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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who is Meghan Trainor?

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

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

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

What is a cruise ship godmother?

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

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

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

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

A vacation for making memories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more: Utopia of the Seas guide

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

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

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

'Our ultimate dine and drink evolution'

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more: How Izumi went from concept to success

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

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

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

Read more: How Royal Caribbean reimagined its signature Italian restaurant

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more: Utopia of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Weekends now, but a ship for everywhere

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

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

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

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

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

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

Parents might have an easier way to keep tabs on their kids while on a cruise ship.

A passenger on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas shared on social media a new test underway that allows parents to track the location of their kids.

Shannon Sinclair posted photos of a new "Kidfinder" that is available in a limited test at the Adventure Ocean kids club.

The device is a waterproof bracelet that allows parents to track the bracelet's location via the Royal Caribbean app.

Read more: Royal Caribbean app guide and walkthrough

"We just got on the Icon of the Seas today and they are piloting Kidfinder," she wrote on Facebook.

According to Ms. Sinclair, the Kidfinder is for kids under 12 years old and under and parents can sign up for the option at Adventure Ocean.

When you sign up for the Kidfinder, parents can choose which cruise ship passengers can track the kids.  This means potentially parents, older siblings, or friends and family can opt into it as well.

You put the bracelet on the kids, and it works anywhere around the ship.

Ms. Sinclair likes the idea for the peace of mind it provides, "My son is 11 and with his older sibling exploring. It’s nice I can track them now. Also if your child is with the other parent or family member you could track them."

This test isn't meant to replace parenting, but rather, give parents another tool to know where their kids are located. It's not uncommon to hear an occasional announcement over the public address system requesting a certain guest go to Guest Services, and the Kidfinder could reduce the need for such announcements.

She added there is no cost to use it, it's free to register at Adventure Ocean.

This is the first we've heard of such an option, and it sounds like it's only being tested at the moment on Icon of the Seas.  There's no indication yet if the Kidfinder will be available on other ships, or even subsequent Icon of the Seas sailings.

One commenter on the Facebook post added this is similar to what Princess Cruises offers already with their Medallion program.

"Everyone gets one of these, on Princess cruise line. We love them! You walk up to your cabin, and your door unlocks automatically. You can also order food and drinks from anywhere on the ship, and have it brought right to you, no matter where you are. They're very convenient," wrote Summer Schoolfield.

Unlike Apple Airtags, the Kidfinder seems to have the ability to better geolocate itself across decks of the ship and within certain venues. Moreover, Kidfinder intergrates into the Royal Caribbean app.

Read more: I tried AirTags to track my luggage on a Royal Caribbean cruise

Liz Whitfield wrote she tried Airtags previously, but with poor results, "We tried to use AirTags for our whole group (adults included) and it was a disaster. They never updated properly. So, this is great."

More new tech on Icon of the Seas

While it remains to be seen if Kidfinder will become a regular option for guests, Royal Caribbean has packed Icon of the Seas with plenty of other innovations.

Being the first in the Icon Class, Royal Caribbean developed a number of improvements and innovations because of Icon of the Seas.

Read more: Icon of the Seas is the best cruise ship ever

Some of these innovations are quite notable by passengers, such as the destination elevators.

Traditional elevators on a cruise ship tend to get overwhelmed quickly, resulting in long waits. Royal Caribbean recognized this known issue, and set about to solve it with Icon.

With destination elevators, a passenger indicates which floor they want to go to and are assigned an elevator by the computer. The result are more efficiently routed elevators and less waits.

Other innovations are not as noticeable, but still have an impact. Crew members that service each cabin have a new stateroom attendant app to track their progress between cabins. 

Read more: Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

Stateroom attendants can use the application to not only track which cabins have been cleaned, but get real-time alerts if a guest has requested an item.

Artificial intelligence is being employed in the cruise ship's kitchens to reduce food waste, and better account for supply needs. AI takes into account unused food scrap weight and predicts how much food the ship will need for the next sailing.

Read more: How over 6,000 people are served meals every day on the world's largest cruise ship

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas is ready to start offering cruises, and reinvent the weekend cruise.

The brand new Oasis Class ship arrived in Port Canaveral on Thursday, and Royal Caribbean Blog received an advanced look onboard to see the new ship.  Work was still be dong to put some finishing touches, but the it's nearly all ready for guests to board for the first revenue sailing.

I walked around the ship, exploring the different neighborhoods and getting a sense of what's new and different on Utopia. 

Enjoy this sneak peek at what you can expect on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.

Best in the fleet offerings

One thing I picked up on after walking around Utopia of the Seas are the differences from other Oasis Class ships. Some are major, some minor, but overall, Royal Caribbean has packed it with the best ideas, innovations, and offerings to date.

When you board the ship on the Royal Promenade, the first place you'll see is the Pesky Parrot.

On the surface, it sounds like a fun tiki bar, but when you see it in person, you'll realize it was designed to be your go-to hang out spot.

Bright neon colors, painted wood, and even a digital backdrop all combine to make this bar really pop.

In addition to the special menu found only at the Pesky Parrot, there's even an assortment of pina colada varieties that evolve the cruise classic. Try the Pesky's Peanut Butter Pina Colada.

There were two venues that really blew me away visually, Izumi and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen.

Izumi is massive, and is easily the largest in the fleet. Within this space are hibachi tables, sushi tables, and an all-new omakase table.  Think of it like a Chef's Table experience, but just Japanese cuisine.

There's also a sushi take-out window, where you can drop in for a couple of rolls and take it elsewhere on the ship.

As someone that loves sushi, I can't wait to try the omakase table.

Giovanni's is also in a new location, and the design looks beautiful.

Spanning two decks, guests can dine both indoors and outdoors. The outdoor seating should be stunning, considering you're on deck 11 and overlook the Boardwalk.

I wasn't prepared for how lovely a setting it is overall, and how moving a restaurant from Central Park up to Decks 11 and 12 can have such a big impact.

Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, recently said he thinks Utopia's pool deck will be the best in class.

There's just about every feature we've come to love on other Royal Caribbean ships on Utopia's pool deck.

A giant aquapark, wide-open pools, and multi-story Lime and Coconut Bar that "fits" better into the look of the ship.

The adults-only Solarium is enclosed, meaning better temperature controls. Sadly, the bridge wings are not on Utopia because the space was taken up by the new Solarium suites.  Alas, there's still plenty of great views elsewhere.

I also loved the herd of hippos hidden in one corner of the Solarium.

There's a clear focus on dining on Utopia of the Seas, including a brand new quick service restaurant at the pool.

The Spare Tire has wraps, a sandwich, and something called "tornados". It's complimentary and very convenient for anyone that is enjoying a day at the pool.

Something else different about Utopia is the fact Royal Caribbean has re-claimed the title of longest slide at sea.

The Ultimate Abyss has been extended 43 feet, which makes it longer than the slide on MSC Cruises.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the destination elevators that are on Utopia of the Seas.

These elevators significantly cut down wait times for an elevator on Icon of the Seas, and I cannot wait to utilize them on Utopia.

Familiar favorites around the ship

It's amazing to me how Royal Caribbean can innovate each ship within a class, but Utopia does that quite well.

Chops Grille has the upgraded menu first seen on Icon of the Seas, and a refreshed look inside as well.

150 Central Park is across the way, and I think this has always been a rather underrated specialty restaurant.

Park Cafe has always been my go-to spot for a breakfast bite to eat, especially before we need to head off the ship for a shore excursion.

Central Park has the same layout as on other Oasis Class ships, but the different venues here will be the most notable change.

Entertainment coming soon

The casts of all the shows on Utopia of the Seas were hard at work rehearsing, so I did not get a chance to see those venues.

Utopia of the Seas will have three primary venues for shows: Aquatheater, Royal Theater, and Studio B ice rink.

Read more: Utopia of the Seas entertainment and shows

More similar to Wonder of the Seas than other ships

If you've sailed on Wonder of the Seas, you'll notice more similarities with Utopia of the Seas than other Oasis Class ships.

The casino on Utopia is quite large, and seems to follow the same layout as Wonder.

The Mason Jar is also on Utopia, which is my favorite bar to hang out in during the evening hours. One change they made was to add a wall behind the stage, which I think will help keep the venue cooler.

The Attic and Crown Lounge are in the same location on both ships.

Fans of karaoke will love Spotlight Karaoke, located on the Royal Promenade. 

Cafe Promenade has the new complimentary drink dispensers that are easier to refill for the crew. These were first introduced on Icon of the Seas.

Like all the Royal Promenades, there is a classic car on Utopia. This one is a classic Pontiac, and it looks very neat!

I especially liked the art in each of the elevator atriums.

Exploring the sports deck

I walked around the sports deck on deck 16, and it's a refreshed version of the popular activities you typically find here.

You'll find a sports court, Flowrider surf simulator, zip-line and mini-golf.

Part of the appeal of any Royal Caribbean cruise is how much there is to do onboard, and Utopia will not disappoint.

Adventure Ocean

One area I always see a noticeable upgrade on every new Royal Caribbean ship is in the kids programming spots.

Adventure Ocean is located on deck 14 forward, and the AO Juniors space is quite well-adorned with play areas. Seeing it now, my kids lost out on this space considering the version they had a few years ago.

The teen club was being used for another purpose on this day, but the outdoor teen deck looked like a great place and has a hot tub.