Every crew member plays an integral part is making sure that you have a memorable vacation, from those who you directly interact each day of your cruise with to those who work behind-the-scenes. 

The responsibilities of crew members, however, often entail more than what you see at the surface, and thanks to social media, we are able to get a more in-depth view as to what working as a crew member onboard a cruise ship is really like. 

Jordan Bauth, a 25-year-old professional figure skater working onboard Wonder of the Seas, documented her week in a recent YouTube video. The video blog spans the course of one week from April 9 to April 16 and shows what she does in addition to skating during the ice shows. 

Jordan's YouTube channel has amassed over 60,000 followers and 8,130,476 views. While she posts a lot of content about her life as a cruise ship crew member, she also enjoys making videos about fitness, health, figure skating, and travel. 

Keep reading to learn more about crew life from Jordan's perspective working in entertainment!

Day 1

Jordan begins the video on turnaround day, when Wonder of the Seas was docked in Port Canaveral and a new set of excited guests boarded the ship. 

Since the two ice skating shows were not until later that evening, she was able to get off of the ship for awhile with some other crew members to run errands, with their first stop being the port to pick up some packages. 

Next, she visited Walmart to pick up some snacks and other necessities. "Our holy grail for turnaround said," she chuckled, "we're ready to spend some money!" 

After what she claimed to be a successful Walmart trip, they made a stop at Starbucks before going to eat at Thai Thai Sushi Bar. 

When they returned to the ship, she had a little bit of downtime before she had to get ready and warm up for the first of two shows. At 6:45pm, she and her fellow cast members met to discuss some notes before hitting the ice. 

"It was so rocky...that was a tough show to do," she said after finishing the first show of the evening. 

It was not until afterwards that she was able to eat dinner, which was some oatmeal with bananas. 

Day 2

The first full day of the cruise started out differently, as she was scheduled to work at the Voom internet desk in the Royal Promenade from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

Immediately after her shift, Jordan had to change into a pirate costume and meet the other cast members for the parade. 

This was followed by lunch before heading to the ice rink at 5:00pm ahead of the warm ups for the 8:30pm and 10:30pm shows. 

"Today's been like a chill yet productive day," she said in the video.

"I did work Wi-Fi from nine to noon, then I went straight to parade at twelve o'clock call, had lunch, and then I edited for a couple of hours and watched an episode of Euphoria." 

Day 3

The third day of the cruise was the first of three in a row where there were no ice shows. With her free time, she hung some LED string lights that she purchased at Walmart on turnaround day. In the video, she got excited talking about how she could change the color of the lights with a small remote! 

After walking around the jogging track soaking up some sea day views, she made her way to the fitness center for a bit, grabbed some lunch, and then returned to her cabin to work on some editing for a few hours and repaint her nails. 

Day 4

On Day 4, Wonder of the Seas was docked in St. Kitts along with Celebrity Apex, Carnival Magic, and Marella Explorer 2. Jordan got off of the ship and went to a nearby resort for a little while to relax. 

This was the only time she would be in St. Kitts during this contract, so she made the most of her time here by lounging in the sun, reading some of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and grabbing a vegetable plate to eat.

Despite not having any shows that day, she had to return to the ship to work All Skates, which is when Studio B is open for guests to skate. 

To prepare, all of the helmets and skates have to be moved out into Studio B. "...we had to set up all of the skate racks; they're quite heavy as you can see," she said, "It's taller than I am by a bit. [We also] set up all the helmets, chairs, and we're waiting to open the doors."  

Afterwards, she went to the crew dining room to eat dinner. 

Day 5

On Day 5, she had more ship-wide responsibilities than the previous day. 

First was the all crew drill, which she claimed gets repetitive. Once the announcement was made, she headed to her muster station to complete the drill and then got off the ship to spend some time in St. Thomas.

She and a few other crew members headed to the Crown Bay Marina to eat at Tickles Dockside Pub. On the way there, they admired the large yachts that were docked. "Just boat shopping," she joked!

At Scoops and Brew, she got an iced latte with almond milk and caramel that she ate with her wrap and fries from Tickles. 

Note: Tickles Dockside Pub is actually right across from Dock D, which is where you can board a short ferry to visit Water Island. 

Jordan had an early all aboard time due to the second "Anchors Away Street Spectacular" parade of the week, and she used her GoPro camera to capture some live footage during the parade, which was full of energy and confetti. 

Afterwards, she headed to the gym and was surprised that the stair master was available! Here, she watched the ship sail away from St. Thomas before doing some pilates and stretching. 

"I had such a good little gym session," she said, "My lower body feels really just tight today, so a nice long stretch was very much needed." 

She returned to her cabin to shower before a 5:30pm meeting and did laundry before going to bed. 

Day 6

On the second to last day of the cruise, Jordan started off the day by showing her breakfast. After three days off from shows, there were two that evening at 7:00pm and 9:00pm. Beforehand, though, she walked around the track outside, made some phone calls, and worked on editing a video. 

"I'm really excited to perform," Jordan said, "because it feels like ages since our last show day." At 6:15pm, she and the other cast members reported to discuss notes. At 11:00pm, she was finally able to eat dinner, and she used some quinoa that she took from lunch to make a salad. 

Day 7

Is any cruise to the Caribbean complete without a stop a Perfect Day at CocoCay? Jordan went to South Beach thinking it would be less crowded than other areas; however, she was surprised to find it just as busy! In fact, she had to walk around for a bit before she was able to find an open chair. 

She was not able to get off first thing because she had a meeting about brand standards. 

While on the island, Jordan was able to enjoy the island's buffet and had half of a portobello mushroom salad, some french fries, and a taco salad. 

"One thing I will never able to comprehend is the size comparison between any oasis class ship and the other ships in the fleet," she remarked on her way back to the ship. 

At 4:00pm, she had to report to understudy rehearsal and then warmed up before the final ice skating show of the cruise, and per usual, she ate her dinner afterwards. 

Jordan ending the vlog by saying, "It's been such an eventful cruise. I'm grateful everyday to be here and loving every second! I appreciate you all for being on this journey with me."

To celebrate my daughter's birthday, we spent six nights in a two-bedroom AquaTheater suite on the Wonder of the Seas.

The stateroom is one of the Star Class suites, which means it has the top benefits offered by Royal Caribbean and is one of the most palatial staterooms. For my family of 4, the price came out to $13,000 for the 6-night cruise.

We had originally booked Harmony of the Seas but Royal Caribbean changed deployments and swapped out Harmony for the cruise line's newest mega ship, the Wonder of the Seas.

Take a tour of spacious my hotel room at sea complete with views of the ocean and two bedrooms.

Let's take a look around my room complete with views of the ocean, two bedrooms, living room, and plenty of storage.

My suite is located on deck nine, near the Boardwalk neighborhood...

...an outdoor area that has dining and entertainment.

My stateroom is located at the end of the deck, which means it is a far walk to the elevators. But it has a ton of living space.

When I tapped my room key card and opened the door, I walked into the living room.

This suite has two bedrooms, let's start with the master bedroom.

It has a bed, desk, television, and so much closet space.

Next to each side of the bed are built-in outlets, including USB outlets.

The plush bed is surrounded by a wood structure with two large closets on the left of the bed.

The two full-size closets have hangers provided for you

We found the amount of closet space to be more than we needed, even on a seven night cruise

Like all staterooms, there is a safe for personal documents, cash, and any other valuables

The master bathroom has a shower and tub, with adjustable shower head.

All suites have a bathtub in addition to a shower (even Junior Suites)

The shower head can be detached, as well as moved up and down for optimal positioning

There's also a long, yet narrow, countertop with sink.

The other bedroom can sleep up to 4 people, with two pullman beds that can be opened from the walls.

The second bedroom has its own door, which makes for better privacy for anyone sleeping here.

It also has its own television, along with desk and mirror.

Across from the second bedroom is a full bathroom

Each shower has upgraded shower toiletries, including shampoo, conditioner, and body wash

Hand soap is included as well

The living room curtains and air conditioning are controlled by a touch panel, which you can use to open or close curtains.

Now let's move into the living room

The living room has a large couch, table with chairs, and comfortable chair

The table is the perfect spot for snacks or meals delivered by room service

There is also a large television in the living room

The in-room coffee maker can make a quick cup of coffee anytime you want

The "pièce de résistance" of the AquaTheater suite is the balcony.

There are two balcony doors, one in the living room and one in the master bedroom

All AquaTheater suites are on the back of the ship, with a giant wrap-around balcony that extends to both sides of the cabin

As the name implies, you can get perfect views of the AquaTheater during any of the evening performances

There is also a very large table for gatherings on the balcony

Royal Caribbean also included lots of chairs and loungers to use while on the balcony

Arguably the best benefit of this suite is the Royal Genie services, which provides VIP privileges to everyone staying in the cabin.

While not cheap, I felt overall the suite delivered on a luxurious space for my family with an expansive amount of living space that make it a good option for families looking to splurge.

More information:

• Royal Caribbean Suites Guide & Review
• My advice for someone using a Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise
• What is the difference between suite concierge and a Royal Genie?
• A beginner's guide to sailing in Star Class
• What is the most expensive suite on Royal Caribbean?
• How to maximize the value of a cruise ship suite

Before you sail on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, you might have the same questions as our readers do about this cruise ship.

Wonder of the Seas entered service in March 2022, and soon after, she returned to Port Canaveral to begin offering year-round cruises from her homeport. Her return to Florida has a lot of cruisers excited to try out one of the world's largest ships for the first time.

Royal Caribbean invited me to sail on Wonder of the Seas for a quick two-night sailing to commemorate the ship's official christening ceremony, and I wanted to answer as many questions as I could from our readers.

I asked readers on the Royal Caribbean Blog Facebook page what questions they had about Wonder of the Seas so that I could try to answer them all.

Here are all the Wonder of the Seas questions they have and answers to them all!

Can you book shows before the cruise begins?

Yes. Up until recently, the ability to book shows was not an option pre-cruise. However, Royal Caribbean seems to have changed that policy for sailings beginning in December.

Entertainment is available to reserve for Quantum and Oasis class ships 30 days before the sailing via the Royal Caribbean website.

What are your top 3 must-do’s and what to skip on Wonder of the Seas?

I spent a lot of my first day on Wonder of the Seas thinking of a good answer to this question.  

My three must-dos are:

1. Eat brunch and see a show in Mason Jar

I didn't know I needed Southern American food in my life until I ate at The Mason Jar.

Chicken 'n waffles, red velvet pancakes, stuffed French toast and plenty more "don't tell mom what I just ate" dishes make a meal here worth the price of admission.

Equally fun is the Country Trio band that performs here. You don't have to be a mega Country music fan to enjoy the live entertainment.

2. Effectors 2

Truthfully, all the shows on an Oasis Class ship are worth seeing, but Wonder of the Seas has a new show that is a follow-up to the original Effectors show that I first saw on Odyssey of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean's original productions have continuously outperformed the previous show with each new ship, so do yourself a favor and see the shows.

3. Get a drink at the Vue Bar

I love what Royal Caribbean has done with the pool deck on Wonder of the Seas, especially the addition of the Vue Bar.

The Vue extends over the side of the ship to offer fantastic ocean views. 

The panoramic views are worth the visit.

Why is there no Broadway show on Wonder of the Seas?

I think there are two reasons why there's no Broadway show on Wonder of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean will tell you it's because their ability to produce in-house shows is at a level that rivals shows you'd find in Las Vegas or New York, and it allows them to craft a production that matches up well for cruise ship audiences.

To their credit, there's truth in what they're saying. Whether it's Voices, Effectors, or a host of other recent shows you may have seen on ships, Royal Caribbean Productions have evolved quite a bit from just musical medleys that we saw years ago.

Royal Caribbean won't say, however, cost is probably another reason.

Any Broadway show you want to have on a cruise ship costs money, and you have to remember Wonder was being built and launched during the pandemic and following more than two years of billion dollar losses. 

I could be totally wrong, but it's my opinion that developing an in-house show would cost them less than purchasing the rights to a Broadway show.

So given how far the cruise line has come with its own stuff and the financial situation they're in, it makes sense.

Are they offering the all access tour?

Yes, the All Access Ship Tour is available to book.

I took the behind the scenes tour on Mariner of the Seas, and it's an intriguing add-on for anyone that's wanted to see a cruise ship's bridge, controls, galley or more.

With that many people on board, does it feel incredibly overwhelming?

This is my third time on Wonder of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas feels incredibly manageable.

The Oasis Class ships are designed to distribute guests easily throughout the ship and it really does work once you get onboard the ship.

After the hustle and bustle of the first day, things settle down considerably and it's easy to forget the capacity of the ship because of how many things there are to do, which draws people in many directions.

How is the location/setup of Windjammer compared to other Oasis Class ships?

Royal Caribbean built its largest Windjammer on Wonder of the Seas, and it's a welcome change.

On other Oasis Class ships, the Windjammer wasn't as large because there were so many other venues available to draw passengers away. 

However, on Wonder, Royal Caribbean recognized its guests like having the Windjammer as a primary option and greatly expanded its footprint as a result.

Like other Oasis Class ships, the Windjammer is on a high deck. But the layout means much more seating and lots of cooking stations.

How is the embarkation in Port Canaveral?

Embarkation is super easy in Port Canaveral.

Just like Royal Caribbean's other new generation of cruise terminals, the process of embarkation and disembarkation is so much easier than how it is has traditionally worked.

The key to making embarkation very easy is to complete all the pre-cruise check-in information in the Royal Caribbean app prior to the first day.

If you enter all the information in the app before the cruise begins, you will never stop walking through the terminal.

Is there still a non smoking room “Golden Room” up and running in the casino?

Yes, there are many slot machines to choose from, along with a couple of table games.

The other interesting aspect of the Golden Room is that it's non-smoking.

What food is included on Wonder of the Seas and what is not included?

Here's a list of the restaurants included with your cruise fare on Wonder of the Seas:

• Main dining room
• Sorrento's
• Windjammer Marketplace
• Cafe Promenade
• Boardwalk Doghouse
• Park Cafe
• El Loco Fresh and Cantina Fresca

And here are the restaurants that cost extra:

• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Chops Grille
• Hooked Seafood
• The Lime & Coconut
• Izumi 
• Wonderland 
• 150 Central Park 
• Johnny Rockets
• Starbucks 
• Sugar Beach

I would love to see information about the unique things on Wonder compared to her sister ships

Wonder of the Seas is the fifth Oasis Class cruise ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, but she has several key differences.

While she shares many of the same restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues as other Oasis Class ships, significant enhancements were made to her design and layout.

You can view all the differences between Wonder and the other Oasis Class ships.

I would love a picture of the Central Park balconies directly above the Trellis Bar

Voila!

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Royal Caribbean has named Wonder of the Seas' godmother and it found her on the popular social media platform, TikTok.

Marie McCrea was nominated by her daughter as part of Royal Caribbean's search for a godmother for the world's largest cruise ship.

The contest was held on TikTok as part of the #SearchforWonderMom contest. More than 16,000 videos were submitted for the contest, but Ms. McCrea was ultimately chosen.

She will accept the honor of blessing Wonder during a celebratory naming ceremony at the ship's homeport of Port Canaveral, Florida, on Dec. 9, 2022.

Marie and her family will be able to enjoy a 7-night Caribbean cruise while staying in the Ultimate Family Suite, which features an in-suite slide, a cinema and karaoke room, game consoles, a private balcony and more. 

Royal Caribbean will also provide her family five-star hotel accommodations, first-class flights and spending money.

The cruise line has also invited the Wonder Moms who were finalists to set sail on Wonder with their families as a way of honoring their stories.

Beginning in November 2022, Wonder of the Seas will offer Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, including stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Meet Marie McCrea

A resident of Pennsylvania, Marie McCrea is a mom, wife and cancer survivor.

Royal Caribbean says Marie overcame adversity with incredible strength, and at the center of her story are the memories she inspired and made with her family through it all. 

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about Marie's journey, "The search for such an inspiring mom who embodies the spirit of Wonder of the Seas was anything but easy. Marie and her family have a heartening and encouraging story that made us cry and rejoice and hopeful, and throughout it all, she inspired wonder and adventure in those around her."

"I want to thank everyone who nominated the Wonder Moms in their own lives. More than 16,000 videos were created, and I was in awe of all the incredible stories of the everyday heroes who are motivating those around them to discover, wonder and make memories."

Royal Caribbean panel considered the top submissions, and from those compelling stories, Marie was chosen for the honor.

What is a cruise ship godmother?

Every cruise ship has a godmother, which serves as a ceremonial position. 

Other ships have had women hold the role, including renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. 

Have a cruise booked on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas and excited to get onboard for all the fun?

Before you get your cruise started, it's a good idea to plan a few things and prepare for everything Wonder of the Seas has to offer.

While there are important things to do before any cruise you go on, Wonder of the Seas has its own considerations (as do all the Oasis Class ships). 

Have Royal Caribbean app installed and ready to use

The Royal Caribbean app is a must-have for any cruise, but super important for a new ship like Wonder of the Seas.

The reason why the app is so important is Royal Caribbean puts so much of its cruise planning tools once onboard in the app.

The app is free to download, so get it on your phone and then log in and ensure everything is ready to go. 

Even if you're the "I don't want to carry around my phone all the time" type of person, the advantages of having the app installed for even just embarkation day make it totally worthwhile.

Get a check-in time

Now that you have the Royal Caribbean app installed, get a check-time assigned.

Royal Caribbean opens check-in times up to 45 days before your cruise.  If you are still more than 45 days out from boarding, set a calendar reminder so you can get one later.

The nice thing about using the Royal Caribbean app is you can choose a check-in time without completing the rest of the check-in process on the app.  Be sure to complete it, but in the meantime, get an early check-in time.

Remember, the earlier you check-in, the earlier you get onboard and start the fun.

Watch a ship tour

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To get an idea of where everything is, it's a good idea to watch a walkthrough video tour of Wonder of the Seas.

Getting your bearings on an Oasis Class ship is always important for new cruisers, and a video tour is an easy way to know where everything is located before you ever get onboard.

Luckily, we have a great video that takes you around the ship with nothing but views of where everything is located and helpful descriptions of what to expect.

Pre-purchase a drink package

If you think a Royal Caribbean drink package is worth it for your family, then buy it now and lock in the price.

You can purchase a drink package on Royal Caribbean's cruise planner website.  Yes, it will be cheaper than if you wait to buy it onboard the cruise.

Book dining times

It seems like everyone knows about how amazing the specialty restaurants are on Wonder of the Seas, so do yourself a favor and pre-book dining times early.

Just like the drink package, you can book specialty restaurants via the Royal Caribbean cruise planner.

These restaurants book up the quickest and almost always sell out:

• Mason Jar
• Izumi Hibachi
• Giovanni's Italian Kitchen

Skip the Windjammer

On embarkation day, you can avoid the crowds by skipping the Windjammer buffet.

When you watch our Wonder of the Seas tour, you'll see how many great alternatives there are for embarkation day lunch.

My top choices for a quick bite to eat after you get onboard are:

• Park Cafe
• El Loco Fresh
• Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade (has an extra cost)

Pack your bathing suit in your carry-on bag

The best time to ride the water slides and FlowRider is on the first day of the cruise.

Pack a bathing suit in your carry-on bag so that you can change into the bathing suit after getting onboard and having lunch. Most people will have packed their bathing suit in their checked luggage, which means very few people can go in the pool or enjoy the slides.

There are large restrooms on the pool deck you can change in, and then take advantage of the short waits.

Read more: The Ultimate Cruise Packing List

Pack pants and socks

Speaking of things to pack, make sure you pack socks and pants.

If your Wonder of the Seas cruise is going to the Caribbean or Mediterranean, you might overlook bringing socks or long pants, but they're necessary if you want to try either the rock climbing wall or free skating sessions in the ship's ice skating rink.

Email the suite concierge

If you are in a Grand Suite or higher cabin, then you'll have access to the suite concierge.

About a week before your cruise, the concierge should email you to welcome you onboard and give you the basics of what to expect.

Instead of just glancing at the email, email back the concierge and ask them to book dining times, reserve a cabana, or anything else you can think of to book before the cruise begins.

One of the best benefits of staying in a suite is the added service the concierge gives you.

Plan to see all the shows

Regardless if you are a patron of the arts at home or not, plan to see all the shows onboard.

Wonder of the Seas has a few signature shows onboard that are must-sees, so plan your evenings accordingly.

This includes:

• inTENse (AquaTheater)
• Effectors II (Royal Theater)
• 365: The Seasons on Ice (Studio B)
• Voices (Royal Theater)

You won't be able to pre-book entertainment before your cruise (unless you have a Royal Genie), but you can book show times as soon as you get on the ship and connect to the wifi.

Then open up the Royal Caribbean app, and you'll be able to book show times.

More helpful information

• What are the different types of cabins on a cruise ship?
• What's included in your Royal Caribbean cruise fare
• Avoid these mistakes when picking a cruise ship cabin
• 25 best Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets!
• 5 Costly lessons learned on a cruise

Ready to catch up on Royal Caribbean news from this week?

There's always things happening you should know about in Royal Caribbean beyond just the big headlines, so here's a quick look at what's new lately.

Oasis of the Seas becomes largest cruise ship to ever visit Halifax

The residents of Nova Scotia, Canada welcomed the largest cruise ship to ever enter their waters this week.

Oasis of the Seas arrived in Halifax on Tuesday morning.

About 175 vessel calls are expected during the cruise ship season in Halifax, which peaks in the fall.

Credit to the Port of Halifax for sharing these great photos!

Sneak peek at new show on Wonder of the Seas

It's no secret that Royal Caribbean will be adding a new show to Wonder of the Seas this summer.

"Effectors 2" is the sequel to the Effectors show first seen on Spectrum of the Seas and Odyssey of the Seas. It's a show based on Royal Caribbean's own team of super heroes that use sound and music to fight the forces of evil.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President of Entertainment, Nick Weir, tweeted a video update with a look at the show.

Creating exotic new worlds, live on stage… #TheEffectors2, opening this summer, on #WonderoftheSeas pic.twitter.com/tixhFxUMdX

— Nick Weir (@NickWeirShowbiz) June 9, 2022

More sneak peeks ;-) ~When @RackyPlews and @mrtimenglish see these tweets they grumble a bit, lol. ~But hey, one of my most important jobs is to bring the sneak peeks to the people! Right? 🤐 pic.twitter.com/ZVUBs76nvY

— Nick Weir (@NickWeirShowbiz) June 9, 2022

No date yet exactly when Effectors 2 will open on Wonder of the Seas, but it should be sometime this summer.

Spectrum of the Seas will soon start sailing to Malaysia

Cruises from Singapore that sail to no ports are about to change.

Beginning on June 30, Spectrum of the Seas will start offering cruises to port calls in Malaysia.

Royal Caribbean announced the ship will start visiting Kuala Lumpur and Penang with its new three- and four-night itineraries.

"We are thrilled to be the first cruise line in Singapore to reconnect holidaymakers with Asia’s beautiful destinations once again," said Angie Stephen, Royal Caribbean Vice President and Managing Director, Asia-Pacific.

You probably heard about the new suite neighborhood, shows, and restaurants Royal Caribbean added to Wonder of the Seas, but the cruise line also tweaked a few things that I really liked.

With each new cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's teams look for ways to improve the guest experience, and not just on a grand scale. Tweaking, swapping, and trying new ideas is part of the new build process. Often, these changes aren't heralded in reviews, but people that cruise a lot are sure to notice them when they run across it and say something like, "That's different."

Read more: Wonder of the Seas vs other Oasis Class ships

Besides the amazing new shows and areas you wont find any other Oasis Class ship, here are a few subtle changes Royal Caribbean made to Wonder of the Seas that I noticed (and most of them I liked).

Magnetic bathroom doors

The first time you use your cruise cabin bathroom, you'll probably notice it's missing that typical "ka-chunk!" sound the door makes when slamming shut.

The bathroom doors in your cabin are magnetically sealed on Wonder of the Seas. I assume it's so that the door is quieter when it closes, but I don't know that for a fact.

The bathroom doors use a magnetic element which pulls shut the the door when it's within about 1/2 -1” from closure. 

Read more: 8 things you should know about your cruise ship cabin

Some showers have dual showerheads

Keeping with the "changes in the bathroom" theme, another pleasant change was my balcony cabin had two different showerheads. 

Not all cabins have this, but there is a handheld showerhead and a standard showerhead that you can alternate between in the balcony room I stayed in. While you can't use them both at the same time, it is nice to be able to switch as needed.

Keep in mind if you do switch showerheads, the water coming out will likely be initially cold until the warm water comes rushing through the pipe.

Read more: A look at the big suites on Wonder of the Seas

More USB outlets

A trend Royal Caribbean has embraced is adding USB outlets to more places, and that continues on Wonder of the Seas.

There are more USB outlets in bars than I've seen on any other Royal Caribbean ship. This is great for being able to charge your phone while you hang out (and not have to drag around a battery pack).

In the cabin, there are more USB outlets than normal.  In addition to the USB outlets at your desk, they've finally added USB outlets near the beds.

Read more: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant on Wonder of the Seas

Wall hooks

One of my favorite cabin hacks has been to recommend bringing your own magnets with hooks, but Royal Caribbean has offered some hooks on Wonder of the Seas.

Below the television are a series of hooks that came installed already.

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Wall hooks are very helpful in a cabin because you can use them to keep apparel off the ground, and more importantly, free up drawer space.

Read more: My favorite Royal Caribbean cruise hacks

Jazz music in Central Park

When we learned there would be no Jazz on 4 on Wonder of the Seas (it was replaced with a casino space), it seemed like an entertainment loss, but that's not the case.

Wonder of the Seas was designed with a high roller casino area in lieu of a jazz club to appeal to the Asian cruise market. When Royal Caribbean changed plans to keep Wonder of the Seas in the United States, they decided to keep the VIP room.

Royal Caribbean moved the jazz performers to Central Park to offer music each evening. There's also jazz music from time to time in Music Hall.

Read more: Interesting facts you might not know about Wonder of the Seas

More helpful articles

• What is the best room on a cruise ship?
• Avoid these mistakes when picking a cruise ship cabin
• What's the difference between a balcony and a suite cabin on a cruise?

What does a suite on the world's largest cruise ship look like?

Staying in a suite means enjoying the finest accommodations on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, which come in variety of configurations and prices.

When you book a suite, you're getting the most space available in a cruise cabin on board both inside and on your balcony. That means space to spread out and take full advantage of your home away from home.

In addition, a suite gets you additional benefits such as concierge service, priority boarding and departure privileges, and dedicated entertainment seating.

Whether you choose to book a suite or not, it's always fun to look at what these giant cabins look like, just so you can get an idea of what it gets you.

Royal Caribbean recently shared remarkable photos from some of the suites on Wonder of the Seas. Keep in mind this isn't every type of suite, but there's a few varieties to give you an idea of what it's like.

From the spacious to the stupendous, here's a look at some of the suites on Wonder.

Accessible Loft Suite

Loft suites are the two-level cabins first introduced on the Oasis Class cruise ships that truly stand out for the fact it encompasses more than one floor.

This particular suite is a wheelchair accessible cabin (there's an elevator to bring the wheelchair up to the second level near the cabin entrance). 

Royal Caribbean has accessible rooms are available in: Crown Loft Suite, Junior Suite, Ultra Spacious Ocean View with Large Balcony, Ocean View Balcony, Central Park View Balcony, Ocean View, Interior, Interior with Virtual Balcony

Crown Loft Suite

Here's a look at the standard loft suite on Wonder of the Seas, without the accessibility option.

The Crown Loft Suite (category L1) has two levels and has a Royal King bed upstairs and a sofa bed downstairs.

Royal Loft Suite

If you're looking to move up from a standard loft suite, the Royal Loft Suite provides more living space as well as Star Class benefits, such as your own Royal Genie.

Read more: What is the difference between suite concierge and a Royal Genie?

The Royal Loft Suite comes in at 1,524 square feet of living space, plus 843 square feet of balcony space. Compare that to 545 square feet in a Crown Loft Suite!

Two-bedroom AquaTheater Suite

Another Star Class cabin is located on the end of the ship with sweeping views of the ocean and AquaTheater below it.

If you love a good balcony, this cabin arguably has the best one because of how massive it is.

On deck 8, the AquaTheater suite has  823 square feet of living space and an additional 772 square feet of balcony space. That's almost double the inside space.

Ultimate Family Suite

Have you heard about the most expensive suite on Royal Caribbean?

The Ultimate Family Suite is massive on Wonder of the Seas, offering kid-centric design and 1,134 square footage indoors and 212 on the balcony. 

The location of the suite is different on Wonder of the Seas compared to Symphony of the Seas, too. Whereas on Symphony the suite overlooks the sport area, the Ultimate Family Suite on Wonder faces the forward and starboard sides of the ship.

If you're ready to book this bad boy, it won't come cheap. The price will vary depending on the sailing, but prices usually begin around $25,000 and go up quickly from there.

Suite Neighborhood Sun Deck

There are many benefits that come with a suite on Wonder of the Seas, including access to the Suite Neighborhood sun deck.

Exclusively for suite guests, the sun deck offers a special area to enjoy ocean views that has a plunge pool, lounge chairs, and a bar.

Wonder of the Seas is the only Oasis Class cruise ship that has its own suite neighborhood, which required the company to put fewer suites on the ship so that they had space for the area.

More information

• What is the best room on a cruise ship?
• What's the difference between a balcony and a suite cabin?
• Is a suite on Royal Caribbean worth it?
• Difference between aft balcony & balcony cabins
• 25 best Royal Caribbean tips, tricks & hidden secrets
• The best packing for a cruise list

The search for a ceremonial role on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship is headed to social media.

Royal Caribbean announced it is looking to find a godmother for Wonder of the Seas by searching through TikTok.

Wonder of the Seas is the newest Royal Caribbean cruise ship and the fifth Oasis Class cruise ship. She's currently sailing in Europe, but will return to Florida in November.

Every cruise ship has a godmother, which serves as a ceremonial position.  Other ships have had women hold the role, including renowned athletes, celebrities and royalty.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it.  She will also be present for the ship's  naming ceremony in Port Canaveral, Florida, in December. 

U.S. users of the popular video-sharing platform can now take part in the #SearchForWonderMom contest by nominating a mom who inspires those around them to discover, wonder and make memories. 

The call for submissions is open through Monday, May 16, at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the winner will be announced on Royal Caribbean’s TikTok this summer.

The winner and their family will set sail on an exclusive cruise to the cruise line’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

They will also stay in the Ultimate Family Suite and receive first-class flights, three nights in a five-star hotel before the cruise and up to $1,000 in spending money. 

In addition, four finalists can enjoy all Wonder has to offer on a 7-night cruise in a balcony stateroom for up to four guests.

How to enter the contest

Think you might want to be the godmother? Here's what you need to know:

• Users must follow @RoyalCaribbean on TikTok.
• Submissions must be posted on TikTok and share why their nominee would be the ideal Godmother for the world’s largest cruise ship.
• Uploaded videos must use Royal Caribbean’s original #SearchforWonderMom contest audio track pinned on the cruise line’s profile.
• Entries must tag @RoyalCaribbean and include #SearchForWonderMom and #Contest
• Contest is open only to legal residents of the fifty United States, including the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico who are at least sixteen  years old at the time of entry. 
  • Nominees must be at least 21 years old.

You can read the full rules and requirements here.

Ready to catch up on this week's Royal Caribbean news?

There's always a lot of changes happening, big and small. In order to keep everyone up-to-date, this post has a wrap up of what's new this week.

Check out all of the updates so far this week.

Wonder of the Seas begins European cruise season

Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship arrived in Barcelona and is ready to begin her summer cruise season in the Mediterranean.

Wonder of the Seas will begin offering 7-night cruises from Barcelona and Rome beginning May 8th.

During her time in Europe, the ship will visit destinations such as Florence, Naples and Capri, Italy; Provence, France; and Malaga, Spain.

Wonder’s western Mediterranean sailings will continue through October.  In November, Wonder will return to the U.S. to sail from its new year-round home in Port Canaveral, Florida, 

New Galveston cruise terminal ahead of schedule

Progress is so good at Royal Caribbean's new cruise terminal in Galveston that construction is actually ahead of schedule.

During a webinar with travel agents on Wednesday, Royal Caribbean Director of Sales for the Central Region, Galen Matthews, provided an update.

"We are super excited that the Galveston terminal construction is actually ahead of schedule," Ms. Matthews shared. "The terminal is now 50% complete and the berth expansion is about 80% complete."

"We will be open for business and ready to receive your clients for the first Allure of the Seas sailing, which is on November 13, 2022."

Terminal 3 cruise terminal will cost $125 million, and is located at Pier 10 for exclusive use by Royal Caribbean.

Executive moves

Two notable Royal Caribbean executives have announced they are departing the company.

Royal Caribbean International Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, Mark Tamis, is leaving Royal Caribbean International. His replacement will be Sean Treacy, who was working as the Senior Vice President of International Sales.

Mr. Tamis has worked as the head of Hotel Operations since February 2015. He came to Royal Caribbean after serving as senior vice president, Guest Operations with Carnival Cruise Lines.

In addition, Vice President of worldwide port operations, Captain Hernan Zini is also leaving the cruise line to go work for Amazon.

Captain Zini also served as Vice President of talent management for Royal Caribbean Group. Many cruise fans may remember him best as the fleet captain and being the start-up Captain for Allure of the Seas when she first debuted.

Royal Caribbean will look for a new person to be appointed to Captain Zini's former role.

New crew member recruitment drive in Antigua

Just days after Royal Caribbean announced it would hire more crew members from Barbados, the cruise line said it will also do a hiring push in Antigua & Barbuda.

Royal Caribbean Group Vice President of Government Relations in the Americas, Russel Benford, announced the news at the Seatrade conference last week.

Royal Caribbean hopes to hire thousands of people from the Caribbean islands during an employment fair in June.

Openings in operations include

• storekeepers
• cruise staff
• youth staff
• sports staff
• laundry and restaurant attendants
• bar waiters
• wait staff, bakers
• butchers
• casino
• entertainment
• photographers

Glacier visits

Royal Caribbean's first ships of the Alaska cruise season are visiting glaciers this week.

Photos of Radiance of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas are checking out the Southeast Alaska glaciers, and there's new photos of both ships.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader twangster shared this photo of Radiance of the Seas, as seen from Serenade of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean Chief Meteorologist James Van Fleet posted photos of Radiance as well.

Both @RoyalCaribbean Serenade of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas up close in the Glaciers today in Southeast Alaska. Staff Captain Fredrik sending pics of Radiance making her way in this morning from the Bridge of Serenade. pic.twitter.com/rjuQ8dfkIj

— James Van Fleet (@JamesVanFleet) May 4, 2022