Some people get the wrong idea when they hear that Wonder of the Seas is the biggest ship in the world. At 18 decks tall and six times larger than the Titanic, the ship able to host more that 6,000 guests at a time might sound overwhelming.
But Wonder is really a ship full of neighborhoods with options that cater to every possible taste. It’s not really daunting at all and in fact, you can find as much personal service and more choices for action or chilling than on any ship afloat once you discover them.
In a week on board, there’s probably no way to experience everything on Royal Caribbean’s latest Wonder, but here are some suggestions for discovering options others might not discover that set this ship apart from even its fleet mates.
1) Club-like alternatives for meals
The Solariums on other Oasis-class ships features open sun decks, but on Wonder, which was originally designed for the cooler climates of Asia, the deck is covered with a translucent dome and the dining area that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner has a very intimate club-like feel. It’s a great alternative to Windjammer, Wonder’s vast buffet food court or the main dining rooms and it offers wraparound sea views. The service is very personal and you can even reserve tables that feature dramatic wicker chairs for your group .
Another option few people discover is that on sea days, the cozy Johnny Rockets on the Boardwalk which charges for lunch or dinner offers up a complimentary breakfast featuring their signature breakfast sandwiches, fried or scrambled eggs, pancakes, French toast or omelettes.
2) Unique Southern hospitality at the Mason Jar
New on Wonder is the Mason Jar alternative restaurant. You can sit down to a comfort-food meal of things like fried chicken, barbecue ribs and brisket that they claim are as good as your mee-maw might have made if you grew up in Dixie. Meals come with cornbread and biscuits and signature drinks are served, as you’d expect, from Mason jars. A live band plays country classics after eight, so if you plan to have a quiet conversation with your ribs, plan to dine earlier. The charge at the specialty restaurant for brunch is $24.99 and dinner $39.99.
Alternatively, you can do a tasting of menu items and listen to the music on a late night visit after 9 p.m. Prices range from $3 to $9 for items like crab beignets, fried green tomatoes or a crispy chicken sandwich but the charge is waived if you have a Royal Caribbean specialty dining package. Either way, because a lot of people want to try out the newest restaurant in the fleet, y’all might be wise to make reservations for either dining or late nighting.
Ice dancers scoring a perfect 10 in 365 The Seasons ice show–Photo by Wallace Immen
3) Plan your meals around the entertainment
The aqua show and ice shows on board Wonder are unique and definitely must dos. But it can mean dining at six to finish early enough to catch the breathtaking aerial and synchronized swim show that happens on in the AquaTheatre on the Boardwalk or the world-class skating extravaganza 365 The Seasons on the ice rink at Studio B. The amazing ice show uses sound and light to bring the troupe of international skating stars doing spins and lifts and even summersaults through the seasons.
Another must-do is the comedy club known as The Attic, which has an early show at 8:15 that’s just as funny as the after midnight R-rated one. And, as you should have learned by now, avoid the front row if you don’t want to become part of the show.
One disappointment on Wonder is that there’s no full-length Broadway-style show in the Royal Theater like there are on other Oasis -class ships, which feature full length productions of shows like Hairspray or Grease. Instead, there’s a very conventional singing and dancing show with a selection of pop hits that doesn’t seem to have a consistent theme and doesn’t make use of the state of the art digital effects the Royal Theater’s stage is capable of creating.
A more electrifying show in the Theater called Tap Factory is more of a must-see. It features a cast of incredibly acrobatic dancers on an industrial-style set, turning the theater stage into a whirl of sound and percussive energy.
4) Bars at the beginning of the universe
Little known fact: You don’t need a dining reservation to have a drink at the bars of specialty restaurants. Wonderland has a menu of wonderful concoctions that may include smoke. Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen includes a wine bar. Hooked seafood restaurant has a panoramic sunset view and the afore-mentioned Mason Jar has a lounge area with a menu that includes Bourbon based libations like the PB&J Old Fashioned and a martini garnished with a rasher of bacon. You’ve got to taste them to believe them.
And the Rising Tide bar is the most incredible taxi to get you from the Promenade to restaurants in the Central Park zone. Order up a drink when you get in on the Promenade and by the time you’ve finished you can just stroll in for your reservations at Chops Grille or 150 Central Park.
5) It’s a kids’—and teens–world after all
Royal Caribbean loves families and one of the signature suites even features a slide between levels. On deck there is the largest Splashaway Bay complex on any Royal Caribbean ship, But there are also enhanced dedicated indoor activity zones for all ages, including infants as young as six months (yes, there is a crib room). The age specific spaces encourage kids to find their own fun rather than being regimented into group activities and may include arts and crafts dodge ball or foosball. For teenagers,13-17 an exclusive outdoor deck near the water slides called Social 100 features a private hot tub, non-alcoholic bar, selfie area, games, and lots of lounge chairs.
And another space that gets everyone involved is, Spotlight Karaoke, an all- new venue where budding stars of all ages can grab a mic and choose a tune to sing along with and get the audience involved. Special times are set for family karaoke, kids and teens. The space is a test on Wonder of the Seas, but it’s proving so popular, you can expect similar Karaoke spaces to appear on other Oasis-class ships in the future.
6) Ultimate selfie spots
Want a shot of you free-floating in the sea? The glass-walled infinity whirlpool in the Solarium literally hangs over the forward edge of the starboard side of the ship 15 decks above the ocean for a thrilling view and a selfie of standing in space. Turning on the bubbles is refreshing, but it somewhat spoils the effect.
The front corners of the Solarium also feature bridge wings that extend over the edge of the ship and offer unobstructed views that you can’t find elsewhere on the bow. However, the doors may be locked on windy days.
7) Flavorful options for coffee time
Sure, if you’re a devotee of Starbucks exotic drinks, you can stand in the predictable line at their kiosk to place your order for a grande latte or flavored drink with your name written on the cup and pay six dollars for the privilege. But you can get the same coffee and frappuccinos made by the masterful barista at the nearby 24-hour a day Café Promenade and they’re included in the beverage package. They even come in a we proudly serve Starbucks cup. As a bonus, there’s a wide selection of pastries and snacks and tables where you can relax rather than having to balance everything in the middle of the busy promenade. And, they do make tasty complimentary cappuccinos in the Solarium as well.
8) The lucky Golden Room
As if there aren’t enough options for gambling in Wonder’s sprawling casino, there’s a private room where the ambience is quieter and stakes can be higher. The Oriental-inspired Golden Room was added to the design of Wonder of the Seas because it was originally destined to cruise from China. Because it’s more like a private salon than the casino, its tables and slots see steady business.
9) There’s dancing and there’s also Hush!
The sail-away party on deck is one of the loudest and most enthusiastic I’ve ever attended and, in the evening, I guarantee you’ll want to get up and salsa at Boleros, a club with a big band playing Latin beats.
But have you ever wished the DJ would turn down the volume so your ears don’t ring when all you want is to groove to the music? Personal headphones to the rescue. This is a disco where you choose the music you hear and the volume in the wireless headphones they provide. The room itself is whisper quiet so if you want, you can slip off the headsets and have a conversation along with a drink. It’s a late-night space with an ocean view in the Solarium after 11 p.m.
10) Thrills and chills at Vitality Spa
While you may not have booked this high energy ship where you can walk a city block with ease for a workout or a day at the spa, there are vast options in the multi-deck Vitality Spa and Fitness zone that are perfect for recovering from all the indulgence you’re doing while on board.
It starts with a smoothie bar where you can custom order fresh-squeezed juices or blends of fresh fruits and veggies to your taste. There are also protein shakes and complimentary small nibbles like granola bars and fruit cups. Beverages at Vitality Cafe come at an extra cost but are included in Royal Caribbean’s beverage packages, with the exception of protein powder.
There’s an entire floor of treatment rooms for everything from massages to facials and even a Smile Spa offering teeth whitening.
The seemingly endless gym features dozens of Technogym treadmills and elliptical machines with ocean views and there are banks of Peloton cycles you can use if you have a personal subscription or you can get a complimentary trial membership to check out their features.
There’s also a thrill attraction in the spa that matches the rush you can get in the free-fall in the Ultimate Abyss slide on deck 16 or the zip line 10-stories high over the Boardwalk. It’s descending a hidden spiral stairway to the thermal suite in the Vitality Spa and you can experience the thrill of walking on air without gear or wait times. Made entirely of glass, the staircase winds two levels down with nothing seemingly beneath your feet.
Once you’re in the spa level with a day pass, there’s an opulent Roman-style pool, dry heat, cool down and aroma therapy rooms.
11) A bonus: The Suite Neighborhood
A new, eighth neighborhood on Wonder offers guests in Royal Suite Class decks a private Suite Sun Deck with a plunge pool, a Suite Lounge and an exclusive restaurant, Coastal Kitchen. The ship has the grandest Ultimate Family Suite yet, designed for a family of up to 10, complete with an in-suite slide between its two stories, a cinema and karaoke area and table tennis room as well as lots of lounging options.
And we’ve only mentioned a few of the new highlights of this ship that’s really a floating city full of options.
Wonder is doing seven-night cruises from Barcelona and Rome visiting ports for Florence, Naples and Capri, Italy; Provence, France; and Malaga, Spain. In November, Wonder returns to America to call Port Canaveral its home and sail the Caribbean and The Bahamas, including Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Story by Wallace Immen, Executive Editor, The Cruisington Times
1 Trackback / Pingback
Comments are closed.