What I Learned About the Largest Ship In The World, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas

I attended a Royal Caribbean press briefing on the Wonder of the Seas, here’s what I learned!

Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas is the fifth ship in the Oasis class, is the cruise line’s newest vessel, and has claimed the title of the biggest cruise ship in the world!

The Wonder of the Seas will be sailing for two months out of Fort Lauderdale and then debuting in Europe for the summer season and finally returning to Florida calling on her “home port”, Port Canaveral in November.

Here is what I learned about various aspects of this brand new cruise ship from the restaurants, entertainment, how venues changed, deployment itineraries, etc.

Mason Jar - A Brand New Experience

The Wonder of the Seas has a new restaurant debuting called The Mason Jar. Wondering what happened to the other southern style restaurant., PortSide BBQ, which is found on other Oasis-class ships? Well if you enjoy Portside BBQ, don’t fret, it isn’t going away from other ships!

The Mason Jar is a southern-style comfort food restaurant and bar. Designed by Royal Caribbean executives as a southern extension, with really great music!

The musicians are originally from California and are a country, Trio. I will be having brunch here later in the voyage. Stay tuned for my review!

Reservations are required; Brunch is 24.99 and Dinner is 39.99
Late night snacks are also available.
If you can’t secure a reservation, still stop by this brand new venue and enjoy a drink and the bar

A Royal Caribbean employee explained that the Mason Jar is going to be as different to Port Side BBQ as Chops is to 150 Central Park. (Chops and 150 Central Park are both steakhouses found on Royal Caribbean’s fleet.)

The Solarium

Originally, prior to the pandemic, the ship’s deployment schedule was set to have the Wonder debut in China.

Due to the weather and humid climate that you experience while cruising in that region of the world changes needed to be made to the design. The Solarium was built differently from her other sister ships on the Oasis class. These climatization changes were said to have become a new design favorite and we will likely see it on the Oasis VI (We do not know the name yet).

West Coast Operation

Q: When will we see an Oasis-class ship come to the west coast?

A: The hope is to continue to build out the west coast market.

Currently, the Navigator of the Seas is operating out of Los Angeles and guests are loving having this addition on the West Coast.

As described by RC employees, the hope is to get an Oasis-class to the pacific but it is challenging due to the ship’s size they don’t fit through Panama Canal. Would have to go around South America.

Galveston, TX- New Terminal will be able to support Oasis and Quantum Ultra Class. Construction is ongoing currently.

Oasis VI- What we know about the next new Royal Caribbean Cruise ship!

· will be even bigger than Wonder

· will be LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) powered

Fun Facts & How Wonder of the Seas was Westernized

Wonder was originally going to be deployed for China. Adaptations were made to make the ships appealing for the Western market included:

· The Mason Jar was originally going to be a hot pot restaurant.

· The Vue bar- initially was going to be a massive cantilevered hot tub, Oasis VI is still in design phase and may see this.

· Didn't have a Lime & Coconut Bar, she was retrofitted to include it.

· Largest windjammer in the world.

· Purpose-built bigger for the Asian market. But will continue to see an even largest Winderjammer on Oasis VI

· Starbucks had to be retrofitted to be included.

· Signage was a big task to change as well, (Take a look at the back of your Stateroom door, it still has some Mandarin!

How safe cruising is today. After an emotionally charged few years...

Families, and friends coming together thanks to the protocols from the healthy return to service. Guests do not have to wear masks although the crew is still wearing masks as a recommendation not a requirement from CDC.

Environmentally Friendly Vessels

Royal Caribbean is Environmentally focused in a number of ways that keep sustainability and ecosystems top of mind.

· Every new ship becomes more and more efficient

· Fuel usage vs Shore power. Ships have the ability to hook up to shore power so they aren’t burning fuel in ports of call

· Limiting Food waste as much as possible- source locally when they can

· Save the waves program- Encouraging guests to reuse towels if clean etc.

· Oasis 6 will be the first LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) ship, this is the most eco-friendly burning of fuel for cruise ships to date.

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