Winter Cruise on the Symphony of the Seas

Embarkation was very simple — only complicated by my nephew leaving his passport in the cab from the airport. Everyone downloaded the Royal app and completed the pre-cruise check-in through it.

My crew primarily stayed in either standard balcony rooms or interior balcony rooms overlooking Central Park. There were mixed reviews on the interior balcony rooms, but everyone loved the standard balcony rooms — they felt very spacious. There’s a divide in my family between those who prefer the bed closer to the door or the balcony. I’m on Team Balcony, and I really enjoyed how roomy the standard stateroom felt. It had a full-sized daybed-style couch, closets with both long and short hanging space, cubbies and a few drawers. Our room also had a mini-fridge, wall-mounted TV and vanity area. The balcony was spacious with two chairs.

The bathroom was average, and only soap was provided, though you can request other bath amenities. If you have certain status with Royal Caribbean, you can request a bathrobe. I didn’t request it until the second-to-last night, and I really wish I had done it sooner. I loved being on the sixth floor near the spa. It made accessing the rest of the ship very easy, and with our refreshment beverage package, we were able to get Starbucks-branded coffee and juices for free at the Vitality Bar.

I love this family of ships. The separate neighborhoods make the ship feel both big and cozy at the same time. Most mornings, I found myself walking along the Royal Promenade on my way to the walking track. I also spent a lot of time strolling through Central Park to enjoy the sun without the wind from the ship.

My husband spent most of his time on the sports deck, taking advantage of the dual FlowRiders, water slides and dining options on that level. He also discovered the ultimate way to get from the upper deck down to the Boardwalk via the dry slide. Once on the Boardwalk, he took full advantage of our refreshment package and enjoyed a milkshake (or two) from Johnny Rockets. My family also had a great time watching college football in the sports bar on New Year’s.

I can’t mention this cruise without discussing the entertainment and the casino. I wasn’t able to snag a seat for Hairspray, but the family that did loved it. Even those who had seen it on Broadway thought this version was fantastic. Also, HiRO, the acrobatic water show, is a can’t-miss. The whole crew gave it two thumbs up. The ice show was a bit hit-or-miss. I thought it was fun and campy, but my niece didn’t find it entertaining. Finally, the casino. This place was buzzing every night. We enjoyed slots, blackjack and craps, and even participated in a slots tournament. Be sure to swipe your card to track your points in the casino!

Disembarkation was also a breeze. We coordinated our disembarkation smoothly and easily caught a cab to the airport. We were all sad to leave, but we left much more tan and relaxed than when we embarked.

Day trips

Our cruise itinerary was changed at the last minute due to an issue in San Juan. So, instead of the original plan, we left Miami and visited CocoCay (RC's private island), Nassau (Bahamas), Falmouth (Jamaica) and Labadee (RC's private island). We got off the ship at each port.

At CocoCay, we split up and splurged! Half of our crew spent the day in a cabana at the water park, enjoying the rides, the food and the time together. The other half spent the day in an over-the-water cabana — pure indulgence!

In Nassau, I worked with a private tour company to charter a boat for the day. We went to their private beach to wade in the water and hold pigs, enjoyed a beach bar lunch and snorkeled, swam and danced to fun music.

In Jamaica, half of our crew went on an ATV tour, while the other half opted for a beach day excursion through Royal Caribbean. Both groups had a great time.

Finally, in Labadee, we split up again. Some of our crew booked another beach cabana, set up on a cliff with semi-private access to the water. The other half took advantage of the zipline and alpine coaster offered at this stop. No matter where we stopped, we had a blast.

This cruise had some of the best standard and specialty food offerings I’ve experienced. However, the ship’s main buffet, the Windjammer, is much smaller than those on other ships of its size. If you can avoid it during breakfast and lunch, I’d recommend doing so. That said, the Windjammer was delightful at dinner time. My mom marveled at how many times they served lobster throughout our cruise.

We also enjoyed the Solarium buffet (free but required a reservation), Hooked (premium), Chops Grill (premium) and 150 Central Park (premium) for dinner. We didn’t dine in the main dining room this trip. For breakfast or brunch, I’d recommend trying Johnny Rockets (limited breakfast menu), the main dining room or Cafe Promenade. And for lunch, I ate most days — okay, all days — in the Park Cafe.