A SYMPHONY OF
Bigger isn’t always better in travel these days, with “boutique” the buzzword used to describe everything from hotels to safaris and airlines. But try telling that to the cruise industry. Although there’s a move towards small ship and expedition cruising, at the other end of the scale, some cruise companies are trying their best to attract new guests and keep their audience — and their profits — growing. Millennials and families are the new target and with that comes the race to build bigger, better, bolder, billiondollar ships to attract budget-conscious travellers.
This year alone has already seen the launch of Norwegian Bliss (330m), Carnival Horizon (322m), and the MSC Seaview (323m), but the biggest of them all is Royal Caribbean’s 362m Symphony of the Seas, currently the largest cruise ship in the world.
Sailing the Mediterranean for the Northern Hemisphere summer season, Symphony will make her way to Miami to cruise the Caribbean from November. The hope is she will attract a whole new generation of cruisers.
Like a floating city at sea, Symphony has room for 6680 passengers and 2200 crew at full capacity. Across her 18 decks you’ll find multi-storey slides, nightclubs, an iceskating rink, wave simulators, mini-golf, a zipline, Broadway shows, 22 cafes and restaurants, robot bartenders and much, much more. Symphony is a cacophony of colourful all-ages, all-hours entertainment.
Of course, a ship like this is not going to appeal to everyone. No matter how many different areas there are for people to explore, being surrounded by more than 6000 other passengers is not everyone’s idea of a good time.
But, if you’re looking for a non-stop party, or you want a holiday where the kids will constantly be entertained while you have some down time for rest and relaxation, this could be for you.
I sailed on Symphony of the Seas in April for a whirlwind two-day preview cruise. Here’s my guide to what’s on board.
Get active
The common perception of cruise holidays is that the only exercise you’ll get is walking to the buffet and back. But on Symphony there is plenty of opportunity to be active. Start your day with a whizz down one of three waterslides, then learn to surf on wave simulator Flowrider. Get a birds’ eye view of the Boardwalk with a journey across the Zipline. Get your heart racing on the Ultimate Abyss — twin slides that float off the back of the ship, 45m above sea level, then show off your strength on the rock-climbing wall. You can also use the gym; do laps on the running track that circumnavigates the fifth deck; and shoot hoops on the open-air sports court on the 15th. If all else fails, get a basic fitness kick-start by taking the stairs rather than one of the 24 guest lifts.
Chill out
Of course, you also need some time to relax, and Symphony isn’t just about high-octane activities. The Solarium is an adults’ only indoor/outdoor sanctuary at the front of the ship, with whirlpools, sunbeds, (imitation) palm trees, a bar and restaurant. If you need even more solitude, head to the Vitality Spa for manicures, pedicures, hair treatments, massages, wraps, facials, acupuncture . . . or step it up a notch with medi-spa treatments to blitz wrinkles, and tooth-whitening procedures to give you a Hollywood smile.
Party hard
If sleep is your main priority, you may want to book a different ship because Symphony of the Seas has a range of late-night diversions to keep you up. There’s nightly karaoke at the On Air bar, the super fun silent disco at The Attic, and the novelty value of Rising Tide — where the entire bar moves up and down between the fifth and eighth decks. The strongest drinks can be found at the Bionic Bar, where you place your order on an iPad and two hydraulic robots mix and serve. They can make up to two drinks per minute and don’t require a tip. And if you still haven’t had enough, party until the wee small hours at Studio B Nightclub. You can sleep when you’re dead, right?
Fill your belly
In recent years, cruise ships have become less about the buffets and the main dining rooms and more about specialty restaurants catering to many different tastes. Symphony covers all bases, from seafood at Hooked, to Japanese at Izumi; top quality steaks at Chops Grille, to celeb favourites such as Jamie’s Italian; and destination restaurants spanning Mexico to Manhattan. For an imaginative meal head to Wonderland, where the menu is categorised by elements not courses