Quantum of the Seas - Wonderland

Specialty, up charge restaurants are a standard on all cruise lines and we usually don't worry about them as the included food in the main dining rooms and some cruise lines the buffet is very good. However, we have always wanted to try Wonderland on Royal Ships.

On our first Ovation cruise in 2019 we talked about going to Wonderland. It was $70 Australian each pre-cruise price. We so wanted to do it but it cost so much, we didn't. When cruising came back after the pause, Quantum of the Seas was based in Brisbane for our summer, and it had a Wonderland but price has been over $90 each. With over 140 nights on Royal we have now cruised 8 times on Quantum since November 2022 and it wasn't until last cruise, March 2024 that we got to try Wonderland.

The meal is a fixed price and we were lucky to get a special on board. The first few days staff will be walking around offering discounts. We went direct to Wonderland on the first day and got a special we were prepared to pay.

We booked early dinner, 5.30pm thinking that if we didn't like it or we were still hungry we could still go to the main dining room for late dinner.

We arrived and were greeted by our Culinary Guide (waiter) and taken to our table. Our first impression was there was a lack of diners, but it was 5.30 and as we were taken to our table we could see the some of the imaginative furniture including a large light fitting, I wouldn't call it a chandelier, but it was interesting with keys hanging off it. The chairs were all mis-matched which added to the wonderland theme, with references to clocks, locks and keys.  We were sitting in a little alcove, so maybe some of the magic of the decor is yet to be discovered.

The table settings were simple, but beautiful. The cutlery seemed backwards which was a little awkward for a left handed person. The red and blue goblets represented the eat me and drink me in Alice In Wonderland - also the red or blue pill in the Down the Rabbit Hole cocktail.

The menu was magical and we needed to paint it with water to see the menu.

The menu is made up of 6 elements:  Sun, Ice, Fire, Earth, Sea and Dreams.

We didn't get to choose our food, the waiter chose a selection for us, and we had most of everything on the menu - except for the mains (Earth and Sea). Some of the dishes are hard to explain but the taste of most was surprisingly good. The imaginative cuisine is presented in small or shareable portions. This is what we had.

Appetizers - Sun 

Tomato Water - with a bread foam

Baby Vegetables in the Garden - very imaginative and tasty

Appetizers - Ice 

Citrus Seas Shhhhh - spicy tuna, citrus sorbet. Jonnie also liked this, which was surprising.

 

Crispy Crab Cones - avocado mousse, crab filling with wasabi at the bottom of the cone - we didn't eat the wasabi but liked the avocado and crab

 

Fire - the Birds Nest - like a deviled egg served under a dome filled with smoke

Mad Hatters Purple Potted Shrimp - not sure what is purple about it, but it was so good I had Jonnie's, It has a slightly spicy dipping mayonnaise in the cup. 

Mains 

Sea - We all started with Liquid Lobster with cavier - surprisingly Jonnie ate it and liked it. The rest of the Sea menu was fish mains.

Earth - we had a choice of 

The Chicken and the Egg, I had that and it was yum, and just the right size portion for me. The egg was potato and a squash puree.

Snap, Crackle and Pork, Jon had that.

The Rib "I" Luscious Short Rib, Peter had that and said it was the best meal he has had on a ship.

There was also a vegetarian dish (Earth) and two fish dishes (Sea).

Dessert

Dreams

Forbidden Apple - raspberry cremeux, brown butter crumble, ice cream. It wasn't Peter's birthday, but Peter's birthday was the next occasion to celebrate. Sadly Royal does not sail in Australia when we have our birthdays and anniversaries.

The World - yummy peanut butter ganache, chocolate mousse, salted caramel popcorn and ice cream.

Mystical Mushroom Garden - my favourite, (although the world is a very close second) pistachio, white chocolate mousse, red velvet and chocolate soil, soft centered meringue and mango sorbet.

Cocktails, we had a few. Jonnie had 2 special mocktails.

I had a Down the Rabbit Hole with a blue pill - Vodka, St Germaine, lemon juice, and sparkling wine.

and Cheshire Cat Cosmo - vodka, cointreau, lime juice, cranberry juice with cotton candy. I think they forgot the cranberry juice (and maybe the vodka).

Peter had a White Rabbit-rita - Tequila, Cointreau, Blue Curacao, lime juice and salt rim, and a Red Stripe Beer.

We had a great time but expected a little more pageantry. We did see Alice, but she looked rather sad and only came near us once. There was no Mad Hatter. Located on deck 5, and dress code of smart casual, Wonderland is not your traditional dining, but a feast for the eyes and taste buds. We loved it and would do it again - if the price is right.