Now that the world’s largest cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas, has set sail, cruisers have a lot to be excited about. The ship cost $1.5 billion to be constructed and has a lot of things for passengers to do onboard. It can be overwhelming to navigate this large ship with 6,700 fellow passengers roaming about, however, so here’s how to ensure that you have an amazing time while onboard Royal Caribbean’s massive new ship.
Do Your Research. Before even boarding the ship, you need to research what there is to do on it and what you should book ahead of time. For instance, if you want to go to the spa, book it well in advance. You will find that it tends to not be as busy when the ship is at port. Don’t forget to book a table at restaurants that you want to try ahead of time so that you can guarantee that you can get a reservation. Also, be sure to make reservations for shows before you board the cruise. This can be done in the Cruise Planner section of their website. We recommend that you download Royal Caribbean’s app so that you can check in online and avoid long lines.
Book Activities on Day 1 of Your Cruise. If you want to zip line, ice skate, surf, play laser tag, rock climb, or go in the escape room, make your reservations the day you board the ship since most people will want to plan these activities on sea days, so it fills up quickly.
Know Where To Go For Meals. Much of your time onboard will be spent eating. This is why you need to know where to go for meals. Find out where the quick serve places are and where to get a more formal meal. Pay attention to the hours they are available so that, if you are hungry, you know where to head and you don’t have to spend time walking to an eatery that is closed. New restaurant options include Hooked Seafood, El Loco Fresh, Sugar Beach Candy, and Playmakers sports bar and arcade.
Tip: On Oasis-class ships, you can have free cook-to-order breakfast at Johnny Rockets, where for lunch and dinner there is a surcharge. Cafe Promenade in Central Park is another great place for breakfast or lunch. El Loco Fresh is currently a specialty restaurant with no fee and is open daily from 7:30 am to 6 pm with complimentary breakfast and lunch. Another place many people don’t realize is free for breakfast and lunch is the Solarium Bistro.
Be Aware Of What There Is To Do For The Kids. Let’s face it; if your kids aren’t having fun on the ship, you probably won’t be either. Fortunately, Symphony of the Seas has a lot of options, even for the littlest of passengers. There are numerous organized experiences and hands-on science programs. A perk for those that have children with autism is toy-lending bags that allow passengers to take some of the toys in the children’s areas back to their room for their little ones to play with.
Explore The Ship Ahead Of Time. Once you are onboard, be sure to explore the ship. Get to know the layout and look for things that you might want to do later. Even if you are a past Royal Caribbean guest you will find that there are some new additions to this ship that you might not have been aware of, including the Solarium that has new pools to take a dip in. Be sure to pay attention to places that don’t seem to be as popular as other areas so that you will know where to go to if you need an escape from the crowds but don’t want to go back to your cabin.
Pack A Carry-On Bag. With so many passengers on this ship, you might be waiting for your luggage to arrive to your room for a long time. You can avoid being inconvenienced by this by packing a carry-on bag. In it, put essentials that you may need at a moment’s notice like medications, phone charges, and a change of clothes.
Daily Cruise Compass. Keep a copy with you and read it over the night before so you can plan all of the things you want to check out on the following day. Again, the Royal Caribbean app also works, but I personally like to leave my phone in the safe so just slip the schedule in your pocket so you can always reference it throughout the day.
Learn more about the Symphony of the Seas cruise ship at our Atlas page dedicated to just more information and statistics about this great vessel.
