Cruising has rebounded in a big way since the pandemic started. This year, for instance, Disney celebrates 25 years of its fleet on the seas and debuts Disney Treasure, its largest ship to date, one of 14 new ships scheduled to make maiden voyages this year.
For New Orleans residents, cruising remains a quick drive to the river. But for those who want to consider other cruising options or visit destinations before and after the cruise, ships sail out of several ports within a day’s drive.
“While I lived on Florida’s East Coast, my family often sailed out of Tampa,” said Melody Pittman, cruise aficionado and author of WhereverIMayRoamBlog.com. “We would add a few days on either side of the cruise, and enjoy the mini-Florida vacation offerings like Busch Gardens, Ybor City and fresh Gulf seafood. Galveston is high up on my cruise wish list, as that is one amazing city to add on extra time for sightseeing.”
Port Canaveral in Florida has been voted “Best U.S. Cruise Homeport” for the third year from CruiseHive’s Annual Cruise Ship Awards and it’s where Royal Caribbean’s “Wonder of the Seas” sails, currently the world’s largest cruise ship. We visited the ship last December for its naming ceremony and enjoyed its 18 decks, eight “neighborhoods” and spectacular entertainment. Here’s a sampling.
Dining
Naturally, there are numerous dining options aboard the Wonder of the Sea — 40 restaurants and bars — but its newest option is the fun Mason Jar, dishing out Southern favorites such as pimento cheese, crawfish bisque, shrimp and grits and double deep-fried Oreos with powdered sugar on top. Lincoln D’Souza, vice president for food and beverage for Royal Caribbean International, knows what Southerners like.
“We want to give tribute to all the southern states,” he said of Mason Jar’s menu.
The family oriented restaurant turns to live music and a late-night menu after hours. Don’t miss sampling the Peanut Butter Old Fashioned, consisting of walnut bitters and peanut butter whiskey that’s topped with a tiny peanut butter sandwich. Trust us, it’s delicious, and ever so popular.
Entertainment
On board there’s endless entertainment, from live bands and comedy routines to spectacular performances in the main theater, such as the tech-savvy superheroes of “The Effectors II: Crash and Burn” and the water performances of “Intense: Maximum Performance” in the Aquatheatre. Our favorite was “The Ice Spectacular: 365” featuring ice skaters dancing through the four seasons in a colorful, breathtaking performance.
Playgrounds
If a cruise means playtime, Wonder of the Seas offers several pools, a 10-story waterslide, surf simulator, rock climbing and a court for those who wish to enjoy sports, such as Pickleball. Kids may prefer the Wonder Playscape outdoor play area.
Our cruise included a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s personal Bahamas island consisting of water slides, the Oasis Lagoon, lots of dining options and, of course, the Caribbean’s beautiful waters and beaches.
Solarium and Spa
If cruising means relaxation, the Vitality Spa offers spa treatments and sauna and steam rooms. A particularly wonderful place to hide and enjoy the Caribbean’s emerald waters is the adults-only Solarium with its indoor pools and whirlpools and plenty of relaxing lounge chairs, or stop by The Vue Bar for an adult beverage to watch the dramatic sunsets.
