For three nights, I woke up every morning to the feeling of vibrations as my cruise ship maneuvered into port. I pressed the automatic window shade to see the view of which Bahamian port we were in and take in the beautiful scenery.

I was aboard my sixth cruise on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, which is one of the biggest ships in the world. It's still very much a new ship and because it offers short weekend cruises, it's become my preferred weekend escape mechanism.

During my three night voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida, we sailed to Nassau, Bahamas and and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.

I stayed in an ocean-view stateroom on deck nine for $685. The cruise was offered as a "free sailing" through the casino loyalty program. Take a look inside the 187-square-foot space.

My room was at the front of deck nine

An oceanview stateroom is one category above an inside stateroom with no windows, but it's one category below staterooms with a balcony, and two below a suite.

Oceanview rooms are usually a bit larger than inside rooms and have a view.

If the price difference is negligible, moving up to an oceanview instead of an inside room can be a pleasant upgrade.

I was surprised how big the room felt as soon as I stepped inside my stateroom

The unusual layout of the cabin at the very front of the ship gave it more space than you'd get in an oceanview cabin on the side of the ship.

The room has a desk, mirror, outlets for charging electronics and USB ports

One thing I instantly notice anytime I go on a newer Royal Caribbean ship is how many more outlets are in the room.

As someone that works remotely from cruise ships, it's nice having a desk.  I use it as my mobile office location, as well as to store any important paperwork or flyers I'll need later.

There are drawers nearby that include a minifridge

The amount of drawers and storage space is impressive, especially for a ship only offering short cruises.

Suffice to say, there was more than enough space for my belongings.

Plus, there's a fridge to keep food or drinks chilled. It's not a true refrigerator, but perfect for my bottled water.

There is a couch across from the desk, and a closet

This stateroom is big enough to fit a full sized couch, with a closet next to it.

There are hangers provided in the closet, so it makes it simple to get what you need hung up.

Near the entrance to the room is a small bathroom that maximized the space

In this room is a private bathroom, that has sink, toilet, and shower.

There is complimentary 2-in-1 body wash and shampoo, but I'd recommend bringing your own hair products from home if proper hair care is important to you.  For kids, it's good enough.

There is a pull-out clothing line in the shower that you can use to dry bathing suits or any garments you need to launder yourself.

The king size bed can be split to create two twin beds if you're sharing the cabin

Nearly every Royal Caribbean bed can be split in two, which is perfect for anyone sharing the room.

The stateroom attendant can split or combine the beds at anytime, so don't fret if it's not in the right configuration when you get inside.

There are also two nightstands on either side of the bed with a lamp, charging ports, and a room phone on one side.

There is a large TV mounted across from the bed with a clever storage hack below

I thought it was smart that Royal Caribbean placed storage hooks in every cabin so you can get certain belongings off the floor.

The window provided a view of the front of the ship, which is unusual

The large window has an electric shade that you can open or close by pushing a button. 

This ensured the room stayed dark while I slept, and illuminated the cabin when I was ready for it.

The problem with this cabin is there was so much movement when the ship docked

From photos, this looks like an amazing room.  However, the amount of movement made sleeping a challenge.

Every time the ship docked, it felt like a mini-earthquake and it lasted long enough to wake me up and keep me awake.  This is because the room is above the bow thrusters.

I regretted booking this room because I prefer to sleep in while on a cruise.  If you're an early riser, this might not be a problem.

Next time, I'll pick a room more centrally located on the ship to avoid the motion problems.

Recently, I took a weekend cruise on one of Royal Caribbean's newest and biggest ships, and I tried to keep my costs down since it was I was going solo.

I think it's possible to cruise on a budget, or at least a loose one.

I was invited to go on a "guys cruise" with some friends for a weekend in January. I took it as a challenge to try to make the trip happen without spending as much I would if this were a family vacation.

Between the cruise fare, excursions, dining, and Wi-Fi, I spent about

I booked the cruise with a casino offer, but regretted the room choice

I think Royal Caribbean's casino offers are the best value in cruising right now, but getting an offer can be tricky.

A couple of months before the sail date, I got an offer in the mail for this three-night cruise on Utopia of the Seas.

Since Utopia is based from Port Canaveral, this meant I could drive to the cruise port and not have to fly.

The offer was for a "free" oceanview cabin, but it wasn't free overall.  I still had to pay port fees, taxes, and gratuities for the room. The total cost was $685.13.

And yes, nothing is truly free from the casino.  I paid money on other cruises to qualify for a complimentary cruise offer. I think it would be disingenuous of me to pretend otherwise. 

I was assigned an forward-facing oceanview cabin that had a very interesting layout. It was located at the very front of the ship, which I later discovered wasn't ideal.

Not only was it a long distance to walk to and from, but the amount of vibrations from the ship docking every morning would jolt me awake every time.

I napped to make up for the lost sleep, but I'd pick a cabin in another location next time. Ideally, much closer to midship.

Wi-Fi was included because of my loyalty status, but I forgot to buy a second package

One of the best perks of having made it to Pinnacle Club status is I get a complimentary one device internet package every sailing.

For most people, this is all they would need. But because I'm working from the ship, I need to use internet on my phone and laptop.  When I swap from my phone to my laptop, I don't get phone calls or text messages until I swap back.  That's been a source of frustration.

Usually I pre-purchase a second internet package to take advantage of the pre-cruise savings. For some reason, I completely forgot to do that this time.

I could have paid for a package on the ship, but the onboard prices are quite high when compared to the pre-cruise discount.

I was annoyed at myself for not buying it, and ultimately relied on just one package. Since it was just 3 nights and over a weekend, I figured my work needs would be limited.

Next time I will double check my pre-cruise purchases the week before my sailing begins so I don't overlook something I assumed I had bought.

I visited the new Royal Beach Club on our second day to see what it's like

I may have booked this cruise with the notion it would be a "guys cruise", but it doubled as a research opportunity to visit the new Royal Beach Club.

Thanks to a Black Friday sale discount, I was able to get the unlimited alcohol day pass for $136.99 when I pre-purchased the pass.  This saved me paying the listed onboard price of $250.00.

For the price I paid, I thought it was well worth the admission cost.  Unlike Perfect Day at CocoCay, the beach club felt more like a shore excursion and I loved how good the service was throughout the day.

I can't wait to bring my family here in April when we return, and thanks to my pre-cruise purchasing strategy, I've found a much better price at just $89.99 per person!

I parked at the cruise terminal for the convenience

I could have saved money if I paid to park off site, but I'll always pay to park at the cruise terminal.

Being able to go right into the terminal and then back to my car when the cruise is over without dealing with a shuttle is worth every dollar.

I paid $85.60 for the ability to park at Port Canaveral. 

As advertised, it was easy to get in and out, and I was grateful to not add any fuss to my pre- or post-cruise logistics.

I tried Hooked Seafood again, but it could have been cheaper

On a whim, I went back to Hooked Seafood to give it another try because I had skipped this specialty restaurant for many years.

As it turned out, Hooked was much better than I expected and I regretted not re-trying Hooked again sooner.

The onboard price of dinner at Hooked is $65, which is a good reminder to either pre-purchase a meal before the sailing or buy a dining package.

Either of those strategies should cut the price significantly. As an example, dinner at Hooked for Utopia of the Seas in April costs $41.99 with the current sale that's offered.

I ended my cruise with free activities at the cruise line's private island

Our last day was spent at Perfect Day at CocoCay, which is a private island exclusive for Royal Caribbean guests.

I love how much of the island's experience is included in your fare, so I didn't feel any pressure to spend more on the extra-cost areas.

Before disembarking the ship, I went to the fitness center and enjoyed the gym.  There's no cost to use the fitness center, and it's so much better than my gym at home.

There's no cost to access CocoCay, and there are a number of included beaches and restaurants.

Read more: The cheapest way to do Perfect Day at CocoCay without missing out

My loyalty perks saved me even more money

Part of the secret to spending less on a cruise is taking advantage of the perks Royal Caribbean offers its loyal guests.

I had 6 drink vouchers to use every day because I'm a Pinnacle Club member. It was an easy decision to forgo buying a beverage package and rely just on those drinks.

As a Prime level member in Casino Royale, I also had unlimited free drinks while at the casino bar. Combined with the drink vouchers, this is an incredible savings.

In my cabin, I found a few cans of soda and bottled water because it's one of the Diamond Plus amenities you can choose to have.

There's no question being loyal to Royal Caribbean gets me a lot of extras that I would have otherwise to pay for. Plus, it's an added incentive to cruise more.

I made the most of my weekend cruise without spending a lot

I had a great time going to The Bahamas for the weekend, and I think I managed to do it all without spending a lot.

The total cost was just $972.72, which was greatly the result of a casino rate and a lot of loyalty perks.

Not everyone can take advantage of either of these options, but I think it illustrates the potential for cheap cruising with the right strategy.  I would never advocate gambling to earn status or cruising to move up the Crown and Anchor ladder faster because overall, it would probably cost you more in the long run.

However, when the situation aligns better to allow you to take advantage of a situation like I had, then I think there's a good potential for a cheap weekend cruise.

I could have spent more and gotten a better cabin location. In fact, I would do just that next time.  I doubt I would take a room at the very front of the ship again because of the noise and movement issues there.

I also should have remembered to double check my pre-cruise bookings to ensure I have everything I expect booked before the cruise begins.

Another major winter storm is expected to slam the United States over the weekend. The effects, however, are being felt beyond land — with cruise itineraries being disrupted in anticipation of strong winds. 

Passengers sailing on this weekend's Utopia of the Seas voyage were informed that their scheduled visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay was canceled due to the weather forecast and unsafe docking conditions. 

"[W]e unfortunately have to cancel our visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas on Sunday due to strong winds. As a result, and to provide you with the best and safest experience, we'll now enjoy a Sea Day instead," reads a letter given to guests. 

That isn't the only change, either. Rather than departing Nassau at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, Utopia of the Seas will had her departure time changed.

First, they shortened it to leaving the Bahamian capital at 5:00pm, but then the all aboard time was revised again to 2:30pm.

"We're terribly sorry for the last-minute change caused by the weather — your safety is our top priority. Please know, being onboard is the safest place to be, as we can move out of the way of any inclement weather," the letter continues. 

Royal Caribbean is not providing any compensation for the canceled port beyond the standard port fee refund. Those who pre-booked shore excursions through the cruise line will receive an onboard credit, which can be used anywhere on the Oasis Class ship.

Any remaining funds at the end of the sailing will be reimbursed to the card on file in up to 14 business days after disembarkation. 

At the time of writing, Utopia of the Seas is expected to return to Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, as scheduled at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 2. 

Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas is also skipping its stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay on Sunday. Like Utopia, Liberty will spend an extra day at sea before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Additionally, the Freedom Class vessel will depart Nassau early on Saturday, leaving around 2:30 p.m. 

Finally, Adventure of the Seas is rumored to depart 2 hours earlier than scheduled on Saturday, Jan. 31, from Port Canaveral, Florida. Moreover, the ship is skipping its stop in Nassau on Feb. 1. 

Massive bomb cyclone targeting the East Coast

According to the Weather Channel, Winter Storm Gianna is expected to intensify into a bomb cyclone, with snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding impacting the Carolinas, Virginia, and New England. 

Winter storm warnings are in effect for much of the East Coast, ranging from the Southeast all the way up to Cape Cod and Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. 

AccuWeather reported that certain southern cities, including Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greensboro, North Carolina, could be facing their biggest snowstorm in decades. Preliminary estimates also suggest that snowfall totals in Norfolk, Virginia, could top last February’s 11.1 inches.

The arctic blast is pushing south as well, with impacts expected as far as South Florida and the Bahamas. In Port Canaveral, for example, the low on Saturday is forecast around 29°F, and near-freezing temperatures are possible across parts of Broward and Miami-Dade counties, CBS News confirmed. 

Other ships impacted by the strengthening major nor'easter

(Credit: Scott Sanders, The DCL Blog/X)

Like Utopia of the Seas, Disney Wish will skip its scheduled stop to Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line's private Bahamaian island, this weekend. 

"We have been closely monitoring a weather system that will impact our planned stop at Disney Castaway Cay," a letter given to impacted passengers reads. 

"Given the anticipated strong winds and adverse sea conditions predicted in The Bahamas overnight on Saturday and during the day on Sunday, we will not be able to visit Disney Castaway Cay on Sunday. We will instead spend more time in Nassau, on Saturday night and throughout the morning on Sunday."

(Credit: John Wojtasiak/Facebook)

Even ships already at sea are being forced to adjust. Carnival Sunshine, for example, is returning to Norfolk at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31. The Sunshine Class vessel was originally expected to arrive in Virginia on Sunday. 

Consequently, the ship’s scheduled visit to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, on Thursday was canceled to allow enough time to sail up the East Coast.

Carnival Sunshine passengers do not have to disembark from the ship upon its arrival in Virginia — they may remain on board until Sunday as originally planned. 

Read more: Carnival ends cruise early to avoid developing Nor'easter

Regardless, everyone will receive a one-day prorated refund of the paid cruise fare to the original form of payment, along with a one-day prorated refund for any pre-purchased drink packages, Wi-Fi plans, and prepaid gratuities. Carnival is also providing passengers with a complimentary Value Wi-Fi plan to handle last-minute travel arrangements. 

Carnival's letter, which was signed by Captain Leonardo Contarino, concludes, "Once again, we are truly sorry that the weather is affecting our plans this week and thank you for your patience and understanding. My team and I remain committed to taking good care of you for the rest of our time together." 

Similarly, Norwegian Breakaway is rushing back to New York and skipping its visit to St. Thomas. The ship is expected to arrive on Feb. 1 at 11:00 p.m., rather than Feb. 3. The extra two nights in New York will be treated as an overnight port of call.

Royal Caribbean offers short 3-night weekend cruises on Utopia of the Seas, but what is special about it?

I've sailed on Utopia of the Seas 6 times so far, and it's my favorite weekend escape. It certainly helps I live just an hour away from the port to be able to hop onboard without much fuss.

But if you're traveling from beyond Orlando, is a weekend enough time to see and do what you want onboard? The answer is a resounding, no.

Wait! That's not the end of this story.

A weekend is also not enough time to experience everything New York City has to offer or a national park.  And yet, we go anyway because you have to start somewhere and no one said you can't come back again.

Royal Caribbean offers short cruises on Utopia as a kind of sampler cruise experience. The primary reason you see a big and new ship like Utopia offering these types of cruises is to offer new cruisers their first try at cruising.

Is Utopia of the Seas a nice ship?

Being the newest Oasis Class cruise ship, it's clear this is the "best in class" offering.

What I mean is you'll find the latest and greatest features and amenities of any Oasis Class ship on Utopia.  Every cruise ship in a class is an evolution from the previous one.  Royal Caribbean likes to innovate with new ships and improve the guest experience as they learn lessons from past ships.

This means the pool deck has an expansive Splashaway Bay, the best integration of the Lime and Coconut Bar, and wonderful seating options around the pool.

The suite sun deck is second-to-none in how it balances seating, bar positioning, loungers, and space in and out of the sun.  Plus, it has a stunning plunge pool that you could sit in all day.

There are smaller decisions on Utopia that made a difference too. They swapped out Wonderland and put in Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and it's easily the most beautiful Giovanni's location in the fleet with amazing views.

On the Royal Promenade you have the Pesky Parrot bar instead of the aging Bionic Bar. Pesky Parrot is more eye catching and a bar you'd want to spend more time at.

Plus, the ship has destination elevators.  I don't think they work as well as the ones on the Icon Class ships, but it's still an upgrade from conventional elevators.

A weekend cruise is great for trying it out, not doing everything

There isn't enough time to see everything on Utopia over just three nights, but it is enough time for a good time.

The cliched saying, "I'm not here for a long time, I'm here for a good time," certainly applies to Utopia.

If you've never been on this ship, there is almost too much to do.  Between all the specialty restaurants, bars, water slides, shows, and parties, you'll feel like you're going in a few different directions.

When you look at what shows are onboard Utopia of the Seas, you find so many choices each evening.

But I think that's part of the appeal of a short cruise.  Cruising isn't about completing a checklist for the sake of saying you "did it". Rather, it's about creating fun memories and doing things you'll brag about later.

No one comes home and starts competing with others for the quantity of things they did to see who snuck more fun in.  

You can do the best things with just 3 nights

The important thing to know is you can definitely see the highlights on a quick weekend cruise.

When I've sailed, I found you can see the main shows, experience a few restaurants, and still have time for fun in the ports you're visiting.

Competing with what's happening onboard are the two ports of call: Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Royal Caribbean's private island is incredible because it feels like an extension of the cruise ship. CocoCay has beaches, a pool, and a few extra cost areas.

A visit here is arguably the crown jewel of the weekend, and I'd prioritize your time wisely.  Disembark early and take advantage of a day spent at the beach.

Nassau used to be a defacto sea day because it's traditionally been a disappointing port of call you could skip and stay on the ship instead.

However, the new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island has totally changed that dynamic and I think it's worth spending your day here.

The Royal Beach Club has much prettier beaches, incredible heated pools, and wonderful service. There's no doubt new cruisers that dream of a Bahamas cruise have a place like this in mind when they book.

Even with two full days of fun ashore, you should be able to work in the shows, dinners, and a few parties too.

I'd also recommend trying to take advantage of embarkation day as a time to hit the pools, waterslides, and a few bars.  

For years I skipped Hooked Seafood on Royal Caribbean ships because I never thought the food was very good, and because I don't eat shellfish.

However, I wanted to go back to Hooked because I made a New Years cruise resolution to make this the year I revisit restaurants I swore off in the past. I figured it was time to give them all another chance, and Hooked as at the top of my list.

I've eaten at Hooked at least two or three times over the years, and I came away with the same thought as Caesar had in the classic film History of the World, Part 1, "Nice. Not thrilling, but nice."

Friends and other cruisers seemed to usually have a similar review that Hooked wasn't bad, but wasn't impressive either.

So when I went on Utopia of the Seas and had the chance to try Hooked again, I wanted to see if this restaurant had improved or changed in any way.

I brought with me four friends who love to eat shellfish, figuring I could lean on their tastes to determine what it's like at Hooked now.

The Hooked menu is different than I remember

Hooked is a specialty restaurant that costs extra to dine at, with a cover charge that includes all the food on the menu.

You'll find the restaurant at the very front of the ship above the adults-only Solarium.  Don't worry, kids can eat here.

As I was seated, I noticed immediately the menu has changed since my last visit.

I recall there being a messy fish sandwich that required a bib to eat, but it wasn't on the dinner menu.  

Looking over the menu, I was impressed by how many choices there were overall.  

Royal Caribbean doesn't limit how much you can order, so you're free to go all out and order as many appetizers, entrees, and desserts.

We had just spent the day enjoying Perfect Day at CocoCay, so my group was ready to eat.  We asked the waiter to bring out one of every appetizer to sample.

Our waiter informed us there were a few specials, including a blackened salmon.

The appetizers were impressive

Since all the appetizers had shellfish in it, I relied on my friends to try it all.

The serving size of each appetizer was much bigger than I expected.  Most are great for sharing, so I'd recommend rethinking how many you'll go for with each.

Here's a look at each of the appetizers:

Calamari

Biscuits

Oysters

Coconut shrimp

Crab cakes

Baked oysters

New England Clam Chowder

According to the group, the best appetizer they had were the raw oysters.

Some were new to oysters, but all of them thought the quality was great and an impressive value considering how many you get.

The least favorite appetizer were the crab cakes.

It wasn't so much that the crab cake were bad, just not that that good. Someone mentioned the texture wasn't what they were used to when they've had crab cakes in the past.

I admit, I sampled one piece of calamari (don't tell my Rabbi). It's hard to ever go wrong with fried food, and it didn't taste rubbery.

I don't think most people order one of everything from the appetizers, but I don't recall another Royal Caribbean restaurant that had such large serving sizes for their appetizers.

This is a great choice for sharing among a larger group. But if you're dining with just you and someone else, consider sharing an app or two.

The best steak in the fleet

I'll go ahead and say it: the filet mignon I had at Hooked was the best filet I've had on any Royal Caribbean ship.

I think it was the seasoning that made this steak stand out.  There was no sauce, just a perfectly cooked steak that wasn't tough and had the perfect texture to it. Soft, juicy, and really flavorful.

Without a doubt it's superior to the filet mignon from Chops Grille, and I think it's even better than the beef tenderloin from 150 Central Park.

Not to be outdone, I also ordered that blackened salmon special and I was really impressed by it.

Once again, the salmon was cooked to perfection and it had really good flavor to it.  

I liked it so much, but almost regretted ordering it because I'm afraid it won't be available on my next visit.

My friends ordered various combinations of steak, lobster, or shrimp.

I'd bet the lobster tail is the most popular option on the menu, and it's a very large tail. Certainly bigger and tastier to what you can get in the Main Dining Room or Windjammer.

As you can see from the photos, the entrees don't skimp on serving portions either. You may like or dislike Hooked, but you cannot argue the serving sizes are anything but generous here.

Hooked deserves to be reconsidered

I couldn't believe I called my wife to tell her I wanted to eat at Hooked on our next cruise, because just the food I could eat was outstanding.

The menu relies heavily on seafood, so if you don't eat shrimp, calamari, or lobster, I think you'll be quite limited in what you can order.

Before our meal, I joked all I could eat was steak and Caesar salad, but having tried it, I'd gladly take that.

The portion sizes are impressive, which makes it easier to justify the cost. 

The onboard price is $65.00 per person for dinner, although you can usually get it cheaper if you pre-book before the cruise.  For my upcoming Utopia of the Seas cruise, I can reserve Hooked for $44.99 per adult.

I went in hesitantly to retrying Hooked, but I was really impressed by how good my food was.  In fact, now I'd love to go back and try it again to see if it's as good the second time around.

I think a cruise is better when you go with friends, so the opportunity for a "guys cruise" sounded like the perfect trip.

As my kids have grown up, I've made friends with other dads from their friend group. Any parent knows you're thrown into meeting the parents of your children's friends, but their parents aren't necessarily going to be your friends.

In my case, I'm lucky a few of these parents became my own friends.  One of them, Kenny, thought it would be fun to go on a weekend cruise together.

We chose Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas because it was convenient to where we live in Orlando. Plus, it was over a weekend and that limited time away from home. I also had another reason for wanting to visit: the new Royal Beach Club would be fully open and I wanted to check it out.

So Kenny, Jason, Chris, and Craig all packed our bags and went onboard for what turned out to be a great getaway weekend.

A party ship even if we aren't the target crowd

Ever since Utopia of the Seas launched, it has been set as the weekend party ship as a way to attract new cruisers. While it has plenty of parties, we took it all in stride.

No matter which ship you go on, all of the activities are there for you to try and there's no obligation you have to do any of it.  This is what I really like about a cruise vacation.  You can choose to do all of it or none of it.

In our case, we participated in select activities that were of interest to us.

We were at the Mason Jar bar every night for the music up there, and participated in the Crazy Quest show too.

But we skipped the sailaway party and Rezolutions DJ party because they were a bit too loud for our taste.

Instead, we found lounges and bars to head to and spend our time together that way.

In fact, we tended to gravitate towards the casino for entertainment.

Royal Caribbean expanded the casino space on Utopia by replacing the comedy club and loyalty lounge with a non-smoking casino.  This was a welcome change from the traditional cruise ship casino that still smelled like smoke because it shared the space.

We also tried out the Price is Right game show onboard, in which I won $50 for coming in the top 10 of scores!

I won't pretend any of us were the party crowd that perhaps Utopia of the Seas caters to, but we liked having so many choices of what to do onboard.

All of the food became one of the best reasons to cruise together

Very quickly into the cruise, the food choices became a major focal point.

Royal Caribbean offers so much wonderful food choices on its ships, and I think while we may have skipped over parties, we never skipped a chance to nosh.

As soon as we stepped aboard, the Windjammer buffet had an entire seafood buffet that my friends relished.

Newer Royal Caribbean ships offer a seafood bounty on embarkation day in the Windjammer. As of the posting of this article, I believe it's just on Utopia, Icon, and Star of the Seas.

We planned to go to the Main Dining Room for dinners each night, so we spoke to the head waiter on embarkation day to get us a table together.

Sure enough, we had a large table to ourselves and the wait staff were fantastic.

We were wiped out from fun ashore on the second day, so we ended up having dinner in the Windjammer.  However, I really wanted the French Onion Soup from the Main Dining Room. So I went alone just to get soup and the waiters were happy to oblige!

For our final dinner onboard, we decided to try Hooked and the amount of food ordered was a bit embarrassing.  Don't worry, between all of us we managed to eat almost all of it.

We booked the cruise for the fun we anticipated, but stayed for all of the food.  A bit gluttonous, but the food is part of why I love to cruise.

Our visit to the Royal Beach Club was the perfect "guys day"

One reason we leaned towards this particular Utopia of the Seas sailing was it aligned perfectly with the opening of the new Royal Beach Club.

Royal Caribbean built this new kind of shore excursion as a way to offer its guests an elevated day ashore.

So what started out as a "research trip" for me, ended up becoming the perfect backdrop for my friends.

As dads, when we do almost any excursion with our kids, there's inevitably a lot of taking care of the family needs.  But since it was just us, we got to ease into a day of taking it easy in the pool.

We basically spent our day in the heated pool at Chill Beach, which meant we hung out and talked while occasionally going to the swim-up bar, enjoying the view, or sneaking in a nap.

There's no question that Royal Beach Club is a great choice for families (I'm taking mine there in the spring), but I think our day here was the best group activity we did over the weekend.

The trip felt completely different from our other adventures

Family vacations will always be the primary trip we all take, but it was nice to change things up with a friends cruise.

The cruise showed me how much we limit ourselves by only considering cruise ships for family vacations. Not every guys' trip has to look like a scene from "The Hangover".

Unlike going to a bar at home, we had more choices in what we did and none of the risks associated with having to drive after. 

Being in our 40's, we were never interested in a wild spring break kind of trip. Rather, it was the perfect excuse to get away for a few days.

One cruise passenger missed their ship's departure in Port Canaveral, Florida, after traveling to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale. They then tried to meet up with the Oasis Class ship in Nassau. However, their request was denied, causing them to miss out on their entire cruise vacation. 

Nobody wants their long-awaited vacation ruined before it even begins. Unfortunately, that was the case for Redditor Crispy-Don, who shared how they accidentally missed Utopia of the Seas' departure from Port Canaveral on January 12, 2026, in the r/royalcaribbean thread. 

"[W]e pulled a major travel fail today and showed up at Port Everglades instead of Port Canaveral (which is 3 hours away from Fort Lauderdale). We’ve obviously missed the ship’s departure. We are currently at FLL trying to book a flight to Nassau to meet the ship tomorrow morning," they wrote. 

"We have already contacted Royal Caribbean’s emergency travel line to request approval for a "downline join" in Nassau. They told us they have to review it and will email us if approved." 

Initially, Crispy-Don planned to spend the night in Fort Lauderdale and catch an 8:00 a.m. flight to Nassau on Tuesday, Jan. 13, from Miami International Airport (MIA). 

However, their hopes of rejoining the ship were quickly thwarted by Royal Caribbean, which proved that meeting up with a cruise in the next port of call isn't always a guarantee. 

In a follow-up post, Crispy-Don explained that they received an email from the cruise line, denying their request to board Utopia of the Seas in Nassau. 

(Credit: Crispy-Don/Reddit)

"We regret to inform you that your request to embark in Nassau, Bahamas has been denied by port authorities. The reason provided does not meet the established criteria for authorization to embark at an alternate port of call. Please note that this decision is final and cannot be appealed," the email reads. 

According to their post, Crispy-Don said that they told the cruise line they had confused Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale for Port Canaveral and were over 3 hours away by the time they realized the mistake on embarkation day. 

Despite the disappointment, Crispy-Don took full responsibility for the mistake, saying, "Obviously we [are] crushed as we booked our Nassau flight tickets (refundable) hoping it would work, but this was my own mistake to learn from. Good to know that Royal won’t just green light you to join at a different port."

In the end, Crispy-Don lost about $1,000 on two cruise fares, though with Royal Caribbean refunding taxes and fees of roughly $200, the actual loss was closer to $800.

Other users flocked to the comments to share their own travel mishaps

Perhaps because it was the way that Crispy-Don handled the situation (i.e., taking responsibility and not taking their frustration out on the cruise line), but Redditors flooded the comments with support, sharing their own travel mistakes. 

"I once missed a flight because I went to the gate of my seat number instead of the correct gate which was in a different terminal. My seat number gate was completely empty and I sat there like an idiot until it was too late," one person wrote. 

Another added, "Was going through a divorce and needed to get away. Booked last minute trip. Price was really good. I arrived at my big city airport. Good news; my ticket was for that day; bad news; not for that year."

Read more: I spent 73 days on Royal Caribbean cruise ships this year. Here are 6 travel mistakes I won't be making in 2026

The cruiser's unfortunate incident serves as a cautionary tale to always check and double-check every aspect of your travel plans before departure

Cruising is essentially a form of time-sensitive travel. As such, flights, pre-cruise accommodations, and embarkation details require careful attention before and during your vacation. 

If you arrive at the port too late, whether because of an unexpected traffic jam or flight delay, you may miss your cruise ship entirely. So, it's important to plan ahead. For example, if you know you need to fly to your embarkation port, plan on arriving at least one day before embarkation. 

The same goes for during your sailing. If you venture off the ship alone, whether independently or with a third-party tour agency, give yourself a buffer to return before the all-aboard time. 

A few Redditors thanked Crispy-Don, as his experience was a reminder to double-check their own travel details ahead of time. 

"Whew made me double check that I am indeed flying into Orlando and not [Fort Lauderdale]," said one user. 

Another commented, "I’m sorry this happened. I leave on a cruise on Friday and I’m checking to make sure I have the right port."

Guests sailing aboard this weekend's Utopia of the Seas cruise get more time on the ship than planned. 

Due to the incoming cold front, the ship will arrive back at Port Canaveral, Florida, later than scheduled, as confirmed by Scott Sanders of Disney Cruise Line Blog. 

Utopia was initially supposed to arrive for disembarkation at 6:00 a.m. Upon boarding the ship, however, current passengers were told to expect a delayed arrival time of 2:00 p.m.

Guests were given the option to disembark, though they had to decide by 3:00 p.m. Moreover, according to the cruise line's weather policy, no compensation will be provided for those who stay on the ship. 

"On Sunday evening, there is going to be a cold front passing through this region here in Port Canaveral, and behind it will be some very high wind[s], higher winds than what is safer to bring the ship into the port of Canaveral," the Captain said over the public address system.

They will continue to monitor the system, warning passengers that further changes may be necessary since the weather does not always follow the predicted forecast.  

"Your safety and the safety of the ship is the number one priority that I have on board here," he added. 

There are no other confirmed changes to the Dec. 12 sailing of Utopia of the Seas. As it stands, the Oasis Class ship is still scheduled to call at Nassau on Saturday and Perfect Day at CocoCay on Sunday. 

The National Data Buoy System issued a warning about this weekend's weather, saying that a cold front is expected to push through the Atlantic coastal waters from Flagler Beach to Jupiter Inlet on Sunday evening and night. 

Conditions will be relatively calm on Sunday before deteriorating later in the day, with northwest winds of 20 to 25 knots expected. Seas will build from 4 to occasional heights of 11 feet after midnight. 

Strong winds and high seas will persist on Monday, though dangerous conditions are expected to subside throughout the day. 

For example, northeast winds of 25 to 30 knots will decrease to 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon. Still, the intracoastal waters will stay rough. 

An email was also sent to impacted passengers on the Dec. 15 voyage

"Along with our Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer, we are closely monitoring the approach of a strong cold front Sunday night into Port Canaveral. This system will bring high winds that will make our scheduled arrival into the port challenging," it reads.

"With safety in mind, the ship is expected to be delayed in returning to the port by approximately six (6) hours, but the situation remains fluid. We’ll continue to monitor the forecast in case anything changes."

Royal Caribbean will send a follow-up by Sunday at 6:00 p.m. EST with updated arrival times. 

Additionally, the email states that, because of Monday's late departure, the ship has to swap its scheduled visit to Nassau on Tuesday with a sea day:

"The good news is we’ll still have a chance to visit Nassau on Thursday with updated call times. Not to worry, you’ll still have the same amount of time in port to enjoy everything this beautiful destination has to offer!"

Any pre-paid excursions booked through Royal Caribbean for Nassau will be automatically rescheduled, and those that cannot will be canceled and refunded to guests' SeaPass account to be used as onboard credit. 

The visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay on Wednesday, Dec. 17, remains unchanged. 

Royal Caribbean has a whiskey tasting class that takes you on a virtual trip to the Old West for a multisensory experience.

When Utopia of the Seas launched, it had the first Royal Railway restaurant onboard that makes it feel like you're riding in a classic train car.

The immersive dining experience caught a lot of people's attention, and it's usually sold out on most sailings.

Since its debut, Royal Caribbean has added Royal Railway Utopia Station Whiskey Tasting as another way to leverage the new venue.

I wanted to see how a shorter duration experience compares, as well as try out top shelf whiskey!

Whiskey tasting in a train car

Alcohol tasting classes aren't new to Royal Caribbean ships, but holding them in a classic train car is not conventional.

If you're not familiar with the new train car experience, this is a custom built platform that simulates what it would look and feel like to ride in a classic train car.

Tickets are delivered to your stateroom, and there's even a platform to wait on to board the train.  

Once inside, the car has windows, jostles, rumbles, and does just about everything to evoke the feel of a late 19th century train without the coal or smoke.

The difference between the full restaurant and the whiskey tasting is how much of the story element is incorporated into it all.

The class features three varieties of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. As a novice whiskey drinker, I'm told this is an above average brand.

The cost of the class is $70, although I was able to get it for $59.00 because of a well-timed sale.

You'll be assigned a seat. Tables come in two or four top configurations, and they will seat strangers with you if there are open spots because the restaurant is so small.

Similar to the restaurant experience, your journey begins seated in the train with the simulated ride commencing and the windows opening up.

Each window provides a high definition view of the Old West, and it's so darn impressive to watch. 

The combination of the imagery, rumblings, and sounds all combine to make it truly seem like you're riding on a train.

The class is lead by a bartender, who is dressed from the time period.

In front of you are three shots of whiskey:

• Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey
• Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey
• Uncle Nearest Rye Whiskey

There's also a plate of nuts and cheese to snack on to help cleanse your palate between sips.

Unlike the restaurant, there's no real story here. The crew member leans into the Old West motif, but there's no bandit, gun fight, or any kind of arc to the experience. The focal point is sampling the drinks.

With each whiskey, you're given an explanation of what makes it different from the rest and how to properly sip it.

It's interesting the difference swirling the drink or not makes, as well as the first sip versus subsequent sips.

I never order whiskey on my own, so taking this class was about better understanding why I might prefer one variety over another. 

After you drink all three samples, an old fashioned cocktail is brought out made from the whiskey. 

While the straight whiskey is definitely strong, the old fashioned tasted very smooth. I guess I haven't graduated yet to enjoying straight shooting whiskey quite yet.

The entire class took about 35 minutes, which makes it a quick experience overall. In fact, I was a little surprised by how short the class lasted.

What I liked about the Utopia Station Whiskey Tasting is it combines an informative tasting experience with a fun venue.

I see this as a two part experience: alcohol tasting and train ride.

Royal Caribbean offers other seminars on drinks, such as wine pairings. Generally, they seem to all be well-received and this was no exception.

I appreciated the explanations of how one whiskey variety is different from another, as well as the opportunity to simply venture out and try it.

The x-factor is the train ride, because unlike other drink tastings, this one takes place in a really cool venue.

For those that haven't had the chance to experience the sit down meal, the whiskey tasting is a great example of why the tech behind it all is so impressive.

Royal Caribbean invested a lot into building out the train experience, and I really think it's a must-see.

Given the fact you're getting three whiskey shots and a full cocktail, the price is not unreasonable at all.

Cocktails usually cost about $14 each at a bar, and a shot of higher quality liquor can easily cost $12-14 each (if not more).  

Plus, the whiskey tasting is cheaper than the restaurant meal, so it allows you to get a sense of what the venue is all about without paying a higher price.

One of the biggest complaints about Royal Caribbean's newest Oasis Class ship was that it lacked a place to grab fresh smoothies and juices — until now. 

When Utopia of the Seas launched in July 2024, word quickly spread that there wasn't a Vitality Café onboard. 

In fact, if you browse online discussion forums, it's easy to find cruisers upset about not having a dedicated spot for fresh, healthy smoothies and juices. 

"Utopia does not have a [fresh-pressed] juice machine on board. [My partner and I] got the alcoholic drink packages and were really excited about all the [fresh-pressed] juice that’s included...," one guest shared on Reddit.

"Unfortunately they did not add [the Vitality Café] to the boat and the spa had to tell several people. Very unfortunate." 

"I just got off the utopia and [am] dissatisfied that there is no vitality cafe. The only [fresh juice] is from the buffet with [a] charge. There is plenty [of] room in the lobby spa area to add this," wrote another guest on a Royal Caribbean Blog discussion forum. 

However, it seems that Royal Caribbean has listened to the feedback and made some changes to Utopia of the Seas. 

Blake Mathesie recently sailed aboard Utopia and reported that Royal Caribbean set up a makeshift juice shop in the Spotlight Karaoke lounge on Deck 5. 

According to Mathesie, the pop-up isn't found on the ship's deck plans, either on the app or website. However, it is available in the app under "Dining" → "Coffee & Snacks."

It's a recent addition, with crew members telling Mathesie they started offering the juices and smoothies a few weeks ago. 

Hours for Vitality Café on Utopia of the Seas are limited, likely because the crew needs to clear the space in preparation for the bar to open later in the karaoke lounge.

On embarkation day in Port Canaveral, it seems to be open from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., while on other days, the Vitality Café is typically open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"Whether you've just finished a workout at the gym or enjoyed a rejuvenating treatment at the spa, Vitality Juice Bar offers a selection of delicious, healthful options — including our fresh juices prepared just for you at the Spotlight," reads the app's description. 

Not the first ship that has a makeshift Vitality Café

Part of Royal Caribbean's changes to Allure of the Seas included removing the Vitality Café, despite it being a favorite amongst health-conscious cruisers. 

While the café is no longer in the spa, a limited menu with juice and smoothie offerings is available at Sorrento's in the Royal Promenade. 

Similar to Utopia, there isn’t a dedicated icon for it on the ship's deck plan. 

Read more: 6 things I'm surprised Royal Caribbean didn't change on Allure of the Seas

Do drink packages work at the Vitality Café?

Yes, Royal Caribbean's Deluxe Beverage Package and Royal Refreshment Package both work at the Vitality Café. Moreover, Diamond vouchers can be redeemed for smoothies and juices, along with most alcoholic beverages, soda, bottled water, and more.

Drinks at the Vitality Café cost over $8 each, so purchasing a drink package (especially if you plan on kickstarting your morning with a freshly-made juice or smoothie) can be a wise decision.