I have just returned from a fabulous cruise on the World’s biggest ship Royal Carribean ‘Symphony of the Seas’. With 17 decks and a capacity of over 6k which was launched in March this year.
Facilities include a children’s water park, full size basketball court, ice skating rink and two 43ft rock climbing walls. Central Park is amazing containing 20,000 tropical plants (yes I counted them)!!
I booked this trip with Carolyn Proprietor of Liberty Travel in Letterkenny last year. She organised every little detail to perfection.
We travelled to Dublin staying over in the Bonnington Hotel where they organised a beautiful suite, so a big thanks to them. We checked in at 4.30 am for the 6.30am flight to Barcelona.
The rep Orlando from RC met the group and made sure everyone was on the bus on the way to the cruise ship which was a 20 minute journey.
When you arrive at the cruise ship to check in, they take your visa card and a photo of ID. Each passenger gets a Sea Pass card which you must carry at all times to avail of drinks, food, and also vital for going on shore and getting back on the boat.
The ship is simply outstanding. I booked a room (stateroom) with a balcony and a sea view. Bedrooms were lovely and kept clean by the lovely Keisha from Housekeeping who was in charge of the rooms on floor 11.
There is so much I can tell you about the trip but it would take me forever, so I am just going to point out a few things and read the captions on my photos also.
Each evening The Cruise Compass newsletter was delivered to the bedrooms with an itinerary for the following day.
On Monday morning the ship docked in Palma de Mallorca, the shuttle bus cost 10 dollars return (10 minutes) and shopping was fantastic as anyone who knows me well will know it’s the shopping I go for and (no sights) this was my favourite city.
Tuesday morning we docked in Marseille in France, shuttle bus 18 dollars return, wasn’t mad about this city; it’s a small fishing port. Wednesday it off to La Spezia, an industrial port with a complimentary bus service to and from, not for me either! Wednesday it was Civitavecchia I didn’t bother getting off the ship.
Friday morning was Sorrento and the Island of Capri. I choose Sorrento (no shops in Capri) A taxi man brought 5 of us to Sorrento, took an hour to get there, dropped us off for 2 hours (shops closed for Siesta, my luck) and back to the ship at a cost of 240 euro (4 hours in total)
Saturday was spent on sea as the ship sailed to Barcelona in preparation for home.
It is advisable to purchase the drinks package which we did and it was used well, bearing in mind I don’t drink!! See the drinks prices on my photos.
When you go inclusive for food, it does not cover all the restaurants, the Wind Jammer seemed to be the most popular, a buffet themed restaurant catering for every taste.
Bring your own washing powder as the Laundry prices are mad expensive, needless to say I did a bit of hand washing at the bathroom sink, hung them out on the balcony to dry and god only knows what’s floating down the Med! Laundry prices on the photos below.
The medi spa is worth a visit; I got a wash and blow-dry (59 dollars)! I heard before I left no hair straighteners or curlers were allowed on board, so I bought the cordless gas curlers in Boots. On the first day I used them the smoke alarms went off in the bedroom, no bother to me!! On the subject of smoking, is banned from your balcony with just two smoking areas on the whole ship, one in the Casino on floor 4 and on floor 15 at a designated area at the pool!!
If you wanted a day of peace and relaxation the Solarium provided this catering for 16 years and over with a multiple Jacuzzis and a bar.
The Wi-Fi package (Voom) was convenient costing 95 euro per person for the week.
The highlight of the trip for me was the Ice skating show which was out of this world. Hairspray the musical was great also. For entertainment the Karaoke Bar seemed to get the crowds at night running fun games followed by adult karaoke from 11pm -12 midnight.
Pity the ship didn’t have more shops, no clothes on it as such. In the evening’s jewellery, handbags, watches etc were sold on Floor 5 and the prices were as cheap back home. You felt safe on the ship with a great Security presence.
The staff on board the cruise are top class, so friendly and accommodating, food amazing. Would I do another? Probably in a few years’ time, but a memorable experience and one worth doing.
(By the way this blog is not sponsored in any way, the trip was paid for and is my opinion)
For enquiries about the cruise call Liberty Travel 074 91 88380 #libertytravel #symphonyoftheseas
