Symphony of the Seas Tips & Tricks: 13 Things We Wish We Knew Before Boarding

Planning a cruise on Symphony of the Seas? After 11 cruises (and multiple Oasis Class ships), we’ve learned a lot—and this trip was no exception.

From booking shows early to beating the crowds (and saving money along the way), these are our best tips and tricks to help you make the most of your cruise while on Symphony of the Seas.

1. Arrive Early—Even Before Your Check-In Time

We sailed out of the Port of Miami and had an 11:30am arrival time—but we showed up just after 10:00am.

They weren’t letting people into the terminal right away, but that changed quickly. Once things opened:

  • Security and check-in were FAST
  • We were onboard before 11:00am

Tip: Arrive early but be flexible. The process is incredibly smooth.

Also—heads up: Miami traffic is no joke right now with ongoing construction. Give yourself extra time getting to the port.

2. Book Shows ASAP (Seriously—Don’t Wait)

As soon as entertainment opened in the app (about 30–90 days before sailing), we booked everything.

Shows that filled up fast:

  • Aqua Show (Hiro)
  • Broadway show (Hairspray)
  • Flight
  • Ice shows

Pro Tip: Book the Aqua Show for the first available night.
If it gets canceled due to weather (which happens), you’ll still have time to reschedule.

3. Plan Your Dining Ahead of Time

We booked:

  • Early dining in the Main Dining Room (5:00pm every night)
  • Specialty dining at Izumi and Wonderland (on sale pre-cruise)

This gave us:

  • Same table + same waitstaff every night (huge for families)
  • Flexibility to plan specialty dining around MDR menus

Tip: Check the MDR menu in the app ahead of time and book specialty dining on nights that don’t excite you.

BIG TIP: Never pay full price—watch for pre-cruise sales (Black Friday deals are amazing).

4. Have a Pool Deck Strategy for Sea Days

Sea days = crowds.

I was up early (5:30–6:00am), grabbed coffee, walked the track—and by 8:00am, I secured chairs for the family.

Yes, it’s early—but worth it.

We also saw:

  • Tons of “chair hogs” saving seats for hours (don’t be one of those people!)
  • Pool attendants occasionally clearing unattended chairs

Tip: If you want a good spot, go early—and actually use your chairs.

5. Beat the Food Crowds (Timing Matters)

Food is amazing—but timing is everything.

Our best strategies:

  • Windjammer: Go right when it opens (especially for breakfast)
  • Avoid Windjammer on port mornings—it gets packed
  • El Loco Fresh: Go right at opening for lunch

Hidden gems:

  • Johnny Rockets (FREE breakfast + amazing BELT sandwich)
  • Park Café (great breakfast burritos)

These quieter spots made a big difference in our experience.

6. Show Up Early for Entertainment

Even with reservations, we arrived 30 minutes early for shows.

Even with reservations, we arrived 30 minutes early for shows.

This helped us:

  • Get better seats
  • Avoid stress

Some shows don’t require reservations (like iSkate) but still fill up.

Tip: Treat show times like dinner reservations—don’t cut it close. They will start letting people in that are in the stand-by line with no reservations into the shows by a certain time.

7. Let Older Kids Have Some Independence

This was our first cruise letting our 12- and 13-year-old explore on their own (together).

They loved:

  • Grabbing pizza and soda on the Promenade
  • Checking out the sports court
  • Getting ice cream whenever they wanted

It gave them freedom—and gave us a little downtime too.

8. Register for Kids Club Early

Our 5-year-old LOVED Adventure Ocean—she was asking to go back.

Tip: Register your kids as soon as possible so you don’t run into any delays.

Bonus: They may even run into new friends around the ship later!

9. Take Advantage of Pre-Cruise Deals

This is one of the easiest ways to save money.

We booked:

  • Deluxe Beverage Package (for one adult)
  • Refreshment Package (for the other)
  • Specialty dining

Because we booked early, we saved a LOT.

Pro Tip: Prices fluctuate—if you see a better deal later, cancel and rebook.

10. You Don’t NEED Internet

We skipped the internet package entirely.

For us, this cruise was about:

  • Family time
  • Disconnecting from work
  • Being present

And honestly—we didn’t miss it.

11. Pack Smarter (These Items Helped a LOT)

A few things we always bring:

  • Magnetic hooks/clips (game changer for storage in your cabin)
  • Notepad + pen (great for leaving notes for kids)
  • Pool toys + collapsible sand buckets
  • Two pairs of sunglasses (trust us)
  • A bottle of wine (allowed and saves money)

Also: Leave room in your luggage for souvenirs.

Port Tips You’ll Be Glad You Knew

Nassau

Skip expensive excursions. Walk to the Straw Market for unique, handmade souvenirs (just expect some pushy vendors).

CocoCay

Go to Snack Shack for lunch—skip the buffet.
Get the chicken sandwich and add mozzarella sticks. Trust us.

San Juan

Don’t book an excursion—just explore.

Walk the streets, check out vendors, and visit the fort (about $10/adults, kids free). This ended up being our favorite stop.

Puerto Plata

If you want the lazy river—go EARLY.

We didn’t, and the line was 30+ people deep… so we went back to the ship and enjoyed a much quieter pool deck.

13. What We Wish We Knew Before Boarding

  • Book shows as soon as they open (they fill FAST)
  • The pool deck gets busy early—have a plan
  • Pre-cruise deals are almost always cheaper
  • You don’t need to overbook excursions—some ports are best explored on your own
  • The ship is big—but the “neighborhoods” help it feel manageable

Final Thoughts: Symphony of the Seas Tips and Tricks

A little planning goes a LONG way on Symphony of the Seas.

If you:

  • Book early
  • Plan your days (just a little)
  • Know where to go (and when)

…you’ll have an incredible experience.

Still deciding if this ship is right for your family? Check out our full Symphony of the Seas review here.