Royal Caribbean’s Newest Ship Will Delight Families

Royal Caribbean has been in the forefront of family cruising for decades, but the new Symphony of the Seas takes it to the next level, according to Florida-based travel specialist Cruises-N-More. Highlights of the new ship, which embarked on its inaugural voyage in April, offer over-the-top entertainment, culinary adventures and amenities for families of all ages.

The largest and newest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, Symphony of the Seas can carry a whopping 5,518 passengers and is ramping up the fun with the line’s first glow-in-the-dark laser tag game called Battle for Planet Z, as well as an Escape the Rubicon game, which challenges players to solve a collection of puzzles from an escape room built in the shape of a submarine.

Meanwhile, water slide fans can test their mettle on the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea.

Family accommodations have also taken a leap forward with a two-level, 1,346-square-foot Ultimate Family suite tricked out with plenty of kid-friendly bells and whistles. Picture an in-room slide, a private cinema with an 85-inch HD TV, a floor-to-ceiling LEGO wall, a 212-square-foot balcony complete with table tennis and a full-sized whirlpool, and you get the idea. Did we mention the suite also has bedrooms — two, in fact — as well as a dedicated attendant called a Royal Genie.

Since kids are notoriously picky eaters, the ship doesn’t neglect the culinary part of the family cruise experience. New culinary offerings include Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade on the Boardwalk for burgers and wings; tacos and burritos at El Loco Fresh; and a dizzying assortment of candy and ice cream at Sugar Beach.

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Meanwhile, Mom and Dad, along with kids old enough to appreciate fine dining, can tuck into lobster rolls, freshly shucked oysters, crab claws and more at Hooked Seafood, an upscale eatery in the Solarium at the top of the ship.

Symphony of the Seas, currently sailing in the Mediterranean on seven-night cruises out of Barcelona, will make Miami its year-round home port starting Nov. 10, making it the first new Oasis Class ship to sail from the Royal Caribbean’s new Terminal A. The seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises will call on Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s new destination in the Bahamas.

In addition to the Symphony Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class series also includes the two-year-old Harmony of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, inaugurated in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

The line’s 25 ships sail to Bermuda and the Caribbean, Europe, Canada and New England, Alaska, South America, Asia and Australia and New Zealand.