Is Symphony of the Seas Worth It for Families?

If you’re considering a cruise on Symphony of the Seas and wondering if it’s worth it for your family—here’s our honest take after 11 cruises.

Short answer? Yes—Symphony of the Seas is 100% worth it for families.

This ship offers an incredible amount for families, especially if you’re traveling with kids of different ages like we were (5, 11, and 12). While it wasn’t our favorite Oasis Class ship, it’s still an amazing option and one we would absolutely recommend.

Here’s what we loved, what we didn’t, and who this ship is really for.

What We Loved About Symphony of the Seas

1. Endless Activities for Kids (and Adults)

This is where Symphony really shines.

Our kids were never bored—not even close. Some of their favorite things included:

There is always something going on, which makes it perfect for families.

2. The Food (So Many Great Options)

We love to eat—and Symphony delivered.

There are tons of included dining options, and we genuinely didn’t have a bad meal the entire trip.

Best meal of the trip? Izumi—hands down. We rarely pay for specialty restaurants, but Izumi is worth it every time!

We also tried Wonderland, which was a fun experience, but more of a “one and done” for us.

3. The Neighborhoods Make the Ship Feel Smaller

One thing Royal Caribbean does incredibly well is designing their ships.

4. Outstanding Service

This is something that really stood out.

Those little touches made a big difference for our family.

5. Entertainment That Lives Up to the Hype

Royal Caribbean is known for its shows, and Symphony delivered.

• Hairspray and Flight were fantastic
• The Aqua Show and Ice Skating Show featured incredibly talented performers

While we’ve seen slightly better versions of the aqua (Aqua80 being our favorite) and ice shows on other ships, they were still very enjoyable.

Downsides to Consider

No cruise is perfect—and these are worth knowing going in.

Crowds (Mostly in Certain Situations)

• The busiest we felt was in port at Puerto Plata—it was packed in certain areas
• Sea days can get crowded at the pool, but we grabbed chairs early and had no issues

Overall, Royal Caribbean does a great job spreading people out—but yes, it’s a big ship with a lot of people.

The Cost Adds Up

Cruising can get expensive, especially for a family of five.

You’re paying for:

• The cruise itself
• Transportation to the port
• Excursions
• Extras onboard (drinks, specialty dining, internet, etc.)

There are plenty of included options—but it’s easy to spend more if you’re not careful.

Rude Cruisers (Unfortunately…)

This isn’t the cruise line’s fault, but it stood out.

Some guests treated staff and others poorly, which is always disappointing to see. It didn’t ruin our trip, but it’s something we’ve noticed more and more over time.

What Our Kids Thought

Our 5-Year-Old

She LOVED this cruise.

• Splashaway Bay
• Carousel rides
• Ice cream whenever she wanted
• Adventure Ocean (she actually asked to go!)
• Even joining in on duck hunting around the ship

Our 11 & 12-Year-Olds

This was a big milestone trip for us.

For the first time, we allowed them to explore some of the ship on their own (together), and they loved it.

• Waterslides
• Ultimate Abyss
• Shows and entertainment
• Just having that independence

One of Our Favorite Moments

All three kids loved interacting with our dining staff.

Even when we saw them at breakfast, they would come over, say hi, and check on us. Those connections made the experience even more memorable.

Our Experience

This was our 11th cruise, and we’ve sailed multiple Royal Caribbean ships including Voyager Class, Freedom Class, and Oasis Class.

Oasis Class has become our favorite overall for family cruising. We sail on Star of the Seas next year, so we’ll see if this will still hold true.

Each ship does something a little better:

• Wonder → updated layout and pool deck
• Oasis → best Aqua Show
• Allure → amazing Broadway show, plus she just underwent a massive drydock
• Symphony → beautiful Central Park and great overall balance

Who Should Book Symphony of the Seas?

If you want a vacation where everyone can do their own thing and still come together—you’ll love it.

Who Should Skip It?

This might not be the best fit if:

• You want a quiet, relaxing, low-key vacation (the Solarium is an option for those looking for some quiet, kid-free areas on the ship)
• You don’t like crowds
• You prefer an all-inclusive experience where everything is included upfront

Favorite Port Surprise

Our biggest surprise? San Juan

We weren’t expecting much, but it ended up being our favorite stop.

• Beautiful streets
• Felt very safe walking around
• Local vendors and great atmosphere

It turned into one of the highlights of our trip.

Final Verdict: Is Symphony of the Seas Worth It for Families?

Yes—100% worth it for families.

It’s not perfect, and it may not be our #1 Oasis Class ship—but it offers an incredible experience, especially for families with kids of different ages.

If you’re looking for a fun, activity-filled vacation with great food, entertainment, and memories for everyone.

This ship absolutely delivers.

If you haven’t already, check out our full review of the Symphony of the Seas.

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