The Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise on Symphony of the Seas is in the books, and this week, we have a roundtable review of Symphony of the Seas that a few group cruisers joined me for to discuss. We talked about our thoughts of Symphony and reviewed some of our experiences onboard.
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Royal Caribbean’s brand new Symphony of the Seas sailed into Nassau November 14, marking a momentous occasion for both Royal Caribbean and The Bahamas.
On board for the inaugural cruise of the sleek white-hulled ship were a handful of invited guests including 200 members of international media who joined dignitaries, local VIPs and sailing guests for a lively ceremony in the ship’s iconic amphitheater at the stern.
“We are very excited to welcome you onboard Symphony of the Seas,” said Royal Caribbean International President & CEO Michael Bayley. “It’s the newest ship in our fleet and of course the largest cruise ship in the world. Today marks Symphony’s inaugural visit to Nassau, Bahamas, a destination that we visit also with the three sister ships of Symphony, that’s Oasis of the Seas, Allure and Harmony.”
Mr. Bayley cited Royal Caribbean’s strong ties to The Bahamas, recalling that the cruise line’s first ship made Nassau its first port of call in 1970.
“Today 25 of our ships are registered here in The Bahamas. We bring over 1.2 million vacationers to your beautiful islands so thank you for hosting us. We plan on keeping coming back to The Bahamas. Our plan by 2021 is almost 1.75 million visitors to The Bahamas coming with Royal Caribbean. We also plan to extend the amount of time spent in port so our guests can do, see and spend more in your beautiful islands.”
With ships like Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean hopes to increase the number of visitoris to more than 1.77 million by 2021.
She arrived with invited guests only on board, including travel industry partners, international media and high-ranking officials to a rousing welcome hosted by the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism which pulled out all the stops. Dignitaries including Cabinet member Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands and Environment and Housing Minister Romauld Ferreira, Senators, Members of Parliament, officials including Defence Force Commodore Tellis Bethel, Director of Works Melanie Roach, former Cabinet ministers and heads of nearly every department of government along with vendors, attractions operators, leading business people, hoteliers, Bahamas Taxi Union, Musicians’ Union, Straw Market and Hair Braiders Association representatives were treated to musical performances and a three-course luncheon. Dignitaries including Miami- Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez were ushered aboard by the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Band. Inside, the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band entertained along with the Gerald Cash Rhythm ‘n Youth band. Travel partners and guests rushed with Colours Junkanoo, capping off the ceremony that included a key, gift and plaque exchange between the ship’s agents, United Shipping, and Captain Rob Hempstead.
Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas was officially named by the first-ever Godfamily, actors Alexa & Carlos PenaVega, with Son Ocean, at a ceremony in PortMiami on Thursday.
Symphony of the Seas becomes the 25th ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet as the PenaVega family were on hand to christen the ship and bestow a blessing of safekeeping over her crew and guests.
The naming ceremony was the largest in Royal Caribbean's history, with nearly 1,000 guests in attendance, which occured at Terminal A in PortMiami.
The customary event was infused with modern day elements – ranging from an electronic violinist who serenaded the crowd throughout the ceremony, to a stunning sail away performance by nearly 400 choreographed drones – and also incorporated a number of local Miami touches. Florida International University’s Marching Band kicked off the celebration, while students from Miami Southridge Senior High headlined the occasion on stage with a rousing drumline performance. Through Royal Caribbean’s partnership with the GRAMMY® Museum, Miami Southridge Senior High was one of 20 high schools within the Miami-Dade County Public School District that received a Royal Caribbean-funded grant through the GRAMMY Museum® Signature Schools program, which supports music education programs in underserved high schools.
Symphony of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will offer 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean sailings from Terminal A in PortMiami. It is anticipated that Royal Caribbean will welcome at least 1.8 million guests at PortMiami, representing no less than 30 percent of the port’s projected traveler traffic.
The reimagined Boardwalk touts fresh energy and swagger with the addition of lively venues, interactive experiences and entertainment throughout the day and into the night. With the iconic hand-carved carousel, the exit of the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; and the awe-inspiring AquaTheater – to deliver a seaside oasis for the entire family, from the little ones to the adults.
There is a longstanding maritime tradition that calls for new ships to be blessed by a Godmother. But what about a Godfamily? Royal Caribbean is giving this tradition a modern twist by asking famous and longtime fans the PenaVega family to serve as the first-ever Godfamily of a cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean International’s highly-anticipated Symphony of the Seas arrives into her new home at the state-of-the-art Terminal A in Miami today. The ultimate family vacation,Symphony is set to deliver a new sound of adventure with one-of-a-kind experiences for all ages on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, which will visit the cruise line’s private island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay (opening May 2019).
Watch a timelapse video of the world's largest cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas, begin her transatlantic journey to her new homeport in Miami, Fl from Malaga, Spain.
Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship, Symphony of the Seas, will bring a new sound of adventure to Miami in November 2018. A playground for all ages, the world’s largest cruise ship offers a lineup of exciting new thrills along with ways to unwind. From laser tag and waterslides, to “me time” at the spa and the one-and-only Ultimate Family Suite, the quintessential family vacation is reaching new heights.
Guests sailing on Symphony of the Seas have the option to buy certain souvenirs, toiletries or sunscreens any time of day or night from a few self-service machines.
Located on deck 15, these machines are available 24 hours per day and come in three varieties. Royal Caribbean Blog reader Tony Law sent us photos of these machines. This is the first Royal Caribbean ship we can recall seeing this sort of offering.
The first machine is the Tech Shop, and offers various electronics to purchase that can be used during the cruise, Headphones, walkie talkies, Nintendo 3DS, batteries and more are available.
The Splash Store machine offers a variety of sunscreen, skin care and swim accessories that you might need for a day spent by the pool or on shore.
Health Essentials store offers medicine and other toiletries that guests may need at any point in the cruise.
All three machines are provided by pharmabox, which provides these sort of automated machines in highly frequented areas that are underserved.
In addition to the automated retail offerings, there is also a complimentary phone charging station.
Do you think you will take advantage of having these machines on your upcoming Symphony of the Seas cruise? Do you want more of these machines on other ships? Let us know in the comments below!
Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas has generated a lot of interest among Royal Caribbean fans and first time cruisers alike, and with a ship this intriguing, there are a lot of concerns and questions people may have.
We decided to list answers to some of the most commonly asked questions related specifically to Symphony of the Seas for everyone's future reference.
Royal Caribbean has added a lot of great entertainment on Symphony of the Seas. Guests are able to reserve shows on their Symphony of the Seas cruise, although when exactly they become available varies from sailing to sailing. The truth is, there is no rule about when these kinds of activities become available for booking, and every sailing can be different.
Typically, we see entertainment become available to reserve online around 75-60 days prior to the sail date, but your experience may vary.
Despite being the fourth Oasis Class cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas has a number of differences from her sister ships. Here is a list of the most noticeable ones:
Exact times can change, but here are the Windjammer dining hours we have seen thus far.
Royal Caribbean is developing a new smartphone app, which allows guests to manage multiple aspects of their cruise vacation from the app.
On Symphony of the Seas, guests can perform a variety of functions.
Here are the important functions the app can perform currently. Keep in mind that the app is under active development, and new features are forthcoming.
There is no cost to use the Royal Caribbean app and you do not need a WiFi package to use the app onboard. A chat feature between guests is coming soon.
The app is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.
Yes, Symphony of the Seas offer RFID bracelets known as WOWbands.
WOWbands are essentially optional replacements for your SeaPass card. Imagine a bracelet you can wear that allows you to open you stateroom door, charge onboard purchases or check into shows and restaurants.
They are made of silicone and come in a variety of colors: white, yellow, black and blue.
WOWbands use Radio Frequency (RF) technology that can be read by Royal Caribbean's readers that are found at kiosks, tablets and mobile scanners that Royal Caribbean crew operate.
Your WOWband is linked to your SeaPass account and holds all of your information related to your cruise vacation such as your stateroom information, dining reservations and more.
Guests on Symphony of the Seas can choose to purchase WOWbands for $4.99 each and can be purchased at Guest Services. They are complimentary for suite guests and will be waiting in your suite.
You can use your Starbucks card at the Starbucks kiosk onboard for paying for drinks and earning rewards, however, you cannot redeem free rewards via the Starbucks app/card.
In addition, none of Royal Caribbean's drink packages work at Starbucks on Symphony of the Seas. Instead, those drink packages can be used for specialty coffee beverages at other locations on Symphony, including Cafe Promenade, Park Cafe, or any specialty restaurant.
Symphony of the Seas begins and ends her sailingsa tthe brand new Terminal A at PortMiami. This is a new state-of-the-art cruise terminal that features stunning architecture, and a new boarding experience.
The quickest way to get onboard will be using the Royal Caribbean International app to check-in. You can download the app from iTunes App Store and Google Play Store now for free. Online check-in remains open until 48 hours prior to departure, so be to complete it before arrival at the terminal in order to skip the check-in counter at the terminal. Then, be sure to save your SetSail Pass on your mobile device or print for all guests in their party. The SetSail Pass is the key to adventure.
If you elect to park at Terminal A, go straight to the garage where agents will receive luggage and review documents. If you are taking a taxi or using a ride sharing service, agents will be waiting at the drop off area.
A reminder to all guests to keep all essential items with them, like travel documentation, SetSail Pass, required identification, the credit card to add to their onboard account, and
any medication they may need.
Did we miss your question? Post it in the comments below and we will try our best to answer it!