ROYAL CARIBBEAN SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS

I’ve had the privilege to experience a 2 day sail on Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Symphony of the Seas and it was an experience that’s difficult not to talk about! As many of you may know, I absolutely love to travel and I often seek hidden gems or tourist attractions in foreign destinations. I have to admit that I haven’t done much exploring in the states and I definitely want to make that a priority next year. I also was never interested in a cruise because for one thing, I often experience motion sickness and for another, I simply thought they were boring because you were trapped on a ship and there wasn’t much to do. It seems as though Royal Caribbean was aware of my hesitations and decided to challenge them and I can safely say that my thoughts have drastically changed and they have successfully converted me to a cruise lover!

Symphony of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s largest ship and by far the most extravagant and adventurous ship I’ve ever seen. I’m more of a visual person so here’s a video to show you a glimpse of what it’s like to be on the Symphony of the Seas. If you crave adventure like me, then I know you feel excited to jump on board! There is honestly everything and anything you can ask for and is suitable for both adults and kids! The ship is essentially a playground with countless experiences and activities carefully designed for all ages in mind. Here is a list of some of the highlights the ship has to offer:

• The Ultimate Family Suite: accommodates up to eight guests across two bedrooms with in suite slide, private cinema, LEGO wall, Lucky Climber vertical maze, table tennis, and a full size whirlpool
• Battle for Planet Z: glow in the dark laser tag experience
• Puzzle Break: Escape the Rubicon challenge
• The Ultimate Abyss: the tallest slide at sea
• The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides
• Two FlowRider surf simulators
• Splashaway Bay: a vibrant waterscape for kids and toddlers
• Skating in a real-ice rink at Studio B
• A minigolf course
• A nine-deck-high zip line
• Two rock-climbing walls that stand 43 feet high
• A full-size basketball court, table tennis, and 19 pools across 1,188 feet
• Royal Casino

I know it might not sound impressive if you’re just going through a list of their amenities and services, so take a look at all the spectacular photos provided from Royal Caribbean press center in the slide below:

Here’s a visual of all the facts for Symphony of the Seas.

When I first boarded the ship, I was a bit overwhelmed with the check in process only because there’s an actual terminal that is similar to an airport. You also go through security just like you would before boarding a plane. I really respected this process and it’s probably standard for all cruises, but again, I was a newbie to all this!

If you’re like me and care about food, don’t worry because Royal Caribbean has got you covered! There are more than 20 restaurants on board offering different cuisines, with 4 new concepts including:

• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade is where families cheer on their home team playing on any of more than 30 big-screen TVs, while they munch on American classics like wings, popcorn shrimp, sliders, burgers and picture-perfect sundaes. After finding inspiration in celebrating a win, it is game on at the arcade with Ms. Pac-Man, Star Wars Battle Pod, Ice Skee-ball and a lineup of other popular arcade games.
• El Loco Fresh is perfect for the family on the go with a fiesta of flavors, from made-from-scratch mole sauce and tangy salsa verde to the made-to-order tacos and burritos. This crazy delicious Mexican fare is fresh and fast for those looking to fuel up for their next onboard adventure.
• Hooked Seafood is the ultimate catch for families looking for fresh seafood. Those angling for a real taste of New England-inspired classics can enjoy lobster and crab claws, or take their pick of local fish and just-shucked oysters at the ice-cold raw bar.
• Sugar Beach candy and ice cream shop is the ultimate spot for that sweet tooth. Adults and kids alike can take their pick from a family’s favorite confections and ice creams, alongside a few sugarcoated surprises. The sweetest place on the high seas also features family-friendly DIY activities for aspirational culinary artists.

As you can see, there is a lot to do and that’s what made my experience a positive one. Being that one of my misconception of a cruise was a lack of activities, I was thrilled to find out that this wasn’t the case. During the two days, I was able to enjoy the sun, take photos with Katya, drink some cocktails, enjoy some delicious food and soak in the experience as a whole. The best part is that you can curate the cruise however you personally like. For example, if you want to do absolutely nothing, you can simply lay out by the pool decks and relax. If you want to be active, you can go rock climbing, hit the gym, and even try out the flowrider. If you have kids, you can take them to the Splashaway Bay and if you’re feeling a bit lucky, you can even gamble at the casino!

My personal favorites were the entertainment shows and the Escape the Rubicon Challenge. I saw the shows Flight: Dare to Dream featuring scenes abroad International Space Station,  Hiro, an impressive aquatheatre show on the outside deck and 1977, a thrilling indoor ice skating show. All three entertainments were extremely incredible and the talent is like no other! I’ve also always wanted to experience an Escape room so I was thrilled and surprised that they offered it on Symphony of the Seas. My group sadly was not able to solve the puzzle in the Escape the Rubicon Challenge within the 60 minute time limit, but in our defense it was extremely difficult and we did come close! There was also a robot station that featured actual robots making your customized cocktails! It was the craziest thing I’ve ever witnessed and I was simply blown away by the fact that robots do actually exist but also that they were onboard with me!

I left the cruise wanting to spend more time there and kept raving about my experience to my friends and family. Whether you want to getaway with your girls, your family and kids or even with your significant other, I promise that you will have fun on this Royal Caribbean cruise. I am so happy that I was able to get out of my comfort zone and say yes to adventure because I had an incredible time. Royal Caribbean has countless cruises and you can check all of them here but I highly recommend experiencing Symphony of the Seas for yourself!