Guide to Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas - NerdWallet (2024)

Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, debuts today from Port Canaveral, Florida. Typically reserved for older ships, the company's latest vessel is unique because it will host three- and four-night itineraries from its initial sailing.

Passengers can choose from over 40 dining and entertainment options, unwind at multiple pools, experience the longest dry slide at sea and visit Royal Caribbean's private island, CocoCay (located in the Bahamas).

Is Utopia of the Seas the right fit for your next quick family getaway? Here’s an overview of Utopia’s cruise itinerary, what’s new on Utopia, plus a visual tour of the ship.

Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, described the Utopia of the Seas as the “ultimate weekend getaway” in a June press release. This is in contrast to the Icon of the Seas, another new Royal Caribbean ship launched earlier this year to cater to multigenerational vacations.

Typically, older ships have the short sailing shift, while new ships set sail on week-long journeys. But Royal Caribbean hopes to attract new cruisers by offering its newer model for quick trips – allowing travelers to quite literally test the waters.

At debut, Utopia is the 28th ship in Royal’s fleet, the sixth of Oasis-class vessels and the second largest cruise ship in the world (only behind the cruise line's Icon of the Seas).

Utopia of the Seas sails three- and four-night Caribbean itineraries originating and disembarking from Port Canaveral, Florida.

The three-night weekend itinerary sets sail on Friday and includes a stop at Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, CocoCay, and a stop at capital city Nassau. The ship returns to port Monday morning for disembarkation.

The four-night weekday itinerary, meanwhile, leaves the port on Monday and similarly includes stops in CocoCay and Nassau. The extra day on the ship is spent at sea. Utopia returns to port Friday morning for disembarkation.

Prices for the ship’s inaugural year of sailings currently range from $638 (early 2025) to $1,674 (July 2024) per person. This cost is for an interior cabin with a bed and private bathroom, covers most of your onboard entertainment, access to the kids club, food and snacks at several locations, dining in the main dining room, and basic drinks on board.

You can expect to pay extra for specialty dining restaurants, Wi-Fi, shore excursions and alcohol.

Utopia of the Seas has 2,834 staterooms that accommodate up to 5,668 guests. There are multiple cabins and suites to choose from including interior, ocean view, balcony and suites. Each category has several layouts depending on whether passengers want more space, a specific view, or other perks and amenities.

The Royal Suite Class, categorized into Star, Sky and Sea, comes with dedicated customer service, access to private areas and more. The perks depend on the tier. A new type of suite — the Solarium Suite — offers a 280-degree view from the front of the ship.

The ship has 18 total decks and 16 guest decks. Similar to its Oasis-class sister ships, it has themed "neighborhoods" in different areas of the ship. These include:

Boardwalk

The Boardwalk allows guests to enjoy outdoor activities, including rock climbing and a carousel. Passengers can also find Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, Johnny Rockets and the Boardwalk Dog House. At the end of the Boardwalk is the AquaTheater, the deepest pool at sea, where an aerial acrobatic show takes place. The Boardwalk is located outside on deck six.

Central Park

Central Park is an open-air garden neighborhood on deck eight. Guests can find Royal’s Izumi Sushi restaurant as well as Izumi in the Park (only on Utopia and Icon) for Japanese favorites on the go. Other shops, bars and venues are also in the area.

Entertainment Place

The Entertainment Place is the entertainment hub on all Oasis Class vessels, including Utopia of the Seas. This is where passengers can find the Attic (comedy club), two casinos — one smoking and one nonsmoking — the Royal Theater, Studio B (ice skating rink), an art gallery and more. All of this can be found on deck four.

Pool and Sports Zone

The Pool and Sports Zone spans decks 15 and 16. This area features five pools, a resort-style pool deck, eight whirlpools, a zip line and the two-story Lime and Coconut Bar. There is also an adults-only area called the Solarium, water slides, FlowRider surf simulators, sports courts and kids areas. New to Utopia is The Spare Tire, a food truck with complimentary handheld snacks, sandwiches and desserts.

The Royal Promenade

Like most Royal ships, the Royal Promenade is one of the main areas on Utopia of the Seas. It’s a multi-deck boulevard spanning decks five and six where passengers can enjoy parades, dance parties, and other indoor attractions.

Deck five includes complimentary eateries, retail shops, guest services and a new, only-on-Utopia, Pesky Parrot bar — a Caribbean-themed bar serving fruit-based co*cktails and frozen drinks. Deck six includes customer experience desks and retail shops.

Suite Neighborhood

Located on deck 17, this exclusive neighborhood is for select suite guests. Only the Wonder of the Seas offers a similar onboard experience. Here, Sky Class and Star Class passengers have access to the Suite Bar Lounge, Coastal Kitchen (featuring rotating Mediterranean-inspired dishes) and a private Suite Sun deck.

Sea Class passengers have access to the Coastal Kitchen for dinner.

Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center

The Vitality at Sea Spa & Fitness Center offers 100+ treatments and services including nail services, acupuncture, facials and massages. There is also a special menu for teens aged 13 to 17. Note that spa services are an added cost.

The fitness center is accessible to passengers at no extra cost, though some classes require a fee.

Youth Zone

The Youth Zone houses a variety of activities for younger travelers, including Adventure Ocean programming for ages 3-12, Utopia Playscape, an arcade and the teen club.

The Youth Zone also includes Royal Babies and Royal Tots, the cruise line's nursery for infants and toddlers ages 6 to 36 months. The Youth Zone spans decks 14-16.

Utopia of the Seas offers a variety of dining options, from buffet-style dining rooms to specialty restaurants at an extra cost. Passengers can also choose to dine in their cabins and order from the room service menu 24 hours a day.

Complimentary dining experiences include:

Specialty dining options for a flat-rate cost include:

A la carte pricing:

Utopia introduces a new immersive dining experience, the Royal Railway Utopia Station. Passengers embark on a virtual train journey through simulated landscapes while enjoying a five-course meal served by crew members dressed in themed attire (themes change throughout the year). Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended, and it incurs an additional cost.

There’s plenty of opportunity to explore nightlife on the ship, from energetic dance floors to intimate co*cktail bars. Shows include adults-only comedy, original productions at the Royal Theater, ice skating acts at Studio B and an acrobatic water experience at the AquaTheater.

Music lovers can catch a band at Music Hall and Lime & Coconut or test their pipes at karaoke. Passengers can also try their hand at one of the two onboard casinos.

Bars and lounges include:

In addition to daytime action and adventures, nightlife, and dining, Utopia of the Seas has several scheduled shows to keep passengers entertained while aboard.

Expect different ‘parties’ scheduled throughout your sailing, including a silent disco and a sail away pool party.

You can book your cruise through a third-party site like Costco Travel or Expedia, a travel agent, or directly through Royal Caribbean. Keep an eye out for sales and offers throughout the year, as the price fluctuates based on demand.

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For cruise lovers and families who can’t always take extended time off for vacation, Utopia of the Seas just might be the answer with its short sailings. With stops in the Bahamas and a ship large enough to entertain beyond a weekend, passengers will surely be occupied on board.

Learn more about the ship, accommodations, and book a weekend at sea on the Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas page. Sailings are currently open for booking through April 2026.

(Top photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean)