Despite the coronavirus-related circumstances, Royal Caribbean is proceeding with its plan to unveil the cruise ship that is set to be the largest in the world – Wonder of the Seas. Its debut is announced for 2022 and while we still have to wait a bit before it is released into the world, let’s look at some specifics that were released about this unique ship. If you are a huge cruise lover, you will surely be interested.

A bit of history

First of all, let’s talk a little bit about the circumstances that brought us here. 

The Wonder of the Seas was first announced in 2019 with plans to embark from Shanghai in 2021. However, the world was caught off-guard by COVID-19, which delayed the construction of the ship.

Unfortunately, the construction was not the only thing affected. The travel and the entertainment industries are among those that have been hit the hardest. While large ships were in the spotlight as hotspots of the virus and most cruises were cancelled, the industry is slowly getting back on its feet, even though the pandemic is still ongoing. Bookings for 2021 are on the rise as people who cancelled their 2020 bookings are looking forward to their next cruise. Moreover, it is expected that up to 80% of all cruise ships will be back in action by the second half of 2021, although the occupancy levels will be lower. Hopefully, by the time the Wonder of the Seas arrives, most of the world will be back to normal.

What can we expect from the Wonder of the Seas?

While Royal Caribbean already operates the four largest cruise ships worldwide, it is making the Wonder of the Seas its biggest yet. As is the case with all the previous ships, this one will surely also be easily booked from any continent from North America, Australia, Asia, and tours will, as always, go worldwide – from the Bahamas, Alaska, Mexico, Bermuda, to North Africa and Arabian Gulf and any other destination you could imagine. 

In terms of capacity, it is set to accommodate five thousand guests with double occupancy. The boat’s 18 decks will be operated by around 2,200 crew members. It will be over 360 metres long and 65 metres wide, while weighing 228,000 tons.

What do the current ships offer?

There are twenty-six ships in the Royal Caribbean’s arsenal and they offer some of the best accommodation, dining experience, and entertainment you can find on cruises.

For example, the rooms were designed with all types of guests in mind. Everyone from solo travellers and groups of friends to couples and families with kids can find a comfy room. Accommodation options include private balconies, private game rooms, Jacuzzis and so much more. You can also choose your room depending on how much you care about the view.

The ships are not lacking when it comes to food either. While you can go for all included complimentary dining options, you surely don’t want to miss some specials such as Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver whose recipes are know to be breathtaking, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi, and Teppanyaki if you find yourself on a cruise that offers these breathtaking alternatives. Just keep an eye on the attire necessary to enter these spots. Furthermore, you get to choose from dozens of pubs, bars, and clubs. It goes without saying but your kids will definitely have a spot they’ll never want to leave as well.

You wouldn’t be starved for entertainment with cooking and dance classes you can choose to take during the cruise. Though if an adrenaline rush is more your thing, you can opt for one of the many cruise activities, from trying out the FlowRider surf simulator, to going on the Tidal Wave slide. Sports courts and arcades are also available if that is more to your liking. 

If you enjoy the theatre, you’ll be glad to hear that Royal Caribbean offers a wide variety of original productions as well as Tony-award-winning shows, including Cats and Hairspray. On the other hand, you will also find ice skating and aqua theatre shows, which are truly spectacular. Plus, if you’d like to show off your skills, you can go to a karaoke bar.

What’s more, if you are into gaming and nights at a casino, Casino Royale spots, also known as a slice of Vegas onboard every ship, is where you will find arguably the most fun, glamour, and luxury out of all the activities available. We are all eager to see what kind of fun this Royal Caribbean’s masterpiece will bring and what games may be found in its dice, card, and slot paradise. Will they resemble any of the new online providers that offer hundreds of the classic table games and the newest and most shiny slots, as seen on casinos.co.za, or it will come up with something even better? Until this queen launches it’s only up to us to imagine.

As you can see, if the current cruise ships that Royal Caribbean is offering are anything to judge by, we can only expect the Wonder of the Seas to be one-of-a-kind. Until 2022, stay safe! And hopefully, in the future, we’ll be lucky enough to see the Wonder of the Seas stop by somewhere near the South African coast.