Overall, this was a great cruise. The mishaps and fatigue issues added to the experience and will be added to my dinner-party stories š! Mostly, it was great being able to introduce close friends to cruising and they absolutely loved it. I would definitely recommend the Symphony of the Seas.
Embarkation
5 out of 5
Shuttle bus service from Barcelona Airport was swift and friendly. Check-in was seamless and we were on the ship in minutes.
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
3 out of 5
Sadly food was not of the same high standard as pre-pandemic but we were never hungry or without choice. It did feel a bit āsameyā though, especially at breakfast.
Dog House
4 out of 5
Loved the chicken and apple hotdog!
Windjammer Marketplace
4 out of 5
Main venue for our meals. Service was great, plenty of choice at lunch and dinner but quality and variety over the week could have been better.
Windows (Main Dining Room)
3 out of 5
Beautiful venue. Was not impressed with food and only used on the first night due to that experience.
Trellis Bar
5 out of 5
Wonderful drinks and service.
Onboard Activities
4 out of 5
Plenty to do and see.
Sports Court
4 out of 5
The younguns in the group really enjoyed this space.
Main Pool
5 out of 5
Loved the pools and hot tubs, music and atmosphere was great and usually always found a nice space to lounge.
Casino Royale
3 out of 5
Wasnāt impressed with the game choices or the bar staff (not the servers who walk around, they were great). Fortunately, I didnāt make a huge loss and was able to use the same ticket throughout the week without having to add additional funds.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Entertainment was fantastic. The Hiro aqua show was my favourite. Enjoyed the events and games around the ship and pool, most shows and comedians. Had a fun night dancing in Dazzles venue too. Pool band are fantastic as are the performers in Hiro, Hairspray musical and Ice Shows.
On Air Club
5 out of 5
Enjoyed karaoke (cheering on the sidelines!), trivia, games and good drinks. Only downside is the venue is small for the activities they host there and can feel chockablock at times.
AquaTheater
5 out of 5
Great venue and experience. The Hiro show was absolutely AMAZING with exceptional talent..loved it!
Studio B
5 out of 5
Ice show was fantastic.
Royal Theatre
5 out of 5
Spacious and beautiful space. Enjoyed the shows and games in the venue.
Children's Programs
4 out of 5
My friendās son used the club on a few days but found the activities were pitched a little too young for his age group. We enjoyed a fun family trivia game there also.
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
On the most part, service and staff were top notch. Few exceptions with casino bar staff and one of the pool bars. Windjammer staff and stateroom attendant were great.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Beautiful ship, which was very clean and well maintained.
Cabin / Stateroom
4 out of 5
First time in a virtual view room and I enjoyed. Iām not sure Iād book again but I enjoyed the experience. Not sure if it was just my screen but the images looked a bit dull, so it always seemed like it would be overcast outside but weād get out and it was sunny and warm.
Space enough for two people and kept clean.
Ship tip
Book key shows prior to sailing and activities/events as soon as you get on ship.
Great time independently exploring and spending time in the Pisa area. Enjoyed a beautiful tagliatelle dish here.
Calamity struck when the trains heading back were all delayed and we were quite late back for the ship! Fortunately, there were many of us in the same situation and the ship waited for us. Stressful but exciting at the same time and appreciated the camaraderie of the other passengers going through the same thing. Was also impressed that station staff handed out food and water due to long waiting time.
My favourite port stop. Rome was lovely and Civitavecchia is a beautiful port town in its own right. It was our randomly found tour guide who made this day though. He was absolutely hilarious and a real character..we didnāt stop laughing! Would love to return.
We did the hop-on/off bus tour, which was nice and easy to access. By this port, I was fully done in though (so much walking all week lol) so I donāt think I enjoyed it as much as I could have. Seems a vibrant and busy city with plenty to do/see.
Great itinerary. Appreciate your informative and detailed review. That train ride back to the ship will give you stories for a long time. Glad you enjoyed your cruise.
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