World's largest cruise ship to change homeport -- again
Wonder of the Seas, soon to be the world's largest cruise ship, will be based in Port Canaveral near Orlando for its second season of Caribbean voyages from the U.S.
Royal Caribbean shared the news late Wednesday on its Twitter page, with the line's website showing the ship will arrive in Port Canaveral on Nov. 15, 2022, to sail a fall and winter season of Eastern Caribbean voyages from the Space Coast.
Wonder of the Seas, the fifth vessel in Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class, debuts March 4, 2022, in Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades. From there, it will sail a spring season of Caribbean itineraries, offering calls on Cozumel, St. Maarten and private island Perfect Day at CocoCay, among other ports.
In summer 2022, it will relocate to Barcelona for a stint in the Mediterranean, calling on ports like Capri and Palma de Mallorca. On Oct. 30, 2022, it is scheduled to depart on a 15-day transatlantic sailing from Barcelona to return to Florida, but instead of going back to Port Everglades, it will reposition itself in Port Canaveral.
Originally, the nearly 7,000-passenger ship was built for the Chinese market and was slated to be based in Shanghai, but with cruise travel in China still shut down, Royal Caribbean was forced to rethink its plans for the vessel earlier this year.
Currently under construction at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, Wonder of the Seas will officially be the world's largest cruise ship, dethroning sister ship Symphony of the Seas, which currently holds the title.
In addition to eight dedicated neighborhoods -- including a boardwalk, a park area with live plants and a new exclusive suite enclave -- Wonder of the Seas will also offer a reimagined pool area; Wonder Playscape, an interactive, top-deck family play area; and The Vue, a cantilevered bar that offers panoramic sea views.
Bookings for the fall 2022 voyages from Port Canaveral opened for sale on Dec. 15, 2021.
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