Our Cruise Adventure: From Independence to Wonder of the Seas
Last year, I spent an unforgettable week aboard one of the largest cruise ships in the world—The Wonder of the Seas! Let me tell you all about this massive floating theme park. Spoiler alert: I absolutely loved it.
Right after disembarking from our very first family cruise in 2023, we knew one thing for sure—we wanted cruising to become an annual tradition. That first trip was aboard the Independence of the Seas, and it lasted four nights. First, we sailed to Nassau, Bahamas, and then spent a perfect day at Royal Caribbean’s private island, Coco Cay.
Fast forward to last year, and we leveled up to the Oasis Class by sailing on the Wonder of the Seas. At the time, it was the largest cruise ship in the world—until the Icon of the Seas launched early last year. Now, Star of the Seas (our next ship!) holds the title.
During our cruise, we explored several new ports and indulged in a wide variety of dining experiences, both complimentary and specialty. Let’s dive into the food first!
Complimentary Dining: So Many Options, So Little Time
There are so many dining choices included in the cost of your cruise. To start, the Main Dining Room offers a rotating dinner menu each night, featuring cuisines like Mexican, Caribbean, and French—just to name a few. In addition, they serve lunch on sea days and breakfast every morning.
Next up is the Windjammer, a massive buffet that’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s perfect for families who want flexibility and variety.
For a quieter option, the Solarium Bistro is a smaller buffet that serves breakfast daily. They also offer dinner, but you’ll need a reservation.
If you’re craving pizza, head to Sorrento’s. They serve hot, cheesy slices late into the night—perfect after a visit to the nightclub.
Need a quick bite or a caffeine fix? Cafe Promenade has coffee, cookies, and small sandwiches. You’ll also find similar snacks at Park Cafe, which goes a step further by offering salads, paninis, and the most delicious roast beef sandwich on a Kümmelweck roll. Don’t forget the mustard—I had one nearly every day!
Although I didn’t get to try El Loco Fresh, it’s a Mexican-inspired buffet with tacos, burritos, and nachos. I’ve heard the food is similar to what’s served on Coco Cay, and I can confirm that Coco Cay’s buffet is top tier.
On the boardwalk, you’ll find The Dog House, which serves hot dogs and sausages with a variety of toppings. My kids gave it two thumbs up!
Lastly, Johnny Rockets offers complimentary breakfast, although I believe their lunch menu comes with a flat fee.
Main Dining Room Highlights: Hits, Misses & Must-Try Dishes
During our 7-night cruise, we dined in the Main Dining Room on four different nights. Each evening featured a themed menu, and overall, the experience was delightful.
On night one, we kicked things off with the Welcome Aboard menu. I tried escargot for the very first time—and loved it so much, I ordered it again on Royal Night! Don’t be afraid to try it. The prime rib was also a standout: tender, flavorful, and not overly seasoned.
By night four, we were treated to a Taste of Mexico. I couldn’t decide between entrees, so I ordered both the carne asada and pulled pork enchiladas. While both were delicious, the enchiladas stole the show—smoky, creamy, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Honestly, it was the best dish I had in the Main Dining Room.
Unfortunately, Caribbean Night didn’t quite hit the mark. The Asian-Style Pork Bao Tacos sounded amazing but tasted overpowering. The bao buns were soft and fluffy, but the filling was too intense. The jerk chicken had good flavor but was slightly dry. That said, my toddler devoured it—so maybe it’s just me!
Now, let’s talk about Lobster Night. I’ll be honest—it’s overrated. Our server warned us that the lobsters were tiny and suggested we order an extra entrée. I went with the cheese tortellini, but it didn’t wow me.
Breakfast at The Windjammer: Fast, Flexible & Family-Friendly
For breakfast, we almost always chose The Windjammer. It’s fast, flexible, and ideal for families with hungry, impatient kids. Even when it looked busy, we never had trouble finding a seat. The staff was quick to clean tables and guide us to open spots.
There’s always a wide variety of food and plenty of space to move around. My advice? Always say yes to the hash browns—they’re crispy perfection. But skip the bacon. It’s consistently overcooked and crumbly. I’m not sure how they prepare it, but it’s a hard pass for me!
Dessert Dilemma: Why You Should Save Room for Specialty Dining
If I had to pick one weak spot in Royal Caribbean’s complimentary dining, it would be the desserts. Most of them are basic and underwhelming—think cookies, puddings, and trifles. They’re available everywhere, but they rarely impress.
For truly memorable sweets, head to the specialty dining restaurants. That’s where the magic happens.
Specialty Dining: Worth the Splurge?
This cruise was our first time trying specialty dining, and we went all in with a dining package that covered three restaurants. The cost was around $300 for two adults, one child, and one toddler.
We ended up eating at four specialty restaurants:
- The Mason Jar
- Chops
- 150 Central Park
- Wonderland
If I could do it again, I’d skip The Mason Jar and Chops. Instead, I’d try Izumi, which is super popular and often sells out.
My favorite? Hands down, 150 Central Park. In fact, I chose not to sail on Star of the Seas next time because it doesn’t have this restaurant. That’s how much I loved it!
Wonderland was also a standout. It’s a whimsical, art-meets-cuisine experience that most people try once—but I’d absolutely go back.
Here’s my ranking from least to most favorite:
- The Mason Jar
- Chops
- Wonderland
- 150 Central Park
Port Highlights: Relaxed Vibes & Family-Friendly Fun
We visited four ports: Cozumel, Roatan, Costa Maya, and Coco Cay. Believe it or not, I loved every single one—even though we didn’t do any excursions.
Since our kids are still young, we prefer to stay close to the port and explore. There’s always something to do—shopping, snacking, and soaking up the local vibe. And yes, souvenirs are everywhere!
Coco Cay is the only port where we stayed off the ship all day. Food is included, and your drink package works on the island, which is a huge plus.
In my opinion, there are two types of cruisers: those who book for the ports and those who book for the ship. We’re definitely the latter. Sorry, ports!
Here’s how I ranked the ports:
- Costa Maya – very busy and congested
- Roatan – small but great shopping
- Cozumel – spacious, tons of shops, and tequila samples galore
- Coco Cay – possibly my favorite place on Earth
Entertainment Onboard: Shows, Skaters & Superheroes
There was so much to do on the Wonder of the Seas! We reserved all our shows in advance using the Royal Caribbean app. Reservations opened about 60 days before our sail date, and each show had both early and late options.
Thankfully, we saw every show we wanted. If you forget to reserve, don’t worry—there’s a standby line and plenty of seating.
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Voices: A singing show with multimedia screens. Unfortunately, the screens weren’t synced well, which made it hard to focus.
- The Effectors II: A superhero-style musical with lots of flashing lights. Not my favorite.
- InTENse: Performed at the Aquatheater. We missed the diving due to rough seas, but the rest of the show was thrilling.
- 365: Seasons on Ice: My favorite! The ice skaters were graceful, and the visuals were stunning.
- Adventure Ocean Puppet Show: A glow-in-the-dark kids’ show with neon lights and bubbles. Total hit with the little ones!
Final Thoughts: Is Wonder of the Seas Worth It?
I’ll admit—I had mixed feelings about the Oasis Class experience. My first impression was that the customer service wasn’t as strong as what we experienced on the Independence of the Seas.
On Independence, we connected with several staff members who made our trip feel personal. Shoutout to Angie in the Champagne Bar and Jefrey in the Windjammer!
On Wonder of the Seas, the service felt more transactional. Our room attendant struggled with daily cleaning, and we didn’t get many towel animals. I know, first-world problems—but when you pay a premium, you expect a certain level of care.
Thankfully, our Main Dining Room servers were amazing. Hasyim gave great recommendations, and Ajay always had my Merlot ready. We love a man who pays attention!
Pro Tips for New Cruisers
There’s so much to explore—restaurants, cocktails, shows, and hidden gems. I truly believe you need at least a week onboard to experience it all. The size of the Wonder of the Seas is perfect for a 7-night sailing. Any less, and you’ll miss out.
My biggest tip? Do your research and study the ship before you sail. It’s easy to overlook something special.
And one last thing—hunt for ducks. Trust me, it’s a thing!
Get to know me better by reading my hero origin story!