Ship to offer new dining venues, entertainment options and a high-tech family suite
By
Elizabeth Robinson |
Royal Caribbean International’s Symphony of the Seas will offer new dining options, family suites, and family activities and entertainment options when she debuts in April 2018.
Symphony of the Seas will also feature Royal Caribbean’s signature Makr Shakr’s robot bartenders at the Bionic Bar, high-flying, high-diving performances at the AquaTheater, and the Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea – all set in the seven-neighbourhood concept of its Oasis-class ships.
“We’re excited to introduce Symphony of the Seas, our boldest composition yet, offering the best of Royal Caribbean with some new surprises for our guests to create a vacation that adventurers of all ages can enjoy together,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “We set out to create a new level of vacation adventure and deliver the ultimate escape for families of all shapes and sizes. Symphony will introduce the most cutting-edge, customisable, and digitally-enhanced experiences in the Royal Caribbean fleet.”
Symphony of the Seas will introduce the new generation of Royal Caribbean’s famed Boardwalk neighbourhood. Spanning the length of the Boardwalk, the sports bar and arcade will enable guests to enjoy food at 1950s-inspired restaurant Johnny Rockets and craft beer on draft, as well as competitions of Ms. Pacman, Star Wars Battle Pod, Ice Skee-ball and other popular games. Adjacent to the Boardwalk’s hand-carved carousel, will be the Sugar Beach candy and ice-cream shop.
The newbuild will also debut the next generation of family accommodations, including the two-level Ultimate Family Suite, which spans 1,346 square feet and caters for up to eight people in two bedrooms. Features will include a slide from the children’s bedroom to the living room below, a floor-to-ceiling LEGO wall, an air-hockey table and private nooks, and a separate 3D movie theatre-style TV room with a popcorn machine and multiple gaming systems. The suite will also have a 212-square-foot wraparound balcony with a pool table, climbing experience and a full-size whirlpool. Guests will also have their own personal Royal Genie to provide a butler service.
Symphony of the Seas will introduce new food and beverage concepts, offering over 20 speciality restaurants across the ship’s seven neighbourhoods. New venues will include Mexican diner El Loco Fresh, a 100-seat open-air restaurant in the Sports Zone and Hooked Seafood, Royal Caribbean's first New England-style seafood restaurant with a raw bar.
Entertainment will also be a key factor on Symphony of the Seas. Due to popular demand, ‘Hairspray’ will be the headline show in the Royal Theater, along with a new original Royal Caribbean show, ‘Flight’, which is a historical satire on the evolution of air travel. Other entertainment highlights will include a new aqua show named ‘HiRo’ in the open-air AquaTheater, a high-tech ice-skating show named ‘1977’, glow-in-the-dark laser tag in Studio B, and a Puzzle Break experience where guests race against the clock to escape the submarine-themed room.
Technological innovations will be integrated throughout the vessel, allowing Royal Caribbean to offer a redesigned check-in experience that eliminates lines. The new process will leverage a combination of facial recognition, bar codes and beacons to make boarding more efficient.
Guests will check-in via Royal Caribbean’s new mobile app and seamlessly upload their security selfie to create their onboard account from home. Upon arrival, guests will go through a security screening and then head straight to their stateroom, where their key will be ready and waiting. In addition to mobile check-in, Symphony of the Seas will feature all VOOM – the fastest internet at sea –wayfinding systems and virtual balconies.