![Symphony of the Seas](https://jennykoppenhavertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Spiral-Slide-Symphony-of-the-Seas.jpg)
When I started cruising, my first love was Disney Cruise Line. I will admit I am a Disney girl through and through. I kept a close eye on cruising throughout the pandemic, and Royal Caribbean really stood out as a company committed to keeping everyone hopeful and informed. So as soon as I had the opportunity to sail on a test cruise for Royal, I grabbed that chance, and now I am Royal Loyal by choice as well as a Disney Cruise Line gal.
Symphony of the Seas
Royal has a massive fleet of ships – 61 in all. The Oasis-class ships are the largest in the world, and last August, I was able to sail on Symphony of the Seas – one of Royal’s finest Oasis-class ships. I was blown away by what there was to do on this ship. Water slides, laser tag, a merry-go-round, mini-golf, FlowRider surf simulator, and so much more. But first, let’s start with the terminal.
Port of Miami Terminal A
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Currently, Symphony of the Seas is sailing seven-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean and sails out of Miami, Florida, from Terminal A. This is a seamless experience, and it really impressed me. The flow was so easy and the wait to get on the ship was minimal. I arrived outside the terminal; no bag check-in for this test cruise, but normally this would have been where to check luggage in, had my vaccination card scanned, went up the escalator, had ID checked, went through the scanner, and boarded the ship. My room was ready by 2 pm with my SeaPass waiting for me. Your SeaPass is your room key and ID, including a code if you have a drink package and/or dining package. Most passengers keep this on a lanyard, and it is also what you use when leaving the ship at port. May I just add the new muster drill protocol is so easy! On the Royal Caribbean mobile app, you follow a series of safety links, and then once onboard, you head to your station, listen to a short explanation from an officer one on one, and that is it! There is no crowding together or interruption of starting your vacation. It is smooth sailing ahead once you check in at your station after embarkation.
Cruising Health and Safety
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Before even sailing, Royal Caribbean requires complete vaccination of all passengers five years old and up. Children under five are tested while onboard, and all passengers are tested within 48 hours of embarkation.
One of the best features of any Royal Caribbean ship is how clean it is. The handwashing stations before entering Windjammers are smart. The crew is stationed at the entrance of Windjammers to ensure that all who enter wash their hands. There are hand sanitizer stations throughout the ship, in front of elevators, on the promenade, and everywhere. My stateroom was cleaned twice a day and smelled so fresh.
Explore!
![skyline](https://jennykoppenhavertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Skyline.jpg)
What most people do after settling in is explore their home for the next week on Symphony of the Seas. Grabbing a bite to eat at Windjammers is a good idea as well. You will hear an announcement when your stateroom is ready. Until then, enjoy checking out all the ship has to offer. Usually, around 4 pm is sail away! Then, the ship starts moving, and off you go!
Adult Fun
After dinner is one of my favorite times on the ship. I love music, and there is no lack of live entertainment on Symphony of the Seas. Boleros offers Latin music. Schooner’s offers your favorite mix of piano playing crooners from the ’70s and ’80s, and the jazz is amazing!!!!! I had such fun strolling from club to club each night listening to such wonderful performers. The casinos are vast on the Oasis-class ships and are open in the afternoon through the night for gamblers.
During the day, adults can enjoy peace and tranquility apart from the child-friendly areas in the Solarium – an adults-only section with unique loungers, serene music, a wonderful bar, and of course, a pool, hot tub, and views of the beautiful ocean. This ship is so large that there are plenty of quiet areas like Central Park. Central Park is a huge, lush garden park with walkways intermingled with restaurants. Again, there are plenty of quiet places to steal away to.
Dining on Symphony of the Seas
![Room on cruise ship](https://jennykoppenhavertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wonderland-Symphony-of-the-Seas.jpg)
As far as dining on this ship, one experience that stood out to me was having dinner at Wonderland. Wonderland is an immersive dining experience where each course is presented in a theatrical way led by the Mad Hatter. This restaurant is not on every Royal Caribbean ship and is considered specialty dining. The Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine experience exceeded my expectations, and I loved the food. The Mad Hatter strolls around the restaurant having conversations with guests and creatively presenting the courses.
Some guests may not appreciate the eclectic collection of courses if they are not adventurous in a culinary manner. However, other restaurants, like Chops Grille and Jamie’s Italian, will please everyone. The Unlimited Dining Package is something I would definitely splurge and purchase for a seven-night cruise. Many people go to guest services to make their dining reservations once on the ship, but I like to go to the restaurants themselves and talk with the host. They usually can accommodate your schedule, especially at the beginning of the cruise, and they can see what is available at other restaurants as well.
Perfect Day at CocoCay
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If your Royal Caribbean itinerary includes Perfect Day at CocoCay, then your itinerary is perfect! I love this private island in the Bahamas that Royal Caribbean owns. It is the best private island, in my opinion, that I’ve been to. Just arriving at the port early in the morning and seeing the rainbow of colors on this island makes one so excited to get off the ship and see what the fun is all about. When walking the pier to the island, guests are greeted by dancers dressed in bright colors accompanied by a reggae band. This is such a fun welcome!
Everyone has fun on CocoCay. The center of the island is anchored by Dare Devil’s Peak water slide, which I’ll admit I have not been on. I love relaxing on the beach. The water park requires a ticket and is perfect for adventure seekers. If you like ziplining, you are in luck because there are more than one ziplines onboard. There is a nice map on the front of the island which explains where everything is on the island, and to the right is the tram station which operates smoothly and consistently. It is easy to walk around this island as well.
![coco bay beach scene](https://jennykoppenhavertravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Perfect-Day-at-CocoCay.jpg)
Coco Club Beach is my favorite place on the island. Passes can be purchased on the Cruise Planner app for booked Royal Caribbean guests, the excursion counter onboard, or the mobile app. It is well worth the money if you like a club-level feel. The specialty dining in this area is wonderful, and the beverage service on the beach.
Chill Island and South Beach are all about the beach and enjoying the sun. Both areas do not require extra money spent unless renting a cabana. There are beach cabanas and floating cabanas. The floating cabanas have a slide and are your own oasis for the day, including comfortable seating for lounging and dining, lockers, unlimited bottled water, an over-the-water hammock, and privacy.
Oasis Lagoon is where the life of the party will want to go. The pool is amazing, with zero entry fun for the kids, and at the other end, a swim-up bar and nightclub feel for adults. This area gets quite crowded throughout the day. The music is pumping, and this is a lot of fun. There are cabanas that can be rented in this section, too. The Voom internet and streaming services work really well on this island, and I was actually able to book trips for clients while in my cabana. Leaving the island and heading back to the ship can seem sad at first, but when you look at the massive ship sitting there in port, you are ready for a fun evening. Most people like to plan a later dinner so they can take a nap.
The ports of call for Symphony of the Seas are worthy of their own blog. I hope this gives you a great overview of this massive ship, but you will discover that there is, even more to learn about if you sail on this ship. The customer service with Royal is amazing, and they have genuinely made every aspect of cruising fun. I can’t wait for my next cruise! Stay tuned . . .