A giant disco ball maneuvered around the outer decks with the help of drones, purple and blue confetti rained down on passengers so heavily it was difficult to see, and recording artist Meghan Trainor toasted her audience with a glass of Champagne in 90-degree heat. With that, Trainor, the godmother of Royal Caribbean’s new ship, Utopia of the Seas, named the vessel – the 28th in the line’s fleet, which is now the industry’s largest.
The naming ceremony was held in Port Canaveral, Florida, near Orlando on Monday at the ship’s sun-drenched outdoor AquaTheater. It kicked off with a set by DJ Ruckus and Rev Run of Run DMC fame, followed by a performance from the vessel’s AquaTheater cast and blessings from local clergy.
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“This is one hell of a ship,” said Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean’s president and CEO. “… eight neighborhoods … 40 restaurants, endless pools and Jacuzzis, incredible entertainment … that’s why Utopia of the Seas is the ‘World’s Biggest Weekend.'”
The term is fitting, given that Utopia of the Seas will be focused on short sailings – something cruise lines usually reserve for older vessels. Royal Caribbean has recently begun using some of its flashiest ships for shorter voyages with the aim of luring first-time cruisers who might not feel comfortable setting sail for a whole week.
“It’s not about the size,” Bayley said of the now second-largest ship in the world (next to Royal Caribbean’s recently launched Icon of the Seas). “It’s because you can make the most of every single minute in more ways than ever before.”
The 5,668-passenger ship is the sixth in the line’s Oasis Class of vessels. Nearly 15 years after the class debuted, it remains Royal Caribbean’s most popular. The line has evolved the series over time to include updated amenities, innovative cabin types and the latest technology.
New-for-the-class features on Utopia of the Seas include an immersive train-themed dinner theater called Royal Railway Utopia Station, a food truck called Spare Tire and an indoor tiki bar called Pesky Parrot.
The ship also has an enlarged version of Giovanni’s Italian, an Italian eatery found on some other Oasis Class ships. It’s now two decks instead of one and located in an open-air amusement area of the ship called the Boardwalk. On earlier Oasis Class ships, it was positioned in the garden-like Central Park area.
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Like earlier Oasis Class ships, Utopia of the Seas is designed with multiple “neighborhoods” including the Boardwalk and Central Park.
Among venues found on earlier Oasis Class ships that are making a return are the Rising Tide Bar, which “levitates” on hydraulics between the ship’s Royal Promenade and Central Park neighborhoods; the Boardwalk neighborhood’s carousel and Ultimate Abyss slide, which twists down 10 decks; and the jaw-dropping Ultimate Family Suite, which is ideal for parents with young children, offering separate bedrooms, hangout spaces with games and a slide that takes kids from their bedroom to the living room below.
Through at least 2026, Utopia of the Seas is scheduled to offer three- and four-night voyages to the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay and the Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral.
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