Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas Inaugural Cruise

Deck Five is the main street of the ship with shops, karaoke, a few clubs, pizza restaurants and theaters on the aft and forward sides as well as a casino on the lower deck four. Deck Six is where Central Park is located, and it had beautiful foliage like a park, in addition to specialty restaurants, a grab-and-go restaurant and a violin concert in the evening. Deck Seven had cabins and a rock-climbing wall, and Deck Eight had a carousel, a sports bar, candy store and a Johnny Rockets restaurant. Decks Nine through 12 were mainly cabins and Deck 14 contained The Solarium, which was a massive, quiet space with a smaller buffet, as opposed to Deck Fifteen, which had the huge Windjammer buffet and several pools with constant activity and DJs blasting music. Deck 16 is where the zip line is; I considered trying it but changed my mind when I saw how high it was. Decks 17 and 18 are where the suites and exclusive restaurants were located for suite guests. There are specialty restaurants throughout the ship and three Main Dining rooms, which are included with the price of the fare, and all have gluten-free options. There was so much going on that I can't list it all here, but there was something for everyone. There are two outstanding shows that I saw onboard that are a must-see, the ice-skating show and the aqua show. The talent and productions were first-class.

Image 1: Utopia of the Seas; Image 2: Gifts in our stateroom.

The stop at their private island was very relaxing and there were plenty of chairs and umbrellas and food, which were included at no extra charge. There are multiple water parks, bars and excursions to do on the island. We chose to relax on a chair for the day and swim. The island is big and there is a tram for those who want transportation. The stop in Nassau is very different and I did not get off the boat on that day, but my husband did, and he said it was very busy. While I stayed on the boat, I did a line dancing lesson, played a trivia game, relaxed in the solarium and stopped by the buffet. Late night after dinner and karaoke with the family, I did the Silent Disco in the Solarium, which was so much fun.

As far as packing for the three- or four-day trip on Utopia of the Seas, I recommend packing light and only bringing one suitcase so you can easily roll it off at disembarkation. Always bring sunscreen, any toiletries or cosmetics, daytime resort-wear, swimsuits and something to wear to dinner each night, which is resort casual. You can choose to go to a specialty restaurant and dress up or go more casual in the main dining room or Windjammer buffet.

While I typically go on, and recommend longer trips, I have to say that I really enjoyed this short trip where there was always something to do if you wanted to or you could always find a spot to relax. The ship is amazing; the crew was fantastic; the food was good and well-thought out; the rooms are very comfortable with lots of storage and the shower is bigger and more comfortable than most. This is a great short trip for multi-generational families, groups looking for a fun and relaxing getaway.

Great tip: Book specialty dining and excursions before you get on board. If you must go to guest services, do not go as soon as you get on board. Instead, wait until later. Early morning is best to avoid long lines.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Nassau, Bahamas. In need of further inspiration? Check out Kaylee Morgan’s guide, Discover Paradise: A 7-Day Escape to Nassau, Bahamas.