Symphony of the Seas Review: 7-Night Cruise With Kids

Our Honest Review of Symphony of the Seas (With Kids)

Our family recently returned from a 7-night Caribbean cruise aboard the Symphony of the Seas, and it was another fantastic adventure at sea.

This sailing took place February 22 – March 1 and departed from Miami, FL. Traveling with us were our three kids, ages 5, 11, and 12, so this cruise was definitely put to the test as a true family vacation.

In this post we’re sharing our honest thoughts on the ship, food, activities, ports, and whether Symphony of the Seas is worth it for families. Check out our full review of Symphony of the Seas below.

Getting to the Cruise

One thing we always recommend when cruising is flying in the day before your departure. Delayed flights can easily ruin embarkation day, so arriving early gives you some peace of mind.

However, hotels in Miami have become incredibly expensive before cruises. Because of that, we decided to stay in Fort Lauderdale the night before and then take an Uber to the port the next morning. It worked perfectly and saved quite a bit of money.

Our Caribbean Cruise Itinerary

Originally our sailing was scheduled to visit:

• Nassau
• Perfect Day at CocoCay
• Labadee
• Falmouth

Due to unrest in Haiti, the itinerary was changed. Our final ports ended up being:

• Nassau
• Perfect Day at CocoCay
• San Juan
• Puerto Plata

Even with the changes, we ended up with some really enjoyable stops.

Our Symphony of the Seas Review: First Impressions of the Ship

Our family has now sailed on all of the Oasis-class ships except Utopia of the Seas, and we continue to love the layout of this class.

Despite being one of the largest cruise ships in the world, Symphony never really feels crowded or overwhelming. The ship is divided into different neighborhoods which really spreads people out nicely.

While Symphony doesn’t have some of the newest updates that other Oasis-class ships now feature, she is still a beautiful ship. Everything felt clean, the staff was friendly, and the food and service were exactly what we’ve come to expect from Royal Caribbean.

Embarkation was also incredibly smooth. We arrived at the port around 10:15 AM and were onboard by 11:00 AM.

Not a bad way to start vacation!

Our Stateroom

For this cruise we booked two connecting oceanview staterooms on Deck 3.

For a family of five, connecting rooms work really well for us. Five people cannot fit in a standard sized stateroom, so our options are generally a connecting room or a Jr. Suite. On our past cruises, Jr. Suites are typically more expensive, so we always opt for a connecting stateroom.

One big benefit of a connecting stateroom is that we have access to two bathrooms. This becomes especially helpful at night when we are all getting cleaned up and ready for dinner.

In the past, we’ve usually booked connecting balcony cabins, and to be honest, we did miss having a balcony on this cruise. We always enjoyed starting the morning with a cup of coffee or watching the ship dock and sail away from our own balcony. However, for this sailing, the price difference just wasn’t worth it.

Being on Deck 3 did bring one unexpected challenge — the stairs! Our family always tries to compete in the fun Elevator Challenge, which means no elevators while you are onboard the cruise ship! Kenzie and I were the sole survivors for this trip, but by the end of the cruise, it felt like a built-in workout!

One thing to note about our staterooms is that we did notice loud music around midnight on a couple nights. It was likely coming from the nightclub on Deck 4, but thankfully it wasn’t a nightly occurrence.

Food on Symphony of the Seas

If you know our family, you know we love food, and there were plenty of great options on this cruise.

On embarkation day we skipped the busy buffet and headed straight to El Loco Fresh, which turned out to be a great decision. It quickly became one of our favorite quick lunch spots during the cruise.

For breakfast we rotated between:

• Windjammer buffet
• Park Café
• Johnny Rockets
• Main Dining Room

All were great, and included options, though the Windjammer could get busy at peak times.

Lunch was usually at the Windjammer or El Loco Fresh, with snacks coming from Park Café or Sorrento’s Pizza.

For dinner we ate in the Main Dining Room five nights, and then splurged on specialty dining for two evenings.

Our specialty restaurants were:

• Izumi Sushi
• Wonderland

Our favorite meal of the trip was definitely Izumi Sushi. The food was outstanding and well worth the extra cost.

Wonderland was a fun and unique dining experience, but probably more of a one-time experience for us.

Overall, nothing really disappointed us food-wise, and our kids loved both the food and the service at the restaurants.

Activities on the Ship

One thing Oasis-class ships do incredibly well is activities for all ages.

Some of our family favorites included:

• The Ultimate Abyss slide
• Mini golf
• Waterslides
• Pool time
• Boardwalk activities
• The carousel

There was also face painting and even a family scavenger hunt that had us running up and down the ship searching for various crew members.

For our youngest child, Adventure Ocean kids club was another highlight. She asked to go back on multiple occasions.

There was honestly never a shortage of things to do.

Entertainment

Royal Caribbean continues to impress us with the quality of entertainment onboard.

Aqua Show – Hiro

Our personal favorite Aqua show is still Aqua80, but Hiro was still excellent.

Ice Shows

The ice-skating shows were another highlight. The cast was extremely talented. There were two shows while onboard, 1977 and iSkate.

We especially enjoyed iSkate, which we almost liked even more because of the music and energy.

Hairspray

Flight

Another Royal Caribbean original production called Flight also impressed us in the Royal Theater.

Sometimes these shows can be hit-or-miss, but this one was really well done.

Pool Deck Entertainment

One area that felt a little lacking was live music by the pool. When bands were playing it was great, but it felt like it happened less often than we expected.

Kids Experience on Symphony of the Seas

This ship is truly built for families.

Our 5-year-old loved:

• Splashaway Bay (the kids pool)
• Adventure Ocean
• the carousel
• the Ultimate Abyss (surprisingly!)

Our 11- and 12-year-olds spent a lot of time at:

• the pool
• waterslides
• zip line
• Ultimate Abyss

They did try the teen club but ultimately decided it wasn’t really their thing.

Our Ports of Call

Nassau

Perfect Day at CocoCay

Perfect Day at CocoCay is always one of our favorite stops.

Even though it was only a whopping 63 degrees, we still explored the island, visited different beaches, and eventually settled at Breezy Bay.

Lunch at the Snack Shack was a highlight. The chicken sandwich and mozzarella sticks are a must!

We briefly tried the Oasis Lagoon pool but quickly returned to the ship — the water was way too cold!

San Juan

Our first visit to San Juan turned out to be a huge surprise.

Originally we weren’t very excited when the itinerary changed, but San Juan ended up being one of our favorite ports.

We walked the colorful streets, browsed local vendors, and visited the historic Castillo San Cristóbal.

It was a beautiful and memorable day.

Puerto Plata

Because many of the excursions weren’t ideal with a 5-year-old, we mostly explored the shops before heading back to the ship to enjoy a quieter pool deck.

We’d definitely consider returning and doing an excursion when our youngest is a bit older.

What Surprised Us

Better Than Expected

• Service in the Main Dining Room was excellent
• Entertainment in the Royal Theater was outstanding
• Symphony’s Central Park was one of the most beautiful we’ve seen
• The pool deck still had a great vibe even without the updated Lime & Coconut bar

Worse Than Expected

• Puerto Plata felt crowded in the port area
• Limited live music by the pool
• The Royal Caribbean merchandise shop on the promenade was very small

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Huge variety of activities, especially for families with kids
• Excellent entertainment
• Fantastic service
• Plenty of included dining options

Cons

• Weather can impact Caribbean cruises in February
• Pool deck entertainment could be improved

Who is this Cruise Best For?

In our opinion, Oasis-class ships are perfect for families.

We’ve sailed both with kids and as a couple, and while adults can still enjoy the ship, the amount of activities makes it especially great for families.

The different neighborhoods, shows, and activities make it hard to beat.

Our Overall Review and Ratings for Symphony of the Seas

Food: 8/10
Entertainment: 8/10
Service: 10/10
Ship: 8/10
Adventure Ocean: 10/10
Kids Activities: 8/10

Is Symphony of the Seas Worth It?

If you are traveling with kids or teens, the answer for our family was definitely yes.

The amount of entertainment, activities, and dining options onboard Symphony of the Seas makes it feel more like a floating resort than a traditional cruise ship. Between the waterslides, Ultimate Abyss, Broadway-style shows, and family activities happening throughout the ship, we never ran out of things to do.

While the ship may feel large for first-time cruisers, families who enjoy having a lot of options will absolutely love it.

Final Thoughts: Symphony of the Seas Review

Overall, we had another fantastic cruise on Symphony of the Seas. With great entertainment, tons of activities, and excellent service, it continues to be a great option for families looking for a fun Caribbean vacation.

Tips for Cruising on Symphony of the Seas

After sailing on Symphony of the Seas, here are a few tips we’d recommend:

Arrive early on embarkation day.
Boarding started quickly and we were onboard by 11:00 AM, which gave us a full extra day to enjoy the ship.

Skip the Windjammer on embarkation day.
Listen, we know this may be a controversial take. I have sailed with Royal over 10 times and the Windjammer has always been a tradition for us on embarkation day, but we have come to know that the Windjammer can be packed for lunch. Instead, try El Loco Fresh or a specialty restaurant for a quick and delicious lunch.

Book the shows early.
Popular shows like the Aqua Show production can fill up fast. Be sure to book your entertainment when reservations open, which is typically about 45 days prior to departure.

We also recommend booking the Aqua Show towards the beginning of the cruise. That way if it happens to be cancelled due to weather, you can always rebook later on during your sailing.

Explore Central Park at night.
The lighting and atmosphere make it one of the most beautiful spots on the ship.

Consider connecting rooms for larger families.
Two bathrooms made getting ready for dinner much easier for our family of five.

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