Cruise into Summer. Part 1. The Ship. Dec, 2024

How amazing it is to escape the cold winter and head off on a summer adventure aboard a huge, modern cruise ship. This time, we specifically wanted to sail on a beautiful ship, while visiting the islands was more of a pleasant bonus. Our choice was Wonder of the Seas by Royal Caribbean. As of today, it is the second-largest cruise ship in the world. It accommodates around 7,000 guests and more than 2,000 crew members.

Would you like to explore the ship with us, visit four islands, swim in the sea, cuddle sloths, and simply soak up the sunshine? Then come along with us!

So, we leave cold Toronto and just three hours later arrive in warm Florida, in the city of Orlando. Yes, the very same Orlando with the famous Disney and Universal parks. But we didn’t have time for them. Instead, we headed to a hotel near the port so that the next day we could board our ship. The hotel was right by the ocean, but the sea was rough, and despite the air temperature being above 20°C (68°F), it didn’t feel very comfortable — mostly because of the wind.

The port (Port Canaveral) was located not far from NASA’s space center. If we had more time, we definitely would have gone there for an экскурсия, but for now we just admired the “astronaut” at the hotel

The Ship

In the morning, we arrive at the port. Knowing how enormous the ship’s capacity was, I couldn’t imagine how so many people would manage to board considering passport control and baggage checks. Surprisingly, everything was so well organized and efficient that the entire process took us less than an hour. And just like that — we were already on the ship.

Our cabin was for three people, with a balcony. It was located on the 14th deck/floor. In total, the ship had 18 decks

Честно говоря, я с трудом ориентировалась на этом огромном корабле и за неделю так и не запомнила где нос, а где корма, в том смысле, где находятся разные равлечения:))) На каждой палубе было что-то интересное, и надо было понять в какую сторону идти. Но это и хорошо, потому что ходить пришлось много, ну скажем так, вместо спорта:)))

Начну с самого прикольного - в одном из баров роботы смешивают напитки. Такое мы видели впервые

Here was also another one — a boat-shaped bar that moved vertically between the lower and upper decks 

Our vacation was right before Christmas, so we were able to catch the ceremonial lighting of the main Christmas tree and a balloon parade 

The ship was beautifully decorated for the holiday season 

Views from different places inside the ship 

This deck was called Central Park (like the main park in New York City )

Here you could practice surfing, as well as go down a “crazy slide.” You sit on a special mat and race down the slide for 10 decks 

There were also many water slides and different pools. We’re not big fans of the ship’s pools because of the crowds. But we really enjoyed the Solarium. It’s an adults-only enclosed area under a glass dome where you can sunbathe, use multiple jacuzzis, and simply relax 

It’s also very cozy here in the evening 

A carousel and a game room, where we spent a lot of time with friends 

Art galleries 

By the way, ships like this attract many collectors of paintings and works of art. Auctions are held on board, and you can purchase works by well-known artists 

The ship’s corridors are also decorated with paintings of different styles 

Casino

There are many restaurants on the ship… from a buffet to high-end restaurants that require an additional fee. We had breakfast at the buffet, grabbed snacks somewhere for lunch, and had dinner in a restaurant in the evening. The food was good, tasty, and with a large variety. Here is a bit of the buffet 

And this is the evening restaurant. We had a regular table with our friends and waiters who already knew our preferences 

The service on the ship was of the highest level. There was absolutely nothing to complain about. Most of the staff were from the Philippines. The cleanliness on the ship was perfect. Cleanliness and beauty 

And here are various other restaurants and cafes 

But it was impossible to eat and drink that much :))) Although many people actually go on cruises for exactly that reason. You often see overweight people there, as well as people with disabilities. Everything is adapted for them, and people enjoy their vacation in their own way.

Another highlight is the evening shows on the ship. All the performances are of the highest level. For the main shows, you had to register in advance. We attended an ice show

When there were no performances on the ice rink, you could simply go ice skating. The most beautiful and impressive was the water show 

There was also a singing show, but we don’t really enjoy that kind of performance. We also didn’t go to the comedy club — it’s simply impossible to do everything. And there was a modern show that used the latest innovative technologies, including flying drones drawing patterns above our heads 

The ship also had a kids’ club and an amazing teen club. Because of that, we only saw our child at breakfast and dinner :) except for the days when we went onshore to the islands. This is part of the teen club 

You could work out in the gym, relax in the spa, try rock climbing, or unwind in the fresh air while watching a movie on a huge outdoor screen. In the evenings, bars and pubs with live music opened up, and the upper deck became quiet and perfect for peaceful evening walks 

And next time, I’ll tell and show you the islands we visited…