An enormous disco ball maneuvered across the outer decks with the assistance of drones, purple and blue confetti rained down on passengers so closely it was troublesome to see, and recording artist Meghan Trainor toasted her viewers with a glass of Champagne in 90-degree warmth. With that, Trainor, the godmother of Royal Caribbean’s new ship, Utopia of the Seas, named the vessel – the twenty eighth within the line’s fleet, which is now the business’s largest.
The naming ceremony was held in Port Canaveral, Florida, close to Orlando on Monday on the ship’s sun-drenched out of doors AquaTheater. It kicked off with a set by DJ Ruckus and Rev Run of Run DMC fame, adopted by a efficiency from the vessel’s AquaTheater forged and blessings from native clergy.
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“That is one hell of a ship,” mentioned Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean’s president and CEO. “… eight neighborhoods … 40 eating places, infinite swimming pools and Jacuzzis, unimaginable leisure … that is why Utopia of the Seas is the ‘World’s Greatest Weekend.'”
The time period is becoming, on condition that Utopia of the Seas might be centered on brief sailings – one thing cruise strains normally reserve for older vessels. Royal Caribbean has not too long ago begun utilizing a few of its flashiest ships for shorter voyages with the intention of luring first-time cruisers who won’t really feel comfy setting sail for a complete week.
“It isn’t concerning the dimension,” Bayley mentioned of the now second-largest ship on the earth (subsequent to Royal Caribbean’s not too long ago launched Icon of the Seas). “It is as a result of you possibly can profit from each single minute in additional methods than ever earlier than.”
The 5,668-passenger ship is the sixth within the line’s Oasis Class of vessels. Almost 15 years after the category debuted, it stays Royal Caribbean‘s hottest. The road has advanced the collection over time to incorporate up to date facilities, modern cabin sorts and the newest expertise.
New-for-the-class options on Utopia of the Seas embrace an immersive train-themed dinner theater referred to as Royal Railway Utopia Station, a meals truck referred to as Spare Tire and an indoor tiki bar referred to as Pesky Parrot.
The ship additionally has an enlarged model of Giovanni’s Italian, an Italian eatery discovered on another Oasis Class ships. It is now two decks as a substitute of 1 and situated in an open-air amusement space of the ship referred to as the Boardwalk. On earlier Oasis Class ships, it was positioned within the garden-like Central Park space.
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Like earlier Oasis Class ships, Utopia of the Seas is designed with a number of “neighborhoods” together with the Boardwalk and Central Park.
Amongst venues discovered on earlier Oasis Class ships which can be making a return are the Rising Tide Bar, which “levitates” on hydraulics between the ship’s Royal Promenade and Central Park neighborhoods; the Boardwalk neighborhood’s carousel and Final Abyss slide, which twists down 10 decks; and the jaw-dropping Final Household Suite, which is right for folks with younger kids, providing separate bedrooms, hangout areas with video games and a slide that takes youngsters from their bed room to the lounge beneath.
By means of no less than 2026, Utopia of the Seas is scheduled to supply three- and four-night voyages to the Bahamas, Excellent Day at CocoCay and the Western Caribbean from Port Canaveral.
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