March 8, 2022
World’s largest cruise ship to call on Nassau on March 9
The world’s newest and largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean International’s Wonder of the Seas, will be welcomed on its inaugural cruise, March 9 to Nassau, The Bahamas, with a full-blown water ceremony, musical entertainment and Junkanoo.
Thousands of guests will disembark to a welcome by Nassau Cruise Port and the Ministry of Tourism, Investments and Aviation. The ship will be in port from 12:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., giving guests the opportunity to explore the wonders of Nassau. High-level government officials will participate in a celebratory event including a plaque exchange onboard Wonder. International media representatives in attendance will take part in a social impact tour of Nassau, which will focus on the cruise line’s community engagement and support of local entrepreneurs.
Vacationers of all ages have in store a combination of new adventures and returning favorites across eight unique neighborhoods. Highlights include the eighth neighborhood, a Royal Caribbean first, named the Suite Neighborhood; new southern restaurant and bar The Mason Jar, serving up southern staples and new twists on classics for brunch, dinner and the late night; and Wonder Playscape, an all-new interactive outdoor play area. Also on deck are signature experiences like The Ultimate Abyss, the tallest slide at sea; the FlowRider surf simulator; rock-climbing walls; and the Central Park neighborhood lined with more than 20,000 real plants.
The ultimate vacation will first set sail on seven-night cruises to the Caribbean and Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas, from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale before heading to Barcelona, Spain, and Rome to kick off summer vacations in the Mediterranean in May 2022. In November, Wonder returns to explore the tropical shores of the Caribbean and The Bahamas from its year-round home, Port Canaveral, Florida.
“While we are pleased that the media outlets from all over the world will be reporting and engaging on social media about the awesomeness of the world’s largest cruise ship, we know that as a destination partner, there are other stories that could resonate with international media highlighting the historic city of Nassau, the businesses and communities we support, as well as our private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay,” said Russell Benford, vice president, Americas, Royal Caribbean Group.
Says Benford: “With Wonder of the Seas, we are continuing a commitment that has resulted in five Oasis-class ships calling on Nassau, ranking it among our most popular ports. It began with the Oasis 50 years ago, and Nassau remains a premier port of call to this day.”