ONBOARD THE UTOPIA OF THE SEAS -- High-energy music. Short getaways. A parrot with an attitude. That's what Royal Caribbean International is delivering with the Utopia of the Seas, the line's sixth Oasis-class ship that has begun sailing from Port Canaveral, Fla.
Royal is marketing the Utopia as "the world's biggest weekend," a nod to both the ship's size -- the second-largest cruise ship in the world -- and its focus on three- and four-day cruises. Royal is using those two attributes to attract new cruisers, both those new to the brand and new to cruising overall. The ship's homeport in Port Canaveral appeals to people who want to tack a cruise onto their Orlando theme park vacation. And of course, it's also aimed at anyone who just wants a fun, quick getaway.
Royal executives said the strategy of putting an Oasis-class ship on the short-cruise circuit has worked out well. The ship has attracted a "huge number" of new-to-cruise bookings, said Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley. While he would not disclose how many new cruisers have booked the Utopia, he said that new cruisers tended to be younger and want a party weekend.
"This ship is going to have a lot of party energy," Bayley said during a three-day preview cruise, which called at Perfect Day at CocoCay, the line's private island in the Bahamas. "They want to go and have just an incredible weekend."
The Utopia of the Seas, the second-largest cruise ship on Earth, docked next to the Vision of the Seas at Perfect Day at Coco Cay. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski
The ship will sail three-day itineraries to Perfect Day and four-night voyages to Perfect Day and Nassau, which next year will be home to the brand's Royal Beach Club.
The Utopia feels very much like its sister ships in the Oasis class, travel advisors onboard said. The neighborhood concepts remain unchanged: The Royal Promenade stretches through the heart of the ship, Central Park teems with real plants, and there are dozens of returning restaurants.
What feels new is the ship's energy, with upbeat music, exciting shows and new venues to help guests quickly acclimate to vacation mode.
The view of Central Park from Trellis Bar. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski
The Pesky Parrot is one such venue. Replacing the Bionic Bar on the promenade, it builds off the concept of a rude and aging parrot. An animatronic bird named Brian will be stationed in the bar and behave like a family member who gets ornery the more it drinks, Bayley said.
"Like you're at a family celebration and one of your relatives is really irritating and they're more than a little drunk, but everyone accepts them even though they're rude," Bayley said.
The parrot will mouth off at guests when they walk up to the bar and will lay off once they order a drink, he said. Brian was not on this sailing but is scheduled to be delivered in time for the ship's first revenue sailing.
The Royal Railway dining train offers theatrical experiences on Utopia of the Seas. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski
Another new attraction is the Royal Railway -- Union Station. The specialty dining venue offers a dinner experience within a facsimile of a railroad dining car, complete with sound effects and a rumbling floor while screens that resemble windows show scenery flashing by. One advisor said he was impressed when he dined in the railcar featuring a Western theme, with menu items that included short ribs and beans.
Marisel Aleman, vice president of Cruise Elite in Ormond Beach, Fla, said clients ranging from families to travelers in their 70s want to try it out.
She said she was impressed with the Utopia and said it would be good for families with older children.
"They keep putting the best of each of their ships onto the products they're coming out with," she said, adding that the Ultimate Abyss slide, which twists and turns down the aft of many Oasis-class vessels, is longer and faster on the Utopia. On the accommodations front, Aleman said, the Utopia offers more cabin options to cater to large families.
The two-deck Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar faces out toward the Boardwalk neighborhood and has tables for al fresco dining. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski
The Utopia is still meant for intergenerational families, although the product leans toward a younger, more party-oriented demographic and those looking for that feeling of the weekend, said Kara Wallace, Royal's chief marketing officer. The short commitment of a three- or four-day itinerary makes Utopia well positioned for celebrations like birthdays, girls' trips and graduations.
Ross Spalding, owner of Crown Cruise Vacations in Princeton, N.J., said the Utopia feels like a "newer, fresher" version of the Oasis class, which was launched 15 years ago.
But even though he said the Utopia felt "like a weekend ship," he added: "You can't do everything in three days. You're going to have to come back."