After the success of the world's largest cruise ship, the Wonder of the Seas, on Western Mediterranean itineraries, Royal Caribbean Cruises has once again chosen Barcelona, as it does every season, to station one of its Oasis-class ships.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 62 – September 2022
Symphony of the Seas, which also held the title of the world's largest cruise ship, only surpassed its three predecessor "siblings" by a few gross tons and a few meters in length.
The fourth member of the Oasis class presents some new features compared to its predecessor, the Harmony of the Seas, which had already marked significant differences from the first two units, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas, built almost a decade earlier. But before discussing these differences, let's review the design of these mega-cruise ships, whose size seems unattainable for the competition.
It will arrive in Barcelona in April 2023 and will begin its Mediterranean itineraries until November.
The Symphony of the Seas ' 228,081 gross registered tons surpass the next largest ships on the market by 43,000 tons. Although it is larger than its three sister ships, the difference between them is only 2,800 gross registered tons. To achieve this size without lengthening the ship, which would severely limit its operational capabilities, the engineers opted to drastically increase the beam, enough to divide the main body into two sections, leaving several open-air parks in the center.
Royal Caribbean chose to divide the ship into seven more or less themed neighborhoods:
Central Park. This is the central space between the ship's two cabin blocks. Adorned with 12,000 live plants, it's a veritable Garden of Eden surrounded by specialty restaurants and luxury shops. Here you'll find, among others, Jamie's Italian, an Italian-style restaurant by television chef Jamie Oliver.
The Boardwalk is the central space between the ship's two cabin blocks at the stern. Here, the area takes on an urban feel, reminiscent of an American beach promenade, complete with a hand-carved carousel, the Johnny Rockets burger joint, and the spectacular AquaTheater. This venue hosts shows that combine diverse disciplines such as diving, tightrope walking, synchronized swimming, and dance. Truly spectacular shows, like the new "HiRo.".
The newest addition to the Boardwalk is Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, a gathering place where you can watch major international sporting events on 30 TV screens. Also new is Sugar Beach, a colorful candy and ice cream shop that also hosts workshops and family activities.
Royal Promenade. This bustling interior street, lined with restaurants, bars, and shops, is a signature feature of Royal Caribbean's larger ships. Highlights include the Rising Tide Bar, a platform that rises to Central Park while passengers enjoy drinks, and the impressive Bionic Bar, where two robotic arms prepare cocktails ordered via tablet.
Three swimming pools, a children's water park, surf simulators and several water slides make up the most refreshing fun on the ship.
Entertainment Zone. This is another of the most important interior areas, home to Studio B, a large ice rink where, in addition to skating, impressive musical shows take place. New on Symphony of the Seas is that the ice rink also transforms into a giant high-definition screen thanks to projectors that take the new show "1977" to a whole new level. Furthermore, Studio B features a new inflatable laser tag arena, called Battle for Planet Z, for the enjoyment of passengers. The Attic nightclub hosts silent party sessions where each guest listens to the music through wireless headphones, while Jazz on 4 offers a live music experience.
Pools and sports area. This is the adventure and sun zone, featuring The Ultimate Abyss, the tallest waterslide at sea, which takes you from the top of the ship to the Boardwalk in just a few seconds. Meanwhile, The Perfect Storm water slides, along with the two Flowrider surf simulators, the Splashaway Bay children's water park, and three swimming pools, complete the refreshing fun. El Loco Fresh is the new casual dining option next to the sports court. It's an open-air Mexican taqueria.
Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center. A large spa and a huge gym with the latest cardiovascular and training equipment occupy a large space at the bow.
The Ultimate Abyss is an impressive double slide that descends ten decks dry.
Youth Zone. The children's entertainment area is unparalleled. Divided into different rooms according to the children's ages, it caters to everyone from babies in the nursery to pre-teens who can do crafts, watch movies, or play video games. Teenagers have their own more sophisticated club. Here you'll also find Escape the Rubicon, a team game where you try to escape the Rubicon submarine before time runs out.
Aside from these areas, another new feature on Symphony of the Seas is The Ultimate Family Suite, a duplex family stateroom with a slide connecting the upper and lower decks, an air hockey table, a LEGO wall, and even hidden play areas. This 125-square-meter suite includes a 3D movie theater, a popcorn machine, video games, and a 20-square-meter balcony with a pool table, a rock-climbing wall, and a whirlpool tub. Attended by a butler, this suite offers the highest level of family comfort and is one of the first suites to be booked.
At the top of the bow, next to the adults-only sundeck, Hooked Seafood is another new dining option added to the Symphony of the Seas. It's a New England seafood restaurant, offering both lunch and dinner.
With this size of ship, as with all those of the same class, the list of facilities is endless, making for a truly unique holiday experience.
Itineraries:
After its Caribbean season, the Symphony of the Seas will arrive in Barcelona in April 2023 and begin its Mediterranean itineraries until November of the same year. Embarkation is available in Barcelona as well as Civitavecchia.
It will also offer some mini-cruises starting in October 2023.
Symphony of the Seas will take over from Wonder of the Seas in the Mediterranean next year with the same route.
Some interesting facts about the Symphony of the Seas
– Length: 362m long, longer than the Eiffel Tower (324m tall).
– Ultimate Abyss: At 45.7m above sea level, the Ultimate Abyss is taller than Buckingham Palace.
– Bionic Bar: Serves up to 1,000 drinks per day with 21 different cocktails and 30 different drinks.
– Food: On an average seven-night cruise, 5,000 dozen fresh eggs, 379 liters of chocolate ice cream, 953kg of lobster tails, and 1,134kg of fresh salmon are used.
– Thrusters: Just one of its four bow thrusters has more power than seven Ferrari sports cars.
