All about the Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas cruise ship
Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas was built in 2018. It's considered an extra large size ship. Coming in at 1,188 ft long and 216 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 3.3 football fields, as wide as 4.1 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 16-story building.

Symphony of the Seas Overview

Symphony of the Seas Size and Passengers

The Symphony of the Seas can hold 5,518 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Symphony of the Seas has a space ratio of 41. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average. The Symphony of the Seas uses a neighborhood layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded.



Royal Caribbean
Symphony of the Seas
ClassOasis
Gross Tonnage228,081
Length1,188
Beam/Width216
Passenger Decks16
Passengers (double occupancy)5,518
Crew2,200
Passenger to Crew Ratio2.5
Space Ratio (tons of ship per passenger)41
Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas Space Ratio
30 41 52

The Symphony of the Seas is one of six Oasis-class ships currently sailing with Royal Caribbean. Oasis-class ships are the second largest class of cruise ships in the world. Their split-superstructure design creates unique outdoor spaces in the middle of the ship called Central Park and the Boardwalk. This class of ships also introduced the "neighborhood" concept, which groups venues into different themed zones to help improve people flow. The Symphony of the Seas is very similar to its sister-ships; Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, although each ship may have some differences.


Symphony of the Seas Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas. You have 22 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 9 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 13 options have an additional fee. Some of those options are a set price and some have a la cart menu pricing. Only 41% of the dining options are included meaning you might spend more while on the ship due to the additional fees.

RestaurantRestaurant TypeCostType of Food
150 Central ParkSit downFlat feeFine dining
Cafe PromenadeQuick serveIncludedCafe
Chops GrilleSit downFlat feeSteakhouse
Coastal KitchenSit downExclusiveCali
Dog HouseQuick serveIncludedAmerican
El Loco FreshQuick serveIncludedMexican
Hooked SeafoodCasualFlat feeSeafood
Izumi Hibachi & SushiSit downFlat feeAsian
Jamie's ItalianSit downFlat feeItalian
Johnny RocketsSit downFlat feeAmerican
Main Dining RoomSit downIncludedMain dining room
Park CafeQuick serveIncludedDeli
PlaymakersSit downA la cartBar food
PlaymakersSit downA la cartBar food
Solarium BistroQuick serveIncludedMediterranean
Sorrento's PizzaQuick serveIncludedPizza
StarbucksQuick serveA la cartCoffee
Sugar BeachQuick serveA la cartDessert
Vintages Wine BarQuick serveA la cartBar food
Vitality CafeQuick serveIncludedFresh
WindjammerQuick serveIncludedBuffet
WonderlandSit downFlat feeFoodie

Symphony of the Seas Bars and Drinks

Bionic Bar on the Symphony of the Seas
Bionic Bar on the Symphony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas has 18 different bars and lounges where you can enjoy a beer or cocktail. It also has 2 other bars that are available for select guests.

BarLocation
Bionic BarDeck 5 Mid
BolerosDeck 5 Mid
Casino BarDeck 4 Mid
DazzlesDeck 8 Aft
English PubDeck 5 MidSee Menu
Mast BarDeck 16 MidSee Menu
On Air ClubDeck 5 Mid
PlaymakersDeck 6 AftSee Menu
Pool BarDeck 15 MidSee Menu
Rising Tide BarDeck 5 MidSee Menu
Sand BarDeck 15 MidSee Menu
Schooner BarDeck 6 MidSee Menu
Solarium BarDeck 15 ForwardSee Menu
Suite Lounge*Deck 17 Aft
Suite Sun Deck Bar*Deck 17 Forward
The AtticDeck 4 Mid
Trellis BarDeck 8 MidSee Menu
VintagesDeck 8 Mid
Wipeout BarDeck 16 AftSee Menu
WonderlandDeck 12 AftSee Menu
* = this bar is exclusive and not open to everyone.

Alcohol is not included in the base price of this cruise ship. To see if you would save money with a drink package, try our Drink Package Calculator.

Royal Caribbean also serves the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Symphony of the Seas

Main pool and perfect storm water slides on Royal Caribbeans Symphony of the seas
Main Pool on Symphony of the Seas

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas has a total of 4 pools and 10 hot tubs.

Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

Royal Caribbean
Symphony of the Seas
Total Pools4
- Pools - General Access3
- Pools - Adults Only1
- Pools - Exclusive0
Total Hot Tubs10
- Hot Tubs - General Access8
- Hot Tubs - Adults Only2
- Hot Tubs - Exclusive0


cruise coloring book

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Royal Caribbean editions with places like Studio B and Sorrento's featured.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Symphony of the Seas Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Symphony of the Seas. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Royal Caribbean
Symphony of the Seas
Adult Only Relaxation AreaIncluded
AquatheaterIncluded
ArcadeA la cart
BasketballIncluded
Bionic BarA la cart
CarouselIncluded
CasinoA la cart
Climbing WallIncluded
Comedy ClubIncluded
Escape RoomFlat fee
Fitness CenterIncluded
FlowRiderIncluded
Ice SkatingIncluded
Laser TagIncluded
Mini golfIncluded
Pool-side MoviesIncluded
Shows - Broadway playIncluded
Shows - musical reviewIncluded
SpaA la cart
Splash parkIncluded
Thrill SlideIncluded
Water slidesIncluded
Zip LineIncluded

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Symphony of the Seas Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean
Base Daily Gratuities*
(Per Person Per Day)
$18.50
Tip added to drinks & services18%
Soda Price$3.50
Domestic Beer Price$8.25
See drink menus
Drink Package Price$70 - $125
Learn more
Internet Plan$17 to $30 per device per day
*Daily gratuities for a standard cabin. Suites or specialty rooms may have higher rates.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

Want to Stay Up-To-Date on All Things Cruising?

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or subscribe to our monthly newsletter.


Compare the Symphony of the Seas to Another Ship

First ship:

Second ship:



About Cruise Spotlight
Founded in 2020, Cruise Spotlight's goal is to help people understand every aspect of cruising. Plenty of sites focus on the perfect Instagram pictures and marketing fluff. We focus on what really matters: onboard expenses, tips for cruise ships, detailed cruise reviews, and more. Our goal is to provide helpful, unbiased information to new and established cruisers. Over the years, we've helped millions of people get the most from their cruise vacation.
Learn more about Cruise Spotlight.