Even if Royal Caribbean International’s (RCI) new Utopia of the Seas falls short of its namesake perfection, the sixth Oasis-class ship is certainly the most successful in the series so far. (A seventh is on order for delivery in 2028.)
As the second-largest cruise ship in the world, behind only RCI’s recently launched Icon of the Seas, the 236,473-gross-ton, 5,668-guest behemoth is initially scheduled to embark on short three- and four-night getaways from Port Canaveral, Florida. This makes it an ideal add-on to other Orlando-area resort vacations.
Utopia has a lot in common with other Oasis-class ships, but here are some things that have changed since Wonder of the Seas set sail in 2022.
Royal Railway - Utopia Station
Already attracting the most attention onboard is Royal Railway - Utopia Station. The new 90-minute, train-themed dining experience comes into the station where the Izumi hibachi specialty restaurant was positioned on Wonder, just off the main dining room’s middle level. As a result, Izumi has moved to Central Park in a larger overall location, complete with a new alfresco component.
This further displaces Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen from the park to its new double-decker venue, which includes an outdoor terrace of its own overlooking the Boardwalk. As a result, the fantastical Wonderland has been removed entirely.
Royal Railway is a new 90-minute train-themed dining experience.
Credit: 2024 Jason LeppertAt Royal Railway, a fully functional, split-flap board greets “riders” outside before they step up to the platform where two vintage railcars have pulled in. It was here that I quickly grabbed a sample Impossible rib and bite of barbecue chicken, both tasty comfort foods off “The Wild West” train trip’s three-course menu.
Once onboard one of two 24-passenger cars, four-top tables line one side while two-tops flank the other, and all booths are skirted by “windows” that digitally display the train’s reasonably photo-realistic surroundings. Vibrations in the floors additionally sell the illusion of movement. One of the cast of bandits briefly showed up, frantically searching for a lost parcel to offer a sense of the experience’s live-action dinner show element.
Evening pricing has not yet been confirmed, but future experiences are said to eventually encompass extra short-form daytime wine “tours.”
Other Bars and Dining Venues
Also changed since Wonder is the replacement of the Bionic Bar with the Pesky Parrot. Believing the novelty of the robotic watering hole has worn off, RCI opted for a tiki bar not unlike The Bamboo Room found on Navigator of the Seas, for those clients familiar with the West Coast-based ship.
The new environment is more colorful and lively thanks to animated digital screens, and soon even a live parrot will be perched in the corner. Drinks such as the frozen Monkey Business, made with banana and coffee liqueurs, are fun and quenching.
The Izumi hibachi specialty restaurant has a larger location onboard Utopia.
Credit: 2024 Jason LeppertLess delicious, but certainly convenient, are complimentary quick bites newly available from The Spare Tire. The rusty food truck presents fare such as chipotle chicken sandwiches, Mediterranean veggie wraps and “tornados,” oversized taquitos stuffed with cheese and pepperoni or beef and cheese.
Solarium Suites
More elegant by comparison are the ship’s two new private accommodations. On past Oasis-class ships, the adult-only Solarium extended out above the navigation bridge wings for outdoor views and photo-ops, but on Utopia, they are walled off to delineate two 840-square-foot suites with easy access to the adjacent venue and 270-degree wraparound views.
Vistas are shared by a floor-to-ceiling window-lined living and dining area (with its own half bath), plus a palatial master bedroom and a bathroom. Both suites sleep up to four people, who are catered to by a Royal Genie.
New Entertainment
Rounding out what’s new on Utopia are its trio of original shows — one each in the Royal Theater, Studio B and the AquaTheater.
“All In!” is a high-energy, high-tech production.
Credit: 2024 Jason LeppertWhile not one of RCI’s remounted Broadway shows, “All In!” presented in the Royal Theater is a super high-energy, high-tech production with a massive cast of singers and dancers, expansive set pieces, kinetic lighting displays and even drones that deploy above the audience. The high-amp sound system is nothing short of pulsing as the vibe of Burning Man, Studio 54 and other tentpole events and nightclubs are brought to life on stage.
Taking inspiration from the ship’s name, the “Youtopia” ice show in Studio B activates the arena with cool ice projections and stunning costuming for world-class skaters as they represent a retro-meets-contemporary-style utopia with Olympic precision.
And, as a sequel to the performance featured on the first in the series — Oasis of the Seas — “Aqua80Too” continues to celebrate the 1980s at the AquaTheater. An homage to “Back to the Future,” the performance is a creative mashup of 1980s-era tunes, colorful visuals, live synchronized swimming, high diving and aerial flying.
Who Is Utopia For?
The ship’s numerous offerings are quite a lot for a three- or four-day sailing. So, who is the new cruise ship for?
At a press conference onboard, the line’s president and CEO, Michael Bayley, said, “we want [a] younger demographic,” considering Utopia, in particular, to be a “giant on-ramp” for new-to-cruise travelers, as well as multigenerational groups.
The ship is lively and noisy, thanks to lots of live music — a key driver towards a younger demo, according to Bayley — often spilling from one venue into the next, with few places for a quiet break. But those looking for nonstop entertainment will be overjoyed by Utopia’s repeatability factor, if only to fully experience everything the ship has to offer across multiple sailings.
