Royal Caribbean Blog

Watch a timelapse video of the world's largest cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas, sail away from Barcelona, Spain for the first time.

No fooling here, we have a round-up of all of this week's Royal Caribbean cruise news!

WIthout a doubt, this week's Royal Caribbean news can be summed up in one word: Symphony. 

Royal Caribbean took delivery of its fourth Oasis Class cruise ship, Symphony of the Seas, this week at a ceremony at STX France in Saint-Nazaire, France.

Symphony of the Seas is the 25th ship in Royal Caribbean's fleet, and is listed at 228,081 gross registered tons, measures 238 feet tall and spans 1,188 feet long. She will welcome 5,518 guests at double occupancy in 2,759 staterooms, including 28 additional balcony rooms that overlook the ocean or signature Boardwalk neighborhood.

Symphony of the Seas' first sailing took place on March 31, 2018.

Royal Caribbean News

• We shared as many new photos from all over the ship as we could find.
• Royal Caribbean released a video commemorating the delivery of Symphony of the Seas.
• Royal Caribbean released new aerial photos of Symphony of the Seas at sea.
• Royal Caribbean released a new smartphone app update this week.
• Entertainment will be at the heart of the fun things to do onboard Symphony of the Seas.
• A video sneak-peak look at the Flight show on Symphony of the Seas shows what makes this show so cool.
• Check out this photo tour of the Ultimate Family Suite on Symphony of the Seas.
• Ovation of the Seas is helping to test a new navigational system.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 243rd episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, and we are reviewing Matt's cruise on Rhapsody of the Seas.

In this episode, Matt is back from Rhapsody of the Seas and talks about what he thought about his first time on a Vision class ship, the activities he tried onboard and how is shore plans worked out.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Royal Caribbean Around the Internet

Ship Monk shared a photo tour of Symphony of the Seas.

Page Six reported on Star Jones' wedding, which took place on Anthem of the Seas.

Cruise Habit took an in-depth (kale infused) look at cruise ship safety.

Happy Friday! This may be a holiday weekend for many of our readers, so grab your matzah or chocolate bunny and let's enjoy some great Royal Caribbean photos that our readers have shared!

Kinny Lee found this photo while on a scavenger hut on Allure of the Seas.  This looks like one of the Small Wonders hidden on Allure.

Twangster shared this photo from Harmony of the Seas of the Ultimate Abyss entrance.

Kathy Harris took this photo during her Mediterranean cruise.

Arnt Jakobsen took this photo from Labadee, while visiting on Labadee.

Don and Meg shared this photo from their Oasis of the Seas excursion at Almaplena Eco resort in Costa Maya, Mexico.

Here's another photo by Don and Meg of Freedom and Oasis of the Seas while in Cozumel.

Allen Shaffer took this photo during a beautiful day in Skagway, Alaska.

Thank you to everyone for sharing these great photos.  If you want to share your own photos for a future blog post, use this form to send them in to us!

Royal Caribbean's sale offer for April offers guests buy one guest, get second guest 50% off. Plus, bring the whole family because kids sail for less.

The new offer can be combined with the weekend Springtime Sale, where guests can save an additional $100 in instant savings.

Cruises booked March 29 – April 30, 2018 on sailings departing on or after April 29, 2018 qualify for this offer.

Offer details:

• Buy One Guest, Get Second Guest 50% Off
• 25% Savings for 3/4 guests
• Balcony & Suites Bonus
  • Booking Window: March 29 – April 30, 2018
  • Sailing Window: All sailings departing on or after April 29, 2018.
  • Offer details: $100 instant savings on all Balconies and Suites
• Springtime Sale
  • Valid on bookings made March 29 – April 2, 2018.
  • Up to $100 instant savings ($200 when combined with Balcony & Suites Bonus)
  • 5 nights or less:
    • Interior/Oceanview: $25
    • Balcony: $50
    • Suites: $75
  • 6 nights and more:
    • Interior/Oceanview: $50
    • Balcony: $75
    • Suites: $100

BOGO and Balcony & Suites Bonus are combinable with each other as well as with NRBD OBC, promotional OBCs, NextCruise offers, Instant Savings, restricted discounts (for example, Seniors, Residents, Military), Crown and Anchor discounts and Shareholder Benefits. All offers are not combinable with any other offer or promotion, including, but not limited to, Standard Group, Interline, Travel Agent, Travel Agent Friends and Family, Weekly Sales Events, Net Rates.

Offer available to residents of United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and select countries in the Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean has released version 1.6.2 of its new official Royal Caribbean International app, which locks down the app to select ships, introduces a login feature, and opens the app up a bit more to two ships.

With the 1.6.2 release, guests on Allure of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas have access to improved guest accounts, and can make reservations for specialty dining restaurants.

Guests on Symphony of the Seas may now take advantage of the app’s online check-in functionality.

The app is now available on Allure of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas. 

The app is available on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.

Our newest podcast episode is out to help give you a quick "audio escape" to a Royal Caribbean cruise!

Episode 243 is available for downloading where Matt shares his thoughts on his recent cruises aboard Rhapsody of the Seas.

Matt experienced a lot onboard Rhapsody of the Seas, and this week, he dives into what makes Rhapsody of the Seas different, and discusses the aspects of dining, entertainment and accomodations that stood out and why.

Here’s the podcast page for Episode 243. And don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Stitcher or on iTunes!

Take a listen and as always, let us know what you think! Please rate and review the podcast on iTunes and leave your comments below!

Get a look at the real-life inspiration behind Royal Caribbean’s newest original show, Flight: Dare to Dream, a chronicle of the evolution of air travel and an imaginative take on what the future may hold. Follow the show's creators as they visit Space Center Houston in Texas to gather ideas and develop the vision for the first theater production to be set in space.

Guests on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas will have the opportunity to see brand new shows that were produced for the largest cruise ship in the world, including a headliner show that combines high-energy with high-tech.

Headlining the playbill will be the all-new show ‘Flight: Dare to Dream,’ a one-of-a-kind journey through the past, present and future of air travel and space exploration that will make history as one of the most ambitious stage productions to date. Guests take off on a spectacular adventure through time, chronicling key milestones in aeronautics, beginning with the first leisure voyage to Mars and ending with a stunning homage to the Wright Brothers’ first flight at Kitty Hawk.

A Royal Caribbean Productions original, ‘Flight: Dare to Dream’ introduces cutting-edge 3D flying technology, video and automation to the 1,401-seat Royal Theater. Going where no stage has gone before, space and zero gravity will be simulated as actors “float” within a detailed replica of the International Space Station (ISS). The first theater set piece of its kind, the detailed design of Royal Caribbean’s ISS was informed by Astronaut Clayton C. Anderson, who lived 167 days in space and completed 38 hours and 28 minutes over 6 spacewalks in two separate missions.

“I’m thrilled to have had the opportunity to relive my five months aboard the International Space Station for this out-of-this-world Royal Caribbean production,” said Clayton C. Anderson, U.S. astronaut, author & speaker. “I worked with Royal Caribbean to ensure the show’s zero gravity simulation, and appearance of the ISS replica were as true to life as possible to further enhance the show’s wow factor.”

Royal Caribbean Productions is the first team to consult with an astronaut that lived in space for a live theatrical production. Complex, high-impact choreography and production also take form in 3D flying with a custom built recreation of the Wright Flyer that will take off into the house; the set piece will have a 22 foot wingspan and single seat “cockpit.”

“We continue to push the envelope with high-tech, immersive entertainment at Royal Caribbean, and we couldn’t be prouder with how ‘Flight: Dare to Dream’ has brought to life the awe and wonder of flying,” said Nick Weir, Vice President, Entertainment, Royal Caribbean International. “Guests from 5 to 95 years old will not believe their eyes, as all our shows onboard Symphony of the Seas capture their imagination and create jaw-dropping I-can’t-believe-that-just-happened moments they won’t soon forget.”

Clayton Anderson & Nick Weir. Photo by Nick Weir.

Three additional headline shows across three distinct stage venues on Symphony of the Seas, include:

• 1977 in Studio B is the continuation to “1877,” the ice-skating show introduced on sister-ship Harmony of the Seas, featuring the time-traveling hero, Tempus. In his latest adventure, Tempus heads to London where a mysterious jewel thief with special powers has stolen the Queen’s crown jewels on the eve of her Silver Jubilee. Timing is everything in this imaginative original ice show, featuring high-tech projection mapping images that bring the ‘70s to life on the ice.
• Hairspray, a guest favorite, gets a makeover for Symphony of the Seas with new choreography and staging of the Tony Award- winning musical. The larger-than-life, Royal Caribbean Productions’ original introduces revolutionary set design, taking the story of loveable teen Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore, to the next level.
• HiRO raises the bar on Royal Caribbean’s aqua shows with more high flying feats, unexpected stunts and extraordinary acrobatics than ever before. Brought to life by the world’s best extreme-sport athletes, HiRO pushes the limits of a theatrical production at sea with cutting-edge technology and choreography and. No two shows are the same, making it worth seeing twice. The show features 3D flying technology used by aerialists as they literally soar above the crowd, plus acrobats and professional divers. 

Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas is a truly impressive looking cruise ship, but aerial photos really give you the perfect perspective for appreciating her grandeur.

Royal Caribbean shared these new aerial photos of Symphony of the Seas, taken during her voyage between the shipyard in France and her summer home in Spain.

Royal Caribbean has released new photos of the Ultimate Family Suite on Symphony of the Seas, which promises to offer a family suite experience unlike any other.

This one-of-a-kind stateroom has some "swoon-worthy" features, whimsical color schemes and a whole lot of awesome.

The 1,346-square-foot interactive space is designed for both the young and young at heart, providing a space for families to come together during their cruise vacation, while also offering enough room and amenities to relax during that special “me time.”