The year-end season is always filled with joy, and those rare family gatherings throughout the year are something to look forward to. Rather than sitting at home complaining about the same old TV shows, planning a family trip is definitely the best choice. And a cruise vacation is the top pick that can meet the needs of all family members, young and old. No need to rush around for itineraries — based on past travel experiences, when faced with the choice of a cruise, Royal Caribbean, as the world’s leading brand of luxury cruises, is naturally an excellent option. Over the decades that Royal Caribbean has been dedicated to sea travel, it has not only opened many routes but also brought the new experience of the “era of big ships” to China, giving more people the opportunity to step away from the land and enjoy the views of the sea.
Among the many cruise ships, one that must be recommended is the ultra-luxurious Oasis-class cruise ship “Symphony of the Seas.” Launched in 2018 as the fourth ship in the Royal Caribbean Oasis class, she is certainly trustworthy, not to mention how outstanding she is on her own. With a displacement of 230,000 tons — five times that of a regular cruise ship — some even call her a “sea behemoth,” though I prefer another name — she’s a floating city.
With a total height of 18 decks and a massive capacity to carry nearly 7,000 people, “Symphony of the Seas” sails grandly across the sea. To avoid getting lost on such an awe-inspiring cruise ship, I thoroughly studied the entertainment map of the “Symphony of the Seas” and prepared an advance guide to this kingdom of entertainment.
BeautyFood comes first
Symphony of the Seas has nearly 30 restaurants, covering specialty cuisines from around the world. The main dining rooms spanning floors 3 to 5 are perfect for families to gather and enjoy meals together. These are thoughtfully categorized by cuisine type, offering both exquisite Western dishes and authentic Asian flavors to satisfy every picky palate. The sail-shaped buffet restaurant is probably the most popular, likely designed to cater to passengers of different nationalities. Chinese travelers no longer need to worry about the food onboard. Unique specialty restaurants such as Qing (Japanese cuisine), Fantasyland, Oliver’s Italian Restaurant, and the Steakhouse & Grill are equally authentic and delicious.
Perfect Family Suites
After eating and drinking your fill, you also need a good sleep. When traveling with family, everyone’s needs must be taken care of. Seniors and children are the most sensitive to changes in sleeping environments, but the moment I saw the family suites, all my worries disappeared. The duplex rooms seem more than spacious enough for a whole family, and there's even an indoor mini playground for kids, filling the room with a sense of adventure.InteractionExperience. The 3D cinema-style room makes you feel fully immersed, and there’s a pool table and air hockey game on the private ocean-view balcony. When staying in the room, you might not even want to lie in bed, wasting such great time.Trulyonly two words can describe it: perfect.
Symphony of the Seas has 2,775 cabins, with a diverse range of options that seem to maximally meet various needs. On such a massive cruise ship, blue seas and skies are visible from every angle, no matter where you look.
Ocean Exploration Section
Symphony of the Seas is more like an ocean park. Faced with the vast sea, one can’t help but feel a sense of awe. Perhaps knowing this, the ship offers various theme park experiences.
Slide down three high-speed water slides, full of speed and excitement. “Perfect Storm” lives up to its name, with rapid descents through the vortex-like slides of “Typhoon” and “Cyclone,” or dropping into the giant champagne glass of “Supercell.” If you don’t listen closely to the sound of the waves, you might forget you’re out at sea.
The entrance to “The Ultimate Abyss” is shaped like a moray eel, showing its long white teeth. Walking into this oversized colorful structure leads you to the highest rotating waterslide at sea — 10 stories high. Here, you can scream to your heart’s content.
There’s also a massive surf simulator on the deck, waiting for thrill-seekers, with waves splashing as if you're riding the surf. If surfing isn’t enough, the WaterWorks area on the Play Area offers thrilling water slides, along with spacious pools and buckets that dump water — allowing you to fully enjoy the power of water.
Theme Show Time
The ship’s seven themed neighborhoods include all kinds of fun and novel activities — from Central Park, to the Boardwalk, to the Royal Promenade, the pool and sports zone, spa and fitness center, and even a youth activity center. If it weren’t at sea, it would be just like a city with everything imaginable.
The more you explore, the more you’ll realize it’s like a kingdom on the sea. Forget the ordinary troubles of life on land, and with your family and friends, you can fully immerse yourself in these relaxing moments. Aside from sunbathing on the deck, feeling the sea breeze and enjoying the magical stillness of the ocean like a movie scene, you can also head to the Royal Casino or disco to let loose. The cruise ship has a stage for every occasion.
The hit Broadway musical “Hairspray” will be performed at the Royal Theater, which will also feature the original historical drama “Walk on the Clouds,” and you can also enjoy the aerial flight show “HERO.” “Symphony of the Seas” must be carrying many people’s dreams, creating such an incredible, top-tier, over-the-top sea resort. These dreamlike scenes appearing together are fantastical yet real and awe-inspiring, making everyone full of anticipation.
A New Ship Continuing the Legend
What everyone looks forward to is definitely not just the “Symphony of the Seas.” Recently, Royal Caribbean announced that the fifth new ship in the Oasis class, “Wonder of the Seas,” will soon set sail from China. This newest and largest cruise ship in the world is currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and will be launched in 2021 and deployed to a Chinese home port, providing year-round home-port cruise itineraries for tourists from all over the world.
Cruise journeys have already become so rich and colorful. With future continuous innovations, integrating the iconic concept of the seven neighborhoods found on sister ships, along with a series of novel and fun experiences, a wide array of delicious food, unparalleled entertainment activities, and cutting-edge technology, “Wonder of the Seas” is sure to bring even more surprises. Most exciting of all, it’s the first Oasis-class ship to be deployed in China, setting sail right from our doorstep. When the time comes, you definitely have to go and see it for yourself.
At this moment, the whole city seems to be bustling — everyone is busy buying New Year gear, scrambling for travel tickets, and gathering with friends. Although the festive atmosphere may be fading year by year, time with family is always short. Since we’ve seen enough mountains and explored all the foothills, take your parents and children on a journey along a long coastline. Not just one spot, not just one beach, no unfamiliar surroundings, no language barriers — cruise travel offers a rich entertainment atmosphere, plenty of fun, and most importantly, every moment is spent experiencing the real sea.