The World’s Newest Cruise Ship Is Now Sailing From Florida

The “world’s biggest weekend” just arrived in Port Canaveral, an hour outside of Orlando—and by the time you’re done with a mini-vacation onboard Royal Caribbean’s brand-new Utopia of the Seas, you won’t even know what day of the week it is. 

Over the course of just three nights in mid-July, I almost lost track myself, because this floating hotel packs an incredible amount of fun into a few short days. And that’s the brand’s goal: Utopia will only be doing short three- and four-night cruises, providing a long-weekend-length solution to travelers looking for a quick getaway.

Much like the new Icon of the Seas that I sailed on earlier this year, which is the world’s largest cruise ship, Utopia subscribes to the bigger-is-better theory—and embracing the excess is what makes these mega-ships a vacation to remember.  

New Food and Drink Venues on Utopia

As the world’s second-largest cruise ship (at double occupancy, it holds 5,668 guests, which is actually a few more than Icon), Utopia has plenty of room onboard for both long-time favorite venues and new restaurant and bar concepts—of which there are more than 40!

Royal Railway

The most sought-after dinner reservation is at the new immersive Royal Railway experience, and I was able to snag one on my last night onboard. After stepping onto the old-timey train station platform, I was greeted with a welcome drink in a glass flask. The conductor let us know when it was time to board the train, and thus began our seated four-course journey of upscale Southwestern and American dishes (I had the bread basket, empanadas, braised short rib, and a decadently chocolate dessert—they were all quite tasty). All the while, digital scenes of the American Frontier move along the train “windows” along a cross-country trek as various costumed characters act out an elaborate and interactive sheriff-catching-the-bandits sketch. The family-friendly entertainment is why you book this dinner.

The Pesky Parrot

The Pesky Parrot is a new bar located in the Royal Promenade with laid-back tiki bar vibes. Think: fruit-based cocktails made with rum, tequila, and gin, and frozen drinks that lull you right into a Caribbean state of mind. Between rounds, have a chat with the animatronic parrot perched in its bird cage. 

Izumi

Izumi in the Park (located in the al fresco Central Park neighborhood) serves up made-to-order sushi. Order your selection of fresh nigiri and sashimi at the window and it’ll arrive packed up in a portable box which you can eat onsite or take with you. 

The Spare Tire

The Spare Tire is a poolside food truck with included grab-and-go options (like a smoked pulled port sandwich and a cheeseburger flatbread), perfect for filling your belly without having to worry about drying off or covering up your swimwear. There’s also a rotating selection of desserts for a sweet treat.

The Mason Jar

Though not new, Utopia also features The Mason Jar, which is only found on one other Royal Caribbean ship (Wonder of the Seas). This is where you’ll find the Southern cuisine you crave, with delectable takes on Lowcountry classics, Bayou staples, and delicious barbecue. Expect buttermilk-brined Gran’s Fried Chicken, a rich Lobster n’ Crawfish Gumbo, and Crab Beignets served with creamy lump crab dip. And at night, stop by for live country music (the trio was so energetic, that it was standing-room-only when I arrived around 10:30 p.m.). 

Over-the-Top Amenities and Entertainment

There’s plenty to do onboard besides eat and drink, of course—life onboard Utopia is a flurry of activity nearly 24/7. I spent some downtime reclining in the low loungers in the shallow part of one of the swimming pools, half-reading my Kindle while watching the happenings on the pool deck out of the corner of my eye. 

There are five pools in total, eight hot tubs, three water slides, a FlowRider surf simulator, zip line, sports court, arcade, mini golf course, and Playscape for kids with a ninja course, rock climbing walls, and dry slides. Plus, there are two casinos onboard, and the longest dry slide at sea—called The Ultimate Abyss—starts 150 feet above sea level and takes 19 seconds to complete. There are transparent racing windows, should you choose to face off with a friend, and 300 LED lights to illuminate your descent. 

Royal Caribbean is known for its breadth of evening entertainment, and Utopia continues that legacy. I thoroughly enjoyed the original production All In! in the Royal Theater, which is a celebration of the history of music from Studio 54 to Burning Man. The costumes, song selections and choreography were a blast, the singers and dancers immensely talented (truly some of the strongest voices I’ve heard at sea), and the technology that incorporated drones, lasers, and projection mapping was mesmerizing. 

I also loved the Aqua80too show in the AquaTheater, a live performance of world-class acrobats, extreme sports athletes, and divers set to all my favorite 80s music—it was like stepping back into my childhood, and thankfully everyone else in the audience was also singing and dancing along. I missed the Youtopia ice show, but will definitely check it out the next time I’m on board. 

Finally, there’s a nonstop itinerary of entertainment that changes daily, from sailaway parties to silent discos to line dance classes—honestly, the party never stops on Utopia and you’ll never wonder how to pass the time. 

Sweet Suites and Cabins

I booked a balcony cabin and found it to be quite comfortable, with a truly remarkable amount of storage (especially considering the longest sailing will only be four nights!), plenty of outlets and USB ports, and great seating (including a desk chair and sofa). 

That cabin perfectly met my needs, but Utopia offers more than 20 room types and some seriously impressive suites and lofts if you have the budget to treat yourself. One standout I toured included the new Solarium Suites, which are located high up on the front of the ship and feature 280-degree panoramic views that open up to the ocean breeze. 

Another was the Royal Loft Suite, a 2,605 square-foot dream suite that sleeps up to six and has an enormous private balcony with a whirlpool, TV, and minibar. The primary bathroom boasts a rainfall shower head and jacuzzi tub, and there’s even a piano in the living room. 

Finally, the Ultimate Family Suite has three bedrooms to hold up to 10 guests and tons of upgrades—like an in-suite movie theatre and karaoke station, a corner balcony decked out with table tennis, and a private whirlpool, and a two-story slide.

Utopia’s Itinerary and How To Book

All Utopia of the Seas cruises begin and end at Port Canaveral in Florida (Orlando is the closest airport) and there are several three-night and four-night itineraries to choose from. The sailing I went on had one sea day and went to Perfect Day at Coco Cay, the cruise line’s private island—here you’ll find the tallest waterslide in North America (I took the plunge down Daredevil’s Peak on another trip in January and that’s a thrill I’ll never forget!), pools and lagoons, beautiful beaches, and my very favorite spot, the new adults-only Hideaway Beach. The other three-night sailing skips the sea day and also stops in Nassau, Bahamas. 

One of the four-day sailings hits Nassau, Perfect Day at Coco Cay, and includes one sea day, while the other has two sea days and visits Cozumel. If your goal is to spend as much time on board as possible so that you can fully experience everything Utopia has to offer, I’d suggest the four-night Western Caribbean cruise with the two sea days. And if you love the idea of spending a full day in a fabulous beach club where all your food is included, be sure to choose an itinerary that goes to Perfect Day���I’ve been there three times and it quite literally lives up to its name each visit.

Bookings start at $585 per person (three nights) and available dates currently run through April 2026—the three-night options are the ones that take place over the weekends (Friday-Monday), whereas the four-night sailings run Monday through Friday. 

Final Thoughts

When it comes to larger-than-life ships filled with over-the-top amenities, world-class dining, and next-level entertainment, Royal Caribbean is at the top of its game—and if you love a vibrant party atmosphere where the crew makes it their business to ensure you’re having a blast around the clock, then this ship will truly be your very own Utopia. 

Since the sailings are short, a cruise on Utopia could be an especially great add-on to a few days at in Orlando if you’d like to lengthen your vacation. Another option for a longer getaway is to consider booking two back-to-back Utopia cruises to ensure you have enough time to see and do it all.

My best advice is to plan a loose list of all the things you really want to prioritize, from restaurants and bars (it would take more than a full week to visit all 40!) to shows (some tickets need to be reserved in advance through the app) and activities. You simply won’t be able to do everything, and living a FOMO life onboard can get quite exhausting—it’ll be up to you to carve out a little downtime of your own, so that you don’t end up needing a vacation after this epic weekend vacation.