What's worth exploring on "The World's Biggest Weekend"?

Utopia of the Seas, just launched this summer, features 18 decks and 2,834 staterooms, with a capacity for 5,668 passengers at double occupancy.

It is the second-largest cruise ship in the world and offers lots for cruisers to experience on short sailings.

The Oasis-Class vessel currently sails three and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Its shorter sailings require cruisers to plan their time carefully, choosing the most important amenities to take advantage of.

Amid two casinos, carousels, multiple pools and whirlpools, surf simulators, rock climbing walls, and more, how can you decide which features to spend time on?

Utopia is home to 22 dining venues and 13 bars and lounges, but there are ten onboard attractions, in particular, that you can't afford to miss.

1. Royal Railway ($)

The Royal Railway: Utopia Station is a must-see attraction, especially if you're looking to splurge on a specialty restaurant.

This venue is the only one of its kind in the entire fleet, so it's worth exploring during a sailing on Utopia of the Seas.

The Royal Railway takes a dinner-and-a-show concept to a new level. It's more like an immersive experience than a simple restaurant.

Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, called the venue a "storytelling platform." 

There's room for multiple stories on the train-car-themed platform, but the vessel currently features a Wild West experience.

The Royal Railway has a flat entrance fee of $74.99 per adult and $24.99 per child. It's also included in the Unlimited Dining Package for a $15 surcharge for adults (no extra cost for kids).

2. Ultimate Abyss

Royal Caribbean's signature dry slide, the recognizable bright purple Ultimate Abyss, is worth trying on Utopia.

While most Oasis Class ships feature the 10-deck slide, Utopia's is 43 feet longer than previous iterations—and is the tallest dry slide at sea.

The Ultimate Abyss spans 259 feet long, offering 10 stories of thrilling drop.

Intrepid guests can queue up to ride a mat down the stainless steel slide.

A glass platform at the launch area shows cruisers just how high the area is—going all the way from the top decks down to the Boardwalk.

A ride down the Ultimate Abyss can reach up to nine miles per hour as it twists and turns!

The Ultimate Abyss is free to ride and has no age limit. However, guests must be at least 44 inches tall and weigh less than 300 pounds.

2. Escape U ($)

Whether or not you're a puzzle aficionado, the escape room on Utopia of the Seas is worth a shot.

Royal Caribbean was the first cruise line to have escape rooms on its ships, and Escape U: Freshman Year is a brand-new concept for the fleet.

For $30 per person, guests join a team to try to escape from the university-themed room.

Groups of 2-12 guests receive 30 minutes to solve various puzzles and figure out where their missing professor has gone. 

It's neither too easy nor too hard, and passengers of all ages will enjoy putting their minds to this mystery.

3. Perfect Storm waterslides 

The Perfect Storm waterslides on Utopia of the Seas are a thrilling trio of slides designed for guests to have a variety of experiences.

Typhoon is a fast-paced slide with steep drops and rapid turns. Cyclone has another intense ride experience, with tight spirals at a dizzying speed.

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

Supercell has a giant, swirling bowl that spins guests around before dropping them through the center.

The waterslides are free of charge, but guests must be 48 inches tall to ride.

4. Laser tag 

Did you know you can play laser tag on a cruise ship?

Utopia's laser tag takes place in Studio B, which is the ice skating rink that doubles for many other events.

Families and guests of all ages can participate in this fun-filled, fast-paced game. 

Each participant receives a lightweight vest with sensors and a harmless laser gun that shoots infrared beams.

Laser tag is free of charge, but you'll want to book a time slot ahead of time using the Royal Caribbean app. Guests must wear close-toed shoes to participate.

5. Aqua80 Too 

Aqua80 was such a fan-favorite on Oasis of the Seas that Royal Caribbean decided to debut a sequel on its newest Oasis-Class ship.

Aqua80 Too, Utopia's AquaShow, features a live performance by world-class acrobats, athletes, dancers, and divers, all set to a soundtrack of upbeat, familiar hits from the 1980s.

Whether you attend for the nostalgic 80s music, the awe-inspiring feats of athleticism, or the wonderous light shows, this show has something for everyone.

Among all of Utopia's entertainment, it's one of the must-see performances onboard.

6. FlowRider 

The FlowRider is a thrilling surf simulator found on most Royal Caribbean ships.

Powerful jets of water are pumped over its blue vinyl surface to simulate a 40-foot-long wave.

Guests can either bodyboard lying down or stand up surfing on an ocean-like wave of water.

It's an adventurous experience where you can learn to surf on a cruise ship!

The Flowrider area also has lifeguards present and seating all around the pool, so spectators can enjoy the experience.

The FlowRider is free to watch and use, but guests needing extra practice can pay for additional lessons.

7. Izumi Omakase ($)

The chef-led Izumi Omakase is only available on Utopia of the Seas, and it's worth the extra cost.

It's an eight-course communal dining experience. 

Read more: Utopia of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Each course of dinner is paired with a special drink, and both the host and chef will guide you through it in English and Japanese.

The cost is $129.99 per guest, and there is no kids pricing. It is also included in the Unlimited Dining Package with a $59.99 surcharge.

Utopia of the Seas is also the second Royal Caribbean ship to place Izumi Sushi and Hibachi in Central Park (after Icon of the Seas).

If you love big ships, there's a new way to see more of Alaska than ever before on Royal Caribbean.

Cruisers can now book their 2026 Royal Caribbean sailing to Alaska, and they've changed their lineup by having one of their megaships do open-jaw runs instead of a smaller ship.

Ovation of the Seas is one of four Royal Caribbean ships just announced to sail to Alaska in 2026, and the voyages are open for booking on the Royal Caribbean website or by speaking with a travel agent.

Following in the tradition of previous deployments, Royal Caribbean will send four ships of the fleet to Alaska. 

In addition to Ovation, Royal Caribbean will also deploy Anthem of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas, and Serenade of the Seas to the Last Frontier.

Read more: I went on a 7-night cruise to Alaska. Here are 16 things that surprised me the most.

Take a look at the 2026 cruises to Alaska

The 2026 Alaska cruises are available to book between May and September 2026.

The most notable change is Ovation of the Seas will sail open-jaw sailings out of Vancouver.

This Quantum-Class mega-ship is scheduled to cruise 7-night Northbound Alaska and Hubbard Glacier itineraries. 

Between May and September of 2026, the vessel will visit ports such as Sitka, Juneau, Skagway, Seward, Icy Strait Point, with views of the Hubbard Glacier.

This means you can sail from Vancouver to Seward, or Seward to Vancouver and see more of Alaska than ever before because you can combine the sailing with a Cruisetour.

Cruisetours are pre- and post-land trips you can add-on to a cruise that are operated through Royal Caribbean and can take you to inland places, such as Denali National Park and Preserve and Banff National Park.

New CruiseTours available in summer 2026 include a 9-night Destination Denali CruiseTour, 12-night Kenai Trek and Inland Wildlife CruiseTour and a 13-night Homer Adventure and Interior Wildlife CruiseTour. 

These sort of sailings have traditionally been only offered by much smaller ships.

The change to have a big ship such as Ovation of the Seas is related to a $137 million cruise ship port that is being built in Seward, Alaska that should be ready for the 2026 cruise season.

Anthem of the Seas will sail roundtrip, 7-night voyages out of Seattle, Washington.

Voyager of the Seas will also homeport in Seattle, offering 7-night sailings to popular Alaskan ports.

Both ships will visit popular ports such as Skagway, Juneau, Sitka, and Icy Strait Point. Alaskan sailings out of Seattle also offer cruisers the opportunity to view Dawes Glacier, as long as the weather permits a sighting. 

Itineraries will vary depending on the sailing.

Read more: I cruised on the oldest and newest cruise ships to Alaska: here’s how they compare

Returning to Alaska in 2026, Serenade of the Seas will cruise 7-night roundtrip sailings from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

One notable change is Serenade will visit Prince Rupert, British Columbia, which is located on Kaien Island near the Alaskan panhandle.

Repositioning cruises are also open for booking

Royal Caribbean has also added two repositioning cruises to its 2026 Alaska deployments.

Voyager of the Seas will cruise a 25-night Transpacific itinerary, departing on April 14th from Brisbane, Austrailia. 

The sailing will call at Papeetee, Tahiti; Moorea, French Polynesia; Honolulu, Hawaii; Hailua Kona, Hawaii; and Hilo, Hawaii, before reaching Seattle, Washington.

Anthem of the Seas also offers a repositioning cruise: a 18-night Transpacific sailing departing on April 14th.

The Quantum-Class ship will sail from Sydney, Australia, to New Zealand; Papeetee, Tahiti; Moorea, French Polynesia; Raiatea, French Polynesia; and Honolulu, Hawaii.

What is an open-jaw cruise?

An open-jaw sailing is essentially a one-way cruise that embarks in one port and disembarks in another.

Open-jaw cruises are a popular choice to sail to Alaska because of the beautiful land views the state offers.

Cruisers find that the more remote ports and inland areas of Alaska provide the most authentic view. For those who value the landscapes and wildlife of the Last Frontier, an open-jaw cruise provides more opportunities to sight-see.

These sailings visit more ports than round-trip cruises and allow you to book land tours before or after the cruise in different locations.

However, one-way sailings come with additional logistics questions and often cost more in transportation to and from the cruise ports.

For example, you'll have to book two one-way flights instead of round-trip airfare. These two flights will often be more expensive, in addition to the extra cost of travel to and from the airports.

For example, if your cruise begins or ends in Seward, Alaska, you'll have to account for a 2+ hour drive to the airport.

Another disadvantage of open-jaw sailings is that they require a valid passport. US citizens cannot use a birth certificate or government ID for these sailings.

Book earlier for the best price

Alaskan cruises are more expensive than Caribbean sailings, but you can get a better price by booking early.

Typically, the lowest pricing for an Alaska cruise is found right when itineraries are released.

Especially if you'd like to sail during the peak of the cruising season, with warmer weather (in June and July), you should book your cruise as soon as possible.

Read more: The worst months to cruise to Alaska

The shoulder season (the months of May and September) offers good deals on occasion but worse weather.

Plus, specific cabins can sell out quickly on popular sailings. For example, if you want to book a suite or aft balcony cabin on Serenade of the Seas, you'll need to book as early as possible to ensure your preferred category.

As a rule, placing your initial deposit as soon as you can gets you the best price.

Booking your Alaska cruise:

• How to choose the right Alaska cruise itinerary
• 50 Royal Caribbean Alaska Cruise Tips
• Royal Caribbean Alaska excursions: Recommended tours for each port
• What Is an Alaska Inside Passage Cruise?
• What is the most useful time to cruise to Alaska?
• Best things to do on an Alaska cruise
• Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for your sailing

Utopia of the Seas is dubbed as a "non-stop party," so I wanted to see what it was like to try to keep the fun going all day and night.

When Royal Caribbean launched its first Oasis-Class ship with weekend cruises in mind, it wanted the vessel to offer something new and different.

Marketed as a "party ship," Utopia of the Seas offers non-stop activities throughout its short sailings.

It's the perfect combination for cruisers to make the most of their days onboard.

I spent four nights onboard Utopia this month, and I knew I wanted to maximize my short sailing.

For our only sea day onboard, I challenged myself to participate in a cruise ship activity all day long—more than 12 hours straight!

What does a busy day actually look like on Utopia of the Seas? There are so many activities to choose from—but it's more chill than you might expect.

The constant "party" atmosphere on the vessel actually translated into a calmer, chill vibe. No one was required to bring the energy, as staff and party squads made sure that guests were enjoying themselves.

In the end, I had so much fun and ended up being less exhausted than I thought I'd be.

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

9:00 A.M.: Breakfast

I started out with breakfast in the Park Cafe—an elegant, well-lit free cafe in Central Park. 

Breakfast in the Café usually includes fresh fruit, oatmeal, pastries, and more.

I dined on oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar, with a side of fresh grapes and hot coffee.

After breakfast, I hit the cruise ship gym, which was surprisingly busy for a relaxing sailing trip! 

Other cruisers, like me, wanted to take advantage of the quality gym and stay active despite all the tempting food.

However, the gym was gigantic, so I didn't have to worry about overcrowding.

10:30 A.M.: Ice skating

After the gym, I headed straight down to Studio B for a short ice-skating activity.

I reserved a slot ahead of time on the Royal Caribbean app, so the staff gave me a wristband right away. When my wristband color was called, I went down to suit up with a helmet (required for safety) and ice skates.

The rink was a medium-sized, icy square. Skating around on it was fun, but it seemed more directed toward kids.

Struggling children kept falling and skating in front of me, which could make the experience more stressful for beginners.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the experience. How many people can say they've ice skated on a cruise ship? 

11:20 A.M.: Lunch

After I finished ice skating, I'd worked up an appetite. I took the elevator up to the Windjammer, the ship's complimentary buffet.

I always enjoy eating at the Windjammer because of its variety of options. 

For lunch I directed myself towards the available brunch food, choosing hash browns, waffles, and biscuits.

1:00 P.M.: World's Sexiest Man Competition

After showering and meeting with my travel buddy, Val, we returned to the pool deck to watch the World's Sexiest Man Competition. 

Found on most Royal Caribbean ships, this competition is a hilarious, dramatic pageant show featuring several brave cruisers.

After each man flexes, dances, and poses in front of judges, one man in particular is awarded the title of the most attractive of the cruise.

2:00 P.M.: Plunge Party

As the World's Sexiest Man Competition ended, staff transitioned into the Plunge Party, a pool deck dance and music party.

The ship's "party squad"—a group of four dancers who showed up to each event in fun costumes—took the stage and encouraged guests to bop along to the music.

As that went on, Val and I headed to the Solarium to soak up the sun for a while.

5:00 P.M.: Main Dining Room dinner

Before the cruise, I selected a traditional, assigned dining time and received the early slot: 5:00 P.M. dinner.

We went to our assigned table at 5 sharp and were greeted by our friendly waiters.

Dinner started with bread, and then we placed our orders. For my appetizer, I ordered a tasty, hot tomato soup. 

My entree was a delicious crumbed slice of salmon, served with potatoes and asparagus. My waiter recommended the dish to me, and I was glad I ordered it!

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.

Dessert was a warm, caramel-covered brownie with a side of vanilla ice cream.

6:30 P.M.: Family Karaoke

After dinner, we went to join karaoke in the Spotlight Karaoke venue. For family karaoke, anyone of any age could sign up to choose a song and sing it on stage.

While I didn't join in performing, I always enjoy watching, cheering, and singing along.

On the way out of Karaoke, Val and I stopped to pick up togas (really just extra sheets) for the evening's Silent Toga party.

7:00 P.M.: SENSES Sunset Party

One of the new parties I was most excited to experience on Utopia of the Seas was the SENSES Sunset Party. 

The event is one of the more "Chill-topia" experiences onboard, perfect for sitting down with a drink to enjoy the views.

Just around sunset, the DJ begins to play house music as different views of sunsets from around the world (and around the fleet!) are projected on the screen.

8:00 P.M.: Name That Tune!

Name That Tune was titled a "live game show" in the Cruise Compass, and I noticed it was taking place in the Royal Theater.

The game show was a high-quality, hilarious production hosted by the Cruise Director, Ricky.

In between rounds of the game, Royal Caribbean performers would join a live band to perform popular songs.

Name That Tune far exceeded my expectations—it was like watching Family Feud or Wheel of Fortune live!

9:00 P.M.: Royal Kappa Chi

The Utopia Chapter of Royal Kappa Chi is a throwback to the collegiate days of frat parties, complete with flip cup and beer pong.

The event was held in Studio B, which had too much seating and stage space to accommodate all the ping-pong tables that were set up.

It was hard for all the attendees to find space to join in playing games or dancing, so many just ended up sitting down in chairs and watching the games.

10:45 P.M.: Silent Toga party

Our last event of the night was the Silent Toga Party, held in the Solarium.

I always love joining silent parties, in which every guest is given a headset with multiple music channels.

Royal Caribbean added a new and fun twist to the Silent Party on Utopia by making it a toga party—each guest was welcomed with a sheet and taught how to tie it on.

A common uniform always makes groups feel closer, so I thought this was a fun way to tie together the independent style of a silent party.

After the party, we headed back to the stateroom—tired but satisfied with our busy day. 

Happy Sunday! We are so happy that you stopped by and hope you are having a wonderful weekend. Grab a mug of your favorite hot beverage, sit back, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean news.

Royal Caribbean has finally implemented the dining package change we've been waiting for!

Almost a year after the cruise line first announced its plans to do so, Royal Caribbean has added a way for guests who have pre-purchased specialty dining packages to reserve spots ahead of time.

Now, passengers with the Unlimited Dining Package can choose a particular date and time at the venues of their choice—before even getting onboard. 

Royal Caribbean News:

• Royal Caribbean is building another cruise port in Alaska to ease crowds and traffic
• Find out which 3 Royal Caribbean cruise ships were the cleanest this year, according to the CDC
• Royal Caribbean passenger files lawsuit over hidden camera
• Royal Caribbean's new cruise offer is the best last-minute cruise deal we've seen in a long time
• How to get the earliest check-in time before anyone else for your cruise
• Royal Caribbean makes a change to how you get to CocoCay from your cruise ship
• Ice skater shows crew-only areas on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas
• How to get the most out of a short sailing on Utopia of the Seas
• A 74-year-old who cruises twice a year shares his 3 best cruise secrets, including splurging
• 5 Dollar Tree items cruisers should stock up on before their sailing
• Royal Caribbean is discounting airfare by hundreds of dollars for a 2025 cruise

New Video: 10 Annoying Habits That Will Make You the Least Popular Person on a Cruise

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 10 Annoying Habits That Will Make You the Least Popular Person on a Cruise — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 547th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available at all our links.

In this episode, Matt answers as many listener emails as he can!

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

How (and when) to upgrade your Royal Caribbean cruise ship room

Whether you have some extra cash to splurge or are rethinking your booked cabin category, sometimes there's a time and place to upgrade your cruise ship stateroom.

Getting a better cabin can be an exciting way to upgrade your cruise experience. 

There are multiple ways to do it, so here's everything you need to know.

Cruisers swear by these off-the-beaten-path Caribbean ports—Here’s why

Are you tired of visiting Nassau and Cozumel on your Caribbean cruises? 

Since Royal Caribbean says to its namesake region so often, frequent cruisers have to challenge themselves to keep things different.

Veterans cruisers swear by a few lesser-known Caribbean ports.

Dealing with noise in your cruise cabin

Because your cruise cabin becomes your home at sea, you want it to be a pleasant space.

Loud noises, whatever their origin, threaten a peaceful voyage and enjoyable cruise vacation. 

After you identify the source of the news, you can begin several courses of action to try and solve it. Here's what to do.

A Royal Caribbean guest is suing the cruise line and its former crew member, alleging she was filmed by a hidden camera in her stateroom bathroom. 

The class action lawsuit was filmed on behalf of the guest in the Southern District of Florida this Tuesday, as first reported by the Miami Herald.

The guest was only identified as Jane Doe, but the lawsuit was also filed on behalf of "all other similarly situated passengers."

In August, former crew member Arvin Joseph Mirasol was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. 

He was found guilty of filming guests, including children, with hidden cameras while they were naked, in addition to hiding under cabin beds on Symphony of the Seas.

Read more: "I will be checking under the bed now": Royal Caribbean crew member accused of hiding cameras to spy on guests

Federal authorities found images of women and children undressing on his electronic devices, "numerous videos of naked females," as well as child sexual abuse material.

During a post-Miranda interview, Mirasol admitted to pleasuring himself while watching the videos. He told authorities he "wants to control it...but can't." 

Mirasol was also charged with six pending counts of video voyeurism in Florida state court after the Broward Sheriff’s Office interviewed him.

According to the lawsuit, Mirasol captured images of Doe "while undressed and engaging in private activities" during a February cruise.

The guest, Jane Doe, also alleges that Mirasol uploaded images of her to the Internet, including the dark web.

“Upon information and belief, Mirasol transmitted and/or uploaded images of the Plaintiff while undressed and engaging in private activities, to third parties and/or to the world wide web, including, but not limited to, the dark web, without Plaintiff’s prior knowledge or consent,” the complaint states. 

As a result, she has suffered extreme emotional distress, including physical symptoms like insomnia and dizziness.

The lawsuit places the blame on Royal Caribbean for failing to provide sufficient security, training, or supervision to prevent sexual assaults.

The cruise line did not warn guests about such crimes and allegedly did not notify passengers who stayed in cabins served by Mirasol.

According to the lawsuit, there may be up to 960 impacted passengers, who stayed on Symphony of the Seas between December 1st, 2023, and February 26th, 2024.

Royal Caribbean “knew or should have known sexual assaults were reasonably foreseeable considering the prevalence of sexual assaults aboard RCCL’s cruise ships," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit referenced a 2023 incident on Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas in which passenger Jeremy Froias installed a hidden camera on a 7-night sailing from Miami, Florida.

Froias was arrested after placing a hidden WiFi camera in the public bathroom between the FlowRider and a bar.

His camera, which was up for 24 hours before security removed it, allegedly depicted more than 150 individuals in various states of undress, including minors as young as four and five years old.

The number of sexual assaults onboard cruise ships rose in 2023, according to the US Department of Transportation. 

Onboard cruise ships embarking and disembarking in the United States, 131 sex crimes were reported to the FBI in 2023.

This is a significant increase from 2022, which saw 87 alleged sexual assaults.

However, the actual numbers could be even higher. 

According to the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network, more than two out of three of all sexual assaults are never reported.

Of these alleged sex crimes in 2023, 75% were committed by cruise ship passengers (98 in total), and only 27 crimes were committed by crew members. Six of the incidents had an "unknown" perpetrator.

Jason Margulies, an attorney with Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A., in Miami Florida, is representing the plaintiff in this case.

Margulies addressed the allegations that Royal Caribbean hasn't been informing affected guests who sailed on Symphony of the Seas.

“If you're a company that's looking out for the best interest of your passengers, and aren't acting in your own financial interests, then you would certainly be telling all these people that they could be potential victims, right?"

"I mean, that's the humane thing to do.”

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages, and a jury trial.

Royal Caribbean emailed a statement to USA TODAY: “The safety and privacy of our guests is our highest priority, and we have zero tolerance for this behavior."

“We immediately reported this case to law enforcement and terminated the crew member. As this is pending litigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

Utopia of the Seas offers short cruises on a ship with lots to do. How can you make the most of it?

I recently sailed on Utopia of the Seas for a 4-night Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay cruise.

Leaving round-trip from Port Canaveral, Florida, I knew I only had a short amount of time to experience everything Utopia has to offer.

Cruisers first criticized Royal Caribbean when it debuted its newest Oasis Class vessel with only short sailings.

However, the cruise line found that first-time cruisers like to start with 3 and 4-night sailings, and Utopia is the perfect ship to draw them in.

With everything from a train car-themed dining experience to waterslides and escape rooms, there are countless activities to try on Utopia of the Seas.

But how can you fit them all into just a few days?

Explore the ship to get your bearings

I always explore the cruise ship as soon as I get onboard, but this is especially important to do on a short cruise on Utopia. 

On such a huge vessel, with so little time, cruisers have to know their way around.

You'll want to get your bearings as soon as you board, in order to find events quickly and ensure you don't miss anything.

It's hard to keep everything in your head, so start out by getting a visual sense of what the ship's neighborhoods and venues look like.

I recommend wandering the whole ship at least once—you don't want to miss anything on the map. 

Sometimes it takes walking around yourself to find hidden locations or decide if a particular venue piques your interest. Don't take the app's word for it—go see each spot with your own eyes.

Reserve specialty restaurants in advance

A specialty meal is worth the extra cost on Utopia. The 5,668-passenger vessel offers quality venues found on few other ships, such as the Mason Jar, Izumi Omakase, Izumi in the Park, and the Royal Railway.

Other specialty venues onboard include Chops Grille, Sugar Beach, Johnny Rockets, 150 Central, Chef's Table, Playmakers, Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, Starbucks, Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, and Hooked Seafood.

Dining at an extra-cost restaurant gets you higher-quality food in a themed venue and allows you to see more of the ship during a short sailing.

To ensure that you're able to dine at your favorite locations, be sure to make reservations ahead of time. Specialty restaurants on mega ships can sell out quickly, and you never want to be turned away from a dinner you were looking forward to.

You're able to reserve individual restaurants or bookings as part of a dining package on the Cruise Planner website before the cruise.

If you don't make reservations online, you can also go to any dining venue on the first day of the cruise and make your bookings then. My advice is to pre-book to save time and money.

Hit the top deck activities on embarkation day

The best time to go to the pool, water slides or hot tubs is as soon as you board the ship.

The pool deck is open on embarkation day, including the water slides.  Not only is it available, but it's the best time to experience them because there are least amount of crowds.

Most other passengers haven't boarded yet, are busy exploring the ship, or simply don't have their bathing suits with them.

This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy smaller crowds and shorter lines.  Pack a bathing suit in your carry-on, or just wear it onboard.

Use Royal Caribbean's app to prioritize events

To fit in Utopia's non-stop events, you'll need to have a detailed itinerary.

The Royal Caribbean app will become your source of all cruise information and it works with or without the WiFi package.

Events will be listed in great detail each day of the sailing, including the time, venue, and any associated costs.

I recommend consulting the app frequently to keep track of onboard events.

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

The Royal Caribbean app allows you to add events to your own Calender, and it will even send you a notification 30 minutes before the event begins.

I also saw events get canceled or change times while on my Utopia sailing, so checking the app frequently allowed me to stay updated.

Pack your carry-on efficiently  

Maximizing a short cruise on Utopia means using every moment you get onboard—including on embarkation day.

This hack takes a little extra planning but can give you hours of additional fun.

By packing your carry-on efficiently, you'll be able to begin activities before your stateroom is ready or your luggage is delivered.

Read more: 6 mistakes to avoid while planning a cruise and sharing a cabin with a friend

Since luggage doesn't get delivered until late afternoon, packing logically will allow you to start enjoying activities as soon as you get onboard.

Pack lightly, but bring medication, water bottles, sunglasses, sunscreen, a swimsuit, and a change of clothes in your carry-on bag.

You'll be able to enjoy lunch, time at the pool, or other activities while other cruisers are still boarding and waiting for their cabins.

View event highlights on the TV

Each Royal Caribbean stateroom has at least one TV, where guests can view 10-20 free channels, purchase movies, or cast from their devices (depending on the ship).

On Utopia of the Seas, you'll find that multiple channels stream or show recaps of events happening onboard.

While I don't prefer to view events on TV instead of experiencing them, you can use this feature to take advantage of shorter sailings.

If you find yourself double-booked, a quick replay of the previous events can catch you up.

When you return to your stateroom after dinner or late at night, you'll be able to turn on the television and see the highlights of events you missed.

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.

For example, my travel buddy and I stopped in to watch the World's Sexiest Man competition on the pool deck but had to leave to grab lunch before the Windjammer closed.

After that, we went on to the next event, but we didn't get to see who had won the competition!

When we returned to our cabin later that night, the TV's re-run showed us which cruiser was awarded the Sexiest Man.

Get off the ship in CocoCay early

The highlight of any Utopia of the Seas cruise will be a visit to Royal Caribbean's private island, so get more out of it by disembarking early.

You can walk off the ship to Perfect Day at CoocCay as early as 8am, and if you can get going that early, you'll enjoy the best spots on the island.

Not only will there be less people in the pool or ocean, but you can cherry pick the best chairs or day beds. 

Moreover, if you start your day earlier, you can enjoy more time before the crowds arrive later in the morning. If you're feeling like heading back to the ship, you'll have already taken advantage of the least crowded time on the island.

Royal Caribbean's first world cruise sounded like the adventure of a lifetime, compelling hundreds of people to sign on the for the voyage.

The cruise took 274-nights and visited over 60 countries across seven continents, including Antarctica.

Tonya Lathom lived in the Mid-Atlantic region and made some life-changing choices in order to go on this cruise. She retired from her school system after 32 years as a teacher and school counselor.

She and her husband, Andy, sold their home in Falls Church, Virginia in order to move to their other home in South Carolina, outside of Myrtle Beach.

Tonya shared with Royal Caribbean Blog about her experience on the one-of-a-kind Royal Caribbean ultimate world cruise.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the cruise

My husband booked the Ultimate World Cruise as a way for us to see the world in retirement since we had never really traveled much before. Talk about diving headfirst into the deep end of the pool!  

Prior to the Ultimate World Cruise, the longest cruise I had ever been on was 12 days.

However, we had not been on a cruise since before 2020, so this was definitely a crazy experience to have. A typical 7-day cruise vacation once a year did not prepare me for this trip.

In the end, I was most surprised by how much I actually enjoyed the cruise.

Nine months seemed daunting and wasn’t something that I would have chosen on my own.  

It was something that I wasn’t completely on board, to begin with, but it grew on me.

I think that the key is building a community and being active. As I developed my own daily routine and made new friends, my days flew by!

I love trivia, brainteasers, and Tri-bond, so there was a lot of that, but it was also a social time with my new friends.  Plus, my time was used to research ports and plan excursions, and do laundry.

And I documented every day (“sea” day or not) for my family and friends.

Best yet, I got to see more of the world than I ever thought possible! 

As time passed, cruise ship literally became my home.

I loved the daily routine that I set up for myself, and relished having a new adventure on land every day.

Even when we returned to the ship, security would scan our cards and say, “Welcome home!”

The crew was like part of our family and really looked out for me – and I looked out for them in return.  

I was also surprised by just how breathtaking sailing into a port can be! It’s an absolutely beautiful way to arrive at any destination and completely sold me on not flying anymore!

Plus, there is no jet lag, as cruise ship time changes are typically an hour ahead/back over a period of days if necessary.  

As the months passed, my experience only got richer.

I made new friends, became friends with the crew, and learned how to be a savvy traveler.

By the end, time flew by, and I wasn’t ready to go—it was hard to say goodbye to everyone. I cried when crew left, too!

You really grow close to people in a short time span. I even made friends with people who were on the ship for larger portions and that was nice.

There was one couple that I was friends with during segment two and returned for segment four, so seeing them return was something that I really looked forward to – just like when crew members returned from their time off!  

While on the Ultimate World Cruise, I definitely made new friends that I hope to see again and again on cruises!  

One of my concerns even before taking this trip was that I typically was tired of “ship” food by day 3 of a cruise, and I definitely got sick of the food after 9 months.

And although ship food did become underwhelming, the crew did a great job of trying to mix it up and add new things.

They added peanut butter and jelly and offered different daily specialty “bars” in the Windjammer, like “Make Your Own Pizza”, a Pasta/Noodle bar, a “Tutti”/chopped salad bar, etc.

They also permitted guest recipe submissions and then picked one or more a month.

Plus, it really made a difference that as a Suite guest I had access to Chops for breakfast.

Every single member of the crew there was so kind and helpful that quite often breakfast ended up being my most enjoyable meal of the day—they named my daily fruit plate after me!

I would absolutely book another world cruise. But, sadly, even though my husband booked this cruise for us without any prior conversation, I know that he would not.

Other than not packing so many clothes and driving (not flying) to the cruise port, I’m not sure that I would do much differently because I really evolved as a traveler and cruiser over this trip. 

During the cruise, I developed a whole new skill set of researching ports/locations and planning my own excursions.

I learned so much and I feel that any travels I take from now on will only be richer and more enjoyable because of this experience.

I just wish my learning curve hadn’t been so steep to begin with! 

We went from staying in a unique one-of-a-kind cabin to a Grand Suite. 

Our original stateroom had a few issues and had it not been for a very proactive concierge, I am not sure what would have happened.  

The first big issue was the noise level in our stateroom from the Centrum as it was not created as a stateroom originally but converted to one after being a Suite Lounge. 

Other than developing a system for organizing things, I didn’t do much to make the cabin more comfortable.

We had shelves to store snacks and water—and I brought bins to keep medicine in and other items. I also converted a folding clothes rack into a shelf for clothes by using the plastic bin lids.

We even brought throw blankets from home, but quickly discovered that we didn’t stay in our cabin much to use them.

After six months on pause, Royal Caribbean is now cruising to Labadee, Haiti again.

In March 2024, the cruise line cut visits to its private beach due to internal strife within Haiti.

Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach area, is a walled-off, exclusive beach on a peninsula in northern Haiti. 

Located 130 miles north of the capital, Port-au-Prince, Labadee has been closed out of "an abundance of caution," according to the cruise line.

Photo by Andrew Lyon

Royal Caribbean announced that the decision was intended to prioritize the safety of its guests and crew members.

"Please know that the safety and comfort of our guests are always our highest priority," it announced. "Our Global Security and Intel Team is closely monitoring the evolving situation in Haiti."

The cruise line has teams that carefully observe the geopolitical situations in all its destinations to ensure guest and employee safety.

After closely monitoring the situation in Haiti, Royal Caribbean has prepared for a return to Labadee this fall.

Cruise ships will begin sailing to the region on October 8th.

"We have no further changes to our sailings at this time," the cruise line confirmed.

Adventure of the Seas visited first

Adventure of the Seas departed from Port Canaveral, Florida on October 5th on a a 6-day, round-trip, Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day at CocoCay cruise.

She visited Labadee, Haiti today, October 8th.

Adventure of the Seas is the first Royal Caribbean ship to visit Haiti since March 2024.

Guests on the sailing reported things looked great, and no concerns.

Photo by Andrew Lyon

"Labadee was beautiful. The staff was great and super appreciative to see us," Tom Knotek wrote on Facebook.

Koritney Ashmore wrote, "We went and ventured around. Feels safe to me! Nothing alarming at all!"

Lisa Hively-Knotek added, "Felt safe and it's beautiful."

Other Royal Caribbean ships scheduled to visit the port soon include Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas.

Freedom of the Seas is currently on a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing, scheduled to call upon Labadee on October 9th and to return to Fort Lauderdale on October 13th.

Independence of the Seas will visit Labadee on October 12th as part of a 4-night short Caribbean cruise out of Miami, Florida.

Royal Caribbean currently has no plans to cancel cruises to Haiti.

Haiti is still under a Do Not Travel advisory

Haiti has been under the U.S.'s highest travel advisory possible since March when unrest in the form of crime, kidnappings, and killings began. The U.S. State Department renewed its Level 4 Travel Advisory this September, still telling citizens the country can not help if they fall victim to a crime.

According to the State Department, protests, demonstrations, and road blocks are common.

"Do not travel to Haiti due to kidnapping, crime, civil unrest, and limited health care," the website states.

"The U.S. government is very limited in its ability to help U.S. citizens in Haiti. Local police and other first responders often lack the resources to respond to emergencies or serious crime."

Earlier this year, armed gangs protesting the political unrest coordinated attacks on police stations, prisons, and the international airport in Port-au-Prince.

Violence has besieged the area since, causing over 53,000 people to flee the capital city.

Haiti declared a state of emergency on March 3rd, and the country's Prime Minister resigned on March 12th.

Since then, food shortages and violent crimes are still taking place across the island.

Is it safe to cruise to Labadee?

These warnings and news reports mostly center around the capital of Port-au-Prince, which is more than a six-hour drive away from Labadee.

Labadee is a private beach located in a remote area on the northern coast of Haiti.

Most of the unrest is occurring further south, near the capital and other populated cities.

Read more: The crew member only beach at Labadee and it's where no passengers can go

Royal Caribbean also employs a private security force on its private beach area and promises guests that safety is a priority.

Guests aren't permitted to leave the area, and won't be able to book third-party excursions.

Guests visiting ports such as Nassau, Bahamas, or Cozumel, Mexico can book outside shore excursions or even explore on their own. However, Labadee is more similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.

All excursions in Labadee must be reserved directly through Royal Caribbean, but that doesn't mean options are limited. Passengers can experience waterslides, roller coasters, beach cabanas, kayak adventures, and speedboat tours on the 260-acre site.

The cruise line also brings all its food and supplies onshore from the ship, rather than importing them from elsewhere on the island.

I recently spent 4 nights in an inside cabin while aboard Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, the Utopia of the Seas.

Just launched this summer, Utopia of the Seas is the latest iteration in the record-breaking Oasis Class ship.

The seventh Oasis Class vessel is breaking new records of her own: Utopia is the first Royal Caribbean mega-ship to debut offering only 3 and 4-night cruises. 

A sailing on Utopia promises 'The World's Biggest Weekend' on one of the largest cruise ships in the world.

My cabin for the voyage was a small, windowless interior cabin that was assigned to me because I opted for a guarantee cabin instead of picking my own room.  This saved me some money, while giving up the specific choice in cabin location,

The total cost was $1342 with gratuities included, which breaks down to $167 per person, per night.

A few weeks before the sailing, I was assigned cabin 11415, an interior connecting stateroom that spans about 150 square feet.

Typically, I avoid booking connecting rooms because you're liable to get noise leakage from the strangers next door.

This cabin was assigned to us as one of the unsold staterooms, proving that connecting cabins are less desirable if you're not booking with another group.

I was concerned about hearing noises or sounds coming through the connecting door, but, by the end of the sailing, my fears were assuaged.

We didn't hear many loud noises from the next door—the only noise bleed occurred when people were walking in the hall and we could hear them from the stateroom.

The cabin itself provided a comfortable, dark spot to sleep in. Here's a look inside.

Although the room looked the same size as many other interior cabins I've stayed in, I noticed this can had newer amenities.

All of the lights were bright, the air conditioning and television had modern touches, and the entire cabin felt clean and new.

I appreciated the layout, which made it easier to share a small stateroom between two people.

When I first opened the door, I was greeted with the bathroom door to my right and the closet on the left. 

The bathroom was a small space decorated with light blue flowers and purple tiles. It held a long sink, a toilet, and a tall shower with a glass door.

The bathroom was super small, and only accommodated one person at a time—you and your travel buddy won't be brushing teeth side by side.

However, it had plenty of storage space, from shelves to hooks, that made it easier to spread out and not feel cramped.

While I liked the length the sink offered for me to spread out my belongings, the curved, smooth surface made it easy for water to spill. The counter area seemed to be wet for the majority of the cruise.

The four large shelves to the left of the sink, and a long shelf underneath it, ensured that I had plenty of other locations to place toiletries.

I'm always impressed by the water pressure and temperature on Royal Caribbean ships, but Utopia of the Seas had a particularly fancy shower attachment.

These modern amenities made showers an enjoyable experience, even within a tiny bathroom space.

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

Opposite the bathroom, I slid the doors open to the closet.

The closet featured two sliding doors with separate sides.

Read more: I spent $2,223 for 3 nights in a 191-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin

The left half held a hanging space with hangers and an extra rod at the bottom. The right half had a series of six shelves and the stateroom's securely locking safe.

Beside the closet was the television, installed above a set of drawers and table. 

The TV had around 20 free channels, as well as movies available at an extra cost.

I appreciated that multiple channels would stream or show re-caps of events happening onboard, which was a great way to take advantage of a short sailing.

When I got back to the stateroom after dinner or late at night, I could turn on the television and see the highlights of events I missed or had to leave early.

Each of these five drawers was deep and wide, leaving me plenty of space to store all my clothes and books.

The largest bottom compartment held the stateroom's mini-fridge/cooler, which doesn't have a cooling component but can keep food and drinks fresh.

Usually, Royal Caribbean's stateroom coolers are too thin to hold a wide plate or glass fully. Utopia of the Seas appears to have solved that problem: I found that this cooler was the perfect shape to store all my drinks and wider dishes.

Next, the end of the stateroom held the two twin-sized beds. If we wanted to, we could have requested these to be pushed together into a King size bed, but my sibling and I preferred separate beds.

These beds were small, but super comfortable, with plush pillows and cooling sheets.

The stateroom also had... wait for it... charging ports next to the beds!

Older Royal Caribbean staterooms tend to lack charging space, especially right next to the beds. Usually, I'll have to charge my phone and other devices across the room. 

On Utopia, each bed featured its own three-shelf bedside table, complete with a lamp, two USB ports, and one two-prong charging port.

I also chose the bed that featured the stateroom's phone, which guests can use for free to contact crew members and venues, or at an extra cost to make international calls.

Facing the beds—in a corner of its own—was the stateroom vanity. The mirror featured a bright ring light above a desk space, charging ports, a comfortable chair, and a trash can under the table.

The vanity held even more charging ports, offering a range of options to plug in at least five devices.

These stateroom changes made me think of Royal Caribbean's recent ban on multi-outlet plugs. On ships like Utopia of the Seas, guests might not have a problem charging devices on single plugs. 

While the cheaper price is a good reason for booking interior cabins, I also genuinely enjoy sleeping in them. The simple, windowless spaces make for the perfect quiet space to crash after a long day of cruise ship activities.

I could sleep through the morning in the dark stateroom.

Happy Sunday, and welcome back to our round-up of all the latest Royal Caribbean news. It's been a busy week for the cruise line, so sit back, relax, and enjoy.

Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship is closer to completion.

Star of the Seas just reached an important milestone in her construction: sitting in water.

Amid a huge celebration, Star of the Seas was floated out on the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland this week.

The second Icon Class ship will officially launch in August of 2025, offering 7-night Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises out of Port Canaveral.

Royal Caribbean News

• Royal Caribbean gives critical update on repair progress to world's biggest cruise ship
• Why you should always check these cruise ship policies before you sail
• Royal Caribbean cancels sailings and redeploys cruise ship away from Middle East
• Best Cabins for First-Time Royal Caribbean Cruisers
• A Royal Caribbean cruise ship in Alaska is having the worst luck and had to skip almost all of its port stops
• What experienced cruisers do differently during hurricane season
• Two Royal Caribbean megaships in drydock at the same time
• Royal Caribbean updates: 167 sick from gastrointestinal illness, strike won't affect cruise ships, and more
• The worst time to cruise to Bermuda
• 10 annoying habits that will make you the least popular person on a cruise
• Cruise ships change itineraries to avoid Hurricane Milton
• Royal Caribbean’s new Bahamas Beach Club looks ready to start building

New RCB Video: Royal Caribbean banned an important cruise item (DON'T bring it onboard!)

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise

This week, we are sharing our latest video: Royal Caribbean banned an important cruise item (DON'T bring it onboard!).

Don't forget to like and subscribe!

Rude things people do during a show on a cruise ship

Among the unwritten rules of going on a cruise are things you shouldn't do during a show.

Royal Caribbean has made a name for itself by offering the best entertainment at sea, and these shows are just as intricate and formal as Broadway or West End production.

Being on vacation isn't carte blanche to do whatever you want.

Loyalty Perks Beyond the Cruise: Using Crown & Anchor Society Rewards on Land

Smart cruisers can use their Royal Caribbean loyalty program rewards on more than just Royal Caribbean cruises.

Crown and Anchor Society members receive special benefits on land as well.

From Las Vegas casinos to Hertz car rentals, here's how to take advantage of these perks.

I tried a Celebrity cruise again and the loyalty benefits blew me away

Matt recently tried sailing Celebrity Cruises, taking a 3-night cruise on Celebrity Reflection. 

While there were aspects he didn't like, the loyalty benefits amazed him. 

Since Royal Caribbean now matches loyalty programs across all brands, Matt could enjoy the highest level of rewards on just his third Celebrity cruise.

How to choose the perfect cabin on Royal Caribbean's newest ships

Want to sail on Royal Caribbean's newest and biggest ships?

The latest iterations for the cruise line—whether that's Wonder of the Seas, Icon of the Seas, or Utopia of the Seas—feature some innovative, luxurious cabins. Cruisers can choose between dozens of cabin categories to find the stateroom that best fits their preferences.

Here's how to choose the perfect cabin for your needs.