Introduction: Sailing on the Newest Oasis-Class Ship (April 2023)
We recently took a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, April 9-16, 2023, and it was filled with excitement, entertainment, and delectable dining experiences. This review offers a detailed account of our voyage on the world’s largest cruise ship, highlighting both the ship’s strengths and areas for improvement.
Onboard Shows aboard the Wonder of the Seas: A Blend of Spectacular and Disappointing Performances
We had the opportunity to watch several onboard shows during our cruise, with some exceeding our expectations and others falling short.
InTENse (Aquatheater Show):
This show was a remarkable spectacle, featuring tightrope walking, dancing, and gymnastics. We were particularly impressed by the sound quality in the outdoor aquatheater and the smooth execution of the show. We have embedded a video showcasing a few clips from the performance:
365 – The Seasons On Ice (Ice Show):
Another well-executed show, 365 – The Seasons On Ice featured exciting special effects, including projection on the ice, superior lighting effects, and great sound. We’ve also embedded a video with clips from this show for your enjoyment.
The Effectors II – Crash ‘n’ Burn (Theater Show):
Unfortunately, this show was riddled with technical difficulties, leading us to leave after only 10 minutes of the delayed performance.
Adult Comedy Show:
While the warm-up act could have used more experience, the main comedian was hilarious, especially when impersonating the ship’s captain with a Russian accent.
Dining Onboard the Wonder of the Seas: A Culinary Adventure with Hits and Misses (and Reservation Challenges)
While purchasing the ultimate dining package before our cruise seemed like a great value, we encountered some drawbacks when it came to making reservations. Unlike a-la-carte pre-purchased specialty restaurants, the ultimate dining package did not allow us to pre-select dining dates and times. This led to difficulties in securing reservations at our preferred specialty restaurants. Surprisingly, when we did manage to dine at these establishments, we often found plenty of available seating despite them being “sold out” on the first day when we attempted to schedule everything. With that said, let’s dive into our various dining experiences on the ship.
Windjammer Buffet:
This venue, known for its cheeseburgers, was overcrowded during breakfast, and the unsupervised children and rude teenagers led us to avoid the buffet for the remainder of our trip.
El Loco Fresh Restaurant:
Although this venue offered a decent breakfast and lunch, we were expecting a more refined Mexican food experience, as found on other Royal Caribbean ships.
Johnny Rockets Restaurant:
Consistently good across the fleet, this venue served delicious hamburgers and is famous for it’s milkshakes. We had both breakfast and lunch here during our cruise.
Dog House Hot Dog Stand:
Although we didn’t get a chance to try it, we’ve had positive experiences with this venue on other ships.
Wonderland Restaurant:
An Alice in Wonderland-themed restaurant, Wonderland offered a unique and enjoyable dining experience with specialty foods and drinks.
Chops Grille:
A Royal Caribbean staple, this venue served consistently good steaks. However, our service was slow due to an inexperienced waiter.
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar:
A more casual version of Giovanni’s Table, this venue offered a varied menu, but some dishes, such as the chicken parmesan, were lacking in flavor.
150 Central Park:
An upscale dining venue that didn’t disappoint.
The Mason Jar:
A southern-themed venue with an Indonesian head chef and sous chef. While the atmosphere was great, the food didn’t quite live up to our expectations for authentic southern cooking.
Embarkation and Disembarkation in Port Canaveral aboard the Wonder of the Seas: A Smooth and Efficient Process
Port Canaveral made both the embarkation and disembarkation experiences quick and painless. From dropping off our luggage to boarding the ship, the entire process took less than 20 minutes. Disembarkation was equally smooth, with self-assist departure allowing us to go from our stateroom to our car in just 20 minutes.
Onboard Experience and Atmosphere aboard the Wonder of the Seas: A Ship Filled with Young Passengers
We hadn’t realized that our cruise would coincide with Easter Sunday, which meant a large number of children and teens were onboard. Out of the approximately 5,500 passengers, around 2,400 were under 18. This led to instances of obnoxious horseplay, inappropriate behavior, and an overall unpleasant experience in some areas of the ship, such as minors attempting to enter bars and being loud on elevators.
Onboard Music aboard the Wonder of the Seas: A Mixed Bag of Talent and Genres
Our experience with the onboard music was varied, with some entertainers delivering engaging performances while others didn’t quite meet our expectations.
Schooner Bar:
The entertainer in this venue stuck mainly to Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson tunes, a far cry from the usual piano bar experience. The venue’s location also left much to be desired. We’ve embedded a video of the entertainer’s performance for reference.
The Pub:
The performer in the Pub was engaging and entertaining, singing a wide variety of genres. However, his tendency to play songs at a faster tempo was somewhat off-putting. We’ve included a video showcasing this entertainer as well.
The Mason Jar:
The “Country Boy Trio” performed at this venue, and their genuine passion for music was evident. They frequently invited other entertainers and staff members to join them on stage, creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere.
The Wonder of the Seas Overall Condition and our stateroom: A Well-Designed and Comfortable Experience
We opted for a Central Park view balcony room, which was spacious and well-appointed. The room featured a comfortable bathroom, ample space, and thoughtful details such as USB ports.
As a brand-new ship, the Wonder of the Seas incorporates lessons learned from its Oasis-class predecessors, providing a modern and enjoyable cruising experience.
Additional Thoughts on the Wonder of the Seas: Memorable Moments and Surprising Changes
During our time aboard the Wonder of the Seas, we encountered a few more noteworthy aspects that contributed to our overall experience:
- On other Oasis-class ships, we’ve always enjoyed the Rising Tide Bar for its fun and inviting atmosphere where friends can congregate. However, on this ship, they’ve replaced the group-friendly layout with small end tables and chairs, effectively removing the collaborative aspect. Additionally, the water feature typically found beneath the venue as it rises and lowers has been removed, altering the overall experience.
- The Bionic Bar proved to be an entertaining highlight of our cruise. While it offered a pre-loaded menu of cocktails, we explored the “build your own” option and were pleasantly surprised by the quality and proportion of the drinks.
- Located on deck 4, the casino is mostly separated from the rest of the ship. We’re not sure if it’s because the ship is new, but the cigarette smell wasn’t as overpowering as on other ships. Of course, this positive experience didn’t stop the casino from gladly accepting our losses. Thankfully, we boarded the ship with a strict gambling limit in mind.
Conclusion: A Memorable Journey Aboard the Wonder of the Seas
Despite some areas for improvement, our overall experience aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas was memorable. The ship’s entertainment, dining options, and modern amenities made for an unforgettable voyage. While the presence of a large number of young passengers led to some challenges, the ship’s attentive crew and impressive design more than made up for these drawbacks. Overall, our time on the Wonder of the Seas was filled with a mix of memorable moments and surprising changes, culinary delights, and culinary desires. Been on the Wonder of the Seas yourself? We want to hear what you think!