Getting around
WOW! That was the first word that came out of my mouth after taking in all eighteen decks of this monster ship, and immediately after, I resided myself to the fact that I would end up getting lost trying to find my way around. But I can honestly say not once did I get lost, and that’s because this floating city is straightforward to navigate thanks to the seven different neighbourhoods onboard: –
The Boardwalk: This lively neighbourhood exudes a vintage seaside vibe, complete with a classic carousel, charming eateries, and vibrant nightlife. It’s perfect for family fun and late-night strolls under the stars.
Central Park: Find serenity amidst the sea as you stroll through Central Park, where over 20,000 living plants create a tranquil oasis. This neighbourhood features upscale dining options, like the acclaimed 150 Central Park restaurant, as well as boutique shopping and live music.
TOP TIP – Be sure to try Breakfast at the Park Café. It offers excellent healthy alternatives and is less busy than the Windjammer buffet restaurant.
Royal Promenade: At the heart of the ship, the Royal Promenade is a bustling hub with shops, cafes, and plenty of entertainment. Whether grabbing coffee at Café Promenade or indulging in retail therapy, this lively space has it all.
TOP TIP – The 80’s theme night on the Promenade is not to be missed.
Entertainment Place: If nightlife is your scene, Entertainment Place is where you want to be. The night comes alive with music, laughter, and excitement from bars and clubs to the glittering Casino Royale.
The Pool & Sports Zone: Thrill-seekers and sun-worshippers will find their haven here. From the tallest slide at sea to the tranquil Solarium, this neighbourhood offers aquatic adventures for all ages.
The Youth Zone: Keeping the kids happy and entertained is a breeze, with dedicated spaces for different age groups. The Adventure Ocean program ensures children have a blast while parents can enjoy some well-deserved relaxation.
Vitality Spa & Fitness: Recharge your body and soul at the Vitality Spa & Fitness neighbourhood. Pamper yourself with rejuvenating spa treatments or break a sweat in the state-of-the-art fitness centre.
Each neighbourhood has been built with a particular theme, which creates landmarks for easy navigation, like the carousel on the Boardwalk at the rear or Central Park in the middle of the ship.
TOP TIP: If you need help, there is an interactive ship directory on every level beside the lifts to help you navigate your way around.
Dining & Restaurants
One of the best things about Symphony of the Seas is the vast array of dining choices. Whether you stay with the nine complimentary dining venues or throw some speciality restaurants into the mix, you could eat at a different place every night of your holiday.
The complimentary dining options onboard mean there is no additional charge to eat from various restaurants onboard. You could choose anything from authentic Mexican cuisine to sumptuous four-course dining. Let’s explore a few of these culinary gems:
Main Dining Restaurant: In the Main Dining Room, you can experience flavours that take you from Jamaica to Jaipur, a rotating menu of delicious dishes always offering something unexpected. Many dishes on the Main Dining Room’s menu rotate each night, meaning you could go an entire week without repeating a course.
TOP TIP – Be sure to visit the main dining restaurant on a formal night for treats such as lobster and steak!
The Windjammer: Whatever kind of dish you’re in the mood for, you’ll find something tasty worth trying at the Windjammer. Pop in during the morning for your full English or home-style crispy chicken and waffles. Refuel in between adventures with a refreshing watermelon and feta salad or classic fish and chips. Or sample your way from Italy to India with dishes like traditional chicken marsala, savoury pork vindaloo and tangy duck a l ’Orange.
Solarium Bistro: This speciality restaurant is both healthy and included in your cruise fare. That is a win-win if you ask me. With a set menu, you can make reservations pre-cruise to dine here. It takes a while for other cruisers to discover this restaurant, which features an appetiser buffet and a Greek-inspired menu.
El Loco Fresh: El Loco Fresh® serves up Mexican fare that’s extremely delicious. With classic mole sauce and tangy salsa verde topping beef burritos, carnitas and more – it’s a fiesta of flavour from south of the border, and we had lunch quite a few times here!
TOP TIP – Stop by for breakfast and try a filling breakfast burrito or breakfast quesadilla.
Sorrento’s: There’s nothing more satisfying than a great slice of pizza, and you’ll get that at Sorrento’s.
TOP TIP – Sorrento’s is open late, which makes it one of the best spots for an after-hours bite.
Boardwalk Doghouse: Perfect for a quick bite, whatever kind of foot-long you fancy, Doghouse serves up the best sausages at sea with a twist like the “The Big Apple,” a chicken sausage cooked with apple for a subtle burst of sweetness.
Park Café: The menu at Park Cafe offers something for everyone during breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. Come here for deli classics, like made-to-order salads, sandwiches, sweet treats, and a great breakfast spread.
TOP TIP – Don’t miss trying the roast beef sandwich… It’s out of this world!
Café Promenade: This complimentary hotspot is available 24 hours a day so that you can drop in anytime for your morning coffee or midnight snack.
Vitality Café: You’ll find a wide range of salads, sandwiches and wraps to refuel with at Vitality Café, but it’s best known for its signature juices and smoothies.
TOP TIP – All the signature juices, smoothies and protein shakes at Vitality Café are included in Deluxe and Refreshment Beverage Packages.
Speciality dining
Symphony also houses plenty of speciality dining options. You will have to pay a small surcharge for these restaurants, but they will give you a dining experience you cannot get anywhere else on the ship.
I suggest trying at least one of these restaurants while on board, but it certainly is an option and not required. Think of it as “going out to eat” or a special occasion dinner. Many clients do this for a Formal Night, a birthday, or an anniversary.
Hooked Seafood: Head to the front of the ship for stunning ocean views and great seafood. For $39, you can enjoy selections including calamari, crispy golden Maryland crab cakes, and even lobster. For an indulgent sea day lunch, try out the famed lobster roll for a cover charge of $19.
Playmakers Sports: This sports-themed bar on the Boardwalk offers tasty snack dishes to share. The a la carte menu features items like Pile on Nachos, loaded with gooey cheese, sliced jalapenos, creamy guacamole, salsa, and sour cream, or if you’re craving a great burger, Playmakers has two to choose from: the classic and a version with truffle cheese sauce.
Wonderland: Once you ‘brush’ the menu at Wonderland, you’ll get to choose dishes based on five natural elements – Earth, Sea, Fire, Ice and Sun. The imaginative Cuisine at Wonderland is all about pushing the culinary envelope. A flat fee of $54.99 (plus service charge) will transport you down the rabbit hole to this Alice in Wonderland-themed venue, where your waiter will expertly guide you through the tasting menu, including liquid lobster served with bone marrow and caviar.
TOP TIP – Watch out for the Mad Hatter!
150 Central Park: Simply put, 150 Central Park is a tad posh. You instantly feel like a VIP when you enter behind the velvet rope at the entrance. Think scooped chairs that make you feel like you are sitting on a throne while eating the freshest produce on gold-rimmed plates. For an extra special treat, look for the TS symbol on the menu, which means your dish will be prepared tableside.
Izumi Hibachi & Sushi: Izumi is a Japanese restaurant serving fresh sushi and delicious teppanyaki. You can dine at the restaurant or partake in the Hibachi (show) experience. The sushi menu is priced a la carte, while the Hibachi experience has a flat fee for the four-course meal of $45 (plus 18% service charge).
Johnny Rockets: Johnny Rockets serves burgers, shakes, fries and fun in a cool 1950s retro atmosphere. On Symphony of the Seas, lunch and dinner have a flat fee of $10.95 (plus service charge), including as many burgers and fries as you want!
TOP TIP – You can dine here complementary for Breakfast; make sure to arrive early as this little secret gets out fast.
Jamie’s Italian: At Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver, sit down to Tuscan-inspired cuisine crafted by one of the UK’s most famous chefs. I enjoyed the authentic recipes, from homemade pasta and classic Italian mains to contemporary creations such as homemade truffle tagliatelle. This speciality restaurant has a flat fee of $45.99 a person for dinner.
Coastal Kitchen: This Med-Fusion restaurant is exclusively for suite guests and Pinnacle Club members. The menu is filled with Pacific Coast favourites and Med-inspired dishes. Also, the menu here rotates to spotlight local seasonal ingredients.
Chops Grille: If you want top-notch meat, poultry, and seafood selections, make a reservation at Chops Grille, as it is one of the most popular speciality restaurants onboard. At $52.99 (plus service charge), it is at the top end of the additional charges, but if you want to sample a menu selection, lunch is served from noon to 1:30 pm on sea days. It will run you $19.50 a person, but it is worth every mouth-watering bite.
Entertainment & Shows
The entertainment and shows onboard Symphony of the Seas are nothing short of spectacular, captivating audiences with their world-class performances and dazzling productions. Here’s a run-down of what’s on offer:
Hairspray: Mix big hair, big dreams and all the right moves, and you’ve got one of the biggest Broadway hits of our time – Hairspray. Winner of eight Tony Awards and a record-breaking 11 Laurence Olivier Award nominations, this feel-good favourite will undoubtedly put a smile on your face and perhaps even have you dancing in the aisles!
Hiro: Taking place in the Aqua Theatre, this technologically enhanced show is a 50-minute production that will amaze you with high-flying feats, unexpected stunts and extraordinary acrobatics. No two shows are ever the same, and anything can happen!
TOP TIP – Remember to look up!
Flight, Dare to Dream: This original production begins in the distant future, as the audience boards the Lunar US for the launch of the world’s first aerospace cruiser on its maiden voyage to Mars. And it ends with a stunning dramatisation of the Wright Brothers’ monumental first flight at Kitty Hawk.
1977: You’ll join the time-travelling hero Tempus on a new adventure in 1977. After visiting Paris on Harmony of the Seas® in 1887, his latest journey brings him to Symphony of the Seas℠ and to London, England. Her Majesty’s Crown Jewels have been stolen on the eve of her Silver Jubilee by a mysterious jewel thief. A chase through time and cultures ensues in this digitally enhanced production, complete with a drone light show you can only find on Royal Caribbean ships.
Aqua Nation: The deepest pool at sea sets the stage for some of the world’s best high divers, trick liners, synchronised swimmers, acrobats, trampolinists and aerialists. This original AquaTheater show has edge-of-your-seat feats that literally take onboard entertainment to new heights.
iSkate 2.0: Be prepared for breathtaking backspins and dazzling double axles. The ice skaters on Symphony are among the most talented performers at sea, and they bring their best and boldest moves to the ice skating rink set to classic tunes from the likes of AC/DC and Queen.
TOP TIP: Use the app to reserve any of the shows before you sail, as they are very popular. But don’t panic if the show you want to see is ‘sold out’ as reservations are free, and there are always a lot of ‘no-shows’, so just show up about fifteen minutes before the show and join the standby queue, as nine times out of ten you will get a seat for the show.
Must-do activities
Symphony of the Seas is a playground for adventure seekers. Here are some of the exhilarating activities you must do during your time onboard:
The Ultimate Abyss: Take the plunge if you dare! At ten stories high, Symphony of the Seas Ultimate Abyss is the tallest slide at sea and an epic adventure, not for the faint of heart.
The Zipline: Brace yourself for a spine-tingling rush as you race above the Boardwalk, suspended on the Zip Line ten decks up. This is included in your fare, and no reservation is required.
Flowrider: Surf’s up, and you’re riding the waves without ever leaving the ship. Whether you’re a seasoned surfer or a beginner, this experience is a blast.
Perfect Storm Waterslides: Will you be brave enough to take on Typhoon and Cyclone– part of The Perfect Storm, the best water slides at Sea? These white-knuckle slides include translucent stretches that offer sea views as exhilarating as the ride itself.
Splashaway Bay Waterpark: Pint-sized cruisers will find gallons of fun at Splashaway Bay Aqua Park. This bigger, better water adventure features colourful waterslides, water cannons, fountains, pools and whirlpools for tots to tweens (and their supervising parents). And keep your eye on the drench bucket. You’ll want to be there when it tips!
Escape for Planet Z Lazer Tag: Two forces are facing off, and you’re about to be recruited. Whether you join the remnant of a robot civilisation or the alien scouting party looking for refuge from a mega nova, only one force can take control in this glow-in-the-dark laser tag faceoff. Will your team be the one to claim the last planet for light years around? Take aim and find out in Battle for Planet Z℠.
Escape Room: In the new and exclusive Escape The Rubicon, you will be transported to another world and another time. Collaborate with friends as you attempt to find the hidden clues needed to solve a collection of puzzles that will eventually unravel the mystery of the Rubicon. With only 60 minutes of life-support, the suspense builds with every tick of the clock.
Accommodation
Room options onboard Symphony of the Seas might seem overwhelming — the ship has 34 cabin categories that range from snug inside rooms to a one-of-a-kind suite designed for the ultimate family holiday.
All come with 24-hour room service, perfect for Breakfast on your balcony or a late-night snack. You will also have a daily stateroom attendant dedicated to ensuring your stay is spectacular, and a nightly turn-down service is also included.
Regardless of category, all cabins are designed with clean, modern decor. Standout features include plenty of storage space (deep drawers, multiple closets) and several charging options. Other items in cabins include a room phone for calling around the ship, a sofa, a large, flat-screen TV, a safe inside one of the closets and an empty fridge inside a cabinet. The beds, either single or pushed together to create a “Royal King”, are comfortable and tall enough to store large suitcases underneath.
Interior: There are 599 inside cabins on Symphony of the Seas, starting at 149 square feet. There might not be a view, but the limited space is utilised well and priced to reflect this. A Large Interior cabin can measure up to 172 square feet. Accessible inside cabins are available and measure 258 square feet.
Virtual Balcony: There are 76 of these cabins onboard, and while they are inside rooms, they come with hi-def TVs that mimic a balcony view using a real-time feed of the outside from the ship’s cameras — with or without accompanying sounds. Virtual balconies improve upon regular interior cabins because of the “view” but aren’t larger, measuring 172 square feet.
Oceanview: Symphony has 170 oceanview cabins spread across various neighbourhoods. These rooms range from 179 square feet for a standard ocean view to 191 square feet for a view of the Boardwalk. Family Oceanview cabins are designed to accommodate six people using bunk beds, a pullout sofa, and a Royal King bed. These rooms are 271 square feet, but the layout makes some cabins feel tight.
Balcony: Balcony cabins account for over half of all rooms on Symphony of the Seas (1,802). Staterooms with a balcony start at 182 square feet, with 50- to 80-square-foot balconies that include two mesh chairs with footrests and a small round table.
You should know that balcony cabins don’t just face the water, so when you’re booking, pay careful attention that you are going to be staring at the sea and not your neighbour. Many balcony cabins overlook the action on the Boardwalk or the gardens in Central Park. Be prepared for some noise, but anyone seeking privacy should book an oceanview balcony. Family Balcony staterooms sleep six in the same arrangement as Oceanviews but are larger — 271 square feet — and have 82 square feet of balcony space. Accessible balcony staterooms are also available.
Conclusion
In summary, I found that Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas is more than just a cruise ship; it’s a destination in itself, offering an unparalleled blend of entertainment, dining, and adventure. If you’re considering setting sail on this remarkable vessel, I highly recommend it for an unforgettable cruise experience.
Please feel free to contact me to start planning your Symphony of the Seas adventure. I’ll create a dream cruise itinerary that suits your preferences and ensures a holiday filled with incredible memories.
All prices and information are correct at the time of the ship visit, and are subject to change.
