Wonder of the Seas compared to Symphony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas vs Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas is a fairly new ship, being built in 2022. The Wonder of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world and has quite a few upgrades from its Oasis-class siblings such as a new suite neighborhood, an outdoor bar called The Vue, and an outdoor kid's play area. It's 4 years newer than the Symphony of the Seas, which was built in 2018.

Ship Size

The Wonder of the Seas is considered a extra large size ship. Coming in at 1,188 ft long and 210 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 3.3 football fields, as wide as 4 tractor trailers and the same height as a 16 story building. The Wonder of the Seas and the Symphony of the Seas are in the same class which means they're sister ships. For the most part, they're similar in terms of size and layout; although they may have different features and attractions on board.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas holds about the same number of passengers as the Symphony of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Wonder of the Seas has less space per person compared to the Symphony of the Seas. This doesn't always mean that you're going to feel packed like a sardine on the ship. Some of the largest ships use innovative and architecural features to feel more spacious like neighborhoods and zones to spread the crowd out.

Dining Establishments

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Wonder of the Seas has 27 different dining options like Solarium Bistro, Sorrento's Pizza, and The Mason Jar. Of those options, 13 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 14 options have an additional fee.

The Symphony of the Seas has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Sorrento's Pizza, 150 Central Park, and Solarium Bistro. 13 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 14 have an additional fee.

The Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas has the same number of dining options as the Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas.

Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. We're a firm believer that if you want to just spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas has a total of 5 pools and 4 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are adults only. 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas has fewer pools than the Wonder of the Seas and more hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Symphony of the Seas. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.

Ship Features

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On both ships, 82% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare.

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas will likely be more expensive than on Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

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