Todays Cruise Ship Highlight: Symphony of the Seas
In todays look on what is to be seen in port St. Maarten, you can’t miss the majestic Symphony of the Seas by Royal Caribbean – once carrying the title of largest cruise ship in the world. If you are visiting Philipsburgs Boardwalk and you might wonder what is going on on this huge vessel, here are some fun things to know about this ship dominating Great Bay today.
1. Formerly The Biggest (For a Long Time)
From its launch on March 23d 2018 until the official launch of Wonder of the Seas on January 27th 2022, Symphony of the Seas was the biggest cruise ship in the world. This lengthy five year period is becoming increasingly rare, as cruise companies have been building bigger and bigger ships over time in a rapid pace. The five year reign as queen of the seas was partially caused by the global pandemic, delaying the work on Wonder of the Seas. The ship can carry up to 6680 guests and measures 362 meters.
2. Record Breaking Boat
Symphony of the Seas set more records than just size. In March 2023, Symphony of the Seas set a world record for the most people onboard during a transatlantic crossing, with a total of 7,604 individuals, including 5,350 guests and 2,254 crew members. Note this record only applies to paying customers aboard a ship; The Queen Mary had 16,683 passengers once in wartime.
3. Ultimate Abyss – Tallest Waterslide
The Ultimate Abyss, a waterslide the height of a 10 story building, was a record breaking attraction at its time of launch. If the ship docks with its rear end towards St Maarten today, you can’t miss the slide.
4. Floating Museum
In its design, art received an important function. Allegedly, more artworks are on display in the Symphony of the Seas than in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Tip: For those museum lovers deliberately choosing Symphony of the Seas for this feature and visiting St. Maarten today, take a look at our many museums and fortresses to visit too!
5. Not a Godfather, but “Godfamily”
It is increasingly common to have a famous person becoming a “godfather” or “godmother” of a cruise ship. Uniquely, Symphony of the Seas received not one, but three patrons in the PenaVega family. Actors Carlos PenaVega (previously: Pena) and Alexa (previously: Vega) and son Ocean became the official sponsors of the ship.
6. Energy Experiment
Off the Oasis class ships, Symphony is the most energy efficient. It saves 25% compared to its class siblings Oasis and Harmony. Air bubble streams below the hull facilitate a less energy consuming glide through the water. If you are on Great Bay Beach to welcome this ship – you won’t see these bubbles. They are barely visible for the eye.
As with all days when megaships like Symphony visit the island, make sure to timely choose excursions and book them as well as taxis!
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