While upcoming sister-ship Icon of the Seas is certainly getting all the buzz as it nears completion, many people may not realize that Royal Caribbean has an even newer ship under construction… and it’s nearly as big.
Utopia of the Seas debuts in July 2024. The sixth ship in the popular Oasis class, which includes Royal Caribbean’s current newest ship Wonder of the Seas, Utopia will will come in at 236,860 gross tons… just slightly smaller than Icon of the Seas. The ship will also carry nearly 5,700 passengers at double occupancy and be the first LNG-powered ship in its class.
Just weeks ago, we shared that Royal Caribbean executives let slip during an earnings call that the ship would regularly visit CocoCay. At the time, we speculated that would mean a homeport somewhere on the east coast of Florida given the distance from the private island.
Now Royal Caribbean is confirming that is the case for Utopia of the Seas. The upcoming ship will homeport in Port Canaveral when it arrives next year. That puts it within an easy overnight sailing to the island and anchoring one of the busiest cruise ports in the world. In fact, Wonder of the Seas — the current newest ship in the fleet — already calls Port Canaveral home.
But there’s more announced about Utopia than just its new home. The cruise line also shared that the ship will sail three and four-day cruises right from the start. Typically, the newest ships are put into service with 7-day voyages. Those looking for a quick getaway have to select an older ship. Now, passengers will be able to not only sail on the newest ship in the fleet, but also take a shorter — and typically less expensive — cruise.
Royal Caribbean is dubbing the trips “the world’s biggest weekend.”
“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,” said Michael Bayley, the president of Royal Caribbean International.
While we think Icon of the Seas will likely continue to get the most buzz given its revolutionary design, the arrival of Utopia of the Seas — and shorter trips — will definitely make cruisers looking for short getaways very happy.
The ship opens for booking on June 22 to current Crown & Anchor members and June 23 for the general public.
One other note that can’t be left out. When Utopia starts sailing in July 2024, it will further cement the importance of Florida to Royal Caribbean. At that point, all three of the cruise line’s newest and largest ships will call either Port Canaveral or Miami home.
