Symphony of the Seas Path Report: The cruise from HELL!

I am writing this blog post from the sigmoid colon of the Symphony of the Seas, the second largest cruise ship in the world with the world’s tiniest portholes. What started out as a celebration of our oldest son’s college graduation, morphed into a miserable sequestration (for me) in a 150 sq ft room for 48 hours. This gave me some small idea of what the passengers on the original COVID-plagued ships must have felt and it was not fun!! At least I knew when I was to disembark and what was going on… they, instead, were trapped, sometimes in interior cabins, with no idea when they could leave or how sick they would become. That must have been pure terror at sea!!

Cruise Packing List

Before I get into the story, here are a few packing tips for your cruise!

There is not a limit on the number of suitcases or weight of those suitcases you can take on cruises. You are only limited by the airlines and by what you can manage. When you arrive at the cruise terminal, you drop off your tagged bags with a porter, slip him a few bucks, and say goodbye to your bags until late afternoon/early evening. Pack whatever you will need for that first few hours in your carry on. I recommend a swimsuit, change of clothes, and whatever toiletries you will need to shower or freshen up for dinner.

In addition to the usual items you pack for vacation, I find a few items essential for cruising.

Basics

Before you leave for your cruise, you will need to print out luggage tags. To prevent losing them and possibly being parted with your bags for an extended period of time, I recommend luggage tag holders.

Samsonite is a consistently popular and durable luggage brand. If you are interested in hard-sided suitcases, check these out. I am a recent convert to packing cubes and highly recommend using them! They make keeping your suitcases organized a breeze, and unpacking has never been so easy! I like these, because they are small and color coded.

I never leave home without my water bottle, and I love my iron flask! Just make sure it is empty before trying to get through TSA pre-check. I also like this holder for my water bottle. It holds my cell phone, sea pass card, and a few other small items and is perfect for running around the ship an hanging out by the pool.

It is so important to stay hydrated, and that can be a challenge on cruises, with the sun and free-flowing alcohol! These electrolyte packs help with that.

If you are traveling with a group, magnetic white boards for your door can be fun and useful.

Storage

Many of the walls of your cabin are metal, and storage space is limited! I recommend these small magnetic hooks and these larger magnetic hooks to maximize your space. I always take an over-the-door organizer to store toiletries, sunscreen, flip flops, and other similar items. A hanging toiletry bag is essential, as those bathrooms are tiny!

Outlets are notoriously few, and power strips are not allowed. These plug extenders are perfect! To organize dirty laundry, we take this pop up hamper.

Motion Sickness

I never cruise without these motion sickness pressure point wristbands. They really help with mild motion sickness and don’t cause the drowsiness many medications do. For more severe cases, I always take scopolamine patches, which require a prescription, and bonine. I never travel without ginger chews! They are great for nausea of any cause.

Back to the Story…

We should have known this trip was doomed from the beginning. Hurricane season started June 1 and we were to embark on June 4. On June 2, a “potential tropical cyclone” formed, which would be named ALEX (namesake of our youngest traveling companion)! This was just a clue of what was to come during this ill-fated trip. Don’t get me wrong, we had a blast and some awesome quality family time, but just keep reading…

We were prepared for flight delays, but were lucky enough to have none, and arrived pretty much on time. Our son, however, in whose honor we were cruising, missed his flight! Thankfully, he is an experienced traveler, and was able to get himself to Miami later that evening.

We checked into the Marriott Biscayne Bay. This is a great place to stay before a cruise leaving out of Miami, as it is close to the port. There is a Doubletree next door, if you prefer Hilton brands. There are several restaurants within walking distance, and a Publix grocery store to pick up last minute supplies. Things started looking up when we were lucky enough to get upgraded to a JUNIOR SUITE, corner room! It was huuuuge! Two full walls of windows with views of Biscayne Bay and the cruise port, a dining area with table for 4, and a full-sized Keurig. The coffee bar was stocked with pods and all the fixins, and we had a fridge and microwave. The king-sized bed faced a large flats creen TV. This was perfect for our family to reunite and have a nice space to play board games. This upgrade came courtesy of a “suite night upgrade” that I was given with my platinum Marriott Bonvoy status. The Amex Platinum card gives you gold status, and I earned up to platinum through business travel. Click here for a full list of the benefits of Marriott Bonvoy membership https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/member-benefits.mi

The Cruise

Finally, embarkation day arrived. Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas is an Oasis class ship and one of the largest in the world, second only to Wonder of the Seas. Larger than an aircraft carrier, It holds up to 6680 passengers and 2200 crew. It did, at times, feel crowded, and there were lines for, well… everything! She is beautiful, and there is so much to do and see; from watching the Piano Man at the Schooner bar, or the Guitar player at the Copper and Kettle pub, or just people watching from the boardwalk. Despite being crowded, it is not that difficult to find a quiet spot, with cubby holes and seating arrangements scattered about. Check out my photo gallery from this cruise here https://jenniferspath.org/travel-photo-gallery/

When cruising in the post-COVID 19 world, check in times are assigned and you must arrive within a 30 minute window. Ours was 11:30-12:00 and, since we were staying in junior suites, we did not have to wait at all!! We were escorted to a large, open area with couches where employees checked our credentials, and we were on the ship by noon! We set up camp at Park Cafe in Central Park (highly recommend this site for embarkation day lunch- the roast beef sandwiches are legendary, make sure you ask for extra meat and au jus!). Central Park is one of my favorite areas of Oasis class ships. This neighborhood is open air all the way up (it is on Deck 8 and the ship has 17 decks) and is populated by trees, bushes, flowers, and even birds! Tina and I left the boys there and set out to make arrangements for things that needed to be arranged.

We had purchased 3 nights at specialty restaurants ahead of time for $120 per person, a 40% discount off the prices of booking them individually. We chose 150 Central Park, Hooked, and Wonderland. We could not book reservations for dinner ahead of time, so we stopped by Jaime’s Italian to talk to the head waiter and booked there with no line. We then went to the Flowrider to book a private lesson for the men folk and, by the time we were finished with these tasks, our rooms were ready.

PRO TIP– The Royal Caribbean app is awesome… when it works! You can book shows, spa treatments, fitness classes, etc using it. The iphone app was very glitchy for the whole cruise, but the android app worked just fine.

We had junior suites 6640 and 6644. I like the location of these rooms, as they are midship and right by the Boardwalk. Oasis Class ships are arranged in neighborhoods, of which the Boardwalk is one. The Boardwalk is at the back of the ship (aft) and is open to the Aqua Theater. It is kind of like a carnival midway, with a carousel, games, a sports bar, sweet shop, and a hot dog stand. THE ULTIMATE ABYSS, a huge dry slide which you enter through the gaping maw of a giant purple anglerfish, is the best way to get from the flowrider on deck 16 to deck 6. It poops you out right there on the boardwalk! Beats the elevator every time! The gym is also on Deck 6, forward. Yay. If you have questions about choosing a cabin, please contact me!

I have already mentioned Central Park, which was two decks up from us. One deck down on deck 5 is the Royal Promenade, which has Sorrento’s pizza, Cafe Promenade, Copper and Kettle British pub, On Air Karaoke bar, Bolero’s, the Rising Tide, Bionic Bar, and lots of shops. In the center is Starbucks and several kiosks which have various sales throughout the week. This area is the beating heart of the ship and a bustling center of activity. One deck down from the promenade is the Casino, Studio B Ice Skating/Multi-purpose theater, the Attic, Jazz on 4, and the Diamond Lounge. We are new Diamond members, and are enjoying the perks of that status. In the lounge they have breakfast and happy hour each day, but drinks are not included with happy hour. You receive 4 drink vouchers per day and can use them during Happy Hour in the lounge, or almost anywhere else on the ship. Check out this link for a full list of the perks of Diamond status https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/crown-and-anchor-society-benefit-grid.pdf

If you can get a decent deal, the junior suites can be really worth it. While you do not get full suite perks, you do get a few. If you are pursuing status, junior suites are a great way to get double points at a lower rate than full suites. We were lucky that, since we booked soon after COVID, we already had double points… so we scored QUADRUPLE points for this cruise! You are allowed dinner at Coastal Kitchen on a space available basis, as well as priority embarkation. Junior suites are basically huge staterooms that have walk-in closets, coffee makers and a bathroom with a tub. The balconies are oversized. Unlike many full suites, there are not separate rooms. But, the extra space is nice. Also, since we had several cabins in our party, we brought a magnetic white board so we could keep up with each other. This proved to be lots of fun and we had random messages every day. I recommend this for group/family cruises! Other items I never cruise without are magnetic hooks, an over-the-door cloth shoe hanger for extra storage, a Bluetooth speaker, clothespins (for hanging wet clothes and closing curtains), and a plug in block to increase outlet space. Check out Cruise Tips TV for additional tips and so much information.https://cruisetipstv.com/ ONBOARD And look here for suite perks- https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-suites-program

Dinner was at 150 Central Park that evening, and it was excellent. The service was on point, and the food was interesting and delicious. We shared several appetizers for the table, and some of us ordered more than one entree. We pretty much tried everything on the menu. Favorites included the tenderloin and the fried cheesecake for dessert. After dinner, we enjoyed Karaoke at On Air and then guitar music at the Copper and Kettle.

We slept in a bit for Sea Day and went to the gym. It was packed! The rest of the cruise for the next few days was fun. The boys’ flowrider lesson was a huge success that saw our boys doing 360s and even 720s! Pool time was fun, and we participated in activities around the ship like trivia. Our youngest cruiser and his dad enjoyed glow in the dark laser tag! Beware of the line- once you make it through the visible line and into the theater, there still may be a wait. My BIL and nephew had to wait another 30 minutes inside! The ice show, 1977, was spectacular, with amazing hula hoops, and a particularly colorful, festive Bollywood segment.

Dinner at Hooked was a standout- we had a seafood feast that included oysters, lobster, halibut, salmon, and soft-shelled crabs. The atmosphere was lovely, with a theme of the greased pole in Gloucester, Mass. Check out this strange and interesting tradition https://www.discovergloucester.com/2022/06/10/st-peters-fiesta-and-the-greasy-pole/The rest of the fam enjoyed Wonderland, but I opted for room service while watching Paw Patrol in my dungeon. From Vuong- This was the second time that we had eaten at Wonderland. The first time was a whimsical, fun dining experience. Artful food, creative presentation, and innovative tricks. For some reason, the magic was not there this time. I think it was due to the fact that it was no longer a novel experience. The smoke wafting from the drinks and the playful design of each course just didn’t pique my interest like it did our first time.

Shore Excursions

Because our cruise was cut short and there was a TROPICAL STORM in the Caribbean, our port day at Coco Cay got canceled. We were refunded $1200 for our cabana at the water park, which included admission to the water park for 6 people, a $600 value.

Excursions we were able to enjoy included a deep sea fishing trip for the boys and beach break at Playa Mia for the girls in Cozumel, Mexico. The boys didn’t have a great experience deep sea fishing. It was 4 hours in rough seas before they even had a bite. The crew was trying their best, changing out lures, trying different depths and following the birds (they know where the bait fish are). At lunch time, the deck hand made fresh guacamole and chips for them to snack on. Shortly after lunch, they finally got a bite, where Justin, our youngest, hauled in a small skipjack tuna; which our deck hand handily cleaned, fileted and turned it into a delicious ceviche! Heading back to port they got another bite, where our other son landed a beautiful Mahi Mahi.

Playa Mia had a nice beach with lots of activities, including an inflatable water park, water bikes, kayaks, and a children’s play area. There were pools, and the beach itself was white sand with plentiful chairs and excellent drink service. Lunch was a mediocre buffet of burgers and pizza, with a few Mexican staples, which were definitely preferable!

We all went for a horseback riding and snorkeling expedition in Roatan, Honduras, which was poorly organized but a nice experience. The reefs were in good shape and the snorkel gear fit well. We rode horses through a small forest and into the ocean, which was a novel experience and allowed our oldest son to show off his equestrian skills.

The day we ported at Puerto Costa Maya, in Mahahual, Mexico, I woke up feeling ill. I decided to stay in and get tested… lo and behold, I had COVID. I hurriedly packed my suitcases and, with two more nights left on our already shortened cruise, I was hauled off from our spacious Junior Suite, through crew areas and locked doors, to the bowels of the ship. I was sentenced to finish out my time in cabin 3218, a tiny little room with a porthole. Here I sit at my desk, coughing, sneezing, and aching.

We had booked our excursions with Shore Excursions Group outside of the cruise line. They use local outfitters to provide small group tours… but they take you to places with other small groups, so it still feels like a larger group. The rest of the crew’s excursion in Costa Maya was fine, although the weather was hot and too windy to kayak. They visited the Chacchoben Ruins and the Seven Color Lagoon. I likely won’t book with SEG again, as their excursions still felt like packaged group tours. I rarely book excursions through the cruise lines, as you get get much better deals elsewhere. Just check www.cruisecritic.com for reviews and be sure the company guarantees to get you back to the ship or to your next port.

The Journey Home

Epilogue- As I was still within my quarantine period, I was not allowed to fly. So, we rented a car and made the best of it! A 19 hour road trip took us through Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee en route to Arkansas. We visited the birthplace of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi, and spent the night in some tiny town whose best restaurant was Huddle House… scattered and smothered hashbrowns please!

For more pix from our cruise on Symphony of the Seas, check out my full photo gallery: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.132156589488153&type=3