Utopia of the Seas: What are the coolest things onboard?

After two years in the making and even more years in the planning, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship Utopia of the Seas is officially cruising ­– and it’s safe to say she’s both big and beautiful. As the world’s second-largest cruise ship, the list of things onboard is truly endless. So, we’ve pulled out the very coolest things that are not to be missed across her 18 decks. Between sliding down the longest dryslide at sea, or dining in an immersive railway restaurant, a cruise on Utopia of the Seas is sure to keep you entertained.  

Here’s what you can expect to find. 

Quick facts on Utopia of the Seas

• There are 18 decks total 
• The ship has a maximum capacity of 5,668 guests
• There are 40 (40!) ways to drink and dine onboard, including 10 complimentary dining options
• Utopia of the Seas size is 236,473 gross tons, 1,188 feet long and 211 feet wide. So, in a battle of Icon of the Seas vs Utopia of the Seas, Icon of the Seas comes out on top, just. But bigger is not necessarily always better…

Utopia of the Seas sets a lot of firsts for the cruising world. Perhaps the most exciting of these firsts is its onboard train. Yes, that’s right, a train on a ship – which, unsurprisingly, has never been done before! 

Called the Royal Railaway, this immersive experience offers dining like never before. The speciality restaurant is situated on deck four and is set inside a real train carriage. On the day of the meal, you receive a ticket inside your stateroom that you must bring along to the restaurant to board, just like a real train. When you arrive for your booking, guests are greeted by a conductor as the train ‘waits’ on the platform [see images below]. 

During the meal – complete with realistic seat vibrations – guests are transported through either the Wild West or Far East, with ever-changing scenery visible out of the carriage windows. 

Menus are also themed depending on which destination you are travelling through, so if you’re on the Wild West experience, expect dishes like corn chowder, poussin, hearty beans and even a Royal Railway cigar dessert. On top of this, there’s even storytelling going on throughout the meal, with performers pulling you deeper into the region and immersing you in the atmosphere. 

Pro tip: make sure to book in advance, as places go quickly.

– READ MORE: Utopia of the Seas full review –

Another first for the ship is that Utopia of the Seas offers the world’s longest (dry) slide at sea, by the name of  ‘Ultimate Abyss’ [below left]. Sound a little daunting? We think so too, and with good reason: the megaslide measures a massive 259 feet long and spans 10 decks, making it the equivalent of 10 London double-decker buses. 

As you whoosh down, 300 LED lights guide you making for a dramatic visual experience, while transparent windows give the feeling of almost flying through the air. ‘Zoom booster rollers’ are also said to give riders a surprise exit!

Guests can catch some waves over on the ship’s surf simulator, ‘Flowrider’ [above right], where 30,000 gallons of rushing water invite you to hone your surfing skills or challenge your bestie to a boogie-boarding competition.  Although this experience is not new for the Royal Caribbean fleet, the signature surf spot is one of the cruise line’s most popular attractions, and it’s not hard to see why. 

Believe it or not, there’s an actual park [below left] in the center of the Utopia of the Seas, aptly named Central Park, where a host of gardeners tend to its manicured hedgerows and almost 12,000 plants. Park Café is a buzzy al-fresco eatery here and a favourite breakfast spot.

Over in the Boardwalk Neighborhood, why not take a spin on the onboard merry-go-round or else zip-line across the length of the boardwalk for a pretty spectacular view. 

The Perfect Storm serves up a trio of towering waterslides where you can unleash your competitive side and race friends and family to see who reaches the bottom first. 

If sports and staying active is your thing, then Utopia of the Seas is just the place. A rock climbing wall, table tennis courts, mini-golf and sports court [below right] all provide action-packed days at sea, not to mention the ship’s five swimming pools.

– READ MORE: What’s Royal Caribbean’s new private beach club like? –

Royal Caribbean set out to make Utopia of the Seas the “ultimate party ship” and we have to say, they have done exactly that.

Along with the standard events across other Royal Caribbean ships, Utopia of the Seas has added a toga party, college party, sunset pool party, and even a dazzling light production party to each of its three or four-day itineraries. 

As with its sister Icon of the Seas, an onboard AquaTheatre puts on mind-boggling performances of acrobatics, synchronised swimming and high-dives to entertain guests each night. New to Utopia of the Seas, however, is the exclusive ’Aqua80Too’ show: a full AquaTheater performance to the sound of epic 80s hits.

’Youtopia’ brings a fantastical ice skating show to the ship’s Studio B ice-skating rink, while the Spotlight karaoke bar invites unbridled nights of belting out your best ballads.

And if you’re thinking of taking a trip on this party ship, you better pack your dancing shoes! Bars such as Boleros, a live Latin bar where you can dance all night long, or the Caribbean-themed Pesky Parrot dish up delicious cocktails plus opportunities aplenty to let your hair down and throw some shapes.

– READ MORE: What’s the entertainment like onboard Icon of the Seas? –

Where will Utopia of the Seas sail out of?

The ship’s three to four-night itineraries will always set sail from Port Canaveral in Florida, USA.

Utopia of the Seas itinerary 2024

A sample Utopia of the Seas itinerary for 2024 will begin in Orlando Florida, sail onto Nassau in the Bahamas, followed by Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, before returning back to Orlando, Florida. 

How much is Utopia of the Seas?

One of the best things about a Utopia of the Seas cruise is that it is very affordable. Climb onboard for three or four days of adventure, partying, sports, entertainment, amazing food and so much more, from just £404pp – result!