I recently cruised aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, which is now sailing short Caribbean cruises from Miami. As some of the largest ships in the world, Oasis Class vessels are jam-packed with things to do, from huge production shows to dozens of restaurants, bars, and pools!
Even better, I was sailing with my best friend on this cruise. It was her first cruise ever, and we were both excited to explore Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay together.
While I’ve sailed on Oasis Class ships before, this was my first time aboard Wonder of the Seas. Over the course of the cruise, I found a few simple things that made our trip noticeably smoother and more enjoyable.
Here are some of the things we did right that helped make our Wonder of the Seas cruise even better.
1. Enjoying the free amenities at CocoCay instead of splurging
Since my friend had never visited Perfect Day at CocoCay before, we decided to keep things simple and enjoy the free amenities on Royal Caribbean’s private island.
Instead of spending extra money on Hideaway Beach or the Coco Beach Club, we focused on everything already included. And honestly, there is a lot that you can do for free!
We started our morning at Oasis Lagoon with poolside cocktails before eventually making our way to South Beach for the afternoon. We both enjoyed lunch from the Snack Shacks with complimentary tasty sandwiches and treats available! There were plenty of umbrellas that kept us comfortable in the sun, and the beach was the perfect place to relax!
Even with two Oasis Class ships docked that day, the island never felt overly crowded. We had no trouble finding beach chairs, grabbing food, or ordering drinks. By the end of the day, I was glad we didn’t spend extra on beach clubs or excursions. We had a great day without paying anything additional.
2. Booking specialty dining for lunch instead of dinner
Specialty dining reservations can be surprisingly hard to find on Royal Caribbean ships these days. Many restaurants book up quickly, especially for dinner.
My friend really wanted to try Izumi Sushi, but we couldn’t find a single dinner reservation available.
Instead, we noticed there was an open lunch reservation during our stop in Nassau.
Since Nassau isn’t my favorite port, we spent about an hour walking around the port area before heading back to the ship. It ended up being the perfect opportunity to try Izumi without fighting for a dinner reservation.
Not to mention, lunch can also be cheaper at some specialty restaurants, so it’s a good trick if you want to try the food without spending quite as much.
3. Booking entertainment as soon as we boarded
For whatever reason, I rarely have luck reserving shows in the Royal Caribbean app before my cruise. Rather than stressing about it, I booked everything as soon as we boarded the ship.
Although Royal Caribbean will direct you to one of the lounges for reservations, you can actually do this yourself right on the ship’s app.
Before even finishing our muster drill, I connected to the ship’s Wi-Fi and opened the Royal Caribbean app immediately after boarding. You don’t need an internet package to access the app onboard, so anyone can do this once you’re connected to the ship’s internet.
Within a few minutes, I was able to reserve seats for all of the major shows, including the AquaTheatre performance, the Effectors show in the theatre, and the ice skating show in Studio B.
If you can’t get reservations before your cruise, don’t panic. Just book them right after boarding!
4. Pre-booking internet before the cruise
Most purchases made on the ship tend to be more expensive than buying them ahead of time. This is especially true for things like internet packages, drink packages, excursions, and specialty dining.
Before the cruise, I booked my internet package during one of Royal Caribbean’s sales and received a 15% discount.
My friend waited until we were already onboard to buy hers, and she ended up paying about $20 more for the same four-day cruise.
It’s not a huge difference, but it adds up quickly if multiple people in your group need internet access. Make sure you purchase your internet, or any other add-ons, before embarkation day so you can get the best price!
5. Watching the AquaTheatre show from a hidden spot
The AquaTheatre shows are always one of the highlights of cruising aboard an Oasis Class ship. The high-diving performances are incredible and unlike anything else you’ll see at sea!
They absolutely shouldn’t be missed. But, because the shows are so popular, it can be hard to get a seat. Fortunately, there’s a little workaround that we found after cruising on Utopia of the Seas last year.
If you go to Deck 7 and walk all the way toward the back of the ship, you’ll find a door that opens to the rock-climbing wall platform. This area overlooks the entire AquaTheatre and often has chairs available for viewing.
We grabbed seats along the glass railing about 20 minutes before the show and had a fantastic view without waiting in the standby line. We loved the show so much that we actually went back to watch it a second time later in the cruise.
If you plan to sit near the rock wall, I recommend arriving at least 10 minutes early to this spot, as it does fill up within the last few minutes before showtime. It’s a great spot to watch the AquaTheatre show with panoramic views of the venue!
6. Asking our cabin steward for a fan
Our sailing was particularly hot and humid in the Caribbean, which meant our inside cabin felt a little warm at night.
Even with the air conditioning turned all the way down, the room still felt stuffy. We didn’t sleep great the first night because of the cabin’s warmer temperature.
On the second day, I mentioned it to our cabin steward, and he immediately offered to bring us a fan. I told him that we would love to try a fan, although I definitely expected only a small desk fan to be delivered.
Later that afternoon, he showed up with a large floor fan, and it made a huge difference in our cabin! The airflow made the room much more comfortable, and we both slept better after that. We pretty much kept the fan blowing anytime we were in the stateroom.
If your cabin feels too warm, it’s definitely worth asking your stateroom attendant if they have a fan available. There might only be a few available, so ask early if you need one!
7. Trying some of the new onboard parties
Royal Caribbean has been promoting Wonder of the Seas as “Miami’s New Weekend Wonder,” and the ship definitely features a party atmosphere. Our cruise was packed with themed events and late-night activities. There was no shortage of fun to be had!
The Sailaway Party kicked things off as soon as we left Miami, and it was clear right away that the crowd was ready to have fun.
Later that evening, the ship hosted Bring the Beat Back: A Party Through the Decades in the Royal Promenade. The music covered everything from the 70s to the 90s, and many cruisers dressed up to match the theme. If you want to participate in this, make sure you pack some costumes for the occasion!
The next day, I made sure to attend the Plunge Day Pool Party on the pool deck. The energy was high, with guests dancing and singing around the pools. This ended up being one of my favorite events of the entire cruise!
Other parties included the Let’s Dance Street Party, Royal Kappa Chi, and the Silent Toga Party. Between karaoke, nightclub events, and the famous Crazy Quest game show, there was always something happening during our cruise.
If you enjoy a lively cruise atmosphere, Wonder of the Seas is an excellent choice for you.
8. Relaxing at the back of the ship
With thousands of passengers onboard, Wonder of the Seas can feel crowded at times. Whenever we wanted a break from the crowds, we headed to the very back of the ship for a relaxing outdoor spot with incredible views.
On Deck 5, the running track wraps around the ship, and when you reach the aft section, you’ll find some quiet seating areas overlooking the ocean.
This quickly became one of our favorite spots onboard. The sweeping views of the ship’s wake were incredible, especially at sunset. There was always a slight breeze and light shade that kept us comfortable. Finally, it was noticeably quieter than anywhere else on the ship, especially if you wanted to get some fresh air.
We ended up coming back to this spot almost every afternoon just to relax and enjoy the ocean views. If you’re wanting to relax without the crowds, try finding a chair on Deck 5 overlooking the aft.
