Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas: Ultimate Guide

Wonder of the Seas is the fifth Oasis Class cruise ship from Royal Caribbean.

At 236,857 GT, the new vessel is the largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage, and at 1,188 feet in length, it is also the longest.

Wonder isn’t just a bigger Oasis-class vessel. The new ship brings significant enhancement over previous vessels, including all-new features, activities, and entertainment options not seen on any other Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

If you’re one of the lucky cruisers, who have snagged a spot on this incredible ship, here is everything you need to know about Wonder of the Seas.

Wonder of the Seas Stats

At the time of her maiden voyage, Wonder of the Seas became the largest cruise ship in the world. So, it’s no surprise that the vessel boasts some impressive stats.

The ship boasts:

• Gross tonnage: 236,857 GT
• Length: 1,188 feet
• Width: 210 feet
• Cruising speed: 22 knots
• Staterooms: 2,867
• Passenger capacity: 5,734 (double occupancy) or 6,988 (maximum capacity)
• Crew members: 2,300
• Decks: 16 guest decks and 18 total decks
• Guest elevators: 24
• Power: Four bow thrusters producing 7,500 horsepower each

So, how does Wonder of the Seas compare to the second-largest cruise ship?

The previous record-holder is Wonder’s sister ship, Symphony of the Seas. Symphony measures 228,081 GT, which makes Wonder nearly 8,000 GT larger.

Wonder also has 100 more cabins than Symphony of the Seas and is the first cruise ship longer than the U.S. Nimitz-class aircraft carriers – the largest military ship during Wonder’s debut.

Construction

Royal Caribbean International announced the order of a new Oasis-class cruise ship in 2016, with a planned delivery in early 2021.

Construction on the new vessel went as planned until the Covid-19 pandemic-related pause in cruise ship operations. Delivery of Wonder of the Seas to early 2022 due to the cruise industry pause from 2020 to 2021 and several shipyard delays,

Itineraries for the world’s largest cruise ship became available in early 2021, with eager passengers ready to sail on the new cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean took delivery of Wonder of the Seas in January 2022.

The ship’s maiden voyage is March 2022, from her Port Everglades, Florida, homeport.

What’s New on Wonder of the Seas?

If you’ve sailed on another Royal Caribbean Oasis-class ship, you might wonder what’s new on Wonder of the Seas?

Royal Caribbean has radically redesigned the ship’s top decks and added a new neighborhood.

Here are a few of the new features aboard Wonder of the Seas:

• The new Suite Neighborhood
• The new Mason Jar specialty restaurant
• The Vue, a cantilevered pool bar
• The new Wonder Playscape children’s area. An interactive, open-air kids’ play area with slides, puzzles, games, and an interactive mural.
• Only one FlowRider surf simulator. Other oasis class ships have two

The new Mason Jar specialty restaurant features southern-inspired cuisine focusing on barbecue food, Bayou, and country flare.

The new restaurant offers southern-style comfort food such as Gran’s Fried Chicken and Lobster’ n Crawfish Gumbo. The brunch menu will feature southern-style breakfast favorites, including Sweet-Tooth Cinnamon Rolls and southern Chicken’ n Waffles.

In addition to the menu, the restaurant features live country music and an Instagram-worthy porch swing. If you’re thirsty, you can enjoy spiked peach tea or a decadent shake made with peanut butter, banana, and bourbon.

The new Vue bar is a cantilever, panoramic bar overlooking the main pool deck. During the day, you can sip cocktails while enjoying stunning ocean views. At night, The Vue shines bright with a colorful mosaic light installation.

Lastly, the new Wonder Playscape kid’s area is an outdoor play space that kids are sure to love. The room features tot-friendly climbing walls, slides, games, puzzles, interactive murals, and more.

Eight Distinct Neighborhoods

In addition to the seven distinct neighborhoods featured on previous Oasis-class ships, Wonder of the Seas features a new Suite Neighborhood.

The eight neighborhoods provide a unique experience as you navigate the ship.

Central Park

Central Park is the first living park at sea. It’s home to more than 20,000 plants.

You’ll find great restaurants, boutique shops, and the popular Central Park Cafe here.

During the day, the open-air oasis at sea makes a great spot for travelers to find solace and unwind. The park comes to life at night with live music under the stars.

Boardwalk

The boardwalk neighborhood is always buzzing with activity. The Boardwalk features twin rock climbing walls, a classic hand-carved carousel, and the popular AquaTheater shows.

Pool & Sports Zone

The pool & sports zone is the go-to spot for heart-pounding action.

Guests can hang ten on Royal Caribbean’s signature FlowRider, soak up the sun at the pool deck, soar over the Boardwalk on a 10-deck high zipline, or brave the 10-story plunge on Ultimate Abyss.

Royal Promenade

The Royal Promenade is home to shopping, dining, and entertainment venues.

During the morning, passengers can drop in for a morning coffee. The promenade comes to life at night with dancing, singing, live music, and pop-up performances.

Entertainment Place

As the name suggests, Entertainment Place is where guests can enjoy nighttime entertainment, from headline shows and original productions in the Royal Theater to breathtaking ice-skating performances.

Brave guests take to the stage at Spotlight Karaoke or participate in a live game show.

Vitality Spa & Fitness Center

The dedicated spa and fitness center offers various exercise classes, a full-scale gym, and indulgent spa treatments.

The Vitality Spa & Fitness Center is also home to Vitality Cafe, which serves a menu of light, tasty, and healthy snacks, including smoothies and fresh sandwiches.

Youth Zone

Home to the Adventure Ocean youth program and a nursery for infants and toddlers, the Youth Zone is a favorite among family travelers. This neighborhood is full of innovative common spaces, educational activities, games, and more.

Young adults have a dedicated teen space to hang out and make new friends.

Suite Neighbourhood

Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas is the first Oasis-class ship to feature eight neighborhoods with the Suite Neighborhood.

As the name suggests, this neighborhood is exclusive for suite guests. The zone features a bevy of VIP areas, including a private suite sun deck with a plunge pool, lounge space, and the intimate Coastal Kitchen restaurant.

Cabins and Accommodations

Wonder of the Seas has an impressive 2,867 guest staterooms. Guests can choose from four primary stateroom categories; interior, oceanview, balcony, and suites.

No matter which cabin category you choose, you’ll find a modern interior with spacious accommodations, sleek furnishings, and a muted color palette.

Unlike previous Oasis-class ships, the interior cabins include sitting areas, a welcomed change.

Oceanview staterooms have large bedside windows, and balcony cabins feature floor-to-ceiling windows.

If you’re looking for the best accommodations on Wonder of the Seas, you’ll want to book a stay in one of the suites.

Royal Caribbean’s designed the suites after private-resort accommodations to provide a complete luxury guest experience. The suites are not only luxurious but also incredibly spacious.

Guests who upgrade to Royal Suite Class will receive special perks and benefits. The three tiers of Royal Suite Class are Star Class, Sky Class, and Sea Class.

Each tier in the Royal Suite Class includes perks such as:

• Specialty restaurants included in your dining plan
• Dinner at Coastal Kitchen private restaurant
• Deluxe beverage packages
• Luxury pillow-top mattress
• Luxury bathroom amenities
• Lavazza espresso coffee machine
• Complimentary VOOM internet
• Early seating at entertainment venues
• Suite guest-only sun deck access 
• Complimentary mini-bar
• Laundry service
• Concierge service
• Gratuities included
• Priority departure
• Priority dining reservations
• Suite lounge access
• Luxury bathroom amenities
• And more! 

The Ultimate Family Suite is the standout among the ships suite accommodations. Wonder is the third Royal Caribbean ship to feature the Ultimate Family Suite.

The suite features sleeping accommodations for ten guests and comes with an in-suite cinema, game areas, an in-suite slide, a hot tub, and more.

Complimentary Dining

One of my favorite features aboard Wonder of the Seas is the impressive selection of complimentary restaurants. When you look at the list below, you’ll immediately notice much more complimentary dining options than Royal Caribbean’s older ships.

Included with your base fare, you’ll get access to the following:

• The Main Dining Room
• Windjammer Cafe
• The Solarium Bistro
• Cafe Promenade
• Coastal Kitchen (Suite guests only)
• Park Cafe
• El Loco Fresh
• Vitality Cafe
• Sorrento’s
• Boardwalk Dog House
• And select room service options, 24/7

Wonder of the Seas features long-time passenger favorites like the Windjammer Cafe, Park Cafe, Solarium Bistro, and Cafe Promenade.

The three-story main dining room is where to go for elegant, sit-down meals.

Suite guests will have access to the exclusive Coastal Kitchen, with its California spin on Mediterranian cuisine.

Finally, there’s Sorrento’s pizzeria, El Loco Fresh Mexican restaurant, and Boardwalk Dog House for gourmet hot dogs for kid-friendly casual dining.

Specialty Dining

If you’re a foodie, you may want to consider splurging at one of Wonder’s specialty restaurants. For an extra fee, passengers can enjoy meals at;

• The Mason Jar
• 150 Central Park
• The Chef’s Table
• Chops Grille
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Hooked Seafood
• Izumi
• Playmakers Sports Bar
• Wonderland
• Johnny Rockets
• Starbucks

As previously mentioned, The Mason Jar is the newest restaurant in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. It features southern-inspired staples, including Lobster’ n Crawfish Gumbo, Gran’s Fried Chicken, and Chicken’ n Waffles.

Wonder of the Seas also features Royal Caribbean staples Izumi, Giovanni’s, and Chops Grille, serving Japanese, Italian, and American Steakhouse menus.

The Chef’s Table offers an intimate five-course dining experience that’s well worth the price.

Bars and Lounges

Passengers can enjoy a drink at one of the many bars and lounges around the ship, including:

• Bionic Bar
• Boleros
• Cantina Fresca
• Cask & Clipper
• Rising Tide Bar
• Schooner Bar
• Solarium Bar
• The Attic
• The Lime & Coconut
• Trellis Bar
• The Vue Bar
• Wipeout Bar

If you’ve previously sailed on other Royal Caribbean ships, you’ll recognize many of the bars listed above, such as the Schooner Bar and Solarium Bar.

But, if you haven’t sailed on a newer Royal Caribbean cruise ship, you won’t want to miss the Lime & Coconut. Lime & Coconut is a resort-style, pool-side bar with a rotation of live music and live DJs.

Another fun spot is the Bionic Bar, which features two robotic bartenders mixing and shaking drinks for passengers. This futuristic bar concept looks like something straight out of “The Jetsons” with futuristic decor, hundreds of bottles hanging upside down from the ceiling, and two robotic arms serving beverages.

Entertainment

Wonder of the Seas has so many entertainment choices that you may not be able to experience them all in a single 7-day cruise.

One of the most popular entertainment venues on the ship is the redesigned AquaTheatre. Located at the vessel’s aft in the boardwalk neighborhood, the AquaTheatre is home to breathtaking performances. The shows feature Olympic-level divers, acrobats, dancers, and more. If that’s not enough, the venue also boasts the deepest pool at sea.

The Royal Theatre is home to nightly performances, including Broadway shows, original productions, live game shows, and more. At night skating ice skating rink features a must-see ice show.

The brand new Spotlight Karaoke is your place to be for passengers who want their turn on stage. With thousands of songs to choose from and a dedicated MC, you can take center stage in front of a live audience. For those who want more privacy, you can host your show in one of the private karaoke rooms.

Finally, the ship features an intimate Comedy Club that keeps you laughing through the night. The adult-only venue hosts guest comedians who promise to keep you laughing all night long.

Onboard Activities

Active cruisers will find no shortage of activities in this city at sea. Each day on the ship, you’ll receive the Crown and Anchor News Letter, which outlines the next day’s activities, shows, and lectures.

It’s impossible to get bored with so much to see and do aboard Wonder of the Seas.

There are far too many onboard activities for us to list, but here are some of our favorites:

• Flowrider
• Laser Tag
• 2 Rock Climbing Walls
• Zip Wire
• Mini Golf
• Sport Court
• Studio B Ice Rink
• The Perfect Storm Water Slides
• Ultimate Abyss
• Puzzle Break Centre
• Wonder Playscape Area
• Wonder Dunes Miniature Golf
• Carousel

Kids Clubs

Royal Caribbean is perhaps best known for its impressive variety of amenities for guests of all ages. The cruise line places a heavy emphasis on families and is one of the only cruise lines with a nursery for babies and toddlers.

The kid’s clubs available on Wonder of the Seas are:

• Adventure Ocean Babies 6- 36 months
• Aquanauts 3-5 years
• Explorers 6-8 years
• Voyagers 9-11 years
• Youngers Teens 12-14 years
• Older Teens 15-17 years

Aside from the kid’s clubs, there are plenty of activities for kids and teens around the ship.

Spashaway bay promises hours of fun with its outdoor play area, and the sports deck is a perfect fit for teens.

Wonder of the Seas FAQ

Final Thoughts on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas cruise ship offers the latest evolution of the popular Oasis class of ships. The vessel provides many improvements over her previous sister ships, which prove it is more than just a bigger Oasis-class ship.

Passengers can expect to find updated decor and furnishings, along with all the bells and whistles that a Royal Caribbean cruise is famous for delivering.

The cruise ship’s impressive lineup of entertainment, activities, and bars and lounges provides plenty to do for passengers of all ages and interests. Most importantly, getting bored in this city at sea is nearly impossible.