Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas is the latest ship in the cruise line's fleet to shift toward shorter Caribbean getaways. Now offering 3-night and 4-night cruises from Miami, Florida, Wonder of the Seas joins her sister ship, Utopia of the Seas, as the newest Oasis Class vessel sailing party-focused itineraries.
Last week, I set sail on Wonder of the Seas for the ship’s first 4-night cruise since debuting in 2022. Prior to this cruise, Wonder of the Seas has only been sailing 7-night itineraries. My best friend flew to Miami to join me on her first ever cruise! We were eager to see what the experience would be like, especially as Wonder of the Seas begins a new era of party cruises.
I’ll be honest: I’m not a huge partier. That’s not to say I don’t like to have fun, but I prefer spending my evenings attending the headliner production shows versus dancing in the nightclub into the late evening. Whenever I cruise with my 64-year-old parents, I’m often going to bed earlier than they are!
For this cruise, I challenged myself to attend the various parties offered onboard so I could review the entire party-centric experience. Many of the parties on the agenda were ones that I had never attended before, other than the classic Sailaway Party.
Whether you want to dance through the decades or rock a toga at the headphone disco, Wonder of the Seas had no shortage of parties. However, even with all of the parties, I never felt like the onboard crowd was out of control. After witnessing some crazy parties on rival Carnival Cruise Line, I was relieved to see a lively atmosphere without chaos.
During my Wonder of the Seas cruise, I attended five different parties to see how they compared. Here’s what each party was like, and which one was clearly better than the others!
1. Sailaway Party
Embarkation day is always exciting, as it’s the start of another cruise vacation! There’s no better way to kick off your cruise than a classic Sailaway Party on the pool deck. I’ve attended many of these parties throughout my years of cruising, so I was prepared for a crazy gathering as we sailed away from Miami.
We arrived shortly before the party started on the pool deck, right around 4:30 p.m. Many cruisers were already in the pool by the time the Sailaway Party started while others lined around the deck above the pool.
Unlike many cruise ships, Oasis Class vessels don’t have a traditional pool deck because of the open-air Central Park below. Instead, there are two pools split between the starboard and port sides. This layout limits the amount of open space for gathering, so most of the party action happens in the pools themselves.
We found chairs near the ship’s Royal Caribbean logo overlooking the two pools. This was a perfect spot, as it was slightly shaded without being too far from the action. The cruise director, live band, and activity staff members were across the deck and kept the party going.
To my surprise, the Sailaway Party felt relatively tame compared to others I’ve experienced. The crowd was excited and the music was plenty loud, but the overall energy seemed a bit lower than expected. Without much room to dance on the deck, perhaps people weren’t feeling the DJ music. I wasn’t looking for a crazy party like I’ve seen on Carnival cruises, so this Sailaway Party was lively, but laid-back.
2. Bringing the Beat Back: A Party Through the Decades
On our first night onboard, we joined one of the sailing's first themed parties, held at 11:15 p.m. on Deck 5 in the Royal Promenade. After a hearty dinner at Chops Grille, the late start felt a little tough to rally for, but we did it!
This party was described as the following: “Bring the dance moves, the energy and the threads from your favorite decade — because we’re throwing it back tonight with a groove-tastic tour through the 70s, 80s and 90s. From shoulder pads to voguing, we can’t wait to turn back time.
As the evening began, we immediately noticed many party-goers had packed themed clothes for the occasion, with lots of 70s and 80s outfits onboard! Unfortunately, our suitcase space was tight, so we didn’t bring any costumes for this party.
When the party started at 11:15 p.m., the Royal Promenade was packed with people partying, singing, and dancing! The dancers and cruise director were leading the party on a small stage in front of Cafe Promenade. Others were watching from Deck 6, which overlooks the Royal Promenade, so it was a full house.
Many of the party-goers were around my parents’ age, which makes sense considering the decades theme. In fact, my parents probably would have loved to attend this party with many of their favorite tunes playing! We didn’t stay too late, but the energy was high and it was a lot of fun to watch.
If you’re someone who wants to partake in the themed parties, be sure to check your Royal Caribbean app prior to embarkation. Most of the themed parties will be listed in the daily agendas, so you can pack accordingly. You can also check your email for communication directly from Royal Caribbean regarding the planned parties and themed nights.
3. Plunge Day Pool Party
One new-to-me party on the agenda was the Plunge Day Pool Party, which was scheduled to take place on the second day of our cruise. This event was held on the pool deck in the early afternoon during our sea day.
The party was described as the following: “Party, chill, repeat — Vegas style! Our resident DJ brings vibes from The Strip poolside for a day party like no other. Get ready for surprise giveaways and get down to awesome throwback jams from every genre — while our crew uses water blasters to make it rain.”
Out of all the events, this was the one I couldn’t wait for, as the description promised plenty of fun. Since I’m not someone who loves to stay up late, a daytime party is more of my vibe! By the time I arrived for the Plunge Day Pool Party, both of the pools were full of people. Many already had a drink in hand for the event when the music started playing.
The cruise director hyped up the crowd, racing around the pool deck with a camera crew and spotlighting party-goers on the big screen. People were jumping around and dancing to the DJ's tunes - it was such a fun environment! I didn’t end up catching the water blasters or any of the surprise giveaways, but the music delivered on its promise with a mix of genres that kept the energy high on the pool deck.
There were good vibes all around, and I enjoyed attending this event the most! If you love pool parties, this is one you won’t want to miss. Even if you can’t find a spot in the pool, hang around one of the chairs or loungers to soak in the fun.
4. Royal Kappa Chi (Adults 18+)
Nothing screams party quite like a college frat house! This was another party that I hadn’t seen before on a Royal Caribbean cruise, so I made sure to attend and see what it was all about.
This fraternity-style gathering was described as the following: "School is in session. Gather up your crew for the ultimate collegiate party with Royal Kappa Chi. We’re talking late-night pong battles and the chance to reclaim the title of flip cup champions. It’s just like the good old days, only better — with DJ mashups and party vibes.”
The Royal Kappa Chi party was held on the final night of the cruise at 8:30 p.m. in The Attic, which is a versatile lounge space on Wonder of the Seas. There were tables set up across the venue with red solo cups, perfectly branded with Royal Caribbean’s “fraternity” logo.
The tables were set up for games of beer pong, although the cups were actually filled with water. Everyone at the party was playing beer pong when I arrived, although I’m sure you could play your favorite party game with the cups. The bar was also busy, and most of the attendees were hovering near this area.
The music was definitely geared toward the college party vibes, which was fitting for the occasion. This was a popular party with the younger crowd, as I didn’t see many older folks attending this gathering.
Considering the event is meant to be like a fraternity party, I wasn’t surprised by the attendance demographics. I just turned 30, and I was on the older side of guests attending this party. I would guess most attendees were in their early 20s and some looked like they were still in college. If you miss your college days, this party is for you!
5. Silent Toga Party (Adults 18+)
The Silent Toga Party was held on the final night of our cruise at 10:45 p.m. in the adults-only Solarium. This themed event first debuted on sister-ship Utopia of the Seas and was originally exclusive to that vessel. The party was clearly popular, leading Royal Caribbean to add the Silent Toga Party to Wonder of the Seas as well.
The party was described as the following: “Silent disco or toga party? It’s the best of both worlds. Put on your most chic Roman garb or grab a free toga, power up those headphones, and groove to your choice of Zeus-approved jams as three DJs deliver EDM, Latin, and pop hits.”
I normally love attending the silent disco, as it’s a family favorite, especially for my dad. But, to be honest, I wasn’t overly excited about this party taking place on the last night of the cruise.
The final evening is always a bit hectic with packing and preparing for disembarkation the next morning, especially if you need to have your suitcases packed and set out in the hallway. For that reason, I would have preferred the Silent Toga Party to be scheduled the night before.
However, I can see how others might enjoy having a lively send-off on the final night. Togas are provided at the event, so you don’t need to rip apart your bedsheet for the party. There was also someone from the activities staff helping everyone assemble their togas properly.
Regardless of it being the final night, the Silent Toga Party was well-attended with everyone donning their bedsheet togas! The dance floor filled up quickly while I was there, and everyone was dancing the night away.
The Plunge Day Pool Party was my favorite party during the entire cruise!
Looking back, I was surprised by how much fun I had attending all of the parties on Wonder of the Seas. While late-night parties aren’t usually my thing, I loved that the sailing featured plenty of different events so everyone could find something to enjoy.
Each party had its own personality, whether it was dancing through the decades in the Royal Promenade, reliving college days at Royal Kappa Chi, or sporting a toga for a silent disco send-off.
But the Plunge Day Pool Party was, without a doubt, my favorite party on the cruise! As someone who doesn’t usually stay up late on cruises, I loved that this party was held during the day instead of late into the evening. The Plunge Day Pool Party was fun, energetic, and lively without being too crazy. The music amplified the experience, and it perfectly fit the pool party theme!
There’s no shortage of parties on Wonder of the Seas, but even if that’s not your scene, you’ll still find plenty to love about the cruise. From the jaw-dropping entertainment to the wide selection of specialty dining restaurants, onboard thrills, and activities, there is truly something for everyone.
