Utopia of the Seas is the sixth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class, making her one of the biggest cruise ships in the world.

As an Oasis Class ship, she is smaller than Icon of the Seas; however, that doesn't mean Utopia of the Seas isn't packed to the brim with ways for passengers to relax, dine, and more.

Here is a look at everything we know about the sixth Oasis Class vessel. 

How big is Utopia of the Seas?

Utopia of the Seas measures 236,860 gross registered tons and 1,188 feet in length, meaning that she is similar in size to Wonder of the Seas versus older Oasis Class vessels. 

Moreover, she has a capacity of 5,668 passengers at double occupancy split between 2,834 staterooms. 

Read more: 5 things to know before sailing on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas

Where does Utopia of the Seas sail from?

Being that Utopia of the Seas is the first Oasis Class cruise ship to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas, or LNG, it makes sense that her homeport is Port Canaveral, Florida.

LNG is the cleanest fossil fuel that can power ships today. It has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by around 30%, sulfur emissions by nearly 100%, and nitrogen oxide emissions by around 85%.

Where does Utopia of the Seas sail to?

In a first for Royal Caribbean, Utopia of the Seas entered service offering just short cruises. Typically, new cruise ships start off with 7-night sailings, but Royal Caribbean wants to market Utopia to attract the new-to-cruises passengers.

Utopia of the Seas offers 3- and 4-night cruises to Nassau and their private island: Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

The strategy is to attract people who have never taken a cruise before, and are tepid to try a week-long sailing. By offering short cruises on a brand new ship, Royal Caribbean is betting these folks will see Utopia as a heads-and-shoulders superior choice to try a cruise.

The inaugural voyage was July 19, 2024, and was a 3-night cruise to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay. The second sailing departed on July 22, 2024, as a 4-night cruise to The Bahamas. 

Utopia of the Seas neighborhoods and layout

Utopia of the Seas isn't the last ship in the record-breaking Oasis Class, as Royal Caribbean ordered a seventh ship that's scheduled to be delivered in 2028. The order is contingent upon financing, but it's expected to be completed later in 2024. 

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty said, "While we eagerly anticipate the debut of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas this summer, we’re already dreaming up her sister ship and the next installation in the brand’s extremely popular Oasis Class."

Of course, Royal Caribbean would not debut the biggest and boldest Oasis Class ship without making some modifications, meaning there are some venues, staterooms, and other features not found on any other Oasis vessel in the fleet. 

Like other Oasis Class ships, Utopia of the Seas has the following neighborhoods:

1. The Boardwalk, where guests will find the fan-favorite Playmakers, carousel, and, of course, AquaTheater. 
2. Pool & Sports Zone, which features a Caribbean-style pool deck and a three-story Lime and Coconut Bar. 
3. Central Park, where guests will find the only Izumi in the Park on any Oasis Class ship. This is a concept taken from Icon of the Seas. 
4. The Royal Promenade, the main thoroughfare on Utopia of the Seas.
5. Entertainment Place, the entertainment hub of all Oasis Class vessels. Here, you can find the comedy club, casino, theatre, etc. 
6. Youth Zone, which is home to Adventure Ocean programming, an arcade, and teen club.
7. Vitality Spa & Fitness, Royal Caribbean's signature spa that offers treatments and services ranging from pedicures to bamboo massages. The fitness center is available at no extra cost. 
8. Suite Neighborhood, which is a carry-over from Wonder of the Seas. This is an exclusive enclave for suite guests who are hoping to enhance their cruising experience. 

Utopia of the Seas dining

In total, there are over 40 ways to drink and dine when onboard the ship, ranging from the complimentary Windjammer to brand-new concepts, such as Royal Railway - Utopia Station and Pesky Parrot bar. Plus, you are able to enjoy 16 cuisines from around the world. 

With 10 complimentary dining options, it is possible to not spend a penny extra on dining outside of what is included in your base fare. Start your mornings at the Windjammer and grab a snack at the full-size food truck before indulging in a three-course meal at the Main Dining Room. 

With 11 specialty venues, however, you may want to splurge on sushi in Central Park (a first on any Oasis Class ship), bar food at Playmakers, southern comfort dishes at The Mason Jar, and more. 

Read more: I sailed on Royal Caribbean's newest weekend party ship, and these are the 6 best and 5 worst things I ate

Utopia of the Seas complimentary dining options:

• Main Dining Room
• Windjammer Cafe
• Solarium Bistro
• The Spare Tire, a new poolside food truck
• Park Café
• Cafe Promenadé
• Sorrento’s Pizza
• Boardwalk Dog House
• El Loco Fresh
• Sprinkles for ice cream
• Coastal Kitchen (suites only)
• Room service (continental breakfast only)
• Johnny Rockets (breakfast only)

Utopia of the Seas specialty dining options:

• Chops Grille, which is connected to the Trellis Bar 
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar with outdoor Gio’s Terrazza overlooking the Boardwalk
• Royal Railway - Utopia Station, a new immersive train car experience
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Izumi in the Park
• Izumi Omakase
• Hooked Seafood
• 150 Central Park
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Starbucks
• Johnny Rockets (lunch and dinner)
• The Mason Jar
• Chef’s Table
• Wipe Out Bar snowcones

Utopia of the Seas bars and lounges

Utopia of the Seas has no shortage of bars and lounges for guests to explore. Some fan favorites returned to Utopia, like Playmakers, Boleros, and the Schooner Bar. 

Replacing the Bionic Bar, however, is the Pesky Parrot, a new-to-brand Caribbean tiki bar that serves tropical beverages, both frozen and on the rocks. 

Bars and lounges on Utopia of the Seas include:

• Schooner Bar
• Trellis Bar
• Boleros
• Rising Tide Bar
• Solarium Bar
• Bell and Barely Pub
• Wipe Out Bar
• The Attic
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• The Lime and Coconut
• Pesky Parrot
• Music Hall
• Spotlight Karaoke 
• Cantina Fresca
• The Vue

Activities onboard Utopia of the Seas

Like Wonder of the Seas, there's one Flowrider on Utopia. In place of the other one is a redesigned playscape. This themed playground features climbing walls, nets, games, puzzles, and slides for younger guests. 

Likewise, there's mini-golf, two rock walls, a zip line, and the longest Ultimate Abyss yet, which is 43 feet longer than previous incarnations. This makes Utopia's Ultimate Abyss the longest dry slide at sea. Plus, it has been reworked to be even faster than previous ones! 

The Ultimate Abyss has 300 LED lights, transparent windows, and zoom booster rollers, which gives riders a thrilling exit onto the Boardwalk.

Read more: 7 new things coming to Utopia of the Seas, including a giant slide and train restaurant

In terms of the casino, Utopia has two that have a combined 371 slot machines! The standard casino, which permits smoking, has roughly 539 seats, while the non-smoking casino has about 64. 

Other activities onboard Utopia of the Seas:

• Adults-only Solarium 
• Adventure Ocean programming
• Suites-only sun deck with a private pool that overlooks the ocean
• Music Hall 
• Adults-only comedy venue, The Attic 
• Perfect Storm water slides 
• Three pools on the top deck, two of which are resort-style, while the third has a sloping entry 
• Studio B ice skating rink
• Royal Theater for unique and Broadway-style productions 
• Splashaway Bay
• Escape room
• Laser tag: Battle for Planet Z

Entertainment on Utopia of the Seas

There are three news shows that guests can expect to see on Utopia of the Seas. These include:

Aqua80Too in the AquaTheater: "Following on from the famous Aqua80 show on Oasis of the Seas, no other show on earth will make you feel like this one will. The tempos, the energy, the drama, the action, and the fun, all rolled into one."

Youtopia in Studio B: "It's an ice skating odyssey through ideal perfection, fantastical times and places, and unbelievable artistry while champion performers leave you in awe with countless spins, jumps, and stunts along the way. Find out what utopia means to you during Youtopia!"

All In! in the Royal Theater: "All the technology, all the creativity, all the talent, all the design, all the sound, all the costumes, all the video, all the lighting, all the choreography, all the energy, and all the fun... ALL IN!"

There is not a Broadway musical on Utopia of the Seas.

Utopia of the Seas also offers new themed parties, like:

Rezolution: "This is not your ordinary night out. Rezolution is an immersive late-night white party experience that puts the focus on you. Dance nonstop to DJ-spun beats while projected images - from fireworks to colorful koi fish - transform you into living art."

Royal Kappa Chi: "School is in session. Gather up your crew for the ultimate collegiate party with Royal Kappa Chi. We're talking pong battles, flip cup championships, and the chance to reclaim the title of Quarters King or Queen. It's just like the good old days, only better —with DJ mashups and party vibes."

Silent Toga!: "Hosted in the Solarium, we feature a classic 'Toga' party, with a twist. This 'Toga' party is silent. Using 600 silent party headphones, 3 DJs will play 3 different styles of music each on a different channel, guaranteeing our guests to dance to their favorites."

Hey Utopia!: "The party that kicks off all parties. Hosted poolside, this party gets the guests energized as they board. Starting with our resident DJ and Royal Party Squad as they get the crowd on their feet and moving to some of the hottest hits from today. With special activations including a first appearance of the roaming Champagnators destined to quench the guest's thirst. This party is guaranteed to put the guests in a great party atmosphere before we even set sail."

Senses Sunset Pool Party: "This is a chill, early evening poolside vibes. Hosted by the Party DJ, we time this party to align with the sunset. House Music plays throughout the pool deck, allowing for the great vibes to continue. The big screen will also be playing sunsets from famous places around the world."

Plunge Day Pool Party: "Party. Chill. Repeat. Our resident DJ brings awesome vibes to the pool deck as guests either party or chill as Utopia of the Seas navigates the warm waters of the Bahamas. This party, offered in the afternoon in Nassau or on the Sea Day mimics a Vegas-style pool party. The Activities Team 'makes it rain' with water blasters to spray guests who are chilling in the pool and around the deck. This will feature another appearance of the Champagnators."

Royal Caribbean's newest ship features well-loved game shows and parties from other Royal Caribbean ships, such as:

• Crazy Quest
• Majority Rules
• Battle of the Sexes
• Friendly Feud
• 18+ late-night club, Red
• Shush! Silent Party
• Spotlight Karaoke

Read more: I spent over a week on Royal Caribbean's new Utopia of the Seas. I was impressed by how much was changed for the world's newest cruise ship

Utopia of the Seas cabin tours

• Balcony cabin
• Crown Loft Suite
• Ultimate Family Suite

Utopia of the Seas construction

Utopia of the Seas was under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The ship began construction in April 2022.

Utopia of the Seas was delivered to Royal Caribbean on June 13, 2024.

Cruise ship delivery is the transfer of ownership of the ship from the shipyard to the buyer, in this case, Royal Caribbean. This marks an important milestone in the construction process.

Delivery, however, does not mean the ship begins sailing with passengers. Wonder of the Seas, for example, was delivered to Royal Caribbean in January 2022, but her inaugural sailing was not until March 4, 2022.

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Are you a fan of short cruises? You're about to get that option on a new Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean announced that its newest Oasis-class ship, Utopia of the Seas, will sail short cruises year-round from Port Canaveral in summer 2024.

This is a significant change in Royal Caribbean's launch of a new ship. Typically, new Royal Caribbean cruise ships offer 7-night cruises, with older ships offering short weekend cruises.

Utopia will break away from that model and begin sailing with short cruises, which could be a pivot aimed at attracting new cruisers who want a shorter first sailing.

This means every sailing will visit Royal Caribbean's private island of Perfect Day at CocoCay, which the cruise line thinks will add a great deal of value for guests by including one of the most popular Caribbean ports of call that Royal Caribbean has at the moment.

The trips will also bring stops in Nassau in the Bahamas. 

Allure of the Seas will begin the trend of offering short cruises on on Oasis Class ship when she starts up those offerings in November 2023.

Utopia opens for bookings on Royal Caribbean’s website as soon as Friday, June 23. Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members can book on Thursday, June 22. In practice, it has been our experience there is no difference between these dates as to when you can book if you use a travel agent.

What's different about Utopia of the Seas

Being the sixth Oasis Class cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas will have a few notable differences from her sister Oasis Class ships.

Utopia will have 5 pools, 3 water slides, 21 dining venues, 23 bars, 2 casinos, and 8 hot tubs.

Utopia of the Seas will be different from any other Oasis Class ship, including Wonder of the Seas, in that she will feature the brand-new Pesky Parrot bar. This will be located in the Royal Promenade on Deck 5, effectively replacing Bionic Bar. 

The Pesky Parrot is a new bar with a Caribbean flair. You'll find fruit-based beverages made with rum, tequila and gin.

The Mason Jar will return on Utopia of the Seas.  Mason Jar was a new Southern American restaurant concept that first debuted on Wonder of the Seas.

In fact, Utopia has much more in common with Wonder than other Oasis Class ships.

Utopia will have the Vue Bar, Playscape for kids, one FlowRider, El Loco Fresh, and an expansive suite deck.

Likewise, guests will not find Izumi on Deck 4. Rather, this is where the Immersive Train Dining Experience will be located. 

Drawing inspiration from the allure of classic trains and their iconic dining cars, this new specialty restaurant will allow guests to dine in a restaurant that looks like a classic train car, complete with sights and sounds that are meant to immerse you in this fantasy.

Royal Caribbean is calling it an "immersive experience" because it combines visuals and food together.

Related: Royal Caribbean will add new immersive dining experience to Utopia of the Seas

Do not worry, sushi lovers! Fan-favorite Izumi will still be available on Utopia of the Seas.

The dining venue will be located on Deck 8 and will replace where Wonder of the Seas has Giovanni's Wine Bar and Kitchen. Moreover, the brand-new Izumi in the Park concept will be here, too. 

Izumi will have double the teppanyaki tables and new al fresco seating.

Izumi in the Park is a new option that Royal Caribbean initially developed for Icon of the Seas, and it will continue with Utopia.

Wonderland, however, is being removed from the ship. Royal Caribbean is moving Giovanni's Wine Bar and Kitchen to Deck 11 and 12, replacing the imaginative restaurant. 

Now spanning two stories, this restaurant has been reworked and has a new outside terrace – Gio’s Terrazza – that overlooks the signature Boardwalk.

Related: I spent $60 to eat at Royal Caribbean’s most bizarre restaurant. I thought I would hate it, but it was one of the best meals of my cruise

Other dining favorites will return on Utopia, such as Chops Grille, Hooked Seafood and 150 Central Park.

Utopia of the Seas will also be the only Oasis Class ship to feature two Solarium Suites, which will be found on Deck 14 above each bridge wing (i.e., one suite on the port side of the ship and one on the starboard side).

According to Royal Caribbean, these staterooms will be similar to the Ultimate Panoramic Suites that are found on Oasis of the Seas.

The Royal Loft Suite has a master loft and a downstairs bedroom that can accommodate up to 6 guests.

And Utopia will also have its own Ultimate Family Suite, which has three bedrooms, an in-suite cinema, corner balcony, table tennis, and two-story slide.

Deck 15 will feature a Poolside Food Truck, giving guests lounging by the pool another quick-service dining option.  

Finally, Sprinkles ice cream station will be bigger than ever, with three flavors to choose from and a new sprinkles bar.

Coming in 2024

Utopia of the Seas is finalizing the construction process before she can begin sailing in 2024.

The new ship is under construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. 

Utopia of the Seas is the sixth Oasis Class cruise ship, and will be the second new cruise ship Royal Caribbean launches in 2024.  Icon of the Seas will debut in January 2024.

The wait for details on what Royal Caribbean has planned for Utopia of the Seas looks like it will be over soon.

Not much has been said about Utopia of the Seas, which makes Royal Caribbean's tease all that more exciting. 

"This is the one — for everyone.  Stay tuned for #UtopiaoftheSeas revealed — it all happens Tuesday, June 20," the company wrote on Facebook. 

The website has been updated to include a timer counting down to June 20, too. Here, guests are able to sign up for an email update to get more information when it becomes available. 

Following Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony, and Wonder of the Seas, this will be the final Oasis Class ship. That is, unless, Royal Caribbean decides to order more in the future. 

The company has not said much about Utopia, which has added to the intrigue of what we can expect.

Measuring 1,188 feet long and over 230,000 gross tons, she will be smaller than the record-breaking Icon of the Seas. At maximum capacity, she will be able to accommodate around 7,000 guests, which is similar to other Oasis Class vessels. 

There has been no official word on where the ship will sail from or specific itineraries. Royal Caribbean has said, though, that she will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Guests interested in sailing on Utopia of the Seas should keep their summer schedule open for next year, as she is scheduled to hit the high seas in summer 2024. 

Here is what we know about the ship so far. 

First LNG-powered Oasis Class ship

Utopia of the Seas will stand out from her sister ships in that she will be the first Oasis Class vessel to be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), which is the cleanest fossil fuel that is able to power ships today. 

LNG fuel has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 30%, sulfur emissions by close to 10)%, and nitrogen oxide emissions by around 85%.

Related: Which Royal Caribbean ships are powered by LNG?

Brand-new dining concept

According to Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider, Utopia of the Seas will feature "...a mixed reality immersive dining experience with a train motif...that's going to blow people away."

Immersive dining has become a trend around the world, and cruise ships are no exception to wanting in on this fad! 

Onboard Princess Cruises' Discovery and Enchanted Princess, for instance, guests will find 360, an immersive and destination-inspired restaurant that features a 7-course menu. The dining venue is enclosed with LED walls that project visuals that carry a storyline and align with each course. 

The unnamed dining experience is still a work in progress. One concept that the company is playing around with is serving each course in a different "destination." 

The first, for instance, might be Grand Central Station in New York, with the second in Oslo, Norway or Lombardy, Italy. 

Related: Royal Caribbean will add new immersive dining experience to Utopia of the Seas

Importance of booking as soon as possible

If you are hoping to snag a good rate, you will want to book your cruise onboard Utopia of the Seas as soon as possible once itineraries open, as you can often find the cheapest cruise fares when new itineraries are released. 

As sailings fill up and there is less availability, rates often increase. Booking early is one way to ensure that you are getting the best price. Plus, you are able to reprice if you find that the fare does drop.  

You are not able to reverse this practice and lock in a rate you saw earlier if you find that the price of your cruise of interest has increased. 

Note, though, that price adjustments do not happen automatically. You will be responsible for checking the website to see if the rate has dropped. Likewise, if you booked with a travel agent, you can contact them. 

If you have your eye on holiday sailing onboard Utopia of the Seas, booking early will ensure that you have the most flexibility regarding stateroom choice. Holiday sailings tend to book up quickly, meaning that you should not wait to book your Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year's cruise!

Related: When is the best time to book a cruise?

Royal Caribbean is still very early in developing a new kind of restaurant concept, but we have a first look at the direction they are considering.

As RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com first reported, the cruise line is working on a new restaurant concept that will rely on mixed reality and have a classic train dining car motif. The intention is to have it as one of the restaurants on Utopia of the Seas.

While many details are being worked out, Royal Caribbean wanted to assess the viability of this sort of a restaurant, and so it created a life-size mockup at its Miami, Florida headquarters.

The cruise line invited RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com to tour the concept and get a glimpse of the possibilities they are considering. It's important to note what we saw is just a proof point, and executives were adamant how early in the process this dining idea is, so expect the final product to look different.

In fact, our visit was more about better understanding the concepting process that Royal Caribbean goes through with designing its cruise ships. Royal Caribbean's position as a market leader is largely based on its ability to innovate and deliver to its guests time-honored favorites along with brand new ideas.

Regardless of what the final version of this restaurant looks like, it was a fascinating look in how Royal Caribbean does concept development.

Guests want more unique dining

Royal Caribbean started down the road of developing a mixed reality restaurant because their customers indicated they wanted something different.

Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider said their customer feedback has told them guests, "want more immersive and unique dining."

Royal Caribbean has also seen a recent surge in immersive dining around the world, such as Sublimotion in Ibiza or Atmos in Fort Lauderdale.  Moreover, Disney Cruise Line has its own mixed reality restaurant on the Disney Wish and Carnival Cruise Line has Fortune Teller Bar on Mardi Gras. Princess Cruises has a 7-course meal in which guests are wrapped around a circular LED screen at their 360 restaurant.

While none of these restaurants are exactly what Royal Caribbean wants, Linken D'Souza, Global Vice President Culinary, Dining & Beverage, thinks it's a good starting point, "I think it gave us the first kind of introduction to this possibility of bringing a whole immersive experience into the dining world of what we do in world."

Part of the reason why Royal Caribbean wants something different is none of these truly brought the guests into the experience.

"It was part of that experience, but it wasn't really immersive. I mean, it was interesting. It was fun. It was cool to have the vistas around you, but it didn't draw you in necessarily into the experience the way that I think we envision what we're talking about to be able to do," said Mr. D'Souza.

Thus, Royal Caribbean had 4 primary goals:

• Creates an immersive experience with entertainment
• Highly unique and new to cruise
• Appeal to everyone, including families or someone on a date night
• Evolves over time to offer repeat guests new and exciting adventures

With those goals in mind, the team worked through various ideas and ultimately came to the idea of a train, assuming they could make the experience convincing enough, "is there an opportunity to make it feel like you're on a train, make it feel like you're on a dining car and bring to life this kind of new concept of a dining car restaurant experience," is what Mr. Schneider wrestled with early on with this project.

The train dining restaurant

The team admitted there's no name yet, and the final direction may change, but they wanted to share a look at one possibility.

Royal Caribbean is still playing with ideas and ways to make it convincing, but they came up with a story for this experience and even went as far as to model it out as a proof of concept.

The experience begins on deck 4 of Utopia of the Seas, where Izumi specialty restaurant currently exists.

Similar to how Wonderland on Wonder of the Seas has a themed motif to the elevator lobby that indicates there's something different about this floor, the elevator lobby and staircase near the restaurant will have a distinct look to it.

"As you're coming up the stairs or you're coming down the stairs, even the stairwell, " Mr. Schneider explained. 

"You'll start to immerse like you're moving into a space that is very different than what you're used to on the Oasis class, as well as just an experience we provide because even the stairs will start to feel no longer like a classic cruise stair, but they'll start to feel like you were walking up into a train station for the first time."

As you turn the corner, you'll see a train facade instead of the large Izumi sign against the wall.

"The idea is that you're going to go have dinner at what we're currently as a working project called the Dining Car," Mr. Schneider said and quickly noted that is not going to be the final name.

There will be multiple trains that you can board based on your reservation.

In fact, your name will be listed on the classic split-flap display that used to dominate train stations. You'll hear the sounds of a train and the split-flap display updating, the smell of the food, the look of the uniforms crew members will wear, and this all works towards that multi-sensory experience Royal Caribbean wants that goes beyond a digital screen.

One other idea they have is to give guests a classic looking train ticket in their stateroom that they can not only bring to the restaurant to confirm their reservation, but be able to keep it as a souvenir after the cruise.

As you walk in, there are a couple of options. As you enter what is today the entrance to Izumi on other Oasis class ships, you would find a train platform.

There will be a platform bar over to the right, and the entire train facade to the left of the entrance would be visible to you

"You'd see the full train built out on the right hand side. You may only see partial train, but you'll see the back of the train and then be able to enter the venue. Whether you're going to train one or train two or even the platform. But the idea is that you start to see the real thing."

As to where your train will go, the direction is still a work in progress, but one idea Royal Caribbean has is a train visit that takes you to multiple destinations.

"We would take you to say 4 or 5 destinations, and your journey would be fixed, much like your cruise itineraries fixed, your train journey would be fixed," Mr. Schneider explained.

"We can take you to 4 or 5 different journeys because we get the affordance of a train, goes into a tunnel, the tunnel gets dark, and when you pop out, if you think of the light experience you get coming out of a tunnel, you're going to go somewhere new."

As an example of one possibility the team is considering, your train might begin at Grand Central Station in New York with your first course of food and wine pairing, and when that is complete, your train enters a dark tunnel to take you to the next place in the journey, which could be the Canadian Pacific Railway. 

You're then served your second course with second pairing. Then you go through another tunnel and pop out in the next destination, which could be Italy for your third course.

Mr. Schneider reiterated that this is by no means the final concept, just one possible idea they have.

Other ideas is to have the train visit fictional places or places and times that no longer exist, such as the Polar Express or the old west.

One idea that Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley came up with for the project was to have the train visit the Southwest of the United States and see outside the window a man on a horse riding with a mask on, with a sheriff chasing him.  As time goes by, you hear noise and a bandit comes rushing through the train with gun drawn.

"It's just a surprise and delight overlay that this could give you to mash a little bit of entertainment."

"Food is the hero here. Entertainment is not. But that doesn't mean there's not an opportunity to dial up just a little bit of surprise and delight in the moment to get people just, again, immersed in the experience."

Speaking of the food, there isn't a specific cuisine outlined yet for the restaurant, partially because of how early it is still in the design phase.

"We may end up being in one country doing one experience that's really immersive in that space with the food that ties to that experience. We aren't there yet, but I think the idea here is that there is a ton of diversity of things you could do. It may flow through different destinations, but it definitely kind of brings this multi-sensory experience of the food along with the sight, sound, smell, taste, etcetera into it," Mr. D'Souza explained.

Can they make it feel real?

One question the team had to figure out was could they make the train experience real enough that it didn't feel as though you're eating and watching a television of scenery.

Additionally, would the visual of being on a train and it moving along with the ship's natural movement lead to problems with motion sickness for guests.

Mr. Schneider said this has been an ongoing research project for the cruise line, "we've been studying for a couple of years now, how far away from a screen do you have to be to make it never feel like a screen. How much light do we push onto it? How much? How much plexiglass or other do we put behind it? How do we make sure that you look this way? It looks like you're looking down an actual window."

In fact, that research was initially done to create an improved virtual balcony experience.  When the dining car concept was introduced, the team leveraged that research to help with this prototype.

Royal Caribbean took a 360 degree filming rig to Sweden and started filming in 8K resolution and experimented with various movement speeds.

"Speed is one of the things that we're learning. How fast is it moving? How fast do we want to capture? And then how much do we want to manipulate?"

They wanted to figure out at a very early stage, could they make it feel convincing enough that it's real, "do we believe at an alpha version that there's something here? Or should we just say, this was really great? We spent a couple of grand building a wooden box and borrowed some screens and a couple of grand with a dude in Sweden shooting some footage."

To better illustrate the concept, they built out the prototype because the concept was better understood once people sat in the mock dining car.

Mr. D'Souza thinks the prototype is a real selling point, even in this very alpha stage, "I think conceptually, everybody sitting here goes, wow, this is this could be a pretty cool experience. And I think that's the way we're thinking about it, is how do we take that and really bring it to life using all of your senses."

According to Mr. Schneider, the next step is to expand this prototype to exact scale of the one they intend to build on Utopia, "We're just going to build one train car. So then we can get a real sense of length, and then can go through the iterative process."

Utopia of the Seas might be Royal Caribbean's sixth Oasis Class cruise ship in the fleet, but she will have at least one new innovation not offered on her sister ships.

Royal Caribbean will debut a brand new dining experience never before offered onboard that sounds different from anything else on other ships, RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com can exclusively confirm.

The cruise line has steadily been moving towards new food and beverage concepts that aim to differentiate restaurants from being just another place for dinner.

In speaking with Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider, he provided details on one such restaurant coming to the next Oasis Class ship.

There's no name announced for it yet, but Mr. Schneider calls it, "an immersive train dining experience."

He wasn't able to provide all the details yet, but here's what we know about it.

Mixed reality dining train experience

In talking about future plans, Mr. Schneider referenced a train car experience coming to Utopia, "That will be pretty amazing."

"There is a mixed reality immersive dining experience with a train motif coming to a ship near you that's going to blow people away."

Royal Caribbean has been on this path to develop new dining concepts since announcing a new technology initiative in 2017.

Back then, there was a virtual reality dining demo where people wore virtual reality visors, but Mr. Schneider said it isn't ideal, "people don't want to eat food with a goggle on their head."

Since then, a lot has changed with trends in dining.  He pointed to "Sublimotion" in Ibiza, Spain which is a new high-end Mediterranean dining concept with VR tech & immersive film projections, as an example of how the culinary world is exploring this medium. 

He thinks there's more than can be done in a less jarring way, "nobody's really done thematic immersion until what you're about to see on Utopia."

Here's how Mr. Schneider explained what this dining experience will be like once guests are able to experience it for themselves, "imagine seeing a series of train cars built out on a cruise ship."

"What if you could go to land based destinations while on a cruise ship in a dining experience that happened to look like 1930s to 1960s train and go through a series of destinations that you've never done before or might do on some of our other ships but in a way that could give you then a platform for culinary and immersion that you've never seen before."

Experimenting with new ideas

When Royal Caribbean builds a new ship, they champion the mantra of "tradition, evolution, and revolution" as a way to bring back favorites while also pushing the envelope of what guests can expect onboard.

Mr. Schneider says this guiding principle is more like consistency and experimentation than anything else, "Our guests expect some sort of consistent experience. And I don't mean consistent in a negative way. Consistent in what they expect from us and quality."

"There's no reason that you wouldn't expect to find a Chops on every ship that we build in the future. And there needs to be, if you think of the concept development, we do a significant percentage of that, whether it's Main Dining, Chops, great Italian in our new Giovanni's kitchen concept."

"And then there needs to be experimentation."

An example of small experimentation is the Bubbles champagne bar in Central Park on Icon of the Seas. Beyond that, Royal Caribbean also moves towards full restaurants, such as the Mason Jar concept.

"New cuisine also then takes you to new experiences. And so things like and again, we don't have a name yet, but this railroad mixed reality culinary immersion is is part of that experimentation."

Part of the rationale for developing new concepts is food is a major reason why people go on a cruise. On a high level, Mr. Schneider says the two predominant reasons people book a cruise are for destinations and food.

"You want that kind of diversity, given again, people want destinations and food is their two drivers to go on a cruise."

Utopia of the Seas launches in 2024

While Icon of the Seas is garnering the lion share of attention right now, Utopia of the Seas will also launch later that year.

"Utopia is going to be for the Oasis class yet another great step forward. You're just going to be amazed by kind of the next set of changes that we make, " said Mr. Schneider of what we can expect from Utopia.

He admitted Utopia won't have the same level of new experiences Icon of the Seas has, "but when you look at them, they'll make a ton of sense."

When might we be able to start booking Utopia of the Seas? Mr. Schneider alluded to summer 2023 as when you can expect more information on bookings and details for the public to be able to start making plans.

The ship will debut in the spring of 2024.

Construction for Royal Caribbean's next Oasis Class cruise ship has reached a major milestone.

At the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, the keel was layed for Utopia of the Seas.

A keel-laying ceremony was held for the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered Oasis Class cruise ship.  Utopia will be the second Royal Caribbean cruise ship to be powered by LNG, following Icon of the Seas.

Keel-laying is a very important milestone because it signifies the official start of physical construction.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the importance of this occasion, "The keel laying for Utopia of the Seas represents the first milestone of an incredible ship and the next step toward a bolder, thrilling future for Royal Caribbean and vacations."

"Utopia’s debut in 2024, on the heels of Icon of the Seas setting sail in fall 2023, will build on a new, exciting chapter that is set to redefine family vacations and getaways for all ages in ways we’ll soon reveal."

"Today, we are celebrating with Royal Caribbean International an important tradition and milestone for Utopia of the Seas" said Laurent Castaing, General Manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique.

"The construction of Utopia is an exciting opportunity for the Chantiers de l’Atlantique teams that are aiming to make this cruise ship one of the most environmentally friendly ships in the world equipped with new generation dual-fuel engines."

Utopia of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean's sixth Oasis Class cruise ship, and final Oasis Class ship that they currently have on order. Royal Caribbean has been cagey about confirming they will not order another Oasis Class ship.

Utopia of the Seas is scheduled to enter service in spring 2024.

Royal Caribbean believes having Utopia powered by LNG is an important step forward in its commitment to the environment.

The ship’s LNG technology will join a lineup of the cruise line’s already-established environmentally friendly initiatives on its ships. From shore power connection to waste heat recovery systems, the applications have been developed and continually enhanced as part of Royal Caribbean’s dedication to innovation and making strides toward a clean-energy future.

It's almost the weekend, and I've got a new report to share of various Royal Caribbean updates.

Between the major announcements, there are a good amount of smaller updates that occur every week, so this is a quick round-up of Royal Caribbean news from this week.

Many thanks to the RoyalCaribbeanBlog community for helping spot what has changed.

If you ever have a news tip, feel free to email it to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future update!

Utopia of the Seas construction begins

As we reported earlier this week, construction formally began on Royal Caribbean's sixth Oasis Class cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas.

Among other changes, Utopia will be the first Oasis Class ship powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) when she launches. Royal Caribbean believes LNG is the cleanest fossil fuel available to cruise ships today and additional environmentally friendly applications on board Utopia will boost energy efficiencies and further reduce emissions overall.

In addition to Utopia, Icon of the Seas will also be powered by LNG when she launches a year earlier in fall 2023.

Utopia of the Seas is expected to launch in Spring 2024.

Royal Caribbean considering ordering more new cruise ships

Speaking at the Celebrity Beyond delivery event in France, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty indicated ordering additional new cruise ships is something they are considering.

Travel Weekly reports Mr. Liberty said Royal Caribbean Group is considering ordering new ships for all three brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises & Silversea.

New ship orders would be placed "as soon as business is back to normal pre-Covid levels, which is not far out."

"It could be later this year, or next year, but we have ships still on order through to 2026, so we have a little time."

Currently Royal Caribbean has orders in place for Utopia of the Seas and three Icon Class cruise ships.

Hideaway Beach construction update

I have a new photo update of the progress being made on the Perfect Day at CocoCay expansion, which will add a new adults-only beach.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog reader Steve Cohen snapped photos of the Hideaway Beach construction from onboard Independence of he Seas.

Hideaway Beach could open mid to late 2023.

It looks like Royal Caribbean's sixth Oasis Class cruise ship has a name.

At a steel cutting ceremony in Saint-Nazaire, France, the shipyard revealed the name of the next new Oasis Class cruise ship will be Utopia of the Seas and marked the official start of construction by cutting the first piece of steel.

The name Utopia of the Seas was trademarked in December 2021 among 23 other possible cruise ship names.

Photos by Véronique Savard

The order for the ship was originally placed with the shipyard in February 2019. Delivery is scheduled for the end of May 2024.

It will be 362 m long, with about 2,800 cabins. That is 50 less cabins because of the space that is needed to install the LNG tanks.

It is not yet known where Utopia of the Seas will sail from, nor what itineraries she will visit.

Do you like the name Utopia of the Seas? Share your thoughts on the name in the comments!