Utopia of the Seas: An honest review of Royal Caribbean's new ship
Strolling up to Royal Caribbean’s new ship, Utopia of the Seas, which at 362 metres long, 64 metres wide, with a total of 18 guest-accessible decks and a capacity of 5688 passengers (yes, you heard that right), I was totally in awe. Let's just say the ship was slightly different to the catamarans I've boarded in Lisbon and the boats I’ve used for whale-watching expeditions in Canada. I had quite simply never seen anything like it and had no idea what to expect. How would I spend my days? What would I eat? Would I even enjoy the experience?
As a Nutritionist, I like to stay healthy and well. The healthy habits I integrate into my day-to-day life keep me feeling like me. So I was intrigued by the prospect of four days at sea and wondered how I would fare. Looking back, it’s safe to say, my stay on Utopia of the Seas exceeded all my expectations.
A couple of days in Orlando
As the ship sets sail from Port Canaveral, approximately an hour from Orlando, it can be a good use of time to spend some days in Orlando pre-departure. Orlando receives 70 million visitors a year, so you’ll be in good company.
I was travelling with my father and we stayed at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando for a few nights, and spent a day at the two Universal parks, just a short water taxi from the hotel. The rides were exhilarating and creative, and drifting to sleep that night, my inner child was happy.
The following day, we ventured into the nearby wetlands with Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures. The highlight of our expedition was discovering the adorable baby alligators. Current estimates are that there are around 1.3 million alligators in the state of Florida!
Icon Park is a buzzing area with a multitude of restaurants, bars and attractions. We dined at Helena Modern Riviera. The ceviche with Floridian prawns, white fish, scallops and peppers was a delight, as was The Mockingbird mocktail, made with blood orange, fresh lime juice, Florida honey and rosemary. We left the restaurant with full tummies and a sense of disbelief at how many new memories we had amassed in Orlando and were ready for a restorative night of sleep ahead of setting sail the next day.
What’s the set up?
Utopia of the Seas is vast, like a floating city, and once safely on board we discovered there are multiple ‘neighbourhoods’ to explore. My favourite was Central Park, a very aesthetically pleasing space with lots of eateries and lush foliage.
Breakfasting on an omelette, a selection of fruit and a mini pain au chocolat here each day was a treat, as was enjoying some pre-dinner live Jazz whilst sipping on a cold drink and picking at a cheese plate.
The ship has a range of accommodation to suit different budgets and tastes. I stayed in an Ocean View Cabin, which was perfect. Each morning, stepping onto the private balcony to enjoy the ocean view and the first light of day, was the perfect way to keep my circadian rhythm in check.
I was pleasantly surprised at how spacious our cabin was. It featured comfortable beds, a roomy desk, a sofa, two closets and a television (though with so much to do on board, you’ll probably find little time for TV!). The bathroom’s powerful shower was ideal, especially for a rejuvenating post-gym shower (more on that later). Everything feels fresh and new, in a nice way.
Being particular about my sleep, I was apprehensive about sleeping on the ship. Yet, both my father and I were amazed at how well we slept on Utopia of the Seas. As was my Whoop! Despite the late-night entertainment, it was silent in the room. The bedding was crisp and the pillows were just right.
It’s worth mentioning that the WIFI on board is excellent (Voom powered by Starlink), although many passengers choose to fully unplug during their cruise. It can be a fantastic digital detox.
What about the food?
There are eleven dining options which are included in the price of your ticket and ten more you can upgrade to for a more elevated dining experience. Windjammer, for example, is a huge buffet of exceptional quality, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each lunch, I would head straight to the salad station to build myself a starter full of plant diversity and antioxidants. Then, I would have a second plate with a couple of different sources of protein and whatever other exciting things they had on offer.
The main dining room offers a rotating menu with a different theme each night. The ‘Taste of France’ menu included tasty dishes like French onion soup, escargots, steak and creme brûlée.
One evening, we decided to upgrade to a speciality dining option at Izumi in the Park, feasting on a variety of Japanese cuisine. The miso soup, seaweed salad and lobster dragon roll were bursting with flavour. There is no need to upgrade from the existing options, but it felt like a nice treat and, as always, the service was amazing.
On the subject of service, the crew (of which there are an astonishing 2290), are very friendly and the level of service is second to none.
How can I stay fit?
One thing I hadn’t anticipated was how high my step count would be throughout the trip. Moving from activity to activity really adds up. After breakfast, my dad and I would walk a couple of laps around the jogging track on level 6, discussing life over a takeaway coffee with views of the vast, open sea.
I began each day with a gym session in their huge state-of-the-art fitness studio, complete with Life Fitness equipment. You can also purchase access to a variety of fitness classes each day, such as spin and yoga.
Other fun activities include mini golf, a FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing, pickleball, basketball and making use of their five pools. There’s no shortage of activities on the ship and it is certainly possible to disembark the ship fitter than when you boarded.
Is there a spa?
The Vitality Spa offers an extensive range of treatments, from manicures and facials to mud wraps and massages. You can even book a nutrition consultation or a traditional Chinese herbal medicine consultation.
A thermal spa pass grants access to facilities comparable to those of top London hotels, including heated beds, a rainbow shower, an aroma steam room and an infrared sauna. The solarium is available to all at no extra charge and is the perfect place to unwind, with multiple hot tubs and whirlpools with panoramic views of the sea.
What else can I do?
Royal Caribbean describes Utopia of the Seas as the ‘World’s Biggest Weekend’ and the ship truly comes alive in the evenings. There are 13 bars, each offering something different. Pesky Parrot serves up Caribbean-inspired cocktails, while the charming Bell & Barley provides a typical British pub experience.
The evening entertainment is spectacular, and the benefit of having it all on one ship means you can enjoy a variety of shows. During my three-night stay, I laughed until my stomach hurt at a comedy show, marvelled at an eighties aqua show, admired the costumes and talented voices at a high-energy theatre show and laughed some more at the antics in the karaoke bar. It’s all there, in one venue. In a world where life can be so serious, it’s good for the soul to immerse yourself in the arts and have fun.
And of course the main reason most people book this cruise is the end goal: a visit to Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, which has just received a $250 million transformation. There’s a water park with a plethora of rides including the tallest waterslide in North America. However, we chose to relax and headed to a luxurious beach club called Coco Cay. An afternoon reading my book on the day beds, having sporadic dips in the warm turquoise sea and enjoying a tasty lobster lunch was a fantastic experience and definitely the icing on the top of an already brilliant break.
The verdict
This cruise offers something for everyone. You can pick and choose activities and dining options to engineer a stay exactly to your taste. For me, it was incredible to have so many experiences in just a few days and I left feeling totally invigorated. I’m now a certified cruise convert, and I look forward to the next.
Go there!
Utopia of the Seas sails three-night weekend and four-night weekend getaways to Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island, Perfect Day at Cococay. Prices vary depending on dates and packages, but start from £281pp BOOK NOW
American Airlines flies London to Orlando with round trip tickets from around £450.
More floating holiday inspiration...
Cut through the noise and get practical, expert advice, home workouts, easy nutrition and more direct to your inbox. Sign up to the WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWSLETTER
You Might Also Like
