Royal Caribbean Blog

If you believe that time is money, there are ways to spend extra to bypass waits on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

A cruise vacation usually includes shows, activities, shore excursions, and lots of other fun onboard.  However, there are thousands of other passengers who also want to do the same thing.

Sometimes there are short waits, while other times, long lines develop for the very popular activities. You could plan ahead and arrive early, book certain things in advance, or hope for the best.  Or you could throw money at the problem.

Spending more money isn't always the solution and you can have a great cruise without spending more money on add-ons.  But for some people, it's worth it to have a more convenient experience. 

If you value time over money, here are four upgrades you could pay for to wait less and skip lines on your Royal Caribbean cruise.

The Key

Perhaps the most popular way to skip a few lines on your cruise is to buy Royal Caribbean's VIP pass, known as The Key.

The Key is an optional purchase to be made before the cruise begins, where guests get extra 1its.  

Benefits of The Key include priority embarkation, special reserved times at signature top deck attractions, tendering priority, and more.

Buying The Key should save you time with a shorter wait to board the cruise ship, as well as disembarking it.  Guests that buy The Key can also enjoy times at specific attractions on their ship, like the rock climbing wall or Flowrider.

The downside to The Key is you have to buy it for everyone in your group above the age of 6 and you have to pay a daily fee for every day of your cruise. Plus, most of the best benefits are just on embarkation day.

However, The Key is the most affordable option on this list and it will shave off some time.

Book a Suite

Another way to bypass a few lines is to stay in a suite instead of a lower category stateroom.

Royal Caribbean has two tiers of suite experiences: the Royal Suite Class on Oasis, Quantum, and Icon Class ships; and the rest of the fleet. There are more lucrative benefits if you're on a ship with Royal Suite Class benefits.

Read more: Royal Caribbean suites overview

There are a few ways staying in a suite can benefit you by skipping lines.

First, you'll get priority embarkation and disembarkation.  When you arrive to the cruise port, there will be a special line just for suite guests and that is almost always shorter than the regular line. Moreover, you'll board the ship first (if they have not started the embarkation process yet).

Priority disembarkation is my favorite suite benefit, as the suite concierge will escort you off the ship and cut through the usually long line on that final morning. This single benefit has saved me a lot of time and my family's sanity trying to get off the ship after the cruise is over.

Suite guests also have reserved seating at shows to enjoy. It's not always the best place to sit, but they are indeed reserved spots for suite guests (as well as top tier Crown and Anchor members). 

While suite guests do not get any special times at signature attractions like those that have The Key, there is reserved seating for suite guests on the pool deck.  Pool deck chairs go quickly, so it's a nice way to not have to be as competitive for a pool chair.

Some of the suite benefits sound similar to The Key, but with a suite you also get an opulent and expansive cabin.

It's also worth mentioning the suite benefits on Royal Caribbean's newer ships are more lucrative than on their older ships.

Read more: Differences between a suite and a balcony

Use a Royal Genie

If you really want to eliminate as many lines as possible, then you should book a Star Class suite.

Star Class is the exclusive top tier of Royal Caribbean's suite program, and guests in these cabins not only get the largest suites on the ship, they also get the service of the Royal Genie.

The Royal Genie is the "easy button" for your cruise, and they can get you access to just about anything without waits.

Not only do you have the regular suite benefits mentioned earlier, but your Genie escorts you onboard the ship at the cruise terminal and is there to get you pretty much anything you want.

You can completely bypass lines for shows, ice skating, laser tag, elevators, and even getting back on the ship.  You just message your Genie with Whatsapp and they'll help you out.

Genies cannot quite bypass every single line (i.e. water slides are still on your own), but it's truly the best choice for anyone that absolutely wants to avoid lines or waits on their cruise and money is not an object.

As you might imagine, a Star Class suite is not cheap.  Often the price for these suites cost five figures, with some of the top suites actually exceeding $80,000.

Private shore excursions

If there's one kind of waiting on a cruise that I personally detest the most, it's waits for a group shore excursion. 

Shore excursions are a lot of fun, but group excursions tend to epitomize the saying, "hurry up and wait". I like to explore things at my pace, and while group shore excursions are quite affordable, I prefer to do things on my own in certain ports.

Booking a private shore excursion could alleviate waits by allowing you to get going and stop and start when you want to.

You could book a private sightseeing tour, or charter a catamaran. There are even Royal Caribbean private excursions you can book through the Private Journeys department.

The downside to a private excursion is the cost.  You'll probably pay much more per person than on a group tour.

A free upgrade: Express Boarding

While everything in our list costs extra, there's an easy way to skip at least one line on your cruise and that's with Express Boarding.

If you happen to sail on a ship that supports Express Boarding, Royal Caribbean will reward you with a faster way to get onto the ship for free.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Express Boarding Review

If you complete all the steps of the check-in process via the Royal Caribbean app, you should get Express Boarding on your SetSail pass automatically.

You'll need to use the app to enter all your information, scan your passport, take a selfie, and answer the health questionnaire the day before the cruise begins.

Read more: Royal Caribbean boarding process walkthrough

It's only available at certain ports and ships, but it's free!

Utopia of the Seas is not only one of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships, but she's packed with lots to do.

If you're like me, you're going to want to take advantage of everything Royal Caribbean has added to this ship. There's lots to see, do, and eat onboard, and you only have a few nights to try everything.

Although the cruise fare is likely higher on Utopia of the Seas than other ships doing short cruises, Utopia has some of the best in class features that you won't get on those ships.

Here are five things to consider before you sail on Utopia of the Seas.

Royal Railway is the hot ticket

Royal Caribbean may have outdone itself with its new immersive dining restaurant experience because demand for it has been quite high.

Royal Railway at Utopia Station is more than just a specialty restaurant. It's an adventure through food and story, and a lot of passengers are clearly interested in booking it.

Reservations are slowly rolling out to be able to book it, but you're going to need to be quick to grab one. The combination of high interest to try it along with cruisers collaborating on social media to alert each other when reservations are available is leading to Royal Railway selling out quickly.

My advice is to book a reservation in advance once they become available on the website, even if you have a Royal Caribbean dining package or you're sailing in Star Class.  

You can always get a refund onboard the ship once you point out you have one of those things, and being assured of a spot via this method makes the most sense.

I'd also advise you to join a Facebook group for your sailing to be alerted by others when Royal Railway pops up to book.

If eating at Royal Railway is important to you, then definitely book early and don't wait.

Read more: 7 ways to learn everything you can about your cruise

A lot of the new parties are late night

There are a lot of new parties and events on Utopia of the Seas, and many of them are at night.

Royal Caribbean wanted Utopia of the Seas to offer more to do than its other ships, and it greatly expanded its activities. In addition to the usual Royal Caribbean events, you'll find new pool parties, dance parties, fraternization events, and more.

The new pool events, such as the Plunge Day Pool Party, are still during the day, so there's no concern there. But if you want to experience many of the new events, it's going to be a late night.

These include:

• Toga silent party
• ReZolution Dance Party
• Royal Kappa Chi college party
• Red DJ party
• The Quest adult scavenger hunt

It seems many of the events don't begin until 11pm, and many are only offered once per sailing.  

The key is to look at the schedule ahead of time, and take a nap during the day or load up on coffee so you can make it to the late night hours. Some parties have been going until about 4am.

Plan your port day around CocoCay, not Nassau

Time is limited on a weekend cruise, so if you're going to make plans on shore, do it on your visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

I'm not disparaging Nassau specifically, rather, pointing out which port to prioritize since it makes sense to also have time for all the fun things to do on Utopia.

Utopia of the Seas has a lot to do, and there's a good argument for staying onboard the ship on one of the port days in order to enjoy more of the ship.

Staying onboard the ship means you could enjoy more time at the pool, less of a wait at the water slides, sample a different restaurant, or go down the Ultimate Abyss.

Not only are there a lot of good choices for what to do at CocoCay, but I find Nassau's shore excursions options limiting in the sense of compelling choices. I actually prefer the beaches around Nassau more than CocoCay, but Royal Caribbean has fine-tuned its private island game to a point where it's far more likely to have a fun time ashore.

Don't take this tip to mean you shouldn't get off the ship at Nassau, rather, if you want to do one port day, I'd pick CocoCay.

The Mason Jar bar is underrated entertainment

Royal Caribbean says Utopia of the Seas is the ultimate party ship, but the Mason Jar bar is where you ought to be going every night.

With all due respect to the Pesky Parrot, English Pub, Schooner Bar, and Red dance party, my go-to evening music spot was the Mason Jar in order to see the Country Trio perform there.

Bryan, Jeff, and Josh put on a great show, and even though I'm not a big country music fan, it's the right mix of new and classic hits that I think anyone can enjoy. 

Equally compelling are the bar menu choices. Be sure to try the PB&J Old Fashioned for my absolute favorite cruise drink.

It makes sense to wander on Utopia and sample a variety of bars and lounges each evening, but I recommend stopping by to see the boys in the Mason Jar.

Secrets I discovered on Utopia of the Seas

I spent over a week on Utopia of the Seas taking in as much as I can, and ran across various tidbits I think would benefit anyone.

None of these are "I can't believe how amazing this tip is" sort of secrets, but I do think you'll have a better cruise if you know about them.

Expedited boarding: You can get on Utopia of the Seas faster with expedited boarding at Port Canaveral. Simply do everything in the Royal Caribbean app, and you can qualify for it and it's free.

You can get coffee at Giovanni's: If the line for coffee is too long in the Windjammer or Cafe Promenade, Giovanni's wine bar has an espresso machine. It might not help you early in the morning, but they're open during the day.

You can order food at Giovanni's wine bar: Another Giovanni's tip is to go to the bar for a snack or a meal. There is a limited food menu you can order from, and this can be great for a quick bite or a workaround if you cannot get a reservation at the restaurant.

The shaved ice isn't covered by a package yet: I love that Royal Caribbean added shaved ice to the Wipeout Bar at the back of the ship near the Ultimate Abyss, but your drink or dining packages won't cover it yet. Royal Caribbean may revisit that rule in the future, but for now, plan to spend extra on it.

Look for espresso martini machines: Utopia is the second Royal Caribbean ship to add espresso martini machines to some of its bars (Icon of the Seas had it first), and it's something espresso martini fans seem to love. I spotted one at the casino bar and Schooner Bar so far.

There are USB plugs at a lot of bars: If you need to charge your devices, look for USB plugs below the bar. The Solarium Bar, Schooner Bar, and Pesky Parrot all had USB plugs below the bar to keep your devices charged.

You can buy Wowbands: Royal Caribbean sells its useful RFID bracelets on Utopia of the Seas. Known as Wowbands, you can buy them at Guest Services for $9.99 each.

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It's been 15 years since Royal Caribbean introduced the megaship to the world, and they remain massively popular for good reason.

What makes these ships so successful? 

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, answered this question at a talk on Utopia of the Seas' preview cruise last month.

Ashely Kosciolek from The Points Guy asked, "What about the Oasis Class makes it so popular that you're still rolling out new ships 15 years later?"

"This class of ship for Royal Caribbean has been a true game changer," Bayley replied, "Its level of satisfaction for the customer is epic."

When Oasis of the Seas, the first Oasis Class ship, debuted in 2009, it was a really big deal. 

Spanning 1,186 feet long, with a capacity for 6,780 passengers, it was the largest cruise ship in the world.

The Oasis Class remained the largest cruise ships until they were dethroned by Royal Caribbean's next big project: The Icon Class.

Icon of the Seas, launched in 2024, measures a whopping 1,196 feet long and can carry 7,514 guests.

Read more: See how Royal Caribbean ships stack up by size (2024)

Neighborhoods are part of what makes these ships so successful

Royal Caribbean's dominance on huge ships has been extremely profitable for the cruise line.

The sense of breaking a record by sailing the biggest cruise ships draws in passengers, as well as the opportunity for extra onboard amenities.

Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO, explained that “Newer, larger ships can break even on cash flow at around 35% capacity, while older, smaller ships are closer to 50%."

After releasing one Icon Class ship and a new Oasis Class ship, Royal Caribbean is experiencing record profits this year. 

Neighborhoods have become Royal Caribbean's formula for creating a successful mega-ship.

According to Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO, part of the Oasis Class' success lies in its size separating into different neighborhoods.

"Ironically, the reason why it works so well is neighborhoods," he said.

"Neighborhoods have been able to pull people together into spaces that they really enjoy. And it creates a feeling of spaciousness elsewhere."

Royal Caribbean intends for its neighborhoods to offer something for everyone; a place where like-minded cruisers can congregate.

"The neighborhood concept [is about] creating spaces for family and everyone has something [they] are excited to do during the day."

The huge size of an Oasis Class ship allows it to be separated into different neighborhoods, which then assists cruisers in better navigating the vessel.

Having a cluster of neighborhoods on a cruise ship serves to make it feel even bigger, while also providing separate spaces depending on a cruiser's interests.

On Wonder of the Seas, launched in 2022, eight neighborhoods provide space for every attraction. Utopia of the Seas also has eight neighborhoods.

For those looking for active fun, the Pool and Sports Zone is located on the top decks, providing pools, waterslides, and other sports activities.

Quiet nature lovers will enjoy the open-air Central Park and its dining venues, while the Royal Promenade is an exciting, happening area, filled with shops, bars, and dining.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Oasis Class Ships by Age

Different neighborhoods allow families and groups to separate during the day, enjoy their preferences, and then come together for an evening meal and a show.

"It's the perfect family vacation because it's great to be with your family... to a degree." Bayley pointed out. "Sometimes you don't want to be with them, you know. So all day, everybody goes off and does their thing."

Royal Caribbean continued this concept into the Icon Class.

Icon of the Seas boasts eight neighborhoods, one of which focuses completely on providing a space for little kids to have fun.

Surfside neighborhood was designed specifically for younger children to enjoy, with quick bites, a colorful Playscape area, and the Splashaway Bay pool area.

"We really focused on bringing the little kids into Surfside," Bayley said.

According to him, hundreds of little kids and their parents went from running all over the ship to spending their days in Surfside neighborhood.

"And they love that space. You can't get those kids out."

Royal Caribbean is dedicated to the Oasis Class

Mr. Bayley spoke to Royal Caribbean's dedication to its Oasis Class.

He recently sailed on Oasis of the Seas for the 2024 President's Cruise.

"I hadn't been on Oasis for a number of years," he said, "And as I looked around that ship, I'm like, wow, what a great ship!"

The Oasis Class has been a game-changing, record-breaking family of ships for the cruise line.

Read more: I've only sailed Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships: Will I be disappointed if I try other ships?

Additionally, Oasis Class ships are aging very well. Royal Caribbean has invested a lot into these ships and plans to continue doing so.

"Just before the pandemic, we put almost a quarter of $1 billion into one of the Oasis class ships just to bring it up to speed."

In 2019, Oasis of the Seas underwent a Royal Amplification that added new amenities and changes.

The ship received guest favorites such as:

• Re-designed, Caribbean-style pool deck
• Lime & Coconut signature bar
• Ultimate Abyss slide (dry slide)
• The Perfect Storm water slides
• Splashaway Bay Aqua Park
• Portside BBQ specialty restaurant
• El Loco Fresh complimentary Mexican restaurant
• Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade
• Sugar Beach Candy Shop
• Spotlight Karaoke venue
• Music Hall live music venue
• Bionic Bar
• Revamped Adventure Ocean
• Mission Control: Apollo 18 escape room

"We are dedicated to the Oasis Class," Bayley said.

Big changes are coming to Allure of the Seas in 2025.

Royal Caribbean released details on the biggest changes it will make to Allure of the Seas during her upcoming refurbishment.

Like other Royal Caribbean cruise ships that have been updated over the years, Allure will get new restaurants, updates to certain venues, and even some new ideas.

Allure goes in for upgrade work in March 2025 and will re-enter service in April 2025 while in Europe.

Here's everything we know so far about what Royal Caribbean has planned.

Amplified Allure of the Seas

Royal Caribbean says Allure of the Seas will have over 35 places to eat, drink and splash onboard when the work is done.

In total, it's a $100 million-plus upgrade to one of the world's biggest cruise ships that will radically transform the cruise ship.

Redesigned resort-style pool deck

The pool deck on Allure of the Seas will get a refresh that have a more vibrant look and new bars too.

In past refurbishments, Royal Caribbean places a greater focus on ways to lounge and enjoy the area. This includes not only Caribbean inspired decor, but new seating, updated hot tubs, and the addition of The Lime & Coconut pool bar.

The cruise line calls it a resort style pool deck to give the entire area a lift.

The pool deck on Utopia of the Seas is a good indicator of what you can expect with Allure's pools, given Utopia's version has the best in class features right now.

Ultimate Abyss slide

The longest dry slide at sea is confirmed to be added to the back of Allure of the Seas.

The Ultimate Abyss are a pair of two slides perched 150 feet above sea level. They're dry slides, and riders slide down a specially designed mat.

As there are two slides side by side, you can race to the bottom with a fellow passenger.

The slide starts by climbing through the mouth of an entrance designed like an anglerfish predator. The entrance has a glass floor and views of the aft below, which gets your adrenaline pumping even before the slide starts.

It's unclear if it will be longer than the slide on Utopia of the Seas, which measures 259 feet long and is 43 feet longer than on other Oasis Class ships.

Another change will be the addition of shaved ice bar near the entrance to the slide, offering ice in a variety of flavors.

Perfect Storm waterslides

Royal Caribbean will add water slides to Allure of the Seas, and they will almost certainly be just like the slides found on other Oasis Class ships.

The Perfect Storm trio of water slides offer two racer slides and a champagne bowl slide that are included in your cruise fare.  As you slide down any of the slides, you will twist and turn three decks into a splashy finish.

There is no cost to use the water slides.

Splashaway Bay

Splashaway Bay aqua park is the perfect refuge for kids.

Kids will find fountains, buckets, sprays and even slides that they can enjoy all day long.  There's even a special area reserved just for toddlers who are still in diapers.

Pesky Parrot bar

Royal Caribbean's new tiki bar will make it onto Allure of the Seas.

It's a twist on the traditional tiki bar, with an infusion of Caribbean vibes. There's a wide menu of fruit-based cocktails, alongside frozen drinks too.

A fun spot to hang out, this bar offers a vibrant and open spot for guests to enjoy a drink on the Royal Promenade.

New restaurants

Royal Caribbean did not specify exactly which restaurants will be added to the ship, but a teaser video showed what we can expect at least three new restaurants:

• Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade (specialty)
• Mason Jar southern American food restaurant (specialty)
• El Loco Fresh Mexican fare (included)

The cruise line advertises there will be 20 places to eat onboard, along with 17 bars.

Escape room

If you love a good puzzle, the escape room will challenge you and your team to figure out clues to solve a larger puzzle.

Escape rooms allow passengers the chance to do beat a timed challenge where a specially designed room has all sorts of puzzles and riddles that you must solve in order to complete the proper sequence to "escape" the room.

The theme for the Escape room on Allure of the Seas will be "Apollo 18: Lunar Landing", which is themed to a landing on the moon.

Escape rooms on other Royal Caribbean ships range in duration and theme, but Utopia of the Seas recently debuted an escape room that was just 30 minutes long.

Glow-in-the-dark laser tag

A fun family activity with no extra cost is laser tag.

Guests can put on  special laser tag vests, grab a laser tag gun and head into the arena for a fast-paced team-game that rewards the group that works well together and coordinates their efforts.  

Ultimate Panoramic Suite

First added to Oasis of the Seas, the Ultimate Panoramic Suite offers 914 square feet of space and sweeping 200 degree views from wall to wall and floor to ceiling glass windows.

The Star Class suite has a walk-in closet, and upgraded bathroom with panoramic views of its own.

Kids & Teens spaces

The dedicated areas for kids on Allure will also get an update.

A revamped Adventure Ocean space will include:

• Play Place, the AO Theater
• Hands-on art, science and tech at Workshop
• Physical, interactive games at Arena
• The Hangout
• Dedicated programs for babies and younger kids

The teen club will be updates as well, with the new Social298 venue.

Big ship with big updates

Allure of the Seas launched in 2010, one year after the namesake ship of the Oasis Class. The 225,282 gross registered ton vessel was the largest cruise ship in the world until the launch of Harmony of the Seas and was the second to feature the revolutionizing neighborhood concept. 

Still one of the largest ships in the world, she's able to accommodate over 6,000 passengers on any given sailing and boasts four swimming pools, multiple hot tubs, rock climbing walls, a casino, and more.

Onboard, guests can stroll through the peaceful Central Park, enjoy a jaw-dropping show at the Boardwalk's AquaTheater, or grab a drink at one of the bars in the Royal Promenade, including the Rising Tide Bar that transports passengers from Deck 5 to Deck 8.

Dining options include the three-story Main Dining Room, Sorrento's, Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, the Oasis Class-exclusive 150 Central Park, suite-only Coastal Kitchen, Johnny Rockets, and more.

Though she lacked water slides and a massive dry slide for years, the top decks still delivered an adrenaline-pumping experience, from the dual FlowRiders to the zip line, sports court, and mini-golf course.

Initially, Allure of the Seas was slated to undergo a major renovation in 2020; however, the project was paused due to the pandemic.

Sailing in April 2025

Following her amplification, Allure of the Seas will remain in Europe for the summer 2025 season, a first since 2015. Sailing from Barcelona and Rome (Civitavecchia) on 7-night cruises, vacationers can explore idyllic destinations in Spain, France, and Italy.
After exploring iconic landmarks like the Leaning Tower of Pisa or dining on authentic Neapolitan pizza in Naples, guests can return to one of the largest ships in the world for a night of fun. From dazzling ice skating shows to the theatrical hit "Mamma Mia!" there's so much to be enjoyed onboard.

She will sail on limited shorter cruises, including an inaugural 4-night cruise from Barcelona on April 11, in which her brand-new features will be debuted. Prices currently start at $602 per person for this sailing.

Allure of the Seas will then embark on a 5-night cruise from Barcelona to Provence (Marseille), France; Florence / Pisa (La Spezia), Italy; and Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy before settling into her routine weeklong cruises for the remainder of the season.

The one exception is a 3-night cruise from Rome (Civitavecchia) to Barcelona before she makes her way across the Atlantic for a winter season in the Caribbean, offering cruises ranging from 6 to 8 nights. Then, she'll relocate to Galveston, Texas, sailing to the Western Caribbean in April 2026.

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas is not only the newest cruise ship in the world, but she boasts a number of new features, improved areas, and more to do onboard.  

Don't let the fact Utopia is the sixth Oasis Class ship fool you, there's a lot that's changed onboard the average cruiser may not know about.

After checking out Utopia for over a week, it's clear to our team that Utopia stands out in a few ways.  We dug through all the experiences onboard to share with you some interesting facts and things you might not yet know about this cruise ship.

70% of passengers on a short cruise are new cruisers

Royal Caribbean made the unorthodox decision to start Utopia of the Seas sailing short 3- and 4-night cruises instead of 7-night cruises because they wanted to attract people that had never cruised before.

New cruisers represent the single largest source of new customers for any cruise line, so finding a way to get more new cruisers is the path to financial success.

In Royal Caribbean Group's second quarter earnings report, the company shared an interesting fact about how many people brand new to cruise ships end up on short cruises.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty mentioned that 70% of passengers on a short cruise have never cruised before, "our short Caribbean cruise product is an important entry point for new-to-cruise and new-to-brand with nearly 7 and 10 guests following in these categories and always skewing more toward younger customers."

He also added that 40% of guests who are younger cruisers have indicated that they intend to book a short vacation in the next 12 months.  

Plus, 90% of guests who sail on a short Royal Caribbean cruise intend to cruise again with roughly half planning to return for a longer cruise.

The math points to Utopia of the Seas being a giant magnet for growing the company's customer base.

It’s five times bigger than the Titanic

For some reason everyone likes to compare cruise ships to the RMS Titanic, so Utopia of the Seas is approximately five times bigger with a gross tonnage of 236,473 (the Titanic weighed 46,328 tons).

Utopia is not the biggest cruise ship in the world, as that title is still held by sister vessel Icon of the Seas. Icon has a gross tonnage of 250,800.

Utopia of the Seas has 18 decks, 2,834 staterooms, and it can hold up to 5,668 guests.

Read more: Comparing Titanic vs biggest cruise ship in the world

Sailing short cruises didn't change how Royal Caribbean designed the ship

While Utopia of the Seas is sailing short cruises now, the ship is ready for any itinerary, should the need arise.

I spoke with Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider while onboard the new ship about the design of Utopia, and he said all new cruise ships are built to handle any kind of sailing.

When asked about building a ship for short cruises, he responded, "we design a global ship independent of itinerary."

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

So while Utopia of the Seas is scheduled to sail short cruises now, if that plan were to change in the future, Utopia would be ready for it.

The new immersive train restaurant is "an infinite storytelling platform"

If there's been one venue that truly stands out on Utopia of the Seas, it's the new immersive train car restaurant that is arguably the most innovative dining concepts out there.

The Royal Railway is Royal Caribbean's first fully immersive restaurant, which means you feel like you're really in a classic train with a story to match the food and drink you're served.

Read more: Royal Railway is unlike any cruise ship restaurant I ever experienced

Mr. Schneider talked about how Royal Railway is more than just another specialty restaurant, "I don't want people to think about it as a specialty restaurant, because it's not. It's a really meant to be an experience you've never done before."

When you dine at Royal Railway, you'll see that the venue is capable of taking guests through an entire journey with food, visuals, sounds, and even a light-hearted story.

"It is truly is an infinite storytelling platform," Mr. Schneider said in talking about their plans for this restaurant.

Royal Caribbean's research tells them most guests are looking for first experiences, bonding with their family members, and memories with their family.

He believes Royal Railway has plenty of that wow factor to make it something truly special.

21 places to eat, 23 bars, five pools, three water slides and two casinos

If you're worried about being bored on Utopia of the Seas, you can safely disregard that concern because Royal Caribbean has packed the ship with so much to do!

There's sushi, Italian, steaks, burgers, and plenty of snacks to keep you satisfied every day. Utopia has a good blend of included and extra-cost dining spots, and you don't have to go very far to find one.  

Of all the bars onboard, the Pesky Parrot is the most notable because it's a brand new concept.  A tiki bar located right on the Royal Promenade as you walk onto the ship, it has frozen concoctions that go beyond just a pina colada. Plus, it's a fun bar to sit and talk with friends.

You'll find pools, water slides, a surf simulator, rock climbing wall, an escape room, laser tag, mini golf, and that's just on the top deck. 

Royal Caribbean's entertainment is second-to-none because they develop original shows that push limits of what you'd expect to find on a cruise ship.

Aqua80sToo is the show in the ship's open air amphitheater that plays nothing but music from the decade of excess. Not only is it nostalgic, but the performers have some amazing athleticism they put on in each show.

There's also a production show in the Royal Theater as well as the ice skating rink, and I appreciate all the shows are less than an hour to leave you more time to get out and enjoy other activities.

The next new Royal Caribbean ship class could be here in the next few years.

A new smaller ship class could be built within the next three to four years, according to Royal Caribbean International’s CEO and President, Michael Bayley. This new ship class with smaller ships has been dubbed “Project Discovery.”

In a collaborative interview posted on Instagram between Royal Caribbean International, Michael Bayley, and Devon Rodriguez, Bayley talks about the upcoming plans for the Discovery Class. The interview was filmed onboard Utopia of the Seas, which is Royal Caribbean’s newest ship that just debuted last month.

During the casual interview, artist Devon Rodriguez draws a portrait of Bayley while asking questions about the cruise line’s exciting upcoming plans. Rodriguez asks Bayley, “What opportunities are you most excited about for Royal Caribbean in the coming years?”

Bayley responds by reflecting on how far Royal Caribbean has come this year with its newly-built mega ships before discussing the future of the brand. First, Bayley discussed how Icon of the Seas, which was launched in January 2024, is the most successful new ship that Royal Caribbean has ever launched.

However, Bayley continues to discuss Royal Caribbean’s future plans for new ship classes, hinting at the new Discovery Class.

“We’re working now on another class of ship called Discovery Class. So, that’s going to be super exciting. That’ll come in about another 3 to 4 years from now,” states Bayley in the interview.

Little details have been revealed about Royal Caribbean’s “Project Discovery”, although the cruise line has been slowly discussing the new ship class more frequently. Rumors have been circling for years about Royal Caribbean’s upcoming plans to build new ships of smaller size. However, the cruise line has not confirmed many details about Project Discovery.

If Royal Caribbean continues its naming trend, the first vessel from Discovery Class could be named Discovery of the Seas. Similarly, the Icon Class was named before the flagship vessel, Icon of the Seas, was announced.

In fact, President and Chief Executive Officer for Royal Caribbean Group, Jason Liberty, commented on the cruise line’s aging fleet and the need for new, smaller ships. As the oldest and smallest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet continue to age, there is an increased need for replacement vessels in the coming years.

During the earnings call, Liberty stated, "We have ships that are reaching 30-35 years [old]. This is not just about what we want to build, it's also [about] replacing ships that will eventually reach their end of life.”

Building smaller ships will become necessary for Royal Caribbean, as the cruise line’s largest vessels are limited for itineraries due to port restrictions. Liberty also mentioned during the earnings call how smaller vessels allow passengers to visit unique destinations, which is a priority for Royal Caribbean.

Moreover, Bayley also commented on Project Discovery earlier this year on Facebook. One cruiser, Thomas Budzyn, commented to Bayley on a Facebook post. He asked Bayley about the prospect of Royal Caribbean building smaller ships that could reach more ports, noting that long-time Royal Caribbean guests find itineraries to Perfect Day at CocoCay to be repetitive.

Bayley responded, “The Royal team is working on a new class and I hope if all the needed hurdles are tackled, we can announce something this year.”

Earlier this year, Bayley also commented to the press about the conceptualization of a new ship class. “From a brand perspective, we recognize we've got two classes of ships, Radiance and Vision, that are doing phenomenal. They're beautiful ships, beautifully constructed.

“But... they're getting older. So we're obviously concepting thoughts and ideas on how we would ultimately replace those ships with a new class of ships,” concluded Bayley.

Although comments about the Discovery Class have been made throughout 2024, Bayley hinted at the new ship class last summer as well. While sailing on Allure of the Seas in 2023 for the President’s Cruise, Bayley was asked about Royal Caribbean’s plans for building smaller ships.

Bayley answered, “It is something that's certainly deeply in our consideration and our planning at the moment that we have a lot of conceptual work going on. I think when we're ready we can we can announce steps that will take to do just that.”

Royal Caribbean’s smallest ships in the Vision and Radiance Class were all built 20 to 30 years ago. The Vision Class has vessels around 73,000 gross tons, with the capacity to hold around 2,400 guests. Grandeur of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s oldest ship at 28-years-old, being built in 1996.

The Radiance Class encompasses ships of slightly larger size, measuring around 90,000 gross tons. These ships can hold similar amount of passengers as the Vision Class, with around 2,400 passengers at maximum capacity.

The places your cruise ship visits are among the top reasons people choose a cruise vacation, but there are mistakes and red flags to avoid when in port.

Each port of call has a variety of tours and activities you can do. You could book a tour through Royal Caribbean or something on your own. In either case, you want to carefully vet any excursion before you book it.

As a frequent cruiser, I've gone on all sorts of shore excursions in ports around the world, including the Caribbean, Alaska, and Europe. Most of my shore excursions have been great, but a few turned out to be duds.

It's a good idea to check what's included with the cost of your tour, safety protocols, what time it begins and ends, as well as what you'll actually do during the tour.

Here are the red flags I look for in any shore excursion before I book that could take away from your enjoyment.

Long transit times for a short visit

A shore excursion that involves many hours in transit to leave you with a short amount of time at the actual destination might be worth rethinking.

It's not uncommon to find a shore excursion that takes you to a bucket list worthy spot, such as visiting a major city, exploring Mayan ruins, or viewing natural wonders.

The problem with some of these tours can be you'll spend more time on a bus travelling to and from the site than actually at the place.

Common examples include Chichén Itzá, visits to Paris, or a transfer to Walt Disney World.

Sometimes cruise ships dock in ports significantly far from these places. While it is possible to go and see these areas, it involves a long bus ride.

If this is your only opportunity to ever visit, then perhaps a marathon bus ride is worth it.  Otherwise, save it for a land visit.

Read more: 8 cruise ship shore excursions our readers tried and instantly regretted

No refunds if your ship can't dock

Before you book any shore excursion, read the rules on cancelling.

In my opinion, any tour operator should refund all of your money (including the deposit) if your ship is unable to dock. Whether it's because of poor weather that day or an itinerary change, the refund policy should cover that scenario.

Most shore excursions don't include a refund if the weather is poor, but if you are physically unable to make it to the tour because your ship isn't in port, then they should refund your money.

If you book a tour with Royal Caribbean, this is standard practice.  However, some third party shore excursions you can book on your own may not offer it.

Read more: What to do if Royal Caribbean's shore excursions are sold out

Panoramic sightseeing tours

It might sound like a great tour, but panoramic sightseeing tours may leave you disappointed with time at the places you'll see behind a window.

Bus tours are great if you like a more casual view, or perhaps you have mobility issues. Moreover, never underestimate how wonderful air conditioning is in the summer months.

However, if your goal is to walk around and explore historical sights or beautiful natural wonders, I'd recommend avoiding a tour that advertises how much you can see from the bus you'll be on.

When I've done these sorts of tours, I usually end up frustrated that I didn't have enough time to see the places.  

"Let me give you a tour of the island"

An island tour from someone with a flimsy sign is not who you want to book a tour on the spot with.

When you walk out of the port area, there's usually a group of taxi drivers who want you to pay them to take you on a tour of the place you're visiting. While I doubt there are safety concerns with them, I would not recommend booking a tour with them because of how open-ended that can be.

Without knowing anything about the tour operator, their knowledge of the area, or total costs, I think there are too many variables.

If you want a driver for the day and/or a private tour of the port you're visiting, I'd recommend doing some research ahead of time and booking that in advance.  That way you can do your research online and read reviews and get recommendations for whom to work with.

Read more: Quick and easy tips for finding a great shore excursion on your own

Museum tours

Museums are a great idea for an activity in port, but you don't need to book an organized tour.

It's easy enough to get to most museums by taking a cab, and then once in the museum, exploring on your own.  

Not only will a museum shore excursion cost you more, but you'll be moving at the pace of the group and without the option to spend more time at the exhibits that interest you.

If you're worried about being able to understand the tour in your native language, there could be audio tours available from the museum or even utilize Google Translate app to be able to instantly translate signs.

Beach breaks

Just like museum tours, you don't need an organized tour to go to the beach.

Sometimes a shore excursion includes a visit to the beach in addition to the primary activity, but if you just want to spend the day at the beach, I'd question the value of an organized tour.

One issue with a beach shore excursion are crowds. If your tour is going to this beach, other shore excursions probably are too, and that's the recipe for a crowded beach day.  Sometimes crowded beaches are unavoidable, but in the Caribbean where beautiful beaches are a dime a dozen, I wouldn't do it.

The other issue with a beach break excursion is it's probably cheaper to book it on your own. 

Do your research and look up taxi rates along with the fees for accessing the beach, resort, or park.

Royal Caribbean has earned a reputation for amazing entertainment, but creating these shows is no simple task.

Royal Caribbean's entertainment team has created dozens of original productions, from music to dialogue to choreography.

At a recent panel interview on Utopia of the Seas, the Royal Caribbean Blog team spoke to the entertainment management onboard, and got some insight into the process of creating shows.

Christine Coachman, Vice President of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International, was just promoted to oversee the line's entertainment this May.

After 30-plus years of experience in Royal Caribbean entertainment, here's what she had to say about creating original shows and entertainment for new ships.

How long does it take to create an original show?

During the panel interview, the team was asked how long it takes to brainstorm, design, and create an original show.

Christine Coachman, Vice President of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International, answered that it takes about 18 months. 

They often don't start from nothing—"We have an idea bank," she said.

But 18 months before a ship launches is the 'go time' to start fleshing out an idea and producing the show.

For Utopia of the Seas, the team actually had a more accelerated schedule.

Read more: Royal Caribbean reveals shows and parties for its new mega cruise ship

"We finished [Icon] in January, and then we were like, oh, yeah, there's Utopia," she said. "So we went fast and furious."

The entertainment team has already started preparing for the next Icon Class ship, Star of the Seas.

With the ship launching in August of 2025, the team officially has 12 months to prepare.

According to Coachman, "We know that we're in a great place for Star."

Will Royal Caribbean produce more original shows?

Not every new Royal Caribbean ship has an original show.

Icon of the Seas, for example, hosts a Broadway-style production of The Wizard of Oz.

However, the entertainment crew has every intention to keep creating original productions.

It's one of Coachman's favorite parts of her job and the most fun she has in her role.

Alex Marchant, Senior and Managing producer of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International, explained that it depends on each ship's itinerary and demographic.

"It's about the demographic, where the ship is sailing, how long the cruise is," he said.

"But we work with some incredibly talented creatives, and it's the direction we want to go."

Working with creators who write original music, direct choreography, and create costumes is one of the most exciting parts of the job.

Coachman and her team value human artistry, and want to highlight it in their productions.

Plus, the team gets to create something that they personally love.

For example, Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean President and CEO, loves the Caribbean, so that inspired the show “Columbus, The Musical”.

"That's the fun part of what we do," Coachman said, "is sitting in a room and just brainstorming all the different ideas."

With such a creative team, they can keep creating stellar entertainment for many years to come.

How long does it take for entertainment to run smoothly on a new ship?

Brand new ships don't always have everything ready for the first sailing. It can take a few sailings for everything to be up and running as planned.

So, when a new ship like Utopia launches, when does the entertainment team sign off on it?

The entertainment management team was on board Utopia of the Seas to oversee its launch, and spent a week after the inaugural manage the launch.

"We're never done," Coachman joked, "But it gets to a point where you have to let it run and operate."

However, Utopia's launch, despite being a new challenge in the world of entertainment, "has been one of the most smooth transitions."

When it came to getting the venues and shows ready, things went smoothly for inauguration.

"We're in a very good place," Coachman said.

To keep entertainment up to guests' expectations, the team is also open to feedback at all times.

Which shows are on which Royal Caribbean ships?

Royal Caribbean currently has 38 original shows in production.

Not all of its ships host an in-house produced show, but some shows are available on multiple vessels.

Below, we've collected all the current shows, and which ships they're available on.

• All in!: Utopia of the Seas
• The Effectors I: Odyssey of the Seas
• The Effectors II: Wonder of the Seas
• Live. Love. Legs: Ovation of the Seas
• Flight: Symphony of the Seas
• The Gift: Anthem of the Seas
• Sonic Odyssey: Quantum of the Seas
• The Beautiful Dream: Ovation of the Seas
• Blue Planet: Allure of the Seas
• Invitation to Dance: Adventure of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas, and Independence of the Seas
• Wild, Cool, and Swinging: Explorer of the Seas
• Ballroom Fever: Rhapsody of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas
• Piano Man: Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas
• City of Dreams: Jewel of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas
• Once Upon a Time: Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas
• Fast Forward: Explorer of the Seas
• Tango Buenos Aires: Jewel of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas
• Colombus: Harmony of the Seas
• Pure Country: Rhapsody of the Seas
• Center Stage: Brilliance of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas
• Vibeology: Serenade of the Seas
• Boogie Wonderland: Vision of the Seas
• Music in Pictures: Voyager of the Seas
• Spectra's Cabaret: Anthem of the Seas
• Can't Stop the Rock: Adventure of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas
• Star Water: Quantum of the Seas
• In the Air: Liberty of the Seas
• One Sky: Oasis of the Seas
• Showgirl: Navigator of the Seas, Odyssey of the Seas, and Spectrum of the Seas
• The Silk Road: Spectrum of the Seas
• Voices: Wonder of the Seas
• Sequins and Feathers: Quantum of the Seas
• Jackpot: Adventure of the Seas
• Gallery of Dreams: Mariner of the Seas
• Marquee: Freedom of the Seas
• Stage to Screen: Enchantment of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas
• Now and Forever: Brilliance of the Seas
• West End to Broadway: Jewel of the Seas

Happy Sunday! We hope you are having a great weekend! Now it is time to sit back, relax, and catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from the week!

After spending over a week on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, Matt thinks the ship's best in class features really make it stand out.

For just short 3- and 4-night sailings, it's impressive how much there is to do onboard.  The ship has some of the best venues that you'll find on any ship, and there's more activities and parties than ever before.

Don't let the weekend party ship marketing fool you, Utopia is a great ship for a lot of reasons.

Royal Caribbean News

• New Caribbean cruises released for 2025
• I tried every Oasis Class cruise ship, here's how I would rank them
• The best things I ate on Utopia of the Seas
• I paid $30 to try the new escape room on Utopia of the Seas and it was worth it
• I had 2 hours to explore 1,000-year-old Mayan ruins. It was a remarkable experience
• Royal Caribbean makes $137 million Alaska port investment, new beach club director
• European cruise outfits and packing guide for women
• A private karaoke room costs $70 and it was a fun splurge for my family

New RCB Video: All the things I HATE about Icon of the Seas

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — All the things I HATE about Icon of the Seas — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast

The 540th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, with a cruise review of Utopia of the Seas.

Matt shares his major takeaways from trying Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.

Please feel free to subscribe via iTunes or RSS, and head over to rate and review the podcast on iTunes if you can! We’d appreciate it.

Why Royal Caribbean's cruise prices will keep rising

Demand for booking a Royal Caribbean cruise is so strong right now that the company expects prices to keep going up.

During the company's earnings call with Wall Street analysts, executives said talked about an upward trend in prices going in to 2025 and beyond.

Royal Caribbean sees its customers are willing to not only book more cruises, but book them at higher prices.

Vintage photos show what cruises used to look like

A cruise ship 40 years ago looked different than what we see today.

Photos from Royal Caribbean cruises in the 1980s reveal the experience is similar, but ships had different offerings too.

There was a midnight buffet, glitter-filled performances, Country Western nights, pirate night and more.

Things you should never do in the suite lounge

The suite lounge is reserved for passengers that booked a suite stateroom, and Matt thinks there are some good rules of thumb to follow in there.

Suite guests and Pinnacle Club members are able to access the lounge, which includes complimentary beverages in the evening, snacks throughout the day, a self-service coffee machine, and plush seating.

It's a wonderful perk for anyone staying in a suite, but Matt cautions what not to do in there.

After 90 cruises, these are the 5 best restaurants (one isn't on a ship)

Dinner is arguably the most popular meal on a Royal Caribbean ship, so Matt ranked the top restaurants in the fleet.

There are a lot of choices of where you can eat on your ship, including restaurants that have an extra cost. 

The top restaurants that stood out among all of them include one that isn't even on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Ready to catch up on what's happening with Royal Caribbean cruises?

With a fleet of 28 ships, there are always going to be things happening and in an effort to keep everyone up to date, here's a quick run through of the latest news from this week.

Think of these as quick hits of changes and news that you should be aware of that changed in the last few days.

Royal Caribbean backs new Seward cruise port purchase agreement

Image courtesy of The Seward Company

Plans were approved this week for a new $137 million cruise ship port in Seward, Alaska that should be ready for the 2026 cruise season.

The Alaska Railroad board voted to approve the purchase of the soon-to-be-built dock that can handle larger ships.

Royal Caribbean's role is to act as the anchor tenant, which gives Royal Caribbean preferential docking rights.  Other cruise lines can still use the port.

Image courtesy of The Seward Company

Plans are for a 68,000 square foot terminal building, which includes a 150-foot transfer span to connect cruisers to an Alaska Railroad train and other ground transportation.

The 750-foot, two-berth floating dock will be the largest floating pier in the state.

The deal is for 30 years and the vote allows the railroad to enter into agreements with the project developer.

Construction on the terminal is scheduled to begin this autumn after Seward’s cruise season ends.

New environmental director named for Royal Beach Club Paradise Island

Royal Caribbean appointed Stacy Lubin as director of environment and sustainability for its new beach club project in Nassau, Bahamas.

Royal Beach Club Paradise Island will open next year to offer a 17-acre beachfront experience in Nassau.

Ms. Lubin brings her 20 years of experience to oversee all environmental initiatives for the beach club.

Royal Caribbean has been adamant since the inception of the project for its commitment to protecting the environment, as well as supporting the people of the Bahamas by employing Bahamians.

The company outlined six key environmental pillars for the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island:

• Zero waste to landfill
• 100% renewable energy by 2030
• No dredging and no overwater cabanas 
• Best-in-class wastewater treatment
• Protecting the island's natural habitat
• Local environmental monitoring 

Ms. Lubin will work with The Bahamas’ Department of Environmental Planning and Protection to ensure the club’s environmental practices meet both Royal Caribbean standards and local regulations.

Once completed, the Royal Beach Club at Paradise Island will have a public-private partnership, meaning that Bahamians will be able to own up to 49% equity and local businesses can take part in managing the majority of the experience.

More Royal Railway reservations available

If you have a cruise in fall 2024, there's a good chance you can now book Royal Caribbean's hottest new restaurant.

Royal Railway on Utopia of the Seas appears to have more reservations available to book in September, October and November.  Guests booked on sailings in these months reported being able to reserve a time.

Something else guests noticed is the price has gone up from $79.99 per adult to $119.99 per adult. Royal Caribbean employs dynamic pricing for its restaurants, and it also typically uses prices to help manage demand.

Royal Railway is arguably the most popular restaurant in the fleet right now, as the hype surrounding its launch on the new cruise ship has garnered a lot of demand to book it.

This is the first immersive dining experience Royal Caribbean has developed, and it's a dining experience that simulates a train journey.

There are to full size rail cars guests enter that has booths on both side of the car. Each booth has a large digital display that acts as a virtual window.

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

Port of Tampa monitoring Tropical Storm Debby

While Tropical Storm Debby isn't expected to be a major storm, it is still a concern for the Port of Tampa Bay and the cruise ships that sail from there.

A hurricane watch has been issued for parts of Florida because future  Tropical Storm Debby has a chance of further development prior to making landfall this weekend.

In a public statement, the Port of Tampa Bay said they are monitoring the track of the storm for any impact to operations.

"Port Tampa Bay is coordinating closely with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as the maritime community to prepare for and respond to potential impacts of Tropical Depression #4."

According to the port, the United States Coast Guard has set Port Condition YANKEE, indicating the possibility of gale force winds (34-47 knots) entering the Bay in the next 24 hours.

So far the only change to schedule is for Margaritaville at Sea's Islander ship.  Instead of returning to Tampa on Sunday, the ship will be delayed and come back on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024. Additionally, the Islander's Aug. 4 departure was rescheduled to Aug. 5. 

There are two Royal Caribbean ships that operate out of Tampa currently.  

Grandeur of the Seas will depart Tampa on Saturday, August 3 to begin a 5-night Western Caribbean sailing.

Enchantment of the Seas will also embark on a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing on Saturday as well.