Symphony OTS Live! - Transatlantic Oct. 28, 2018 "Coming to America"

[twangster]

Late night nightclub - RED in Studio B

 

 

 

 

After a stop in Boleros for a drink with friends, it was time for bed.

[twangster]

Since Royal has ended it's relationship with Michael Schwartz the menu at 150 Central Park will be different going forward.  

 

While I didn't eat there this cruise, I saw the menus in the lounge and I am including them here along with Jamie's Italian since menu varies slightly ship to ship.

 

 

 

Wine list

 

 

 

Desert Menu

 

 

Jamie's Italian - Dinner Menu

 

 

[sh2738]

Oh that’s a bummer about 150 CP. Looks like the only vegetarian option for entree is a piece of cauliflower. For sure not worth it for the price that they charge to only be able to get some cauliflower for the entree for vegetarians. Disappointing. Thanks for posting the menus. 

[twangster]

Day 11 - Sea Day

 

Breakfast in the MDR this morning.  Given the large numbers on this sailing, deck 4 has been set aside for Diamond and Diamond Plus.

Breakfast menu for the MDR

 

Solarium Bar update

 

It looks complete at this point.

 

 

Caulking in between glass panels was added last night.

 

 

Did someone ask for some pool pictures?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[twangster]

Noon Update

 

Our progress...

 

At noon ship time we are now in sync with the Eastern time zone of the U.S. after changing times for the final time last night.

 

 

Total cruise distance so far 4,226 nm.

 

Edited November 7, 2018 by twangster

[jonj]

If you have time can you post menus from the different bar venues? Just curious if the same as other ships in the same class or different. Thank you for your review and details you have provided.

[twangster]

Do you remember day one I showed my balcony pictures and the obstruction from the black bag that hangs across the boardwalk behind the Abyss?

 

 

It turns that contains a fishing net that is part of the HiRO Aqua show.  It's function is artistic only.  At the end of the show it flies out in the air over the Aqua Theater and remains suspended in the air as guests are walking out of the show.  It's secondary function is to turn premium boardwalk balconies into obstructed boardwalk balconies. 

 

Here on day 11 they have lowered the fishing net and it's bag down to the floor for maintenance and the glorious unobstructed views aft returned (for a few hours at least).  I can actually see all of the aqua pool and stage now!  I can see ocean sitting in my balcony chair!

 

 

 

It actually make a huge difference in the boardwalk balcony experience.

 

After 11 days this is my only gripe with the cruise.  I guess that's not bad.  

[twangster]

7 minutes ago, jonj said:

If you have time can you post menus from the different bar venues? Just curious if the same as other ships in the same class or different. Thank you for your review and details you have provided.

 

Pretty much identical other than Playmakers and Hooked.  Pub menu looks identical.  Schooner Bar menu is the same.   The blue "Cocktails" menu used across the fleet is the same. 

[twangster]

Sugar Beach

 

A first for Oasis class we have space to dedicated to anything that contains sugar.  

 

 

Located on the Boardwalk right next to the Carousel.  

 

 

 

Sugar Beach is a self serve fill a bag to your hearts delight pay by the pound candy store.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a bag, fill it with whatever you want and place it on the scales.  $11 per pound.

 

 

 You don't have to spend $11 if you want a lesser amount of candy.  

 

 

They also serve ice cream and sundaes.

 

 

1 scoop $3, 2 scoops $4.50, 3 scoops $5.75.  Sugar cone or bowl.

 

 

Plus they have some stuffed animals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[vacationlover_mn]

On 11/5/2018 at 9:27 PM, twangster said:

 

Food is personal.  I'm not a foodie or food critic so I'm not sure I can do any detailed food review justice without introducing my personal tastes into the review which are irrelevant.

 

El Loco is not cooked to order.  You walk up and make your own soft tacos, pickup a wrapped burrito or pre-made quesadilla.  In some ways it's not very different from the Mexican offerings that make it into many Windjammer's on various ships.  It's not designed to replace Sabor or be a specialty dining venue.  It's included in the cruise fare and simply an alternative to lunch in the Windjammer.  I haven't tried the burritos, maybe tomorrow.

Lol- sorry, I realized what I said came off super rude 🙂. What I meant to say was I was looking for more details about the guac, to see if DH would like it 🙂

[vacationlover_mn]

And, thanks so much for your awesome live review!  I’m loving it 🙂

[Zendeck]

I think RC should hire you to do this type of review for every ship!  I’m sold and going on symphony in April.... I’ll be looking for this same type of review to book our next cruise!! 😉

 

Thank you so much for all of the details and amazing pictures.

[Robo1098]

I wonder if that net will be kept up normally. I don't normally book boardwalk balcony cabins but it looks kind of ugly even from the Boardwalk.

[racerxspeedy]

Thanks for all of the great pics!!!!        We will not be booking another boardwalk balcony.   The slide was already a deal breaker.  

[cruisinghawg]

Love the pics. Do you know what time you will arrive in PC?

[perfect match]

 

I don't know what time Symphony will be arriving, but I just heard they will be departing at 5:30 PM with fire boats as an escort on WESH, our local NBC affiliate.  I may try to talk DH into taking a ride down there to see her.

 

Here's some info from Florida Today. HTH

 

https://amp.floridatoday.com/amp/1900143002

Edited November 8, 2018 by perfect match

[perfect match]

2 hours ago, cruisinghawg said:

Love the pics. Do you know what time you will arrive in PC?

 

Port Canaveral cruise calendar says 11:01AM. 

 

https://www.portcanaveral.com/Cruise/Cruise-Lines-Schedules/2018/11-November/November-08,-2018/Symphony-of-the-Seas

[elizabethbp]

Thanks for the review.  On the Nov. 17 sailing-  This has been super helpful.

[mcatmcat]

1 hour ago, perfect match said:

 

Port Canaveral cruise calendar says 11:01AM. 

 

https://www.portcanaveral.com/Cruise/Cruise-Lines-Schedules/2018/11-November/November-08,-2018/Symphony-of-the-Seas

***** says 7am so idk

[ShazM]

Watching it on the web cam now. 3.30am your time.

Edited November 8, 2018 by ShazM
Added time

[vacationlover_mn]

[twangster]

Day 11 - Last Sea Day

 

Sometime around 4:30pm I was in Central Park having a glass of wine when the sky caught my eye.  Have I mentioned I love Central park?

 

 

I saw the early signs of a sunset so I headed up to the Solarium.

 

The Solarium Bar is back open!

 

 

 

When sailing into the sunset the Solarium is a pretty great location to take it in.

 

 

 

I was joined by several sunset enthusiasts tonight.

 

 

 

It was really kind of special.  Our last sunset in the Atlantic before making Port Canaveral tomorrow for Symphony of the Seas first ever U.S. port of call.

 

 

[Stillirise]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!   

[twangster]

Day 11 - Dinner

 

Dinner tonight would be in the Solarium Bistro.  It's a pretty great location for dinner and with the Solarium changes on Symphony it is a pretty nice venue for dinner.

 

For those that want a short summary - come eat here.  Must. do.

 

The Solarium at dinner is by reservation but at no charge unless you want to enhance your dining experience with a special entree.

 

The 'menu' is offered outside on flat panel displays for your consideration.

 

 

 

Solarium Bistro is not a full sit down specialty dining venue.  You will be escorted to your seat but you will not be presented a full menu to order from. 

 

 

 

With the Solarium right outside the floor to ceiling windows of the Bistro make it a pretty great dining location.

 

 

 

Instead of a dinner menu I was offered a wine list to start and informed that the Bistro is more of buffet of sorts.  A foodie buffet.

 

 

My waiter did mention some specials one of which caught my ear.  A filet for $12.  Like a land restaurant the nightly specials don't appear on the menu.   I decided I better try the filet.  For $12 it's all in the name of research.

 

Having ordered the filet special I was invited to eat from the buffet as if I had not ordered an extra cost item.  

The Bistro is a collection of small items that you are free to pick as many of one, or a selection of many, as you see fit.  

 

 

 

 

 

There is also a pasta station where you can pick your ingredients and have them make a unique pasta entree.  

 

 

 

 

A salad station offers different types of salads to pick from.

 

 

My 'appetizer' tonight.  Mixed Salad, Chicken Kabob and Kofta.

 

 

By this point the sun had set and the beautiful art of the Solarium was illuminated with ever changing colors.  Quite mesmerizing to watch.   

 

 

Perhaps it was the wine, but it is a very unique and nice dining venue that really struck a chord with me.

 

 

Very quickly my filet arrived.

 

 

Cooked just as I requested and very good.  Yum.

Time for dessert.

 

 

 

O. M. G.  

 

I would have taken pictures of dessert but I found myself diving into the wonderful flavors.  The Baklava really was good.  So were the two other dessert items I managed to eat.  Three desserts?  I don't normally do that but they were so good.

 

I wish I had found the Solarium Bistro earlier in the cruise.  While I'm not a foodie by nature the Kofta and Chicken Kabobs were really good as an appetizer.  I would gladly pay the $12 for the filet again.  Dessert - just wow.  

 

Between the ambiance of the venue itself and the food offered it was a highlight meal of the cruise for me.

[twangster]

With my artistic juices flowing (the wine in the Solarium Bistro at dinner was really good) I was inspired to take more night photos around the ship.

 

 

The Perfect Storm slides were still open.

 

 

 

Inspired by the color changes within the art in the Solarium that I saw during dinner in the Solarium Bistro I knew I had to try to capture it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It really is pretty spectacular and something anyone who sails Symphony needs to experience.