Royal Caribbean’s Wonderland is a for-a-fee specialty restaurant offering a unique dining experience inspired by the classic tale of Alice in Wonderland.
Wonderland is known for its creative and whimsical dishes, many of which are prepared using molecular gastronomy techniques. The menu features a variety of small plates, main courses, and desserts—designed to tantalize your taste buds and transport you to a magical world.
On our recent Harmony of the Seas sailing, Mr. SBC and I tried the restaurant’s famously imaginative cuisine for our first sea day dinner. I’ll share what we loved, what was just OK, and what to steer clear of.
I’m including all the menus (dinner, cocktails and wine, and the kids’ menu), plus lots of pics showing what the décor and the fantasy-themed dishes actually look like.
Here’s everything you need to know about Wonderland before you decide to try it on your next RCI cruise!
Wonderland’s eclectic decor and atmosphere
Entering Wonderland, we could immediately see that the atmosphere would be fun and playful. The entire restaurant is designed to transport you to a magical world!
The restaurant staff is dressed in Alice in Wonderland-inspired costumes, and the venue even has its own resident Mad Hatter, who greeted us as soon as we walked through the restaurant’s tunnel-like entrance.
After we checked in at the host stand and waited for a few minutes in the restaurant’s quirky lobby, full of selfie-worthy hanging chairs and topsy-turvy furniture, the madcap Mad Hatter beckoned us through the gold filigree floating door and into our adventure in Wonderland.
Wonderland’s whimsical decor includes kooky furniture, kaleidoscopic visuals, and trippy lighting. The two-story setup aboard Harmony of the Seas features an upstairs welcome lounge and bar.
Tip: You can visit Wonderland’s bar and enjoy the ambiance (and their specialty cocktails!) without a dinner reservation.
Down the grand curving staircase we followed our eccentric guide, to a table for two in the main seating area with a prime view of Central Park.
The vibe during our meal was a nice balance between elevated fine dining service and sheer fun. We had a 7 PM reservation, so we didn’t see any very small kids, but there were plenty of families and groups of friends, as well as couples.
It seemed like everyone was celebrating something, and the restaurant staff (especially the Mad Hatter) animatedly sang and danced to honor each birthday and anniversary.
However, if you’re looking for a quiet, romantic dinner, Wonderland’s eccentric atmosphere probably isn’t your best choice!
Related: How to Plan a Romantic Cruise
Soon after we were seated, our server introduced herself and explained that we were “King” and “Queen” for the evening at Wonderland. Although I’d like to be as dissimilar to the “painting the roses red” Queen of Hearts as I possibly can, I went along with the cute charade.
She handed us our dinner menus, blank white sheets in ornate silvery frames, along with paintbrushes and water to reveal the culinary options for the evening. We “painted” our menus to magically uncover the choices, a fun choice that added to the meal’s whimsy.
I’ll be honest. The dinner menu at Wonderland was a little confusing to us at first. The menu features five elemental sections: Sun, Ice, Fire, Earth, and Sea.
It wasn’t clear which of the elements were starters and which were mains, or if every option was a tasting size.
Here are the choices we were presented with on the menu:
SUN (radiant vegetables reinvented)
- Baby Vegetables in the Garden: soil, pebbles
- Reconstructed Caprese: liquid olive, ricotta powder, basil
- Tomato Water: pepper spherification, bread foam
ICE (chilled to exhilarate the palate)
- Citrus Seas Shhhh: spicy tuna, floral yuzu granité
- Crispy Crab Cones: cilantro, avocado mousse, ohba leaf
- Sashimi of Red and White Tuna: charred scallion
FIRE (emanating wonderful warmth)
- The Bird’s Nest: smoke, blue cheese, hot sauce
- Mad Hatter’s Purple Potted Shrimp: crispy crumb, scotch bonnet
- Wonton Soup: jelly, noodles
EARTH (dishes grounded in whimsy)
- The Chicken and the Egg: crispy skin, potato purée
- Snap, Crackle, and Pork: apples, crackling
- The Rib T Luscious Short Rib: Bordelaise sauce
- Liquid Truffle Mushroom Risotto: inverse sphere of wild mushrooms, white pearls of Parmesan and truffle
SEA (oceanic inspirations from the tide of the imagination)
- Liquid Lobster: bone marrow, caviar
- Halibut Cooked in Clear Paper: mushrooms, potato
- Branzino in Crispy Bread: tamarind spice emulsion
Mr. SBC and I wanted to make sure we ordered completely different items so we’d be able to try the majority of the menu in one go. We hurriedly attempted to make choices from each section before our server returned, frantically re-wetting our menus with our paintbrushes since they dry (and disappear) pretty fast!
When our server returned, she asked if it was our first time at Wonderland. She then explained that she would choose a selection of dishes for us to start with, and that we’d only need to choose our main courses.
Although it’s very unclear on the menu, the main courses are the first three selections from the Earth section, and the last two from the Sea section. All of the other choices are appetizer-sized.
She then asked if we had any allergies, dietary restrictions, or if there was anything we didn’t particularly like to eat.
We don’t have any restrictions, but I noticed on the menu that gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegetarian options are available.
Wonderland’s cocktail menu only includes four themed drinks, but of course you can order any other type of cocktail from your server—the restaurant has a full bar. Each of the specialty drinks is priced at $14, so they’re included if you have the Deluxe Beverage Package.
- White Rabbit-rita: Patrón tequila, Cointreau, blue curaçao, fresh lime juice, salt foam
- Cheshire Cat Cosmo: Grey Goose vodka, Cointreau, fresh lime juice, cranberry juice, raspberry cotton candy
- Down the Rabbit Hole: Belvedere Pink Grapefruit vodka, St-Germaine, fresh lemon juice, sparkling wine, red or blue “pill” (more on that later!)
- Smoke Rings: Rittenhouse rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, maple syrup, Angostura bitters, smoked and served tableside
The wine list
Wonderland’s wine list is rather small, including sparkling wine and Champagne, whites, rosés, reds, and one dessert wine option.
The vast majority of wines offered are by-the-bottle only, and the small selection of wines by-the-glass ranges from $8-19 per pour.
Bottles of wine on offer fall in the price range of $29-159, with the only outlier being Dom Pérignon Brut Champagne at $270 a bottle.
You might notice that the menu lists the bottle size at 375ml, which is actually a half-bottle. Keep this in mind when ordering for the table!
Wonderland doesn’t have a printed dessert menu that I know of, but that doesn’t mean desserts don’t exist. What kind of fantasy land doesn’t have dessert?
The restaurant is perhaps best known for two signature dessert options:
- The World: gold-dusted chocolate, molten caramel, chocolate brownie, chocolate mousse, peanut butter brûlée, salted caramel ice cream
- The Mushroom Garden: meringue, white chocolate mousse, pistachio, mango sorbet
But, other cruisers have reported that other desserts exist at Wonderland. They may or may not be on the menu during your visit!
- Forbidden Apple: raspberry cremeux, brown butter crumble, yogurt ice cream
- Dream Sundae: blackcurrant sorbet, Tahitian vanilla gelato, marshmallow
Although the whimsical feel of Wonderland sounds perfect for younger kids, the adult menu could be a bit too “out there” for all but the most adventurous young eaters.
Thankfully the restaurant offers a special kids’ menu including Rabbitizers (starters), Wonderplates (main courses), and of course, Unbirthday Desserts.
To start, kids can choose from Alice’s Back to Front Fruit Salad with hot yogurt and maple syrup ice cream, or Mad Hatter’s Crispy Mac & Cheese Fries with homemade tomato ketchup.
For the main meal, kids have the choice of March Hare’s Corn Chicken with bacon bits and crispy vegetables, or the King of Hearts Royal Wonderland Burger with heart-shaped fries.
Dessert options for younger cruisers include Tweedle Dee’s and Tweedle Dum’s Banana Split topped with chocolate and cotton candy, and The Jabberwocky’s Golden Egg with a “muddy brownie”, Oreo mousse, and hot sauce.
What did we eat and drink at Wonderland?
I enjoy booking specialty dining on cruises for several reasons. The service and food quality are usually elevated compared to the main dining room, and you’ll often feel less rushed—giving you plenty of time to enjoy a multi-course meal, drinks, and relaxed conversation with your dining companions.
We didn’t feel rushed at all, but did the food experience at Wonderland live up to our expectations? Here’s the play-by-play on what we ate and drank during our meal.
Pre-dinner drinks
After our first full day exploring the ship, Mr. SBC and I were in the mood to relax with a drink and chat about our upcoming plans before the food arrived. I was intrigued by the first three cocktails on the menu, but I settled on the Down the Rabbit Hole drink, mainly because I love grapefruit and St-Germain, but also because the choice of a “red or blue pill” sounded awfully Alice-in-Wonderland-ish.
When our server took our order, she playfully explained that choosing the red pill would make you smaller and the blue pill would make you bigger, I chose the red pill. After all, I had back-to-back cruises in my future and wanted to avoid gaining too much weight!
Related: How to Avoid Gaining Weight on a Cruise
The pills don’t actually do anything—they’re just a small gummy at the bottom of your drink that infuse some color into your cocktail. I’ve seen other bloggers post that the red is grenadine and the blue is Blue curaçao, but mine was just a jellybean-sized gummy that dissolved a bit over time.
Mr. SBC was in the mood for a glass of red wine, but none of the by-the-glass reds were included in our Deluxe Beverage Package. However, you only need to pay the difference if you’re choosing a more expensive glass, so he picked the $15 Spellbound petite syrah.
His wine was presented in a red cut-crystal goblet, worthy of the Queen of Hearts herself.
Since Wonderland has its own bar, our drinks arrived quickly compared to some prior specialty restaurant experiences when drinks need to be made at another venue and walked back. Very convenient!
Starters
Without having chosen our appetizers, we really had no clue what we’d be served. I’m actually glad that our server chose the dishes for our first trip to Wonderland. We tried some options that we wouldn’t have chosen based on the menu descriptions!
We both began with the Mad Hatter’s Potted Shrimp. As I’d lived in the UK for a while, I was picturing the traditional British seafood canapé staple that one would serve on toast. Instead, we each enjoyed a jumbo tail-on crustacean wrapped in shredded phyllo with a mildly spicy dipping sauce. Yum!
Although the menu mentioned that the sauce was made with ultra-spicy Scotch bonnet peppers, we didn’t find the heat to be intense at all.
Next were the Crispy Crab Cones, which resembled tiny ice cream treats. However, this savory starter featured avocado mousse piped in a fried wonton cone.
This small taste didn’t have much crab flavor, and the mentioned ohba leaves seemed to have been replaced by tiny rectangles of nori, but they were yummy and crunchy nonetheless.
The one dietary preference we forgot to mention to our server was that we both despise blue cheese. Our shared Bird’s Nest appetizer arrived with two deviled eggs, and I happily enjoyed both (Mr. SBC isn’t an egg fan).
I didn’t taste any of that (usually very obvious to me) moldy essence in the eggs at all! They were perfectly seasoned, and the cute presentation in shredded phyllo nests added to the whimsy of the evening.
If we’d only had the Bird’s Nest OR the Potted Shrimp (both of which were very shredded-phyllo-heavy), I think our appetizer selection would have been perfect. However, we both felt that the novelty of phyllo nests was a little overdone with it appearing in two of our dishes.
Next up was the Liquid Lobster. As a native New Englander, I adore lobster in all forms. I also love caviar. But the bone marrow listed on the menu description would have made me not order this if I were choosing the starters.
I’m so glad that our server brought this delicious treat! Imagine a chunk of lobster tail enclosed in a spoonful of the most decadent lobster bisque, then topped with caviar. It’s just one spoonful, but I would have enjoyed a vat of this yumminess.
At some point during the meal, our server checked on us and asked what our favorite item was so far. We both said Liquid Lobster, and she returned a moment later with two more servings!
Next up was the Citrus Seas Shhh, a hollowed-out lime filled with spicy raw tuna, topped with a floral yuzu granité.
A crispy cracker was provided to eat the tuna from, but one cracker wasn’t enough so I awkwardly ate the rest with my spoon.
Fans of sushi, poke, or ceviche will enjoy the Citrus Seas Shhh, but if you’re not into the idea of raw tuna, this is a dish to avoid. I loved it, and found the cooling granité to be an excellent palate cleanser before our main course.
Main courses
As our main dishes were the only parts of the meal we were picking, I felt that I had to choose wisely. I knew that Mr. SBC would want the short rib, so my options were the two fish dishes, the chicken option, or the pork.
I have a self-imposed rule when it comes to choosing my main course in cruise ship specialty restaurants (or with any pricier prix fixe meal on land). Usually I avoid the chicken, pasta, or vegetarian options—I want to get my money’s worth!
That left me with the fish options and the pork, which I found out was pork belly. I don’t like the texture of pork belly, so I chose what looked to be the more flavorful fish option: Branzino in Crispy Bread with a tamarind spice emulsion.
When the course arrived, I was surprised to see that under the layer of oiled and toasted bread was a layer of long-grain white rice, then the fish—two starchy layers that don’t have much flavor, then a layer of fish that isn’t known for being particularly flavorful.
I was hoping that the tamarind and spice sauce would kick it up a notch! Sadly, the emulsion was also lacking in much-needed taste, making my main course the least-favorite thing I tried at Wonderland.
On the other hand, Mr. SBC’s choice of The Rib T Luscious Short Rib for his main course was an absolute winner! I was happy to snag a couple bites of it, all in the name of research, right?
The menu description doesn’t do this dish justice. The tender short rib was drizzled in a hearty, savory demi-glace, surrounded by a variety of dipping sauces and accompaniments. A portion of whipped potatoes was piped on the side, and the plate was embellished with sprigs of fresh cilantro.
If we return to Wonderland on a future Royal Caribbean cruise, this will be my entrée choice!
Desserts
Likely because we were onboard with our server choosing most of the menu for us (and because we said we’re not picky about food and don’t have any allergies), we never saw a dessert menu. Instead, two whimsical dessert experiences just showed up at our table for us to share!
The first dessert to arrive was The Mushroom Garden, an adorable plate of fantasy toadstools flanked with a scoop of mango sorbet and a fresh orchid blossom. Our server told us this dessert was inspired by the Super Mario Brothers game.
The two smaller mushrooms are crafted from meringue, while the larger toadstool is made from white chocolate mousse jelly with a pistachio base.
I don’t have much of a sweet tooth (unless chocolate is involved) but I enjoyed the presentation.
The sorbet made for a refreshing end to the meal, and I would have been fine with that as my only dessert—though I probably would have asked for two scoops on the plate so we each had enough to share.
But just a second later, another dessert showed up! It was The World, Wonderland’s signature dessert.
The plate arrived with a softball-sized chocolate orb dusted with gold powder, with a couple of caramel popcorn bits and a chocolate candy piece—not too exciting.
But then she drizzled molten caramel sauce on top to reveal the inner layers, what she called a “beautiful disaster”. Inside the orb laid a decadent chocolate brownie with chocolate mousse, along with peanut butter brûlée and salted caramel ice cream.
The World was an amazing treat, and it easily ranks in the top five of my favorite desserts I’ve tried on a cruise ship.
Post-dinner drinks
I don’t usually order an after-dinner drink, but Mr. SBC usually likes to have a coffee. It’s not on the menu, but you can absolutely order either drip coffee (included with your cruise fare) or a basic specialty coffee like espresso or a hot latte. Specialty coffees at Wonderland are priced similarly to what you’ll find at Park Café on RCI ships.
Related: Where to Get Coffee on a Royal Caribbean Cruise
But there was another specialty cocktail on Wonderland’s menu that I really wanted to see: the Smoke Rings whiskey drink that’s smoked and served tableside.
Mr. SBC is the whiskey fan in the family, so I asked him to order it along with his coffee. (You can absolutely take a drink to go and enjoy it anywhere else on the ship, and that’s what he did.)
We both thought the presentation of the cocktail was fantastic for a price point that’s in line with many of the more basic drinks aboard RCI ships.
Our server arrived with a large snifter covered with a napkin, which she removed with a flourish, as the infused smoke wafted around the glass.
Mr. SBC, whose go-to libation is Jameson on the rocks, declared that the cocktail was tasty, but much sweeter and a lot smokier than he prefers in a whiskey drink.
Although we agreed to let our server choose our menu for our first trip to Wonderland, you can absolutely order what you like!
Since it was our first time eating at Wonderland, we preferred to try the dishes recommended by our server. But if you’ve eaten there before, or you have specific items in mind that you’d like to try, you can just order from the menu.
Booking your meal at Wonderland on Royal Caribbean
The Wonderland specialty restaurant is only available on some of Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum-class and Oasis-class ships, including:
- Anthem of the Seas
- Harmony of the Seas
- Ovation of the Seas
- Quantum of the Seas
- Spectrum of the Seas
- Symphony of the Seas
- Wonder of the Seas
Royal Caribbean hasn’t yet announced if its newest ship Icon of the Seas (coming in 2024) will feature a Wonderland location.
If your ship has a Wonderland restaurant, the best way to book reservations before you sail is via your online cruise planner or the Royal app. Booking well before your cruise can often score you the best seating time and usually a discounted price!
You can also book onboard by calling from your stateroom phone, visiting the restaurant, or using the Royal app.
How much is Wonderland on Royal Caribbean?
Although pricing can change at any time, the cover charge for dinner at Wonderland is currently $59.99 per adult guest for dinner. RCI often discounts the price by 10% for guests who pre-book before sailing.
The cover charge for kids is $12.99 per child aged 6-12, but kids must order from the children’s menu. Wonderland waives the cover charge for little ones five and under.
Royal Caribbean assesses an 18% gratuity on the cover charge at the time of booking. You don’t need to leave an additional tip after your meal, but you certainly can if you’d like to recognize stellar service.
Wonderland’s cover charge doesn’t include alcohol or soda, but you can order the standard RCI complimentary drinks (ice water, coffee, tea, iced tea, etc.) at no charge in the restaurant.
Related: Tipping on a Cruise Ship: What You Need to Know About Cruise Gratuities
If you’re planning to visit more than one for-a-fee specialty restaurant on your sailing, you might consider buying the 3-Night Dining Package or Unlimited Dining Package. Wonderland is included in these packages without an additional charge.
Is Wonderland restaurant worth the money?
Whether or not Wonderland on Royal Caribbean is worth the money depends on your individual preferences and budget. The restaurant offers a unique and memorable dining experience, but at $60 plus tip for each adult, it’s a fairly pricey cruise ship specialty restaurant.
If you are looking for a unique and fun dining experience, Wonderland is a great option. But for a more classic, upscale fine dining experience, I’d recommend the cruise line’s signature steakhouse Chops Grille, or 150 Central Park. Both restaurants have comparable cover charges.
Of course, you don’t need to book any for-a-fee dining options on your cruise. All your meals and snacks at the Windjammer buffet, the main dining rooms, and at several other venues around the ship are complimentary.
However, Royal Caribbean overhauled its main dining room menus in early 2023, and many cruisers (myself included) aren’t pleased with the changes. On my 2023 RCI cruises so far, I found the food to be bland and uninspiring, and I previously thought that the company had the best MDR food out of all the mainstream cruise lines!
So if you enjoy good food (and you don’t have access to Coastal Kitchen—their food is still fantastic!), I’d say a trip to Wonderland is worth it for a special dinner, if your budget allows.
FAQ about Wonderland on Royal Caribbean
Which Royal Caribbean ships have the Wonderland specialty restaurant?
Wonderland can be found aboard Anthem of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Quantum of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas, and Wonder of the Seas.
How do you make reservations at Wonderland on Royal Caribbean?
You can make reservations pre-cruise via the Cruise Planner or Royal app. Onboard, you can book dinner on the app, via your stateroom phone, or by visiting the restaurant.
What is the dress code at Wonderland on Royal Caribbean?
The dress code at Wonderland is smart casual. This includes collared shirts, blouses, dresses, skirts, and trousers. Jackets, sports coats, or blazers are optional.
How much is dinner at Wonderland on Royal Caribbean?
The cover charge for Wonderland is $59.99 per adult and $12.99 per child aged 6-12, plus an 18% gratuity. Kids 5 and under are complimentary.
Does Wonderland on Royal Caribbean accommodate dietary restrictions?
Gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegetarian options are available at Wonderland. Ask your server for details.
More resources for your Royal Caribbean cruise
- Royal Caribbean Casino Free Cruises – How to Get a Comped Cruise Plus Free Perks!
- How to Get Free Drinks in the Casino on Royal Caribbean – And More!
- Ultimate Guide To The Key on Royal Caribbean
Latest news about Royal Caribbean
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- Icon of the Seas Officially Joins Royal Caribbean Fleet
- Royal Caribbean Reveals Name of Next Icon Class Ship
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- Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami Announce Partnership
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Have you tried Wonderland restaurant on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Or are you considering making reservations? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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Melissa
Sunday 17th of September 2023
You forgot Spectrum of the Seas. Wonderland is available on that ship too.
Carrie Ann
Sunday 17th of September 2023
Hi Melissa, you are correct. Good catch! I've updated the post :)
Molly
Sunday 6th of August 2023
Wonderland looks like the kind of fun restaurant I'd enjoy, but I have a few questions. How long did your meal take? And are there options for people who like more basic food? I have a cruise coming up with my extended family and wanted to plan a special dinner. Our kids are 4 and 6, and my youngest isn't great with sitting for a long time. They both love Disney movies, so I thought this could be a special treat.
My inlaws like to go to bed early, so a really long dinner could be an issue for them. My FIL is also very much a steak and potatoes kind of guy. If I planned a long dinner with only unusual food choices, it might not work for us. Am I crazy to think about making reservations at Wonderland?
Carrie Ann
Monday 7th of August 2023
Hi Molly, great questions! I'll try to answer them in order :) I double-checked my photo timestamps and we were done with our 5:30 reservation at 7:25, after lingering over our drinks for a bit. So I'd say two hours max, maybe 1h45 if you're quick eaters. There aren't really any "basic" food options - it's really best for adventurous eaters! You mentioned that your kids love Disney movies, so I'm assuming you mean they might like the atmosphere because of the Alice and Wonderland movie. It's really based more on the book, and not on the Disney film, so they might be disappointed to not see the characters the way they look in the film.
I do have a suggestion for your special family dinner on your cruise. Chops Grille is always really good, and they definitely have the basic steak and potatoes along with a range of other options. Their kids' menu is a bit too grown-up (in my opinion) for many younger kids, but they have lots of shareable side dishes that are kid-friendly.
If you have your heart set on Wonderland, why not make a reservation for you and your partner, send the kids for an early dinner with Grandma and Grandpa, and then drop them at the kids club (it's open until 10)? It sounds like you'd really enjoy it, but it's not for everyone. Happy cruising!