Royal Caribbean expands its Oasis class with a sixth ship, the Utopia of the Seas is here, in the class that brings together the largest cruise ships in the world.
After a little over two years under construction at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, the time came to hand over "the keys" of the Utopia of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean International company, through a ceremony that we were able to attend.
We excitedly celebrated this milestone on June 13, together with more than 1,600 employees and crew members who gathered on board to commemorate the moment in the unique AquaTheater, led by Cruise Director Katy McCullagh.
Royal Caribbean Group personalities, including Chairman and CEO Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International Michael Bayley, and Managing Director of Chantiers de l'Atlantique Laurent Castaing, proudly hosted this lively onboard party, where they expressed their gratitude to the marine engineers, designers, architects, and other teams. Michael Bayley also praised the crew, remarking, "It's truly the crew that makes the difference," and invited them all to participate in a giant selfie to commemorate the celebration.
Following this ceremony, and before its upcoming debut on July 19, the Utopia heads to the United States while Royal Caribbean teams put the finishing touches on its decor. Starting July 19, it will be ready to offer 3-night weekend getaways and 4-night midweek getaways from Port Canaveral (Orlando) to the Caribbean and Bahamas, including stops in Nassau and a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas.
The offering on this ship is amazing, with more than 40 varieties of food at the Royal Railway, or in exclusive restaurants such as Izumi or Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, among others; in addition to the 21 places to taste artisanal cocktails and other drinks, such as the Rising Tide Bar and the English pub Bell & Barley.
But entertainment is no slouch either, as this ship offers five venues with live music, karaoke, and breathtaking shows on stage, ice, water, and air. In addition to thrill-seekers and those looking to relax, there are options like the terrifying Ultimate Abyss dry slides, now longer than their predecessors at 79 meters; or the lush green spaces of Central Park, with 12,000 live plants and open areas perfect for unwinding. And let's not forget the five swimming pools and eight jacuzzis with distinct atmospheres, from water slides to an adults-only pool, or the exclusive areas reserved for young people on the upper deck 14.
The new ship also offers more than 20 types of accommodation, in rooms with views of the sea or neighborhoods such as the open-air Central Park and the lively Boardwalk; designs for three, four, five people or more; or suites such as Royal Loft Suite and Ultimate Family Suite, plus a completely new category: Solarium Suites, with only two and unique on this ship, which offer 280-degree views from the top of the bow.
In addition, the Utopia of the Seas is the second Royal Caribbean ship to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), and also features ship-to-shore electrical connection and waste heat recovery systems, systems that have been continuously developed and improved as part of Royal Caribbean's commitment to innovation and a clean energy future.
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