First look at Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas: What I like, don't like and can't find on the world's largest cruise ship
For the next week, The Points Guy is sailing on the world's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's 6,988-passenger Wonder of the Seas. The vessel, which is sailing at about 60% capacity with 4,200 cruisers, feels largely familiar but with a few buzzworthy tweaks and enough activities to keep even the most rambunctious cruisers busy.
I'm bringing you a first look at the new additions and how they stack up, along with a shoutout to some of the elements that are notably missing from this Oasis-class iteration.
New hits
The Mason Jar restaurant
The Mason Jar is Royal Caribbean's brand-new, for-a-fee take on Southern cuisine. Found on Deck 15 starboard, near the entrance to the Windjammer buffet, the eatery offers both brunch ($24.99) and dinner ($34.99). I dined there for brunch and was able to choose from a selection of menu options that included chicken and waffles, stuffed French toast, shrimp po'boys with fries, overnight oats and other items.
My recommendations include the massive cinnamon roll with frosting, the Nashville hot chicken and the red velvet pancakes. The dinner menu is similar, but it also includes barbecue options.
If you'd like a cocktail with your meal, try the Peanut Butter and Jelly Old Fashioned, which is peanut butter whiskey, bourbon, strawberry jelly and walnut bitters garnished with mini PB&J sandwiches; the No Joke, Smoke & Coke, which is a literal smoke show featuring bourbon and Coke; or, for anyone in the mood for something sweet, the Southern Belle, mixing bourbon, mint, lemon juice and blueberries with a dash of club soda.
Related: 5 things I love about Royal Caribbean’s new suite neighborhood – and 3 that need work
Starbucks at Cafe Promenade
As is the case on many of Royal Caribbean's newest ships, there's a stand-alone Starbucks kiosk on the Royal Promenade. Oddly, Cafe Promenade -- which used to be known for its free drip coffee and non-Starbucks specialty coffees -- now carries Starbucks at its Deck 5 midship location on the port side.
At first, I was annoyed by the change, given the prices, but the good news is that Starbucks drinks from Cafe Promenade are covered by beverage packages that include coffee drinks.
'365' ice show
Ice shows are nothing new to Royal Caribbean, which houses them in its Studio B ice rink on Deck 4, midship. But the new show on Wonder of the Seas, titled "365," is absolutely breathtaking.
In what seems to be a loose progression through the four seasons, ice skaters perform group and partner numbers to songs from artists that run the gamut from BTS to AC/DC. It made me scratch my head at times, but somehow it works.
The costumes can't help but grab attention, too. Sometimes they're a combination of rock opera and neon steampunk. At others, they mix floral '70s leisure suits with emoji masks. It's bizarre and wonderful, and when they add in aerial acrobatics, flips and even fake snow, it leaves cruisers not knowing where to look next.
The kicker? The entire show happens without the need for specialists to work the lighting. The skaters' costumes contain beacons that allow automated lighting to follow them around as they skate. Mind blown.
Social 100 Patio
A complement to the cavernous Social 100 teen area on Wonder of the Seas, the Social 100 Patio is a dedicated outdoor area for passengers ages 13 to 17. It's found on Deck 17 forward on the port side, and it features alcoves with beanbag chair seating, a giant chessboard and even a spot for selfies.
A precursor to this improved version debuted on sister ship Oasis of the Seas several years ago when part of the teen club was sacrificed to make room for Portside BBQ, an outdoor barbecue restaurant. The alfresco teen area was added to make up for the decreased indoor space.
On Wonder of the Seas, the indoor teen area, Social 100, which is one deck below, gives teens a come-and-go area to hang. It's equipped with snack machines, TVs with video games and plenty of seating to just chill.
Needs improvement
Wonder Playscape
One of the first-in-fleet features on Wonder of the Seas is Wonder Playscape, an outdoor play area with climbing structures, slides, a lookout that faces the ship's wake and a lower area with places to hide and games to play.
Because the space is located on Deck 16 aft on the starboard side, it can be a bit windy on sea days. The signage says it's intended for children as old as 12, but the 8-year-old in my travel party was bored with it in about five minutes. It's likely great for younger kids, though; perhaps the target age just needs to be adjusted.
Wonder Dunes
Wonder Dunes is the ship's miniature golf course on Deck 16 aft on the starboard side. To be fair, it's one of the most elaborate mini-golf courses I've seen on a ship. However, its purpose wasn't immediately clear to me nor to one of my adult travel companions. The aforementioned 8-year-old had to tell us it was minigolf.
Part of the problem is that the greens aren't green; they are multicolored. Another issue is that Dunes is right next to the Wonder Playscape, which means that confused children were running between slides on the Playscape and obstacles on the golf course, thinking they were climbing structures. (And equally confused parents were allowing them to do so.)
The Vue Bar
Another new addition on Wonder of the Seas is The Vue Bar on Deck 15 forward, port side. It's a lovely and fairly intimate setup, and it wasn't crowded when I visited. However, because of its location near the front of the ship, it was extremely windy — so much so that the menus were blowing over.
It also doesn't have a dedicated menu. Instead, it shares one with the two Lime and Coconut Bars on board. Mind you, the drinks are super tasty, but I thought maybe since it's a new bar concept, the options would be unique.
What's missing
A Broadway show
For years, Royal Caribbean has boasted performances of big-name Broadway shows — "Saturday Night Fever," "Cats," "Mamma Mia!," "Hairspray" and others — on its ships. As a Broadway buff, I'm disappointed that there isn't one on Wonder of the Seas.
But the vessel does have other stellar shows, including the "365" ice show, comedy bits, song-and-dance revues and "Effectors 2," which is scheduled to start in July and feature choreographed drones.
Portside BBQ
With the rollout of Mason Jar, Royal Caribbean did not add Portside BBQ to Wonder of the Seas' repertoire of onboard eateries. Instead, passengers can opt to have dinner at Mason Jar for their barbecue fix.
The downside? Portside BBQ (found on Oasis of the Seas) charges $7.99 for a choice of protein (turkey, chicken wings, pulled pork or brisket) with two sides and dessert. At $34.99, dinner at Mason Jar is more than four times the price.
A second FlowRider
On other Oasis-class vessels, there are two FlowRider surf simulators. On Wonder of the Seas, there's only one; the second has been replaced by the Wonder Playscape.
To be frank, I sailed Oasis of the Seas several times and never saw enough demand for both FlowRiders to be operating at the same time. Removing one of them for the latest vessel was a smart decision.
Escape room
A recent trend across the cruise industry has been the addition of onboard escape rooms. Usually, they come with a fee and require reservations.
I tried to make a booking on Wonder of the Seas, but I was told that, due to supply chain issues, the room isn't ready yet. So, for now, the room is missing from the activity lineup. There's no word yet on when it will be operational.
Masks
One major cruise element that's noticeably missing is face masks. On Feb. 15, Royal Caribbean dropped its mask mandate for vaccinated passengers. Since then, it has also scrapped its separate areas for those who are vaccinated and unvaccinated.
Most cruisers seem to be taking advantage of the newfound freedom, which has made this sailing seem "normal" so far.
Per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the ship is operating with a 95% passenger vaccination rate, excluding young children.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.