Wonder of the Seas – the fifth of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class vessels and the world’s biggest cruise ship – is ready to hit the waters in the upcoming days.
The giant ship has been three years in the making. Now, it is ready to welcome 6,988 guests and 2,300 crew members. Measuring 1,188 feet, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France and was delivered last month. It includes eight neighborhoods featuring more than 20,000 real plants, a huge slide, and a giant poolside movie screen.
We’re excited to introduce guests across the world to Wonder of the Seas and its world-class features after a six-year-long process.
Mark Tamis, Senior Vice President of hotel operations at Royal Caribbean International
Speaking with CNN Travel, Senior Vice President of hotel operations at Royal Caribbean International Mark Tamis said, “From planning to delivery, we’ve utilized our expertise across Royal Caribbean, as well as incorporating our guest’s suggestions and travel partner feedback to create something truly awe-inspiring.”
The 18-deck cruise ship will begin its voyage from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to the Caribbean on March 4. It will firstly start operating five- to seven-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean and then it will launch cruises in the Mediterranean starting from Barcelona and Rome in May.
Wonder of the Seas was originally supposed to make its debut in 2021, but delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic pushed back the delivery date. The cruise line industry has been severely affected by Covid-19 and travel restrictions. At the end of 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated the risk for Covid-19 in cruises as “very high,” pushing cruise travel to the highest-risk level after the spread of the Omicron variant. However, this month, the CDC has decreased the risk level from Level 4 to Level 3, meaning that now passengers are advised to be up to date with their Covid vaccinations before traveling.
In January, Royal Caribbean paused operations on some of its cruise ships due to Covid-19. To date, the cruise line requires all passengers aged 12 and over to be fully vaccinated, while guests over two must submit a negative Covid-19 test before traveling. All passengers aged two and up are required to wear a mask in most public indoor areas.
