By: Mike Franks Owner-Operator, Cruise Planners-Orange Park, FL
Royal Caribbean International just launched the newest and best ship of its fleet Symphony of the Seas. Since I have clients planning to cruise on her over the next few months, I decided to take a closer look at what makes this ship so special. In doing so, I intentionally stayed away from RCI’s web site and press releases and relied on various cruise line critics for their opinions on this ship. After three years of construction, the world's largest cruise ship just set sail from Barcelona, Spain, on its inaugural cruise around the Mediterranean. But the ship's record-breaking size isn't its only claim to fame.
Although Symphony of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, its main attraction may be its focus on quality and variety. Royal’s true objective was to build the world's best cruise ship for families. Because it has a little something for everyone, Symphony of the Seas attracts families of all kinds and people of all ages, with more children onboard during summertime and school breaks. You can expect to find a mix of many nationalities, but primarily an English-speaking passenger mix of North Americans and Brits.
In doing so, they have created a winning combination of variety and quality. The choice of which room to book, what restaurants to eat in, the activities to take part in or the shows to attend, give passengers a whopping range of options for the average, week-long cruise. Yet even if your family sticks to the basic cabins and included, options, the cruising experience is still kept at a high standard, with attentive and friendly service being the rule rather than the exception. For those interested in upgrades and the very best a ship has to offer, they are sure to be thrilled with Symphony of the Seas.
The reason Symphony of the Seas is its best ship yet, is because Royal Caribbean listened to feedback and kept the passenger experience top of mind when designing it. Taking all the feedback, both good and bad, about their other ships, Royal has attempted to eliminate the negative and accentuate the positive.
Symphony comes with all of the perks of a big mega-ship but nearly none of the pitfalls. Like other Oasis-class ships, Symphony of the Seas features the easily navigable neighborhood concept, which includes Central Park, Entertainment Place and the Boardwalk. A brilliant passenger flow, plenty of signage and an intuitive sense of orientation means despite being massive, it's hard to get lost for long onboard.
Despite having many of the same features as other ships in its class, Royal Caribbean was not afraid to go bigger with Symphony. Several new concepts were added, such as "Battle for Planet Z" laser tag, Hooked, a seafood restaurant, Playmakers, a sports bar and arcade, Sugar Beach, an expanded ice cream and sweets shop and El Loco Fresh, a new Mexican eatery. The strong execution of these novel ventures, along with their mass appeal, almost guarantees that Royal Caribbean has ensured a new generation of fleet-wide favorites. Even better, half of the new venues (laser tag and El Loco, Fresh) are included in the cruise fare.
If as to say, "we got this," Royal Caribbean has traded in a number of partnerships to rely on their own in-house talent on Symphony of the Seas by developing an original parade production for the Royal Promenade, while pouring their heart and soul into an all-new stage production called "Flight: Dare to Dream." In venues like Studio B and the AquaTheater, Royal Caribbean turned to the performers for help, and as a result, each space has a new show developed and inspired by the talent.
Beyond all of the places to go, Royal Caribbean has ensured there are ample things to see. An art collection with a price tag in the tens of millions infuses the atmosphere onboard with a vibrancy and playfulness that will attract the millennial vacationers they're looking for, but also appeals on a broader level to cruisers of all ages. Not every artwork or installation is meant to appeal to every person, but the general theme of eccentricity and adventure is hard to ignore. Of particular note is a "hidden" piano staircase, which plays a tune in an homage to the ship's moniker.
Facilities include a children's water park, a full-size basketball court, ice-skating rink, and two 43-foot rock-climbing walls. There is also a 'central park' which contains over 20,000 tropical plants. Symphony of the Seas is home to the tallest waterslide at sea, the ocean's fastest Internet and more works of art than the Louvre has paintings.
Although, there are over 6,000 guests on board, you don't really feel crowded because there are 18 decks on the ship along with 24 elevators and seven neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own personality, so it tends to naturally segregate the crowds. Neighborhoods such as the adults-only Solarium lounge or leafy Central Park aim to provide a refuge, whereas a dedicated Splashaway Bay water park is packed with families and kids.
Central Park is really peaceful, with more than 20,000 tropical plants and an alfresco wine bar. Others will like the Boardwalk, which is much more outdoorsy and fun for families, since it includes a carousel. Peppered around the vast decks are such features as a glow-in-the-dark laser tag, an “Escape the Rubicon" puzzle in a custom-built escape room, a rock climbing wall, surf simulators and a nine-deck-high zip line. But the jewel in the crown is the spiraling "Ultimate Abyss" slide -- the tallest on any cruise ship to date, at 150 feet above sea level. Featuring a 10-story drop, the serpentine slide winds toward the deck below at a steep 27-degree incline, which takes about 13.14 seconds from top to bottom to descend.
Performances aboard offer everything from boundary-pushing acrobatics and high dives at the Aqua Theater to an upbeat rendition of "Hairspray" performed at the Royal Theatre.
When it comes to accommodations, the most over-the-top is the "Ultimate Family Suite."Decked out in bold colors, these two-level suites include a host of unusual amenities -- think an in-room slide, private cinema, ping pong table and floor-to-ceiling LEGO wall.
Meanwhile, the adults in the eight-person duplex will gravitate toward the private balcony and whirlpool. Should travelers need an extra hand, a butler -- dubbed a Royal Genie -- will look after the entire family, while an "Instagrammer-in-Chief" is on hand to ensure guests snap shareable pictures.
It certainly looks like RCI has created something new and special for seasoned cruisers that offers something exciting for everyone. I can’t wait to give it a try!
What is your dream vacation destination? Chances are there is a cruise ship going that way!
Visit my website www.landorseatravel.com or call me 1-844-TRAVEL and discover the allure of cruising!
Mike Franks is an owner/operator of Cruise Planners in Orange Park, FL. Cruise Planners specializes in ocean and river cruises, land tours and resort vacations.
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