Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean's latest megaship is garnering all sorts of attention, and for good reason. Utopia of the Seas may not be the first Oasis Class ship, but she does a few things better than the rest.

At 236,860 gross tons, Utopia of the Seas is now the world's second-largest cruise ship and sails short cruises to The Bahamas.

To their credit, Royal Caribbean builds successive ships within a class with new features and upgrades older vessels don't have.

Utopia of the Seas has a lot of changes compared to Wonder of the Seas, both big and small. While not all of them will factor into your cruise experience, I found a handful that I think really stand out compared to other Oasis Class vessels.

Here's my list of the five things Utopia of the Seas does better than the five other Oasis Class ships.

Elevators

The writing on the wall was clear after Icon of the Seas that passengers really loved the destination elevator concept.

Traditionally, elevators on cruise ships are easily overwhelmed with demand and that leads to long waits. Up until this year, it seemed like a necessary evil of cruising.

But when Icon of the Seas debuted, Royal Caribbean changed to destination elevators and it worked out so well. As a result, Utopia of the Seas them too. 

Rather than simply pressing "up" or "down" in the elevator bank, you'll be required to make a deck selection. Then, you'll be assigned a specific elevator that will take you where you want to go. 

In my experience, the elevators on Utopia might not be as fast as Icon's, but they're definitely a step up from any other Royal Caribbean cruise ship.

Specialty dining

There are three specialty restaurants on Utopia of the Seas where Royal Caribbean raised the bar.

Izumi is now on Central Park and has a grab-and-go sushi window for convenient snacks. 

Guests who prefer a more formal meal can head inside Izumi for Royal Caribbean's first omakase option. This is an elevated meal for sushi lovers who are adventurous. 

If that's not enough, Izumi has more hibachi tables than other ships and of course plenty of sushi seating too.

Equally impressive is Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. 

The Italian restaurant  is available on both Wonder and Utopia, however, the one on Utopia has been upgraded and is now two stories tall with a new al-fresco dining area.

And then there's the first Royal Railway restaurant.

The immersive dining experience includes food, a fun story, and it really makes you feel like you're on a classic train car. Digital screens are disguised as windows, adding to the effect.

Read more: Trying out Royal Railway on Utopia of the Seas

Parties

Royal Caribbean made the choice that Utopia of the Seas was going to be the ultimate party ship, and to that effect, they added so many parties to Utopia.

Many of the shows are unique to Utopia, giving it an edge to anyone that enjoys lots of opportunities to dance.

Not only does Utopia have the events on other ships, but they've added a toga party, college party, sunset pool party, and even an epic light production party.

Ultimate Abyss slide

The Ultimate Abyss has been extended 43 feet on Utopia, making it the longest slide at sea.

There's added effects within the slide to make it more intense, and overall, it's a better experience than the Ultimate Abyss found on other ships.

Theming

One trend I noticed on Utopia is a deeper push for better theming in venues.  It's not something the cruise line pointed out, but it seemed that way to me.

The Royal Railway is the first and most obvious place we see this. It was built to be all encompassing, and I think Royal Caribbean hit a home run with this idea.  It will be especially impressive when more shows are added, and the venue gets to reach its full potential.

The Pesky Parrot bar is another great example of theming in action.

Replacing the aging Bionic Bar concept would have been enough of an upgrade, but the new tiki bar idea goes well beyond a different place to get drinks.

When you enter the Pesky Parrot, you'll notice how much more cohesive the bar feels, and how much attention to detail there is within the venue. There's a beautiful digital display at the back to make it seem like you're looking out to the ocean. Royal Caribbean even added a talking parrot that might had a few drinks already when you talk to him.

It seems like Royal Caribbean has embraced not only coming up with new spaces, but ensuring they feel like an experience as much as being somewhere new to eat or drink.

Celebrity Cruises wants you to join them on a cruise with its top executives.

Celebrity Cruises announced the details, date, location, and ship of the 2025 President's Cruise. For the first time, Celebrity Cruises' President's Cruise will sail to the Fjords of Norway.

Guests onboard the 2024 President's Cruise just returned from their 6-night Caribbean sailing on Celebrity Beyond.

Celebrity Cruises President's Cruise offers members of the loyalty status program, Captain's Club, an opportunity to meet the line's leadership and hear exclusive upcoming news. 

Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises, will welcome passengers onboard an eight-night sailing to experience the famous fjords, wildlife, and waterfalls of Norway.

Read more: I took my first Celebrity Cruise on a new ship. We had a great time, but I missed Royal Caribbean's entertainment

The 2025 President's Cruise is set to sail a "once-in-a-lifetime" itinerary

On May 17th, 2025, Celebrity Apex, the cruise line's second Edge class ship, will sail the wonders of Norway.

Balancing luxury cruising and big-ship amenities, the vessel has a capacity for 3,405 passengers and comes in at 130,818 gross tons. 

The President's Cruise is an exciting opportunity for loyal fans and members with Celebrity Cruises and a reminder of the brand's premium vacation experience. 

Cruisers can meet with the line's President and leadership, experiencing exclusive events, premier parties, and special announcements.

The eight-night cruise will visit scenic cities in Norway, providing ample opportunity to appreciate the famous landscapes of the area.

Guests will enjoy Norway's famous fjords, wildlife, and waterfalls on exciting shore excursions to be revealed later.

"Natural wonders and once-in-a-lifetime thrills await on this special sailing," the cruise line said in a press statement. 

The exciting Norwegian itinerary promises bucket-list opportunities for cruises to see marvelous views, historical sites, and exhilarating adventures.

“The President’s Cruise is a massive celebration of our Captain’s Club members, and the sailing is an incredible opportunity for me and my executive team to spend time with our guests,” said Laura Hodges Bethge, Celebrity Cruises President.

She touched on the unique opportunity she gets to come together with loyal Celebrity Captain's Club members, saying "It is incredibly rewarding to hear guests’ stories and experience Celebrity through their eyes."

Celebrity Cruises provides this option, not only for members to hear from leadership, but also so that the line can learn from its members.

According to Hodges Bethge, she receives valuable feedback while on President's Cruises.

"The feedback and ideas we receive while onboard are instrumental in shaping the future of Celebrity Cruises, allowing us to innovate and enhance our offerings in ways that truly resonate with our guests.”

The 2025 sailing promises an exciting week of surprises and exclusive rewards for Captain's Club members.

This year's sailing took place on Celebrity Beyond for an exciting cruise of exclusive benefits

This year, the 2024 President's Cruise took place on the much-hyped Celebrity Beyond.

The Edge-class has been called the best in the fleet, coming in at 141,420 gross tons with a capacity for 3,260 passengers at double occupancy.

Guests departed from Port Everglades, Florida, on Sunday, June 23rd for a 6-night Caribbean sailing that featured onboard entertainment, custom shore excursions, and a sneak peek into what Celebrity guests can expect for the next few months.

The sailing had two sea days packed with entertainment, including performances from Guinness World Record-holding hula hooping.

A pool party also featured a performance from members of the Team USA Artistic Swimming Team.

West End star Marisha Wallace and the captain of Celebrity Reflection, Captain Kyriakos Matragkas, put on an exciting and unique rock show.

Guests could also present unfiltered questions to the Celebrity executives and leadership team at a Q&A session called "A Conversation with Celebrity." There, they received honest answers to pressing questions about the cruise line.

The unique sailing also offered a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

Celebrity Cruises just started sailing to the Royal Caribbean Group private island in the Bahamas in April of 2024.

Celebrity Cruises ships now visit the private island for a full day of enjoyment.

Read more: I went to Royal Caribbean's private island on a Celebrity cruise ship. Here's what surprised me about this visit

On the 2024 President's Cruise, passengers were greeted with surprise jet ski and flyboard stunt performers, Caribbean Junkanoo bands, and live DJs.

Coco Beach Club also hosted an afternoon soirée for Captain's Club members.

In Grand Cayman, Celebrity's executive team hosted group shore excursions tailored to the cruise line.

President Hodges Bethge hosted a private lunch at the oldest dwelling in Grand Cayman, the Grand Old House.

The President's Cruise ended with a stop in Bimini, Bahamas, where the cruise took over the island for a private beach club party and was sent off with fireworks.

The sailing returned to Port Everglades on Saturday, June 29th.

Loyalty club members can now have their status matched across brands

Members of the Celebrity Cruises loyalty program, Captain's Club, now receive more benefits than ever before.

The President's Cruise is just one of many perks Captain's Club members receive.

Members receive access to stateroom upgrades, spa discounts, exclusive onboard events, priority boarding and seating, and complimentary laundry.

In May 2024, Royal Caribbean Group announced that it would match loyalty statuses across all three of its brands: Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Silversea.

No matter which line passengers start with, they can enjoy a one-to-one tier match and equivalent benefits.

Read more: I tried Royal Caribbean's new loyalty match program. I missed having drink vouchers, but it saved me hundreds of dollars

Now, Captain's Club members with Celebrity Cruises can enjoy even more benefits across the globe, sailing different ships over all of Royal Caribbean Group's fleets.

More than 50 ships sail to almost 1,000 destinations across all seven continents, providing more ways than ever to see the world while enjoying elite benefits.

Winter cruises don't look like they'll become a thing with Royal Caribbean.

The cruise line doesn't plan on having any Christmas cruises out of the UK, according to its CEO.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, explained why the line won't be having a Christmas cruise in Europe.

On this year's President's Cruise, held on Oasis of the Seas, he answered guest's burning questions during a Q&A session.

One cruiser from the UK asked, "Please, can we have a Christmas cruise coming out of Southampton?"

The CEO, although sympathetic to his fellow Brits, explained why the cruise line isn't planning on a Christmas cruise out of England.

Transatlantic cruises aren't practical in the winter 

Michael Bayley told cruisers that a Christian cruise out of Southampton isn't in Royal Caribbean's plans: "I don't think it's going to happen in the near future."

The main reason for that, he said, is the weather. "The weather's terrible," he said frankly, citing "gale-force winds and seas at 30 feet."

Because a Christmas cruise out of the UK requires the ship to be in the UK, this often involves a Transatlantic journey: "To operate a ship out of Europe, we have to bring it to Europe."

The Atlantic Ocean is particularly rough and stormy in the winter, the exact time a ship would need to start traveling to arrive for a Christmas cruise.

A Transatlantic cruise would take between 11 and 12 days, also requiring the cruise line to sell the sailing.

Because Transatlantic cruises are so long, they don't sell as quickly.

"They're extremely expensive," Mr. Bayley said, "and they don't sell very well because nobody's got the time during late October [or] November, to take that much time off to sail."

Most people are already taking off work and school in late December and January, October and November aren't popular times to sail, especially on such a long cruise.

Plus, the ships for a Christmas cruise are bigger vessels, so "we need a lot of people to stay on."

Sailing out of the UK would require the line to sell out a Transatlantic voyage on a larger ship, which isn't likely.

"It becomes [about] economics," Mr. Bayley explained. "It's difficult for us to operate it and make it profitable."

Considering the climate, timing, and economics of a Transatlantic cruise in the winter, it doesn't make sense for Royal Caribbean to schedule a Christmas cruise out of the UK.

Independence of the Seas is scheduled to home port in Southampton, England, in the summer of 2025, giving her plenty of time to cross the Atlantic on smoother seas.

Read more: The worst months to cruise to Europe

Mr. Bayley also addressed winter cruises out of the Canary Islands.

"There's just not enough demand for those ships at the rates that make it economical. It doesn't work," he said.

"There's a seasonality to the business and you've got to be very careful about how the ships are deployed."

Cruise ship schedules depend on a variety of factors, from weather to customer demand, to holidays and vacations.

Royal Caribbean has to carefully choose when ships are deployed in certain regions, and it won't be able to offer every cruise guests desire.

Will there be an Icon Class ship in Europe? 

Following up with more requests from Royal Caribbean's European audience, a cruiser from Spain also posed a question.

Rebecca from Madrid wanted to know: "Please, will an Icon Class ship be in Europe?"

Cruisers want to know if one of Royal Caribbean's newest classes will homeport in Europe.

She also asked that Royal Caribbean add more short, weekend cruises to Europe's itineraries, saying that the only one available to her (sailing out of Barcelona) was already sold out.

Mr. Bayley immediately answered in the positive. 

"I think that's a great idea," he said.

Royal Caribbean sees "a big opportunity [right] now for shorter cruises in Europe, especially at the Spanish ports."

Shorter, weekend cruises will be in the plans for the cruise line, especially with how much demand it's seeing from the market.

Although Mr. Bayley didn't specify if these weekend cruises could take place on an Icon Class ship, he did answer Rebecca's questions in the affirmative. "We have looked at that."

However, weekend cruises will be focused around major ports in Spain.

Where are Royal Caribbean's Christmas cruises?

Royal Caribbean offers a variety of holiday sailings on all its ships. 

The cruise line tends to sail most of its ships on Caribbean itineraries during the winter, taking advantage of the warmer weather and classic vacation areas.

On a Christmas cruise, you can expect the vessel to be brightly decorated, complete with a Christmas tree in a central location (such as the Royal Promenade).

The sailing is likely to also have Christmas-themed activities, such as caroling, holiday movies, and appearances from Santa and his elves.

There is also a menorah lighting, and a priest onboard to conduct public mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The following Royal Caribbean cruises will take place over Christmas Day, 2024:

• Explorer of the Seas: 11-day Southern Caribbean cruise
• Jewel of the Seas: 10-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Ovation of the Seas: 10-day New Zealand cruise
• Vision of the Seas: 8-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise 
• Serenade of the Seas: 9-day Eastern Caribbean cruise
• Anthem of the Seas: 4-day Penang Phuket cruise
• Spectrum of the Seas: 9-day best of Japan cruise
• Navigator of the Seas: 7-day Cabo cruise cruise
• Radiance of the Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Icon of the Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise
• Enchantment of the Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Brilliance of the Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Quantum of the Seas: 7-day South Pacific cruise
• Adventure of the Seas: 6-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Freedom of the Seas: 8-day Eastern Caribbean cruise
• Grandeur of the Seas: 5-day Eastern Caribbean cruise
• Wonder: of the Seas 7-day Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise
• Symphony of the Seas: 7-day Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day cruise
• Oasis of the Seas: 6-day Western Caribbean cruise
• Rhapsody of the Seas: 7-day Southern Caribbean cruise
• Odyssey of the Seas: 7-day Perfect Day and Bahamas cruise 
• Harmony Of The Seas: 7-day Western Caribbean cruise 
• Allure Of The Seas: 4-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise
• Liberty Of The Seas: 4-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise 
• Independence Of The Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean and Perfect Day 
• Voyager Of The Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean and Perfect Day 
• Utopia Of The Seas: 4-day Bahamas and Perfect Day cruise 
• Mariner Of The Seas: 5-day Western Caribbean cruise 

The cruise ship that wants you to completely re-think short cruises, is only one day away from making its formal debut. 

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas is the second-biggest cruise ship ever built and will depart from Port Canaveral, Florida on Friday afternoon on its inaugural voyage to The Bahamas.

The key detail is its itinerary, because the new ship will only sail short cruises to The Bahamas.  It's a play by Royal Caribbean to introduce the predominant choice in the short cruise market.

Short cruises are usually what people that have never cruised before tend to book, and Royal Caribbean wants to take advantage of this market.  The new to cruisers singlehandedly represents the largest growth market any cruise line can tap, and enticing more new cruisers is how Royal Caribbean hopes to expand its customer base and continue to drive record profits.

The RoyalCaribbeanBlog team will be reporting live from Utopia of the Seas over the next few days, with full coverage of what this new ship is all about.

Big, bold, and brisk sailings

Built at the giant Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France, Utopia of the Seas measures 236,473 gross tons, making her slightly larger than Wonder of the Seas but not quite as big as Icon of the Seas.

Like Wonder, Utopia is part of the Oasis Class of ships and are best known for being giant ships that offer just about everything you'd want on a single cruise ship. She can accommodate 5,668 passengers at double occupancy, along with 2,290 crew members.

Utopia is the sixth in the Oasis Class, with at least one more ship due out in 2028.

Her size is what allows Royal Caribbean to include its best ideas and offerings. Utopia of the Seas is positioned to have the very best features of any Oasis Class ship, which is why Royal Caribbean is so excited to have her start cruising.

On the top deck ,passengers can choose from water slides, a zip line, surf simulator, multiple pools, mini-golf course, adults-only section, kids aquapark, and a basketball court. When you go inside Utopia, there are bars, restaurants and shops, plus a huge casino, spa and theaters.

Every weekend is a party

Oasis Class ships aren't new, but Utopia of the Seas starting off with short cruises is a different approach.

Royal Caribbean is not mincing words when they say Utopia is meant to be the ultimate short getaway. In addition to all the activities onboard, there are shows, parties, and dance events meant to keep passengers in the right vibe every day of the sailing.

According to Royal Caribbean, there are 40 ways to dine, drink and party, including a selection of parties only on Utopia:

• Resort-style and sloping beach-entry pools
• Rezolution dance party with epic light productions
• Royal Kappa Chi throwback collegiate party
• Sail Away Pool Party 
• Senses Sunset Pool Party
• Plunge Day Pool Party, a Vegas-inspired daytime party
• Red late-night DJ
• Largest Shush! Silent Party in the fleet
• Silent Toga, [a] toga party with a silent twist

For fun that involves sitting down, Royal Caribbean advertises 9 shows you can take in on Utopia.

There are shows in each of the three theaters on Utopia, including the ice skating rink and outdoor Aquatheater.

The venue getting the most buzz is the new Royal Railway immersive dining car experience. This is where you can board a classic train car and be surrounded by digital screens, projections, decorations and even actors that all combine to make you feel like you're on a train.  It's something never before tried at this scale on a cruise ship.

The goal is to deliver to their guests exactly what Royal Caribbean's market research tells them cruisers want: first experiences that create family bonding moments with memories they'll take home and cherish.

Having one of Royal Caribbean's best ships in the fleet to offer weekend cruises is exactly how the line thinks they'll do that, along with homeporting her in Port Canaveral. Royal Caribbean has made no secret they are targeting the family vacation market that typically considers an Orlando vacation, which is just 45 minutes west of where Utopia sails twice per week.

The coup de grâce for Utopia is the combination of Utopia and a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's award-winning private island. The combination of a cruise on a great ship and a stop at arguably the best cruise line private island is the formula to separate itself from the competition on land or at sea.

Sailing from Port Canaveral through early 2026

Utopia of the Seas will offer 3- and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral through at least March 2026.

Every sailing includes one visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Nassau, Bahamas. The 4-night cruises include a sea day, although some Utopia of the Seas sailings in early 2025 have added a second stop at CocoCay.

The inaugural cruise will depart on Friday, July 19, 2024. This voyage will signify the ship's official start of service with paying passengers onboard.

At the time of writing, the lowest advertised fare on the Royal Caribbean's website for a cruise onboard Utopia in 2024 starts at $682 per person (including taxes and fees) for an interior room on the October 21 sailing. 

Prices drop a bit if you're willing to book further out, such as the January 9, 2026 sailing that begins at $567 per person (including taxes and fees) for an interior room.

Do kids need to be reigned in more on cruise ships?

Royal Caribbean has always been a family-focused brand, providing exciting vacation experiences for all ages. However, some adult cruisers feel the number of unruly kids onboard degrades their cruising experience.

At a talk on Utopia of the Seas' preview cruise this week, one travel agent shared that she's receiving a lot of complaints from adult clients.

She claims some of her clients are even leaving Royal Caribbean for other cruise lines because of the amount of unruly children onboard.

"I'm hoping you take this as an opportunity for improvement," she said to senior management on Utopia of the Seas.

She explained that adults are having an increasing amount of problems with unruly children onboard Royal Caribbean's vessels, particularly on Icon of the Seas, a ship marketed to families.

"Icon is fantastic, but [at] the swim-up bar, there's kids splashing into your drinks."

She said that she was on the dance floor at Bolero's at midnight, and still had children crawling through adult's legs as they tried to dance.

Because of these incidents, passengers are starting to leave Royal Caribbean for other quieter, more adult-focused cruise lines.

To improve the adult experience, the travel agent suggested more adult-oriented areas or curfews at the bars onboard.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, responded that the cruise line hears passengers' concerns and will look into it.

Royal Caribbean will revisit curfews for kids

For cruisers ages 17 and under, Royal Caribbean has a curfew of 1:00 A.M. 

Security staff onboard take measures to enforce this curfew by asking kids to return to their staterooms and checking the SeaPasses of passengers in public areas.

Michael Bayley said that the cruise line has been receiving an increased amount of written complaints about kids in public areas, so the line is willing to revisit the curfew policy.

"It's probably time for us to take a look at [the curfew]. I think the idea of curfews in some of the bars is a great idea," he said.

Other senior staff at the talk suggested an earlier curfew, especially for adult-focused bar and lounge areas, such as Bolero's or the swim-up bar.

Mr. Bayley reassured passengers that Royal Caribbean is still a family brand that welcomes kids onboard, but "we do need to make sure that we respect the adults."

"And you know what they say, everybody loves their own kids, but they're not so fond of everybody else's kids."

Royal Caribbean has already made changes in recent years to recognize customer feedback regarding kids onboard.

The Solarium, a crystal canopy pool area located at the front of most Royal Caribbean ships, used to allow guests aged 16 and over. 

In September of 2023, the cruise line raised the age limit to 18 years old, keeping the adults-only name consistent. 

Parents can continue to take advantage of Adventure Ocean

Royal Caribbean has a free kid's program across its fleet.

Adventure Ocean features activities for kids aged 6 months to 11 years, with different rooms and games tailored to each age range.

Parents have to register at the beginning of the cruise and sign their children in and out at each visit.

On sea days, the area is open from 9 A.M. to 12 P.M., then from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. and from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M.

Adventure Ocean is completely free between those hours, but there is an extra charge per hour after 10:00 P.M.

On port days, Adventure Ocean is open for the entire time that the ship is docked at port.

Guests booked on Royal Caribbean shore excursions can even drop off their kids and head to their destination.

Tween and teen cruisers can also find activities in separate hangout spaces designed specifically for them.

Read more: I'm a teen and went on the world's largest cruise ship. I was worried it would be juvenile, but it exceeded all my expectations

To avoid infringing on other cruiser's vacations, parents can take advantage of Adventure Ocean and should avoid leaving their children unattended.

Royal Caribbean's guest conduct policy states that parents and guardians are responsible for the behavior of accompanying minors, and must appropriately supervise them throughout the cruise vacation.

Read more: Royal Caribbean is testing a way to track your kids on the world's largest cruise ship

Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean International's Senior Vice President of Travel, Trade, and Support also spoke about the activities available for kids onboard Royal Caribbean's ships.

"We are reevaluating some of the activities for the young children and also the teens to keep them more engaged with one another in our different venues like Adventure Ocean," she said. 

How to choose a cruise with fewer children onboard

Royal Caribbean is a family brand, but some cruises will have more kids than others.

Adults looking to avoid mischievous youngsters can plan ahead by avoiding certain sailings.

Summertime and holiday cruises, when kids are on break from school, will have a larger amount of families onboard.

"Icon has a huge number of families," Mr. Bayley said. "Of course, it peaks during the summer with families and kids."

Read more: 4 mistakes I saw other people make on Icon of the Seas—and 2 mistakes I made

Larger ships, such as Icon of the Seas, are marketed as floating amusement parks for all ages, so they have a wider appeal to families.

Royal Caribbean's mega-ships, from the Icon to the Oasis Class, are packed with activities like waterslides, ice skating, rock climbing, mini-golf, carousels, craft lessons, theater productions, and so much more.

They appeal to families because of their ability to entertain people of all ages.

Read more: 12 differences between the big and small Royal Caribbean cruise ships

On the other hand, sailings when school is in session (September to May) and longer cruises are likely to have fewer kids onboard.

Any adults who are cruising and notice rowdy or unattended kids onboard can let Guest Services know and allow crew members to handle it.

There's a new kind of experience on Royal Caribbean's cruise ship that is unlike anything else we've seen on a ship , just don't call it "another restaurant."

Royal Railway Utopia Station is an immersive dining experience, where guests feel like they're on a classic train that surrounds them with sight, sound, and visual effects.

Traditionally cruise ship restaurants rely primarily on the cuisine, with a bit of decor style to make it pleasing to the eye.  Royal Railway goes well beyond that by incorporating the two things most people look for in a vacation: food and destination.

Think of Royal Railway as a platform, rather than a restaurant. Unlike Chops Grille steakhouse, Royal Railway can change themes and cuisines to offer different experiences. Over the next few months, Royal Caribbean will incorporate more show types and expand its offerings.

The cost of Royal Railway starts at $74.99 per adult and $24.99 per child. Those with an Unlimited Dining Package can pay a $15 surcharge for adults and no extra cost for kids.

On my visit, I went through the Wild West theme to see what it's all about.

Disclosure: Royal Caribbean invited me to dine at Royal Railway during a preview event, and I did not pay for my meal.

Going west

The day of the meal, guests receive a paper ticket at their stateroom that they'll need to bring to the restaurant in order to board, just like a real train.

Royal Railway is tucked away on deck 4, and you might not know it's there until you see the train station flip board that hints at what's to come.

You then walk onto the platform, where you wait for your train to board. This is the welcome moment, where adults are given glass flasks of alcohol to drink while they wait for their train. The platform feels purposefully dingy, and the entire area looks like a train station instead of an area on a cruise ship.

A fun fact about the platform is it has a house phone for calling anywhere around the ship, but to fit into the period, it's a rotary phone.

When boarding begins, you have a few minutes to either remain on the platform or board immediately. But you'll probably want to see the train itself and start the journey.

Royal Caribbean says the train car design is based on a few different classic trains of the late 19th century and early 20th century. It's meant to be timeless, rather than a specific train.

There's bench seating that comes in 2 or 4 tops. The tables cannot be moved, as it's just like a train in that sense and fixed.

As you're seated, it might feel like dinner at another restaurant, but once the train leaves the station, that's where the similarities end.

The train starts up, and the subwoofers in the seats provide a gentle jolt as the train slowly accelerates out of the station.  It's not jarring, it simply provides a sensation of movement. The window blinds open up revealing a digital landscape around you that can be seen all around the car.

In the Old West mode, you'll see mountains, deserts, gold rush towns, and every other typical scene you've ever seen in a western movie.

The menu has a choice of appetizer, entree, and desert. Each of the menu choices seems to tick a box of food type: beef, chicken, vegetarian, fish. It's American fare that I think will suit most palates.

Everyone's meals in the car are served at the same time, similar to Chef's Table or Empire Supper Club.

I tried a few different items across the menu, but my favorites were the Fart 'n Dart Beans, Corn Chowder, Royal Railway cigar dessert.  My tablemate commented the lobster was fantastic.

Throughout the meal, there's a story being told and this is when the immersive experience begins to take shape. Not only are you seated in a train car, but you now have the visuals around you, characters in the car pulling you into the story, and of course the meal you're enjoying.

The story aspect is light hearted and a pleasant interlude between servings.  There's still plenty of time to relax and talk with your tablemates, and each of the scenes that takes place only takes a few minutes.

My favorite part of the story is the conductor that comes in with telegrams that are addressed to certain guests in the car.  He reads them aloud, and they're silly and sure to get a laugh when you hear the subject and then realize it's for someone in your group.

Our reservation was for 8:30pm and it was complete by about 9:45pm.

More ideas to come

The Wild West story is certainly a family-leaning experience, but Royal Caribbean plans to offer more themes.  In about 30-45 days, they hope to launch their second theme, Silk Routes, which is a Marco Polo journey from the Orient back to the West.  It's more adult-themed in the sense they envision it being a good fit for date night.

There's plans for a few more themes, along with a brunch option, and even whiskey tastings.

A platform with many possibilities

It became very apparent to me the incredible potential the train car has once Royal Caribbean is able to fully leverage it with a series of themes and offerings. It reminds me of a video game console, where one game alone might not be enough, but when you add multiple games, then you really enjoy it.

I enjoyed the Old West theme, and would love to bring my family onboard so they can experience it.  But I'm even more excited for the next iterations of Royal Railway because it adds so much repeat value.

Unlike specialty restaurants, I think Royal Railway is about experience first, and food second.  That isn't to say the food is bad at all, rather, it's a total package instead of being just about what you eat.

A real memory maker

Visually, it's stunning, and I think it's one of those things to do on a cruise ship that will resonate with families.

Royal Caribbean is always looking for ways to create memories for its guests, and it seems Royal Railway was created to do just that. It's an undeniably different kind of meal, and that will make it stand out when you look back on your vacation.

I think someone booking Royal Railway is going to do so because they want to do something fun and different during their cruise. The sort of activity that they can talk about when they get back home.

Royal Railway is unlike any other specialty restaurant I've tried on a cruise ship because it's not really a specialty restaurant.  It's something completely different that doesn't really fit into the defined categories we usually think about on a cruise. The fact there's something new to try is what has always appealed to me about cruising, as well as Royal Caribbean's continuous drive to push the envelope of what you can do on a ship.

One of the most exciting shopping events of the year is upon us - Amazon Prime Day! As one of the biggest online retailers in the world, Amazon runs a two-day sale every summer with the hottest deals of the year.

While Amazon has sales throughout the year on many of its best-selling items, Amazon Prime Day is the sales event of the year with the biggest discounts. This year, Amazon Prime Day will be happening for two days: July 16-17.

Lasting only two days, the sale is a quick one. Not to mention, Amazon also releases lightning deals that are time sensitive, meaning they are only available for a short period of time. Every five minutes will bring new deals and discounts during the 48-hour period, according to Amazon.  

If you are looking to purchase any travel essentials for your upcoming cruise vacation, it's the best time to snag some fantastic deals. This is actually the 10th anniversary of Amazon Prime Day, with each year bringing bigger and better discounts than before. Prime Day features discounts on a wide assortment of product categories, including electronics, appliances, home goods, travel necessities and more.

This year, Amazon says Prime members can shop more than 5 million deals worldwide across 35 different categories during the annual sale. Shoppers can expect to find the lowest prices of the year for some of the site’s top-selling products.

Amazon Prime Day is a member-exclusive event, meaning you need to have an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of the best deals during Prime Day. Moreover, you can also try starting a 30-day free trial to enjoy this year’s shopping event if you don't have a membership. 

With millions of deals (literally) available for Prime Day, you might be feeling overwhelmed. Everything from new luggage sets to packing cubes, portable fans and magnetic hooks are on sale this year. If you’re setting sail on a cruise this year, you should take a look at some of our favorite Amazon products during this year’s Prime Day sale.

I combed through the list of products on sale (for hours, I should say) so you don't have to! Here are some of the best Prime Day deals we found on Amazon for your upcoming cruises. 

Please note that we receive a small commission if you purchase any of the products from our affiliate links below. You can also check out our Amazon Storefront for other essential cruise items that we recommend. Purchasing from the links below costs you nothing extra, but the small commission supports Royal Caribbean Blog. 

All prices below were at the time of publication. Prices may change during the sale based on availability.

Luggage Deals

If you’re in the market for new luggage, now is the best time to purchase for your cruise. Regardless of how you arrive to your cruise port - by car or airplane - you’ll need to have luggage for your vacation.

Whether you need just a carry-on for lighter travel or you want to invest in a multi-piece set, Prime Day has hundreds of luggage deals. Your best bet is to purchase a luggage set for the steepest discounts, including 2-piece or 3-piece sets.

Luggage is always one of the top-selling products for Prime Day, so take a look at some of the best Prime Day deals we found for luggage.

Samsonite Luggage

One of the best brands for affordable luggage is Samsonite. Each year, Amazon slashes the price of Samsonite luggage, including a variety of carry-on suitcases and checked bags. You can also find luggage sets if you’re looking to invest in multiple suitcases. 

One of the top deals this year is this 2-piece Samsonite luggage set in Mint Green. This includes a 21-inch and 28-inch suitcase for more than 50% off the original price. Amazon lists this luggage set as its best-selling product.

• Link: Freeform Hardside Expandable with Double Spinner Wheels, 2-Piece Set (21/28), Mint Green
• Price: $219.81 (Originally $479)

Another fantastic deal on Samsonite luggage is this 3-piece luggage set. You’ll receive a 20-inch, 24-inch, and 30-inch suitcase in this set with an incredible discount of 50%. This is perfect for families looking to have a combination of checked luggage and carry-ons.

• Link: Samsonite Centric 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinners, Black, 3-Piece Set (20/24/28)
• Price: $250 (Originally $499)

For those looking to just purchase a carry-on, Samsonite is selling one of its best-rated carry-on suitcases for 33% off. This carry-on has received thousands of 5-star ratings, so it's a great suitcase for your upcoming cruise!

• Link: Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage with Spinner Wheels, Black, Pro Carry-on
• Price: $146.82 (Originally $219.99)

Luggage Accessories

Along with suitcases, Prime Day has thousands of discounted luggage accessories as well. One handy tool for those flying to their embarkation port is this electronic luggage scale. 

This will help you determine if your luggage is overweight - it can happen quickly with all of that shopping both on the ship and in your ports of call! This one has a 4.6 star rating and is on sale for 20% off this Prime Day.

• Link: Amazon Basics Portable Digital Luggage Weight Scale, One Size, Black
• Price: $8.34 (Originally $10.42)

Packing cubes are another popular Amazon product for our cruisers; in particular, compression packing cubes can help save space in your luggage. You can not only stay organized, but packing cubes also allow for easy unpacking in your cruise stateroom. Simply remove the cube from your luggage and place them in your cabin’s closet, drawers or shelves. 

These Gonex compression packing cubes are some of the best-selling packing cubes on Amazon - and they're getting a big discount for Prime Day. You’ll receive 4 packing cubes with various sizes to maximize your luggage space. I own these personally and I refuse to cruise without them!

• Link: Gonex Compression Packing Cubes, 4pcs Expandable Storage Travel Luggage Bags Organizers (Blue)
• Price: $21.99 (Originally $29.99)

For non-compression packing cubes, this set of five packing cubes from Travelwise is on sale for 41% off. This set includes five cubes with various sizes. Although these do not compress your clothes, packing cubes are extremely useful for organization while traveling. This set has a fantastic rating of 4.7 stars!

• Link: TravelWise Luggage Packing Organization Cubes 5 Pack, 2 Small, 2 Medium, 1 Large (TWPC-24)
• Price: $19.99 (Originally $33.99)

Another cruise essential that I travel with is my electronics organizer. This organizer contains all of my cords and chargers for the many devices that I cruise with. It’s so convenient having all of my cords neatly in one location when traveling and I also appreciate how it keeps my cruise cabin less cluttered. For under $10, this has been a game changer for me!

• Link: BAGSMART Cord Organizer Travel Cable Organizer Bag Tech Electronic Organizer Travel Case, Travel Essentials for Charger, Cable, Phone, Flash drive, Single Layer - Black
• Price: $8.09 (Originally $10.99)

Speaking of organization, one cruise essential that we recommend is a hanging toiletry bag. With limited space in your cruise cabin bathroom, you can save space by utilizing one of these organization bags. A hanging toiletry bag allows you to keep your counter uncluttered with your toiletries being stored properly on the back of the door. I don’t travel without mine!

• Link: BAGSMART Toiletry Bag Hanging Travel Makeup Organizer with TSA Approved Transparent Cosmetic Bag Makeup Bag for Full Sized Toiletries, Medium-Black
• Price: $19.99 (Originally $27.99)

Keeping with the organization theme, this handy travel jewelry case is also on sale for Prime Day! This allows you to store all of your jewelry safely in one place while traveling, both in your suitcase and in your cruise cabin. This one comes highly rated and I love the pink color!

• Link: BAGSMART Travel Jewelry Organizer Case Foldable Jewelry Roll for Journey-Rings, Necklaces, Earrings, Bracelets,Mini,Light Pink
• Price: $15.29 (Originally $19.99)

Those who need to take daily medication during their vacation might also consider purchasing this travel pill organizer for their cruise. Moreover, you can use this to pack over-the-counter medication for your cruise, as the onboard shops are overpriced with a limited selection of medicine. 

• Link: FYY Daily Pill Organizer, 7 Compartments Portable Travel Pill Case [Folding Design]Pill Box for Purse Pocket to Hold Vitamins,Cod Liver Oil,Supplements and Medication-Pink
• Price: $6.50 (Originally $8.95)

Cruise Necessities

Prime Day is filled with deals for some of our favorite cruising necessities, such as this waterproof phone case. If you’re looking to take some fantastic photos on the beach or in the pool without worrying about ruining your phone, consider purchasing this waterproof phone pouch.

• Link: Case-Mate IP68 Waterproof Phone Pouch - Travel Beach Cruise Ship Essentials - Floating Waterproof Phone Case w/ Crossbody Lanyard for iPhone 15 Pro Max/ 14 Pro Max/ 13 Pro Max/ S24 Ultra - Sand Dollar
• Price: $13.28 (Originally $19.99)

Magnetic hooks are very popular among cruisers, as staterooms on a cruise ship have magnetic walls. Since the space is small, these magnetic hooks can be used to hang a variety of items directly on your wall. This helps your cabin stay tidy and organized!

• Link: Neosmuk Magnetic Hooks, 27 lb+ Heavy Duty Earth Magnets with Hook for Refrigerator, Extra Strong Cruise Hook for Hanging, Magnetic Hanger for Cabins, Grill (Silver White, Pack of 10)
• Price: $6.24 (Originally $11.99)

Another popular product for many cruisers is a mini portable fan to use in your stateroom. This is especially important if you prefer to have a fan running while you sleep. Those who like a cool cabin might also appreciate the additional airflow by having one of these portable fans.

A USB-powered fan will ensure you don’t need to waste an outlet in your cabin, either. This portable fan comes highly rated with 4.6 stars on Amazon- and it’s on sale for 34% off during Prime Day.

• Link: Cordless Desk Fan, Battery Operated Fan with USB, 70ft Strong Airflow Portable Fan, Quiet Operation Fan with LED Light and 360° Rotate Table Fan for Bedroom Home Office Outdoor Travel(Pink)
• Price: $21.24 (Originally $24.99)

Similarly, handheld fans are becoming increasingly popular for cruisers as well. Visiting destinations throughout Mexico and the Caribbean are sure to bring high temperatures, especially if you’re cruising in the late summer months. Consider purchasing this popular handheld fan for 31% off - it’s a great deal!

• Link: Gaiatop Mini Portable Fan, Powerful Handheld Fan, Cute Design 3 Speed Personal Small Desk Fan with Base, Lightweight Makeup USB Rechargeable Fan for Stylish Girl Women Travel Indoor Outdoor Black
• Price: $8.99 (Originally $19.99)

In addition, one cruise essential that I never leave at home is a portable charger. To start, I never want my phone to run out of battery while on vacation. Moreover, cruise cabins have limited outlets usually so having another source for charging devices can be super helpful while cruising.

This one is on sale for Prime Day and includes built-in cords to save you space. It’s on sale for 27% and comes with thousands of 5-star reviews.

• Link: VEEKTOMX Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh Power Bank for iPhone, Slim Fast Charge USB C Battery Pack, Travel Essentials Powerbank Compatible with iPhone 15/14/13, Samsung, Android, etc
• Price: $23.98 (Originally $32.99)

If you’re looking for a charger that's easier to have with you throughout the day, this mini portable charger would be perfect to fit in your beach bag for those port days ashore.

• Link: VVEEKTOMX Mini Portable Charger Power Bank 10000mAh, 22.5W Fast Charging Powerbank USB C Slim & Lightweight Travel Phone Charger, Dual Voltage Small Battery Pack for iPhone/Samsung/Google/Tablet, White
• Price: $25.99 (Originally $38.99)

Another must-have electronics item for cruising is a European adapter, as many cruise ships will have a European outlet in cruise ship cabins. This expands your charging capacities while cruising - and we highly recommend you bring one, especially if you’re cruising on an older ship.

• Link: [2-Pack] European Travel Plug Adapter, VINTAR International Power Plug Adapter with 1 USB C, 2 American Outlets and 3 USB Ports, 6 in 1 Travel Essentials to Most of Europe Greece, Italy(Type C)
• Price: $17.84 (Originally $20.99)

Another electronics must-have for cruising, in my opinion, is a portable sound machine. If you prefer to sleep with white noise playing, you should consider purchasing one of these for your next cruise. These are small and easy to pack - so it won’t take up too much space in your suitcase. Perfect for families traveling together as well! 

• Link: White Noise Machine Babelio Mini Sound Machine for Adults Kids Baby | 15 Non-looping Sounds | Timer | Easy to Pocket and Travel - White
• Price: $15.99 (Originally $19.99)

One very popular item for traveling - and every day wear honestly - is a belt bag. These small cross-body purses are perfect for keeping all of your essentials in one convenient location. Belt bags are extremely popular for both men and women because they are both comfortable and practical. This one is on sale for Prime Day and has great ratings!

• Link: Telena Belt Bag for Women Men Fashionable Crossbody Fanny Pack for Women Waist Bag with Adjustable Strap Light Brown
• Price: $11.19 (Originally $13.99)

Regardless of where you’re cruising, you should definitely plan to pack sunscreen. Those planning to spend time on the beach or chilling on the pool deck will especially want to make sure to pack plenty of sunscreen. I love to travel with sunscreen that I can wear on my face daily, such as the Unseen Sunscreen from Supergoop! You can snag 20% off select SuperGoop products during the Prime Day sale, which is a great deal!

• Link: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen - SPF 40-1.7 fl oz - Invisible, Broad Spectrum Face Sunscreen - Weightless, Scentless, and Oil Free - For All Skin Types and Skin Tones
• Price: $30.40 (Originally $38)

If you’re concerned about seasickness during your cruise - or you’re prone to motion sickness - you should plan to pack medication. Dramamine is one of the most popular seasickness medications. For Prime Day, you can get a great deal on Dramamine Chewables for Kids for 30% off. This medication is highly rated with nearly all 5-star reviews and would be easy for kids to take.

• Link: Dramamine Kids Chewable, Motion Sickness Relief, Grape Flavor, 8 Count, 3 Pack
• Price: $9.79 (Originally $13.99)

You can also purchase the original Dramamine medication for your cruise, which is on sale for Prime Day as well. Even though I am not prone to seasickness, I always pack Dramamine when cruising in case of an emergency.

• Link: Dramamine Original, Motion Sickness Relief, 36 Count
• Price: $8.39 (Originally $11.99)

Another interesting item to bring on a cruise that I’ve seen many people rave about is an insulated coffee mug with a lid. If you’re a coffee or tea drinker, you will typically need to use the small coffee cups provided by the cruise line in the buffet area. These cups are easy to spill, especially if you want your coffee to go.

If you have the space for an insulated coffee mug, you can take coffee with you easily from the buffet and keep it warm. Those going on cold-weather cruises like Alaska, Iceland, and Norway might especially appreciate having an insulated mug to take in the sights from the chilly top deck. This one is on sale for 44% off and comes highly recommended!

• Link: ALOUFEA 12oz Stainless Steel Insulated Coffee Mug with Handle, Double Wall Vacuum Travel Mug, Tumbler Cup with Sliding Lid, Navy
• Price: $10.15 (Originally $17.99)

Meghan Trainor could have brought her Gucci on and wore her Louis Vuitton onto Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.

The famous singer was the center of attention on Monday for the official christening of Utopia of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean celebrated the launch of its newest cruise ship at a ceremony held onboard the ship while in Port Canaveral, Florida. Ms. Trainor took part in the traditional naming of a new cruise ship. The ship, which formally sets sail for the first time this weekend, is the second biggest ship in the world.

With her help, a bottle of champagne was broken against the bow of the ship — something that is supposed to bring good luck to the vessel and its passengers.

"I'm privileged to be a part of naming Utopia of the seas. This is crazy," she said as she took to the stage for the ceremony. 

She also talked about how sharing the experience with her family means so much to her, "I've never been able to vacation on a ship like this, and neither has any of my family."

"We're so excited and honored. And my son is going to have the best trip of his whole life. So thank you, Royal Caribbean for making this happen."

She went onto sing "All About That Bass" to the crowd on her ukulele. 

Utopia of the Seas offers 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas, which is a bold move by Royal Caribbean because new cruise ships usually begin service with 7-night cruises.

The reason for the change in game plan is to attract more new cruisers to try a cruise vacation on Royal Caribbean. The combination of a brand new ship offering the very best Royal Caribbean has to offer and homeporting of the ship very close to Orlando is what the cruise line thinks will be a winning formula.

Who is Meghan Trainor?

Meghan Trainor is an American singer-songwriter known for her catchy pop songs with retro influences. 

She became famous with her catchy debut single, "All About That Bass" was released in 2014.  Not only was it a good tune, but it promoted body positivity.

Trainor has released multiple albums, won several awards, and is recognized for her distinctive voice and playful, upbeat music style.

What is a cruise ship godmother?

A godmother is part of maritime tradition and a ceremonial role that all new cruise ships incorporate.

Cruise lines select someone to christen their new ship. Sometimes it's a well-known celebrity, such as Meghan Trainor, and other times it's an important community member.

As an example, soccer megastar Lionel Messi held the role on Icon of the Seas, whereas a contest on TikTok was held to find a godmother for Wonder of the Seas.

The godmother's job is to give the ship a blessing for the safety of the crew members and passengers who will sail onboard it. 

A vacation for making memories

It's likely there's a Meghan Trainor song or two that always conjures up a memory of where you first heard it, and Royal Caribbean wants Utopia of the Seas to be just as memorable.

"A lot of first time cruisers are looking for first experiences... burn in memories that they're going to have," explained Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer while onboard Utopia.

To that point, Utopia of the Seas has a lot of firsts that Royal Caribbean has never done before, such as an immersive dining car experience, a new tiki bar, new parties around the ship, and much more. 

Plus, the ship visits Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas. Perfect Day at CocoCay is an expansive beach and pool playground where cruise ship passengers can enjoy different ways to relax, explore, or party.

When you include all of it together, it's the formula the cruise line thinks will bring in new cruisers.

Cruise ships are always evolving, including how to power them.

In a world growing more aware of the importance of protecting the environment, cruise lines are holding themselves to a higher standard.

Royal Caribbean has its own net zero carbon emission goals, and its newest cruise ships rely on new fuel sources to power them.  They're even using biofuels on some ships, as well as launching the first waste-to-energy system on a cruise ship.

However, the work isn't complete and the ultimate goal of a clean burning fuel unreached.

At a Q&A session on the 2024 President's Cruise, a passenger named Bridget asked, "What is the top thing Royal Caribbean is working on towards [its] environmental impact?"

Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, told passengers that the cruise line is committed to sustainability, but can't rely on solutions that don't yet exist.

He was honest about where Royal Caribbean succeeds environmentally and where it needs work.

Royal Caribbean works with the latest research it has at the time 

Michael Bayley explained Royal Caribbean's commitment and mindset regarding the environment.

"Everything that we do is put through that lens of trying to be as sensible as we can buy new ships, for example; Icon, Utopia, Star."

Icon of the Seas launched in January of 2024, Utopia of the Seas will have its first voyage in July of 2024, and Star of the Seas is set to arrive in the summer of 2025.

Royal Caribbean has focused on making its new ships as environmentally friendly as possible in tandem with new research providing information.

The three new ships were all made with hybrid engines and can run on a combination of typical marine fuel and LNG (liquified natural gas).

LNG is considered more environmentally friendly because, according to Mr. Bayley, it's about 24% better in carbon footprint than marine fuel.

"We are committed to making the journey to carbon neutrality," he said.

"Over time, we set goals for 2030."

Read more: Royal Caribbean's next-gen cruise ship will advance goal of creating sustainable cruising

Although LNG is considered better for the environment, it's not perfect.

Liquified natural gas has also been criticized for leaking when it's transferred between tanks.

"When decisions are made on building ships, they're made with the information that's available at the time. And of course, the information at the time when we signed contracts to build ships is different from how it looks today," Michael Bayley said. 

Although Royal Caribbean builds its new ships with the newest technology they're aware of, the information changes from year to year.

Cruise ships can be built in 18-12 months, but they take years to come to fruition. Icon of the Seas, for example, was conceived before 2016 and finally launched in 2024.

With these long timelines, information can change over the years.

"In five years, how we do this is going to look different as well," Mr. Bayley continued.

"There is no magical fuel"

The biggest issue for cruise ship sustainability is fuel. Cruise ships use a massive amount of fuel to power their journeys and amenities onboard.

Michael Bayley touched on this during the Q&A: "The big question is, what is the future fuel for all of this transportation? It's still unknown."

Transportation industries such as cargo ships and airlines are investing in the issue and attempting to find a solution, but there's still not a perfectly sustainable option.

"There is no magical fuel," Mr. Bayley said, and he believes "that's the formula for success in the future."

Five to ten years ago, LNG was viewed as the solution to creating a more sustainable fuel. But now it's not considered the best option.

Read more: Which Royal Caribbean ships are powered by LNG?

Mr. Bayley also addressed other options that are still being developed, such as methanol and fuel cells.

He didn't make a mention of the new biofuel Royal Caribbean has been testing on its ships.

However, none of these options are viable for cruise ships yet. 

The entire marine industry is working on a solution

And before you consider boycotting cruise ships for their lack of sustainable fuel, it's important to consider the big picture.

When it comes to environmental issues, Mr. Bayley pointed out that the whole world "is on the same journey" to carbon neutrality.

Many governments and industries are working on the question of sustainable transportation.

Nearly everything we consume in the Western world has arrived by cargo ship, powered by typical marine fuel.

"80% of everything we consume comes on containers," Mr. Bayley said. "The cars we drive, the clothes we wear, the water we drink."

Typically, these items come by ship or rail, so there's no getting away from the question of carbon-neutral fuel.

Fuel is a big question for the entire marine industry, and Royal Caribbean is committed to figuring out a sustainable answer.

"I can assure you we're committed to that," Mr. Bayley told passengers on the President's Cruise. 

"We are working diligently, not only as a company but [also] within the industry and within the larger sector of the maritime industry, which is vast."

He also urged listeners to check out Royal Caribbean's sustainability report on the website, which describes all of the cruise line's efforts in detail.

Royal Caribbean has more sustainable waste management than cities on land

Royal Caribbean understands its responsibility to the environment and has done an excellent job at managing waste onboard its ships.

Just 7% of the waste onboard Royal Caribbean ships ends up in the landfill. 

The rest is recycled, incinerated, or turned into purified water that can be dumped in the ocean.

"I would challenge any city in Europe or the world to have a better, more advanced technology than we have onboard," Mr. Bayley said.

"Now, if you went home and understood how much of your waste is going into a landfill, I'm going to bet it's a lot more than 7%."

According to the Trash in America report by Frontier Group, 52.6% of trash in the United States is thrown in landfills or otherwise combusted without energy recovery.

Read more: Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships will convert waste to energy

When Royal Caribbean designed Utopia of the Seas, they had a primary goal of loading it up with the absolute best food and drinks you could find at sea.

Rather than build a cruise ship with the same exact options as previous vessels, the team at Royal Caribbean had the goal of packing Utopia of the Seas with just about every plussed up idea they had.

Read more: Utopia of the Seas guide

If you look back at ships over time, you can find different ideas, initiatives, and upgrades on each. Sometimes they are added in a refurbishment, sometimes they are a new idea at the time when the ship was built, and in other cases, they are one-off enhancements.

The Product Development team at Royal Caribbean wanted to come up the ultimate dine and drink evolution, according to Jay Schneider.

Schneider leads the Product Development team, and it's his job to dream up ideas for cruise ships that will position Royal Caribbean ahead of any vacation option out there.

'Our ultimate dine and drink evolution'

Mr. Schneider said Royal Caribbean's research indicates people choose to cruise for two primary reasons: destinations and food.

While entertainment and retail do factor into that decision, where the person goes and what they eat always rank highest.

"We really wanted to focus on that tradition, evolution, revolution from a food and beverage perspective," Mr. Schneider explained in an exclusive interview with Royal Caribbean Blog.

He's referring to an internal directive for new cruise ship building that relies on embracing aspects that have worked in the past (traditional), improving upon others (evolution), and coming up with completely new ideas (revolution).

Mr. Schneider sees everywhere you look on Utopia of the Seas the very best food and beverage options you'll find on any Royal Caribbean ship.

From a massive overhaul of Izumi and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen with expanded new locations, to something as simple as adding sprinkles to the complimentary soft-serve ice cream on the pool deck, "we leaned into kind of that ultimate dine and drink, which got us to really re-examine every venue, every offering."

Royal Caribbean nicknamed the initiative, "Project Feast", and it's goal was to deconstruct what their guests were looking for in how they dine, drink, and eat onboard.

The team felt good about many of the existing restaurant properties, but wanted more out of them, "Great steak house in Chops, excellent Italian in Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, great seafood in Hooked, great Japanese in Izumi. But even in those, where do they evolve to?"

He says that evolution is present on Utopia of the Seas.

A similar effort was already underway for sister ship, Icon of the Seas, but there was more time to re-evaluate what was working well.

"In the case of Izumi, we really thought we were on to something with Izumi in the Park. Let's take a look at that, deconstruct it and say, where else would we go with it?"

Read more: How Izumi went from concept to success

The result is the biggest Izumi yet, with double the teppanyaki tables, new al fresco dining, a to-go window, and even an omakase experience.

The team saw a different goal with Giovanni's, because they wanted to enhance the restaurant, "We really wanted to lean into great Italian, gorgeous, uplifting the experience."

It's in a new location on deck 12 and spans two stories, and even has an outdoor terrace that overlooks the Boardwalk.

Read more: How Royal Caribbean reimagined its signature Italian restaurant

Chops Grille got the upgraded menu options first introduced on Icon of the Seas, along with brand new decor. Schneider believes it's the best in the fleet now.

While all of those venues got upgrades, Mr. Schneider felt it was time to redevelop completely the Bionic Bar concept.

"Our research said it was tired, it was underutilized, and so it gave us a great opportunity to lean into consumer testing and say, an awesome tiki bar is going to be a really great place if we do it right."

The result is the Pesky Parrot, which he believes is a home run for guests.

Over on the pool deck, there's a new complimentary food truck that gives passengers great complimentary food close to the pools. 

The Spare Tire serves up snacks on Utopia, and it's part of the evolution of an idea to offer more great complimentary options that was first conceived with the Aquadome Market on Icon of the Seas.

Read more: What the Food Was Like on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

"Our research has said they want the unapologetic resort day when they're at sea. And that is amazing access to water, great views and then great food, so they don't have to go very far."

Read more: Utopia of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Weekends now, but a ship for everywhere

Royal Caribbean turned a few heads when it announced Utopia of the Seas would begin with just 3- and 4-night cruises instead of 7-night voyages.  It flew in the face of what traditionally a new ship would do, but Royal Caribbean wanted to offer the very best weekend ship to attract new cruisers.

Read more: 5 moves Royal Caribbean is making to overhaul its weekend cruise business

That's the plan for now, but Utopia of the Seas is ready to longer cruises, should the need arise.

"If you think of kind of the evolution of all of our ships, none of them stay in the perfect itinerary, in the perfect location," Mr. Schneider explained.

"We really honed in on designing a global ship that matches what our brand ambition, our brand DNA, and then all rooted in what our guests are looking for us to deliver."

"I would argue Icon unapologetically has been the best of that so far, and I would also argue Utopia builds on that."