World’s largest cruise ship begins to take shape
Construction continues on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas, which will inherit the title of world’s largest cruise ship when it debuts in April, and the details are starting to show.
Images from construction taking place at the STX France shipyard in St. Nazaire, France show the installation of the Miami-bound ship’s three Perfect Storm water slides and layout of what will be the interior green space known as Central Park.
The interior construction has been the main focus since the ship’s float-out last June. Images show the magenta-and-blue butterfly pattern carpeting of the twostory Wonderland restaurant overlooking the Boardwalk.
From the Boardwalk, a mural of flying kites can be seen along with a giant mustard bottle on what will eventually be home to a Johnny Rockets restaurant, Sugar Beach candy and ice cream shop, hand-carved carousel and new sports bar and video game concept Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. Looking up from the Boardwalk to the underside of the top decks is a floating jellyfish mural from which the signature 10-deck, twisting dry slide The Ultimate Abyss will descend.
The Promenade in the interior is bathed in blue, purple and white light from a massive overhead feature while construction continues on the various facades of shops and restaurants that will line the walkway.
The 230,000-ton, 1,188-foot-long ship is the fourth Oasis-class vessel, slightly larger than Harmony of the Seas, which debuted in 2016 and currently holds the title of world’s largest cruise ship. Each of the four vessels in the class, starting with Oasis of the Seas in 2009 and Allure of the Seas in 2010 has held the Guinness World Record. Each of the four ships can hold close to 7,000 passengers.
Just like Harmony, the ship will feature FlowRider surf simulators, zip line, twin 40-foot rock climbing walls, ice skating rink, AquaTheater and seven distinct neighborhoods.
Unique to Symphony of the Seas will be the “world’s largest laser tag arena,” in the Studio B space where the ice skating is performed. It will be transformed into a glow-in-the-dark venue themed around the fate of the last planets of the galaxy.
Also new to the fleet will be the Ultimate Family Suite, a two-level suite that will feature a slide, a floor-to-ceiling Lego wall, air hockey, movie-theater-style TV room with popcorn machine as well as a 212-square-foot wraparound balcony with its own climbing wall feature, bumper pool table and whirlpool. It’s a two-bedroom suite that can accommodate up to eight guests. Symphony will feature 28 more staterooms than Harmony of the Seas with a Royal Suite class, neighborhood balconies overlooking Central Park, virtual balconies on inside staterooms, and the highest number of ocean-view cabins at sea.
A new Mexican food concept called El Loco Fresh and casual seafood option called Hooked will debut on the ship. While other of the many dining options will be the same as other ships in the fleet including fusion food venue Wonderland, Jamie Oliver’s Italian dining venue, Japanese cuisine at Izumi, the Chops Grill steakhouse and 150 Central Park, which serves seasonal American cuisine.
Entertainment offerings include Broadway show “Hairspray,” original production “Flight” that is a humorous look at the history of flight, skating show “1977” and in the AquaTheater, a show titled “HiRo.”
One other feature coming to the ship will be the introduction of app-based mobile check in, that will be available in both Europe and when it comes to North America.
The ship is set to debut April 21, 2018, with an inaugural sailing from Barcelona as it spends its first season of cruising in the Mediterranean. It then repositions to PortMiami on a 12-night transatlantic voyage that departs Oct. 28 and begins Caribbean sailings on Nov. 9 with the first seven-night cruise on Nov. 17.
More details can be found on www.royalcaribbean.com/symphony-ofthe-seas or by calling 800-769-2522.