Embarkation Day on Symphony of the Seas
Join us on our embarkation day on Symphony of the Seas: boarding at Port Everglades, lunch at Solarium Bistro, cabin tour, dinner, and first-night entertainment.
We’re also answering your top embarkation day questions like what to pack (bring a small carry on with swimwear, sunscreen, and medication), how long is the wait at Port Everglades (only 20 minutes for us!) and when will your cabin be ready.
In this post we share our Symphony of the Seas Embarkation Day experience.
Port Everglades Cruise Embarkation Royal Caribbean
Our 8 night Southern Caribbean Cruise departed from Port Everglades, the cruise port in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We arrived 2 nights in advance (free flights – thanks to Chase Ultimate Rewards Points!) and stayed at a nearby cruise port hotel.
Uber (actually Lyft) from our hotel to the port only cost $4.17 thanks to a Lyft discount I had.
How Long Did Embarkation Take?
Boarding Symphony of the Seas at Royal Caribbean’s Port Everglades cruise terminal was a breeze.
We were in the terminal at 11:43 and by 12:04 we were onboard and ready to start exploring this beautiful Oasis class ship!
The boarding process for Royal Caribbean is so efficient.
Embarkation Day Tip: Complete your check-in before the cruise via the cruise line’s app or website in advance, up to 45 days before your cruise.
Boarding Symphony of the Seas at Port Everglades
There’s a certain buzz onboard a cruise ship on embarkation day. You have the seasoned cruisers, they have a strategy for the day that they are well-prepared to implement and maximize their cruise vacation.
You have repeat cruisers on that particular ship who know the lay of the land or who live near the cruise port and cruise often. They are chill, no need to fuss, they are ultra-comfortable.
And you have the newbie cruisers. Whether new to cruising itself, new to Royal Caribbean cruise line, or new to the specific ship.
It’s a great mix.
Exploring an Oasis Class Ship: Symphony of the Seas
Your first time onboard a new cruise ship is so much fun – there is so much to explore! You probably spent months researching and learning about every nook and cranny of the ship (okay, a certain bunch of people do this… I’m assuming you’re part of the club since you’re here? ☺)
Today is the day to see if you can remember literally anything from all your research. haha!
Embarkation Day Tip on Symphony of the Seas: Pack swimwear & sunscreen in your carry-on so you can enjoy the pool before it gets crowded. Embarkation day is one of the few times the pool will be empty like this, so take advantage and make the work day a bit more interesting.
Central Park Neighborhood
As an Oasis Class Ship, you can find a bit of green with a touch of New York in the Central Park Neighborhood on Symphony of the Seas.
Real plants are carefully maintained at sea by expert gardeners, making Central Park a unique and peaceful setting which is lovely to stroll through in the evening, enjoy some gentle live music, boutique shopping, or dining.
If you’re looking for action, this glimpse of the pool deck shows you have plenty of options including 3 water slides and two pools, one being a saltwater pool on Symphony of the Seas.
The balcony staterooms shown above on either side of Central Park are the Central Park Balcony Cabins. These inside-facing balconies do not offer an ocean view, but do give you some outside space for fresh air and are often (but surprisingly not always!) more affordable than an Ocean View Balcony.
Travel Agent Tip: When booking a “Balcony Guarantee” fare on an Oasis Class Ship, be sure to verify if you are booking a Neighborhood Balcony Guarantee or an Ocean View Balcony Guarantee.
El Loco Fresh
El Loco Fresh is the popular (& free!) Mexican casual dining restaurant on Symphony of the Seas where you can get things like grab and go tacos, burritos, and quesadillas. Be sure to load them up with fresh pico de Gallo, salsa, and guacamole!
Healthy Eats on the Ship: You can find takeaway fresh fruit cups at El Loco Fresh. Perfect for grabbing on the go or taking back to your room for a healthy late night snack.
Where to Eat Lunch on Embarkation Day
The most obvious answer is the cruise ship buffet. Guaranteed to be open and plenty of choices. Also plenty of people.
First Day on a Cruise Ship Tips: Check which venues will be opened for lunch on embarkation day. There are often options besides the buffet which may be less crowded. 😉
We traveled in a group of 8 relatives for this multi-generational family cruise and only 2 people in the group knew we were coming. It was a really fun surprise seeing the reactions of aunts and uncles.
We met up in the Solarium Bistro and snagged a large round table for lunch. This smaller buffet area was a nice spot to meet and I was soaking in the novelty so much that I only managed to get 2 pics of my lunch.
I have to say the Indian food was excellent and I also thoroughly enjoyed this little carrot cake dessert cup!
It would make a perfect individual dessert idea for a dinner party and someday I hope to replicate it for Home Cooking Inspired By Travel.
Ocean View Cabin Tour
Around 2pm we had finished eating and were ready to check out our Ocean View Cabin. We stayed in cabin 3198 on Symphony of the Seas, our first time in an ocean view cabin.
-> Here is our Symphony of the Seas Ocean View Cabin Tour with Photos <-
See Who’s In Port With You
It’s fun to see which other ships are in Port with you on embarkation day and throughout your cruise. Sometimes you’re like little travel buddies.
Main Dining Room Dinner on Royal Caribbean
We had traditional dining on Royal Caribbean which means we had a table reserved for our group every night at the same time. Our early dining time was 5:30 PM.
Of course we could also dine at another time by walking in and waiting for a table, eating at the buffet or other casual dining venue, or eating at a specialty restaurant.
Travel Agent Tip: Let your travel agent know at the time of booking what your preferred dining is. Space fills up for each set time and My Time, so the sooner you make your request, the more likely you are to have your preferred choice.
Embarkation Day Welcome Aboard Menu
Royal Caribbean recently updated Main Dining Room Menus across their fleet, so we made an effort to show you the new Royal Caribbean Dinner Menus during this Southern Caribbean Cruise.
Different than our experience on Sun Princess, on Symphony of the Seas you ordered your meal and dessert at the same time.
What We Ordered
Here is everything we ordered in Symphony’s main dining room from the Welcome Aboard dinner menu.
Caesar Salad
A classic caesar salad is a cruise dinner must.. if you’re into that sort of thing. 🙂
Every night your table will be presented with a basket of bread/rolls. The one shown here seemed like an asiago cheese roll and was delicious.
Cruise Dining Tip: If you have a specific preference, maybe you love the asiago cheese rolls, let your dining staff know. The basket may default to just one, but they can bring you more of anything you like!
Crab Cake
Crispy crab cake fried until golden brown with creamy Old Bay sauce and a tomato-cucumber salad.
Pan Roasted Fish Fillet
Flaky white fish over sweet peppers, snow peas, corn, creamy potato leek gratin and a saffron butter sauce.
Southern Fried Chicken
Seasoned, crispy chicken with Tabasco hot honey, buttery mashed potatoes, sweet corn on the cob.
Dessert
Dark Chocolate Custard
Silky custard infused with rich cocoa, finished with a fresh tart raspberry.
Key Lime Pie
Silky key lime custard baked in a brown butter graham cracker crust topped with whipped cream.
Royal Theater — Flight: Dare to Dream
After dinner entertainment is a cruise tradition, and embarkation day is no exception.
We went to The Royal Theater to enjoy our first theater production of the cruise — Flight: Dare to Dream.
This multi-million dollar original production explores mankind’s fascination with flight.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Tip: Reserve your entertainment in advance on the Royal Caribbean App so you are guaranteed entrance and your preferred seating.
Embarkation Day FAQs
In this section:
- What to Pack for Embarkation Day
- What to Do on Embarkation Day
- First Day on a Cruise Ship Tips
- Pre Cruise: When Does Royal Caribbean Cruise Online Check-in Open?
- Pre Cruise: When Will My Room Be Assigned?
- When are Cabins Ready on Royal Caribbean?
- When Will My Luggage Be Delivered?
What to Pack for Embarkation Day
When you arrive to the cruise terminal you will leave your luggage with the porters who will deliver it to your stateroom cabin. This way you can be hands-free and enjoy the ship!
In a small bag that isn’t too inconvenient to carry you should bring your essentials: IDs, wallet, phone, medication as well as anything you’d like to use right away like your swimsuit and sunscreen!
What to do on Embarkation Day
There is a real buzz on any ship on embarkation day. Your cruise vacation is finally here and it’s so exciting!
How you spend your embarkation day is totally up to you. You may want to dive head first into the pool (not literally, though, most aren’t deep enough for that) or get the adrenaline going by zipping down a water slide.
If you’re on a Friend Cruise or a Family Cruise, you’ll be happy to meet up with everyone on deck and chat with a snack or maybe even a cocktail.
Since most people will be exploring the ship, if there are specific activities on the ship you want to hit before the crowds, today is your day!
First Day on a Cruise Ship Tips
- Relax. You’re on vacation. Have fun!
- Explore the ship. You don’t have to see everything, but getting a feel for the layout, orienting forward and aft, is smart.
- There can be some kinks in the first day of any cruise, especially with dining or an unexpected cabin issue. Don’t worry, these will be sorted out promptly. Notify the crew in a kind way and go have fun!
- Meet your cabin steward and let them know if you have any special requests – a tea kettle, conditioner, extra hangers, different pillows, a daily ice bucket.
- Avoid the customer service desk if possible, as it tends to have long lines.
When Does Royal Caribbean Cruise Online Check-in Open?
Check in for a Royal Caribbean Cruise typically opens 45 days before your cruise and can be completed online or via the Royal Caribbean App. This will save you time at the cruise terminal and get you onboard and enjoying your cruise faster!
When Will My Room Be Assigned?
If you have booked a guarantee room, congratulations! You probably got a great deal. In exchange, you had to be a bit patient to find out where your room will be located. Guarantee rooms can be assigned at any time after booking but in most cases will be assigned 45 days prior to your sailing when check-in opens.
When Are Cabins Ready on Royal Caribbean?
Usually by around 1pm your room will be ready on a Royal Caribbean cruise. You’re always welcome to check sooner. The room stewards have a huge job turning over rooms in a short time, so please be kind and patient if yours is not ready yet.
An announcement is usually made over the intercom when all cabins are ready, so feel free to go enjoy the day!
When Will My Luggage Be Delivered?
If you left luggage with the porters it will be delivered mid-late afternoon, say between 3-5PM. Your room will be available well before your luggage is delivered. Luggage will appear lining the hallways, so keep an eye out for yours.
Symphony of the Seas Review
-> Check out all our cruise blogs, cabin tours, and ship reviews for Symphony of the Seas
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