It is the sweltering height of summer in Orlando, Florida, where the mercury inches up day after day with no sign of receding. Surely, a trip to the coast and a dip in the cool water is warranted.
Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, the southeasternmost US state is endowed with world-famous shorelines, from historic Daytona Beach, synonymous with high-octane motorsports, to Miami’s upscale South Beach (popularly abbreviated to SoBe), a favourite haunt among the minted glitterati. Instead, we find ourselves enroute to Port Canaveral for a different sort of escape.
Thousands of guests from the world over were invited to board the maiden voyage of Royal Caribbean International’s brand new cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas. The latest addition to its Oasis Class — the cruise line’s biggest, most popular and expensive fleet — Utopia is the first in the stable built for the short-break market, with packages that last just three or four days.
If you did not know, a naming ceremony is customary for a new ship to usher in good fortune and safety. Typically, friends and family gather at the shipyard to celebrate before it sets sail for the first time. A ‘godmother’, or lady sponsor, will bless the vessel and provide it a name. Thereafter, a customary bottle of champagne is smashed against the bow and the revelry ensues.
In Utopia’s case, things were, of course, taken a few notches up. The fanfare kickstarted with the arrival of the highly anticipated godmother, Grammy-winning singer Meghan Trainor, to the sheer delight and alacrity of the 50-odd fans who scored a trip onboard with the songstress.
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With all the VIPs, guests and executives gathered at the ship’s open-air Aqua Theatre, New-York-legends DJ Ruckus and Rev Run started up the turntables and kept the crowd on their feet with a mash-up of hip-hop, pop and rock classics.
Exclusive to the Oasis Class, the amphitheatre is equipped with a state-of-the-art stage — which can transform itself into a pool in segments — flanked by two 30ft diving platforms. It sets the scene for a preview of the Aqua80Too spectacle, a new performance only available on Utopia, where aerialists, high divers and slackliners dance in impeccable synchronicity.
After christening the vessel, Trainor, wreathed in confetti, took centre stage to perform an acoustic version of her smash single All About That Bass. “Becoming Utopia’s godmother and being here for this incredible celebration with Royal Caribbean is a dream come true,” she said at the end of her set. “I’m so honoured to be part of the memories so many will make here.”
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The celebration adequately sets the tone for vacations on Utopia, currently the second largest cruise ship in the world, after Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Sea. It presents the ultimate weekend gamechanger with over 40 ways to dine, wine and party across 18 decks.
Utopia debuts a couple of new sites for the cruise line operator, including Royal Railway — Utopia Station, a first-of-its-kind immersive train car dining experience that transports passengers to any place and time period imaginable. Pesky Parrot is a new Tiki Bar that will put you in a Caribbean state of mind. It is the perfect tropical spot for fruit-based concoctions and a little humour. Brian, the robotic bird in the corner of the bar is a belligerent little thing that dispenses bad dad jokes and mouths off those who approach it. He is pretty funny, though, and has quickly become a memorable feature for many on the ship. Word on the street is they are getting a real parrot in. God knows how pesky that one will be.
There are more pools than days to count and certainly one for every mood. Dialling up the party are the sloping beach-entry pools near the Lime & Coconut bar; a trio of water slides at The Perfect Storm keeps the little ones occupied; and the Solarium and Suite Sun Deck is where the adults go to chill.
All weekend’s a stage as the show-stopping entertainment takes place across air, ice and water. Apart from Aqua80Too, the Youtopia performance, produced by two-time Olympian Willy Bietak’s company and held at the Studio B ice rink, is also a real class act.
In terms of accommodation, the staterooms are spacious and comfortable, with a balcony that grants unhampered views of the sun’s glitter path on the waters. But if you are feeling a little bougie and adore the idea of waking up to a vision of endless blue, the new panoramic Solarium Suite with an expansive living and dining area is perfect for couples.
The Royal Loft Suite is even more indulgent, offering private spaces for up to six. Guests can lounge in the hot tub on the balcony or find respite in the master bathroom’s Jacuzzi.
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If you are weekending big with the crew, the Ultimate Family Suite accommodates 10 across three rooms. Here, you get your own private in-suite cinema and karaoke station, a balcony decked out with a ping pong table and hot tub, and oh, a two-storey slide where you are always first in line. These VIP options all come with a Royal Genie (read: butler) that ensures your experience on the ship is second to none.
As if the onboard activities are not enough, Utopia’s short journey leads up to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas. Vacationers can spend the entire day exploring the destination, which features an extensive water park with 14 thrilling slides, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean, the new adults-only Hideaway Beach as well as plenty of spots for food and drink. In any case, being afloat on the pristine waters, as fair weather clouds scud by overhead and manta rays glide below, we cannot help but compare the setting to a scene in Moana.
When it comes to tailoring a variety of meaningful experiences for different demographics, the Royal Caribbean hits the nail right on the head. “Our target market is the multi-generational family, particularly younger families,” says president and CEO Michael Bayley. “We want them to come and engage with the experience, whether you’re a single person, parent, grandparent or grandkid.”
The general understanding when it comes to short-term cruises is that it is a way to make full use of old equipment. “We changed that strategy some years ago and started putting really nice hardware into the short-break market. It’s so that people don’t have to commit so much time and money to a longer experience. It’s a much easier weekend. You hop on Utopia on a Friday and can be at the office Monday morning.”
Besides, the huge volume of visitors coming into Orlando to complete their rite of passage to Walt Disney World or Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter serves as a huge opportunity. “One of the reasons we put this brand into the Oasis Class is because we expect to see a certain amount of demand coming from tourists visiting the theme parks. We can tag on it. You can bring this together in a really exciting way for families. What kid wouldn’t be happy with the idea of going to Disney or Universal, then on board Utopia and to the Caribbean? I wish I was a kid!”
Even though Perfect Day at CocoCay is arguably Royal Caribbean’s highest rated destination in its portfolio, Bayley reveals that they will be opening another beach club in The Bahamas next year with possibly the largest swim-up bar in the world. Eventually, guests will be able to visit this venue as part of their Utopia package as well. “We are opening the Royal Beach Club in Nassau in 2025, which I think is going to be fantastic. There will be another one in Cozumel, Mexico in 2026. We’re also developing a new class of ship called Discovery Class that’s really exciting.
“I think Royal Caribbean has a very positive track record of creating incredibly relevant vacations for its target customer. A lot of the products we develop are not done by happenstance. We have shown time and time again that creativity, innovation, patience, and the long-view and focus on customers has allowed us to create products that are pertinent to our time.
“As we look to the future, we’re also rethinking our Icon Class. But we will always be focused on the relevancy of our customer. And I think most of the time we get it really right. That’s why we continue to grow and succeed.”
Full steam ahead? Surely.
