10 delicious places to eat on Wonder of the Seas
Discover the best spots to grab a burger, savour a Southern classic or enjoy a sugary treat
As the world’s biggest cruise ship, there are plenty of places to eat on Wonder of the Seas – Royal Caribbean International’s newest ship has a host of options for hungry cruisers.
The 6,988-guest vessel is the fifth in the line’s Oasis Class, and the first to include eight neighbourhoods. Across its 16 guest decks are 25 dining options, including The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar, a new speciality dining venue.
There are a number of complimentary dining venues, most of which will be familiar to repeat Royal Caribbean guests. These include the Main Dining Room and the Windjammer Café, alongside pizza at Sorrento’s, gourmet hotdogs from the Boardwalk Dog House and lighter bites at the Solarium Bistro.
Wonder of the Seas will spend the summer sailing seven-night itineraries from Barcelona and Rome, before heading to Port Canaveral in November.
Here are 10 of the best places to eat on Wonder of the Seas:
The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar – speciality
The Mason Jar is a new dining concept for Royal Caribbean, focusing on Southern comfort food, with popular staples and twists on classic dishes.
At brunch, try the freshly baked buttermilk biscuits and jalapeno cornbread, or the savoury johnnycakes (a cornmeal flatbread), topped with barbeque pulled pork. At dinner, highlights include the buttermilk-brined ‘Gran’s fried chicken’, lobster ‘n’ crawfish gumbo and crab beignets served with creamy lump crab dip. And don’t miss the traditional pies, spiked floats and shakes.
The Mason Jar also serves twice-fried Oreos, which may sound slightly baffling to a UK audience, but are an incredibly popular treat at American fairgrounds.
The farmhouse-style, rustic decor means The Mason Jar has a friendly and casual atmosphere, often hosting live country music. The cosy porch is decked out with a swing, which is perfect for a photo op.
The Mason Jar’s bar is positioned in the heart of the restaurant, boasting a collection of American whiskeys and Southern cocktails. Try a classic mint julep, which is dusted with powdered sugar at guests’ tables, while the Mississippi Moonlight is made with blackberry moonshine, blackberries and lemonade, and served in a chilled mason jar.
El Loco Fresh – complimentary
While the Mexican-themed El Loco Fresh will be familiar to veteran Royal Caribbean customers, they can now enjoy its new bar. Cantina Fresca serves a selection of aguas frescas, which are popular refreshing and fruity Mexican drinks, margaritas (including mango and passion fruit concoctions) and other Mexican staples. Try the spicy pineapple jalapeño margarita on the rocks, or one of the premium tequilas or smoky mezcals.
El Loco Fresh is one of the complimentary dining options, serving made-to-order tacos, burritos and quesadillas.
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar – speciality
This is the first time Royal Caribbean’s popular Italian restaurant has appeared on an Oasis Class ship, and the menu is packed with delicious dishes.
The assorted meat and cheese platter is perfect for sharing, with mortadella, porchetta and fresh mozzarella. Favourites include the veal meatballs in Romana sauce and pappardelle with rich radicchio cream. Truffle fans should try the caprese salad, which features a ball of truffle burrata with arugula, heirloom tomatoes, pesto, balsamic glaze and fresh basil oil. There’s also the truffle and eggs 12” pizza, topped with bacon, eggs, pecorino and white truffle oil.
There’s an extensive wine list, or choose an Italian cocktail such as an Aperol Spritz or Negroni.
Wonderland – speciality
Royal Caribbean’s Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine features on several other ships, and is a must-try for foodies and guests who like fun and quirky dining. There are plenty of Alice In Wonderland-style twists, from the blank menu that reveals dishes when touched with a paintbrush, to the novel presentation of each plate of food.
The menu is based on five natural elements – earth, sea, fire, ice and sun. Those who like spice and smoke will be drawn to the fire section, with the Buffalo chicken eggs or the crispy prawn kataifi with Scotch bonnet pepper. Cool and refreshing red and white tuna sashimi appears in the ice section, while hearty options abound in sea and earth. This is innovative and flamboyant dining, which pairs perfectly with the ‘magical elixir’ cocktails.
150 Central Park – speciality
Those who always save space for dessert will be thrilled with the offerings at this recurring Royal Caribbean restaurant, which serves fried cheesecake (always a bestseller), and a fudgy peanut-butter chocolate tart. But there’s plenty to enjoy before getting stuck into pudding. Try the crispy Berkshire pork belly served in a port wine reduction over parsnip puree, which comes with refreshing apple and watermelon radish slaw.
Seafood dishes include the pan-seared halibut in a rich saffron and truffle hollandaise with warm potato salad and mesclun leaves. Some of the dishes are prepared for guests at their table, and are marked by a ‘TS’ (tableside) symbol on the menu.
Vitality Café – complimentary
Wonder of the Seas is awash with places clients can treat themselves, so if they need a lighter bite or a healthy snack, suggest the Vitality Café. The menu boasts fresh smoothies, a wide range of wraps, fruits and yoghurt. It’s the perfect pit-stop after a workout.
Wake Me Up is a protein shake infused with chocolate, peanut butter, banana, whey protein and espresso, while the Immune Booster is made with orange juice, lemon and ginger.
Guests on the Deluxe and Refreshment beverage packages can order the signature juices, smoothies and protein shakes as part of their package.
Coastal Kitchen – complimentary
Coastal Kitchen is included in the fare exclusively for suite guests and Pinnacle Club members, and is another Royal Caribbean favourite. The menu is a fusion of Mediterranean and Californian dishes, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Start the day with French toast with syrup and caramelised bananas, or opt for a light Mediterranean platter of pan tomàquet (Catalan tomato bread), hummus, prosciutto and Manchego cheese. The lunch menu includes a signature margherita flatbread, and look out for the rosewater panna cotta with kiwi coulis and almond tuile on the dessert menu at dinner.
Coastal Kitchen also offers an extensive wine list, including vintages from Napa and Tuscany.
Sugar Beach – additional cost
Sugar Beach deserves a spot in the top 10 places to eat on Wonder of the Seas purely based on the fun-factor it delivers. It’s a sweetie wonderland, packed with walls of treats, which guests can dispense into grab bags. There are also cupcakes and a vast ice cream counter, with a wealth of toppings available. Sugar Beach is the perfect spot for a mid-afternoon (or anytime) sugar-fuelled pick-me-up.
Hooked Seafood – speciality
Serving New England-style seafood, Hooked Seafood’s menu offers crispy golden Maryland crab cakes, Maine Lobster rolls and The Captain’s platter, which is heaving with a grilled lobster tail, a fresh fish fillet and prawns. There’s also a raw bar. Oyster fans can try them baked in three different ways, including Rockefeller style, with leeks and white wine, or with Brie and Champagne.
Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade – additional cost
Customers can catch a game on dozens of screens or challenge their friends in the arcade at Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade. There are plenty of group-friendly dishes, including the ‘Pile On Nachos’ and pigskin sliders. A variety of burgers are available, including a plant-based Impossible Burger.
Those with an appetite can tackle the five-scoop touchdown sundae, or brave the ‘Playmakers Challenge’: anyone who eats 100 of the hottest wings in 45 minutes receives a commemorative T-shirt.
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