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Go big on bold when you sail aboard one of the largest cruise ships in the world.
Get ready for a perception remixing, memory maxing mic drop — Symphony of the Seas® is all that and more. It’s your favorite onboard hits, including the ten-story test of courage, Ultimate Abyss℠ and twin FlowRider®* surf simulators, plus revolutionary firsts, like glow-in-the-dark laser tag. And deck-defying attractions aren’t the only things to look forward to when you sail onboard this Oasis Class ship. Symphony of the Seas® is also loaded with delicious ways to tempt your taste buds — like the gameday game changing Playmakers℠ Sports Bar & Arcade — and larger-than-life ways to stay, like the Ultimate Family Suite. Go get your thrill on.
It was our 11th cruise to the Royal Caribbean. My husband and I love to spend our birthdays on a cruise. We were there from May 9 to 16 and it was my birthday on May 14! Everything was very good - our room attendant decorated our cabin, in the restaurant at our table our very nice and friendly waiter Michael congratulated me on my birthday! It was very nice!! Thank you very much! But then I noticed that I lost a gold chain with a key chain with stones, which is very dear to me as a memory. My husband gave it to me more than 10 years ago and I love it very much. I wore it as a strap for a small Tiffany handbag. I remembered the last time I saw her on the first evening in the casino... My husband and I went to the Front Desk and got to the very attentive Senior Guest Service Officer Melqui Espinoza. He listened carefully to our story, we talked and talked to him several times... And he brought us our lost thing and we were happy! I said today is my birthday! He asked for permission to congratulate and hugs me on this day! And the next morning we received a bottle of wine and strawberries in chocolate in honor of my birthday!!! Guys! Thank you all very much for a great vacation, despite the fact that we didn't get to the island because of the rain.. Everything was fine! And we have already booked a cruise from September 14 to 21 for my husband's birthday!
I wanted to preface this to say that this is NOT an extensive review, but a review based more on impressions from someone who doesn't always cruise on RCCL. We don't ever take the internet package, so we don't review in real time (part of the idea of a cruise is to disconnect from "the world"...that said there's bleed in of notifications that occur on cruises like this so we do get SOME info and can connect at ports). We decided to do our third RCCL cruise after many considerations and options, but mostly we live in NJ, the port is in NJ and our thirst for flying at this point in time is not strong. Thus the convenience of cruising out of Bayonne was enticing, even though the cruise was a bit more expensive that we usually like. Our previous cruises on RCCL were on the Anthem OTS in 2016 (or maybe 2017) out of NJ and on Freedom OTS out of San Juan (as part of a large group). We have liked RCCL but have been more loyal to NCL and CCL in the past. This was our first "mega-ship" and that was a consideration for us, and we wanted to try one. Considerations: Close by, ports we've been to but didn't mind revisiting, price (compared to flying/hotels), mega ship Reservations: A bit costly, MyTimeDining, really isn't "My Time" but late dining. Having to make, well, reservations for everything, parking confusion Embarkation: We decided to do Lyft rather than parking based on cost (at the end of the day, it would up saving us about $50). Had a 12:30 boarding time, so left our house around 11:15. Lyft app said about 40 minutes to the port, so that seems about right. But, at the approach to the terminal, it completely backed up and it took an hour to go about 1.5 miles. We ended up pulling up to the baggage area at around 12:45. The good news was, that it took us maybe 10 minutes to get through security, check in and board the ship. So we were on by around 1pm. We went straight to muster, checked in, where they informed us our cabin was ready (GTY balcony, floor 7 midship, right opposite the entrance to the elevators). So no "schlepping" our backpacks and 12 pack of water around with us waiting for our cabin. The Ship: The ship was, as far as I could tell, full, but it never felt crowded. The layout is well thought out, and there are plenty of gathering places so that not everyone is concentrated in one or two meeting points. Being on the 7th floor we were pretty central to most things. We could take the stairs to both the Atrium area (2 flights down) or the central park area (one flight up). Do go up to the pool decks, we did need elevators, but never once waited more than a minute or two. It was easy enough to navigate, though the two areas that were a bit problematic, was no direct access to the boardwalk (on 6) which required going to 5 and then going up to 6 to access the area, and the pool area where we would get confused what was on 15 and what was on 16. Minor quibbles to be sure. Plenty of places to eat or imbibe (if that's your thing). The Cabin: Standard balcony cabin. Plenty of space for storage, loungers on the balcony, and outlets for charging. We tipped our steward ahead of time and got extra towels, but hardly saw him. Perhaps it was because we took the late cleaning. Not sure if it was worth, the extra "tip", but this is how we usually do things. Liked the glass shower door, and the mirrors didn't fog after a shower, nice little touch. Overall, nothing "special" about the cabin, pretty standard compared to balcony cabins on other cruises I've been on. One thing I liked is there was a decent amount of TV channels, especially sports, so was able to watch some of the NBA and NHL playoff games. Though, the HDMI port was accessible, I was unable to get my phone to work with the HDMI ports despite a device I have that worked at home, but not with this TV. Food / Drink: We got the soda package, since neither of us drink much and my wife likes Diet Coke. That said, we probably could have lived without it and would probably not buy it again on another cruise. We got one free specialty dining through our TA, and we bought the 3 specialty dining package from RCCL. We ate at 150, Jaimies, Hooked and Chops, and had excellent meal at all. That said, I thought the food in the MDR was excellent and if we skipped the specialty dining altogether, it would have been fine. Only dish that I didn't like in the MDR was the lasagna, on "Italian" Night which was overcooked and mushy with a less than desirable sauce. Everything else was really great. Especially like the French onion soup, had it twice! We like eating breakfast in the MDR and I'm not an egg eater, but we both loved the french toast and CRISPY bacon. Best french toast I ever had on a cruise. Lunches varied. We aren't buffet people so we avoided Windjammer mostly, except for afternoon coffee (not terrible) and a snack. We did eat at the Solarium Bistro a couple of times since it was generally less crowded. We also tried the Mexican stand, which was fine, nothing special, the hotdog stand, which was very good, but we really enjoyed going to the little take and go place in Central Park. Never too crowded, and was able to get either snacks or a sandwich or salad. A couple of days all we got was some fruit which held us off until dinner. As for MyTimeDining, yes we were "forced" to make a 6:45 reservation, which turned out fine, though cost us a couple of trivia contests we wanted to attend. Because we made this "reservation" we got seated at the same table, and had the most wonderful waitress/assistant we've ever had on a ship we've been on....which leads to... Staff: Perhaps the best staff we've ever had on any ship, and one reason I would now consider RCCL as our current favorite. EVERYONE was friendly, smiling and genuinely seemed to be enjoying their work. I didn't encounter anywhere the "grumpy" staff person who seemed like they wanted to be somewhere else. The CD John, a former Hollywood stuntman was fun. While he didn't seem all over the place like the Carnival CDs, he seemed to be at just the right events and seemed to be generally having fun. The entertainment staff was all good. We do a lot of trivia and game shows and they were definitely into doing them. The best experience was with our MDR waitstaff, Ni and Saty. Ni felt like my Jewish grandmother at times, always seemed concerned that we didn't get enough to eat, always took some time to have a conversation about our day, her life in Bali and always had a smile on her face. Saty as well. The couple sitting next to us glowed about her as they had her on another ship, wrote a glowing review of her and helped her get promoted. Ni called them her "parents". She was all of that and more. I normally don't tip the waitstaff extra but I gave them extra. The nights when we ate somewhere else, they felt genuinely disappointed and she mentioned one night she held the table for us. That made us feel so good. The service at the other restaurants was also excellent. Entertainment: Also excellent, though again, not a fan of having to make "reservations" and I got stuck with late reservations for a few shows. But with that said, I screwed up one reservation for Hairspray for the late show because we wanted to try and get in early, and ended up with NO reservation for anything. We were told, just come 30 minutes early and wait on the standby line and you'll get in. Sure enough, they let in the folks with reservations first, and then us on the standby and, there were plenty of seats, though the theater did fill up eventually. We saw all of the stage shows, did both water shows, both ice shows and all were fun. We love doing trivia (won a keychain on the next to last day), and the little game shows they have and listening to karaoke (I can't sing, but I like listening to music). We didn't like the comedy show which we saw the first night and I could tell my wife was bored so we never went back to see if it got better. Overall, very little bored time for us. Always something to do. The app helped with planning, though had it's own glitches. Excursions. After we boarded we found out one of our excursions was cancelled. We rebooked something else. But they were fine and less expensive than I can remember similar excursions on the other cruise lines, so there's that. We generally like culture over adventure, so we don't do heavy hiking or snorkeling or that sort of thing. They were well organized, which is the best I could hope for. Debarkation: We chose to take our own bags, and was off the ship from our cabin to the street in like 20 minutes. No complaints, it was all pretty easy. Overall impression: This was probably one of the better cruises we've ever taken. Well organized, excellent ship, great staff. We will definitely be on another RCCL cruise soon. NCL used to be our favorite, but they seem to want to cater more to the Celebrity/Holland America crowd now. No Fun Cruise. Carnival has become TOO much of a party ship. Royal seems to have hit the sweet spot.
AWARD-WINNING & AWE-INSPIRING ACCOMMODATION
Welcome to the perfect spot to rest your head after a day spent discovering record-breaking thrills, spectacular shows and palette-pleasing flavours onboard the largest cruise ship in the world, Symphony of the Seas®. Serving up spectacular views and deluxe facilities, our staterooms are an alluring escape from the non-stop action our ships are known for – and the perfect place to recharge in between adventures.
THE ALL-NEW ULTIMATE FAMILY SUITE
The Ultimate Family Suite is two storeys of amazing thrills on every level. Like your very own in-suite slide where there’s never a queue, an air hockey table and table tennis on your balcony.
HOT TUB HANGOUT - Unwind on your balcony in your very own private jacuzzi or take part in a game of table tennis – all while enjoying ocean views.
ADVENTURE ON DEMAND - From planning the perfect date night at sea, to arranging exclusive one-of-a-kind experiences designed around you, your Royal Genie will make sure that every aspect of your adventure is taken care of.
GAME TIME AT ANY TIME - Amp up your stay with a little friendly competition in your own private game room complete with video game systems, life-size Connect-Four and more. You can even transform the space into a karaoke spot where you can bond while belting out your favourite hits.
THE LUXURIOUS ROYAL SUITE CLASS
Real luxury is so much more than design and facilities. It’s about unforgettable experiences – moments that inspire, service that exceeds expectations and one-of-a-kind adventures that give you stories to bring home. You’ll discover all that and more when you sail in Royal Suite Class.
EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES - Elevate every aspect of your travel adventure with exclusive access and unique experiences that you’ll treasure for years to come, crafted just for you by a Royal Genie or dedicated Concierge.
INCLUSIVE FACILITIES - Sometimes, the smallest details make the biggest difference. Our Sea, Sky and Star Class Suites offer complimentary services and facilities that make every moment unforgettable.
UNPARALLELED ACCOMMODATIONS - In between awe-inspiring holiday experiences, retreat to the most spacious luxury cruise suites. When you sail in Royal Suite Class, you’ll find every detail has been carefully considered with you in mind.
DESIGNED TO MATCH YOUR TRAVEL STYLE
Relax, unwind and make yourself at home after a full day of adventure. From thread-count comfort and deluxe facilities to breathtaking views, you'll find all the creature comforts you'd expect during your holiday – and some you probably haven't even thought of – in a range of rooms to suit your travel style.
INTERIOR STATEROOMS - Our interior staterooms include a wide array of facilities for your whole family to enjoy.
OCEAN VIEW STATEROOMS - Savour the seaside and snapshots of landscapes from shore to shore.
BALCONY STATEROOMS - Claim your slice of paradise with balcony views just outside your door.
VIRTUAL BALCONY STATEROOMS - Cutting-edge technology delivers a view in every room with real-time, floor-to-ceiling displays.
DESIGNED TO MATCH YOUR COMFORT NEEDS
24-hour room service for fuelling up between thrills. A daily stateroom attendant dedicated to making sure that your stay is spectacular. Nightly turn-down service so you can rest easy before the next day’s adventures. Whether you’re travelling with kids, a group of fellow explorers or require any kind of specialised service, we’ve thought of all the creature comforts you’d expect during your holiday – plus a few more.
BABY ONBOARD - Holidaying with a baby? Let us know and we’ll provide a cot and supplies to make your little one comfy.
BRINGING THE CREW - Keep the whole squad together on your next getaway. Select staterooms can connect to accommodate more guests.
COUPLES RETREAT - Our staterooms offer spa-like comfort so you can disconnect from reality and reconnect with your partner-in-adventure.
SPECIAL NEEDS - All of our cruise ships are equipped to accommodate any special needs – just let us know and we’ll make you feel at home.
BEST OF BOTH SALTY AND SWEET
Whether you’re looking to indulge in fine dining, or just tempt your sweet tooth you’ll find endless ways to please your palate onboard Symphony of the Seas. Head to Hooked Seafood℠ for just-shucked oysters and other coastal classics. Or treat yourself to a couple scoops and a bag of your favourite sugary treats at Sugar Beach℠.
HOOKED SEAFOOD℠
If you want to snag a real taste of New England style seafood, Hooked Seafood℠ is the spot. Crispy golden Maryland crab cakes. Delectable sandwiches, like the Maryland clam strip sandwich. Just-shucked oysters and other raw bar favourites.
SUGAR BEACH℠
Treat your sweet tooth to every sweet under the sun – plus a few sugar-coated surprises. Sugar Beach℠ is stocked to maximum candy capacity with all your favourite confections.
WONDERLAND℠
The best nights out start with an incredible meal and dining experience. At Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine, master chefs walk the line between fantasy and reality, serving up creative cocktails and dishes designed to whisk you away down a rabbit hole of wonder.
Enrichment programs or classes cover a wide range of topics, from wine tasting to arts and crafts.
THE NEW SOUND OF WONDER
The new Symphony of the Seas® is overflowing with bolder ways to fill your time between islands. Now you’ll never run out of things to do or places to treat your taste buds. Gear up for a glow-in-the-dark laser tag face-off in Battle for Planet Z℠. Catch a wave on the FlowRider® surf simulator and race down The Perfect Storm℠ triple-threat waterslides. Indulge your sweet tooth at Sugar Beach℠ or feast on made-to-order rolls at Izumi Hibachi & Sushi.
THE PERFECT STORM
Grab a buddy and plunge down three storeys of twisting, turning thrills to the bottom of the Typhoon℠, Cyclone℠ and Supercell℠ slides. The conditions are just right – for The Perfect Storm℠.
LASER TAG
Two forces clash in a glow-in-the-dark laser tag faceoff for control of the last planet for light years around. Will your team claim it? Take aim and find out in Battle for Planet Z℠.
FLOWRIDER
Grab your board and get ready for 100,000 litres of rushing amazingness headed your way. The surf’s always up on the 12-metre-long FlowRider® surf simulator.
NO LIMIT ON CRUISE NIGHTLIFE
You can easily fill a day with non-stop thrills onboard Symphony of the Seas®. Just make sure to save some energy for when the sun goes down, because that’s when the party really starts to heat up onboard one of the newest cruises.
MIXOLOGY MEETS TECHNOLOGY
At Bionic Bar, two robotic bartenders take orders in binary and sling drinks to perfection. Choose a speciality cocktail from the digital set menu or enter your own special recipe and watch these mecha-mixers do their thing in this robotic cruise bar.
BIG HAIR BOLD MOVES
Take your night out onboard to Broadway at one of the biggest onstage hits in history –Hairspray. It’s the perfect opportunity to belt out your favourite feel-good tunes as you watch Tracy Turnblad steal the spotlight and follow her dreams.
Our fully equipped state-of-the-art gym has got everything you need to keep fit throughout your holiday.
It’s all about fun onboard Royal Caribbean. Families will be wow’ed by the Adventure Ocean programme, the amazing kids’ and teen zones and thrills such as ice-skating, surfing and zip-lining. If the kids are having a ball, mums and dads will too.
Leave your little ones for a whole lot of fun with our complimentary Adventure Ocean Youth & Teen Programme. With a host of thrilling, creative and educational activities, you can take the time out to relax whilst they have fun.
