The Wonder of the Seas, an Oasis-class beauty sailing from Port Canaveral, offers lots of innovative features. Groups will like this new cruise ship.
On December 9, 2022, Royal Caribbean International officially welcomed its newest cruise ship, the Wonder of the Seas, into the family. The christening and naming event took place at Port Canaveral, Florida, where the Wonder of the Seas sails from year-round.
An Oasis-class ship, the Wonder of the Seas features some new adventures along with fan-favorite experiences. She was named and christened by godmother and Wonder Mom Marie McCrea from Pennsylvania. Then the new cruise ship sailed out on an invitation-only celebration cruise with McCrea and her family onboard.
Marie McCrea, the Wonder of the Seas’ godmother, took part in the new cruise ship’s christening ceremony.
How the New Cruise Ship’s Godmother Was Selected
Royal Caribbean’s search to select a godmother for the Wonder of the Seas was unique. Using TikTok, the line launched the #SearchforWonderMom contest where 16,000 posted videos garnered 10.6 billion hashtag views. A Royal Caribbean panel considered the top submissions and then from one of those compelling stories, it chose McCrea to be the godmother. A devoted mom, wife, and cancer survivor, Marie successfully overcame adversity with incredible strength. At the center of her story were the memories she made with her family to get through it all.
Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said, “The search for such an inspiring mom who embodies the spirit of Wonder of the Seas was anything but easy. Marie and her family have a heartwarming and encouraging story that made us cry and rejoice and be hopeful, and throughout it all, she inspired wonder and adventure in those around her.”
Bayley added, “I want to thank everyone who nominated the Wonder Moms in their own lives. More than 16,000 videos were created, and I was in awe of all these incredible stories of the everyday heroes who are motivating those around them to discover, wonder, and make memories.”
Aqua Theater
The New Cruise Ship’s Christening Ceremony
The christening ceremony took place at the Aqua Theater, one of Royal Caribbean’s beautiful entertainment venues. Godmother Marie McCrea bestowed a blessing of safekeeping on the Wonder of the Seas, its crew and millions of families who will make lifetime memories onboard her for years to come. Royal Caribbean executives and teams were there as well as families, travel advisors, and the cruise line’s partners. On stage with McCrea and Bayley were Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty and McCrea’s daughter Allie, who had nominated her mother for godmother and Wonder Mom.
The New Cruise Ship’s Special Features
The Wonder of the Seas features some new areas. One is the Suite Neighborhood, which welcomes Royal Suite Class guests to a new elevated experience. Another is the very first Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar, which serves Southern staples and classics with a twist for brunch and dinner. At night it offers live country music. Wonder Playscape is the new underwater-themed play area for kids – it has slides, climbing walls, imaginative puzzles, and more.
Southern Mason Jar Restaurant & Bar
The Wonder of the Seas has more than 40 restaurants, lounges, and bars onboard. Also, guests can enjoy The Ultimate Abyss, which is the tallest slide at sea, as well as the FlowRider surf simulator and rock climbing walls. The Perfect Storm has racing waterslides, and there are newly designed areas just for kids and teens. And there is original entertainment across four special “stages” – air, ice, water, and theater.
Beautiful Cruise Ship Experiences in the Neighborhoods
The Wonder of the Seas has eight different neighborhoods. Central Park is one, and it has more than 20,000 real plants. Guests can take in the neighborhoods as they stroll along the walking paths. Others include Royal Promenade, Boardwalk, Entertainment Place, and the Pool and Sports Zone.
Aqua Park showcases high divers, aerialists, acrobats’ slacklines, and more. There are full-scale productions that combine performances across the stage, the water and the air. A new show, inTENse, features the first all-female cast, as they light up the stage with deck-defying feats and cutting-edge technology.
Studio B is the ice-skating entertainment venue on the Wonder of the Seas.
Vue Bar
Eating and Drinking on This New Cruise Ship
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar makes its debut on the Wonder of the Seas, featuring a new take on the signature Italian trattoria experience. Wonderland is a specialty restaurant that serves up a whimsical menu through imaginative cuisine and libations, based around the themes of earth, fire, ice, sea, and sun. Also new is the Vue Bar, a cantilevered, poolside hotspot that offers panoramic views by day and shines bright with a colorful mosaic canopy after sunset.
The New Cruise Ship’s Itineraries
The Wonder of the Seas sails year-round from Port Canaveral on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. Itineraries include Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at Coco Cay in the Bahamas; St. Thomas; St. Maarten; and Mexico.
Royal Caribbean Is A Great Option for Group Cruises
Royal Caribbean International has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years, and its beautiful ships provide the latest technology and experiences. Itineraries touch 241 different destinations on six continents, including Perfect Day at Coco Cay in the Bahamas, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection.
The Wonder of the Seas provides a wonderful new option to consider when thinking about your next group cruise.
By Cindy Bertram
Writer Cindy Bertram has 15+ years of cruise industry expertise in marketing, content creation, sales, and training as well as social media. Her MBA from Loyola University Chicago complements her high creative edge and liberal arts BA.
Photos courtesy of Royal Caribbean International
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