ONBOARD UTOPIA OF THE SEAS — Fun, fun, fun may be the resounding hype of ‘the world’s biggest weekend’ – as Utopia of the Seas’ three- and four-day cruise option is dubbed – but the main pursuit in launching short itineraries is to engage the intergenerational market and first-time cruisers, says Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International. Based year-round at Port Canaveral, the 5,668-passenger Utopia of the Seas’ itineraries include a day at the line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, giving guests the experiential holiday combo of a high-energy ship with a Bahamas beach resort that has all the delights of a family friendly theme park, complete with 14 waterslides and a balloon ride, as well as the Hideaway Beach oasis for adults. Four-day cruises add a stop at Nassau.
This writer’s three-day preview cruise proved Utopia of the Seas delivers on the promise – described by Jason Liberty, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group – to create a utopian playground at sea that delivers the perfect short getaway and ultimate family vacation. On its maiden voyage as this article appears, Utopia of the Seas is RCI’s sixth Oasis Class ship, sister to Wonder of the Seas, launched in February 2022. Built at Chantiers de L’Atlantique shipyards in Saint-Nazaire France, the 18-deck, 236,473 GT Utopia is the first Oasis Class ship powered by environmentally-friendly Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), following Icon of the Seas.
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