Wonder Of The Seas Review: Royal Caribbean’s Newest Ship

Theresa Russell, a columnist for Cruise Maven, was given the opportunity to travel on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas on the ship’s first voyage. Since I really enjoy her dry sense of humor and insightful, non-biased criticism, it seemed only natural for me to inquire as to whether or not she would compose a review.

Continue reading for Theresa’s evaluation of the Wonder of the Seas, a ship that is both cutting-edge and simply breathtaking in its design. And today, the vessel has the title of “world’s largest.”

Review of the Wonder of the Seas

I spent many years traveling by myself or with friends before finally being able to go on a cruise with my husband, Robert, who had just recently retired. Monarch of the Seas was the only ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet that he had ever traveled on, and that was many years ago.

I couldn’t wait to hear his thoughts on the Wonder of the Seas, which holds the record for being the largest cruise ship in the world at the moment. As for me, I was a veteran of trips aboard ships belonging to the Oasis Class.

Due to the fact that Wonder of the Seas is larger than Oasis of the Seas and the other ships in the Oasis Class, it has several additional features that I need to experience in order to complete my bucket list.

Quick Information: The Wonder of the Seas

Constructed in the year 2022

Weight: 236,857 GT

Decks: 18

5734 passengers are counted at double occupancy.

Crew: 2300

There are a total of 2867 staterooms.

Itinerary in the Caribbean for Seven Nights

Our ship set off from Fort Lauderdale and made a complete round around the Caribbean, stopping at four different ports and spending two days at sea. The port days were spaced nicely apart from the sea days, which allowed for recovery from the port days as well as exploring of the ship.

We are excited to have you join us on the Royal Caribbean ship Wonder of the Seas.

The day before we were scheduled to leave, we flew into Fort Lauderdale, and then took a Lyft to get to the pier. We had previously downloaded the Royal Caribbean app in order to make the boarding procedure more manageable and get it over with more quickly. Finally, after a number of unsuccessful attempts, we were successful in using their app.

Due to the fact that the COVID rules were still in effect, we were required to present evidence that we had received our immunizations as well as a negative RT-PCR result. We had to produce evidence that our tests came back negative before we could even proceed with check-in.

The check-in employees did not stand behind counters to complete the procedure of checking guests in; rather, they stood with tablets in hand. When we inquired as to why we had not been given keycards or a band, we were informed that the location of our keys would be outside the door to our cabin.

Because of the size of the ship and the fact that we arrived a little bit earlier than the time that was specified for our boarding, we anticipated a more drawn-out boarding process. What an error our reasoning was!

The time it took us to walk onto the ship from the moment we entered the terminal till the moment we did so was exactly 11 minutes.

As we boarded the Wonder of the Seas, we were offered champagne as a way to celebrate the fact that this was the ship’s very first cruise. This act brought us right back to the beginning of our cruise experience.

Initial thoughts and reactions

If we were to write a review of Wonder of the Seas, it wouldn’t be complete unless we discussed our “First Impressions.”

Stepping foot onto the Wonder of the Seas was an exciting experience for a variety of reasons. As a result of COVID, the ship’s first voyage had to be postponed; hence, the fact that this was the very first cruise on the world’s largest cruise ship made for a very thrilling experience.

The Promenade was alive with activity and bustling with excitement. People were moving all around, and many of them had beverages in their hands. It was easy to feel the buzz of activity on The Promenade.

After entering The Promenade Neighborhood and seeing all of the action that was taking place there, it was an adventure merely to watch the expression on my husband’s face.

Robert found it hard to comprehend that there were still seven other neighbourhoods to investigate. The magnitude of the ship left him feeling overstimulated, overwhelmed, and to some extent, intimidated.

As a result of my prior experience aboard ships of the Oasis Class, I was immediately at ease in this well-known environment. Following the missed connections, delayed flights, and misplaced bags of the previous few days, I was ready to get straight to our cabin and then look for something to eat. Finally!

Staterooms with Balconies Come Standard

On Deck 6 Aft, cabin number 6324 was waiting for us when we got there. There were four keys to our stateroom ready for us when we arrived. Only one of them turned the knob and opened the door. It took a few tries before we were successful in getting those in good functioning order.

In our stateroom there were two twin beds, however they could be made into a Royal King bed if necessary. There was a double couch bed that could be used for additional sleeping space. The room seemed much bigger than its actual 182 square feet because to the bright and airy decor.

On the opposite side of the room from the bed is a television with a large screen and hooks below. These hooks are useful for hanging smaller goods, but if you hung anything too large from them, it would block the path that leads from the bed to the television.

The little night stands that were placed on either side of the bed each featured a few shelves for storing minor objects.

These tables each include a little lamp that provides a dim light and also has an outlet and a USB port. The light switches for the ceiling fixtures were handily positioned close to the bed for maximum convenience.

A workstation has been set up right next to the television. There was a sufficient number of USB ports and outlets, in addition to a pleasant place for using a laptop. In addition to it, there is a chair and a big mirror in the room.

Another storage compartment, which houses the mini-fridge, can be found close to the door leading to the balcony. In addition to that, there are a few drawers that have a brilliant yellow colour on the inside.

The balcony is 50 square feet in size and is furnished with two seats that have the ability to recline. The foot stools are a lovely addition to the space. A little table serves admirably as a place to set down drinks.

In order for the air conditioning to work properly, the door to the balcony must be shut and locked completely. The drapes do a decent job of darkening the room, but installing magnets to block out any remaining slivers of light might be beneficial for those individuals who prefer complete obscurity in order to sleep.

The couch offered a relaxing place to sit or stretch out in the sun. Additionally, it can be utilised as a bed for extra guests.

A nice closet with double rods can be found in the space between the sofa and the bed. In order to hang our longer things, we had to remove the lower rod. Even though we did not have a particularly large number of items that needed to be hung, we did ask for more hangers.

When it comes to the hangers, the hooks that came with ours were not rounded and were a little bit tough to move. We speculated that the form might have been designed to keep them in place during more turbulent seas. We determined that the closet was sufficient for our requirements.

On the opposite side of the bed, there was a second closet that specialised in storing more compact objects. There was a spot for the safe on the shelves that were to the left. Additional storage was provided by two drawers located at the base of the unit. Our larger luggage fit neatly beneath the bed with no problem.

The Loo or Restroom

This room was on the smaller side but it made the most of its space thanks to the blue accents on the floor and the backsplash. The curving shower, which had a see-through door, was outfitted with a retractable clothes line, a few hooks, a shaving bar, and an adjustable shower head.

I was really dissatisfied to see that a dispenser held a combination body wash and shampoo. Bar soap was provided for the bathroom sink, but there were no extra amenities, such as body lotion or conditioner, provided.

A NUGGET OF WISDOM:

Bring your own liquid soap from home unless you want to subject your hair to harsh detergents when you wash it.

There was working space on the counter to the left of our sink, as well as a corner shelf stocked with drinking cups. There was an additional lengthy storage shelf that was located below the sink, and it was shared with the waste basket.

Because the light that was mounted over the sink never completely shut off, it functioned as a night light. It works wonderfully for those who have a use for it. It was a little annoyance for some people, particularly those who prefer to sleep in complete darkness. We protected the illuminated area by taping a sock over it.

A NUGGET OF WISDOM:

Be aware of the location of your stateroom on the ship. Despite the fact that our bedroom on Deck 6 port side aft was both pleasant and functional, our location was less than ideal. The back entrance to Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade was directly across the hall from where we were standing.

There’s chicken wings on the menu there. Because the stench of chicken wings wafted into the corridor and into our cabin, this particular cabin was not a suitable option – unless you enjoy the smell of chicken wings, of course.

An eighth neighbourhood that is made almost entirely of suite cabins has recently been added to the Wonder of the Seas. Decks 17 and 18 are where you’ll find the Suite Neighborhood, and in order to go in, you’ll need a key card.

Due to the fact that all of the suites on the Wonder of the Seas have already been reserved, we were unable to include any Suite Neighborhood staterooms in this review.

Guests who are staying in the Suite Neighborhood enjoy exclusive use of the dining area in the Coastal Kitchen, in addition to a private sun deck that is outfitted with beach chairs, a bar, and several tiny soaking pools.

Experiences at Dining Tables

It’s quite difficult to make objective judgments on food. Simply due to the fact that there are so many passengers to cater to, I believe that the majority of the food that is provided on cruise ships is very comparable to the food that is offered at banquets. On the other hand, specialty restaurants are held to a higher standard than general dining establishments.

The Wonder of the Seas has dining options that cater to guests of all budgets and dietary preferences. One of the new establishments is called the Mason Jar, and it is a specialised restaurant that serves food prepared in a southern style.

Brunch is served on sea days, and dinner is served every night. Mason Jar. The price of brunch is $24.95 in addition to an 18% gratuity charge. Dinner is $39.95 plus gratuities. We gave the breakfast a shot.

The menu features several different selections, all of which come in quite generous and satisfying serving sizes. Mee Maw’s Fried Chicken N’ Waffles and the Southern Breakfast were the dishes that we decided to have. A pimiento cheese and saltine appetiser, as well as a jalapeo cornbread, were brought to the table before the meal.

In addition to our meals, we each sampled two of the many different specialised beverages that were available at the Mason Jar bar.

The PB&J Old Fashioned makes use of peanut butter whiskey, as the name of the drink suggests. A slice of candied bacon is used as a garnish for the Far From Manhattan cocktail, which also contains brown sugar bourbon.

There is live country music performed in the evenings in a space that is furnished with rocking chairs, tables, and bar seating. The intriguing libation recipes can be found within the beverage package that you purchased.

Additional Dining Choices Await Guests at Wonder of the Seas

We sampled a variety of other eating venues so that we could incorporate our thoughts on them in our assessment of the Wonder of the Seas. With over 20 different options, approximately half of which are speciality eateries, there is no way that we will ever be able to try them all. This is especially true given that we don’t typically consume three meals a day.

Pizza from Sorrento’s and Indian cuisine from the world’s largest Windjammer were among our top picks, while the complementary breakfast at Johnny Rockets was another one of our favourites.

We enjoyed eating outside at Johnny Rockets in the Boardwalk neighbourhood because it was close to our cabin on Deck 6, and we could look out over the AquaTheater while we did so. The location had a manageable level of noise during the morning hours.

Even though buffets are not high on our list of preferred eating options for a variety of reasons, we decided to try lobster while it was being offered in the main dining rooms.

That evening, the Windjammer was rather empty, so we were able to fulfil our cravings for Indian cuisine there. The Windjammer offers a varied assortment of vegetarian and international cuisines.

When our plans clashed with the operating hours of other restaurants, we could always rely on Sorrento’s on the Promenade to provide a convenient and speedy solution.

This establishment offers a selection of pizzas as well as antipasto at no additional cost. In point of fact, we thought it was at least on par with, if not even superior than, the pizza at Giovanni’s.

On the day of boarding, we went to my favourite restaurant in Central Park, which is called Park Cafe. My go-to selection is the roast beef sandwich known as the Kummelweck. There is an abundant selection available of everything from salads to sweets.

If you would rather consume your meals in the main dining rooms, you have the option of selecting between the early, the late, or the MyTime dining service. The dining rooms are spread across three decks, with the MyTime restaurant located on the fourth deck.

In spite of the fact that the selection of food was satisfactory, we discovered that the acoustics amplified the background noise to an unacceptable level. One evening, the music in the background was so loud that it made it difficult for us to have a conversation with the other people at our table.

A NUGGET OF WISDOM:

It is possible for smoke from the casino to drift into the front part of the dining room on Deck 4. (the My Time section). Be sure to ask for a table that is located away from the door that leads into the dining area.

The Chop House charges customers a surcharge for both lunch and dinner service. While I went for the fillet, my spouse went for the Caesar salad with chicken. Even though the fillet I ordered was the least amount of food available for lunch, I still ended up giving my spouse what I couldn’t finish.

Although the ambiance was pleasant, it seems as though individuals who consume a significant amount of food would benefit more from dining at one of the speciality restaurants. It is important to keep in mind that Royal Caribbean does, in fact, provide dining packages, which have the effect of reducing the typical cost of the specialty dining pricing.

Amusement Available While Aboard

The Wonder of the Seas, in contrast to other ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, does not include any Broadway production shows. Due to this regrettable circumstance, a large theatrical production number couldn’t be included in my review of Wonder of the Seas. If you consider something to be significant, make a note of it.

Nevertheless, there are a few other series worth looking at.

We had no idea what to expect, so we decided to go with “Voices.” Pentatonix immediately came to me when I read that description because they are a musical group that I enjoy listening to. Not only do singers sing the melody, but they also imitate the sounds of other instruments and other noises.

Throughout the entirety of the concert, the songs changed, initially following a chronological order that then mysteriously disintegrated. The imagery brought back memories of the Brady Bunch for us.

It would have been ideal for us to be able to see on stage those who were playing the instrumental parts as well as those who were singing the melodies, but this was not possible. In general, we had a good time at this exhibition.

A NUGGET OF WISDOM:

Even though we checked the app before boarding the ship, we discovered that several of the shows did not have seats available for audience members. We were never successful in booking a comedy event, although attendance at the Aqua Show was frequently at capacity. Make sure you make a reservation as soon as your app is ready to use.

We were fortunate enough to secure tickets for the ice show 365. The shifting of the seasons was shown in the performance. What a fantastic way to portray spring, especially for those of us who are still holding out hope that its beauty would soon return to where we live, even if some of the costumes came dangerously close to being extravagant.

InTENse is an all-female performance that takes place at the Aqua Theater. The presentation features acrobatics, diving, and high wire acts. The show that we were supposed to see was called off because of the stormy seas. In its stead was a more secure spectacle.

We tried to acquire reservations, but were unable to do so in time for the upcoming show. We were curious as to how difficult it would be to get into any of the concerts when the ship was at its maximum capacity, considering that our ship was only around 70% full when we set sail.

There are musicians playing music in various locations over the ship. We had a good time seeing the performers at the Schooner Bar, which was close to our cabin.

Throughout the day, there will be a variety of activities available for guests to participate in, including karaoke, trivia, and many others. We are normally major fans of trivia, but the one session we attended was particularly challenging because some of the other participants were looking up answers on their cell phones. All of this was done for a key chain prize.

Activities Available Outside on the Wonder of the Seas

The UltimateAbyss, which is a 10-story water slide, the FlowRider, which is a surfing simulator, mini-golf, a brand new kids’ play area called Wonder Playscape, a basketball court, zipline, pool areas, and Perfect Storm water slides are all included in the outdoor entertainment options.

A sizable casino that has both slot machines and table games can be found on Deck 4. The smoking area is quite spacious and, as could be expected, quite smoke-filled. In order to get to the front entertainment sections from the dining area, you will need to go through this point.

The Ports That We Called at

Labadee, Haiti

In each of the ports, we stopped for a period of time. Labadee, Haiti, a destination exclusive to Royal Caribbean, was our very first port of call. While taking in the scenery, we went for a walk across the beach region.

Cabanas are available for rent here, and there are also designated play areas and activities for children. Both a roller coaster and a zip line are extremely popular attractions. There are various distinct beachfront locations.

There is access to both food and drink. The neighbourhood hosts a market where local artisans sell their wares, and the proprietors of the surrounding shops encourage customers to take a look around their establishments.

There is a lengthier walk to get to the beach area, however the ship offered a water taxi service that could take passengers to one of the beach sections. Trams are another kind of transportation, and they run between the various beach locations and activities.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

We took a leisurely stroll through Old San Juan before making our way to El Morro Fort, which was one of the many times we had been to San Juan in the past. The temperature was high, but there was a brisk breeze blowing.

While we watched the children fly their kites, we made ourselves comfortable on the ground and took advantage of the cool and delicious air.

Nassau, Bahamas

Another place that we have been to quite a few times is Nassau; however, my husband has never been to the Queen’s Walkway before. We made our way to the beginning of the race near the hospital and took advantage of the shady and cool environment there.

Ideal for ascending all sixty-four of the stairs to the top.

A Day Spent to Perfection at CocoCay

Since neither of us had been to Perfect Day at CocoCay before, we felt it was necessary to go there. Before beginning our tour of the island, we stopped at one of the many food shacks to eat a delicious burger.

Different communities can be found on Perfect Day, much like there are on a ship. We came to the conclusion that Chill Island was quite appealing to us. A greater number of lively beaches and swimming pools may be found dispersed around the island.

There are many different areas that are appropriate for children, in addition to activities such as a zip line and a hot air balloon.

At each of the distinct beach sections, guests can make a reservation to stay in one of several different types of cabanas. The private Coco Beach Club features accommodations in the form of over-water bungalows. At Perfect Day, the amount of money you spend is totally up to you and can range from quite a bit to absolutely nothing at all.

Disembarkation Day

On this particular morning, we came to the conclusion that we would give the main dining room’s breakfast a shot. We arrived precisely at the start of business. Much though we were seated right away, it took a while for us to make our order, and it took even longer before our food was brought out.

After placing our order 30 minutes later, we were at last given part of the food that we had requested. Because we were running late for our shuttle to the airport, our complete order was never delivered, but we ate whatever we could get our hands on anyhow.

Conclusions and Reflections on the Wonder of the Seas

When you set sail on the largest cruise ship in the world, you can rest assured that there is something for each and every passenger. The Wonder of the Seas is geared on accommodating families. The best indication I could give for the popularity of those would be the fact that I overheard young children saying their parents on multiple occasions that they wanted to go back to the kids club.

I had the good fortune to have previously travelled on ships of the Oasis Class, and as a result, I was able to get a head start on exploration and was familiar with how to navigate the ship. People who have never been here before might feel overpowered by the sheer number of food and entertainment options.

Robert, my spouse, is an example of the second type of person. The craftsmanship and ingenuity that went into the ship’s design astounded him. He was the one who found the walking pathway, and along the way, he spotted secluded nooks with beautiful open views.

The artwork that was displayed in the stairwells enticed us to investigate the area more. It was a convenient reason to halt when climbing the stairs, and it didn’t give the impression that we did so because we were out of shape when we did so.

Are you looking for some peace and quiet? One of the few places on the ship where we could get some peace and quiet was on our balcony. These nooks on Deck 5’s walking track provide some much-needed relief from the surrounding commotion.

Even one of our favourite spots, Central Park, had echoes of the noise coming from the outdoor movie screen located several decks above.

We noted that passengers were having a good time wherever we went on the ship, whether they were taking part in the ship’s regular activities, watching a show, or relaxing by the pool. And what else could possibly be more important? We really hope that this review of the Wonder of the Seas will be helpful to you when you are planning your next (or first!) cruise vacation.