Royal Caribbean has been introducing new ships regularly, each more stunning and impressive than the last. I had the opportunity to sail on their latest ship, the Utopia of the Seas, and it is a fantastic vacation for a family looking for fun over three or four days.
In this post, we’ll review everything you need to know about the Utopia of the Seas, including dining venues, attractions, and entertainment.
Disclosure: While I paid full price for my sailing, I have received complimentary trips on Royal Caribbean in the past. All opinions are my own.
Review of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas
Utopia of the Seas is currently the largest Oasis Class ship. Her godmother is pop singer Meghan Trainor.
Utopia offers 16 guest decks (18 total) and can accommodate 2,834 crew and 5,668 guests (double occupancy in the 2,834 staterooms. Her maiden voyage was in July 2024.
Sailings on Utopia of the Seas
Sailings on the Utopia of the Seas are being marketed as the World’s Biggest Weekend, because it is offering shorter cruises – three or four nights. It’s so nice to have a ship of this size available for shorter trips. Because it leaves from Port Canaveral, Florida, you can also combine a sailing on Utopia of the Seas with a theme park vacation in Central Florida.
These sailings visit Nassau, Bahamas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. If you are on a four-day sailing, there will also be a day at sea.
Neighborhoods on Utopia of the Seas
Utopia of the Seas is divided into eight distinct neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its own personality and is fun to explore.
The Boardwalk: Offering boardwalk-style entertainment and venues, including a carousel, Johnny Rockets, the Aqua Theater, Boardwalk Dog House, Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, and Sugar Beach. This is a fun, whimsical area, and doesn’t feel like you are on a ship.
Central Park: Central Park is my favorite place on the Oasis Class ships. Offering live plants and trees, this area is relaxing and gorgeous. Central Park is home to 150 Central Park, Park Cafe, Izumi Sushi, Izumi Hibachi, Chops, the Trellis Bar, and several retail shops. I love grabbing a cup of coffee and savoring the environment in Central Park.
Royal Promenade: The first area you see on the ship as you board is the Royal Promenade, and it’s impressive. This is where you’ll find most of the retail shops (including Solera, Port Merchants, and the Shop) as well as restaurants and bars (Sorrentos, the Promenade Cafe, Starbucks, the Pesky Parrot, Boleros, the Bell and Barley). It’s also home to the parade on Utopia of the Seas – The Effectors: Homecoming Parade.
Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness: Looking to relax or enjoy a workout while on board? The Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center offers workout equipment, workout classes, a salon, IV therapy, and spa treatments. There’s also a thermal suite.
Entertainment Place: Royal Caribbean is known for its world-class entertainment, and the hub for it on the Utopia of the Seas is in the Entertainment Place on Deck 4. This area of the ship offers Studio B (ice rink), the Attic, and the Casino Royale.
Suite Neighborhood: This concept was new with the Wonder of the Seas. In the Suite Neighborhood, you’ll find the ship’s suite accommodations, as well as the suite amenities including Coastal Kitchen and the concierge lounge.
Youth Zone: the Utopia of the Seas is incredibly family and kid-friendly, and the Youth Zone is where they can find their own spaces. These include Socal 100, and Social 100 Patio, Adventure Ocean (with the Imagination Studio, Adventure Ocean Theater, Adventure Science Lab, the Workshop, and more). Kids will love the youth programming offered throughout your cruise. There’s also an escape room.
Pool and Sports Zone: On any Caribbean cruise, you’ll want to spend some time on the pool deck getting sun. Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas offers pools and much more, including a sports court (with dedicated times for basketball and pickleball), mini golf, a zip line, a jogging track, two rock climbing walls, FlowRider, the Ultimate Abyss, and the Perfect Storm water slides. There’s also the adults-only Solarium, a gorgeous two-level area with pools, hot tubs, a bar, and more.
Activities on The Utopia of the Seas
Unsurprisingly, there are many things to do for the whole family on the Utopia of the Seas, even on a sea day when you aren’t at a port. During my four-night stay, I tried to experience a little bit of everything and still didn’t manage to experience all of the activities. I even stayed on the ship in Nassau!
If you love shows, there’s no lack of fantastic entertainment. While the offerings do vary by sailing, you’ll find listings on the Royal Caribbean Navigator app. During my sailing, entertainment options include:
- Shows: Including All In, the Aqua Show, and an Ice Show – none of these are to be missed!
- Limited-time entertainment: Different acts are on board for each sailing—on my sailing, we had an adult comedian and a tribute band.
- Game shows: Including general trivia, music trivia, and other game shows
- Evening entertainment: nightclub, silent DJ, karaoke, and more.
- General ship entertainment: including DJs, singers, a brass band, and more.
We loved all of the main shows on the ship – I’d definitely recommend booking them in advance and seeing them all.
Looking for an adrenaline rush? The ship’s zipline travels right over the Boardwalk area. Bring a sleeved top and closed-toed shoes if you want to try it. There’s also the Ultimate Abyss slide that goes from the sports deck to the Boardwalk.
Restaurants on the Utopia of the Seas
Royal Caribbean offers some fantastic restaurants, some included and some for an additional cost. There are three main dining room options. Restaurants that are provided as part of your cruise fare include:
- The Windjammer Buffet
- The Solarium Bistro
- El Loco Fresh
- The Spare Tire
- The Park Cafe
- The Boardwalk Dog House
- Cafe Promenade
- Sorrento’s Pizza
All of the included food is delicious, and you could easily just dine at those locations during your sailing. There are still loads of places where you can enjoy three meals and snacks daily. However, for an upgraded dining experience, some specialty restaurants are on board for an additional fee. You should book these dining options in advance, as many have limited capacity and you can often get a better price earlier.
- The Mason Jar (we booked brunch on our embarkation day – I highly recommend this!)
- 150 Central Park
- Chops Grille Steakhouse
- Coastal Kitchen (limited to Royal Caribbean suite guests)
- Johnny Rockets
- Starbucks
- Giovanni’s Table (delicious Italian food)
- Izumi Hibachi and Sushi
- Chef’s Table
- Hooked Seafood
- Royal Railway Utopia Station
- Room service is also offered for an additional fee
An unlimited dining package is available for guests looking to dine in mostly signature restaurants. That way, you can visit a different restaurant every night! Just be sure to book those reservations early.
During my sailing, I had the opportunity to try two of the signature restaurants. On our first day, we visited the Mason Jar for brunch. Not only was the food delicious, but this was also a great opportunity to relax and avoid the chaos of the Windjammer on the first day.
We also enjoyed dinner on our second night at Giovanni’s. If you enjoy Italian food, this is a great option, offering both indoor and outdoor seating.
Amenities on the Utopia of the Seas
While onboard the Utopia of the Seas, you’ll have access to plenty of amenities. If you need or want to stay in touch with the outside world, Voom Internet is available. It’s free for suite guests and is available to other guests for an additional fee.
Both standard internet and internet with streaming are offered. I have had the internet every time I’ve sailed on Royal Caribbean and always found it reliable. Depending on how far you are from your ship at Perfect Day at CocoCay, you may also be able to use it there.
Even if you don’t have internet access, you can connect to the Royal Caribbean app for no cost. The app provides information about the ship’s schedule, your account balance, deck plans, and more.
Several shops are on the ship, ranging from duty-free options to jewelry stores. There’s also a cosmetics shop and The Shop, offering Royal Caribbean logo items.
There’s also a Focus Photo Gallery, where you can view and purchase any of the photos taken of you throughout the sailing.
Staterooms on the Utopia of the Seas
Although you won’t want to spend too much time in your stateroom, you’ll find the rooms on the Utopia of the Seas comfortable. Many different stateroom options include interior, ocean-view, and ocean-view balcony suites. There are also staterooms with balconies overlooking Central Park and the Boardwalk.
As always, I had an ocean-view balcony suite. This room’s layout was reversed from most staterooms I’ve been in, with the beds towards the balcony. I found it to be a pretty spacious room.
All rooms include a television, desk area, two small closets, a bathroom, a hairdryer, and a mini fridge. If you have a room with a queen bed, you can request it be split into two twin beds.
To learn about Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas, visit their website.
