I thought I’d get sick of the food by the end of my seven-day voyage in April 2022. I’d never been on a cruise before, but I imagined my dining options would be limited at sea.
And they might have been if I weren’t on board Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, one of the largest cruise ships in the world. The megaship has 20 eateries, from coffee shops and buffets to fast-food joints and upscale restaurants.
I was overwhelmed with options every time I got hungry on my Caribbean cruise. I ate at as many different restaurants as I could — more than half of them.
There were 10 standout dishes that I still think about when my stomach grumbles.
Some of the best meals were included in the cruise rate. Others came from specialty restaurants.
Wonder of the Seas has some restaurants that are complimentary as part of the cruise rate, while specialty dining incurs an additional cost.
For the latter, guests often pay a cover charge for a three-course meal. I made reservations at five specialty restaurants. I recommend booking your reservation as soon as possible, because the cost tends to rise the longer you wait.
Two of my favorite dishes came from the main dining room.
The main dining room is complimentary for guests and serves breakfast and a three-course dinner each day.
One was a dinner entrée — garlic tiger shrimp with jasmine rice, seasonal veggies, and herb butter.
The shrimp was juicy and had great flavor. The rice was sticky, which I like, and the asparagus and tomatoes were well-seasoned.
The other was a French toast breakfast. The bread was thick, crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside.
A delicious berry compote on top paired nicely with maple syrup. Two crispy strips of bacon added a savory crunch to each bite. This was my favorite breakfast of the whole trip.
I also particularly enjoyed El Loco Fresh, an outdoor DIY taco bar.
It’s included for guests and serves a selection of meats, cheeses, and toppings, like pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream.
I grabbed a bowl of chips and made myself some nachos.
The queso had great texture and flavor. The bar had every topping I could want, satisfying my Tex-Mex craving on the ship.
When I wanted an upscale meal, I splurged on dinner at Chops Grille, a steakhouse.
I paid $55 for a three-course dinner here.
The highlight was the appetizer — a crispy goat cheese salad with green apples, candied walnuts, cranberries, and balsamic dressing.
It was an eclectic mix of textures and flavors, yet it blended perfectly in my mouth.
I treated myself to another fancy dinner at 150 Central Park.
On a plant-filled outdoor deck, 150 Central Park served a variety of meat, seafood, and other “locally sourced ingredients,” according to Royal Caribbean. I had a three-course dinner for $50.
My favorite dish was the fried cheesecake for dessert.
The dessert was soft, fluffy, and light, with a cream cheese filling. Caramelized popcorn, whipped cream, and a Nutella drizzle complemented it perfectly, making it even more satisfying than the main course.
To get my seafood fix, I went to the New England-style Hooked Seafood restaurant.
The menu draws inspiration from Maine to Maryland. I paid $53 for a three-course dinner.
The lobster roll was fantastic.
The toasted roll was generously loaded with thick chunks of lobster and a layer of crisp lettuce. I squeezed the grilled lemon across the top and bit into the refreshing mess of a sandwich. It reminded me of lobster rolls I’ve had back home on the East Coast.
For dessert, I went with the chef’s suggestion: a lemon tart.
I took one bite, and it was easy to see why it came highly recommended. The lemon custard was tangy with a bit of sweetness, and it filled up a flaky, buttery crust. It was the best lemon tart I’ve ever had.
The Mason Jar serves southern comfort food. It ended up being my favorite restaurant on the ship.
I booked a three-course dinner at the Mason Jar for $40, and everything I ordered made my top 10 list.
I’m glad I booked it for a three-course dinner, which started with crab beignets.
I ordered the crab beignets appetizer at the Mason Jar. Although I’d never had one before, I love crab, and I love beignets. So I gave it a try.
They were the perfect texture — soft and fluffy with a crisp outer layer. The crab flavor was subtle, with cinnamon on top for an interesting twist. The accompanying crap dip was refreshing, too.
For my main, I ordered fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mac and cheese.
The chicken was tender and well-seasoned, with a crispy outer layer. The sides had good flavor as well.
My dessert at The Mason Jar was served in one.
Called “Gone Bananas,” the dessert consisted of layers of vanilla pudding and graham cracker crumbs inside a jar. It was topped with brûléed bananas, whipped cream, and toffee. The dessert was fluffy, light, and rich in banana flavor.
It was a fitting ending to my favorite meal of the trip.
If I were to cruise with Wonder of the Seas again, I’d spend less money on specialty restaurants and more evenings in the main dining room.
While the specialty restaurants served delicious dishes, I thought the food quality was just as high in the main dining room, where I ate only twice.
But I’d absolutely pay to go back to The Mason Jar for all three standout courses.
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