Is the “World’s Biggest Weekend” Worth It?
Utopia of the Seas- affectionately labeled the “World’s Biggest Weekend”- is the newest cruise ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet. This Oasis class ship set sail July 24 and offers 3 and 4 night sailings out of Port Canaveral, Florida to the Bahamas including a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.
Image credit: Royal Caribbean
We were invited to the media sailing for this exciting, new ship and had the opportunity to explore it for ourselves before the first guests were welcomed onboard.
With nearly 3,000 staterooms including many suites, this ship boasts 18 decks, 8 unique neighborhoods, 5 pools, 3 water slides and the longest dry slide at sea- The Ultimate Abyss. With an amazing adults only solarium to fun, family-friendly spaces and kids clubs, you’ll want to pack your swimsuits for fun in the sun aboard the Utopia of the Seas! Guests will also find multiple dining locations, including a dozen specialty dining establishments, plus multiple bars and lounges. A brand new bar on this ship is the Pesky Parrot, a Tiki themed bar with fun, tropical drinks.
It tastes like vacation at the Pesky Parrot!
Some of our favorite features on Utopia of the Seas:
Entertainment including the Aqua 80’s show in the Aqua Theater. This show features 80’s favorites while talented performers showcase daring stunts in, out, and above the water! Warning- you might get wet if you sit in the front rows (and maybe in the middle section…) and it helps to secure your free reservation in advance in order to avoid long lines.
Pools including an amazing splash pad pool, multi-tiered pools, and multiple pools with in pool lounge chairs! There are also 3 fantastically fun water slides on the pool deck (guests must be at least 48” to ride the water slides). If you enjoy fun in the sun, there is something for everyone on the pool deck. Two of the pools are located near a funnel TV and there are DJs and live music as well to bring the weekend vibe to life. Don’t miss the Spare Tire on the pool deck- a food truck with great quick grab bites!
Royal Railway! This brand new immersive dining experience is exclusive to Utopia of the Seas and space is very limited! BUT you can dine in a railway car with a full Western experience. Over time, Royal Caribbean will be able to change this to other themes and cuisines.
Specialty dining locations including Izumi in the park! There are some beautiful speciality dining locations. The views from the new location for Hooked are amazing. Many speciality dining locations on Royal Caribbean are available to the entire family, too!
There are pools with plenty of action and activity, but also serene escapes, like the adults only solarium.
What we wish we loved more:
Quality of food at most locations included with your cruise fare. We found that most cuisine on board the ship tastes mass-produced, the offerings were limited, or we were left craving more in terms of a delicious meal; unfortunately it fell a little short in terms of expectation.
The amount of staff. Staff members were kind and hospitable, but like many cruise lines, they are understaffed. Even just getting a refill on your beverage at dinner can take over 20 minutes, and service in your stateroom is only provided once per day (we love it when cruise lines will offer morning service, as well as a traditional evening turn down service).
Overall, fun, sun, adventure, and entertainment win on Utopia of the Seas. This ship is a blast for all ages, so whether you are looking for a family getaway, a bachelor/bachelorette party or even a multi-generational good time, you could be looking at your next cruise! Royal Caribbean often offers great rates and your Goofy Getaways Travel Consultant would love to help you plan the World’s Biggest Weekend.
Utopia of the Seas offers a little something for everyone.
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