I was unsure if I wanted to deal with masks while on a cruise but the Symphony of the seas was the best one I could be on because of the many open spaces on the 6th (boardwalk) and 8th (Central Park) floor. Amazing cruise!!
Embarkation
4 out of 5
Going through security was fast and well organized. We traveled with two unvaccinated children that needed to take a PCR test when we arrived. Had to wait in the terminal for roughly 30 minutes to get the negative test results back. It wasn’t a bad experience. Just a tiny inconvenience.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
Everything was great… really hard to complain when there is so much to choose from and everyone working was so accommodating.
Main Early Dining-
Great experience!!! We only have done anytime dining in the past but it wasn’t an option with unvaccinated children so we didn’t know what to expect. Our three waiters, Josephine, Sri, and Lloyd were the best we ever had. Head waiter Josephine made sure my vegan/plant based hubby had his food everywhere… main dining, windjammer and even on CocoCay!! Sri was the best and Lloyd was the most entertaining waiter I’ve ever encountered. He did everything to keep a smile on my face boys faces… magic tricks, making mini napkin Yodas… we will forever remember him fondly.
They were short staffed but the quality of service was the best I’ve ever had as a whole!
Sorrento's
5 out of 5
The place to get a snack after hours. My hubby is vegan and ordered a whole veggie pizza without cheese everyday and took it to Windjammer to eat with us during lunch. Took 7 minutes. If you don’t see something you want, ask them to custom make you one!
Windjammer Marketplace
5 out of 5
Great! Tables were closed for social distancing and dirty tables were quickly cleaned and sanitized for the next guest to eat.
El Loco Fresh℠
5 out of 5
Really nice! It’s tucked away near the sports court and seemed to be busy but it’s because the place to wait in line is a little area and social distancing is enforced. It was worth the 5-10 minute wait!
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
We did everything that was free (laser tag wasn’t available )and loved it all. We wouldn’t have been able to do all we did if it the ship were at full capacity. We found chairs in the shade every day before 10am. Pools were full on sea days but my boys were in there and had a blast!
Zip Line
5 out of 5
Short but fun! You can zip line repeatedly if it isn’t really busy. Bring socks. You can wear your own shoes or they give you some to borrow.
Flowrider
5 out of 5
So much fun! They give you a few chances to try and there always seemed to be a “fan” in the stands cheering everyone on. 😆
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Everything was outstanding. HUSH party was fun, musicians were great and every show was enjoyable.
Carousel
5 out of 5
AquaTheater
5 out of 5
Amazing!!! I watched a game there and saw the amazing Hiro show there…. It was canceled but they rescheduled us while docked at CocoCay.. it was perfect! We made reservations but they opened it up 15 minutes before the show.
Children's Programs
3 out of 5
It wasn’t bad… just not fun for my 9 and 11 year old boys. Limited sessions weren’t a problem but they combined the younger kids and older kids, limiting what the older kids could do. Picture lots of coloring wheee there are computers a few feet away with games they can play. They have a science lab my oldest got to go to one session and he loved it!
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Josephine, Siri, and Lloyd were the best servers we have ever had.
Everyone delivered amazing service!
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
Balcony- very aft
Perfect except the mattress was a bit worn. There was a dent.
Ship tip
A couple I met at the end of the cruise went to every show and only had reservations once. They swear by going 30-45 minutes prior to the show, the host/hostess waves you in without checking. Also, ask for what you want, regardless if it is on the menu.
We needed to catch a ride to the popular port side where all the activities were. We were going to rent mopeds and explore ourselves but once we saw how people drive and the fact you drive on the left side of the road, we decided to just do the sky lift. Amazing views of parts of the island!
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