Andrea Zelinski
ONBOARD UTOPIA OF THE SEAS - I'd like a Spotify playlist of the party jams playing on Royal Caribbean International's new Utopia of the Seas. And after a few hours on the ship, you may want the playlist, too.
I moved with the music almost immediately after arriving at the terminal, swishing my hips to the beats of DJs without thinking. In the first hour or so onboard, I couldn't resist singing along to lyrics from banger songs of my era, such as "That's What I Like" from Bruno Mars, "Can't Stop the Feeling!" from Justin Timberlake and "Like a G6" from Far East Movement.
It was easy to vibe as I walked past the pool and around the ship trying to figure out what was new on Royal's sixth and newest Oasis-class vessel. It turns out the high-energy emphasis is what's new -- and it's intentional.
"We want everyone to think this is the party ship," Royal Caribbean senior vice president of sales, trade support and service Vicki Freed told me Monday when I caught up with her on the first day of a three-night trade and media preview cruise.
The 236,473 gross-ton vessel is the second-largest cruise ship on Earth, smaller than the Icon of the Seas. It can carry 5,688 guests at double capacity, but its claim to fame is that it will only sail short cruises: Three-day weekend and four-day weekday jaunts out of Port Canaveral to Royal's private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at Coco Cay (the four-day cruise also calls in Nassau).
The short-form nature of these cruises encourages Royal (and passengers) to squeeze a lot of energy into a relatively brief period. Royal is embracing it, and it is marketing Utopia as "the world's biggest weekend."
The Utopia of the Seas’ Boardwalk neighborhood with a carousel, giant parrot and the Ultimate Abyss slides. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski
It's rare to assign a brand-new ship with the most up-to-date hardware to the short-cruise circuit. Freed said it's proven successful, with Utopia attracting noncruisers and new people to the brand for a quick getaway. With this audience in mind, and only a few days to get them hooked on what Royal has to offer, its strategy is to turn up the volume, almost literally, on a party atmosphere to jam as much action as it can in a few short days.
You're going to leave the ship exhausted, Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley told the several-hundred travel partners, advisors, media and other attendees in the Aquatheater at the ship's "naming party" Monday. The crowd was game. People spent the next hour standing, dancing and singing under the hot sun to a lively set of tunes mixed by Rev Run and DJ Ruckus, ranging from "I Love Rock and Roll," by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts to "I Love It," by Icona Pop.
Along the same theme of high energy vibes, Grammy-winning singer Meghan Trainor acted as godmother of the ship, performing "All About that Bass" on a silver glittered ukelele after a bottle of Champagne successfully crashed into a wall built near the Ultimate Abyss slide.
A late-night party in the Royal Promenade kept the party going on the Utopia of the Seas. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski
Later that night, the amped-up energy continued with an 80's music-style performance in the Aquatheater also loaded with favorites like "With or Without You" by U2 and other classics. It was followed by what came off as an unexpected party in the Royal Promenade neighborhood with funny performances to songs like "Who Let the Dogs Out," by Baha Men to a sea of people crowded around singing and dancing to "Living on a Prayer," by Bon Jovi and "We Found Love" by Rihanna.
Freed warned me that some guests might be frustrated, because at the end of a three- or four-day trip on the Utopia, they probably just can't experience it all. And that may be true. There are more than 40 bars and restaurants on this ship, multiple shows, live music, comedy performances and parties.
Three days may not be enough to experience it all, but I'm at least working on building my Spotify playlist so I can remember those that I did.