Sizing up Symphony of the Seas

The world’s largest cruise ship has arrived and it was music to the ears of Bolsover Cruise Club Marketing Manager, Fran Puddick.

Back in May, I got the chance to experience the newest, and record-breaking biggest, ship at sea, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas.

With records and first at sea’s galore, it’s hard to overstate just how impressive Symphony of the Seas is without tying yourself up in superlatives like awesome, breath-taking and amazing.

She’s a beauty, no matter what small-ship lovers say and the attention to detail isn’t lost in her size; the use of the seven ‘boroughs’ really do help make Symphony not only easier to navigate but do a great job of making sure that once you’re on-board, she stops being overwhelming very quickly.

As you’d expect from a Royal Caribbean ship, the service was wonderful, the food varied and tasty and the staterooms were beautifully done and roomy. However, it’s been the performances that elevated my experience during her inaugural sailing.

From the smallest of spaces; the cowboy playing a full-size piano in lifts across the ship or a guitarist performing incredibly expressive flamenco in Central Park, to the biggest of stages, like a Broadway level performance of Hairspray or Fat Boy Slim booming across the Aqua Theatre while acrobats twirl and dive, music and performance is everywhere on Symphony of the Seas.

A walk down the Royal Promenade could take you from foot-tapping Cuban rhythms to chilled out one-man and his guitar in the Copper Kettle pub. This festival-like atmosphere recalled nights in narrow Mediterranean streets with music spilling out from bars and tavernas. You can even make your OWN music by tinkling the ivories on an amazing piano staircase!

COOL & CALM

But for an entirely opposite experience, you’ll find nowhere calmer at sea than the solarium. I challenge you to find a more relaxing spot on the ship than this nook (by Symphony standards!) nestled at the very fore of the ship, quiet, calm, sheltered and lit with a beautiful light installation reminiscent of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. Comfortable beds and laid-back music evoking of a 5am wind-down in Ibiza.

So much has been written about Symphony of the Seas, she’s had column inches to burn, but after experiencing her first hand, I can honestly say she deserves each and every one. She’s lovely and I can’t wait to take my family on board.