A day on one of the world's largest cruise ships

Royal Caribbean's Oasis class boasts the largest cruise ships in the world, and if you have yet to experience this class of ship, we have to say: It's a must-see! But how much does size really matter? Is "the bigger the better" true, or can it be too much? In this blog post, we'll try to take you on the ultimate day aboard the impressive Symphony of the Seas.  Big, bigger, biggest. Or, to be fair, actually "only" second largest - because with room for just under 6,700 passengers, Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas is slightly smaller than its sister ship Wonder of the Seas, which can take an additional 300 guests on board and currently holds the title of the world's largest cruise ship. Both belong to the popular and extraordinary Oasis class of ships, known for taking cruising as a form of travel to the next level. Well, a little further. This winter, Royal Caribbean is once again pushing the boundaries of what's possible with a brand new ship class and the first of its kind, Icon of the Seas. But enough about Icon for now... If you're considering a cruise on one of the world's largest cruise ships, we've put together a full day on board an Oasis ship with some of the many fantastic facilities and activities that we enjoyed when we recently travelled on Symphony of the Seas. Hopefully this will give you an idea of what it's like to travel on ships of this size. A calm start to the day When you think of the world's largest cruise ships, "calm" is probably not one of the first words that comes to mind. And we don't blame you! With a myriad of activities and entertainment for guests of all ages, Symphony of the Seas is always busy, but that doesn't mean the ship doesn't also offer areas where you can actually slow down. One such place is the lush and cosy Central Park, located in the middle of the ship's Deck 8. Here you'll find the most beautiful park area filled with shrubs and trees under the open sky - despite the fact that you're in the centre of the ship. And right here you can enjoy a light breakfast from the Park Café (included in the price) in a tranquil setting before the day really gets going. Grab a yoghurt with fruit, a sandwich or a bagel and take a seat in the beautiful park. Tip: This place is also perfect for lunch!   Splash around like a water dog or have a family competition With food in your belly, you're ready to explore the big ship, and we dare to promise you one thing: You will NOT be bored on an Oasis ship - if you are, it's your own fault. If you're a true water dog, you've come to the right place to spend the morning at one of the ship's four pools or ten hot tubs - maybe even with a ride or two on the fun water slides! If you're travelling with children, the water park is also a huge hit, where you can easily spend a morning splashing around in the water. The afternoon is also the perfect time to settle once and for all who in the family is the best at mini golf or table tennis - and the loser can easily ice the whole gang. Almost right next to the mini golf course, you'll find a free ice cream parlour where you can pick up soft ice cream at your convenience. Brilliant, isn't it? After such a fast-paced competition or a few hours by the pool, it's not inconceivable that you might feel a little hungry, and then it's lucky that you can stop by Sorrento's on the promenade, which is ready with delicious pizza slices that you can quickly grab and go. Try limits in the afternoon Oasis ships are renowned for their extraordinary activities, and what could be more obvious than spending the afternoon ticking off some of these bucket list activities? Of course, there's no way around the ship's zip line and surfing simulators. Yes, that's right - how crazy is it that these activities are available on a cruise ship? At 10 storeys high, you can float across the ship's boardwalk and for about 10 seconds feel like you're really alive - or scared to death. Nevertheless, it's a great and fun experience that guests of many different ages won't want to miss - and of course, neither should we (despite a slight fear of heights). The surfing simulators, or Flowrider as they are called, are also a very popular activity for both children and adults. You don't need to have any surfing experience to take on the challenge. You will be instructed on technique and how to stand up on the board. And while there may be a few bumps in the road while you're learning, there's nothing like the satisfaction of finally succeeding! Watch the sunset and enjoy a tasty dinner Depending on what time you dine, it's a great experience to enjoy a pre- or post-dinner cocktail in the beautiful Solarium on deck 14 of the ship to watch the sunset. Again, this is one of the quieter areas of the ship, but be aware that children are not allowed here. Enjoy the view of the ocean from the 'King of the World' lookout, which extends over the edge of the ship and features a glass floor that makes you feel like you're floating above the ocean. This is a perfect place to take some great photos, by the way!   When it comes to dinner, the options are almost endless at Symphony. There are 15 dining options on the ship. Whether you go to the Main Dining Room or the Windjammer Marketplace buffet, you're guaranteed good, tasty food, but as with any cruise ship, trying one of the speciality restaurants is a fantastic experience. Do you prefer Italian, Asian or Mexican? You'll find it all on Symphony! Be wowed by world-class shows When night falls, it's time for entertainment - and aboard Symphony of the Seas, it's not just any entertainment that awaits you. You'll be treated to shows that will impress, amaze and make you want to experience it all over again! Especially the ship's Aqua Theatre, where the show HiRO can be experienced, is an absolute must. In a crazy combination of dance, diving and acrobatics, professional artists will perform the most impressive exercises in the deepest pool at sea - and keep in mind that this is outdoors on a sailing ship! How crazy is that? We were very impressed!     If you're a fan of grand musicals, then you should of course also experience the Broadway musical Hairspray on board the ship. You'll be entertained by great singing voices, heartfelt acting, dancing and humour. Even if you're not normally a musical theatre fan, you should give this one a try - after all, it's included in the price just like the other entertainment, such as HiRO and the 1887 ice skating show, so approach it with a curious and open mind. Get ready for another eventful day What a day and many impressions to go to bed with! Luckily, you have many days to experience all that Symphony of the Seas has to offer when you're not on land, so don't stress about trying to do it all at once. Here's a tip: spend the first day getting an overview of the ship and exploring the different decks, so you're ready to enjoy all the ship's amazing facilities for the rest of your holiday. Enjoy your holiday! Is Symphony of the Seas for me? Symphony of the Seas is for those who... Love a holiday filled with high-quality experiences with room for fun and colour, relaxation and great dining experiences for the whole family. There's always something to do for guests of all ages, and most activities are already included in the price. Yes, it's crowded, but remember that you're on one of the world's largest cruise ships - there's PLENTY of room for everyone, and you rarely realise how many people are actually on board. Symphony of the Seas is NOT for those who... Primarily travelling for peace and relaxation without too many people around you. While the ship has many cosy corners and areas where you can relax, there's no getting around the fact that Symphony is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, and that means a lot of activities and people. If you don't want to take advantage of the many activities and facilities that a large cruise ship offers, then one of the smaller ships with fewer activities might be more to your liking. Read more about Symphony of the Seas and find your trip here

Can you go on a cruise with a 3-year-old?

As a travel consultant, I often hear from clients asking what it's like to go on a cruise with small children aged 1-4 years. Is it doable? Is it fun for them? And can they be in the pool? Naturally, many questions arise about the smallest passengers in the family. This spring, I myself was on board Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas in the Caribbean with my boyfriend, Frederik, and my 3-year-old son, Emil. In this post, I will therefore share my experiences of travelling with a 3-year-old with you - all the way from Copenhagen Airport to the ship in the amazing Caribbean Sea.     First stop: The airport   With a Caribbean cruise, there's no escaping the fact that the journey starts at the airport, where a long flight to Miami awaits before boarding the cruise ship. To avoid more travel stress than necessary, it's always a good idea to arrive well in advance when travelling overseas. I recommend 3 hours so as not to rush around the airport with a small child, and there can be long queues during peak seasons.   If you are travelling with a stroller or pram that needs to be checked in, you should also be aware that these must be checked in at "oversized baggage", which is located in a different place in airports than where you check in your suitcases. Travelling with a stroller is free and no airlines charge extra for this.   On the other hand, buying food and snacks at the airport can be expensive, so I always pack a good, big bag for the plane filled with toys, iPad, various snacks, a change of clothes and nappies so that we are best prepared for the long flight with a toddler. When it comes to kids, you can actually bring all the food you want. You can even bring a water bottle with water in it. Often, you just need to take it out of your bag when you go through security at the airport.     On long flights, such as to Miami, there will of course be a few meals served on board the aircraft. So remember to book a children's menu via the airline's website before departure, otherwise your child will be served an adult menu that is less child-friendly.   Arriving to the cruise ship in Miami   After a successful flight, we landed in Miami, where we had planned a few days before our cruise. We had rented a car through Budget and made sure to book one with both air conditioning and a car seat to make it easier to get out and explore. Many hotels offer baby cots, but it is not always possible to book these from home. So ask at reception, and they are always happy to bring up a bed if it's not already in the room.     Check-in on the ship After our days in Miami, we were more than ready to board Harmony of the Seas, one of the world's largest cruise ships. I was very excited to show it off to both Emil and my boyfriend Frederik, because there are endless cool activities to do on the ship - for both children and adults. So if you're taking children on a cruise, Royal Caribbean is definitely one of the cruise lines where you can be sure that your children will have fun! When we checked in on the ship, Emil was immediately given a wristband with a barcode and the number of the muster station we belonged to in case of an emergency. If the barcode is scanned, the staff can see where the child belongs with the cabin number, which is wonderfully reassuring in case the child gets separated from their parents on the big ship. Choosing a cabin I had chosen to book a cabin with a balcony facing the Boardwalk, which is the outdoor promenade at one end of the ship. Here I had deliberately chosen to book a cabin at the far end where the Aqua Theatre is located for the simple reason that if Emil got tired and wanted to sleep early, we could still sit out on the balcony and watch the Aqua show from there. At the same time, there is generally a lot of life on the Boardwalk both during the day and in the evening, and Emil thought it was great fun to watch people either riding the carousel, playing or climbing, floating across the Boardwalk in the zip line or if the waiters from Johnny Rockets were putting on a show. The balcony is high and I generally felt very safe having Emil out there. I would never leave him out there alone, but even if he climbed up on a chair and stood looking out, he wouldn't be able to fall over as it was still a good distance away. The balconies are about 1.14 metres high. From the moment you arrive, you can request a cot in the cabin if needed, and it will be ready for you when you arrive. If you don't need a cot, you can get a sofa bed - however, we found that Emil was a bit too small to sleep on his own, so he laid between us in the bed, and that worked out great. Entertainment and shows As mentioned above, the activities and entertainment on Royal Caribbean's large cruise ships are almost endless, and although it takes a bit of adjusting with a toddler, it's possible to experience the ship's various shows. Instead of going to the late shows at 10pm, we chose to go to them in the afternoon, which is a really nice option to have when travelling with children. We got to see the Grease musical, the Aqua show and the ice skating show. We often chose to sit in the back for the shows, so we could quickly slip out again if Emil suddenly didn't want to sit there anymore, and so we didn't disturb other guests. Children's clubs On board the ship there are also children's clubs for the smallest passengers. In the Mini Club, children must be clean to join, and unfortunately Emil is not yet clean. Instead, he was welcomed in the Baby Club, which employs carers to look after the children. Here, however, parents must drop off their children and are not allowed to join in. Leaving the children in these clubs is generally very American, where the parents, for example, lie by the pool, go ashore or something else entirely. Personally, I would never go ashore without Emil, but we tried to take him to the Baby Club one day to see if he wanted to play with other kids, but he didn't want to be there without mum and dad, so we left. Other fun facilities include a free-to-use carousel on the Boardwalk, a surfboard climbing wall that Emil had a lot of fun on with other kids, and there's mini golf - which Emil was still a little too young to try. Pools for the little ones When it comes to swimming in the ship's pools, there is a fun Splash Zone with water slides for the little ones, where swim nappies are allowed. So little ones can splash around even if they're not yet clean. Please note, however, that swimming with a nappy is not allowed in the large pools. Always food at your fingertips When it comes to food, there are plenty of options on board a ship as large as Harmony of the Seas. There is a large buffet available around 18 hours a day, so we could easily pick up some snacks for Emil more or less around the clock if he felt like eating. In addition, there is an "ice cream station" where we could pick up soft ice cream for free for a few hours during the afternoon. In the evening, we ate in the ship's main restaurant, which offers children's menus where you can choose a starter, main course and dessert for your child. It's also possible to get highchairs for the kids if they need them. In addition, we tried two speciality restaurants, which cost extra. These are a little more intimate and perhaps a little fancier than the regular restaurants that are included in the price of the cruise. However, the staff are very friendly and fond of children, so you don't feel in the way or inconvenienced, as you sometimes can when it's that time of night and the little ones are hungry and tired. The perfect day at CocoCay Royal Caribbean is one of the many cruise lines that has its own island in the Caribbean, CocoCay, and this was one of the destinations for our trip. What a day and what an island! The ship docks early in the morning and then it's off to the island. Food, drinks and staff from the ship move onto the island, and it's all inclusive. This means that if you have a drinks package on board the ship, you will also have it on CocoCay. In addition, a large buffet is set up where you are free to go and grab food throughout the day. We chose to get off the ship as some of the first to be sure to get a good spot on the island. However, this turned out not to be necessary as we were the only ship docked that day. A maximum of two ships can dock at a time, but we had the island to ourselves - and it was noticeable because it wasn't crowded at all, which was great! We decided to moor in the bay, where we had a great view of the ship. It was low tide here, so Emil could easily run down and dip his feet or play in the water while we lay on the sun loungers right next to the water. Many of the other families with children had chosen the same solution, so there were more children for Emil to play in the sand with. Get around the island easily Speaking of sand, CocoCay is full of sand, and with your own "city" stroller, it can be a bit of a hassle to manoeuvre around. But on the island, there are strollers with special wheels for travelling in sand that you can borrow. It was really brilliant and made it much easier for us to get around and see the whole island. So, a clear recommendation from here: Make sure you get your hands on one of these when you come to the island! One of the highlights for Emil was when we went to Splash-zone to try the water slides, which are reserved for smaller children. Emil was thrilled and wanted to go again and again! For older kids, there's an area called Thrill Island with wilder slides. Here, however, you have to pay for access. So you can go on a cruise with a 3-year-old? Yes indeed! All three of us had a fantastic holiday and although it's a long trip to go all the way to the Caribbean with a toddler, everything worked out really well. Cruise holidays with toddlers are perfect and we never felt unsafe as parents. At the same time, there were so many activities that even the little ones could enjoy when travelling with one of the more child-friendly cruise lines. The staff are always kind to small children and are generally very patient, so we never felt like we were being inconvenienced. So if you're thinking of going on a cruise with the little ones in the family, all I can say is: Do it! Cruising is for the whole family, and if you put some thought and preparation into your holiday (just as you would when travelling with young children on other types of holidays), the odds are that you'll have a fantastic holiday experience!

Why you won't get seasick on a cruise

The thought of being trapped at sea on a rocking ship can give most people a nervous twitch - but fear not! It's not at all typical to experience seasickness on a cruise. We give you the answer to why right here... Why don't I get seasick on a cruise? You may have travelled on a ferry or sailing ship and found yourself hanging over the edge in a cold sweat, pale as a sheet, and you may dread going on a cruise for the same reason. Let's say it once and for all - there's no comparison! Cruise ships are huge! Therefore, it takes an enormous amount of force for it to move off course or start rocking. In fact, on most ships, you can't even feel it move at all. If you take the Oslo ferry as a comparison, some of the smallest cruise ships are over twice the size, while the largest ships are almost seven times the size. In addition, most ships are equipped with giant stabilisers that stick out of the side of the ship like giant fins, which counteract wave action and help keep the ship stable, even in rough weather. Last but not least, shipping companies know that holiday time is a time for wellness, not nausea. That's why they constantly monitor the weather conditions on the sailing route so they can navigate around bad weather. In fact, it is quite common for ships to change course along the way, especially in the Caribbean during hurricane season.  In the unfortunate event of an accident... Although very few people get seasick on cruises, it's still good to be prepared, so we've put together 10 tips on what to do if you get seasick. ⛴   Ask at reception It is always possible to get seasickness pills free of charge at the ship's reception. It is also possible to buy them from home or in the terminal. Here it is also possible to buy various types of seasickness medication in the form of chewing gum, lollipops or acupressure bracelets. The ship's reception is always free of charge. ⛴   Sit still or lie down When experiencing seasickness, avoid moving around the ship as much as possible. Instead, find a bed or chair where you can lie down. By doing this, your brain's balance centre will rest more than if you were standing up. The imbalance between your vision and inner ear is therefore not as severe. ⛴   Try to sleep The best thing you can do when you experience seasickness is to give your body peace and rest, for example by taking a nap. ⛴   Do not read books, newspapers, etc. It's a bad idea to read or watch films if you experience symptoms of seasickness. Instead, look up so your body gets a better sense between what you're seeing and what's moving. ⛴   Focus on a specific point It can be good to focus on a stationary object, such as something on land or on the horizon. ⛴   Avoid dehydration By drinking plenty of water, you avoid becoming dehydrated. For some people, drinking fizzy drinks also has a positive effect, as sugar can alleviate severe dehydration. ⛴ Eat light Avoid heavy or spicy foods and eat light meals instead. Preferably salted biscuits or crisps, as this helps to restore the salt balance. It is also recommended that you avoid smoking and alcohol, as this will only worsen the condition. ⛴   Get fresh air It s a good idea to get some fresh air. Also preferably towards the centre of the ship, as this is where it tilts the least. ⛴   Focus on your breath If you feel really bad, it can be good to focus on your breathing. Breathe slowly. ⛴   Tell your loved ones If you notice that you are starting to feel unwell, remember to tell the people you are travelling with so that they are aware of it and can help you if you need it. Have a good trip!