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If you had asked me a year ago if I would like to go on a cruise, my answer would have been a hard no, not interested. So … now it’s time for me to admit I was wrong about cruising. Before working here at Vacations for Canadians, I envisioned some sort of 70’s love boat that would inevitably lead to seasickness and boredom. What I got was an incredible ship that had all the amenities of an all-inclusive and more! Read on fellow Sailors to hear how my first cruise on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas went, what I learned (for my next cruise), and why I’ve turned the corner on cruising.
As a first-time cruiser, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but since I work with some pretty amazing travel advisors, I had the inside scoop. I traveled with my two teen daughters and we were already in Orlando for a cheer competition so it was an easy drive to Fort Lauderdale. We dropped our rental at the airport and grabbed a cab to the port. We had done the pre-boarding requirements on the Royal Caribbean app which made our embarkment quick and easy! Once on board we found our room, dropped off our carry-on, and headed out to explore. This ship is big (17 floors) so we wanted to get our bearings and locate the key areas before we set sail. I had pre-purchased beverage packages for the girls thinking I’d try a la carte for myself. Shortly after boarding I changed my mind and purchased a package for myself. We all got a souvenir RC cup that we kept filled with non-alcoholic drinks (you have to stay hydrated!) and the girls enjoyed plenty of mocktails. If you haven’t purchased packages or excursions in advance, don’t worry there are lots of opportunities to get them while on the ship. As the ship prepared to leave port, we headed to the top floor to join in the sail-away fun. The sun was shining, the music was pumping and with drinks in hand, we were ready for our vacation to start!
Food glorious food! I am so lucky my kids are not picky eaters but even if they were there is literally something for everyone on board Symphony of the Seas! Looking for a quick bite? Pizza, hot dogs, sandwiches and more can be found at the many complimentary restaurants. We did our first breakfast at the full-service main dining room but opted for the Windjammer buffet for the remainder of the trip. Lunch was at one of the “quick serve” restaurants or the buffet but dinner was where this foodie was in heaven! The main dining room had a rotating themed menu and not only was the food delicious but the service was next level. As someone who has spent my entire life in the service/tourism industry, I was blown away by the attention to detail, the personalization, and the genuine positivity of our wait staff (a big shout out to Mardave and Renalyn 11/10 service). The service everywhere on the ship was something that really stood out to me and my girls – every crew member went above and beyond. We opted to do one specialty dining and chose Hooked because we love seafood! The meal and the service were great. My oldest considered trying oysters but couldn’t choose between appetizers so we asked the waiter’s opinion. The waiter offered to bring her oysters to try in addition to the app she was eyeing and when it came it was a full serving which was a surprise as we expected one to try but it also gave me a chance to try them as well.
Shore Excursions – sand, surf and sun! We had three stops on our trip which originally included Labadee in Haiti but was changed to Nassau, Bahamas, Falmouth in Jamaica, and Coco Cay back in the Bahamas. In Nassau, we opted to walk from the port to a nearby beach that was a 10 min stroll away. We rented beach chairs ($10 US each) and enjoyed soaking up the sun. In Jamaica, we chose to add a shore excursion as I wasn’t comfortable exploring on my own with the girls. We chose a beach transfer to Blue Waters Beach Club which included transportation and a beach chair ($34.99 US each). Both these beaches were beautiful with crystal clear water and white sands. Food and drink were available for purchase and washrooms were available as well. The only downside to these was that vendors were “hustling” to sell you stuff but they did accept a polite no thank you and move on. We spend a few hours at both beaches and returned for a late lunch on the ship.
Coco Cay – A Perfect Day! Our final stop at Coco Cay was by far our favourite. It is a private island owned by Royal Caribbean which means the same service standards as you find on the ship are adhered to on the island and you can use your beverage packages and sea pass for purchases. The beaches are stunning and there are also pools, a waterpark ($), and an adults-only area. We opted to stay in the Chill Island section and found beach chairs with an umbrella close to the water. There are several complimentary restaurants on the island including Chill Grill which was in our section. The buffet-style menu included salads, BBQ, tacos, and an ice cream machine for a sweet treat after lunch. There is seating available or you can bring food and drink back to your spot on the beach. We stayed most of the day at the beach and visited a few shops to get last-minute souvenirs.
The entertainment and activities on Symphony of the Seas were spectacular. We saw a performance of Hairspray that rivaled any theatre shows we’ve seen. HIRO the aqua show was incredible and we were awed by the multi-talented performers. The ice show was fantastic and it’s hard to believe you’re on a ship watching this. Every show we saw had incredible performers, sets, and production. Make time to see these shows, you won’t be disappointed. Both my teens loved all three shows and thanked me for “dragging them” to see them.
Seas days are fun too! When not in port there is still plenty to do. On our ship the adventurous had waterslides, The Abyss (a gigantic slide), Flowrider, and more. Looking for something more relaxed? Enjoy lounging by the pool or in the hot tub, playing a round of mini golf or spa services ($). There are daily activities with the entertainment team, a fitness centre, and a walking track. Chill out in Central Park, teens will love that they have their own place to “hang”, and families can head to the Boardwalk for games and an actual carousel ride.
Our stateroom was an oceanview on Level 3 (midship) which was a great location and once we figured out port and starboard we could find it quite easily. We also added a VFC magnet to the door for quick recognition. We had a bed and a day bed which fit 3 of us comfortably as pictured (excuse the mess but I have teens). What we really loved was the big window, it was a favourite spot for everyone to sit and watch the waves roll by.
My top take-aways
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