Short cruises or not, Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas offers some of the line's best in class features on a brand new ship.
Utopia has made headlines for being Royal Caribbean's new party ship and for just offering 3- and 4-night cruises, but those tag lines overlook the things that make the ship stand out.
I sailed on a 3-night media preview sailing (full disclosure: Royal Caribbean invited me to sail. I paid for the revenue sailings), followed by Utopia's first two revenue sailings in order to get a full sense of what the ship is all about. After all, there are so many activities, parties, and events happening around the ship, and I wanted to try as many as possible.
The choice to offer just short cruises to start was met with raised eyebrows by some cruise fans, but Royal Caribbean is adamant this is part of a larger strategy to appeal to first time cruisers. They want someone who has never cruised before to reconsider their land vacation and go for a cruise instead because of the fact Utopia is brand new and offers a lot.
It's hard not to be intrigued by a ship you can sail on for just the weekend and enjoy waterslides, a train simulator restaurant, late-night parties, and visits to a private island in The Bahamas.
Short cruises with lots to do
Don't expect a weekend cruise on Utopia of the Seas to be just lounging around the pool and sipping pina coladas.
While you certainly could do just that, it's clear Royal Caribbean wanted Utopia to be more than a traditional cruise ship because they want to attract untraditional cruisers to give it a try.
The ship is marketed with lots of hype about it being "the world's biggest weekend", and to that effect, there's more ways to splash, party, and eat onboard.
What this translates to is Royal Caribbean has more of each of those things to do onboard, and it's the best versions of each yet.
The pool deck has been updated with a better Lime and Coconut bar that fits the look of the ship better, along with a giant aquapark, wide-open pools, and an enclosed adults-only Solarium.
The entertainment team worked overtime to come up with all sorts of new parties and events on Utopia, with a clear direction to try to bring more energy to the experience.
You'll find a silent DJ party with togas, an opportunity to play beer pong, Vegas-style pool parties, and late-night DJ experiences.
Don't worry, there's still plenty of traditional cruise activities, including karaoke, trivia, bingo, and game shows.
And then there's all the dining choices onboard. There's a new pool deck snack location to keep you going without having to go very far with the Spare Tire.
A new chef-driven Japanese restaurant has been added, while the line's Italian specialty restaurant was moved to a stunning location. And then there's the innovative immersive dining experience that makes you feel like you're on a classic train traveling through the Old West.
Read more: I tried Royal Caribbean's immersive train experience
Big and small changes, they all combine to make Utopia stand out from not only other Royal Caribbean ships, but any ship you could go on for just a few days.
My favorite changes
As someone that cruises a lot, I'm always drawn to what's new and different on a cruise ship. Partly for novelty, and partly because who doesn't enjoy a new shiny thing?
It's clear Royal Caribbean spent a lot of time not only coming up with brand new things to add to Utopia of the Seas, but also re-visiting established features. While Utopia may be the sixth Oasis Class ship in the fleet, she is anything but a copy-and-paste cruise ship.
Read more: Everything new and different coming to Utopia of the Seas
When you walk onto Utopia of the Seas for the first time, there's a good chance you'll see the first clear winner for favorite change, and that's the Pesky Parrot.
Not only does Pesky Parrot replace an aging Bionic Bar idea, but it brings a new bar that you'll actually want to hang out in to the ship. Cruise ship bars are a lot like being a kid in high school: it's hard for the new ones to compete with the popular ones that everyone already knows.
Before you even try a drink, you'll pick up on it's a fun place to hang out. It's bright, wide open, and so much seating that you can't help but plop down.
There's a variety of specialized pina coladas offered (try the peanut butter one), fun mugs, and the bar was busy every single day I was onboard.
The hot ticket on Utopia is the Royal Railway, which is a brand new kind of experience that is meant to wow you with how immersive it is.
In short, Royal Caribbean has designed a restaurant that looks and feels like you're on a classic train. It's much more than curtains and paint, there are digital screens, sound effects, vibrating seats, and more that all contribute to make it really feel like you're on a train.
The first show offered on Royal Railway is an Old West journey, but new shows and tastings are promised for the near-future, including a more adult-focused dinner, brunch, and wine tastings.
Speaking of dining experiences I really liked, the omakase dinner was a welcome treat.
Royal Caribbean has done sushi and hibachi for years, but they've expanded to now have a chef-driven Japanese meal. Seating just six people, it's the kind of meal anyone that loves sushi will relish.
While sushi is the focus, I enjoyed the other courses that went beyond nigiri or sashimi. It was a culinary experience I liked even more than I expected.
While the high energy pool parties are what you'll see advertised a lot, I thought the decision to have an enclosed Solarium was a great counterweight to the party pool scene.
Utopia is not the first Oasis Class ship to get an enclosed Solarium, but I'm glad they kept it. Not only does it keep it from getting too hot in the summer (or chilly in the winter), but it means you can be very comfortable and enjoy the best pool views you'll find on the ship.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention I also enjoyed tried and true favorites on Utopia. While the new things may get a lot of the attention, there are lots of well-established Royal Caribbean staples on Utopia.
The Country Trio band at the Mason Jar Bar were a must watch for me every night they performed. Bryan, Jeff, and Josh are truly talented musicians, and a shining example of Royal Caribbean's dedication to live music.
Dinners at 150 Central Park, Playmakers, and Coastal Kitchen did not disappoint in the slightest, and it's why I go there to dine on most cruises.
Of course, the visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay was one in a long string of great days at Royal Caribbean's private island. It's the reason why the rest of the cruise industry has taken notice of Royal Caribbean's success there.
I stayed in two different, yet purpose built cabins
Across my collective 13 nights on Utopia, I tried two different cabins.
On the first sailing that Royal Caribbean invited me to, I was in an oceanview balcony cabin on deck 10.
While I think the shower in a standard cabin are superior on Icon of the Seas, I love how much storage space there is on Utopia.
There's a ton of storage space in the stateroom, and for a room meant for two people, I think it's a great choice for a room. It's probably why balcony cabins are so popular due to the fact they have just enough space, a private view, and natural light.
Once my back to back cruise on the first two revenue sailings began, I moved up to a Crown Loft Suite within the Suite Neighborhood area of the ship.
This two story giant suite has two bathrooms and comes with fabulous perks, such as complimentary drinks in the suite lounge, reserved seating at shows, and access to a restaurant just for suite guests.
While a balcony cabin is practical, a suite is simply a splurge. Having all the amenities included, along with significantly more living space is a welcome treat. It's hardly a bargain in terms of price, but I was able to see how the suite experience compared on Utopia.
Read more: Guide to Utopia of the Seas cabins and suites
Two things I didn't like about Utopia of the Seas
In looking back, there are probably two aspects of the new ship I think can be improved.
The production shows in the Royal Theater and Studio B theater I thought didn't continue the trend of upping the ante in Royal Caribbean's ever impressive shows.
The performers were extremely talented, but it seemed like neither moved the needle as other productions show have on Royal Caribbean's recent shows, such as The Effectors on Wonder of the Seas or Wizard of Oz on Icon of the Seas.
Both utilized technology in impressive ways, and I loved a few of the song selections in both shows.
The other qualm I had was at Playmakers, which is an open air sports bar within the Boardwalk neighborhood.
Playmakers is great, but the lack of air conditioning made it less enjoyable than other Playmakers locations. Considering a majority of the year Florida and The Bahamas deal with stifling humidity, I thought it would have been better indoors. Or perhaps with walls/windows that can be easily opened if it's comfortable weather outside.
In the case of both these issues I found, there were plenty of passengers who were having a great time.
Utopia of the Seas is the multigenerational escape vacation
The weekend party is what you'll see advertised, but the truth is Utopia of the Seas has parties, just like it has things for kids, their parents, and grandparents.
I was impressed how much there is to do on this ship. For just a 3-night sailing, I think you're going to have to prioritize activities very quickly because time goes quickly and you simply cannot do it all. It's why I was happy I opted for going back again on a second sailing.
Royal Caribbean has always been a multigenerational family brand, and that doesn't change with Utopia. What has changed is how much more they're offering for those that want a party.
Royal Caribbean divulged last week one out of every two customers is a millennial or younger, and there's a clear push to offer these customers more.
But there's also lots for anyone that doesn't want a DJ, champagne gun, or toga in their future. Like a new car, I can appreciate the latest and greatest finishes even if it has features I'll never use.
My top takeaway after over a week onboard is Utopia of the Seas is just like Icon of the Seas in that it offers the very best cruise experience right now. If a weeklong cruise doesn't seem right, then Utopia is your choice. Otherwise, Icon is waiting with even more exciting things to do.
