This Cruise Ship Is the Referred to as the “World’s Greatest Weekend” — and It’s Surprisingly Nice for All Ages

I’d solely sailed as soon as earlier than on a weekend cruise from my dwelling port of Lengthy Seashore all the way down to Ensenada, Mexico, and again. The expertise hadn’t left me desirous to sail once more, particularly as a traveler who prefers the liberty to tailor her personal itinerary. Nonetheless, I used to be excited (dare I say, giddy) as I stepped onto the second largest cruise ship on this planet in Port Canaveral, Florida.

“It looks like Las Vegas,” I overheard one other passenger say between sips of complimentary Champagne as we stepped into the Royal Promenade, one among eight onboard neighborhoods and the place the place each passenger begins their journey aboard Utopia of the Seas. With retailers, eating places, bars, and artwork so far as the attention can see, it really did really feel a bit like Vegas — in the perfect methods. With an virtually dizzying lineup of eating, leisure, nightlife, and family-friendly choices to discover onboard, Utopia of the Seas looks like its personal metropolis on the water.

I used to be most excited to see if cruising may very well be a viable trip choice for my daughter and me. Whereas I wasn’t all the time eager on cruises, I’m now touring solo with my (then) eight-month-old daughter, and changing into a guardian modifications all the things — even your journey type. Jam-packed itineraries and hopping between locations on a single journey (my ordinary type) now feels like a logistical nightmare, because of nap schedules, diaper modifications, and ponderous child gear to juggle.

Similar to that, the concept of getting all the things we might probably need — from a splash pad, to eating places, to tropical locations, and even babysitting providers — simply outdoors of our cabin door seemed like heaven. And Utopia of the Seas didn’t disappoint.

Photograph: sbw-photo

As a brand new mother, I rapidly realized that the time period “family-friendly” is used generously, generally to explain facilities which are decidedly not. Whereas I anticipated a cruise to be one of many extra accommodating journey choices, I virtually couldn’t imagine simply how family-friendly Utopia of the Seas truly was.

As soon as on board, a notification got here via on the Royal Caribbean app — the hub via which friends can view the each day schedules, make eating reservations, view skilled photographs taken all through the journey, and far more. The notification inspired me to take a look at Journey Ocean, the onboard children’ membership that, to my delight, features a nursery that takes infants as younger as six months. With my daughter being eight months outdated throughout this journey, the concept of at-sea babysitting was an absolute gamechanger.

As soon as we’d settled into our cabin, we made our option to Deck 14 to discover Journey Ocean. This huge kids’s space consists of childcare and actions for teenagers as much as age 11, separated into 4 age teams. The nursery takes infants from six to 36 months, whereas the Juniors room is devoted to children between three and 5 years of age. Two extra rooms are devoted to children ages six to eight and 9 to 11. There’s additionally the AO Play Place, stuffed with tender play gear for kids to get pleasure from with their mother and father, in addition to an escape room and theater. With nursery reservations secured, I used to be in a position to plan for baby-free ship exploration all through the cruise.

I used to be additionally pleasantly shocked with what number of choices Utopia of the Seas supplied for kids — even infants — to benefit from the cruise. On the pool deck, Splashaway Bay is a kid-friendly waterpark stuffed with fountains and slides. It includes a splash pad known as Child Bay for the cruise’s youngest friends. There’s additionally lots to maintain the older children entertained, together with water slides; actions like mountaineering, laser tag, and mini golf; a teen room; and an arcade.

Maybe what really made Utopia of the Seas stand out as family-friendly was the crew, who have been particularly pleasant to my daughter and me. Lots of the crew members, because it turned out, have been additionally mother and father, and I loved each alternative to see photographs of their very own kids. The crew’s heat towards my daughter and me was not solely welcoming but in addition real — and it was their kindness that made this cruise really family-friendly.

Photograph: sbw-photo

Royal Caribbean’s advertising and marketing for Utopia of the Seas as “the world’s greatest weekend” is basically because of its three- and four-night sailings and seemingly limitless onboard facilities. There was a lot to discover, in actual fact, that I couldn’t have executed all of it if I’d tried. In any case, the 18-deck ship boasts greater than 20 eating choices, 12 bars and lounges, 5 swimming pools, two casinos, an ice skating rink, and eight distinct neighborhoods, plus a health heart, spa, and outside park.

Leisure choices embrace the Youtopia ice skating present, Aqua80too (an ‘80s-themed AquaTheater present), and All In!, an authentic manufacturing within the Royal Theater. There’s additionally stay music on the Music Corridor, Schooner Bar, Boleros Bar, and The Mason Jar restaurant, simply to call a number of, with extra leisure choices just like the Comedy Membership, karaoke, and themed night events. As if that wasn’t sufficient, Utopia of the Seas additionally presents mountaineering, miniature golf, laser tag, an arcade, outside motion pictures, FlowRider browsing, and The Final Abyss, the world’s largest dry slide at sea. Every day is stuffed with a neverending lineup of occasions and actions, from scavenger hunts and sport exhibits to poolside events, sports activities competitions, and solo traveler meetups.

With such a staggering lineup, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than I spotted that this wasn’t meant to be approached as a guidelines of experiences. Moderately, friends can merely benefit from the cruise type they like most, whether or not they’re searching for adults-only serenity, a party-filled weekend, or, in my case, a family-friendly getaway. It was mind-blowing to me that two individuals may very well be on the identical ship and every have jam-packed itineraries, all whereas by no means crossing paths.

That is the fantastic thing about Utopia of the Seas: its flexibility. It’s arduous to nail the one-size-fits-all method, however Utopia of the Seas manages to supply quite a lot of crusing experiences on a single ship. All through my time on the ship, I couldn’t assist however consider what a crowd-pleaser this cruise could be for bigger teams, particularly multi-generational households searching for a trip choice to go well with differing journey types.

For our family-friendly expertise, we opted for morning stroller walks via Central Park (an onboard park themed after its NYC namesake), a household competition and carousel rides at The Boardwalk, a superhero-themed live performance on The Royal Promenade, and splash pad enjoyable at Child Bay. My daughter liked sampling all types of latest flavors on the Windjammer buffet, and she or he even had her first steakhouse expertise at Chops Grille.

Photograph: EWY Media/Shutterstock

If the onboard facilities weren’t sufficient, all Utopia of the Seas sailings embrace a cease at Royal Caribbean’s personal island within the Bahamas. I used to be excited for my first go to to the Bahamas, and it didn’t disappoint. Crystal blue waters and breezy island temperatures set the tone for a soothing seaside day at CocoCay.

As soon as we made our option to the island, we have been welcomed by Royal Caribbean employees who helped passengers navigate their means throughout the island. (One of many employees additionally labored within the nursery and greeted my daughter and me with an enormous smile.) Whereas the island isn’t massive, it includes a tram system to make it simpler to get the place you wish to go, and regardless of the its smaller dimension, the island packs fairly a punch: friends can select from the very swimmable Oasis Lagoon (one of many extra well-liked selections); water slides and enjoyable at Thrill Waterpark; the model new, adults-only Hideaway Seashore; and a handful of oceanfront seashores.

We spent our “Good Day at CocoCay,” as Royal Caribbean calls it, at Chill Island, a laid-back seaside with turquoise waters that actually lived as much as its title. Just some minutes from the bustling principal entrance, Chill Island looks like a personal oasis. We cozied up on a daybed, which made for the right — and shady — dwelling base for a number of hours at CocoCay. The water right here was heat and somewhat nonetheless, making it an exquisite choice for my daughter’s first dip within the ocean. After taking part in within the water, we might simply calm down on the daybed whereas having fun with these lovely Bahamian views. We have been steps away from eating choices, bars, and the island’s market, a should for memento procuring.

Most households appeared to gravitate towards Thrill Waterpark, which presents adrenaline-pumping water slides with names like Daredevil’s Peak and Dueling Demons. There are extra tame choices for youthful kids, just like the far more sluggish and regular Manta Raycers water slide, and the close by Splashaway Bay, like its sister onboard the ship, is a enjoyable splash pad space with slides, fountains, and a tipping bucket. We opted for a extra enjoyable expertise on our first journey to CocoCay at Chill Island, however I do know we’ll be again for the waterparks when my daughter is a bit older.

From Chill Island, I had my first actual view of Utopia of the Seas. She was docked subsequent to a sister ship from the Royal Caribbean fleet, Imaginative and prescient of the Seas, and seeing the 2 facet by facet actually put into perspective simply how huge the second largest cruise ship on this planet is in dimension.

Our Good Day at CocoCay was our final full day on Utopia of the Seas. In simply three nights, Utopia of the Seas did what I suspected it’d: convert me right into a cruiser for all times. As one other passenger informed me, I’d grow to be “loyal to Royal,” as Royal Caribbean passengers prefer to say.

And now that the ship has formally debuted since its inaugural crusing in July 2024, vacationers of all types can uncover the “world’s greatest weekend” for themselves aboard Utopia of the Seas.