By
Laura Hyde |
Debuting in July 2024 from Port Canaveral in Florida, Utopia of the Seas is the latest ship to join the Royal Caribbean International fleet. The newest Oasis-class ship, which is currently under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, will offer three-and four-night cruises to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas.
Utopia of the Seas will offer passengers more than 20 types of accommodation, including staterooms and suites designed to suit families or groups of up to three, four, five and more. Highlights include the Royal Loft Suite, Ultimate Family Suite and the new Solarium Suites, a new category of accommodation. The Solarium Suites have been placed high up at the front of the ship to provide panoramic views for guests. They also offer a living and dining area, the VIP Royal Suite Class experience and other exclusive amenities.
Royal Caribbean International
The new Solarium Suites will be located high up at the front of the ship to provide panoramic views
The more than 20 dining options onboard Utopia of the Seas will give guests the chance to sample cuisine from around the world during their cruise. A new immersive dining experience, the Royal Railway, has been designed to resemble the interior of a train and will ‘transport’ travellers to different places and eras, taking them on a multi-course culinary journey that combines adventure, food and technology. Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar has been reimagined to span two storeys and include a new outside terrace, Gio’s Terrazza, which will overlook the Boardwalk.
While on the pool deck, guests can dine on Mexican street food at El Loco Fresh and Cantina Fresca or enjoy quick, casual bites from the ship’s new poolside food truck concept. Longtime guest favourite Sprinkles ice cream parlour will feature a new bar with different sprinkle toppings and a choice of three ice cream flavours.
The ship also features more than 20 bars and entertainment venues, two casinos with more than 370 slot machines and almost 30 table games, and five live music venues, including Spotlight Karaoke, Music Hall, the classic piano Schooner Bar, and Latin hotspot Boleros. The Pesky Parrot is a new Caribbean tiki bar on the Royal Promenade which will serve fruit-based cocktails, frozen drinks and more.
The AquaTheater will feature all-star divers performing high diving, slacklining and acrobatics into the deepest pool at sea. World-class figure skaters will entertain at Studio B, and Broadway-style theatrical productions will be performed at the Royal Theater.
Northern Ireland-based MJM Marine has outfitted multiple public spaces onboard the ship. “We’ll be transforming multiple key public spaces onboard, delivering a vibrant Playscape area, a mouthwatering Food Truck concept, a lively Pesky Parrot bar, a Starbucks haven, and an out-of-this-world immersive dining experience, designed to transport travellers on a multi-course, locomotive culinary journey,” says Fiona Nevin, head of global business development at MJM Marine.
Three of the five pools on Utopia of the Seas will be located at the centre of the pool deck, alongside three Lime & Coconut bars, with live music and tropical cocktails. The Perfect Storm has high-speed waterslides, while Splashaway Bay has been designed for younger children. Tucked away in the exclusive Suite neighbourhood, the Suite Sun Deck will also feature a pool with a bird’s eye view of the ocean.
The Ultimate Abyss slide will be 43 feet longer than on previous ships, take 19 seconds from start to finish, and feature new zoom booster rollers and transparent racing windows. The ship will also have a FlowRider surf simulator, a Utopia Playscape for young children and mini golf at AquaDunes.
“Vacationers are looking to make every moment count by celebrating and recharging with their friends and family, and Utopia of the Seas makes all that possible in more ways than one,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “With the variety of dining, bars, pools, entertainment and thrills that make Oasis-class ships revolutionary and the experiences to match on our private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, we’ve combined the best of the best to create the world’s biggest weekend for everyone.”
This article was first published in the 2024 issue of Cruise & Ferry Interiors. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed. Subscribe for FREE to get the next issue delivered directly to your inbox.