Wonder of the Seas
An Oasis-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Wonder of the Seas is a large Oasis-class cruise ship operated by Royal Caribbean International, a cruise brand within Royal Caribbean Group. Completed in 2022 at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, it was the fifth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class. The vessel was designed as a self-contained resort at sea, combining accommodation, restaurants, entertainment venues, family attractions, pools, sports facilities and landscaped public areas across a ship measuring approximately 362 metres in length. The ship has a gross tonnage of about 236,857, with 18 decks overall and 16 decks available for guests. It can accommodate approximately 5,734 passengers at double occupancy and up to 6,988 passengers at maximum capacity, supported by a crew of about 2,300. Its accommodation inventory includes approximately 2,867 cabins. The design follows the Oasis-class division into themed neighbourhoods, including Central Park, an open-air area containing more than 10,000 plants and flowers. Other major facilities include multiple swimming pools, a children’s water park and playground, a full-size basketball court, an ice-skating rink, a FlowRider surf simulator, a ten-deck-high zip line, a 1,400-seat theatre, an outdoor AquaTheater and two rock-climbing walls. Royal Caribbean and STX France agreed in 2016 to develop a fifth Oasis-class ship, with delivery originally planned for 2021. Construction began with steel cutting in April 2019, followed by keel laying in May of that year. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed completion and delivery. Although the company initially marketed an Asia-based inaugural season from Shanghai and Hong Kong, the planned deployment was changed in 2021. Wonder of the Seas instead began service from Port Everglades, Florida, in March 2022, followed by Mediterranean itineraries during the summer. The ship was formally handed over to Royal Caribbean in January 2022 and christened in December 2022, with Marie McCrea serving as godmother. Wonder of the Seas initially operated from Port Canaveral, Florida, after November 2022. Royal Caribbean later announced a move to PortMiami beginning in August 2025, with shorter cruises to destinations including Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The vessel is marketed around high-capacity resort cruising rather than a narrow product category: its offering combines accommodation and transportation with dining, live entertainment, family activities, nightlife and destination visits. It was briefly the world’s largest cruise ship by gross tonnage before being surpassed in 2024 by Icon of the Seas, another Royal Caribbean International vessel.
History
Wonder of the Seas was developed as the fifth vessel in Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis class, a series of exceptionally large cruise ships organized around themed neighbourhoods and extensive resort-style amenities. Royal Caribbean Group and STX France signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2016 covering the fifth Oasis-class ship, with delivery originally expected in spring 2021. The ship was constructed at the Saint-Nazaire shipyard, now known as Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Steel cutting took place in April 2019 and the keel was laid on 9 May 2019. The construction schedule was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In August 2020, Royal Caribbean announced that delivery would be postponed until 2022. During the planning period, the company initially opened bookings for an Asia-based inaugural season using Shanghai and Hong Kong as proposed homeports. In September 2021, that plan was replaced by a North American launch: Wonder of the Seas would first operate from Port Everglades on Caribbean itineraries and then spend the summer season in the Mediterranean, sailing from Barcelona and Rome. The ship’s external livery was also adjusted in late 2021, including a revised placement and larger treatment of its name. The vessel received technical delivery from the shipyard on 29 October 2021 and subsequently sailed under its own power to a drydock at Marseille-Fos Port for finishing work. Royal Caribbean accepted formal delivery on 27 January 2022. Wonder of the Seas began its maiden commercial voyage on 4 March 2022 from Port Everglades. Its official christening followed on 9 December 2022, with Marie McCrea named as godmother. Physically, the ship is approximately 362 metres long and has a gross tonnage of about 236,857. It contains 18 decks, of which 16 are used by guests, and carries roughly 5,734 passengers at double occupancy or as many as 6,988 at maximum capacity. Around 2,300 crew members support operations. The ship has approximately 2,867 cabins and about 20 restaurants, in addition to theatres, pools, sports facilities and family attractions. Its Central Park neighbourhood contains more than 10,000 plants and flowers, continuing one of the defining design concepts of the Oasis class. Propulsion is provided by six Wärtsilä marine-diesel generator sets. Three electric azipod propulsion units drive the ship, supplemented by four bow thrusters for manoeuvring in port. Guest attractions include a children’s water park, playground, basketball court, ice rink, FlowRider surf simulator, ten-deck zip line, 1,400-seat theatre, outdoor AquaTheater with elevated diving platforms and two rock-climbing walls. Wonder of the Seas operated from Port Canaveral beginning in November 2022. Royal Caribbean later announced that it would move to PortMiami on 25 August 2025 and offer shorter cruises to Nassau and CocoCay. The ship was recognized as the largest cruise ship by gross tonnage at the time of completion, but that distinction passed to Icon of the Seas in 2024. Its operating history also includes two reported overboard incidents: the death of a crew member in November 2022 and the disappearance of passenger Sigmund Ropich in August 2023.
- 2025
Planned move to PortMiami
[1]The ship was scheduled to move from Port Canaveral to PortMiami and begin three- and four-night sailings.
- 2022
Formal handover and maiden voyage
[1]Royal Caribbean accepted the ship in January, and the maiden voyage departed Port Everglades on 4 March.
- 2022
Christening
[1]Wonder of the Seas was christened on 9 December with Marie McCrea as godmother.
- 2021
Technical delivery and deployment revision
[1]The ship received technical delivery in October, while Royal Caribbean shifted its initial deployment from Asia to the Caribbean and Mediterranean.
- 2020
Delivery postponed
[1]The pandemic pushed the planned delivery from 2021 to 2022.
- 2019
Construction begins
[1]Steel was cut in April and the keel was laid at Saint-Nazaire on 9 May.
- 2016
Agreement for a fifth Oasis-class ship
[1]Royal Caribbean Group signed an agreement with STX France for a fifth Oasis-class vessel, initially targeting delivery in spring 2021.
Products and positioning
A high-capacity, resort-style cruise experience focused on family travel, onboard entertainment, destination access and extensive recreational amenities.
Oasis-class cruise ship · 2022
Wonder of the Seas cruise ship
The ship’s core offering is a resort-style cruise combining transportation, accommodation, dining, entertainment and destination visits. It carries thousands of passengers and provides a broad range of facilities intended to serve families, couples and multigenerational groups.
Onboard neighbourhood · 2022
Central Park
Central Park is an open-air public area modeled around landscaped space, with more than 10,000 plants and flowers. It forms one of the signature neighbourhoods of the Oasis-class design and provides a quieter counterpoint to the ship’s larger entertainment zones.
Entertainment venue · 2022
AquaTheater
The AquaTheater is an outdoor performance venue featuring a deep pool, elevated platforms and shows built around aquatic performance and diving. On Wonder of the Seas, its platforms reach approximately 30 feet in height.
Recreation · 2022
Adventure and family attractions
The ship includes a children’s water park and playground, a full-size basketball court, ice-skating rink, FlowRider surf simulator, ten-deck zip line and two rock-climbing walls. These facilities support Royal Caribbean’s family-oriented and activity-led positioning.
Brand decisions
2025
Reposition the ship to PortMiamiStrategyBackground
After operating from Port Canaveral from November 2022, Royal Caribbean adjusted the ship’s Florida homeport deployment.
Action taken
The company announced a move to PortMiami beginning 25 August 2025, with three- and four-night cruises to Nassau and CocoCay.
Aftermath
The planned deployment expanded access to shorter Caribbean vacations from the Miami market.
2021
Change the inaugural deployment from Asia to the CaribbeanStrategyBackground
Royal Caribbean had opened bookings for an Asia-based inaugural season from Shanghai and Hong Kong, but the company later revised the launch plan.
Action taken
The ship was assigned to begin operations from Port Everglades on Caribbean cruises, followed by a Mediterranean season from Barcelona and Rome.
Aftermath
Wonder of the Seas commenced service from Florida in March 2022 and subsequently operated Mediterranean itineraries.
2020
Postpone delivery because of the pandemicStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted shipyard schedules and the broader cruise industry while the vessel was under construction.
Action taken
Royal Caribbean announced that delivery would be delayed from the original 2021 target to 2022.
Aftermath
The ship was ultimately handed over in January 2022 and entered service in March of that year.
Recent events
- 2025
Wonder of the Seas scheduled to move to PortMiami[1]
Other
Royal Caribbean announced that the vessel would relocate from Port Canaveral to PortMiami beginning 25 August 2025, with planned three- and four-night cruises to Nassau and CocoCay.
- 2023
Passenger missing after going overboard[1]
Other
In August 2023, 19-year-old passenger Sigmund Ropich went overboard during a Caribbean cruise. Searches involving the ship and the Cuban Coast Guard did not locate him.
- 2022
Wonder of the Seas begins maiden voyage[1]
Product launch
The completed ship entered commercial service on 4 March 2022, departing from Port Everglades, Florida.
- 2022
Wonder of the Seas is christened[1]
Other
The ship was formally christened on 9 December 2022. Marie McCrea served as godmother and gave the vessel her ceremonial blessing.
- 2022
Crew member dies after going overboard[1]
Other
In November 2022, a crew member died by suicide after going overboard. Reports stated that the crew member had asked to leave the ship and return home before the death.
- 2021
Wonder of the Seas inaugural deployment moved from Asia to the Caribbean[1]
Other
After bookings had opened for a proposed inaugural season from Shanghai and Hong Kong, Royal Caribbean changed the launch plan and announced that the ship would debut from Port Everglades on Caribbean cruises before moving to the Mediterranean.
- 2020
Delivery of Wonder of the Seas delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic[1]
Other
Royal Caribbean announced that completion and delivery of the ship would move from the originally planned 2021 schedule to 2022 as the pandemic disrupted shipbuilding and cruise operations.
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