Sunday, March 31, 2024

Inside Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship Wonder of the Seas

wonder of seas cruise

I never made it to the Vitality spa and fitness center on decks 5 and 6, but it offers all the R&R options, from massages and saunas to yoga classes and treadmill runs. A designated escape room is located next to Adventure Ocean, but it wasn't yet ready on the maiden voyage. Arcade games are available by Playmakers and on Deck 16 next door to El Loco Fresh. And if you like to sing, a dedicated karaoke lounge with both public and private sessions can be found on the Royal Promenade.

The 30 Largest Cruise Ships in the World Ranked - Cruise Critic

The 30 Largest Cruise Ships in the World Ranked.

Posted: Thu, 08 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Wonder of the Seas activities

wonder of seas cruise

Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas is just days away from beginning her first sailing and we have our first look at some areas around the ship. The exact cost of a cruise on Wonder of the Seas will depend on which cabin you book, time of year you sail, and how far in advance you book. No matter which stateroom you choose, all cabins come with a private bathroom, television, vanity/desk area, dresser, couch or lounge chair, outlets, a mini fridge, and storage. I stayed in a balcony room on my first Wonder of the Seas sailing, and it was a great choice. Wonder of the Seas is set to have an Escape Room located next to Adventure Ocean, but it is not currently built.

The Vue Bar

Food items are set out in stations to keep queues to a minimum, and I was pleased with the selection whenever I ate there. Some cruise ships have long and narrow buffets, where you can't see beyond the section you're in, so you have to do laps to make sure you haven't missed anything. The Windjammer is all set up in one open space, so you can see all the stations at once; it feels more open and less claustrophobic this way. Royal Caribbean's main dining room is perfectly fine, but nothing special. You can eat here every night and have an array of options, or you can skip it for the extra-fee specialty restaurants and not feel like you've missed anything.

Wonder of the Seas cabins and suites

Everything I ate was delicious, from some of the best gnocchi I've ever tasted to delightful balls of cheesecake. That said, I appreciated the perks that came with the Grand Suite perhaps more than I did the extra-large room. The sun deck was lovely, and if I hadn't been traveling with a young child who preferred the splash park, I'd have spent all my sun time lounging there. The concierges were a great help getting us show tickets and restaurant reservations, and whisking us off the ship in the easiest debarkation of all time. 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

Suite Neighbourhood

There are also loungers and various seating options near an exclusive plunge pool and bar. From endless onboard thrills to gourmet globetrotting and top-notch shows, Wonder of the Seas® surprises with thrills and wow-worthy experiences at every turn. Like The Perfect Storm℠ waterslide trio and a zip line 10 decks high. And with over 20 mouthwatering dining options, it’s easy to treat yourself to a delicious globetrotting adventure. Plus when it comes to showstopping entertainment, the world’s biggest ship dazzles with shows that transcend air and water. Take a peek at our guides to discover all the adventures that await you onboard Wonder of the Seas®.

It’s always an exciting time in Cape Canaveral, with everything from captivating museums to unforgettable manatee sightings, and world-class golf to out-of-this-world adventure at the Kennedy Space Center. And now, the Space Coast is your launch site for the best family vacation in Orlando — onboard the Wonder of the Seas®. The biggest ship in the world is going even bigger on flavor, with limitless options to satisfy every palette. Claiming the largest ship in the world is nothing new for Royal Caribbean. However, even though building big ships is nothing new for Royal Caribbean, there’s a lot about Wonder of the Seas that’s absolutely brand-new. The boat's inaugural program (March 2022 through January 2023) included the following itineraries (themes, length, call ports), with prices in USD per person (Inside cabin rates with double occupancy).

How much does Wonder of the Seas cost per person?

El Loco Fresh by the minigolf course is a favorite for a quick lunch of tacos and quesadillas. Sorrento's Pizza serves pies all day and night on the Promenade; the pizza is fine but nothing special. The Dog House hands out hot dogs and sausages on the Boardwalk, but we never found them open when we were hungry. Plus, the Adventure Ocean youth facilities are huge, with space for multiple activities to take place at the same time. My daughter is not always a fan of the kids clubs, often because older kids would monopolize the video games or because everyone in the club had to do the same activity without choice.

Teens will get an exclusive space that’s all their own – Social100. Beyond the secret entrance, there’s a hangout spot where it’s always game on with the latest consoles. Plus music to jam out to, films and plenty of comfortable places to kick back with new friends. Everything is a big deal on the boldest and biggest ship in the world, Wonder of the Seas®. This is a larger-than-life, island-hopping adventure with epic thrills for all ages. And everyone savours delicious dining options from homespun Southern classics with a twist to rustic Italian favourites.

wonder of seas cruise

The liner has several promenades, 1x FlowRider, 2x Rock-Climbing Walls, an Ice-Skating Rink, world's largest theatre at sea. The 5700-passenger ship Wonder OTS comprises 8 neighborhoods - Royal Promenade, Central Park, Boardwalk, Entertainment Zone, Sports Zone, Youth complex, Wellness complex, Suite complex. Wonder also has the new RCI "Family Suite" (2-level / on 2 decks), redesigned Boardwalk, several new venues. In mid-September 2021 was announced that the ship's inaugural season will be in the Caribbean and Europe-Mediterranean. The biggest concern I had about Wonder was crowding and getting lost on such a huge trip, but I found my fears to be unwarranted. Sure, you'll find competition for the best dining times and show tickets, but the ship didn't feel more crowded than other big ships, and the neighborhood layout made it easy to find your way around.

Itineraries for the world’s largest cruise ship became available in early 2021, with eager passengers ready to sail on the new cruise ship. Tee off for a game of mini golf unlike anything you've played before – on land or sea, day or night. Immerse yourself in a wild, watery, undersea story where seasnails sport racings stripes, turtles guard the way to winding mazes and a giant octopus rules the course. Wonder of the Seas' waterslides are naturally a big draw for kids (of all ages). The mega-ship also boasts the line's signature FlowRider, a fun surf simulator, plus two large main pools, a third pool away from the main ones, a splash pool for little ones, plus the Solarium's adults-only pool.

Wonder of the Seas has more diverse pool seating compared to other Oasis Class ships. Across from the massive television overlooking the pool are padded theater chairs. These chairs are accessible throughout the day for guests looking to relax or watch a movie. This area is truly designed to be a destination for suite guests to enjoy with less impetus to leave the suite decks.

Unlike the other Oasis-Class ships, Wonder OTS has an additional (8th) neighborhood that houses Suites and Suite-only facilities. The "Suite Class Neighborhood" (located midship-aft on decks 17-18) is designed as an exclusive VIP accommodation complex with its own Restaurant, Bar Lounge, Sundeck. Wonder OTS is now the world's ever-biggest cruise ship by both GT-tonnage/volume and passenger capacity. Passengers can smoke in Wonder of the Seas' casinos (cigarettes only) and designated outdoor areas of the pool decks; there is a separate nonsmoking section of the casino. The Central Park and the Boardwalk neighborhoods, though open to the sky, do not offer smoking areas, nor does the jogging track.

Lastly, the new Wonder Playscape children’s area is an outdoor play space that’s great for the younger travelers in your crew, with tot-friendly climbing walls, games, puzzles, murals and more. Whichever of these four categories that you choose, though, you can be assured of updated, modern, fresh interiors like you definitely won’t find on older cruise ships. Central Park is an outdoor relaxation zone (within the ship's interior) with ~21000 live plants. Signage boards provide detailed info on all Central Park's trees and plants.

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas cruise ship review

wonder of seas cruise

If you're cruising with young kids, you'll quickly get to know the sprawling Adventure Ocean kids club area. It's got a drop-off nursery for babies and toddlers, a family play structure area and a huge youth lounge with art and science areas and lots of game space. Note that the arcade, Social100 teen club and outdoor patio are not in this neighborhood, but on decks 16 and 17. Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions.

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

My daughter would have eaten here daily if I was willing to keep paying for hot dogs and milkshakes. The waiters treated my daughter like a princess, bringing her bowls of berries and making her special chocolate milk. When I asked for something other than Tabasco for my scrambled eggs one morning, they ransacked the galley and brought me both salsa and sambal to spice things up.

Wonder of the Seas Rooms Include Unusual Balconies, Lavish Suites

Wonder of the Seas offers single and solo traveler meet-up groups onboard, LGBTQ+ get-togethers, and sessions for recovering alcoholics (listed on the Cruise Compass as "Friends of Bill W"). Plus dedicated programs that will engage all the senses for babies and younger kids at AO Babies and AO Juniors. Or claim your slice of paradise on the beaches of St. Thomas and take a true culture trip to the two sides of St. Maarten — Dutch and French — on Eastern Caribbean sailings. This stunning open-air venue features slackliners, divers, dancers, acrobats, and more in breathtaking performances and shows. If you’re a suite guest, you’ll have access to the suite guest-only VIP Coastal Kitchen, with its California-meets-Mediterranean cuisine.

RCI-Royal Caribbean's newest ship Utopia OTS to homeport in Port Canaveral/Orlando (Florida)

Still, a Hawaiian shirt is never out of place on a tropical cruise. Wonder of the Seas guests will find an automatic service gratuity of $16 to $18.50 per person per day, depending on your cabin category, added to their onboard account and final bill. You are allowed to adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking, but TPG does not recommend this, even if you are disappointed by the service. Currently, starting prices for windowless inside cabins range from $780 to nearly $1,400 per person, based on double occupancy.

Wonder of the Seas cabins and suites

Like its Oasis-class sisters, it has unique-to-Royal interior-facing rooms with picture windows or balconies that overlook the Boardwalk and Central Park. Every large cruise ship suffers from the problem of overcrowded pools, but even three pools couldn't handle the sea-day crowds on Wonder. If you feel like taking a dip, know that you're going to share the pool with everyone from splashing, often unsupervised kids to adults on their first or fifth drink of the day. I am not the type who can lie in the sun all day – I get bored, dehydrated and sunburned.

Small pools

My $2400 Wonder of the Seas balcony room had more storage and modern touches than I expected - Royal Caribbean Blog

My $2400 Wonder of the Seas balcony room had more storage and modern touches than I expected.

Posted: Mon, 18 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

An evening dress code only applies to Royal Caribbean's main dining room. On most nights, casual dress is acceptable, with jeans and shorts acceptable in the main dining room. (Swimwear, bare feet and tank-type T-shirts are not allowed.) One night on our cruise was supposedly Caribbean-themed, but it wasn't enforced.

Central Park transforms with live music by night, creating a serene ambiance for you to enjoy under the stars. It’s always an exciting time in Cape Canaveral, with everything from captivating museums to unforgettable manatee sightings and world-class golf to out-of-this-world adventure at the Kennedy Space Centre. And now, the Space Coast is your launch site for the best family holiday in Orlando – onboard the Wonder of the Seas®. While the free venues alone offer plenty of choice, including the main dining room, Boardwalk Dog House and The Windjammer, it's worth budgeting for some of the specialty venues. CruiseJohnny1 shares a Wonder of the Seas' Ocean View Balcony cabin, featuring a larger sitting area with extra storage and a sofa bed.

Wonder of the Seas restaurants and bars

So my favorite thing about cruising on the world's largest cruise ship was that there was always something to do. This open-air neighborhood brings a carnival atmosphere with its carousel, hot dog vendor, candy store, sports bar and arcade, and Johnny Rockets outpost. The main attraction is the AquaTheater, which is flanked by two rock climbing walls and the exit of the Ultimate Abyss slide. Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas.

BIG TIME THRILLS

On Wonder of the Seas, she could choose to do art or watch the science experiment if she didn't feel like running around and playing games. Royal Caribbean's interior mall area features shops, bars and food outlets, and is encircled by an outdoor running track. Don't miss the kitschy Bionic Bar, where the bartenders are robots, or the Rising Tide Bar, which travels elevator-style between the Royal Promenade and Central Park above. Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice.

When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Wonder of the Seas has a space ratio of 39. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average. The Wonder of the Seas uses a neighborhood layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded.

wonder of seas cruise

Wonder OTS just slightly exceeds in size the original Oasis-class vessels Oasis OTS (2009) and Allure OTS (2010). The vessel has a building cost of USD 1,35 billion (2019 shiporder rates). Cabins cover a range of price points, but this popular new ship will command a higher price for a weeklong cruises than older ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Every passenger of drinking age can bring a single bottle of wine or Champagne onto Wonder of the Seas at boarding, plus up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas.

In addition to multiple pools and hot tubs, you'll find a splash playground for kids (plus a mini splash area for tykes in diapers) and three waterslides. Adults can bask in pools and hot tubs at the indoor 16-plus solarium. All family-friendly cruise lines have kids clubs and food options for kids, but Royal Caribbean really thought about the arrangement of things on the ship. On the Boardwalk, you can find outdoor seating for Johnny Rockets, Playmakers Sports Bar (which has an extra-fee burger menu) and a complimentary hot dog venue next to the carousel and a climbing structure for kids.

Wonder OTS is a novelty mixture of Oasis-class deck layout and Quantum-class technology and design innovations. If I was feeling active, I could try the zip line or Ultimate Abyss dry slide or take a brisk walk around the promenade. If I wanted to linger with friends over a drink, I could try a different bar every time. Even up on the pool deck, I was always moving back and forth from one of the main pools to the splash playground to the water slides and back.

At 1,188 feet long, 210 feet wide, and with a gross tonnage of 236,857, Wonder of the Seas is a massive vessel. One of the standout features of Wonder of the Seas is its state-of-the-art design. The ship's sleek and modern exterior is sure to turn heads, and the interior is just as impressive. With its spacious and luxurious staterooms, multiple dining options, and exciting onboard activities, Wonder of the Seas is the ultimate floating resort.

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