Royal Caribbean has announced a deployment change for its upcoming Wonder of the Seas, which will be the largest cruise ship in the world. Instead of sailing its inaugural season from Shanghai, Wonder will now debut in the Caribbean in March 2022.
Once there, it will sail seven-night voyages from Port Everglades to both the Western and Eastern Caribbean. Both itineraries will feature a stop at Royal’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The Oasis-class ship will then head to Europe in May 2022 to operate seven-night Western Mediterranean sailings.
“The momentum taking off across bookings and our returning ships in the U.S. and Europe is significant. With half of our fleet sailing again, we are encouraged by what we’re seeing. These regions are in the position to welcome a brand-new, innovative ship like Wonder of the Seas,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
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Bayley went on to say, “Wonder will shine bright as the world’s newest wonder in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. And what’s in store is the ultimate vacation experience that highlights the very best of Royal Caribbean, reimagines renowned favorites and introduces new adventures every guest, no matter their age, can enjoy.”
Wonder of the Seas will be the fifth Oasis-class build for Royal Caribbean, joining sister ships Symphony, Harmony, Allure, and Oasis of the Seas. Each vessel in this class was the largest cruise ship in the world at the time it debuted.
Like her sister ships, Wonder of the Seas will be divided up into “neighborhoods” such as the open-air Central Park filled with plants and the Boardwalk with a spiral slide, restaurants, a carousel, and a reimagined AquaTheater. And for the first time, this ship will have an additional neighborhood for suite guests.
Royal’s cruising protocols currently include pre-cruise testing for everyone, mask-wearing in indoor public areas, and venues for vaccinated guests only. With passengers having to be tested within two days of their sailing, Royal is now letting vaccinated passengers do at-home supervised tests. These tests can be purchased on Royal’s website.
In June, Royal Caribbean resumed sailings from North America with Adventure of the Seas operating seven-night itineraries from Nassau, Bahamas to private island Perfect Day at CocoCay and Cozumel, Mexico. Freedom of the Seas was the operator’s first vessel to sail from the United States in early July.
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