Symphony OTS 11/23 last minute questions and any tips welcome.

[JSR]

what time does boarding usually start? We have a Suite and we are Diamond Plus. 
 

Does anyone have any tips, hidden gems, or don’t miss. 
 

We are two Baby Boomers and a Millennial. 
 

thank you. 

 

thank you. 

[Clarea]

Boarding typically starts around 11am.

[jakeil7]

10:30 to 11 am. When you enter Terminal A, turn right and take the elevator to suite check in (assuming you have a full suite instead of a Junior). Get on board and go to the suite lounge. Plenty of room to stow your carry ons and meet your concierge. If you are in a Junior suite, go to Costal Kitchen and knock on the door if you want reservations there. I overheard that there were not that many available on my sailing. 

[cynt]

OMG!!! Do you have room for one more!?!?!? 

 

Have a great cruise!! I soooo wish I was going with you.

[lovelife]

Tip: Don't miss Hooked Seafood. Best specialty dining on RCI  -  IMO.

[jakeil7]

I didn’t have a chance to go to hooked (looked like Red Lobster at sea to me), but I did go to Wonderland. Very, very creative and very good. 

[lovelife]

3 minutes ago, jakeil7 said:

I didn’t have a chance to go to hooked (looked like Red Lobster at sea to me), but I did go to Wonderland. Very, very creative and very good. 

Ha ha, nothing like Red Lobster  🤮(gag).

[jakeil7]

1 minute ago, lovelife said:

Ha ha, nothing like Red Lobster  🤮(gag).

What was so good about it?  I just ask as looking at the menu I was not impressed. 
 

To bring this back to the OP’s question:  the one thing you will find is that you won’t be able to do everything. 
 

However, if you like quiet sea views, make sure you take the running track to the back of the boat on Deck 5. There is a great viewing area there with several loungers that is not usually crowded. Also, there are other sporty things arranged between the track and the water. 

[UnorigionalName]

tried the hh oysters at hooked... they were horrible.

tried the hh lobster roll at hooked... they were not great

 

I didn't do the sit down, the grilled fish looks maybe more promising?

 

back to the tips... if you don't have booze package the wonderland HH is among the best deals and pretty tasty cocktails.

Try for the water show the first night, so you can try again the second if its cancelled.

solarium bistro is another buffet option for lunch on embarkation day if windjammer is too crowded, but you have suite so you have coastal kitchen

 

 

[JSR]

Thank you for the tips. We just landed in Miami. Early morning so we are a bit tired though we did sleep some in the plane. Nice lie down beds on a 777-200. I haven’t been on a large plane in years. Headed to the hotel to freshen up then DD needs a mani/pedi. Hope to get to bed early and head to the ship at a reasonable hour. 
 

We do not have the drink package. Trying to drink less and exercise more. So we will defiantly be checking out the track. Wonderland sounds a little like Eden on Celebrity Edge. We are winging dinners as we are not planners. We did book Hooked  for lunch as our one reservation.. Glad for the suite perk of not having to reserve shows. This is a last minute trip and couldn’t figure that all out. 
 

We plan to go to the sports bar Monday night to watch the game. Is there food there or just drinks? 
 

Thank you all for the hints and tips. Please, keep them coming. 
 

thank you, thank you. 

[garnetpalmetto]

11 minutes ago, JSR said:

Thank you for the tips. We just landed in Miami. Early morning so we are a bit tired though we did sleep some in the plane. Nice lie down beds on a 777-200. I haven’t been on a large plane in years. Headed to the hotel to freshen up then DD needs a mani/pedi. Hope to get to bed early and head to the ship at a reasonable hour. 
 

We do not have the drink package. Trying to drink less and exercise more. So we will defiantly be checking out the track. Wonderland sounds a little like Eden on Celebrity Edge. We are winging dinners as we are not planners. We did book Hooked  for lunch as our one reservation.. Glad for the suite perk of not having to reserve shows. This is a last minute trip and couldn’t figure that all out. 
 

We plan to go to the sports bar Monday night to watch the game. Is there food there or just drinks? 
 

Thank you all for the hints and tips. Please, keep them coming. 
 

thank you, thank you. 

 

Playmakers has food as well as drinks.

[jakeil7]

53 minutes ago, JSR said:

Thank you for the tips. We just landed in Miami. Early morning so we are a bit tired though we did sleep some in the plane. Nice lie down beds on a 777-200. I haven’t been on a large plane in years. Headed to the hotel to freshen up then DD needs a mani/pedi. Hope to get to bed early and head to the ship at a reasonable hour. 
 

We do not have the drink package. Trying to drink less and exercise more. So we will defiantly be checking out the track. Wonderland sounds a little like Eden on Celebrity Edge. We are winging dinners as we are not planners. We did book Hooked  for lunch as our one reservation.. Glad for the suite perk of not having to reserve shows. This is a last minute trip and couldn’t figure that all out. 
 

We plan to go to the sports bar Monday night to watch the game. Is there food there or just drinks? 
 

Thank you all for the hints and tips. Please, keep them coming. 
 

thank you, thank you. 

If you are not a planner, make heavy use of the concierge. They have additional access to reservations it seemed. 

[JayinAZ]

Quick question- I recently booked a suite on Symphony for a March cruise.  We wanted anytime dining but it was unavailable so we got early dining.  Sound like you might be in the same situation being a last minute cruise and not wanting to plan dinners either.  If you request anytime dining from the concierge or find any way of just showing up at the MDR, please let me know.  Thanks and have a great trip!  Please post some suite/concierge lounge tips if you get a chance.  112 more days for me! 

Jay

[lovelife]

22 hours ago, jakeil7 said:

What was so good about it? 

 

Quality of food and preparation.

 

Everything I have had there in my five visits has been delicious - in particular the captain's  platter.

[John&LaLa]

Deck 7 aft is a great getaway to watch the wake. More room to move the chairs around than deck 5

 

Deck 5 is ok

 

Deck 7

 

The rest of deck 7

 

access from rock wall

 

Or from the deck 7 hallway

 

Exit door from deck 7 to the cabins

 

also a good place to watch aqua shows without reservations 😉

[John&LaLa]

10 hours ago, JayinAZ said:

Quick question- I recently booked a suite on Symphony for a March cruise.  We wanted anytime dining but it was unavailable so we got early dining.  Sound like you might be in the same situation being a last minute cruise and not wanting to plan dinners either.  If you request anytime dining from the concierge or find any way of just showing up at the MDR, please let me know.  Thanks and have a great trip!  Please post some suite/concierge lounge tips if you get a chance.  112 more days for me! 

Jay

 

Suites have it made. If you are in MTD, you just walj up to one of the back podiums and ask for a table. No line, and very little if any wait

[JSR]

Thank you all for the tips. Waiting on a taxi! 
thank you all for the help. 
 

@jayinAZ will do. We did book Coastal Kitchen for 6:30 each night. Not sure which nights we will actually go. I’ll let you know about the MDR if we go. 
 

Reality is sinking in. Lots of kids in the lobby. Bringing back memories of when DD was a kiddo and not an adult. 
 

Thanks for helping with our first Rccl in years. 
 

I thought I had posted the above earlier today. 
 

we love the suite. Had a busy but relaxed day. Suite is amazing. Both lunch and dinner at CK were very good. Took advantage of free drinks. Glad we didn’t bother with the drink package. Spent about $24 for drinks today. The package would have been $150 for the 3 of us. Saw the water show Hiro. Only time things were crazy crowded was after muster.
 

DD and DH did the slide. It was fun and no line because we got there by accident 10 minutes before they opened after muster. We are on a waiting list for a cabana on coco cay. Booked the comedy show and a semi private for the flow rider. DD and I are off to bed. DH is playing poker. Casino is practically empty. 
 

have a goodnight.  

Edited November 24, 2019 by JSR

[Bronx12]

Not a tip, but a request. Would you be able to get the price of the "Sip & Sail" beer special and the "Happy Hour" pricing?

Thanks 🙂

[JSR]

I’m happy to try. Is there a particular bar that offers this or just any where? 

[ALSEAU]

On 11/22/2019 at 5:14 PM, garnetpalmetto said:

 

Playmakers has food as well as drinks.

 

What is the menu like at Playmakers Sports Bar?

[Clarea]

4 minutes ago, ALSEAU said:

 

What is the menu like at Playmakers Sports Bar?

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=55672132&postcount=1725

[Bronx12]

13 hours ago, JSR said:

I’m happy to try. Is there a particular bar that offers this or just any where? 

 

From what I understand, it is supposed to be available at any bar, but, bot necessarily advertised, you have to ask for it.

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, Bronx12 said:

 

From what I understand, it is supposed to be available at any bar, but, bot necessarily advertised, you have to ask for it.

 

Happy Hour was limited to a few select venues

[JSR]

I will look today in the planner and then head over to the bar to get the price. 

[JSR]

We will also report back about Playmakers as we will go watch the Rams vs Ravens tonight. We have to look for DD’s boyfriend and roommates at the game. They are using all 4 of our season tickets. It’s a hard game for us to miss. While the Rams may not win it should be a good game. I’d love to see Lamar Jackson play even though I want the Rams to win.