Royal Caribbean this week released exciting new details about the upcoming mega-ship Symphony of the Seas. From two-story family suites to new restaurants and experiences here are the top new features of the world's biggest cruise ship.

New Boardwalk 

Symphony of the Seas will introduce the new generation of Royal Caribbean’s famed Boardwalk neighbourhood, infused with new energy, interactive experiences and lively venues conceptualised for endless entertainment for all ages.

New Dining

Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade will be the place to watch the “big game” from around the world across 30 big-screen TVs, ensuring everyone has the best seat in the house to cheer on their favourite sports team. This mega venue will span the length of the newly re-imagined Boardwalk and will be the place for families to enjoy wings, burgers and craft beer on draft, as well as friendly competitions of Ms. Pacman, Star Wars Battle Pod, Ice Skeeball and other popular games.

Sugar Beach sweet and ice-cream shop will bring a sugar high of sweet treats to adults and kids alike, enticing them in with colourful candy-packed walls and tempting ice cream and toppings galore. The sweetest spot on the high seas also will feature family-friendly activities for aspirational bakers.

Hooked, Royal Caribbean’s first New England-style seafood restaurant will feature fresh seafood and a robust raw bar complete with oysters harvested to order. Located at the front of the ship in the Solarium, the casually sophisticated restaurant will offer expansive views of the open water, serving lunch and dinner.

El Loco Fresh will offer mouth-watering made-to-order tacos, burritos and other popular Mexican dishes. The open-air restaurant will seat more than 100 guests in the Sports Zone.

New Entertainment

The awe-inspiring AquaTheatre open-air amphitheatre will host a new breathtaking aqua show “HiRo”. Offering serious wow factor with high-flying diving and acrobatics,  set against the ocean backdrop and starry nights.

Back by popular demand, the hugely successful “Hairspray” – the brand’s first Broadway musical at sea – will return on Symphony with a total refresh and will headline the Royal Theatre.

The Royal Theatre will also host a new original Royal Caribbean show, “Flight”, a historical satire on the evolution of air travel that ends with a homage to the famed Wright Brothers.

Studio B will showcase a new time-travel adventure, a high-tech ice-skating show “1977” will bring guests to London on the eve of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee when her Crown Jewels are stolen in the heist of the century.

Studio B will also be transformed into an epic glow-in-the-dark laser tag experience like no other. State-of-the-art technology and special effects transport guests into the ultimate laser tag arena as family, friends and foes battle over the fate of the last planet in the galaxy.

Guests looking for a challenge can experience a new Puzzle Break experience on Symphony of the Seas where teams will race against the clock, learning to work together towards a common goal to escape the submarine-themed room before time runs out.

New Stateroom

The next generation of family accommodation, the two-level Ultimate Family Suite is a dream come true for kids of all ages and will debut eye-popping features, including an exclusive slide from the kid’s only bedroom down to the living room below; a floor-to-ceiling LEGO wall, an air-hockey table and hidden nooks for chilling.

A separate 3D cinema theatre-style TV room, complete with popcorn machine and a library of video games across multiple gaming systems will bring a new level of euphoria and competition to gamers in every family. And that’s just the inside; the 212 square foot wrap-around balcony touts a bumper pool table, a climbing experience and a full-size whirlpool that will provide unmatched ocean views.

The Ultimate Family Suite spans 1,346 square feet accommodating a family of up to eight in two bedrooms and uses every inch of space to activate the imagination and provide the most brag-worthy accommodations imaginable.

New Technology

The latest technological innovations will be debuted on Symphony with a redesigned check-in experience at the forefront. The new check-in will eliminate lines and bypasses the counter combining facial recognition, barcodes and beacons to make boarding fast and frictionless.

Guests will check-in via the brand’s new mobile app and seamlessly upload their security “selfie” to create their onboard account from the comfort of home. Upon arrival, guests will go through a security screening and then head straight to their stateroom where their key will be ready and waiting. In addition to mobile check-in, Symphony will feature all of the pioneering and award-winning guest technology the brand is known for, including VOOM – the fastest internet at sea, state-of-the-art wayfinding and virtual balconies.

See also: 7 things we wish we knew before cruising first-time with Royal Caribbean