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You are here: Home / Destinations / The Ultimate Guide To Exploring Wonder Of The Seas [Cruise Review]

The Ultimate Guide To Exploring Wonder Of The Seas [Cruise Review]

Published on : April 8, 2022 // Updated on : May 19, 2022 //  by Ciara

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Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission on the purchase at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support friend!

In March 2022, the worlds largest cruise ship — Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas — officially set sail to explore the Eastern Caribbean and their private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. Wonder of the Seas was built in 2022. It’s part of the Oasis-class ships, but has some major upgrades when compared to other Oasis models.

Honestly setting sail on this ginormous ship and watching it debut felt like the equivalent of setting sail on the Titanic. It’s ahead of its time with impressive highlights to peak any cruiser’s interest. To give you some perspective, the ship is 1,188 feet long and 210 feet wide. It can hold up to 6,988 guests and 2,300 crew members — that’s a pretty big ship!

Royal Caribbean invited me on as their guest to take part in this inaugural sailing. Below you’ll find the highlights, low-lights, and the best things to do on the ship for some adventure and wellness. All opinions in this piece are my own.

Table of contents
 [show]
  • Fun facts about Wonder of the Seas
  • What’s on the itinerary of Wonder of the Seas
    • Day 3 – Labadee
    • Day 4 – Puerto Rico
    • Day 6 & 7 — Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay
  • Highlights of cruising on Wonder of the Seas
  • The food aboard Wonder of the Seas is insanely delicious
    • Where to grab breakfast
    • Where to grab lunch on Wonder of the Seas
    • Where to grab dinner
  • The entertainment on Wonder of the Seas is fire
    • Zip lining over the boardwalk
    • Get blow away by the live performances and clubs
    • Scale the rock climbing wall
    • Battle your way through Laser tag
    • Slide down the longest dry slide at sea
    • Ride the waves on the Flo Rider
    • Replenish at the Vitality Spa
  • Low lights of cruising on the Wonder of the Seas
  • More wellness travel resources

Fun facts about Wonder of the Seas

a view of the top deck on Wonder of the Seas

With a ship this big, there’s bound to be adventure waiting around every turn. My mom and I had a blast exploring the features of this ship and the various neighborhoods. Below are some of the unique aspects and random facts to learn more about the ship.

  • Cruising speed is 22 knots
  • The ship uses 6 diesel engines
  • The Ultimate Family Suite — a crazy big suite that’s capable of holding ten people and the first of its kind on Royal Caribbean ships
  • Zip-lining — its about 10 decks up and you zip line right over a carousel and Johnny Rockets located on the boardwalk
  • The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar — the newest restaurant aboard the ship, dishing out southern cuisine, cute rustic vibes and fancy drinks
  • Suite Neighborhoods — this ship has a new eighth neighborhood that has a private suite and sun deck for Royal Suite Class guests
  • The Vue Bar — a beautiful outdoor bar with panoramic views of the sea
  • Landfill free (no plastic straws, plastic condiments, etc.)
  • Wastewater purification system that treats 570,000 gallons of water daily

What’s on the itinerary of Wonder of the Seas

a view of the beach in Labadee, Haiti
A cute hiking path which leads to the beach in Labadee, Haiti.

The cruise itself was 8 days of pure bliss exploring the Caribbean. Before I dive into the highlights of the ship itself, I want to shine a little light on the itinerary. The itinerary was a big highlight for my mom and I. Exploring new destinations, slow traveling and chatting with locals is a big reason I love to travel. Slow traveling connects you deeper to the local community, yourself and is very sustainable.

According to Jay Schneider, the chief product innovation officer of Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean is working to be as sustainable as possible. Schneider said during a press briefing on the ship, “Every one of our new ships get more and more efficient.” He continued to share, we focus on three things: energy management (heavy fuel usage and solar power), reducing food waste and sourcing locally when they can, and reducing water usage.

Excuse the previous interruption — back to the glorious locations you’ll visit on this cruise!

Starting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida here’s a low down of itinerary:

Day 1 Ship sets sail
Day 2Day at sea
Day 3 Labadee, Haiti
Day 4 San Juan, Puerto Rico
Day 5Day at sea
Day 6 Nassau, Bahamas
Day 7 Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas
Day 8 Disembarkation day

Day 3 – Labadee

A panaromic view of the beach and Wonder of the Seas from the zip line.
On the left you can see the ship from a distance.

Do you love on-shore excursions? Well, Labadee, Haiti by far takes the cake for having the most (and best) paid excursion options for adventurous spirits. Here you can zip line over the ocean on the Dragon’s Breath zip line which is both exhilarating and designed for thrill seekers. I absolutely loved this and highly recommend it!

For even more adventure, hop on the Dragon’s Tail Coaster which is a self-operated roller coaster. While they get you to the top, ultimately, you decide how fast or slow you want to go. This was extremely fun, but if you get dizzy easily maybe hold off, or go at a slower pace.

There’s also a Labadee Historic Walking Tour, a market center, beautiful hiking trails around the area, and beach cabanas for rent. Take pictures at the scenic beach swings, slurp on a Labadoozy, and unwind on the free beach chairs throughout the area.

Looking for more things to do in Labadee? This post — what to do in Labadee — will give you more insights, tips and travel tricks.

Day 4 – Puerto Rico

Me smiling in front of a bright yellow building in Puerto Rico.

Similarly, San Juan was also extremely cool to visit as it’s the third oldest city that was European-established. Here you can take a self-led tour or a paid tour exploring the historic old town and the vibrant city. Personally, my mom and I opted for the self-led route as its pretty easy to navigate the city and see the sites on your own.

What I also loved about this stop is that the ship stopped later in the day and we didn’t have to board till around 8:30 or 9:00 pm. Hands down its an ideal stop for any nighttime enthusiasts as you’ll get to see the city come alive at night. It’s quite spectacular! It reminded me of the endless nights dancing and eating tapas in Barcelona.

Day 6 — Nassau

Views of the chill beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay
Views of the chill beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay

Nassau is gorgeous! The water is clear blue, the food is amazing and the weather is sublime. However, if you’ve cruised with Royal Caribbean or another cruise line to the Nassau, highly recommend exploring the boat more. First off, you’ll have the boat to yourself and they’ll be no lines for the activities like the Flo Rider. After, hop off to grab some lunch in the city devouring Bahamian foods such as sweet maduros, guava duff or johnnycakes.

Day 7 — Perfect Day at CocoCay

a beautiful walking path on Royal Caribbean's private island
The route to the hot air balloon on Royal Caribbean’s private island CocoCay. Imagine the insane views from a birds eye!

There’s so much to explore at CocoCay! In fact, the island itself is split between the chill side, the thrill side, the oasis and the southside (called South Beach). Head over to the chill side for a more relaxing experience or grab a cabana at the Coco Beach Club for an intimate experience. Here you’ll find those gorgeous over-water cabanas available for purchase.

After, explore the thrill side, which has a water park consisting of a wave pool, intense water obstacles, and numerous water slides. One of the water slides — Daredevil’s Peak — is the tallest in North America. On the way to South Beach you’ll find a hot air balloon and another more intimate side of the island.

Highlights of cruising on Wonder of the Seas

a panoramic view of Wonder of the Seas

Below you’ll find the highlights of cruising on this Royal Caribbean ship.

The food aboard Wonder of the Seas is insanely delicious

A photo of the main dining room aboard Wonder of the Seas
Here’s what the main dining room looks like aboard the ship.

Everyone cruises for the food, right? Well, many people do. The combination of food and activities are what makes or breaks a vacation. You’ll be happy to know the food on the ship is not lacking in the quality or quantity!

Aboard there’s a total of 26 dining options, 12 of them are complimentary, and 1 is half complimentary. For instance, Johnny Rockets is free for breakfast, but there’s a charge for any other meal.

If you’re a gluten-free or vegan traveler, here’s a list of restaurants I recommend dining at. Also take a look at this practical guide for cruising with food allergies for more information.

Where to grab breakfast

Some of the breakfast options found on the ship
Some of the breakfast options for brunch at The Mason Jar
  • The Mason Jar Restaurant and Bar. Keep in mind it’s Southern food, so it’s not the most gluten-free friendly. But, the ambiance is unparalleled and the drinks are tasty. They have gluten-free bread and a couple options that may be vegan friendly. (Pssst. If you’re new here, before you judge the photo, know I’m vegan-ish and have a diary allergy… so yes I ate those eggs.)
  • Windjammer. Any fan of Royal Caribbean cruises will tell you how awesome this marketplace is! The food selection is great with a wide-array of choices for different types of eating habits.
  • Starbucks. Great for those early morning starts!
  • The Vitality Spa. Here you’ll find smoothies and freshly pressed juices being served up. Also there’s fruit, muffins, and homemade granola bars. This is a get spot to grab some food to recharge after a sweaty work out.

Where to grab lunch on Wonder of the Seas

The best pizza on aboard Wonder of the Seas is Sorrento's
  • Sorrento’s Pizza. If you’re gluten-free and craving pizza, stop by here to grab a personal pizza. Additionally, the crust is extremely soft, fluffy and you get to tell the chefs exactly what toppings you’d like since yours is custom made!
  • El Loco Fresh. Tacos, burritos, nachos… you name it. This Mexican-inspired eateries is tasty place to grab lunch on the ship and its allergy-friendly too.
  • Chops Grille is another quality restaurant found in the Central Park neighborhood. They serve salmon, steak, and shrimp. There’s not as many vegan options here but they have tasty vegan-friendly sides. Also, there’s only one option for dessert which is for gluten-free and/or vegan travelers. Personally it’s not my favorite since, but if you’re a fan of orange sorbet, give it a whirl.
  • Johnny Rockets. While it’s extra to dine here, they have gluten-free buns and impossible burgers which are pretty tasty.
  • Windjammer.

Where to grab dinner

A sampling of Mediterranean food aboard the ship
gluten-free and vegan spaghetti
  • Solarium. Hands down the best complimentary dining option for vegans and gluten-free folks. The restaurant is quaint and chic with a elegant bird cage type of feel. Solarium offers buffet style Mediterranean food. Think gluten-free falafels, a pasta bar, hummus, vegan baba ganoush, and more.
  • 150 Central Park. While it’s not complimentary, the atmosphere is cozy yet classy and the restaurant is superb. They have cauliflower steaks, meaty steak, and the best dessert on the boat — crisp blackberry sorbet, yum!
  • Chops Grille.
  • Main dining room. They really work with your allergies here and the food is pretty good. If you’re planning on dining here, let them know beforehand because you’ll have more options to choose from since they prep one day in advance.
  • Sorrento’s Pizza.

The entertainment on Wonder of the Seas is fire

a view of the Central Park neighborhood on Wonder of the Seas
Taking a stroll along the Central Park neighborhood, where 150 Central Park, Trellis Bar, Chop’s Grill and more is found.

About 73% of entertainment aboard Wonder of the Seas is free. That’s quite a bit! If I had to choose the must-do activities, here the ones I’d recommend.

Zip lining over the boardwalk

My mom getting prepped for zip lining
the zip lining route
My mom is getting ready to zip line over the boardwalk!

Come ready to zip line over the Boardwalk! It’s about 10 stories high and goes at a moderate pace. If you’re planning on riding, keep in mind you have to be completely dry, wear closed toed shoes, a short sleeve shirt and longer shorts due to the harness.

Get blow away by the live performances and clubs

a photo of the inTENse performance
The inTENse performance at the Aqua Theater

Royal Caribbean never lacks in regards to entertainment. There’s comedy clubs, disco parties, magic shows and more. The ones I recommend every cruiser to attend is the ice skating performance which embodies the changes of the seasons.

Next on the list is the Aqua Theater, which has the deepest pool on the ship. Here you can see the Aqua show called inTENse where you can witness intense high diving, high energy slack lining and much more.

Lastly, the silent disco is a must for any adults craving the nightlife experience on the ship. Switch between the channels and dance the night away.

Scale the rock climbing wall

the rocking climbing wall up close
a zoomed out photo of the climbing wall and slide
Here’s an up-close view of the as I climb to the top and a panned out view. It’s right next to the Aqua Theater and the Abyss.

After the exhilarating experience from zip lining, test your limits by scaling the climbing wall. There’s a couple different routes to climb to reach the top and ring the bell. Personally I loved the wall! At first it didn’t seem scary when climbing, but once I looked down that was it. I made it about two-thirds up, then had to turn back. My advice — don’t look down and keep climbing.

Battle your way through Laser tag

Yup, there’s laser tag on board. It’s not always open, so double check the app to see the available times.

Slide down the longest dry slide at sea

a photo of the back portion of Wonder of the Seas

While I’m not 100% certain if it’s the longest at sea, this slide is quite electrifying with bright lights beaming inside and guiding your way down. It begins at one of the top decks, right across from the zip line and ends at the base of the boardwalk — sliding down 10 decks total! Make sure you’re dry then hop in line to give the slide, The Abyss, a whirl.

Ride the waves on the Flo Rider

Have you surfed at the beach before? Well if giant waves or the fish swimming beneath your feet scare you, the Flo Rider will give you those surfing vibes in a controlled environment. The water pressure is quite high so follow the guides on how to ride these pressured ripples and waves. You may even be standing up by the end!

Replenish at the Vitality Spa

The vitality spa and a freshly squeezed juice
Imagine sipping a carrot, ginger, lemon juice on the way to the spa.

Overall, a trip to the spa is always a highlight. Meant to relax, recharge and boost your wellness, the spa here was a pleasant way to end the week cruising on the Wonder of the Seas. Although it’s not included as a complimentary activity, it’s well worth it if you’re focusing on a more restorative cruise experience.

After you’re done, head to the Vitality Bar to grab a freshly squeezed lemon mint juice.

Low lights of cruising on the Wonder of the Seas

me smiling in a brightly colored stadium with an astronaut holding a heart.
These astronauts with hearts are found all over the ship. Such a beautiful decor that everyone seemed to really enjoy!

While the ship was incredible with a wide variety of activities and food options, there were a couple low lights. For example, I’m a big escape room person, so it was a bummer to find out the escape room wasn’t operating while we were on the boat. It was cool to see where it will be setup, but it’d be nice to experience and actually try to escape.

Besides the room, I did find some of the gluten-free food and vegan options to be occasionally underwhelming. For instance, some eateries served cold, stale gluten-free bread, while the gluten-filled folks had warm buttery garlic bread.

While I can live without bread, this happened a couple times when searching for gluten-free and vegan-ish desserts. Love fruit and veggies, but a nice addition would be adding vegan protein powder to the Vitality Bar or adding some impossible burgers to the free dining options (wink, wink).

Since it’s the inaugural sailing, I’m sure some of these will get fixed on their own like the Escape Room.

Overall, loved cruising on the worlds largest ship — Wonder of the Seas!

Happy cruising!! xx

P.S. Ready to set sail on Wonders of the Seas? Head over to Royal Caribbean site to book an unforgettable experience aboard the world’s largest ship at sea. Better yet, send me an email directly and I’ll send to a my preferred travel agent I use for bookings.

More wellness travel resources

  • How to Spend 24 Hours in Ensenada, Mexico
  • 10 Inspiring Wellness Quotes To Know
  • The Most Beautiful Nature Quotes to Inspire Exploration
  • The Best Hikes in Big Bear, California for Every Season

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I was a guest of Royal Caribbean and was invited onto their inaugural sailing of Wonder of the Seas. All opinions are my own. See their official website for more information on cruising.

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Hey, I’m Ciara – a wellness traveler, outdoor adventurer, and mindful explorer! After being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, I turned to the healing power of travel, nature, nutrition, and self-care to rebuild my life. Now, I help others explore the world with intention, blending wellness, adventure, and mindfulness to unlock their full potential.

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About Me

Hey, I’m Ciara — certified travel coach, outdoor adventurer, and wellness traveler! After being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, I turned to the healing power of travel, nature, and self-care to rebuild my life. Now, I help others explore the world with intention, blending health, adventure, and mindfulness to unlock their full potential.

Want to learn more?

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