What It is Like on Board Royal Caribbean’s New Utopia of the Seas Ship

The primary time I noticed Utopia of the Seas some eight months in the past, the ship was only a shell, underneath building on the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard, in Saint-Nazaire, France. Again then, the Royal Caribbean vessel was basically a clean canvas, shrouded in scaffolding and netting, with patches of pale blue livery splotched throughout the hull.

By the point I boarded the two,834-cabin vessel in Florida final week, Utopia of the Seas had come to life, completely bursting with shade and music, with a huge emphasis on the music. In truth, the beats had been booming earlier than I even stepped aboard, as music reverberated by means of the balloon-bedecked terminal throughout embarkation, prompting me to ask my check-in agent if she had introduced earplugs. “Subsequent crusing, I’ll,” she stated.

Royal Caribbean calls Utopia of the Seas “the World’s Largest Weekend,” promising nonstop partying on three- and four-night itineraries to the Bahamas crusing out of Port Canaveral, close to Orlando. And celebration we did, throughout a preview crusing that included a celebration of the ship’s naming by godmother Meghan Trainor.

With solely three nights to take the entire ship in, it was go time from the second I stepped aboard. I tried to go to as lots of the 40-plus eating places, bars, and lounges as I may, and I additionally tried to catch as lots of the exhibits and pop-up events — the whole lot from Vegas-style day ragers to precise beer pong periods — as potential.

It was, maybe unsurprisingly, an effort in futility. There may be merely no method to expertise all of the onboard choices throughout such a brief itinerary, and I discovered myself fully drained by the mad sprint from venue to venue. And that is to not point out the fixed barrage of music from the ship’s extraordinary sound techniques, which all gave the impression to be turned as much as 11, on a regular basis. Meghan Trainor was proper — it truly is all about that bass on Utopia of the Seas.

So, take it from somebody who flew somewhat too near the solar: Do not attempt to do the whole lot. As an alternative, decide just a few issues to do off the unending every day program, then see how your crusing unfolds. If I realized something throughout my stint on Utopia of the Seas, it is that there are two must-dos onboard: the Aqua80sToo present and dinner on the Royal Railway, a brand-new venue for Royal Caribbean.

For extra on every of those unbelievable actions and to organize on your personal journey, learn on for my full evaluate of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas.

The Staterooms

There are 20 cabin classes throughout Utopia, starting from inside staterooms with “digital home windows” that present a dwell feed from exterior to very large suites with ample area and facilities. The query to ask is whether or not you propose to spend your three- or four-day journey inside your personal cabin or exploring the ship: When you’re anyone who’s solely going to crash after a full day partying across the ship, a smaller room is perhaps loads. Alternatively, in order for you a peaceable retreat, you may think about a Solarium Suite. These spacious rooms are positioned atop the bridge, on the “wings” of the ship, with panoramic views of the ocean.

Bars and Eating places

The place to even start? There are greater than 40 eating places, bars, and lounges on Utopia, serving the whole lot from sushi (Izumi) to Italian (Giovanni’s) to burgers (Johnny Rockets).  I did not actually have a probability to strive dinner in the principle eating room — however that is definitely a no-reservations-required choice.

For fast eats, there’s the all-day Windjammer Cafe buffet, the Mexican-inspired Cantina Fresca buffet for lunch and dinner, the grab-and-go pizza spot Sorrento’s (a favourite of the late-night crowd), and even a poolside meals truck.

As for bars, probably the most notable is Pesky Parrot, a tiki bar on the promenade with a menu of on-the-rocks and frozen cocktails. I discovered many of the bars on board to be so loud that it’s important to yell to have a dialog; paradoxically, the on line casino bar was one of many quietest locations on the ship, save for the spa.

One explicit eating venue deserves particular point out right here. Royal Railway, which I wrote about for T+L again in February, is an immersive dinner present that’s in contrast to the rest on a cruise ship in the present day.

The night expertise begins with a ticket delivered to your cabin, and as you strategy the restaurant on your “prepare journey,” your identify seems on a split-flap departure board exterior the “station.” A conductor checks your tickets, and off you go to your desk within the eating automobile.

With out spoiling the plot of the theme park–model expertise, you’ll be able to anticipate an interactive meal and even the texture of being on an actual prepare automobile rumbling down the rails. Performers convey the Wild West–impressed set to life, although Royal Caribbean says different themes, like a Silk Highway journey, could ultimately debut. I discovered it to be a fascinating dinner-theater present and one thing completely totally different, in a great way.

The place Utopia of the Seas Sails

The ship’s dwelling port is Port Canaveral, Florida, from which it affords three- and four-night journeys to the Bahamas. The three-night journeys go to Royal Caribbean’s personal island, Excellent Day at CocoCay, whereas four-night itineraries cease each there and in Nassau. It’s additionally potential to mix sailings to create a week-long trip.

Shore Excursions

My solely day without work the ship got here throughout a go to to Excellent Day at CocoCay. This personal island for Royal Caribbean passengers has numerous zones with totally different vibes: A water park caters to households and thrill-seekers — you’ll be able to’t miss the tallest waterslide in North America — whereas Chill Island is for lounging on the seashore. An adults-only Hideaway Seaside is the place the celebration vibes proceed. Visitors may e-book excursions together with snorkeling excursions, Jet Snowboarding, and swimming with pigs.

Facilities and Leisure

Like all mega-ships, Utopia has nearly any amenity you’ll be able to think about: swimming pools, water slides, a FlowRider, mountain climbing partitions, an escape room, laser tag, mini golf, the record goes on and on. I would prefer to name explicit consideration to the spa, which was pretty bare-bones contemplating how over-the-top the remainder of the ship is. I booked a therapeutic massage to get away from the celebration however was dissatisfied that Utopia doesn’t provide the type of full-service spa expertise I’ve had on different huge ships. After checking in, I used to be directed right into a co-ed ready room — there was no locker room the place I may slip on a gown — then delivered to my therapy room. And once I requested if I may use the thermal suite after my therapy, I used to be knowledgeable I would have to e-book a separate day cross.

Leisure, although, is a powerful go well with for Royal Caribbean. The theater exhibits on Utopia are all pretty brief — lower than an hour lengthy, which leaves you loads of time to celebration elsewhere — however they’re full-on spectacles with spectacular units, costumes, and lighting design. These embody a song-and-dance medley (full with drones flying by means of the venue) in the principle theater, an ice-skating present, and the completely superb Aqua80sToo, which is staged within the ship’s AquaTheater.

To say this manufacturing blew me out of the water can be an understatement. Think about you are at SeaWorld ready to see the Shamu present, however as an alternative of an orca leaping hoops, a troupe of high-energy aquatic acrobats bursts forth from the pool as excessive divers plunge from towering heights. Oh, and that is all executed to an unbelievable ‘80s soundtrack — hiya, millennial nostalgia! The athleticism and artistry of the performers was phenomenal. (Let’s simply say their diving, aerial strikes, and dancing had me amped for the Paris Olympics.) If I had been to journey on Utopia once more, I’d be reserving a seat at this present each single night time.

Elsewhere on the ship, there are smaller however nonetheless fascinating acts, together with comedy exhibits in The Attic. a pleasant pianist in Schooner’s. a rock band within the Music Corridor. At each flip, there is a present someplace; there isn’t any means you’d have the ability to catch all of them.

Household-friendly Choices

Whereas Royal Caribbean as a complete is undoubtedly a family-friendly cruise line, I believe Utopia is maybe finest for adults and youngsters, not younger kids. There are many family-friendly facilities, from the Splashaway Bay waterpark to the Journey Ocean youngsters’ membership, however given the celebration ambiance I skilled, I would in all probability decide one other ship if I had been touring with youthful youngsters.

Accessibility

Utopia has 46 accessible cabins, in accordance with the vessel’s deck plan, in a wide range of classes. Throughout my sail, I obtained a tour of 1, which had extra-wide doorways, a roll-in bathe, a lowered sink, and lowered closet rods, amongst different ADA-compliant options. Like different Royal Caribbean ships, Utopia can be outfitted with transportable visible and tactile alert techniques, which may be introduced into any cabin. Royal Caribbean additionally has on-line an in depth FAQ about accessibility options, in addition to a contact middle for accessibility questions.