Royal Caribbean takes delivery of sixth Oasis class cruise ship Utopia of the Seas
Royal Caribbean International has taken delivery of its sixth Oasis class ship Utopia of the Seas at a handover ceremony at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France. The delivery of Utopia of the Seas comes five weekends ahead of her July debut in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, from which she will sail a range of roundtrip cruises to the Caribbean.
More than 1,600 crew members and shipyard workers gathered in the ship’s AquaTheater to celebrate the delivery of Utopia of the Seas, bringing to an end a two-year construction project.
Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, and Chantiers de l’Atlantique General Manager Laurent Castaing hosted a party to thank the nautical engineers, designers, architects, and others involved in the ship’s build.
“Taking delivery of Utopia of the Seas is an incredibly important milestone, as it marks yet another evolution of our game-changing ships and our mission to create the best vacation experiences responsibly,” said Liberty. “From the ultimate multigenerational vacation on this year’s earlier debut of Icon of the Seas to now the ultimate weekend getaway on Utopia of the Seas, we are laser-focused on delivering a variety of vacation options and priceless memories for our guests,” he added.
Utopia of the Seas will now reposition without passengers to the U.S. where she will undergo finishing touches before welcoming the first guests for a maiden passenger voyage on July 19th.
Utopia of the Seas will operate three-night weekend and four-night weekday getaways, all of which call in Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas.
Utopia of the Seas features all the amenities and experiences that have made the Oasis class ships some of the most popular in the global cruising fleet, as well as new offerings first introduced aboard the Icon of the Seas earlier this year.
The ship’s dual pool areas atop the split superstructure feature five pools, including resort-style and sloping beach-entry pools, three Lime & Coconut bars, The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides and several poolside cafes, including Spare Tire – the new poolside food truck.
There is also the adults-only Solarium pool and the exclusive Suite Sun Deck, both tranquil escapes to chill.
The Ultimate Abyss joins the FlowRider surf simulator and the 10-story zip line, but the longest dry slideat sea is now even longer at 259 feet, plummeting 10 decks through new zoom booster rollers, transparent racing windows and other surprising twists and turns.
Utopia of the Seas also introduces new dining experiences for the Oasis class, such as the Royal Railway – Utopia Station – a railway dining car that uses the latest LED technology to transport guests to the Wild West and other far-flung destinations. This is one of 20-plus dining options aboard Utopia of the Seas.
Others include the Izumi in the Park pickup window making its Oasis Class debut, with sushi, Japanese-inspired street food and more. Next door is the staple Izumi restaurant in its new Central Park location, with a private omakase multicourse experience, guided by the chef; double the teppanyaki tables and al fresco seating.
There’s also Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, with the Italian eatery now spanning two decks, and debuting the first-ever Gio’s Terrazza. Al fresco, vacationers can overlook the lively Boardwalk as they enjoy the fan-favorite menu of quintessential Italian dishes, varietals and cocktails with Royal Caribbean twists.
A new Caribbean tiki bar aboard Utopia of the Seas is the Pesky Parrot, with its island vibes and fruit-based cocktails made with rum, tequila and gin, alongside frozen drinks. There are also five live music venues and parties throughout Utopia of the Seas, spanning rock n roll and jazz to pop and 80s classic.
Full-scale productions take center stage across Royal Caribbean’s signature stages of air, ice, water and theater, and two casinos feature more than 370 slot machines, nearly 30 table games and more.
Royal Carribbean favourites aboard Utopia of the Seas include The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant & Bar that serves up Southern staples alongside live country music; twin rock climbing walls, Utopia Playscape for kids, with slides, climbing walls and games; and kids aqua park Splashaway Bay.
