Table of Contents
Luxury cruising I have discovered to be one of my favourite things to do for a holiday. Knowing that I was not going to wait until I retire, I went on my first cruise for my 30th birthday. I figured that the best way to experience a cruise would be to jump straight into a transatlantic cruise with Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas. I embarked on a 14-night repositioning cruise from a summer in the Mediterranean to the winter season in the Caribbean.
Wonder of the Seas is a magnificent Oasis Class Royal Caribbean ship that is one of the largest ships. As of January 2024 Icon of the Seas will take over this title.
In this post I will share what I got up to on my 14-Night transatlantic Itinerary and give you some ideas for future ones you may be planning.
Port Stop Locations
Barcelona→Mallorca →Palma de Mallorca→valencia→Cartagena →Malaga→Nassau, Bahamas→Port Canaveral, Florida
Bookings
I booked through the Royal Caribbean website myself which gives me the flexibility of booking and tailoring the trip myself. There is also the option to book via a travel agency like Bolsover. This way there is more of a hands-off approach and relying on the travel agent’s expertise. You will tell them your requirements and they will book it all for you.
Getting There
Independently I had booked a flight with Ryanair from Manchester UK to the departure port in Barcelona. We booked to fly in 3 nights before the departure sailing. This was so we would have time to explore Rome but most importantly leave room for any teething problems like delayed flights, lost luggage or mishaps that could occur. Thankfully that did not happen.
We booked Gran Hotel Havana hotel (£250 pn) which is located not far from the cruise terminal. Arriving in Spain we took the metro but on the morning of the cruise we chose to book a taxi straight to the port for ease.
Once at the terminal
Once we arrived at Terminal B at our allocated slot, we went straight to the porters who quickly took our tagged suitcases to put on the ship. This was very smooth and so deserved a tip however, this is optional. We then went to queue for check in which was very quick and efficient. The lines moved quickly with no problems.
Once inside the terminal, we had to show the required documentation at a brief checkpoint before a thorough check at the next stage. Security screening was next with 6 lines of metal detectors and it only took a couple of minutes. Such a breeze.
Once all the checking was done, we followed the path towards the ship through duty free. It was a bit of a long maze but easy to follow. We saw the first of many photo stations where you could get an embarkation day photo with the cruise photographers. This could later be purchased.
Once on board
Upon entering the large ship we scanned our sea passes and and were welcomed by arched balloons, cheering staff and celebration drinks! The vibes were giving and this increased my excitement for our voyage. The first thing we saw was the royal promenade which was huge!!! Some passengers were already settled in and others, like us were just taking it all in in amazement! As we knew our room would not be ready yet, we explored the ship followed by eating lunch at the Windjammer all you could eat buffet. When you first enter a cruise ship, use your time wisely by checking in at your muster station, filling your belly with food, gathering your bearings on the ship and pre-book food or activity reservations on the app.
Our luggage was ready and waiting outside our room at 2:45pm. We then made ourselves at home by unpacking, reading all our leaflets in the room and relaxing.
Wonder of the seas
Food
The Wonder has 40 plus restaurants, bars and lounges to enjoy including:
Main Dining Room:
Offers a traditional cruise dining experience with a rotating menu; appetisers, entrees, and desserts, prepared by skilled chefs.
Specialty Restaurants (£££):
- Chops Grille: A classic steakhouse offering premium cuts of beef, seafood, and other gourmet dishes.
- Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen: An Italian trattoria serving authentic Italian cuisine, including pasta, pizza, and seafood dishes.
- Izumi: A Japanese-inspired restaurant offering sushi, sashimi, and other Asian specialties.
- Wonderland: A whimsical restaurant offering imaginative dishes inspired by fantasy and imagination.
- Coastal Kitchen: A Mediterranean-inspired restaurant exclusive to suite guests, offering fresh seafood, grilled meats, and Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
- Solarium:
Casual Dining (included):
- Windjammer Marketplace: A buffet-style restaurant offering a wide selection of international dishes, including salads, soups, sandwiches, and desserts.
- Café Promenade: A casual café serving light snacks, pastries, sandwiches, and specialty coffees throughout the day.
- Johnny Rockets: A retro-style diner serving classic American favourites, including burgers, fries, and milkshakes.
Bars and Lounges:
- Schooner Bar: A nautical-themed bar offering a variety of cocktails, wines, and spirits in a relaxed atmosphere.
- Boleros: A Latin-themed lounge serving specialty cocktails, mojitos, and other drinks, accompanied by live music and dancing.
- Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade: A lively sports bar featuring multiple screens showing live sports events, along with a selection of beers, cocktails, and pub-style fare.
- Bionic Bar: A futuristic bar where robotic bartenders mix and serve cocktails with precision and flair.
Neighbourhoods
- Central Park: Inspired by the famous New York City park, Central Park is an open-air oasis located in the middle of the ship. It features lush greenery, winding pathways, and serene garden areas. Guests can enjoy alfresco dining, live music performances, and specialty shops.
- Boardwalk: The Boardwalk offers a lively family-friendly environment with carousel rides, arcade games, and classic carnival games. It also features casual dining venues and entertainment options.
- Royal Promenade: The Royal Promenade is the heart of the ship, featuring a line of shops, bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Guests can shop for duty-free goods, grab a drink at one of the bars, or enjoy live music and performances on the Promenade.
- Pool and Sports Zone: This is perfect for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Featuring multiple swimming pools, whirlpools, sun decks, and sports courts where guests can enjoy swimming, lounging, and participating in various sports activities.
- Vitality Spa and Fitness Center: Designed for wellness and relaxation, there are a range of spa treatments, fitness classes, and wellness activities. Guests can book massages, facials, and other spa services, or stay active with workouts and exercise classes led by certified instructors.
- Youth Zone: Catering to younger guests, the Youth Zone features age-appropriate activities and facilities for children and teenagers. It includes supervised kids’ clubs, teen lounges, arcade games, arts and crafts activities, and interactive programming for children of all ages.
- Entertainment Place: This neighbourhood is dedicated to entertainment and nightlife, featuring theatres, lounges, bars, and nightclubs. Guests can enjoy Broadway-style shows, live music performances, comedy acts, and themed parties throughout the cruise.
Activities
- Pools and Water Park: Guests can enjoy swimming and lounging by the poolside in the ship’s pools, including main pools and adults-only areas. The ship also features a water park with slides and splash zones for guests of all ages.
- Fitness Center: The ship’s fitness center offers state-of-the-art equipment, including cardio machines, free weights, and strength training equipment. There are group fitness classes, such as yoga, spinning, and aerobics, led by certified instructors.
- Sports Court: There are various sports activities on the ship’s sports court, including basketball, volleyball, and soccer.
- Entertainment: There is a variety of entertainment options, including Broadway-style shows, live music performances, comedy shows, karaoke and themed parties.
- Adventure Ocean Kids Club: The Adventure Ocean Kids Club offers supervised activities and programming for children and teenagers, including games, crafts, and educational activities.
- Outdoor Movie Screenings: Guests can enjoy outdoor movie screenings under the stars on the ship’s poolside movie screen.
- Trivia and Game Shows: The ship hosts trivia contests, game shows, and other interactive activities throughout the day, providing entertainment for guests of all ages.
- Flow Rider: Surf simulator on 30,000 gallons of rushing water.
- Ziplining: Zip Line over nine decks up over the Broadwalk.
- Ice-Skating: Strap on a pair of skates ice-skate onboard.
1. Rock-Climbing: Climb forty feet above deck on the signature Rock Climbing Wall.
3. Casino: There are table games, slot machines, and other gaming options for guests looking to try their luck. Guests can purchase casino credits to participate in games.
4. Onboard Shopping: Retail therapy at the ship’s onboard shops offers a selection of duty-free goods, including jewelry, clothing, accessories, souvenirs, and more
When We Cruised
This was our first ever transatlantic cruise which departed the end of October. This is usually the time when the 14-night repositioning cruises transition from summer in the Mediterranean to the winter season in the Caribbean. If you are interested in transatlantic cruises see below for how they work.
Here is the general trend for transatlantic sailings.
- Spring and Fall Transatlantic Crossings: These are popular times for transatlantic cruises due to mild weather conditions in both Europe and the Caribbean. Spring crossings typically occur from March to May, while fall crossings take place from September to November. Prices may be lower compared to peak summer months.
- Summer Transatlantic Crossings: While summer offers warmer temperatures and longer days, transatlantic cruises during this season may be more expensive and tend to attract more travellers. However, if you enjoy warmer weather and don’t mind higher prices, a summer transatlantic crossing could be ideal for you.
- Winter Transatlantic Crossings: Winter transatlantic cruises are less common due to cooler temperatures and rougher seas. However, some cruise lines offer repositioning cruises from Europe to the Caribbean or vice versa during the winter months, which can provide a unique experience at a lower cost. These cruises typically occur from late October to early January.
- Locations and Ports of Call: Transatlantic cruises typically depart from major port cities in Europe, such as Southampton (UK), Barcelona (Spain), or Rome (Italy), and sail to ports in the Caribbean or North America, such as Miami (USA), Fort Lauderdale (USA), or San Juan (Puerto Rico). The exact itinerary and ports of call will vary depending on the cruise line and specific sailing.
Generally, transatlantic cruises during shoulder seasons (spring and fall) or repositioning cruises during the winter months may offer better value for money compared to peak summer cruises.
Our Room
We specifically chose our Ocean View Balcony room on Deck 11 308. This was spacious and just perfect for us! Shortly after settling in we were greeted by our cabin attendant from St Vincent who made sure our rooms were cleaned twice a day (now from 2023 they do it once). There was also cruise compass daily outside our door to inform us of all the activities on and off the ship for that day.
Port Stop – Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is a beautiful city to explore if you have spare day or two before or after the cruise.
The ultimate day in Barcelona would include visiting:
- Las ramblas
- Arc de Triomphe
- Barcelona beach
- Sagrada Familia
- La Boqueria Market
- El Nacional
- Barcelona Beach
- La Sagrada Familia
Cycling, walking and food tours of the city can be pre-booked on Viator to make the most out of this vibrant city. We did the hop on and off bus which doubled as transport and a great way to see what Barcelona had to offer.
The evenings are perfect for strolling along the promenade, salsa dancing with a fun group or even rollerblading with the breeze through your hair. Why not also indulge in traditional paella. We found an awesome plant based paella restaurant called Bubita Sangria Bar.
We had a sail-away party leaving Barcelona at 6pm.
Port Stop – Palma de Mallorca, Spain
I was happy to explore this port without any excursions and so as we arrived there we walked 40 mins towards town to do the ‘hop on and hop off‘ bus stop. This is a great way to see the city at your pace in one day. We bought our tickets online so we could just hop straight on the bus.
We made the most of our day by seeing some iconic buildings and streets. It was impossible to miss Palma’s cathedral, a Mediterranean Gothic structure towering over the historic city centre also visible from the cruise port. We also saw the old town streets, the old walls, Mercado del Olivar and Bellvar Castle. Because of the hilltop location of Bellvar Castle, the panoramic views from up there were breath taking! After we finished touring around Palma de Mallorca on the bus, we headed on foot towards the marina ‘Darsena de Can Barbará’ where we chilled for a bit.
If you want a beach, Playa Can Pere Antoni (Palma’s public beach) is about a 1 mile/1.6 kilometer walk from the Cathedral. Be mindful that there aren’t any changing rooms on this beach so a better option just before heading back to the ship.
Cala Mayor beach is roughly 2.6 km from the cruise port. The views are really nice but it can get very crowded.
From the Marina we took a taxi back to the ship (€15) as it was just so hot to walk all the way back to the ship back to the ship.
Port Stop – Valencia, Spain
We took the opportunity to explore this stunning and vibrant city of Valencia. We paid a €10 pp for the coach transfer to take us into the town and back after. It is quite a walk (1hr) from the port but doable if you wanted to save money. It is quite a walk (1hr) from the port but doable if you want to save money.
From the coach transfer it was hard not to admire the Torres de Serranos. These towers were part of the medieval city wall and are a perfect example of Gothic architecture. We wandered through the city past ‘Basilica de la Mare de Deu dels Desemparats‘ and the Valencia Cathedral.
From the city we took an Uber to the state-of-the-art science complex park. There are many attractions to cater to all ages in this complex. We explored Valencia wandering through the large halls of the Science Museum, admiring the marine aquarium L’Oceanografic structure, and looking in the Hemisfèric. It was a beautiful day to really take in the mixture of both modern and innovative structural designs.
We visited the Centro Comercial El Saler shopping centre with high street shops and a variety of food vendors. We took the chance to use Starbucks in here to use the wifi to download movies for our continued cruise journey.
After a great day in Valencia, we took an Uber back city centre to see it once last time. We then hopped on the coach back to the cruise ship.
Port Stop – Cartagena, Spain
Along the shores of Spain’s Costa Cálida, Cartagena has a rich tapestry of history, culture, and Mediterranean charm.
We chose to explore the city’s well-preserved Roman ruins, including the iconic Roman Theatre, which we found offers a real glimpse into Cartagena’s ancient past. For a convenient and flexible way to discover the city’s highlights, consider hopping on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour, allowing you to hop off at key attractions such as the Castillo de la Concepción, where panoramic views of the city and harbour await.
Cartagena would not be complete without indulging in a bit of shopping which is what we did. Strolling along the charming streets of the Old Town, where boutique shops, artisanal crafts, and local delicacies were lined which was pretty. There was no excuse not to pick up souvenirs and gifts to remember your time in this captivating Spanish gem.
We later spent the rest of our time in port on the ship with a drink in hand on the top deck of the ship. The glorious weather was super sunny.
Port Stop – Malaga, Spain
Docking into Terminal El Palmeral, prepare to be enchanted by the city’s array of iconic landmarks and vibrant attractions in Malaga. Malaga is one of the busiest ports in the Mediterranean, welcoming thousands of tourists every year.
We got the hop-on-hop-off bus directly outside the cruise terminal to embark on a panoramic tour of Malaga’s highlights. We were able to see the Alcazaba fortress, the Picasso museum, Malaga Cathedral and Cento Pompidou. Using the bus tour you can also visit; Playa de la Malagueta, Castillo de Gibralfaro and Jardin Botanico.
8 Days at Sea
You either love or hate days as sea but I love them. You definitely have to make the most of the facilities when you have 8 long days at sea, which is what I did.
I managed to do indoor ice skating, Zumba fitness classes, sunbathe, attend some interesting talks, dine and chill on the balcony some more. It was a brilliant time for down time when sailing the seas.
Port Stop – Nassau, Bahamas
We were welcomed to the Caribbean, Nassau, Bahamas, by it’s vibrant tapestry of turquoise waters, powdery beaches, and colourful culture just waiting to be explored.
From the moment you step off the cruise ship and feel the warm embrace of the Bahamian sun, you’ll be swept away by the island’s laid-back charm and infectious energy. I certainly was.
As soon as we got out of the cruise port gates we were met with lots of hustling vendors trying sell tours and taxi rides etc. However we stood firm and walked straight past them to explore on foot. We wandered through the charming streets of downtown Nassau, where pastel-colored colonial buildings and bustling markets await. There was a point where the streets got quieter and not as densely populated but we made it to the Queen’s Staircase which is 102-ft., 65-step staircase carved by slaves from limestone in 1793 as shortcut to Fort Fincastle. You should have seen how many fit people were just running up and down them! At the fort there were market stalls with lots of souvenirs. We bought coconut water and admired the view of the ship in the distance.
We then walked 1hr in the heat, call us crazy, to the Atlantis Paradise Island. We didn’t think it would take us that long and it wasn’t as easy to get a taxi that was not already doing a full tour. However this gave us a whole perspective of the island on foot. It was awesome crossing the bridge over Potters Cay. The Atlantis was so grande and exquisite from the yatchs mored outside, to the luxury shops inside and buzzing casino to the water park on the other side. I wish I could stay there for more than a day.
We later got transport back to the market & restaurant area near the ship to do a spot of shopping before heading back. Be sure to stop by the iconic Straw Market to haggle for handmade souvenirs and authentic Bahamian crafts.
Port Stop – Fort Lauderdale, Florida
After a wonderful cruising experience, we sadly sailed into For Lauderdale early in the morning ending our cruise.
We had our last breakfast at the Windjammer before departing at our allocated time. Collecting our luggage was fine but the queues for the lines at the boarder control/security was a little chaotic. However as we got closer there was some order and we were through to the USA, Florida. The taxi rank was the next thing we saw where we ordered an Uber to continue our travels.
Overall
Overall travelling on a 14 night transatlantic cruise for my first cruise was exciting and an adventurous experience stopping at countries and cities I have never been to.
It was a great opportunity to sample the iconic, historical and picturesque landmarks that the cruise had to offer.
Use this post as a guide as to what to expect on your first transatlantic cruise.
