On the Map: Cruising on the Symphony of the Seas
On the map is a travel feature at LGBTSr offering experiences, recommendations, and interesting ports of call.
By Mark McNease
We just went on another cruise, with three booked for 2025. Needless to say, we love cruising as a vacation. No chores, no cat litter, no cooking or cleaning, and no appointments! Unless you consider dinner and a Broadway-caliber show an appointment.
We took this ship for the experience of being on one of the largest cruise ships currently sailing. It’s massive, and we soon discovered why there were so many children on board: water slides, a zip line, a miniature golf course, and a lot of activities designed for families with kids. There’s even a ‘Boardwalk’ section on the 6th floor that has a carousel and hot dog stand.
About the Cruise
If you’re looking for a cruise vacation that has it all, the Symphony of the Seas is your ticket. One of the world’s largest and most innovative cruise ship, the Symphony offers a floating city that can accommodate up to 6,680 guests and 2,200 crew members. It features 18 decks, 24 pools, 22 restaurants, 42 bars and lounges, a 10-story slide, a zip line, a surf simulator, a laser tag arena, a mini golf course, a carousel, a theater, an ice rink, a casino, a spa, a gym, a library, a nursery, a kids club, a teen club, and much more. Just telling you what’s on board is exhausting!
We took the ship’s first departure from the East Coast, leaving out of Bayonne, NJ. Normally it sails year-round from Miami to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. You can choose from 7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean itineraries, or 3- or 4-night Bahamas getaways. Our trip was a luxurious 8-nights, and even that was too short for most of the guests.
Symphony of the Seas offers a wide range of accommodation options to suit every preference and budget. You can choose from interior, ocean view, balcony, or suite cabins, each with its own features and amenities. Some of the cabin categories include:
- Interior cabins: These are the most affordable cabins, with no windows, but some have virtual balconies that display real-time views of the outside.
- Ocean view cabins: These cabins have windows that let you enjoy the views of the ocean and the ports.
- Balcony cabins: These cabins have private balconies that let you enjoy the fresh air and the scenery.
- Suite cabins: These are the most spacious and luxurious cabins, with separate living and sleeping areas, large balconies, and exclusive perks and privileges.
Some of the most unique and impressive cabins on Symphony of the Seas are:
- Ultimate Family Suite: This two-story suite can accommodate up to eight guests and features a slide, a Lego wall, a ping pong table, an air hockey table, a popcorn machine, a video game console, and a private hot tub.
- AquaTheater Suite: This suite overlooks the AquaTheater, where you can watch the spectacular water shows from your balcony. It also has a wraparound balcony, a dining area, a wet bar, and a whirlpool.
- Royal Loft Suite: This suite is the largest and most lavish on the ship, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, a piano, a library, and a balcony with a hot tub and a dining area.
Dining
Symphony of the Seas offers a variety of dining options to satisfy every palate and mood. You can enjoy the complimentary dining venues, such as the main dining room, the Windjammer buffet, the Solarium Bistro, the Park Cafe, the Boardwalk Dog House, and the Sorrento’s pizza. You can also splurge on the specialty dining venues, such as the Chops Grille steakhouse, the 150 Central Park fine dining, the Wonderland imaginative cuisine, the Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver, the Izumi sushi and hibachi, the Hooked seafood, the El Loco Fresh Mexican, the Playmakers sports bar and arcade, the Sugar Beach candy and ice cream, and the Starbucks coffee. You can also order room service 24/7 for a fee.
Entertainment
Symphony of the Seas offers an array of entertainment options to keep you entertained and amused throughout your cruise. You can watch Broadway-style shows, such as Hairspray and Flight, in the Royal Theater, or ice skating shows, such as 1977 and iSkate 2.0, in the Studio B. You can also watch water shows, such as HiRo and AquaNation, in the AquaTheater, or acrobatic shows, such as Hiro and Flight, in the Two70 lounge. You can also enjoy live music, comedy, karaoke, trivia, and dance parties in various venues, such as the Jazz on 4, the Schooner Bar, the Boleros, the On Air Club, and the Dazzles. You can also try your luck at the Casino Royale, or relax at the Vitality Spa and Fitness Center.
Activities
Symphony of the Seas offers a dizzying choice of activities to keep you active and adventurous throughout the cruise. You can experience the thrill of the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea (and it’s fun to be below this watching people shoot in their swimsuits through the transparent section of the tube), or the Perfect Storm, a trio of water slides very popular with kids. You can also zip line across the Boardwalk, or surf on the FlowRider. There’s laser tag in the Battle for Planet Z, or mini golf in the Harmony Dunes. You can also climb the rock wall, or skate on the ice rink. You can also enjoy the pools, hot tubs, and water park on the Pool and Sports Zone. You can also stroll through the Central Park, a lush garden with over 20,000 plants, or the Boardwalk, a carnival-themed area with a carousel, games, and shops.
We really didn’t have any downsides to the cruise, with the exception of all the small children. We don’t normally sail on ships designed to be so kid-friendly, and it was noticeable that strollers almost outnumbered scooters. It’s not something I would likely do again, but I’m glad we did and I’ll remember it as one of our most enjoyable cruises.