And to my surprise, the behemoth vessel made me forget that I don’t like cruises.

I’ve been on several cruises across several brands for work.

And so far, sailing on this new floating city has been my favorite trip.

Amenities like its eight neighborhoods, three water slides, and expansive pool deck provided more entertainment than I could have consumed during my two nights at sea.

And moving forward, it’ll be one of the only cruise vessels I’ll recommend when people ask me for suggestions.

Before I dive into the positives, let’s start with the most glaring negative: my $1,400 balcony stateroom.

Source: Insider

My spacious hotel room at sea had grand views of the ocean and the most storage I’ve ever seen in a stateroom.

But its bland decor, poorly designed sink basin that constantly splashed water onto the countertop …

… and lack of toiletries — specifically conditioner and a separate body wash and shampoo — were disappointing, especially on such a wildly hyped cruise ship.

Source: Insider

Despite its hefty price tag, the stateroom didn’t feel luxurious enough to compel me to spend more time in my home at sea.

It provided the essentials and nothing more.

But maybe a stateroom as boring as this is justifiable aboard a ship like the Wonder of the Seas.

Source: Insider

Why spend excess time in your stateroom when you have a massive vessel with eight neighborhoods to explore?

Ultimately, two nights aboard the ship wasn’t enough time to experience all it had to offer even with a packed itinerary.

Even though I didn’t get to drink at every bar, dine at every restaurant, and lounge in every hot tub, the floating resort was still the most fun I’ve ever had on a cruise ship.

So I’ll just review what I was able to see and do during my two short nights aboard the ship.

The Wonder of the Seas has eight neighborhoods all with their own amenities, services, design, and activities.

One is exclusive to guests staying in suites, which I can’t speak to.

But neighborhoods like Central Park and Boardwalk were the big standouts.

Both looked nothing like a typical cruise ship.

Instead, Central Park resembled an outdoor mall filled with plants, shops, restaurants, and live music …

… while the Boardwalk looked exactly like what you’d expect.

Central Park had an energetic but quiet hum, creating a peaceful open-aired neighborhood.

It was one of the most relaxing spaces aboard the ship.

All of the plants, surrounding staterooms, live music, and dining venues made Central Park feel like a peaceful cocoon separate from the hustle and bustle of other neighborhoods.

And the only reminder that I was at sea was the balcony staterooms that formed a wall around the neighborhood.

I didn’t eat at any of the restaurants. But just walking around and enjoying the space was enough for me to call this one of my favorite neighborhoods aboard the ship.

The Boardwalk also became my go-to neighborhood.

But unlike the getaway feeling of Central Park, this neighborhood was far from peaceful.

Instead, I was impressed by how much it resembled a real wood-planked boardwalk filled with colorful accents …

… a Johnny Rockets, and a hot dog stand.

Here, you can find children playing arcade games, crawling through the suspended and netted playground, and traversing the two rock climbing walls.

All the while, their parents can catch a game at the sports bar.

It’s a wholesome and exciting neighborhood.

And the hot dog stand and candy store were a nostalgic touch that reminded me of weekends at the beach with my family.