On this new cruise ship, every day is a weekend

They call it The World’s Biggest Weekend.

Royal Caribbean just launched Utopia of the Seas, the newest addition to its impressive fleet of cruise ships, and boy is she a beauty.

“This is one hell of a ship,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.

It took over 10 million working hours to build the utopian playground at sea, said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.

The mega-ship, which can accommodate 5,668 guests at double occupancy, sails from Florida’s Port Canaveral on three- and four-night getaways that will take adventurers to Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau, both in The Bahamas.

Inquirer Lifestyle was among the first to experience “the ultimate short getaway” just before its inaugural cruise on July 19.

“Welcome to the party that never ends. You’re gonna leave this ship in a couple of days exhausted. That is our mission,” said Bayley. He wasn’t kidding.

Godmother

At the naming party at the ship’s AquaTheater, Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor expressed her delight over being chosen as Utopia of the Seas’ godmother. “I brought my entire family here today. I’m so honored. I’ll be the best godmother there ever was, I promise.”

The crowd cheered and joined the countdown. Trainor said, “I now bless this ship and everyone who sails on it.”

A giant disco ball floated, bottles of champagne dropped, and pink, purple and blue confetti rained as she performed her hit “All About That Bass” on ukulele to an audience that included 52 of her fans who won the chance to join her on the preview cruise.

DJ Ruckus, “the most sought after DJ in the world” according to GQ, and DJ Rev. Run, a founding member of Run-D.M.C., had the crowd dancing.

Utopia of the Seas, with its 18 decks and 2,834 staterooms, is not Royal Caribbean’s largest ship—that distinction goes to Icon of the Seas, which debuted in January—but it’s massive in its own way. “It’s not about the size, it’s because you can make the most of every single minute in more ways than ever before,” said Bayley.

There is so much to enjoy aboard Utopia and its eight neighborhoods—day or night, there’s always something going on. There are four shows to watch, five places to catch live music, six places to dance, two casinos, five pools, eight whirlpools, and four slides, including a trio of waterslides called The Perfect Storm, and Ultimate Abyss, the longest dry slide at sea at 259 feet.

Something for everyone

There are games and game shows, mini golf, scavenger hunts, karaoke, yoga sessions, pickleball matches, poker tournaments, dance classes, dodgeball, laser tag, a spa and fitness center, an escape room, a gallery, shops, arcades, a carousel, a jogging track and a FlowRider.

The idea is to offer something for everyone, said Bayley.

There are plenty of kid- and teen-friendly areas and activities on Utopia of the Seas, but there are also parts of the ship like my favorite Solarium, which has pools, whirlpools, in-water loungers, daybeds and even a restaurant, that are just for adults.

Royal Caribbean’s target market is multi-generational families “or whatever your definition of a family is.” Parents, grandparents, single people, couples, kids can all enjoy themselves on the ship. Bayley said, “Everyone has something they are excited to do during the day. And then, in the evening, everybody can come together to have a great meal. It’s like the perfect family vacation.”

But even solo travelers will have a blast aboard Utopia of the Seas. I can attest to this.

Inside Royal Caribbean ships, elevator floors bear a metal plate telling you what day it is. This is especially needed on Utopia, where every day feels like the weekend. Our embarkation day was a Monday but it certainly didn’t feel like it, not with the party vibe that just kept going.

Oh yes, the parties. So many parties. Poolside parties, dance parties, a sail away party, a sunset party, the midnight balloon drop, a one-hit wonder party, a nightclub experience, a frat-themed party. At the late-night ReZolution party, there was a lot of breakdancing.

My favorite was the Silent Toga Party where everyone wore wireless headphones and danced to the beats of three DJs. You can switch from one DJ to another and the color of your headphones will change to match the DJ of your choice. It was super funny and fun to be surrounded by people dancing to different songs at the same time.

Drinking, of course, is a big part of parties, and on Utopia of the Seas, there’s no shortage of drinks to enjoy. (Tip: Royal Caribbean bartenders make excellent shooters and shots.) There are 23 bars and lounges on the ship, each with its own personality and special drinks.

Ed Eiswirth, director of beverage operations for Royal Caribbean, said, “We have drinks that people recognize and we have drinks that stretch their mind a little bit.”

Pesky Parrot

Royal Caribbean’s newest bar, Pesky Parrot, makes its debut on Utopia of the Seas. “We are constantly looking for ways to engage and delight our customers. Why don’t we have a drunken parrot?” said Bayley. “You know, you’re coming on vacation. It doesn’t need to be serious.”

The parrot, said to be named Brian, wasn’t there yet during our preview cruise, but the bar, which serves tiki-style cocktails with Caribbean spirits, was already an instant hit with guests.

Eiswirth said, “I would make Pesky Parrot your first stop and either get the Pesky’s Peanut Butter Piña or the Teqkil-Ya Zombie.”

Because I am partial to frozen drinks, I went for Pesky’s Peanut Butter Piña. The combination of pineapple and peanut butter shouldn’t make sense…but it does.

“This one is very easy to drink. It’s so versatile because of everyone’s favorite piña colada and then the peanut butter flavor makes it pop. It’s like pineapple on pizza. If you haven’t tried it yet, you find it funny,” said Floyd Aquino, a Filipino bartender who has been working for Royal Caribbean for almost nine years now.

Aquino said that he applied for the opportunity to be a part of Utopia of the Seas. “This is my first time to open a new ship. It’s very, very exciting.”

He is just one of my many Filipinos working on the ship. You’d see them everywhere—from the bars and restos to the ship’s cockpit.

Utopia of the Seas has 2,290 crew members. Bayley calls them “the best in the world.” “They’re incredibly warm and friendly and helpful.”

On an elevator ride with Bayley, I noted the presence of many Filipinos on the ship. He said, “We have a lot of Filipino employees in Manila, too, about 2,000 of them in Royal Caribbean Philippines.”

Food

Linken D’Souza, SVP of food and beverage global operations, said, “Our Filipino crew are super committed to delivering an amazing guest experience and they’re just great employees to work with and be around. It’s wonderful to have them on our teams.”

Food is an essential part of every vacation and with so much excitement on Utopia of the Seas, you’re going to need a lot of fuel.

At the Windjammer, you get to enjoy the buffet at your own pace while you get spoiled with great service at the Main Dining Room. Try to get a seat by the window—the view of the ocean makes each meal even more special.

Our hibachi dinner at Izumi was a delicious and hilarious experience, thanks to Tekson, a Filipino who is equal parts chef and comedian, and waiter Rolan who took such great care of our rowdy group.

My other favorites are the pizzas at Sorrento’s—a godsend when you have post-midnight cravings—and Sprinkles’ soft serve, a creamy way to cool down by the pools.

Royal Railway is another concept debuting on Utopia of the Seas. It offers an immersive train car dining experience. “It’s a beast of a restaurant. There’s a lot of complexity as relates to the technology, the acting, the food, the timing. It’s definitely very complex, but I think it’s also going to be very rewarding,” D’Souza told Lifestyle. “It’s a Wild West extravaganza, through the food, the acting, the entertainment.”

There are over 20 dining options on Utopia of the Seas, serving 16 cuisines from around the world. Many are included in your fare while there are specialty dining options you’d have to pay extra for. There’s a mix of casual, sit-down restaurants and places where you can just grab a quick bite—perfect for days when you have a show to catch.

I caught three of the four shows—”Youtopia Ice Spectacular” which features talented ice skaters, “Aqua80Too” starring the Royal Caribbean Aqua Team, and the signature production show “All In!” at the beautiful Royal Theater. I was sad to miss out on watching the stand-up comic at The Attic. But that’s the reality of cruising on Utopia of the Seas—there’s so much going on that you wouldn’t be able to do everything.

The key is prioritizing what you want to see, eat, drink and experience—and the Royal Caribbean app and the daily Cruise Compass are super handy for that.

Quiet moments

The ship offers the quiet moments you need, too. I loved my stateroom—it’s where I recovered so I could party again the next day. Watching the sunrise over the ocean from my comfy bed was one of my favorite moments from the cruise.

Of course, those who want a more luxurious experience have bigger rooms and suites, including the new Solarium Suites, to choose from. Staying in different suite classes comes with added benefits like the Royal Genie Service and access to the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen.

At the cockpit, we met Capt. Gus Andersson, who showed us how they keep everyone aboard safe as we sailed.

Does he get the chance to enjoy the ship, too? I asked.

Work is their priority, of course, but, he said, “I really, really like the ice show. I grew up in Sweden and seeing the ice skaters brings me back to my childhood. All the entertainment that we have here, it’s just fantastic.”

Also at the cockpit, we heard from Nick Rose, vice president of Environmental, Social and Governance, and Helen O’Connell, AVP of Community Engagement, who discussed Royal Caribbean’s commitment to delivering vacation experiences responsibly.

Rose said, “SEA the Future means sustaining the planet, energizing communities and accelerating innovation. It’s true to what we do. We’re really focused on three main things—energy, water and waste.”

 

Utopia of the Seas uses next-generation dual fuel engines with the ability to use liquefied natural gas and biofuels and is shore power capable. It produces 100 percent of fresh water onboard “via a reverse osmosis/desalination plant.”