Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, has announced a change in its itinerary for its January 7, 2024 departure from Port Canaveral, Florida. The ship will no longer visit St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, and will instead stop at San Juan, Puerto Rico. The reason for this change is to assist with the refueling process, as the ship requires a large amount of fuel to power its massive size and features.
Wonder of the Seas is the fifth and newest member of the Oasis-class ships, which are the largest cruise ships in the world. The ship has a gross tonnage of 236,857 and can accommodate up to 6,988 passengers and 2,200 crew members. The ship boasts many attractions and amenities, such as the Ultimate Abyss slide, the AquaTheater, the Central Park, and the Boardwalk.
New Itinerary for Eastern Caribbean Cruise
The original itinerary for the 7-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise was as follows:
- Day 1: Depart from Port Canaveral
- Day 2: Visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas
- Day 3: At sea
- Day 4: Visit St. Thomas
- Day 5: Visit St. Maarten
- Day 6: At sea
- Day 7: Return to Port Canaveral
The revised itinerary is as follows:
- Day 1: Depart from Port Canaveral
- Day 2: At sea
- Day 3: At sea
- Day 4: Visit St. Maarten
- Day 5: Visit San Juan
- Day 6: At sea
- Day 7: Visit Perfect Day at CocoCay
- Day 8: Return to Port Canaveral
The change means that guests will still enjoy the same number of port visits and days at sea, but in a different order. The ship will also have an overnight stay in Cozumel, giving guests more time to explore the island and its nightlife.
Impact on Shore Excursions and Compensation
Guests who have booked shore excursions through Royal Caribbean for the cancelled visit to St. Thomas will receive a full refund to their original form of payment. Guests who have booked independent tours or activities in St. Thomas should contact their tour operator or travel agent for cancellation or rescheduling options.
Guests who have booked shore excursions for CocoCay and St. Maarten will have their tours automatically rescheduled for the correct day and time. Guests who wish to book new shore excursions for San Juan can do so through Royal Caribbean’s website or onboard the ship.
As a gesture of goodwill, Royal Caribbean is offering guests a $50 onboard credit per stateroom to use during their cruise. Guests who are unhappy with the itinerary change can also opt to cancel their cruise without penalty and receive a full refund.
Future Itineraries for Wonder of the Seas
Wonder of the Seas is scheduled to sail from Port Canaveral until April 2024, offering various itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The ship will then reposition to Barcelona, Spain, where it will offer Mediterranean cruises from May to October 2024. The ship will then return to Port Canaveral for another season of Caribbean cruises from November 2024 to April 2025.
Wonder of the Seas is expected to remain the largest cruise ship in the world until its sister ship, Icon of the Seas, debuts in late January 2025. Icon of the Seas will be the first Oasis-class ship to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as its primary fuel source, which is more environmentally friendly and efficient than conventional fuels.