Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas ship will offer short getaways starting in 2024

Nathan Diller, USA TODAY
·3 min read
1
The ship will feature sushi eatery Izumi in the Park.
The ship will feature sushi eatery Izumi in the Park.

Royal Caribbean International’s new ship will pack a full vacation of fun into a weekend-friendly package.

The line’s Utopia of the Seas ship will begin sailing three-and-four night itineraries when it debuts – a first for its Oasis Class – from Florida’s Port Canaveral in July 2024, Royal Caribbean said Tuesday.

“Vacationers are looking to make every moment count by celebrating and recharging with their friends and family, and Utopia of the Seas makes all that possible in more ways than one,” Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said in a news release. “With the variety of dining, bars, pools, entertainment and thrills that make Oasis Class ships revolutionary and the experiences to match on our private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, we’ve combined the best of the best to create the world’s biggest weekend for everyone.”

Where will Utopia of the Seas sail?

The ship, which will be able to accommodate more than 5,600 guests based on double occupancy, will sail to Nassau and Perfect Day at CocoCay, the line's private island in the Bahamas. The weekend sailings will be three nights long, while the ship will sail four-night itineraries during the week.

What can guests expect from Utopia of the Seas?

The ship will feature a variety of new and returning venues – some reimagined for the vessel – across eight neighborhoods on sailings that won’t max out guests’ vacation days.

Utopia of the Seas will have over 20 dining options, including a revamped version of the Izumi restaurant with twice as many teppanyaki tables and outdoor seating in the ship’s Central Park area. Izumi in the Park, a window where passengers can get sushi and sweet Japanese-inspired treats will be next door.

Passengers will also find an expanded, two-story version of Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, and a new extension of the eatery, Gio’s Terrazza, located above the Boardwalk neighborhood.

Carnival Venezia The cruise line's new ship offers Italian-style sailing

New Caribbean bar Pesky Parrot – located on the Royal Promenade – will serve fruity cocktails with rum, gin and tequila, along with frozen drinks and other items. There will also be an immersive dining experience that takes guests on a “ locomotive journey” with multiple courses and technology elements, according to the release, with more details to come.

Guests can choose from over 20 kinds of accommodations, including the new Solarium Suites, which feature sweeping views and access to the line’s Royal Suite Class experience. There are also five pools, two casinos, a zip line, rock climbing walls and more.

New Solarium Suites will offer panoramic views.
New Solarium Suites will offer panoramic views.

What else should guests know?

Bookings open to the public on Friday, but members of the line’s Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program can book on Thursday (pricing info is not yet available). Travelers can book on the line’s website.

The ship will also use cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas.

All Royal Caribbean ships have accessible staterooms for guests with disabilities, according to its website. Guests can request more information by calling the line's Accessibility Department at 866-592-7225.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Try a short cruise: Royal Caribbean reveals Utopia of the Seas details