Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas is advertised as “the world’s biggest weekend” and the ship definitely lives up to the hype!! As the newest Oasis Class ship, it’s packed with dining, entertainment, and activities for travelers of all ages. Whether you’re sailing as a family, couple or group of friends, this ship is the perfect choice for a short, fun filled Bahamas getaway.
Currently, Utopia of the Seas sails 3 and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida, visiting Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. We sailed on the 4-night itinerary, which included two port days and one sea day in an oceanview balcony cabin. If it’s in your budget, I highly recommend doing a back-to-back cruise – there’s just so much to explore on this ship that four nights barely scratches the surface.
About Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas:
Utopia of the Seas brings fresh design touches and artistic details that make it feel more glamorous and high-end than any previous Oasis Class ship. You’ll find the classic favorites like Central Park, the Boardwalk, and the Royal Promenade, but also exciting new venues such as Pesky Parrot, a tropical cocktail bar and Royal Railway, an immersive dining experience unlike anything at sea.
This review focuses on our personal experience aboard the 4-night sailing – for ship-specific information, itineraries and more new features, check out my separate Utopia of the Seas Tips & What’s New Guide.
Utopia of the Seas Day #1 – Embarkation & First Impressions
We boarded Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas around 1 p.m. after a brief delay caused by an electrical outage at the port. Even with the power issues, check-in took only about 45 minutes and staff did a fantastic job keeping things organized once power was restored.
Tip: Join the Facebook group for your sailing. Fellow passengers were posting live updates about the outage, which helped us time our arrival perfectly and avoid long lines.
After boarding, we headed straight to Solarium Bistro for a lobster and stone crab lunch — a special perk available only on embarkation day. There was also a similar seafood spread in Windjammer featuring fresh lobster, crab, and shrimp. Icon of the Seas offered the same perk during its first year, but it’s unclear how long it will continue on Utopia. She’s already been sailing over a year and seafood is still an embarkation day special.
If seafood isn’t your thing, Park Café offers great salads and sandwiches in a quieter setting or you can grab a table at a specialty restaurant to skip the embarkation crowds.
