Introducing the world's biggest ship, Symphony of the Seas

Apr 06, 2018

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The newest Royal Caribbean International ship, the Symphony of the Seas, is set to debut in Barcelona. Cruise editor Tom Stieghorst stepped onboard to chronicle the ship's look and feel.

First Call: Symphony of the Seas

The newest Royal Caribbean International ship, the Symphony of the Seas, is set to debut in Barcelona. Cruise editor Tom Stieghorst stepped onboard to chronicle the ship's look and feel.
Photo Credit: TW photo by Tom Stieghorst

The newest Royal Caribbean International ship, the Symphony of the Seas, is set to debut in Barcelona. Cruise editor Tom Stieghorst stepped onboard to chronicle the ship's look and feel.

One feature that makes the Symphony larger than other Oasis-class ships is the Solarium, which has more enclosed space. In addition, it is roofed with glass panels, rather than plasticized canvas.

A signature feature will be ''The Big Wonder,'' which is still being assembled as the ship makes preview cruises. Workers on a lift are placing triangular iridescent glass panels on the 7-ton sculpture, which acts like a canopy over one of the bars in the Solarium.

There are 3,800 glass panels to be placed in a metal framework that forms ''The Big Wonder.'' Each panel is individually numbered and workers follow a map to place them properly.

This large sculpture on the Royal Promenade on the Symphony is called ''Paradox Void.''

The art installation ''Sound Shell'' curves outward, enveloping the viewer in a show of moving abstract art created by LED diodes and a computer program, which also controls the speakers and audio program that accompanies the images.

This Picasso-like sculpture of a girl decorates one of the whirlpools that hangs over the edge of the Symphony.

Unique to the Symphony is the 1,350-square-foot Ultimate Family Suite, which will probably get the most attention for the slide that connects an upper level kid's sleeping area to the main floor. The room goes for $50,000 a week in the Med for a family of four and is reportedly sold out through 2018.

A view of the Ultimate Family Suite.

The kids' sleeping area in the Ultimate Family Suite features bunk beds and pull-out sofas.

An air hockey table is one of the many games in the Ultimate Family Suite.

The standard sized door to the kids bedroom in the Ultimate Family Suite has a kid-sized door cut into it.

Like other Oasis-class ships, the Symphony has an aft AquaTheater, a feature unique to the class. Here, a show is being rehearsed by an aerialist.

The Broadway show, ''Hairspray,'' first presented by Royal Caribbean International on the Oasis of the Seas, has been revived for the Symphony.

Royal Caribbean last year added lifeguards to the pools on its ships, the only company besides Disney Cruise Line to do so.

The Ultimate Abyss, a dry 10-story slide first installed on the Harmony of the Seas, is also a feature on the Symphony.

Royal Caribbean's first dedicated seafood restaurant called Hooked makes its debut on the Symphony.

Playmakers is a new sports bar and games arcade complex in the Boardwalk area of the Symphony.

These shuffleboard games are part of the entertainment at Playmakers.

The Boardwalk also for the first time features Sugar Beach, a candy store.

Make sure to keep the kids away from the store close to bedtime!

The Starbucks on the Symphony has been moved off the Boardwalk and into the Royal Promenade as a stand-alone kiosk.

On this preview cruise, a tower of orchids and other live flowers stands next to the sculpture ''VW Beetle 1953'' on the Royal Promenade.

The world has a new largest cruise ship, with Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas embarking on its maiden voyage from Barcelona on April 7.

Royal Caribbean's fourth Oasis-class ship, the Symphony of the Seas is 228,081 gross tons, 2,000 gross tons bigger than its predecessor, the Harmony of the Seas, delivered in 2016.

The ship will cruise in the Mediterranean this summer before transferring to Miami for Caribbean cruises in November.

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