By Rod & Melody. We sailed Wonder of the Seas on just her third voyage with paying guests.
Our Sailing: March 18, 2022, a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale with stops including St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay
Wonder of the Seas was brand new when we boarded. She was the fifth Oasis Class ship and the largest cruise ship in the world at the time. The crew was still getting to know the ship and each other, and that showed in a few places. It also meant we got to see her fresh, before the crowds found her.
We bought the Unlimited Dining Package and ranked eight places we ate, plus a few things we'd tell a friend before sailing her. You can watch all our Wonder videos here:
Watch our Wonder of the Seas videos on YouTube
What Wonder Is Now
Wonder of the Seas debuted in March 2022. She was originally planned to sail in Asia, but Royal Caribbean moved her to the United States when cruising restarted there first. That change shows up on board. The Mason Jar was originally planned as a ramen bar.
She now sails from Miami on short 3- and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas. Like the other Oasis Class ships, she's laid out in neighborhoods, including Central Park on deck 8, the Boardwalk at the back of the ship and the Royal Promenade on deck 5. Wonder added an eighth neighborhood, the Suite Neighborhood.
✈ PRO TIP: On a short sailing, plan your one big dinner first. Three or four nights go fast on a ship this size. Book the restaurant that matters most to you before you sail and fill in the rest once you're on board.
Dining: Our Rankings
1. The Mason Jar: Our top pick. It's a Southern restaurant and bar on deck 15 near the Windjammer, with a live country band in the evening. To us landlocked mountain folks, shrimp and grits and chicken pot pie are a treat. On embarkation day they hold an open house with free tastings, which is a much better use of your time than the spa open house.
2. Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar: In Central Park on deck 8, and a great choice for lunch. Get the meat and cheese board, any pizza and a green salad. Save room for the tiramisu.
3. 150 Central Park: A must-eat on any Oasis Class ship. We loved the rosemary rolls, the braised short rib and the lobster thermidor.
4. Playmakers: The sports bar on the Boardwalk, with patio seating that looks at the carousel. Good burgers and a fun place to catch a game.
5. Chops Grille: Usually one of our top two, but not this time. We waited an hour between the appetizer and the entree, and my steak came out overcooked. Give it a chance, since our sailing was very early in the ship's life, and tell us in the comments if it's better now.
6. El Loco Fresh: Free Mexican food on deck 16 near the FlowRider and the Ultimate Abyss, with ocean views. Great for a light lunch.
7. Wonderland: We keep trying it and haven't found the right combination yet. The two-story room over the Boardwalk is fun, but most dishes seem to have tomato in them, and Rod doesn't eat tomatoes.
8. Hooked: A beautiful setting over the Solarium on deck 16, but the bread was dry and my lobster was rubbery. We grabbed a slice at Sorrento's later that night.
✈ PRO TIP: Skip a course at Giovanni's. Order either the pasta or the entree. If you finish and you're still hungry, your waiter will happily bring the one you skipped.
Tell us in the comments: Would you book The Mason Jar or 150 Central Park for your big night on Wonder?
Up on Deck
Wonder has the same big-ship features you'll find across the Oasis Class. The Ultimate Abyss drop slide ends on the Boardwalk. The Wonder Dome, the sports court, the FlowRider and the Wonder Playscape for kids are all at the back of deck 16. The AquaTheater at the back of the ship runs the high-diving show.
✈ PRO TIP: Book shows the day your Cruise Planner opens. The AquaTheater and ice show fill fast, especially on a short sailing with only a couple of nights to choose from.
Our Cabin
We booked a balcony cabin, and the first thing we noticed was the size of the balcony. It was huge. We filmed it as soon as we walked in.
✈ PRO TIP: Compare balcony sizes on the deck plan. Some balconies on Oasis Class ships are much bigger than others in the same category. A few minutes on the deck plan can get you a lot more outdoor space for the same price.
What We Pack for a Wonder Sailing
Magnetic hooks for the steel cabin walls
Reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes for CocoCay
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Before You Sail: Quick Tips
Don't skip the Mason Jar open house on embarkation day.
Don't buy the dining package on board. Watch the Cruise Planner for sales before you sail.
Don't overschedule a 3- or 4-night sailing. Pick two must-dos and let the rest go.
Don't treat CocoCay as a regular port day. The free lagoon and beaches are plenty for most people.
Fun fact to end on: Wonder of the Seas was originally going to be named Melody of the Seas. Maybe next time.
Book a cruise: Compare Wonder of the Seas sailings on Expedia
Upgrade tip: Royal Up: what we won and why we stopped
A smaller ship from Miami: Freedom of the Seas
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