Royal Caribbean Cruise Line has taken delivery of the “World’s Largest Cruise Ship” – Symphony of the Seas. In a ceremony at the STX France shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France the “keys” to the 4th Oasis-class cruise ship were turned over and she was officially welcomed into the Royal family.
Construction on Symphony of the Seas began three years ago and involved more than 4,700 shipbuilders and crew working tirelessly to deliver the 25th ship into the Royal Caribbean fleet. A traditional flag-changing ceremony, which symbolizes the ship’s official delivery from the shipbuilder, was held followed by the popping of champagne and plenty of celebration.
“Symphony will take family vacationing to an all new level with energy and options never before found in one place. This ship is the perfect blend of our greatest hits we know guests love and a lineup of vibrant, new restaurants, activities and unparalleled entertainment – all purposefully designed around vacationers’ preferences,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
Onboard, cruisers can check out new-to-the-line food and beverage offerings including:
- Hooked Seafood – a New England inspired seafood restaurant offering lobster rolls, crab claws, a signature fish sandwich, raw bar and more.
- Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade – a sports bar featuring 31 big screen TVs, an indoor/outdoor arcade with over 20 games, and a restaurant serving American classics including burgers, wings, craft beer and sundaes.
- El Loco Fresh – made-to-order tacos and burritos.
- Sugar Beach – a signature candy and ice cream shop offering more than 100 types of candy.
When it comes to activities, Symphony of the Seas introduces Battle for Planet Z the cruise line’s first glow-in-the-dark laser tag game and Escape the Rubicon a custom-built submarine themed escape room.
Symphony of the Seas weighs in at 228,081 gross tons, is 238 feet tall, 1,188 feet long, features 2,759 staterooms, and accommodates 5,518 guests (double occupancy) making her the world’s largest cruise ship – a title held by each of her Oasis-class sisters – Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas.
Symphony will welcome her first guests on Saturday, March 31 for a one-time-only, 5-night preview sailing, calling on Naples and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy. The ship’s maiden 7-night Mediterranean voyage departs Saturday, April 7 from Barcelona, Spain. She will arrive in Miami on November 10th where she will sail year-round from PortMiami offering eastern and western Caribbean cruises that will include stops in the new Perfect Day at CoCo Cay, Royal Caribbean’s newly revealed destination in the Bahamas.
Watch this time-lapse video of Symphony of the Seas construction as well as a video featuring highlights of the flag-changing ceremony held on March 23, 2018.