Royal Caribbean Blog

Royal Caribbean might be considering going in a different direction with one of its new restaurants that was launched earlier this year.

Surveys have been sent out to select past cruisers to gauge their interest in a new specialty restaurant concept to potentially replace Pier 7 on Icon of the Seas.

To be clear, no change or announced has been officially announced. Surveys are just an opportunity to gather an opinion, and often lead to no change.

Pier 7 is currently on Icon of the Seas in the family-friendly Surfside neighborhood. 

It was the first time the restaurant was offered on a Royal Caribbean ship and represents one of 20 new ways to eat on Icon of the Seas.

Read more: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them

The restaurant comes at an extra-cost for adults and has served up cruiser favorites like Korean fried chicken and Budha bowls.

However, Royal Caribbean is now looking at other options for Surfside neighborhood.

The survey includes a total of six new venue concepts, with each offering a different twist on updating Pier 7.

The survey presents six new restaurant concepts

The survey that was sent out to select cruisers asked respondents to rate potential venues in Surfside.

These fleshed-out concepts would come at an extra cost, the survey said.

Respondents were asked to select the one venue they would be most likely to visit.

Read more: Royal Caribbean reveals new restaurants, bars, and activities on Icon of the Seas

Pier 7 by Momofuku

Immerse yourself in Asian fusion flavors crafted by Momofuku at our laid-back, casual quick-service restaurant (i.e. order at the counter with seating available). Surrounded by vibrant colors and street art, enjoy comfort dishes ranging from hearty bowls to Korean crunchy fried chicken sandwiches, perfect for those on the go. 

Sample Dishes: Fried chicken sandwich, Poke Bowl, Bao Buns 

Sweet 7

Get a sweet pick-me-up treat while you lounge and play around Surfside. Sweet 7 is a fun colorful quick service cafe (i.e. order at the counter with seating available) offering snacks and desserts. From fresh acai bowls to colorful popsicles to fruity smoothies, there's something for everyone. 

Sample Dishes: Acai Bowl, Popsicles, Ice Cream Sandwiches 

The Surfshack

Dive into poolside perfection at The Surfshack, our quick-service restaurant (i.e. order at the counter with seating available) offering made-to-order favorites for any time of day. Start your morning with fresh smoothies and acai bowls, or enjoy afternoon classics like lobster rolls, fried chicken sandwiches, and fish tacos. Featuring a vibrant color palette and casual seating, The Surfshack is the ideal spot for a pool day snack or a play pitstop. 

Sample Dishes: Acai Bowl, Poke Bowl, Lobster Roll 

Play Cafe

Enjoy a fun play-centric lounge featuring a quick service window (i.e. order at the counter with lounge seating available) offering snacks and refreshing drinks. Adults can relax and sip on iced coffee or smoothies while kids play with the seating's built-in toys. Indulge in delicious offerings like donuts and fresh sandwiches, making it the perfect spot for a family-friendly break. 

Sample Dishes: Iced Latte, Bacon-egg-cheese croissant sandwich, smoothies 

Pier 7

Inspired by beach towns and chill vibes, Pier 7 is a casual sit-down restaurant featuring modern seafood dishes. Parents can enjoy a tuna poke bowl, shrimp tostadas, and fish tacos while watching kids play in the nearby splash pad and playscape. Kids have their choice of classic favorites such as chicken tenders and grilled cheese. 

Sample Dishes: Shrimp Tostada, Baja Fish Tacos, Whipped Ricotta Bruschetta 

Surfside Kitchen and Surfside Village

Step into a whimsical surf town of make-believe with our immersive family experience, combining culinary adventures and wacky arts and crafts. At Surfside Kitchen, families can customize sweet and savory dishes, from rainbow grilled cheese to candy sushi.

Do guests prefer sit-down or speedy dining?

The survey goes on to ask respondents to imagine they are visiting Surfside with their travel group and want to take a break from the main attractions. In and around Surfside, there are various restaurants and activities the group could enjoy. 

Thinking about the groups you are traveling with, please indicate your preferences for the types of restaurants or activities you would like to visit while taking a break in Surfside.

Respondents can select between quick bites, sit-down dining, or a mix of both.

Read more: I spent a week on the world's largest cruise ship, the free food was the best of any Royal Caribbean ship

Then, the survey asks respondents to rate specific restaurant brands based on how familiar they are.

Cruisers can select one of four options regarding the brand: 

1. I eat from this brand often
2. I have eaten from this brand before, but not frequently
3. I have never eaten from this brand, but have heard of it
4. I had not heard of this brand

The 12 brands listed are as follows:

• PF Chang's
• Milk Bar
• Sweetgreen
• Applebees
• Chilis
• Momofuku
• Bonchon Chicken
• Morimoto
• Qdoba
• Benihana
• Wagamama
• Peiwei

Seven of these 12 brands serve Asian cuisine, so Royal Caribbean could be considering replacing Pier 7, which currently serves Californian dishes, with a specifically Asian restaurant.

Surfside neighborhood caters to young families

Icon of the Seas introduced Surfside neighborhood as an area dedicated to families and young children.

The cruise line has always aimed to provide stellar family vacations.

Surfside neighborhood has a variety of arcade games, water experiences, and dining options, so no one has to compromise.

The vibrant designs, creative amenities, and relaxing atmosphere provide the perfect experience for multiple generations.

Star of the Seas, the second Icon-class ship, is set to be released in the summer of 2025, and will likely mimic Icon's eight neighborhoods.

However, considering the survey sent to cruisers this week, the Pier 7 on Star of the Seas (or the third, unnamed Icon-Class ship) could be replaced by a different specialty restaurant.

Read more: Royal Caribbean will homeport Star of the Seas in Port Canaveral

Pier 7 has served up "California-inspired" cuisine and is complimentary for kids under the age of 12.

Adults pay a cover charge of $14.99 for two plates. The venue serves rice bowls, surf-and-turf tacos, smoked salmon benedict, Korean fried chicken, and shareable platters for the whole family.

Should the restaurant be replaced, it looks like Royal Caribbean is considering Asian cuisine, or partnering with well-known brands such as PF Chang's or Sweetgreen.

You know what's better than a cruise on Royal Caribbean's mega ships? Going back and doing it again.

Photo by Adam Hancock

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas has begun sailing with passengers onboard, and after experiencing it for myself for 3 days on a preview sailing, I'm ready to go back again and again.

The new ship is doing just 3- and 4-night short cruises, which not only makes it not only appealing to someone who might be tepid about trying a cruise, but perfect for doubling down and doing a back-to-back sailing.

While Utopia is already the sixth ship in the Oasis Class, Royal Caribbean has truly perfected its craft with this latest version of the popular mega ships.

I've spent nearly a week on Utopia of the Seas so far, and it's clear to me when you try Utopia, there's a good chance you're going to want to come back again for more.

Party and chill

Don't let the marketing fool you, Utopia is as fun-filled or slow-paced as you want it to be.

Royal Caribbean is marketing Utopia of the Seas as "The World's Biggest Weekend" and that is signified with all the parties and things to do onboard. It's a well-earned distinction, because there are indeed way more parties and events I can recall seeing on a Royal Caribbean ship.

As someone that cruises a lot, I can appreciate the new choices in how to stay up and party the night away. Toga parties, college flip cup games, more DJ music than I have ever seen, and so many bars to visit. There's a lot to choose from.

When you look over the schedule of events, there's simply more to do than you can fit into a single weekend, assuming you want to sleep a bit too. 

Royal Caribbean Vice President of Entertainment, Christi Coachman, talked about how they planned the entertainment to be methodically planned, "It was really important not only to continue to create the family experiences, because that's very important for our brand, but also to go in a little bit of a different direction and have one party after the other to where you don't ever stop."

"Utopia is a taste, right? A taste of what possibly you could experience on maybe a maybe a longer itinerary."

I found great relief in being able to stay onboard for more than one sailing, as it allowed me to spread out my activities and do more without a sense of "FOMO" every night.

Speaking of the parties, while there are indeed many new party events, none of them are so vastly different that you'll feel out of place.

A great example is the Royal Kappa-Chi event, which is a fraternity-themed party. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was so much more enjoyable than I had planned.

Held in The Attic, there were a number of tables set up for beer pong, but lots more seats around for those that wanted to observe. I think most people just wanted to be in the atmosphere than actually play, and it made it so much more inviting to everyone.

I summoned the courage to play a game of beer pong, and it was something I never thought I'd do on a cruise ship.

A lot of ways to spend your time on just one sailing

If you go through and list all the things you absolutely want to do on Utopia of the Seas, and then add the things you'd like to do, I'll bet your list exceeds the amount of free time you think you'll have.

There's so many fun activities, and when you add in time at the cruise line's private island in The Bahamas or even a shore excursion in Nassau, and you are going to quickly start rationalizing one activity over the other.

Royal Caribbean may have wanted Utopia of the Seas to be the ultimate party ship, but it also came up with the ultimate FOMO ship.

This is part of the cruise line's strategy to dominate the weekend cruise market by combining a great new cruise ship with great places to visit.

Read more: Royal Caribbean has a plan to dominate short cruises

While parties might be the focus for Utopia, great dining isn't far behind.

There are new restaurants and revamped offerings as well, and they all are worth your precious vacation time.

Royal Railway is an innovative offering that has garnered a lot of attention, and it's lead to high demand to get a coveted spot. The use of technology, story telling, and great food was so compelling, I booked another seating so I could take my family to experience it.

Both Izumi and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen have new locations on Utopia, and then you have an assortment of tried-and-true dining choices.  

Two sailings to see it all

If you think there's simply not enough time to do everything on Utopia of the Seas, you're not wrong.

Royal Caribbean purposefully adds so many activities, shows, and dining choices on purpose so guests have a choice in how they vacation. But to have enough time to experience everything, you might want to turn that weekend cruise into a full week.

Booking a "back-to-back" cruise is when you reserve two consecutive cruises in a row, and I'm glad I did just that so I have enough time for everything.

One of the top complaints about Utopia of the Seas is the fact she only sails 3- and 4-night cruises instead of 7-night cruises.  Booking two sailings means you get more value for your flight (albeit without any variation in ports of call).

Whether you book two cruises in a row, or decide to book a second sailing some other time, I think you'll see a need to come back for more. After all, that's part of Royal Caribbean's plan to entice those who have never cruised before to come back and sail again.

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

Matt tried the newest cruise ship dining experience on Utopia of the Seas: the Royal Railway.

The Wild-West-themed train car hosts a one-of-a-kind dining and entertainment experience.

The unique and visually stunning venue was unlike any other specialty restaurant he'd tried. Royal Caribbean's Royal Railway Utopia Station pushes the envelope of what's possible on a cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean News

• New Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas, debuts on Friday
• 5 things Utopia of the Seas does better than other Oasis Class ships
• Celebrity announces date, ship, location for President's Cruise 2025
• Christmas cruise in the UK? Royal Caribbean won't do it, according to CEO
• The best cruise essentials on sale for Amazon Prime Day, and are worth every penny
• Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship promises the 'ultimate' food and drinks that you will love
• Woman on Ultimate World Cruise shares her experience, including pregnancy, divorce, and even deaths
• "There is no magical fuel" Royal Caribbean CEO shares honest thoughts on how to power cruise ships
• What a room on Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas looks like

New RCB Video: Everything I loved and hated about the world’s newest cruise ship

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 — Everything I loved and hated about the world’s newest cruise ship — and don’t forget to subscribe here.

Meghan Trainor christens new cruise ship

Meghan Trainor, famous singer-songwriter, American Idol judge, and Godmother of Utopia of the Seas, helped christen the new cruise ship on Monday.

The newest and second biggest cruise ship in the world, which launched on its inaugural cruise this weekend, hosted a launch party with Ms. Trainor present.

She helped break a bottle of champagne against the bow, a tradition meant to bring good luck to the vessel and its passengers.

Curfew for kids on a cruise ship? Royal Caribbean CEO wants to revisit the policy

An increased amount of cruisers are starting to complain about out-of-control kids onboard Royal Caribbean ships.

At a talk on Utopia of the Seas, Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International president and CEO, admitted that it could be time for the cruise line to review its policies.

To help adults enjoy a more peaceful vacation, Royal Caribbean will be revisiting its kid's curfew policy and Adventure Ocean activities.

Weekend cruises: Tips for taking a 3-night Royal Caribbean getaway

Looking to save money and PTO hours? 

A 3-night weekend cruise provides the opportunity to take a short but sweet vacation.

To help you decide on a ship, destination, and budget, we've compiled some tips for taking a Royal Caribbean weekend cruise.

I was lucky enough to cruise on the inaugural sailing of Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas. While onboard this weekend cruise, I got to experience everything this sixth Oasis Class ship has to offer, including the beautiful staterooms.

Back in early November, my fellow Royal Caribbean Blog co-worker and I booked a guarantee balcony for $2,223 for three nights. This included prepaid gratuities for two people. Approaching the sail date, Royal Caribbean assigned us cabin 10198, a balcony on deck 10, midship.

This oceanview balcony has a larger balcony than a standard balcony onboard. For context, I stayed in a standard oceanview balcony during a preview cruise on Utopia of the Seas the week prior, and the balcony was 50 square feet. In this cabin (appropriately named an “oceanview with large balcony”), the balcony is 80 square feet. The extra 30 square feet is seen in how long the balcony is.

The living area of the cabin totaled 191 square feet.

Walking into the cabin for the first time, I was in awe of how pretty it was. There were accents of blue throughout the cabin, from the carpet and the blinds to the headboard and pillows. Even all the doors in the hallway are blue.

The first thing you see when walking into the cabin is the light switch and slot where you place your Seapass card to generate power. Without a card in this slot, there will be no electricity or air conditioning in the cabin. On this sailing, there was already a card there. Oftentimes, I use an old Seapass card to put in this slot, but I didn't need to do that on this cruise.

On the opposite side is a full-length mirror that is near the vanity area. The vanity is quite spacious and includes many outlets, including two European outlets, one USB outlet, one USB-C outlet, and three standard U.S. outlets. The chair is also comfortable, as I found myself sitting in it while using my laptop or looking at the Cruise Compass.

Attached to the vanity is a large dresser. There are five drawers, including one on top of the mini cooler. The drawers were deep enough to place my packing cubes.

I hardly ever used the mini cooler, but it’s always handy to have one just in case!

I thought the wall above the dresser felt empty. I wish there was a floating shelf or a piece of artwork here. To make use of this space, I used magnetic hooks to hang up some cruise paperwork so it didn't clutter up the vanity.

Across from the vanity and dresser were the couch and closets. This couch can be transformed into a double sofa bed, making the cabin able to fit four people.

On both sides of the couch was a closet. One closet was wide open and contained 20 hangers to hang up long outfits like dresses and jumpsuits. This closet can even store your suitcase, backpack, and other luggage.

The second closet had five shelves along with a safe to store valuables. There was also a small area to hang up a few long outfits. Below this closet were two large drawers. I used one of these drawers for my shoes.

I really appreciated having two large closets on this new cruise ship. While on Icon of the Seas, I was surprised at how small the closet area was. There was enough space for me since I was traveling alone, but with more than one person, I think the storage would've been lacking. On Utopia of the Seas, you won't have to worry about running out of storage space, as there was plenty for the two of us. Having two closets is a game-changer!

Next to the balcony was the “bedroom.” The king bed can be split into two twin beds (as seen below).

Each of us had a small nightstand next to the bed. On top of both nightstands was a light that had a U.S. charging outlet and a USB outlet. This was perfect for charging my phone and watch while I was sleeping, and I could easily see what time it was by checking my phone. Each nightstand had two shelves for additional items that you would need close to you while in bed.

On one nightstand was the cabin’s phone which took up the majority of the top shelf. This was easy to move to one of the bottom shelves. On this side of the bed, there's a light switch that controls all of the lights in the cabin.

Across from the bed was a large flatscreen TV. The one time I turned on the TV, I noticed there was not an option to stream videos from my phone to the TV. I wish it had this option like on my recent Odyssey of the Seas cruise.

Below the TV were five built-in hooks to hang up various items, like hats or bags. I’ve never seen these hooks on other cruise ships before, and I thought they were an interesting design choice. I like having more options to hang up things, but the hooks are lower on the ground, which may not be as helpful for those who cannot bend over easily.

The balcony had two chairs and a small table. The balcony was very spacious and I could tell the difference in the size between a regular balcony cabin and this “large balcony.” This is the perfect place to sit, relax, and watch the ship sail away from port.

Lastly, the most exciting part of this cabin tour, the bathroom. I felt that there was enough storage in the bathroom for two people. There were three shelves by the toilet, a shelf below the sink, two towel racks, and two hooks on the door for hanging cosmetic organizers.

The shower had only one shelf inside, though I wish there were more. While this shower doesn't have the new design as the showers on Icon of the Seas, I didn't mind because I thought this shower was just as spacious. I could even put my elbows out and not bump the sides of the shower.

Something else I liked about the bathroom was the blue floral backsplash. It really tied in with the blue theme of the cabin.

There is a built-in nightlight in the bathroom so you can easily navigate to the bathroom in the middle of the night when it is dark inside the cabin.

Overall, I would recommend this oceanview balcony on Utopia of the Seas. It was spacious, well-designed, and perfect for two travelers. The cabin may feel cramped with more than two people, but it can certainly work.

I believe this oceanview with a large balcony cabin is extremely similar to the traditional oceanview balcony cabin, so either option would be a good choice. Truly, the only difference is that extra 30 square feet on the balcony, which isn't a drastic change.

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.