Wonder of the Seas Review

The Restaurant and Bar Options: There are 21 different dining venues to try on Wonder of the Seas — and nine of them are complimentary. Without paying extra, you can enjoy rotating menus in the Main Dining Room, try a variety of global-style frankfurters at the Boardwalk Dog House, snack on tacos at El Loco Fresh or pizza at Sorrento’s, fill your tray at the Windjammer buffet and more. That said, food quality is generally better in the 12 specialty dining venues, all of which cost extra (with several charging $50 per person or more, although inexpensive options include Johnny Rockets and Playmakers). Favorite specialty venues include 150 Central Park for sophisticated special-occasion dining and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar for family-style pastas. There are more than a dozen bars and lounges on board, including a new venue called Vue Bar, a lofty cantilevered perch with a colorful mosaic canopy located near the adults-only Solarium.

The Cabin Selection: Because Oasis-class ships feature a massive interior cut-out that creates the interior Promenade and the open-air Central Park and Boardwalk neighborhoods, Wonder of the Seas has a wide array of cabin options. There are classic Interior, Oceanview, and Balcony cabins, but also Virtual Balcony Interior Cabins (with a video screen offering live outdoor views), Promenade View Interior Cabins that overlook the ship’s social heart, Studio Single Cabins for solo travelers, Boardwalk and Central Park Balcony Cabins (overlooking these two open-air spaces — but these can be noisy) and Two-Bedroom Family Oceanview Cabins. Basically, there’s something for everyone

Eight Distinct Neighborhoods: All previous Oasis-class ships (Oasis of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, and Symphony of the Seas) feature seven neighborhoods — including the serene and adult-centric Central Park with its 20,000 real plants and inviting specialty restaurants and lounges, and the more energetic Boardwalk that’s home to Playmakers Bar & Arcade and Johnny Rockets retro diner. Wonder added an eighth on decks 17 and 18 dedicated to pampering guests who book its Royal Suite Class. Amenities include a private sundeck with a plunge pool and bar and an exclusive lounge and restaurant, Coastal Kitchen, for those who book higher suite categories. Those include the luxurious Royal Loft Suite, which sleeps up to six and features a massive private balcony; and the one-of-a-kind Ultimate Family Suite, with space for up to 10 guests — and its own kid-friendly slide and in-suite gaming system.

Wild Slides: If adrenaline rushes are your thing, or if you have thrill-seeking tweens and teens, this ship has multiple ways to enjoy some scream therapy. The scariest? Ultimate Abyss, a dry slide (you sit in a sack) located aft on all Oasis-class ships (except Allure of the Seas) that sends riders plunging in corkscrew spirals for 10 terrifying stories. Wet-and-wild options include a trio of twisting waterslides (Typhoon, Cyclone, and Supercell) known collectively as The Perfect Storm. But on Wonder of the Seas, even smaller kids can get in on the fun with the all-new undersea-themed Wonder Playscape, which offers gentler thrills (smaller slides, climbing walls, and puzzles). The ship also features the popular Splashaway Bay aquapark for younger kids.

Kids and Teens Clubs: One of Royal Caribbean’s most family-friendly amenities is its onboard programming for kids and teens. Children age three to 12 can participate in a range of Adventure Ocean games and activities, while teens age 13-17 have the new Social100 hang-out space, gaming lounge, and outdoor patio.

Diving and Ice-Skating Shows: More thrills — as a spectator — await at two Oasis-class entertainment spaces that are included in the cruise fare: The massive AquaTheater, where high-divers perform aerial acrobatics as they plunge from 30-foot platforms into the deepest pool at sea, and Studio B, where professional skaters execute daring jumps and lifts in elaborately choreographed ice shows. 

Active Families and Couples of All Ages: If you and your family have energy to burn, Wonder of the Seas is an ocean-going playground without limits. Activities range from swimming and splashing (in the main pools or the adults-only Solarium) to taking dance classes, joining trivia contests, and trying simulated surfing. Just expect a lot of kids, especially during summer sailings and winter holiday periods.

It’s a Lot of Ship: In order to love Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships, it helps if you’re a theme-park enthusiast who isn’t bothered by crowds. The vibe is unapologetically lively, and you’ll be sharing Wonder of the Seas’ 18 decks and 24 elevators with more than 5,700 other passengers at double occupancy and as many as 7,084 at full capacity. Competition can be fierce when vying for pool loungers. The good news? You’ll definitely get in at least 10,000 steps on most days just making your way around the ship.