If you’re planning a cruise on Utopia of the Seas, you may want to verify your cabin is in a good location before putting down the final deposit.
Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship that launched in July 2024, has 2,834 staterooms for guests to choose from, including 572 interior cabins, 168 oceanview cabins, 1,918 balconies, and 176 suites. Although Utopia of the Seas offers short 3- and 4-night cruises, you’ll want to make sure your travel party picks the best cabin for your vacation.
Choosing the right cruise ship cabin can make or break your experience. You don’t want to be kept up all night or woken up early because of loud noises or lots of foot traffic.
Here are the cabins you should avoid booking on Utopia of the Seas.
Cabins below the pool deck
Cabins located on deck 14, one deck below the pool deck on deck 15, are subject to noises galore.
These cabins may seem like a convenient option since you'll be close to all the fun on the pool deck, but you’ll likely hear the sounds of deck chairs being moved early in the morning and the hustle and bustle of poolside activity throughout the day.
The pool deck on Utopia of the Seas is one of the main hubs of activity on the ship. While it’s the perfect place to enjoy the sun and attend one of the many pool parties onboard, cabins located beneath the pool deck hear constant noise. Not only that, but the Windjammer buffet is also on deck 15, so it will likely be noisy below this venue too.
Lastly, there is a large TV screen and DJ booth on deck 16 near a few balcony cabins on deck 14. These cabins, 14249-14253 and 14649-14653, will be quite noisy because it is near both main pools, the music, and TV.
If you value quiet mornings or plan to sleep in after enjoying activities late into the night, steer clear of cabins on deck 14.
Cabins near entertainment venues
One of the highlights of Utopia of the Seas is its wide variety of entertainment options, including lively shows, theatre productions, and more. If you want to avoid hearing music throughout the night, especially when you’re trying to sleep, avoid booking cabins above the Royal Theater and below Studio B.
While there are no cabins on decks 4 and 5, try to avoid booking cabins on decks 3 and 6. Cabins on deck 3 are below venues like Studio B, the comedy club, and the casino. Cabins on deck 6 are above the Royal Promenade, which is full of activity and noise. Deck 6 cabins in the forward of the ship are above the Royal Theater, which will be noisy as well.
It may also be wise to avoid booking cabins near the Music Hall on decks 8 and 9 in the aft of the ship. Music Hall often hosts late-night concerts with music that may bleed into the halls and into the nearby staterooms.
Cabins next to Giovanni's terrace
Utopia of the Seas is the first Royal Caribbean ship to have an outdoor terrace at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. This terrace, located on deck 11, overlooks the Boardwalk neighborhood below.
There are two cabins next to this terrace that make you feel like you're part of the restaurant because you're practically on the terrace! These Boardwalk view balconies are cabins 11293 and 11693.
If you value privacy and don’t want people looking into your cabin every night while they're eating their meal, avoid booking one of these cabins.
Read more: Icon of the Seas vs. Utopia of the Seas: Comparing Royal Caribbean's newest and biggest cruise ships
Neighborhood interior view cabins
A unique cabin you can select on Utopia of the Seas is a neighborhood view cabin. These include cabins that overlook the Royal Promenade, Central Park, and Boardwalk neighborhoods. These neighborhoods are bustling areas of the ship featuring shops, restaurants, and live entertainment. Cabins nearby may experience noise from parades, parties, and music events, especially during evening hours.
The cabins you should avoid booking are the interior cabins directly above and below these neighborhoods. These interior cabins offer windows looking inward toward the ship’s neighborhood instead of the ocean. While these cabins provide an interesting view, they are subject to noise due to their placement near busy venues.
There are a few Promenade view cabins on deck 7 that are below Central Park and overlook the Royal Promenade. These cabins will be noisy from both the Promenade and Central Park, so definitely avoid booking these.
- 7185-7205
- 7587-7607
However, if you're a people watcher and don't like to be in the middle of the activity in the Promenade, you may enjoy the view from one of the above-listed cabins.
There are also a handful of interior view cabins that overlook the Boardwalk neighborhood on deck 7, but are right above restaurants like Playmakers and Johnny Rockets. These cabins are 7319-7325 and 7719-7725.
Similarly, having a Central Park view interior cabin above a restaurant, like 150 Central Park, Chops, Izumi, or Park Cafe, could be prone to noise. Try to avoid these cabins on deck 9, including:
- 9177-9255
- 9577-9655
Read more: What a room on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas looks like
Obstructed view cabins
Utopia of the Seas offers a variety of balcony cabins, but some come with less-than-ideal views due to structural elements blocking the way, like the Ultimate Abyss slide. While you may be able to get a good deal on one of these cabins, you may feel disappointed if you were hoping for completely unobstructed views.
Before selecting a cabin, you can try to Google search the cabin number and ship to see if others have posted about their experience in the obstructed cabin you're considering.
General cabins to avoid
If you haven't learned already, it is very important to do research before selecting your cabin on a cruise ship. In addition to these Utopia of the Seas-specific cabins, try to avoid booking these cabins as well.
Cabins towards the front of the ship
Cabins located in the forward of the ship tend to experience more movement than other areas of the ship, leading to a rockier experience. If there are rough seas, the movement can be even more noticeable.
Guests prone to motion sickness may feel uncomfortable in a cabin that is located too far forward. Additionally, these cabins may experience noise from the anchor when arriving at a port of call.
For those sensitive to motion, mid-ship cabins on lower decks offer the most stability.
Cabins near high-traffic areas
While it may seem ideal to stay close to elevators and staircases, cabins nearby may be susceptible to more noise. Cabins located near the elevators and stairs tend to experience heavy foot traffic from passengers passing by. The convenience of being close to these spaces is tempting, but you might sacrifice tranquility for accessibility.
Also, if you are traveling without children, it may be worthwhile to not book a cabin near the Adventure Ocean kids club on deck 14. Adventure Ocean is fantastic for families traveling with children, but cabins near this area may experience loud foot traffic from excited young passengers.
Interior cabins on deck 12 below Adventure Ocean include 12137-12153 and 12537-12553. There are also four interior cabins on deck 14 near Adventure Ocean and the Solarium that may experience noise and foot traffic. These cabins are 14531, 14533, 14535, and 14537.
Connecting cabins (if you are not in a group)
Connecting cabins, which are designed for families or groups traveling together, come with a shared door to the next cabin. These doors are not as soundproof as regular walls, and noise from your neighbors may travel through them.
If you’re not booking both sides of the connecting cabins, you may hear more noise from the adjacent room than you would in a standard cabin. Even though the door remains locked, knowing that another cabin is just a door away might be unsettling for some cruisers.
Guarantee cabins (if you care about location)
Selecting a guarantee cabin often means you can save money when booking a cruise cabin. But, when you elect for a guarantee cabin, you lose the ability to select where your cabin is located. That means you will most likely be assigned a cabin at the very front or back of the ship since these cabins are the last to be booked. This is a good option for budget-conscious cruisers.
There is a possibility you can upgrade your cabin via RoyalUp, but this doesn't always ensure a better cabin location than the guarantee cabin Royal Caribbean assigned.
All in all, avoid booking a guarantee cabin if you want to select where you want your cruise ship cabin to be during your vacation.
