I spent $2,683 to cruise on Utopia of the Seas. Here's what everything cost, from $235 specialty dining to $60 internet
In:There’s no denying that the cost of cruising has been steadily increasing in the last few years, especially after the pandemic. With growing demand for sailings - especially short weekend getaways - cruise lines have been able to increase prices accordingly. Onboard expenses, including drink packages, internet access, and specialty dining, have also become more expensive.

It’s no secret that cruising on newer ships tends to cost more than sailing on older or smaller vessels. I recently experienced this first hand when booking a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas. I was surprised how quickly the expenses added up!
Even for a quick 4-night sailing, the cost of my recent cruise to the Bahamas was more expensive than I anticipated. When my husband and I set sail last month on the latest Oasis class ship, we spent $2,683 total for the entire vacation.
On a nightly basis, this means we spent around $670.75 each night, or roughly $335.38 per person for each night of the cruise. Here’s a full breakdown of what I spent during my Utopia of the Seas cruise, including travel-related expenses and transportation to the port.
The price of our interior stateroom was $1,539 - which was the cheapest option available

My husband and I decided over the summer that we wanted to join my parents and grandparents on their already-booked cruise for February. Rather than risk getting an undesirable guarantee cabin, we chose to spend a little more to select our stateroom’s location. The last thing we wanted was to end up next to the nightclub or directly beneath the pool!
Since we booked just a few months before departure, our cruise fare was actually higher than what my parents paid for a nicer room. By reserving their cruise more than a year in advance, they secured a balcony stateroom for only $1,300—a price lower than our interior cabin. Gone are the days of getting a killer last-minute deal for a cruise!
We opted to book the cheapest stateroom available, which was an interior cabin on Deck 9. Our selected stateroom was 9464, which was located near the ship’s aft. In fact, this specific stateroom was situated in a designated section of interior staterooms.

Given Utopia’s massive size, some decks have multiple layers of interior staterooms. Our stateroom was surrounded by six other interior cabins, which is different than a typical cabin configuration with only neighboring cabins on either side.
This section of cabins had its own entrance near the elevators, which was quite convenient. We were pleased with our cabin’s location and its design felt modern, spacious, and functional. Best of all, it was exceptionally quiet!
We didn’t mind sailing in this interior cabin, as Utopia of the Seas has an abundance of things to do for activities and entertainment. For such a short cruise, we hardly spent any time in our cabin other than sleeping.
The cost of our cruise fare was $1,539, including prepaid gratuities, taxes, and port fees. This represents 57.36% of the trip’s overall cost, which was expected. I booked this leisure cruise with MEI Travel and received a $50 onboard credit. In addition, my MEI travel agent was able to apply an expired Future Cruise Credit of $135, which we had previously been unable to use due to my husband’s military deployment.
I had a few onboard purchases totaling $101.97, including an Internet package and merchandise in the shops

It’s easy to spend extra money once you’re actually aboard your cruise. The vacation mindset, combined with the convenience of charging everything to your SeaPass card, can quickly lead to a higher-than-expected bill by the end of your cruise! However, additional spending isn’t necessary if you’re on a tight budget, as your cruise fare is fairly inclusive with complimentary dining, entertainment, and amenities.
During this cruise, my husband and I had a number of purchases once we boarded the ship. I ended up spending about $101.97 for onboard purchases, which accounted for 3.80% of our total trip cost.
First, I needed to purchase an internet package to ensure I could receive emails for my remote work. While many cruisers can completely disconnect, that’s not always an option for everyone.

For our 4-night cruise, the VOOM Surf + Stream package cost $60 in total after applying my Diamond Plus internet credit. This loyalty perk saved me $60, cutting my internet cost in half! When cruising on a shorter sailing, I wait until boarding to book my internet package so I can apply this credit.
In addition, I enjoyed browsing the onboard shops during our cruise aboard Utopia of the Seas. The Royal Promenade was lined with places to shop, and newer cruise ships always have the best merchandise!
On the last night of the cruise, I bought two t-shirts on sale for $30 as a gift to my sister back home. I also couldn’t resist purchasing the cutest collar for $10 to take home for my sweet pup!
We also splurged on specialty dining for three different meals, costing us $235

Utopia of the Seas has more than 20 unique dining options to choose from, including a variety of complimentary and specialty dining. When cruising on a shorter itinerary, you need to prioritize which restaurants you want to try.
My family decided to book specialty dining for dinner during the first two evenings of the cruise. We each have our own BOGO specialty dining credit, which can only be used the first two nights of your cruise.
On the first evening, we dined at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar with our entire family. The experience was fantastic, featuring delicious entrees and attentive service. The ambiance was beautiful too, as the restaurant overlooks the Boardwalk.

For the second specialty dining meal, we reserved a table at Chops Grille. As expected, the meal was excellent with flavorful, tender cuts of premium beef. I especially love the side dishes at Chops Grille, especially the gruyère tater tots.
Later in the cruise, my husband and I decided to try the brand-new Mason Jar restaurant for brunch with my parents. My sister raved about her experience here over the summer, and we received a 30% discount that we couldn’t resist.
Although we enjoyed trying something new during our cruise, the meal itself was underwhelming. The star of the show was the oversized, gooey cinnamon roll - which we all loved! Another highlight was the cocktail menu featuring new crafted beverages to try. Although we wouldn’t return to Mason Jar in the future, it was still fun to experience something different.

Even with our discounts, we still spent $235 for three specialty dining meals during our cruise. This expense represents about 8.72% of our overall trip cost, but it was money well spent!
In addition, we purchased admission to Royal Caribbean’s new adults-only Hideaway Beach for $173

Currently, Utopia of the Seas only sails on 4-night and 3-night itineraries to the Bahamas. Our itinerary featured two port stops, which included visits to Nassau, Bahamas, and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. We also had one day at sea to enjoy the ship.
During our visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, my husband and I wanted to try the new adults-only Hideaway Beach. My parents had booked their admission well in advance, paying only $60 total for two of their tickets. By the time we booked Hideaway Beach, the price had jumped to $173 for two tickets. This accounted for 6.45% of our total trip cost.
Pricing for Hideaway Beach varies based on demand; however, the price we paid is definitely on the higher end. For our admission, we paid $86.50 each to visit Hideaway Beach. But, prices can go as high as $100 each!

We enjoyed our experience in Royal Caribbean’s new adults-only area, but I’m not convinced the price we paid was worthwhile. Since I don’t eat seafood, including the popular coconut shrimp or ceviche, I’m not sure I got my money’s worth. My husband had upwards of 20 shrimp though, so he might have broken even!
The other food options available at Hideaway Beach are available elsewhere on Perfect Day at CocoCay. While the service was quick for drinks, I found the pool to be just as crowded as Oasis Lagoon. I was excited to try the new area, but I would only book admission again if the cost was less than $40 each.
We drove to the cruise port and parked at Port Canaveral, costing us $234 in total

I live in the Florida Panhandle, so I was ecstatic to see Royal Caribbean’s latest ship would be sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida. This meant we could skip the hassle of booking flights and instead take the 6-hour drive to Port Canaveral before the sailing. Airfare would have easily increased the cost of this trip by hundreds of dollars!
My husband and I decided to drive to Lake Mary, Florida the night before our cruise departed. We spent the evening visiting extended family and then stayed at a nearby hotel before departure the following morning. We booked The Westin in Lake Mary by using hotel points for the stay, so our visit was completely free. Gas for the trip was around $144, which is significantly cheaper than airfare!

When we arrived at the cruise port, we decided to park directly at the terminal for added convenience. We were charged $90 to park our truck at the cruise port for four nights, which seemed reasonable.
Altogether, our hotel, gas, and parking expenses totaled $234, representing around 8.72% of our trip’s total cost.
Finally, we had to pay our dog sitter around $400 to watch two dogs for five nights

One of the more overlooked expenses for this trip was the cost of in-home dog care. We paid approximately $400 for someone to stay in our home and take care of our two Aussiedoodle pups. Considering this meant we could avoid boarding the dogs, we felt this price was reasonable. I couldn’t put a price tag on someone taking good care of my babies for five nights!
In my experience, it’s very easy to forget about the added cost of pet care when you are planning a vacation. The cost of pet care or boarding can add up quickly, especially for longer trips. If you’re like us, having more than one dog increases the cost even more.
The dog sitter accounted for 14.91% of our trip cost, making it our second-largest expense after the cruise fare itself.
I paid $2,683 in total for my cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas

Because we booked this cruise within a few months of departure, I anticipated that our cruise fare would be more expensive. Not to mention, Utopia of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s newest ship that just launched last summer. It’s not uncommon to find that newer cruise ships have higher price tags.
In the end, our entire 4-night cruise added up to $2,683. This included the cruise fare, onboard purchases, shore excursions, specialty dining, parking at the port, and transportation to Port Canaveral. The total cost was higher than I would have guessed!
However, I’ve already secured another sailing on Utopia of the Seas for next February, this time booking well in advance. We booked a refundable balcony cabin for a 4-night sailing next year for $1,683, which is only $124 more than our interior stateroom on this trip. Considering the added perk of a private veranda, this upgrade felt like a worthwhile investment!