Royal Railway on Utopia

[Neesa]

Lots of dining open for our Utopia sailing but I can't find a tentative menu or a way to book this immersive experience. Any idea? Cost? 

Royal Railway is not on my cruise planner, does anyone have it yet? 

@Matt

@Sharla @AshleyDillo 

 

[AshleyDillo]

Not seeing it in any of the 4 Utopia sailings we have booked. 

[ChrisK2793]

On 2/17/2024 at 2:36 PM, Neesa said:

Lots of dining open for our Utopia sailing but I can't find a tentative menu or a way to book this immersive experience. Any idea? Cost? 

Royal Railway is not on my cruise planner, does anyone have it yet? 

@Matt

@Sharla @AshleyDillo 

 

We have both Labor Day weekend and Columbus Day weekend booked and both of those only show the same picture you posted.

 

[Smokey79]

I’m curious on the “western” theme as well as the pricing. Hopefully, it’s not gimmicky. I wouldn’t be surprised if pricing wasn’t around the cost of ESC on Icon. I’m hoping it’s not but I wouldn’t be shocked at all. 

[Mperkins6]

I’m going in September also. Hopefully they’ll start railway reservations soon! I think it’s going to be incredibly popular and making a reservation will be difficult at best. The only solution I can see will be to check frequently and make your reservation as soon as it becomes available. If RC makes a general notification of reservations availability, there will be a great rush to book and it’ll fill up in minutes LOL. Good luck to all of us!

[Smokey79]

Just wanting to say the only “new” thing I’ve heard is it’ll be 48 seats per meal. That may be public knowledge by this point but I did get that from the Genie last week. No word on pricing yet.

[foxrunner]

Hoping the pricing will be more along the lines of specialty dinning not the Empire or Chef's Table level. We just had an opportunity for a very nice wine all included dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants. The problem was the price at $250 for a couple, we did attend when it was $150 a couple.   When on the cruise I also factor in that we have paid $20ish each as part of our cruise fare. 

[Marlena]

Wondering if the 4 dollar signs indicate anything. How many do most specialty restaurants have?

[Neesa]

@Marlena I believe that means PRICEY! Super expensive, top dollar, prepare yourself for the worst!!! I jest, but definitely the highest pricing of the specialties. 

[asquared17]

i just figured it was utopia’s version of the empire supper club. 

looking forward to seeing more about this concept!

[Smokey79]

Since we’re all still wondering what exactly they’re going to end up doing with this concept, I’ve been playing what’s the menu going to be with my wife. The European version seems a bit straight forward. Pick a dish from each country you’re traveling thru with a drink pairing. However, “western” is more intriguing to me. Personally, I’m leaning towards a wild game centered menu with bison, rabbit, venison dishes and most likely a Waygu or similar steak option. Something similar to what would might have been available on a luxury dining car in the late 1800s traveling cross country. 

[AshleyDillo]

I envisioned it something like this NYC restaurant..the Journey 360 part.

https://journeyexperience.nyc/

[ScottD]

On 4/5/2024 at 8:28 PM, AshleyDillo said:

I envisioned it something like this NYC restaurant..the Journey 360 part.

https://journeyexperience.nyc/

Also, like Princess 360 dining experience... https://www.princess.com/en-us/ships-and-experience/onboard-experience/360-experience

[Kid in me]

Would love to know pricing for Jan 31 - Utopia sailing

[Ryansox]

2 hours ago, Kid in me said:

Would love to know pricing for Jan 31 - Utopia sailing

96 days until the first public sailing of Utopia, I would think we would be getting an official announcement soon and the bookings will go live on the affected sailings.

[desert_Noelle]

I am on the first sailing (Jul 19) and there are no bookings available yet

[Jscott24]

104 days until we sail and it is not available for me either, can't wait to see what it offers menu and price wise. I did notice that on the app it only has two $$ like all the other specialty dining.

[smokeybandit]

 

[General350]

Booked on 8/12 sailing and customer service swears it will be available soon to book - though they can't give an exact date.

[OCSC Mike]

5 hours ago, General350 said:

they can't give an exact date

Shocker. If they gave you a date, I wouldn't trust it anyway.

As a general rule, if you're waiting for anything to open (besides check-in), I'd just keep checking as often as possible.

[Smokey79]

Just posting a non update. lol

Just got off the phone with CS and there is still no pricing or availability and they could not/ would not even attempt to say when it would open up.  They did say that the earlier cruise dates will have visibility first when it does become available. Since my b2b is in October, I’ll be checking here for updates now. 

[SplashOfWater]

We're still waiting too. We have several Utopia sailings booked, our first on July 22nd. I wish there was more info on the menu, etc.

[Doug_Texas]

This waiting process is exactly what happened on inaugural Icon sailing with Empire Supper Club.  The blog had a number of users flag it the moment it opened up and I booked the same day.  Keep a daily eye on the blog, sign up for thread notifications, and check cruise planner (web) often.   

[Smokey79]

How close to the inaugural sailing did ESC info drop?

[twangster]

I wonder if Nick Weir's departure will impact the timeline for this.  

If I'm not mistaken his team plays apart in this dining tech just as it did on X with Le Petit Chef.

[Butchera]

Saw something yesterday on Facebook (take it with a large grain of salt....)  The railway will be similar to the ESC.  48 seats with two seating per night.  Starting out with the Western theme.  Cost will be $150 - 200.

Waiting to see what actually happens.

[Neesa]

While it was something I was interested in experiencing IF it's that costly it would sadly be a hard no for us. I hope this is incorrect but honestly wouldn't be surprised. Oh man, possibly priced out....hum, maybe I could write a song?

[twangster]

2 hours ago, Neesa said:

While it was something I was interested in experiencing IF it's that costly it would sadly be a hard no for us. I hope this is incorrect but honestly wouldn't be surprised. Oh man, possibly priced out....hum, maybe I could write a song?

I’m thinking of using NextCruise OBC for a star cruise hoping star does maybe something.  Otherwise I agree.  

[SplashOfWater]

That pricing would be a no for us too. And if the dress code requires jackets for men, that would definitely be a "no" from my husband! 

[OCSC Mike]

5 minutes ago, SplashOfWater said:

That pricing would be a no for us too. And if the dress code requires jackets for men, that would definitely be a "no" from my husband! 

I would have to agree... with both of you, lol.

[PPPJJ-GCVAB]

I’m right with you!  Nope  

[Smokey79]

Ok, I’m trying to be open minded on what might be the worst possible route they could go on what’s been marketed as The Ultimate Weekend. Hey let’s go party and then dress to the nines to go eat at this one place that costs 3 or 4x everywhere else on the boat. That menu better be amazing and not a high end Taste of Royal (looking right at you Chefs Table). They have a chance with me on the following conditions: they actually try with the menu/drink pairing, no dang jackets (I decided against it for CT so I’m not going to willingly wear it on Thomas the Train. Last and the only non-negotiable one is this western theme better not be Wild West. If I see one Sheriff Andy I’m out. 

[Neesa]

OMG, Thomas the train and Sheriff Andy! Thanks your post made my night!!

[General350]

I had one customer service rep tell me they thought the reservations would open 30 days prior to sailing, like entertainment. 

[TheMaxRebo]

On 5/16/2024 at 9:39 AM, SplashOfWater said:

That pricing would be a no for us too. And if the dress code requires jackets for men, that would definitely be a "no" from my husband! 

At least the photo on the app shows several guys and none have a sport coat/jacket on, definitely looks less formal than Empire Super Club (though the server in the picture seems have similar/same uniform as ESC)

Also only 5 course, so less than ESC and mentions biscuits and short ribs vs ESC highlighting Wagu and caviar -so hoping pricing will be at least little less. Obviously not cheap lol

 

 

[SplashOfWater]

1 hour ago, TheMaxRebo said:

At least the photo on the app shows several guys and none have a sport coat/jacket on, definitely looks less formal than Empire Super Club (though the server in the picture seems have similar/same uniform as ESC)

Also only 5 course, so less than ESC and mentions biscuits and short ribs vs ESC highlighting Wagu and caviar -so hoping pricing will be at least little less. Obviously not cheap lol

I hope so. It seems like a fun dining experience. We took the auto train a couple of times from Virginia to Florida and enjoyed the dining car. It was nothing fancy but to me it felt like fine dining, lol.

[smokeybandit]

More details:

 

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2024/05/23/royal-railway-utopia-station-first-look

[CruisingTeddy]

A Miami area TV (WPLG Local 10) network did a segment about Utopia Station about a week ago. You can find it on YouTube. They were allowed to film some of the rehearsal for the theme dinner. It does look like there will be wild west theme with some type of hold up and they definitely are putting in the money to make it seem like a real train. Two dinners a night with 48 people per seating is not many people when you consider how big the ship is. I bet that for a year or two they are already booked to folks with Pinnacle and Diamond status. We will see.

[Smokey79]

Local news report on Utopia Station

Looks like I might get to see Sheriff Andy after all. Lol

I honestly didn’t expect a dinner theater restaurant and I’m curious how well they’re able to pull it off. The menu looks decent and hopefully the price is right. As it stands now, I’m the only one in my party still interested in this. The consensus is that if we want a dinner show, we’ll just go to Pigeon Forge. 

[CruisingTeddy]

I don't know anything:) This will be our first cruise for my wife's birthday in September. We are nearing retirement so we are going to try it out and see if it works for us. We got the drink package but will probably pass on the dining package.