What does trying out one of the biggest cruise ships in the world get that you might not get on a smaller ship?
With about 40% of Americans planning to travel at least once in 2023, they are some key things that you will take into consideration prior to making the final decision. These include budget, activities, and total value for your money. Nobody wants to spend thousands of dollars of their hard-earned money on a trip that they do not enjoy!
I knew that I wanted to take a cruise in early 2023, and I decided on a 7-night cruise onboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas. As a solo traveler, I paid $1,393.20 for the cruise fare and gratuities, which breaks down to just about $200 per night. While not the cheapest cruise vacation, I wanted to experience what the second largest cruise ship in the world had to offer.
I am no stranger to Oasis Class ships. In fact, this was my fifth time sailing on one. They are my favorite class of ship, so I was hoping to see if Symphony of the Seas lived up to my expectations.
Besides the sheer size of the 228,081gross registered ton vessel, here are some more reasons why I loved sailing onboard Symphony of the Seas.
Symphony of the Seas is filled with seemingly endless dining options and activity choices, making it an ideal vacation for just anyone looking for a mega ship vacation-- it does not matter if you are a young couple or multigenerational family.
While not the newest Oasis Class ship, Symphony of the Seas proves that Royal Caribbean is constantly striving to improve and make the best even better! She debuted in 2018 as the largest cruise ship in the world and has some key differences that set her apart from her younger counterparts.
The 6,680 passenger capacity ship, for instance, was the first Oasis Class ship to replace Sabor on the Boardwalk with Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade.
Additionally, it was the first ship in the entire fleet to receive Hooked Seafood, a specialty restaurant that serves up fresh New England-style seafood for a nominal fee.
Of course, thanks to Royal Caribbean's Royal Amplification program, these venues can now be found on other Oasis Class ships, too.
Since she is no longer the largest cruise ship, vacations onboard Symphony of the Seas are often cheaper than those on Wonder of the Seas, the ship that current holds the title until Icon of the Seas' launch in January 2024!
Plus, between May 2023 and April 2025, there are a wide variety of different itineraries to choose from, ranging from short 3- and 4-night cruises out of Fort Lauderdale and Miami, to 7-night cruises to Florida and the Bahamas from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), and 7-night Western Mediterranean cruises.
I am 23-years-old with no children, so when I cruise, I like to be able to have a space to retreat from families. Not only is the Solarium a child-free place, but it is aesthetically a nice place to be.
Unique to Symphony of the Seas is aone-of-a-kind art installation that is comprised of thousands of dichroic acrylic elements. You will not believe how beautiful it is at night!
Unlike on Harmony of the Seas, which I sailed on back in 2018, I did not have to leave the Solarium to take a dip in the pool. That was a major plus for me!In essence, I never had to spend time on the regular pool deck. Unless, that is, I wanted to take advantage of the other amenities, such as the Perfect Storm waterslides.
And while all Oasis Class ships have a Solarium Bistro onboard, I found the one on Symphony of the Seas to be particularly nicer. The two-story space shares the top floor with the specialty restaurant Hooked Seafood.It has a much more refined feel, despite the fact that children can technically eat there, and I preferred it over the Windjammer Marketplace!
Royal Caribbean is known for their entertainment options onboard their cruise ships, particularly their newer ones. In total, Symphony of the Seas has four main shows: Hairspray, HiRO, 1977, and Flight: Dare to Dream.
Of course, there's also live music, comedy shows, and more. There was never a moment that I was bored during my cruise. In fact, I found trying to squeeze everything in to be a bit overwhelming (totally worth it, though!).
I was a bit disappointed to find out that Hairspray was not a full-length Broadway-style production. That being said, the 90-minute show was my favorite! I had previously seen it onboard Oasis of the Seas in 2014 and remember it being hilarious, especially the cast's ability to improv with the technical difficulties.
Thankfully, there were not any issues during this show, but thecast still had an unmatchable energy; it was evident that they loved what they did.
The best piece of advice I can offer when it comes to shows is to make reservations for all of your "must-sees" as early as possible, especially the AquaTheatre show. You never know if later productions will have to be cancelled due to unfavorable sailing conditions.
I am a huge foodie, and going out to eat with friends and family is one of my favorite things to do! Knowing that, you can imagine that the dining options onboard a cruise are important to me.
I do not mind splurging on specialty restaurants every now and then, but one way I like to make sure that I get my money's worth on any cruise vacation is by eating as much complimentary food as possible.
In the past, I have been disappointed with the lack of complimentary dining options onboard Royal Caribbean ships. Thanks to the Royal Amplification program, though, many ships have begun to get more options, following in the footsteps of Oasis Class ships.
Between the Main Dining Room, Park Cafe, El Loco Fresh, Solarium Bistro, Boardwalk Dog House, Sorrentos Pizza, Windjammer Marketplace, and Cafe Promenade, I found it easy to rotate between dining options and never get tired of anything.
El Loco Fresh was my favorite quick-service spot, as I loved being able to build my own tacos and nachos! The array of hot sauces and salsas was great, too.
As I previously mentioned, I was never bored during my cruise. Aside from the numerous entertainment options, there were other onboard activities that I wanted to cross off my list, including zip lining, mini-golf, sliding down the Ultimate Abyss, relaxing in Central Park, and more.
In fact, I did not even the chance to try everything out, which makesSymphony of the Seas is a great vacation option for those who constantly like to being thinking about what is next!
I have been on ten cruises to the Bahamas and Caribbean throughout my life, meaning that I have visited many of the same ports over and over and over again. The repetition did not really bother me when I was younger; I was glad to be on a vacation!
Now, however, I am more focused on cruises with different itineraries. In June, I am going on my first-ever Europe and Mexican Riviera cruises, and I could not be more excited! Every single port of call will be a new place for me.
Due to the size of Symphony of the Seas, it is harder (nay, impossible) for the ship to be able to sail to certain places. You will not, for instance, ever find the ship in Alaska!
Symphony of the Seas has cabins available for all budgets and travel preferences, from affordable interior cabins to the lavish two-storyUltimate Family Suite.
Related:The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship
When I sailed on Symphony of the Seas, I stayed in an interior stateroom. While this meant that I did not have any access to natural sunlight, I was able to spend money on other experiences to enhance my overall experience, such as a shore excursion in St. Maarten and lunch at Izumi.
Most inside cabins are somewhere between 150 and 260 square feet, with the latter being the Family Interior Stateroom that can accommodate up to six guests.
The cheapest option will be a standard inside room; however, you can also select a virtual balcony stateroom or one with a window that overlooks the interior of the ship, whether that be the Boardwalk, Central Park, or Royal Promenade.
Ocean view staterooms are a great option for those who want to be able to see outside but who do not necessarily want to pay for a balcony. Like with inside cabins, the largest of these rooms are categorized as "Ultra-Spacious Oceanview" rooms and are 270 square feet. In comparison, the smallest are around 180 square feet.
When booking a balcony stateroom on any Oasis Class ship, it is important to pay attention to what category you are looking at, as there are balconies that overlook Central Park, the Boardwalk, and ocean.
Naturally, the latter will be the most expensive. Plus, at 55 square feet, their balconies are more spacious than the 50 square foot balconies that accompany Central Park and Boardwalk balcony rooms.
In terms of the inside square footage, however, all standard balcony rooms are around 180 square feet.
Suites onboard Symphony of the Seas are divided into three categories that comprise what is known as the Royal Suite Class:Star Class, Sky Class and Sea Class. Suites in the first two categories come with more perks than Junior Suites, the only suite in the Sea Class.
In total, there are eleven different types of suites to choose from: Junior Suites, one- and two-bedroom Grand Suites, Owner's Suites, one- and two-bedroom AquaTheatre Suites, Crown Loft Suites, Star Loft Suites, as well as a single Royal Loft Suite, Villa Suite, and Ultimate Family Suite.
There are ten complimentary dining options available to all guests on the ship, regardless of stateroom:
Those staying in suites can access Coastal Kitchen for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; however, Junior Suite guests can only dine here during dinner.
Specialty restaurants offer a more intimate dining experience compared to complimentary options. They, of course, come with an additional surcharge and are not included in the base price of your cruise. Regardless, they are a great way to make your vacation a little more special:
There's genuinely no shortage of things to do onboard Symphony of the Seas. During the day, you can relax by one of five pools, hang ten on one of two FlowRider surf simulators, zip line above the Boardwalk, play a round of mini-golf or see what game is being played in the Sports Court, or ride down the Ultimate Abyss slide or Perfect Storm waterslide trio.
Even if you do not want to cool off in the pool, the pool deck is home to many events that you may want to watch, such as the belly flop competition, scuba classes, poolside bingo, and more. It is important to check your Cruise Compass daily to make sure that you do not miss anything!
In addition to the fifteen bars and lounges on the ship, there are so many different entertainment options that will keep your evenings booked solid! From the Broadway-style musical Hairspray, toHiRO, 1977, and the Royal Caribbean Productions originalFlight: Dare to Dream.
Children and teens will love Royal Caribbean's award-winning youth programming, whether that be Adventure Ocean for those up to 12-years-old or their teen-exclusive lounges.
See original here:
Supplying the fun: Symphony of the Seas cruise review - Royal Caribbean Blog
- New satellite imagery reveals expanse of oil spill in Caribbean - Fox Weather - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Oil spill off Trinidad and Tobago blackens Caribbean beaches - The Washington Post - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Passenger dies aboard 9-month Royal Caribbean cruise around the world - NBC News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Group Signs with Chantiers For Next Oasis Class Ship - Cruise Industry News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Perfect Day at CocoCay new adult-only area: review - Business Insider - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Tourists Warned To Protect Their Passports As Thefts In The Mexican Caribbean On The Rise - The Cancun Sun - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Antigua: Elderly man charged with second homicide of 2024 | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- With Jamaica and Bahamas under travel advisories, which Caribbean islands are safe to book your next vacation? - SILive.com - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Gives Unprecedented Choice on Ultimate World Cruise - Cruise Hive - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Disney's Extensive Pirates of the Caribbean Change Officially Closes Attraction - Inside the Magic - Inside the Magic - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas: What it's like to stay on the largest cruise ship in the world - CNA: Breaking News, Singapore News, World and... - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- At Grenada's Spice Island Beach Resort, the Art of the Luxury All-Inclusive - Caribbean Journal - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Director Malaury Eloi-Paisley on Her Debut Documentary 'L'Homme Vertige,' and the Unvarnished Reality of ... - Yahoo Entertainment - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- See Royal Caribbean's newest giant cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas - Business Insider - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Preparing for Development of the Blue Economy in the U.S. Caribbean - NOAA Fisheries - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update as of 16 February 2024 - Haiti - ReliefWeb - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Europe and Latin America & the Caribbean step up cooperation on cybersecurity - EEAS - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Confirms 9-Month Cruise Will Not Go Through Red Sea and Suez Canal Due to Middle East Unrest - PEOPLE - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Where is Death in Paradise set? The Caribbean island behind the BBC show - The Independent - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Trinidad and Tobago: overturned barge leaks oil into Caribbean Sea video report - The Guardian - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- The next five venues for the Caribbean Series confirmed - AS USA - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Firing February in the Caribbean - Surfline.com Surf News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- 5 Best Luxury Resorts in the Caribbean for Adults - Insider Monkey - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean orders new ship weeks after Icon of the Seas launch - Ship Technology - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Suspect charged in fatal stabbing of woman in St Vincent | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Inside the Issue: Questlove on the Cover, Caribbean Escapes, and More - Business Traveler USA - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Royal Caribbean Unveils 2025-26 Northeast, Caribbean Sailings - Cruise Industry News - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- How to follow the 2024 RORC Caribbean 600 - RORC Caribbean 600 - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- Oil Spill off the Coast of Trinidad and Tobago Drifts Into Caribbean, Threatening Marine Life and Coral Reefs - EcoWatch - February 18th, 2024 [February 18th, 2024]
- OPCW advanced chemical response capability training for Latin ... - Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- These 3 Caribbean Destinations Are Some of the Most Popular (and ... - Travel + Leisure - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (As of 20 ... - ReliefWeb - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Caribbean Cup SF on The Rise: Franklin Singodikromo - Concacaf - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Former Royal Caribbean Ship to Be Retired and Scrapped - Cruise Hive - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- What's it Like to Sail on Explora I in the Caribbean? - Cruise Critic - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- African, Caribbean Nations Agree To Pursue Reparations For Slavery - BET - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- IDB Invest Mobilizes the Largest Renewable Energy Financing in ... - BNamericas English - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- OPCW forum in Barbados enhances national implementation of the ... - Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Anderson targets improvement during tenure as regional VP of ... - sportsmax.tv - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Jervon Sands chosen as Rhodes Scholar for Commonwealth ... - The Washington Informer - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- The Commonwealth should establish a Reparations and Aid Fund ... - Insidethegames.biz - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Royal Caribbean passenger dies after excursion boat sinks on way to private island in Bahamas - NBC 6 South Florida - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Regional paint producers want increased tariffs on imported ... - Loop News Caribbean - November 22nd, 2023 [November 22nd, 2023]
- Former Mets Coming to Citi Field for Titans of the Caribbean Series - metsmerizedonline.com - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- LIONS, MERMAIDS AND PIRATES, OH MY! ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S ICON OF THE SEAS TO DEBUT SHOW ... - Royal Caribbean Press Center - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- It's not your imagination - Royal Caribbean is sending fewer ships to Europe - Royal Caribbean Blog - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- I'm going on Royal Caribbean's first world cruise for 274 nights: Why I booked and what I'm expecting - Royal Caribbean Blog - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- The 15 Best Spa Resorts in the Caribbean - Caribbean Journal - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- British Virgin Islands to review its minimum wage | Loop Caribbean News - Loop News Caribbean - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Royal Caribbean Unveils Full-Scale Shows for Icon of the Seas - Cruise Hive - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Opportunities for Latin American and Caribbean youth facing the ... - World Bank - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Celebrity Cruises Has a New Ship Heading for the Caribbean - Caribbean Journal - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Frogs were Florida's first-known vertebrates from the Caribbean - University of Florida - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- LatAm, Caribbean progress in fighting hunger, though COVID-19 ... - Reuters - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Largest Princess ship ever ported in Texas launches first Caribbean ... - CultureMap Dallas - November 10th, 2023 [November 10th, 2023]
- Why You Should Visit This Underrated Caribbean Destination Right Now - Travel Off Path - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- System in Caribbean to move inland over Central America - South Florida Sun Sentinel - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Webinar: Launch, Grow, and Accelerate Your Sales in the ... - news.delaware.gov - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Insurance in the Caribbean islands what's in the sector's future? - Insurance Business - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Why the Cayman Islands Is a Caribbean Culinary Capital - Caribbean Journal - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Integration Sector: Background Notes - Caribbean October 2023 ... - ReliefWeb - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Coral Seeding - Restoring Coral Reefs in the Caribbean - InfoBonaire.com - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- USAID Announces $25 Million to Address the Challenges of ... - USAID - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- EXPLORA I arrives in Miami for maiden call ahead of Caribbean ... - PAX News - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- A $7000 Suite on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas Cruise - Royal Caribbean Blog - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- These Are The Top 3 Fastest Growing Destinations In The Mexican ... - Travel Off Path - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Central America and Caribbean Price Bulletin, October 2023 ... - ReliefWeb - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Digital Financial Inclusion: Insights and Opportunities from the ... - ReliefWeb - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Caribbean tropical rainstorm to bring dangerous conditions to Central America - AOL - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Why The Mexican Caribbean Is The Best Digital Nomad Hotspot In ... - The Cancun Sun - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Curry Lobster With Potato Caribbean Life - Caribbean Life - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Caribbean Regional Consultation Meeting on Integrated Financing ... - UNEP - November 6th, 2023 [November 6th, 2023]
- Royal Caribbean's most expensive specialty restaurant ever will take 3 hours and cost $200 per person - Royal Caribbean Blog - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Tropical storms expected to land in Caribbean, Texas as forecasters watch 3 other systems - South Florida Sun Sentinel - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- New Royal Caribbean Survey Shows the Spanish On Top - Cruise Hive - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Tropical Storm Franklin to bring possible life-threatening flooding to Caribbean - Yahoo News - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- 10 Pirates Of The Caribbean Characters Who Need To Return In POTC 6 - Screen Rant - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Pirates Of The Caribbean Turned 20 This Year, And One Star Looked Back At Filming With Johnny Depp - CinemaBlend - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- Latin America & The Caribbean Weekly Situation Update (As of 21 August 2023) - Haiti - ReliefWeb - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]
- New York honors Caribbean icon: Harry Belafonte receives key to the city posthumously - caribbeannationalweekly.com - August 24th, 2023 [August 24th, 2023]