What’s Included on Symphony of the Seas (and What Costs Extra)

One of the biggest questions families ask before booking Symphony of the Seas is simple: What’s actually included in the cruise fare, and what costs extra?

The short answer? A lot is included. But there are also plenty of opportunities to spend more once you’re onboard.

If you know what is included ahead of time, it becomes much easier to budget, avoid surprise charges, and decide what is actually worth paying extra for.

What’s Included on Symphony of the Seas

There is a lot included in your cruise fare, especially for families.

Included Dining

You can easily eat well on Symphony of the Seas without spending extra on food.

Included dining options include:

  • Main Dining Room
  • Windjammer
  • Park Café
  • Sorrento’s
  • El Loco Fresh
  • Boardwalk Dog House
  • Johnny Rocket’s (for breakfast only)

These alone give you plenty of variety throughout the day, and for most families, they are more than enough. We cover all of them in our full dining guide and be sure to check out our favorite things we ate while onboard.

Included Drinks

Your cruise fare also includes basic beverages:

  • Water
  • Milk
  • Juice
  • Flavored water
  • Basic hot coffee
  • Tea

You will not go thirsty onboard, but anything beyond the basics will cost extra.

Included Entertainment

One of the best values on Symphony of the Seas is the entertainment.

Included shows include:

  • Aqua Show
  • Broadway-style productions
  • Ice skating shows
  • Live music
  • Comedy
  • Family activities and game shows

This is one of the biggest reasons we continue cruising with Royal Caribbean.

Included Activities

Many of the most popular activities onboard are included:

  • Zip line
  • Mini golf
  • Waterslides
  • Ultimate Abyss
  • Carousel
  • Basic FlowRider access
  • Pools and Splashaway Bay

For families, this is where the ship really shines.

What Costs Extra on Symphony of the Seas

This is where your budget can add up quickly.

Specialty Dining

Restaurants like:

  • Izumi
  • Wonderland
  • Chops Grille
  • 150 Central Park
  • Playmakers

all cost extra.

Some are worth it, but none are necessary to have a great cruise.

Drinks Beyond the Basics

These all cost extra unless you purchase a package:

  • Cocktails
  • Mocktails
  • Soda
  • Specialty coffee
  • Fresh squeezed juice
  • Smoothies

This is where beverage packages can become worth it, depending on your travel style.

Internet

Internet is not included.

And yes, it can get expensive fast.

If you plan to stay connected all week, this can add a significant amount to your cruise budget.

We usually skip it and treat cruising as our time to unplug.

Excursions

Excursions are not included and can be one of the biggest added expenses of the trip.

This is one reason we often prefer:

  • walking ports on our own
  • enjoying private islands
  • or keeping things simple and budget-friendly

Other Extras

Additional onboard costs can include:

  • Gratuities
  • Laundry services
  • Some room service
  • Professional photos
  • Arcade games
  • FlowRider lessons
  • Behind-the-scenes ship tours

These are all optional, but they can add up quickly if you are not paying attention.

What We Think Is Worth Paying Extra For

Not every extra is worth it, but a few can be.

For our family, the extras most worth considering are:

  • Beverage packages (depending on the sailing)
  • Specialty coffee
  • One specialty dining meal
  • Select excursions

We’ve tried multiple other specialty restaurants (Izumi, Mason Jar, 150 Central Park, Wonderland), but none of them really made us want to come back except Izumi.

What We Usually Skip

These are the extras we usually pass on:

  • Internet
  • Multiple specialty dining reservations
  • Expensive ship tours
  • Overpriced excursions

There is already so much included that we rarely feel like we are missing out.

Biggest Surprise

The biggest surprise is not what costs extra; it is how expensive some of those extras can be.

It is easy to spend:

  • hundreds on internet
  • over $100 per person on specialty dining packages
  • $500+ per person on beverage packages
  • $150+ on ship tours
  • hundreds more on excursions

Those costs can add up quickly, especially for families.

Best Advice for First Timers

If you are cruising Symphony of the Seas for the first time, our advice is simple:

Do not assume everything is included—but do not assume you need to pay extra for everything either.

There is already plenty included in your cruise fare:

  • good food
  • plenty of drinks
  • excellent entertainment
  • activities for all ages

Start with what is included first.

Then decide what extras are actually worth it for your family.

Final Thoughts

Symphony of the Seas includes more than enough to give families a fantastic cruise without spending a fortune onboard.

The key is knowing what is already covered, what costs extra, and where it actually makes sense to spend more.

With a little planning, it is easy to enjoy the ship without letting the extras take over your budget.

If you are sailing on Symphony, be sure to check out our guide for tips and tricks while onboard.