Wonder of the Seas vs Independence of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas was built in 2022. The Wonder of the Seas has quite a few upgrades from its Oasis-class siblings such as a new suite neighborhood, a fully enclosed Solarium, an outdoor bar called The Vue, and an outdoor kid's play area. It's 14 years newer than the Independence of the Seas, which was built in 2008 and renovated in 2018.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Wonder of the Seas is considered an extra large size ship. Coming in at 1,188 feet long and 210 feet 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. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas, the Wonder of the Seas is 53% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas holds 49% more passengers than the Independence of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you look at the "Space Ratio," or the total tonnage of a ship compared to the number of passengers, the Wonder of the Seas has less space per person compared to the Independence of the Seas.

The Wonder of the Seas uses a neighborhood layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded.

Food and Restaurants

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 twenty-eight different dining options like Vitality Cafe, Izumi, and El Loco Fresh. Of those options, fourteen are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other fourteen options have an additional fee.

The Independence of the Seas has ten fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Sorrento's Pizza, Fish & Ships, and Cafe Promenade. nine of these restaurants are complementary and the other nine have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Wonder of the Seas might be a better choice. It has 56% more dining options than the Independence of the Seas.

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

Restaurants on Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas & Independence of the Seas

Bars and Drinks

The Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas has 6 more bars than the Royal Caribbean Independence of the Seas.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Wonder of the Seas and the Independence of the Seas below.

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 Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas has a total of 5 pools and 4 hot tubs. 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 Independence 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 Independence 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.

Worried about lots of kids onboard? Visit The Solarium, an adult-only area for guests 18 and older only. The Wonder of the Seas has a wading adult-only pool, while the Independence of the Seas has a full-depth adult-only pool. Wonder of the Seas’ adult-only area is fully enclosed and climate controlled, while Independence of the Seas’ is not enclosed. The Wonder of the Seas’ adult-only area is in the front, while the Independence of the Seas’ is in the middle.

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Royal Caribbean editions with places like Studio B and Sorrento's featured.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Ship Features and Activities

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 the Wonder of the Seas, 78% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Independence of the Seas, only 72% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

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 Independence 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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