Barcelona, October 11, 2017 – Royal Caribbean International has created a new vacation experience that will redefine family and adventure travel in 2018. Symphony of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest Oasis-class ship, brings together the cruise line’s award-winning and acclaimed features and incorporates incredible new experiences for adventurers of all ages. New dining concepts, innovative family activities, breathtaking air, ice, and water shows, as well as the most complete family suite at sea. These exclusive experiences will join the already famous robot-served Bionic Bar, the iconic Aqua Theater, and the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; all within the unique seven-neighborhood concept for which all Royal Caribbean Oasis-class ships are renowned.
The Symphony of the Seas will debut in April 2018 and spend its inaugural season in Europe. This architectural marvel will feature more balcony staterooms and ocean views, along with the legendary Boardwalk and Central Park neighborhoods that made its sister ship, Harmony of the Seas, famous.
“We are thrilled to introduce Symphony of the Seas, the most innovative ship in the fleet, offering the very best of Royal Caribbean and introducing new experiences to amaze guests of all ages,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “Our goal was to create an authentic vacation experience filled with adventure for travelers of all ages, which is why Symphony of the Seas boasts the most cutting-edge, personalized, and technologically advanced offering in the entire fleet.”
New Boardwalk
Symphony of the Seas will feature the completely renovated Boardwalk district, brimming with new energy, interactive experiences, and lively venues for endless entertainment and fun for all ages. Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade will be the place to watch major sporting events from around the world on 30 large screens, ensuring every fan has the best seat in the house to cheer on their team.
Sports fans will also enjoy the best wings, burgers, and craft beers at the sports bar, as well as fun competitions like Ms. Pac-Man, Star Wars Battle Pod, Ice Skeeball, and other popular games. Across the Boardwalk, next to the famous hand-carved carousel, is the Sugar Beach candy and ice cream shop, which will delight those with a sweet tooth with sugar and colorful treats, offering activities and workshops for families and aspiring bakers.
All these highly anticipated additions to the Boardwalk will complete the array of experiences that have made it famous. The Ultimate Abyss will continue to thrill the bravest with the adrenaline rush of plunging down the tallest slide at sea and descending into the heart of the Boardwalk. At Johnny Rockets, guests can enjoy the best burgers, fries, and milkshakes to the rhythm of 1950s music. Finally, the breathtaking AquaTheater, with the ocean and starry nights as its backdrop, will offer incredible aquatic acrobatics and stunning aerial performances that can only be experienced aboard Symphony of the Seas.
The Ultimate Family Suite
The Symphony of the Seas will feature the world's most interactive and cutting-edge family suite. The Ultimate Family Suite is a dream come true for children and teens of all ages, incorporating a slide that runs from the children's bedroom to the living room below, a floor-to-ceiling LEGO wall, an air hockey table, and even hidden corners for fun.
A separate 3D cinema room, complete with a popcorn machine and countless video games, will ensure that the most avid gamers in the family have a fantastic time. And that's just the interior; the 20m² balcony features a pool table, a climbing wall, and a hot tub for a relaxing soak with ocean views.
The Ultimate Family Suite measures 125 square meters and can accommodate a family of up to eight people in two bedrooms. It makes the most of every space to unleash your imagination and offers the ultimate accommodation experience imaginable. And if all this isn't enough, guests staying in The Ultimate Family Suite will have their own personal butler who will attend to every detail and can enjoy all the premium services of the Royal Suite Class.
This innovative way of traveling as a family joins the numerous accommodation options offered by the ship, ranging from the Loft Suites with their incredible views to the spacious Owner's Suites.
New gastronomic creations
The Symphony of the Seas will experiment with new dining concepts, adding to the 20 specialty restaurants already located throughout the ship's seven neighborhoods. Hooked, Royal Caribbean's first New England seafood restaurant, will feature fresh seafood and a robust bar serving raw seafood and oysters upon request. Located at the front of the ship in the Solarium, a casualyet sophisticated restaurant with sweeping ocean views will offer lunch and dinner. El Loco Fresh will serve delicious tacos made to order, burritos, and other popular Mexican dishes. This open-air restaurant will have seating for over 100 people in the sports area.
Among the most popular restaurants are Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine, Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver, 150 Central Park (with its seasonal American menu), Park Café , and Izumi Hibachi and Sushi. These establishments offer innovative designs and culinary specialties, providing a wide variety of options for cruise passengers.
Maximum entertainment
Royal Caribbean's unparalleled entertainment takes on a new dimension with shows where the magic of theater transcends the stage and enters the audience. Responding to popular demand, the hit show "Hairspray" —the first Broadway musical to be brought to the sea—will return to Symphony of the Seas with a fresh new look and will share the stage with Royal Caribbean's original show, "Flight," a historical satire about the evolution of air travel that culminates in a tribute to the Wright brothers. At the Aqua Theater, the iconic open-air amphitheater, a new aquatic spectacular, "HiRo," will leave everyone speechless with its acrobatic feats and underwater activities. And Studio B will take us on a journey through time with the high-tech ice skating show "1977," transporting us to London during the celebration of the Queen's 25th anniversary and the theft of the Crown Jewels in what became known as the heist of the century.
But if passengers are looking for a true adventure, nothing beats participating in an epic experience where the whole family and friends will have to fight for the last planet in the galaxy. And there's more: cutting-edge technology and special effects will transform Studio B into the world's largest and most modern laser stage. On the other hand, for those tourists seeking an unparalleled challenge, Symphony of the Seas offers a Puzzle Break game . In it, different groups will have to learn to work as a team against the clock if they want to escape the underwater-themed room before time runs out.
The new online check-in system debuts on the Symphony of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas will feature the latest technological innovations, including a check-in process that eliminates queues and waiting times. The new process will utilize a combination of facial recognition, barcodes, and beacons to make boarding as quick and easy as possible.
Guests will check in through Royal Caribbean's new mobile app, which requires uploading a selfie and can be done from home. Upon arrival, cruisers will go through a security checkpoint and then proceed directly to their stateroom, where their key will be waiting. In addition to mobile check-in, the Symphony of the Seas will feature all the pioneering technology for which the brand is renowned. Examples of this acclaimed technology include VOOM, the fastest internet at sea, state-of-the-art signage systems, and virtual balconies.
Seven neighborhoods in perfect harmony
One ship and seven distinct neighborhoods for families to explore together or individually. Symphony of the Seas is a cutting-edge entertainment destination for all ages, where surprises await at every turn.
- Boardwalk – Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade and Sugar Beach Candy & Ice Cream Store add modern touches to this open-air space inspired by old-fashioned coastal piers. With its original hand-carved carousel, Boardwalk will be a classic family fun spot with casual, shops, and countless activities. The AquaTheater, located at the stern of the ship, has the ocean as its backdrop. This impressive theater will feature a variety of activities, including breathtaking aquatic acrobatics.
- Central Park – With over 12,000 lush tropical plants, this open-air neighborhood is a serene retreat featuring winding pathways perfect for reading and relaxing, retail boutiques, and specialty restaurants like Chops Grille, Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver, 150 Central Park, and Vintage Wine Bar. The Park Café, with its communal tables and bistro chairs overlooking a central plaza, is the ideal spot to chat with friends and people-watch.
- Entertainment Zone – Here you'll find a truly contemporary nightclub designed to cater to diverse tastes and moods. It will feature Casino Royale, which will claim the title of the largest casino at sea, and Studio B, a large-scale ice rink where lasers will play a key role. The Attic, with its comedy club vibe, will transform into a space where passengers can dance and enjoy drinks. Additionally, Jazz on 4 will offer live jazz and blues performances with table service for couples and groups.
- Pool and sports area – This is where the ship's most exciting adventures take place. Here you'll find The Ultimate Abyss , the tallest water slide at sea; The Perfect Thorn , a trio of water slides; two FlowRider surf simulators ; a mini-golf course; the beach pool; and of course, the new Mexican restaurant, El Loco Fresh .
- Royal Promenade – Restaurants, bars, and shops line this bustling main street. The Royal Promenade features a café and the revolutionary Bionic Bar, where the bartenders are robots, powered by Makr Shakr, and the Rising Tide Bar, which transports passengers to Central Park.
- Youth Zone– The bravest teenagers can dive into its spacious facilities, with an innovative program that includes numerous activities such as Puzzle Break, a new challenge where teams will compete against the clock to escape from a room with a submarine before time runs out.
- Spa and Fitness Center– It is also possible to relax or work out in the largest Spa and Fitness Center at sea.
The 25th ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Symphony of the Seas, will be christened in April 2018, beginning its summer season in the Mediterranean with calls at the ports of Barcelona/Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Provence, France; Florence/Pisa, Rome, and Naples, Italy. On November 24, 2018, the ship will sail to Miami, FL, its year-round homeport, from where it will offer 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises departing from the new Terminal A at PortMiami.
The Symphony of the Seas will feature 16 passenger decks, a gross tonnage of over 230,000, a capacity of 5,500 passengers at double occupancy, and 2,775 staterooms. For more information about the Symphony of the Seas, please visit RoyalCaribbean.com/SymphonyoftheSeas.
