Charles, a Senior Cruise Product & Commercial Assistant within the Hays Travel team, has travelled the oceans aboard fantastic cruise ships, docking in some breath-taking destinations.
Read all about his time on board one of Royal Caribbean’s impressive vessels.
My personal on board experience exploring one of the largest cruise ships in the world was certainly an amazing and unexpected adventure.
Back in 2018 I booked my own sailing onboard Symphony of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship. It was daunting at first, as the sheer size was quite intimidating and I was concerned about large crowds and possible queuing in certain venues and restaurants.
But the day I embarked changed everything.
My first impressions upon embarkation was the wide open spaces of the Royal Promenade. It was like having two large cruise ships side-by-side. So much room and space – very impressive! I couldn’t wait to drop off my luggage and have an adventure to see what surprises were in store
After we unpacked, I took a stroll over to the Boardwalk – an open area with a fairground atmosphere. This space included a huge one-of-a-kind carousel, themed restaurants, two (very tall) rock climbing walls plus, located at the very back end of the ship, a large Aqua Theatre which came alive at night with high-diving live action shows. Definitely worth a visit!
For some quiet time and the chance to be surrounded by a bit of nature, you’ll find Central Park. Located at the heart of the ship, the winding pathways surrounded by trees and plants are accompanied by upscale dining and shopping venues. In the evening, the night time piano playing at the wine bar was a special touch that just added to the delightful atmosphere.
The Royal Promenade was an impressive two-story area that had many vibrant places to socialise over a drink or grab a bite to eat and enjoy all the festive entertainment.
This area was definitely the focal point of the ship, where you could view or partake in all the wonderful nightly activities too. I highly recommend going for a drink at the slow-moving Rising Tide Bar. This was a great place to relax and take in the view with friends as you are transported up-and-down three decks to different areas of the ship.
If you want to experience some thrills on your cruise, then I recommend heading over to the Pool and Sports Zone.
All ages are bound to enjoy the exhilarating zip lines that fly above The Boardwalk and you’ll find the thrill-seeking waterpark, an aquatic playground for the little children, beach-inspired pool with colourful chairs and a front-ship facing adults-only Solarium.
For those who like to keep active you can take a ride on the waves on surfing simulators; have a friendly game of basketball, volleyball or football. You can even have a casual game of mini-golf - we were spoilt for choice! But don’t worry, if you are more of a relaxer than a thrill-seeker, you’ll also find numerous types of pools to lounge by, drink in hand.
We love to be entertained on holiday, and there was no shortage of entertainment on board Symphony of the Seas. The Oasis Class ship boasted a very impressive Broadway-style theatre, where we took in an evening show of Hairspray.
If you like something cool and calming then I suggest heading over to Jazz on 4 to enjoy the soulful sounds of Jazz & Blues. There is also everything from comedy clubs to nightclub experiences on board. Every evening featured something unique, different and fun.
I managed to stumble across the Youth Zone where children of all ages were absolutely spoiled for choice. They had kids clubs for various age groups, creative workshops, a children’s theatre and even a kids’ arcade! There was also a daily nursery so parents could enjoy day activities or night time entertainment child-free. And let’s not forget about the waterpark and kid splash pools too!
If kids are not your thing, then no problem! There are plenty of activities for adults and exclusively adult-only areas.
As I mentioned before, you have the fantastic kid-free open-aired Solarium featuring a tranquil swimming pool, several serene whirlpools, bar area and plenty of seating and loungers. If you are looking to treat yourself, then head over to the Vitality at Sea Spa where you can book a range of treatments, utilise the heated tile loungers or relax in the saunas and steam rooms.
Word has it Oasis Class ships boast the largest collection of treatment rooms at sea. Plus you’ll also find a Fitness Centre to help push those calories away after enjoying all the food on board.
Speaking of food! I found temptation around every corner on this resort at sea. Every neighbourhood featured a large selection of casual to fine dining experiences. From the typical grab-and-go type of eateries to more refined establishments - we were spoilt for choice.
You can discover restaurants like 150 Central Park – an intimate dining venue experience with a dynamic wine programme; Chops Grille – Royal Caribbean’s signature steakhouse restaurant (Mmmm delicious!); and Johnny Rockets – a retro-classic American diner experience. There were so many options even the pickiest of eaters will have a plethora of choice.
There is so much to tell and not enough words to describe how amazing my experience with Royal Caribbean was. You really need to experience it first-hand to truly see how fantastic these cruises are.
If you are looking to experience one of the Oasis Class ships, then look no further. I highly recommend a visit on an Oasis Class ship, or as I like to call it, a floating resort at sea.
