied Dining Options

In addition to the main dining room and the buffet, the ship offered seven other restaurants that were included in the price of the cruise. A lack of options was not an issue. However, with the number of passengers on board lines at the main dining room could be long. The buffet was also understaffed and therefore had some service and food quality issues. But they certainly weren’t bad, and things should only improve as the Covid log jam eases.

The over 10 specialty restaurants on board were where the ship really shined. Although they do require an extra charge all the ones that we tried were worth it. There are a wide variety of cuisines to please a variety of palates. Our personal favorite was 150 Central Park which focused on meats and seafood. Both the food and service were top notch. One thing to note is that each of the specialty restaurants isn’t that large. They are intimate in scale and the shear number of them accommodates the large number of passengers. But if you really want to try a specific restaurant, make sure to book it early as they can sell out quickly.

The Ship also Offers Varied Bar Options

The ship also offers a wide variety of bars from a sports bar and traditional Irish pub to their “Bionic Bar” where robots make your favorite cocktails.

Great Option for Families and Reunions

There were several large groups traveling together on board. All of them kept complimenting the wide variety of things to do on the ship. Families could split up and do their own thing, and then compare adventures together over cocktails or dinner. This makes it a perfect option for reunions and other large get togethers. Symphony of the Seas is also ideal for those who want to keep their days, and nights, busy while trying new things. But for those who enjoy a quieter experience there were enough nooks and low-key areas to be able to relax and forget that you were on such a large ship for a while. It will never be as intimate as a smaller, ultra-luxury ship. But you can still enjoy a quieter experience if you know where to look.

We Had a Lovely and Romantic Dinner at the Specialty Restaurant 150 Central Park

Another Fun and Unusual Specialty Restaurant was Wonderland, a Take Off on “Alice in Wonderland”

Wonderland Serves Tasting Menus With Whimsical Dishes

Boardwalk , One of the Ship’s Seven Neighborhoods, Was Designed to Be Reminiscent of Coney Island with A Carousel and Free Hot Dog Stand.

The Carousel Brings Back Childhood Memories For All

The Boardwalk Neighborhood Also Offers an Aqua Theater for their show “Hiro”, a Water Show Reminiscent of ‘O” in Las Vegas. For a Show Glimpse, go HERE.

Central Park, Another of the Seven Neighborhoods Offers Outdoor and Indoor Bar and Restaurant Areas As Well as Areas of Sun and Shade

Another View of the Multi-Faceted Central Park Neighborhood

They Have An Ice Rink for Skating and Ice Shows. For a Show Glimpse, Go HERE

The Interior Designer for the Ship’s Bathroom Urinals Had a Sense of Humor

If you would like more information about Symphony of the Seas, or any other cruise options out there, contact Purple Light Vacations. We’re always trying to stay up to date on these and other vacation options. We would love to help you plan your next adventure or relaxing get away.

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