Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas Review (2024)

On March 4, 2022, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Wonder of the Seas took its maiden voyage, and we were on board to check out all of the action on what was the largest ship in the world (it has since been surpassed by the Icon of the Seas.

This ship, the fifth of the Oasis class ships, can accommodate up to 6,988 passengers and has a gross tonnage of 236,857, with 18 decks. The Wonder of the Seas is gigantic and can keep you and your family occupied for the entire sailing.

Do you want to zip line at sea? Watch high divers jump from the top of the ship into a pool in the aqua theater? Ride a life-sized carousel or sit in Central Park listening to jazz? All of this and much more are available to guests sailing on this brand-new ship.

Our seven-day sailing visited Labadee, Haiti, San Juan Puerto Rico (where we had a great time exploring Old Town San Juan), Nassau Bahamas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Disclosure: We received a complimentary media sailing on the Wonder of the Seas. All opinions are my own. I’ve also paid my own way on Royal Caribbean in the past and have been on other press trips. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us.

Review of Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas – the World’s Largest Cruise Ship

Check out prices and itineraries on the Wonder of the Seas here.

Neighborhoods on Wonder of the Seas

Like the other Oasis-class ships, Wonder of the Seas has separate neighborhood areas for entertainment and activities. However, this ship now offers an eighth neighborhood. The new Suite Neighborhood, located on the top decks of the ship, is where you’ll find the Royal suite class, as well as a combined area with the suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen (the dedicated restaurant exclusively for suite guests).

A beautiful suite sun deck area offers a bar, sun chairs, as well as an infinity plunge pool with in-water pool loungers. In addition, the suite neighborhood offers the Ultimate Family Suite. This huge suite includes two stories of fun (including game tables, an in-suite slide, and a balcony hot tub) and guests have access to the most luxurious amenities on site.

Other neighborhoods on the Wonder of the Seas include the Boardwalk, offering a full carousel, aqua theater, Sugar Beach candy shop, kids’ shop, Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, Johnny Rockets, and Boardwalk Dog House.

Central Park is my favorite area on the ship. This peaceful atrium offers trees and plants, as well as shops and restaurants including Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, and Park Cafe. There’s also the Rising Tide Bar, which moves up and down from the Royal Promenade to the Central Park neighborhood every 30 minutes.

The Entertainment Place, located on deck 4, is where you will find many of the entertainment venues on the ship. These include Studio B, the Attic, Casino Royal and Card Room, and the Royal Theater.

Traveling with kids? They’ll want to visit the Youth Zone. This area offers a Royal Escape Room (which wasn’t yet open on our sailing) and the Adventure Ocean Kids Club area. Within this space, you’ll find the AO Kids, Babies, and Junior’s spaces, the play space, the workshop, and the AO theater.

The Royal Promenade is the central area of the ship. On the Wonder of the Sea, there are several shops (including the main merchandise shop), Sorrento’s pizza, Boleros, the Bionic Bar, Guest Services, the Voom internet help desk, the shore excursion desk, Spotlight Karaoke, Starbucks, and Cafe Promenade.

Looking to relax or work out on your trip? The Vitality Spa and Fitness Center on the Wonder of the Seas is huge, and also offers the Vitality Cafe with fresh juices and smoothies.

Treatments at the Vitality Spa include salon and nail services as well as massages, spa treatments, a thermal spa, and more. The fitness center is huge with loads of equipment including several Peloton bikes.

The Sports Zone is one of the more impressive areas on the ship. There are so many exciting activities including sports courts (for tennis, basketball, volleyball, and more), ping-pong tables, a zip line, mini golf, the Ultimate Abyss slides, a FlowRider, and the Wonder Playscape (a splash area for younger kids). I also saw quite a few Pickleball players enjoying the courts.

Activities on The Wonder of the Seas

In addition to the activities located in the various neighborhoods on the Wonder of the Seas, there are so many other things to do – even when you are at sea. These include scheduled activities and events, like Captain’s Corner (Q&A with the ship’s captain), karaoke, trivia, game shows, spa seminars, art auctions, casino activities, and Bingo. A listing of these events, including their location and times, is located in the Royal Caribbean app and the daily Cruise Compass.

Laser Tag is offered at scheduled times in the Studio B venue. That venue, home of the ice show, also hosts open ice skating hours throughout the sailing. Ice skates are available to borrow, so you won’t have to worry about packing your own.

There are several pools on the main pool deck. All have in-water loungers. On one of our at-sea days, I enjoyed sitting in one of these loungers as I read a book. There are also several hot tubs and ample seating around the pools – both with and without shade.

During the day, there is so much entertainment, including live bands, DJs, and a giant movie screen. Looking for a treat? Soft-served ice cream is available at Sprinkles, right near the pools.

Want more thrills? Splashaway Bay, a kids’ splash area, is also located on the pool deck and offers small slides and splash zones.

There are also the three thrill waterslides of the Perfect Storm. There are also two climbing walls located one level above the Boardwalk. You also won’t want to miss the Ultimate Abyss – a dry slide that goes from the sports deck down to the Boardwalk.

Those 18+ who are looking to relax will want to visit the Solarium. This area offers plunge pools, whirlpools, lounge chairs, and a bar in a beautifully covered, climate-controlled area. The Solarium was my favorite place to sit and relax during our sailing on the Wonder of the Seas.

Teens will be happy to find dedicated spaces for them to enjoy. These include the Social100 and the Patio private spaces.

Restaurants on the Wonder of the Seas

Like the other Royal Caribbean ships, the Wonder of the Seas offers both complimentary and specialty restaurants with loads of dining options. Complimentary restaurants and cafes are included in your cruise fare, while specialty dining locations are offered at an additional fee.

The Main Dining Room is the standard place to enjoy dinner. There are two separate dining times, in addition to My Time dining, where you can visit at any time in a specific window. Reservations for My Time dining can also be made in the app or in the main dining room.

There’s also the Windjammer Cafe, the buffet on the ship. The Wonder of the Seas offers a huge Windjammer, wrapping around a whole section of the ship.

There are loads of seating, including some quieter tables in the center between the two buffet areas. Currently, there are crew members serving buffet items and getting beverages, although I’m not sure if that will change in the future.

Other complimentary venues include the Park Cafe (sandwiches and salads), Sorrento’s Pizza, Cafe Promenade, El Loco Fresh (fresh Mexican food by the Sports Zone), Solarium Bistro, and Boardwalk Dog House (hot dogs on the Boardwalk).

There are numerous specialty dining locations on the ship. These can either be booked and purchased individually or as part of the Unlimited Dining Package. Make your specialty dining reservations as soon as possible, as these do book up.

New on the Wonder of the Seas is the Mason Jar, offering upscale Southern comfort food. The Mason Jar offers brunch and dinner, and we were able to enjoy a delicious brunch on our sailing. We tried the Red Velvet pancakes and deviled eggs, and they were absolutely delicious.

Don’t miss the drinks – which include a PB&J Old Fashioned, which has a miniature peanut butter and jelly sandwich as a garnish. The Mason Jar bar is open to guests without reservations, so if you can’t get in to eat you may still want to stop by for a drink and to enjoy the band. Light bites are also offered at the bar.

We also enjoyed dinner at Wonderland, an innovative and imaginative restaurant that is also offered on the Odyssey of the Seas. Wonderland is an experience, but the food is also delicious. As you enter the restaurant, you’ll be treated to the gorgeous decor and will be handed a blank menu. Use the included paintbrushes and water to reveal the contents of the menu.

Your server will select your starters, but you’ll be able to choose your main entree. I loved my Branzino entree, and would definitely select it again. If you aren’t an adventurous eater, however, I think I’d recommend trying another restaurant.

As a native New Englander, I was especially excited to try Hooked Seafood. This specialty seafood restaurant offers a raw bar at sea, as well as seafood and shellfish specialties (including lobster). My favorite item was the soft-shelled craft, although the lobster was delicious as well.

Other specialty restaurants on the Wonder of the Seas include Chops Grille, 150 Central Park, Izumi, Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade (a la carte), Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar (the wine bar offers a la carte appetizers), Johnny Rockets, Sugar Beach, and Starbucks.

Looking for a drink? The ship is filled with small bars both indoors and outdoors.

These include the Lime and Coconut pool bars, the Trellis Bar, Cantina Fresca (new Mexican bar at El Loco Fresh), the Bionic Bar, the Schooner Bar, Rising Tide, Bionic Bar, Wipeout Bar, Cask and Clipper, and the Vue Bar (a brand-new bar outside Solarium offering gorgeous ocean views). Music Hall is another great bar venue offering live music.

Related: Read our review of Allure of the Seas, sister ship to the Wonder.

Amenities on the Wonder of the Sea

This huge ship offers so many fantastic amenities for families. Some are offered free of charge while others are available for an additional fee.

Voom Internet is offered to suite guests at no charge, and to other guests for a daily fee. There are two options – one with standard internet and one with streaming capabilities. On my Royal Caribbean sailings, I have always been impressed with the quality of the internet – especially at sea.

If you want to use the complimentary Royal Caribbean app, you use the internet for anything on the app without having a Voom package. The app is a great way to stay in touch with everything happening on the ship.

You can also see deck plans, make activity/restaurant reservations, and check your account balance through the app. While there used to be a fee for messaging other passengers on your cruise through the app, that is now free.

There are also several shops on board that offer many different items. In addition to Royal Caribbean-themed merchandise, you’ll find watches, handbags, jewelry, perfume, cosmetics, as well as personal essentials. There are also self-service vending machines offering many items that you may have forgotten at home.

Staterooms on the Wonder of the Seas

During our sailing on the Wonder of the Seas, we had an ocean-view balcony stateroom. I found this room to be really comfortable. It has a king bed, a pull-out sofa, lots of storage space, a bathroom with a shower, a large-screen television, a desk, and a refrigerator.

The balcony is large enough for two chairs and a small table and was the perfect spot to enjoy a cup of coffee while watching the ocean.

These staterooms have a combination of shower gel/shampoo. If you’d prefer to have a separate shampoo and a conditioner, I’d recommend bringing them yourself or purchasing them in the vending machines.

Because of the design of the Oasis Class ships, balcony rooms may have views other than the ocean. The Wonder of the Seas also offers balcony staterooms with a Central Park or Boardwalk view. There are also Ocean View rooms with a porthole window and no balcony.

Suites on the Wonder of the Seas include junior suites, grand suites, and the Ultimate Family Suite. I had the opportunity to tour a grand suite.

It offers a balcony, small seating area, bathroom with double sinks and bathtub, king bed, pull-out couch, coffee maker, and more. I enjoyed the Suite Neighborhood – the proximity to Coastal Kitchen, Suite Lounge, and the Suite Sundeck is a huge benefit.

Entertainment on Wonder of the Seas

Like other Royal Caribbean ships, the Wonder of the Seas has some fantastic entertainment options on the schedule. Some of the permanent entertainment wasn’t 100% complete, but we really enjoyed what we saw.

InTENse is an all-female aqua show held in the Aqua Theater along the Boardwalk. It’s high energy and includes slackline performers, high divers, dancers, and so much more. We got a preview of the show and it was fantastic.

There’s also an ice show, held in Studio B in the Entertainment neighborhood. This show celebrates the four seasons and is excellent. I would see it more than once if it was possible.

Later this year, the Wonder of the Seas will debut Effectors 2, a continuation of the show first shown on the Odyssey of the Seas. In the meantime, there are lots of other entertainment options including Tap Factory, magicians, comedians, and musical acts. We missed seeing the show Voices but heard fantastic things about it.

Crew Members on the Wonder of the Seas

While the food, zip line, shops, water slides, pools, carousel, and other amenities/activities are excellent, the crew members are truly what makes the experience special. During our sailing, we were so impressed with every crew member we encountered. They really looked to make our experience exceptional.

Which activity on the Wonder of the Seas would be your favorite?

Considering a family cruise? Check out our guide to family cruising, with posts about popular cruise terminals, cruise ships, and cruise lines, as well as tips for cruising.