The new large of the cruise world, Royal Caribbean‘s Wonder of the Seas, will lastly be christened on Friday, 9 months after its debut, in a gala celebration led by a “surprise mother” godmother chosen by way of a TikTok contest.
Pennsylvania mom and most cancers survivor Marie McCrea, who was nominated by her daughter within the “surprise mother” contest, will oversee the breaking of a bottle of Champagne in opposition to the aspect of the vessel — the largest cruise ship ever constructed — because it prepares to sail on a celebratory, two-night voyage from Florida’s Port Canaveral.
The non-revenue crusing of the much-ballyhooed, 18-deck-high vessel, with Royal Caribbean executives, journey brokers and different particular company on board, will mark the official begin of the ship’s first year-round schedule of sailings to the Caribbean.
The ship will make a single cease at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s non-public island within the Bahamas.
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Wonder of the Seas initially debuted in March with a handful of Caribbean sailings out of Florida’s Port Everglades earlier than repositioning to the Mediterranean for the summer season. However, it’s only now settling into its first long-term dwelling at Port Canaveral. It started crusing out of the Florida cruise hub on a year-round foundation in mid-November.
A 3-person TPG staff reported dwell from Wonder of the Seas’ maiden voyage in March, posting an extended checklist of first-impression tales and guides to the vessel, together with:
A brand new report holder
Built on the large Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, Wonder of the Seas measures 236,857 tons — about 4% larger than the earlier dimension chief within the cruise world, Royal Caribbean’s 4-year-old Symphony of the Seas.
Like Symphony, Wonder is a part of Royal Caribbean’s groundbreaking, five-vessel Oasis class of ships, which started rolling out in 2009 and dominate the checklist of the world’s largest cruise ships.
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Wonder is much like Symphony and three earlier Oasis-class vessels, with just a few new twists that contributed to its larger dimension, together with a devoted suite space with a non-public lounge, restaurant and solar deck. Like the 4 earlier Oasis-class ships, it’s practically 1,200 toes lengthy — the equal of greater than three soccer fields.
Notably, Wonder has room for as much as 6,988 passengers with each berth crammed — greater than some other passenger ship in historical past. It sails with 2,300 crew members, additionally a report for a passenger ship. As a outcome, the whole variety of folks on Wonder may strategy 9,300 at occasions.
Related: The final information to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries
After launching the Oasis class in 2009, Royal Caribbean added three extra Oasis-class vessels in 2010, 2016 and 2018 earlier than unveiling Wonder of the Seas in March. Each of the ships has been a little bit larger than the final.
Like the sooner Oasis-class ships, Wonder gives a number of important pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, browsing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball courtroom and even a zipper line. And that’s simply on its prime deck. Inside the vessel, you’ll discover extra lounges, bars, eating places and retailers than you’ll be able to think about, plus an enormous on line casino, spas and theaters.
As with earlier Royal Caribbean ships, it even has an indoor ice skating rink.
The TikTok contest that discovered a godmother
Wonder of the Seas godmother Marie McCrea was named to the function within the wake of a TikTok contest that requested for nominations for the final word “surprise mother,” to be submitted by way of the platform beneath the #SearchforWonderMother hashtag. More than 16,000 movies had been submitted, and the promotion led to 10.6 billion views of the hashtag on TikTok.
McCrea was nominated in a video submitted by her daughter, Allie, and picked by a Royal Caribbean panel that thought-about the highest submissions. Her nomination famous how she overcame adversity with power.
McCrea and an inventory of different finalists within the TikTok contest will all sail on the ship at no cost.
Planning a cruise? Start with these tales: