Royal Caribbean’s latest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas, made her long-awaited debut final summer time in Port Canaveral, Florida. Not like her sister ships that sail extra conventional Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries, Utopia of the Seas was constructed particularly for weekend getaway sailings – with a giant emphasis on partying!
For the final yr, Utopia of the Seas has been crusing solely on 3-night and 4-night cruises to the Bahamas. The itineraries embody stops in Nassau, Bahamas and Royal Caribbean’s personal island, Excellent Day at CocoCay.
Branded because the “World’s Largest Weekend” for the cruise line, Utopia of the Seas has a extra upbeat and party-centric environment onboard in comparison with different ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. The cruise line has deliberately leaned into the party-vibes aboard Utopia of the Seas with extra late-night leisure, deck events, and nonstop enjoyable.
Though Royal Caribbean has provided weekend cruises for years, this marks the primary time the cruise line has explicitly marketed considered one of its ships as a “social gathering” ship. On this manner, Utopia of the Seas represents a strategic shift in how Royal Caribbean targets youthful vacationers. That is definitely a daring transfer that units Utopia of the Seas aside – not simply throughout the Oasis Class, however throughout your entire fleet.
After crusing for almost one yr, we needed to see what actual cruisers are saying about Utopia of the Seas. We combed by our Royal Caribbean Weblog boards to seek out suggestions and feedback from those that have sailed on this social gathering ship. Right here’s what persons are saying with latest evaluations of Utopia of the Seas.
The ship is the vacation spot.
Usually, Oasis class ships have sailed on 7-night itineraries, permitting for ample time to discover the whole lot the ships have to supply. As a result of Utopia of the Seas solely sails on shorter cruises to the Bahamas, many Royal Caribbean Weblog readers point out they select to remain onboard whereas the ship is docked.
Particularly, cruisers say they like skipping the port of name in Nassau, Bahamas and as a substitute benefit from the quieter ship. One fan mentioned, “We do not plan to get off the ship in Nassau” when discussing plans for his or her upcoming Utopia of the Seas cruise.
As well as, one other Royal Caribbean Weblog fan responded to 1 query, “I’m not getting off the ship, so I’ll attempt to scope out the state of affairs for you.”
Yet one more fan on the discussion board responded that they aren’t planning to disembark in Nassau whereas crusing on Utopia of the Seas. The cruiser shared, “Going to Paradise Seaside subsequent month is perhaps the final time we get off the ship. No real interest in Nassau.”
In reality, after I sailed on Utopia of the Seas earlier this yr, I additionally selected to remain aboard the ship and skipped Nassau fully. I used to be shocked by what number of different individuals had the identical thought, because the ship was quieter, however not as quiet as I anticipated. By lunchtime, the swimming pools have been already full.
With just a few days on Utopia of the Seas, our discussion board signifies that visitors favor skipping Nassau, and as a substitute making the most of the ship’s facilities.
Mason Jar is a favourite for our readers.
Mason Jar is a giant dialog subject on our boards. Utopia of the Seas is among the few ships with this newer specialty eating idea, which serves a extremely popular brunch with a concentrate on Southern delicacies.
Particularly, lots of our readers reward Mason Jar for his or her brunch expertise. When one cruiser requested about Mason Jar on their Utopia of the Seas crusing, one other fan responded, “I vote brunch and I do know a number of common posters listed below are additionally large followers. By no means really did dinner however have finished brunch each time… and shall be sticking with it on Utopia sooner or later.”
“We’re cruising on Utopia this December, and I’ve heard some excellent issues about Mason Jar,” replied one commenter on the discussion board. One fan on the discussion board additionally responded, “Going by the boards (small pattern measurement, my very own impression, not scientific), I really feel like brunch will get lots of love however dinner is extra of a blended bag.”
Though Mason Jar serves brunch and dinner, the venue additionally incorporates a bar with stay music within the evenings. That is fairly well-liked, and plenty of of our readers reward the Southern-inspired cocktails served at Mason Jar Bar.
“The bar at [Mason Jar] on Utopia is chaos however the eating facet I’d say is a little more organized chaos. I’m certain you’ll take pleasure in these Mississippi moonlights,” replied one cruiser on our discussion board. One other reader included, “We have been on Utopia in January and the Apple Pie Previous Common from the Mason Jar was my favourite! Ordered it a number of instances. It positively was one thing extra to savor, taking my time, and letting it soften.”
Normally, specialty eating is a spotlight for Utopia of the Seas cruisers.
Royal Caribbean has among the greatest specialty eating eating places within the cruise business. On an enormous ship like Utopia of the Seas, most of the feedback on our boards spotlight the specialty eating expertise. Company rave about all the specialty eating eating places obtainable on Utopia of the Seas, and plenty of love their experiences throughout their cruise.
One cruiser shared, “Dinner tonight [on Utopia of the Seas] was Giovanni’s. Love this new location the place Wonderland was. Meals was scrumptious. We have been so stuffed! Service additionally incredible!”
Izumi additionally receives lots of reward on our boards, particularly the bubble waffles for dessert. “The bubble cone is just about the factor I stay up for by doing Utopia. I like Izumi,” shared one cruiser.
In reality, due to the ship’s extensive number of specialty eating choices, lots of our readers select to buy the Final Eating Bundle for his or her cruise. The shorter itinerary helps forestall the “meals coma” fatigue that may set in on longer sailings.
One commenter defined how eating packages can really feel overwhelming on longer cruises, noting, “The cumulative impact of that a lot meals over that lengthy a interval is simply overwhelming. We will, nevertheless handle to splurge for a few shorter consecutive days/nights, understanding that it’s going to finish quickly sufficient. We had the [Ultimate Dining Package] on the three night time Utopia cruise (of a B2B) again within the spring and it labored out nice.”
Moreover, Utopia of the Seas is the one ship within the fleet to supply Royal Railway, an immersive eating expertise designed to really feel like a journey by practice. Though not included within the Final Eating Bundle, our readers loved the distinctive eating manufacturing.
One cruiser shared, “On the ship now and we did the Royal Railway tonight and thought it was incredible. The forged and servers are all nice and so many good puns all through. The movement results are fairly darn convincing.”
Nonetheless, many who tried Royal Railway acknowledged they wouldn’t essentially return for a second time given the fee and glued menu.
The Spare Tire meals truck is a blended bag for a lot of.
Talking of meals, one of many extra frequent subjects of dialogue for Utopia of the Seas is the introduction of the Spare Tire meals truck. Situated on the pool deck, a number of readers mentioned Spare Tire, noting the lackluster grab-and-go meals selections. Some even talked about crusing on Utopia of the Seas a number of instances and nonetheless not attempting the Spare Tire.
“I am going to attempt something as soon as however that is in regards to the least thrilling meals venue I’ve seen. The working joke appears to be that it serves fuel station meals,” commented one cruiser.
Nonetheless, one of many favorites for our readers is the raspberry cheesecake dessert choice. “I attempted the raspberry cheesecake a number of instances. It was nice on the balcony watching the sundown,” shared one cruiser.
Folks love the Aqua80Two diving manufacturing, whereas All In and YouTopia are much less well-liked.
Oasis class ships are famend for his or her leisure, together with unparalleled manufacturing reveals that you simply gained’t discover wherever else within the cruise business. Aboard Utopia of the Seas, you possibly can see the traditional Oasis-style reveals, together with a high-diving present known as Aqua80Two, an ice-skating spectacle generally known as YouTopia, and the brand new headliner theatre present All In!
Our readers completely love the Aqua80Two present, with many commenting on the ship’s unimaginable manufacturing and the gifted performers. One cruiser commented, “As a giant fan of 80’s music and the unique Aqua80 present, we beloved it!” One other commenter responded, “Would positively see Aqua80Two time and again.”
Nonetheless, a few of our readers talked about disappointment with the opposite leisure obtainable on Utopia of the Seas. Particularly, some discovered the YouTopia ice present underwhelming in comparison with different ships.
“I’d say this was extra conventional ice skating slightly than among the productions on newer ships like [Wonder of the Seas] and [Icon of the Seas]. No drones, no particular results, only a complete lot of skating,” defined one cruiser. One other replied, “I form of didn’t fairly get what your entire present was attempting to convey. The balancing act was in all probability what grabbed my curiosity essentially the most and there was not even ice skating concerned!”
Lastly, a number of readers commented on the brand new theatre present, known as All In! One reviewer mentioned, “All In was all one thing, however not all nice. It’s a blended bag of evaluations from the household. My dad and mom didn’t prefer it. You’ll be able to in all probability guess, too loud for them. My sister additionally didn’t prefer it. In her phrases, it was a multitude.”
A few of the most typical complaints included the loud noise onboard Utopia of the Seas.
Some of the frequent issues shared by our readers about Utopia of the Seas is the extreme noise ranges. Contemplating Royal Caribbean’s branding and concentrate on partying, the louder noise and music isn’t fully shocking. Nonetheless, lots of our readers point out the loud noise as their largest criticism.
In a single thread devoted to the noise on Utopia of the Seas, one reader commented, “Each venue, present, and area was pushed to very, very uncomfortable ranges. When you need to order your drink by writing your order down as a result of the bar tender can’t hear you and you’ll’t hear them, even yelling your order… that is ridiculous.”
“Unusual that ship is that loud. I imply it is a brief cruise, however nonetheless. Appears actually odd it is that loud and annoying,” shared one fan. One other replied, “We had a Central Park view balcony on the entrance finish of our [back to back cruise] in October and it was very loud even with the door closed.”
“Simply obtained off Utopia at this time. The one drawback we had with loudness have been the reveals. Each All In and Youtopia have been so loud you could not benefit from the present itself,” shared one cruiser.
One other fan even replied they gained’t be crusing on Utopia of the Seas once more because of the loud noise. “That is 100% appropriate. We left the ship final week and it was, by far, the least satisfying cruise ship that I’ve sailed. We averted the pool areas attributable to noise, and it was insufferable on the water present. In case you’re into that surroundings, that is the ship for you. If not, maintain wanting.”
Nonetheless, different followers talked about that Utopia of the Seas is supposed to be a celebration ship, and the louder music is a part of that have.
One fan responded, “It’s definitely loud but it surely’s a wild social gathering weekend (particularly for NYE). If “social gathering ship” was the supposed objective then RC hit a house run. We actually loved your entire expertise and shall be crusing her once more in a pair weeks.”
“Anybody happening a 3/4 night time Bahamas cruise who’s on the lookout for a fairly “regular” low key cruise expertise is on the improper ship,” emphasised one other commenter.
Lastly, our followers love Utopia of the Seas’ design and innovation.
Total, our followers appear to take pleasure in cruising on Utopia of the Seas. Though the social gathering vibe isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, the latest Oasis Class ship has a lot to supply. To not point out, lots of our readers commented on the ship’s magnificence, design and innovation.
“Simply obtained off a cruise attempting out the brand new Utopia ship. Stunning ship,” shared one fan.
One other reader commented, “The colour scheme on Utopia is significantly better than the opposite ships, these rooms look clear and lovely. I’m obsessive about the bathe tile.”
Equally, many point out the revolutionary vacation spot elevators that Royal Caribbean carried out aboard Utopia of the Seas. One reader shared, “The vacation spot elevators are one of the best factor that has occurred to cruising, in my sincere opinion. They work rather well.”
