Disappointing Aqua Theater Suite Experience on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas Suit #10734

Wonder of the Seas Cruise Review to Caribbean - Eastern

royal70

Contributor Level: Purser

Cruises: 4-6 cruises

Review: 1

Helpful Votes: 14

Overall rating:

2.2 out of 5

7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day (Port Canaveral Roundtrip)

Sail date: October 01, 2023

Ship: Wonder of the Seas

Cabin type: Suite

Cabin number: 10734

Traveled as: Family (older children)

Reviewed: 11 months ago

Review summary

**Title: A Comprehensive Review of Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas Aqua Theater Suite - 2 Bedroom – Suit #10734** Our recent adventure aboard the Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas Aqua Theater Suite - 2 Bedroom prompted us to share this review, with particular emphasis on the one-star rating for food quality and service in the specialty restaurants. Starting with the pros and cons, the pricing for this journey ranged from 25K to 50K for an 8-day voyage. However, the journey's commencement lacked the expected smoothness, especially since we had to pay additional costs for our hotel stay and flights. We landed on a Friday night, two days before the Sunday cruise start date, facing a six-hour flight delay. Despite the delay, we were fortunate to catch the trip. However, our arrival came with unexpected expenses as we had to book our own hotel and arrange transportation to the cruise terminal, expenses we had not anticipated when booking this supposedly VIP service. Royal Caribbean markets the overall trip, but upon closer inspection, the eight-day voyage includes only three days of actual stops: Coco Cay beach, St Thomas in San Maarten, with the rest being days at sea. Given this, we recommend Royal Caribbean management reconsider the hefty sales pitch, especially when we found enjoyment primarily during our stops at Saint Martin and St Thomas. These experiences were enhanced by attractions we arranged ourselves, as the Royal concierge could not facilitate certain bookings like our UTV trip on the island and exploring the island in San Maarten. Opting for the top package, including the Aqua Theater Suite, full beverage package, dining package, and a dedicated genie, was a highlight. The genie's 24/7 assistance enhanced our trip, aiding with food choices, directions, and onboarding priorities. However, the trip got off to a cumbersome start as we boarded the ship at 10:30 AM and navigated to our suite located inconveniently on deck 10. The trek through the ship's narrow walkways, reminiscent of a walk of shame, was less than pleasant. The suite, though luxurious, was marred by leftover food smells in the hallway and an unkempt carpet. Turning to the dining experience, we were disappointed by the specialty restaurants. Hooked Seafood, Giovanni Italian Kitchen, Mason Jar, Wonderland, and the Chef's Table fell short of expectations. The service was lackluster, the food unappetizing, and the presentation subpar. We barely enjoyed these specialty restaurants, giving them a one-star rating. The exception was Izumi Bachi and Chops Grille, where the service and food were commendable. The inclement weather during the cruise, marked by rain and wind, limited our enjoyment of planned activities, including the $2000 cabanas at Coco Cay. We were unable to utilize them due to the adverse conditions. Additionally, a lack of warning about jellyfish on the local beach resulted in my son getting stung, and Royal Caribbean's customer service failed to provide any compensation or even acknowledgment of the issue. Despite these challenges, we found solace in the presence of Starbucks, our go-to for daily refreshments. The pizza at Sorrento and Johnny Rocket also brought some comfort, especially for our teenage boys. However, it was disheartening to resort to fast food on a cruise, highlighting the ship's limitations in delivering a truly amplified culinary experience. In conclusion, we wanted to share our detailed experiences to caution potential travelers. While there were highlights in our journey, the overall impression was marred by various issues. We hope this review provides valuable insights for anyone considering booking the Aqua Theater Suite - 2 Bedroom on the Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas - Suite Number 10734.