I was excited to board Utopia of the Seas with my family and see whether Royal Caribbean’s newest Oasis-class ship lived up to the hype. The ship really blew me away, but four nights hardly felt long enough to enjoy it. Between the restaurants, evening shows, pool deck, and stops in the Bahamas, there was always something competing for our attention.
My husband and I sailed with my extended family, including my 90-year-old grandparents. Despite the ship’s reputation for nonstop parties, we all found plenty to enjoy, including places to relax when we wanted a quieter afternoon.
For this cruise, my husband and I booked an interior cabin and put some of our vacation budget toward extra experiences, including specialty dining and an adults-only beach day at Perfect Day at CocoCay. With limited time onboard and an already expensive trip, I wanted to make sure every purchases felt worthwhile.
But spending more didn’t always lead to a better experience. Some of my favorite parts of the cruise were already included in the fare, while a few extras fell short of my expectations.
I loved Utopia of the Seas overall, but I wouldn’t spend my money exactly the same way again. Here’s what made the ship worth it for me, which splurges I’d happily repeat, and what I’d skip.
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Hideaway Beach was the extra I had the hardest time justifying
Of all the extras we purchased, Hideaway Beach at Perfect Day at CocoCay was the hardest to justify. My husband and I paid $173 for two tickets, or $86.50 each, which is more than I wanted to pay. On the other hand, my parents had booked well in advance and secured admission for just $60 total. Because we paid nearly three times as much, I think my expectations were higher.
We enjoyed spending time with my family in the adults-only area, and the drink service was quick, which we appreciated. However, I was surprised by how crowded the pool felt! It actually reminded me of Oasis Lagoon, which is available without an admission charge, so I didn’t feel like paying extra gave us a more relaxing pool experience.
The food didn’t add much value for me either, personally. Since I don’t eat seafood, the coconut shrimp and ceviche weren’t a huge draw, and many of the other options were available elsewhere on CocoCay. My husband certainly got his money’s worth in the food, as he ate upwards of 20 shrimp, but I couldn’t say the same for myself.
I’m glad we tried Hideaway Beach, and it was a fun day with family, but I wouldn’t pay $86.50 per person to return. For less than $40 each, I’d absolutely consider it a fun addition to our day. However, I didn’t feel the experience was different enough from the island’s complimentary areas to justify the price we paid.
And don’t forget that you can reprice your Hideaway Beach admission if the price drops after you book! Just cancel your admission in the app or Cruise Planner and repurchase at the new price. This is one of my best tips for sailing aboard Utopia of the Seas.
Giovanni’s and Chops Grille are two splurges I’d make again
Although there are plenty of complimentary restaurants on Utopia of the Seas, I always look forward to a few specialty meals while cruising. During this sailing, our dinners at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar and Chops Grille were two experiences that were worth the splurge!
We dined at Giovanni’s with our entire family on the first evening, and it was a wonderful way to start the cruise together. The two-story restaurant is beautiful, with views overlooking the Boardwalk, and the food was just as impressive. The filet was our favorite, and the attentive service made this one of my favorite meals onboard. Everything we tried was delicious!
The following evening, we visited Chops Grille, which was another excellent family meal. Our steaks were tender and flavorful, although I’m always just as excited about the side dishes. The gruyère tater tots are a personal favorite and something I look forward to ordering whenever I dine here.
With only four nights onboard, I was happy we chose two restaurants that we always seem to enjoy. With so much to try on Utopia of the Seas, we were temptation to try something different (like Royal Railway), but I’m glad we stayed with our tried-and-true.
Mason Jar brunch wasn’t a splurge I’d repeat
Of the specialty restaurants we booked, Mason Jar was the one I was most curious to try. My sister had raved about her experience during an earlier cruise, and the Southern-inspired menu sounded like something my family would enjoy.
When we were offered a 30% discount, my husband and I decided to book brunch with my parents. Unfortunately, even with the savings, the meal didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
The oversized cinnamon roll was easily the highlight. It was gooey, indulgent, and perfect for sharing, although I could have happily kept more of it for myself. I also enjoyed the cocktail selection, which offered some interesting drinks that were different from the usual options around the ship.
However, the rest of the meal was underwhelming, especially at around $50 per person. While I enjoyed trying a new restaurant with my family, I didn’t leave feeling like brunch had been worth the additional cost.
With so many other places to eat onboard, I wouldn’t book it again. I’d rather put that money toward another specialty dining experience, where the entire meal felt more worthwhile.
You can read here about our entire Mason Jar experience on Utopia of the Seas.
I don’t think a balcony cabin is worth the added cost
For this cruise, we booked an interior cabin on Deck 9, specifically cabin 9464. This was located near other cabins and away from public areas, so we were hoping it would be quiet. Although others in our party paid extra to book balconies, our interior cabin was perfectly fine – especially considering how little time we spent there.
The room was tucked into a section of interior cabins with its own entrance, which was different from the typical hallway configuration I’m used to. The location ended up being very convenient, and our cabin was exceptionally quiet throughout the cruise.
Inside, the room felt modern and comfortable, with a sofa, separate closet space, and plenty of outlets for charging our devices. After sailing on older ships with only a couple of outlets, I especially appreciated having an outlet and USB-C charging beside the bed.
The bathroom was another noticeable improvement. The larger shower with a glass enclosure was much more comfortable than the tiny showers and clingy curtains I’ve encountered on older vessels.
Although a balcony would have been nice, we barely spent time in the room other than sleeping and getting ready. With only four nights to enjoy everything onboard, I never felt like we were missing much by choosing an interior cabin.
I’d still compare prices before ruling out an upgrade, but I wouldn’t consider a balcony essential for this particular cruise. Our room gave us everything we needed without adding more to an already expensive vacation.
We loved hiding (and finding) ducks!
One of the latest cruise trends is hiding ducks for fellow cruisers to find. It’s becoming very popular on Royal Caribbean cruises, especially on Utopia of the Seas! We couldn’t resist joining the fun and bringing some mini ducks along on our cruise to hide during the four days onboard.
I bought this pack of 50 mini rubber ducks from Amazon to bring along, and it was definitely worth the splurge. The small ducks fit easily in our suitcase without taking up too much space. We loved hiding them around the ship and even handing some directly to the kids who were looking for ducks.
If you really want to get into the duck hiding, there is also a pack of 100 rubber cruise ducks on Amazon designed specifically for cruising. This one includes tags and different styles for serious duck hunters and hiders!
The included entertainment was a highlight of the cruise
One of the best parts of sailing on Utopia of the Seas was having access to such impressive entertainment without paying for separate tickets. The shows were a major highlight of our cruise and helped justify choosing a newer, more expensive ship.
My favorite was AQUA80Too in the AquaTheater, featuring high divers, aerialists, slackliners, and other performers pulling off incredible stunts. Even after years of cruising with Royal Caribbean, I’m still amazed by what these performers can do on a moving ship. I enjoyed the production enough to attend twice during our short sailing.
YOUTOPIA in Studio B was equally impressive, with elaborate choreography and ice skating performances that made it another must-see. I also enjoyed All In!, which featured energetic music and special effects in the Royal Theater.
My only frustration was securing reservations. I was able to book late-night showtimes after boarding, but worrying about availability wasn’t how I wanted to begin the vacation. With only four nights onboard, there wasn’t much flexibility to rearrange our plans.
Even so, the entertainment was one area where Utopia of the Seas really shined. These were some of my favorite evenings onboard, and they were already included in what we had paid!
Internet was a necessary expense for me
Although I would have loved to put my phone away for four nights, I needed to receive emails for my remote work. Additionally, I wanted to check in with my sister, who was watching our dogs back at home. Internet was one expense I knew I’d have to account for, even on a short cruise.
My VOOM Surf + Stream package cost $60 after applying my Diamond Plus internet benefit, which saved me another $60. On shorter sailings, I usually wait until boarding to purchase the package so I can use that credit.
I was happy to have the discount, especially because internet isn’t something I particularly enjoy spending vacation money on. However, being able to stay connected for work made it a worthwhile purchase for me.
Royal Caribbean’s ships are equipped with satellite internet service, so the connection was quick and reliable. It was definitely worth the extra $60, in my opinion!
The complimentary restaurants gave us plenty of variety
Although I enjoyed our specialty dinners, I was also happy with how many complimentary dining options were available. We only visited Windjammer once during the cruise because it was easy to find somewhere else to eat without navigating the busy buffet.
Park Café was convenient for sandwiches and quick bites, while El Loco Fresh was another great option for poolside Mexican cuisine. We visited during our day in Nassau and avoided most of the crowds, which made it even more enjoyable. A chicken-and-cheese quesadilla is one of my go-to choices, and I appreciated being able to grab lunch without a long wait.
Johnny Rockets was a favorite in the mornings, which is complimentary for breakfast on Oasis class ships. The breakfast sandwich was easily one of the best I’ve had on a cruise ship, and I was glad we made time to eat there.
That’s not to say every included meal was excellent. The main dining room had attentive service and a pleasant atmosphere, but the food was hit-or-miss. I enjoyed the French onion soup, while the turkey dinner was disappointing with dry meat.
The Spare Tire was another option that really didn’t impress me. I liked the idea of a poolside food truck with easy grab-and-go options, but most of the snacks reminded me of gas-station food. The raspberry cheesecake chimis were the one thing we enjoyed enough to remember!
We enjoyed the bars without buying a drink package
We decided to skip the drink package during this cruise, but we still enjoyed spending time at the bars and trying some of the cocktails onboard. With our Diamond Plus loyalty status, my husband and I each get five drinks each day. That was more than enough for us on this cruise!
Pesky Parrot was one of my favorite spots for grabbing a cocktail, with tropical decor and a drink menu that offered something different from the other venues. I loved having a bar that felt unique to the ship rather than ordering from the same familiar menu everywhere we went.
I also enjoyed visiting Lime & Coconut near the pool deck. The signature Lime and Coconut Cocktail is one of my must-have drinks on a Royal Caribbean cruise, so I was happy to find it onboard.
Despite the number of guests sailing with us, bar service was consistently quick and attentive. I never waited more than five minutes for a drink, which was better than I expected on such a large ship. All of the cocktails were nicely prepared and tasted fresh.
For this trip, we were happy with our decision to skip the package. It’s one purchase I’d consider carefully rather than automatically adding it to the reservation. I’d want to compare the price with how much we actually expected to drink before committing more of our vacation budget.
A few souvenirs were a small splurge I enjoyed
I always enjoy browsing the onboard shops, and newer cruise ships tend to have some of the most tempting merchandise. Most of the time, the merchandise is overpriced, but it’s still fun to look. Utopia of the Seas’ Royal Promenade gave me plenty of opportunities to look around, although I kept my purchases fairly modest.
On the last evening, I found two T-shirts on sale for $30 to bring home for my sister. I also couldn’t resist a $10 collar for my pup back home, which was probably the purchase I was most excited about. I also collect Starbucks mugs from around the world, so I had to get a Utopia of the Seas mug!
Compared with our specialty dining and Hideaway Beach admission, these were small additions to the overall bill. And I was happy to come home with a few gifts without spending much more!
The Solarium was one of my favorite included amenities
For a ship known for nonstop parties, Utopia of the Seas had many quiet places to kick back and unwind. I spent many afternoons in the adults-only Solarium and loved being able to relax without feeling surrounded by everything happening elsewhere onboard.
Having that quieter space made a difference in how I experienced the ship. I could enjoy the shows, bars, and busier neighborhoods, then retreat somewhere more peaceful when I wanted a break.
As someone who often prefers smaller ships, I appreciated being able to find this balance. Utopia of the Seas had plenty going on, but I didn’t feel obligated to participate in all of it.
I loved Utopia of the Seas, but I’d be more selective about the extras
Four nights gave us plenty of time to enjoy the cruise, but not enough to try everything that interested us. Between family dinners, evening shows, two port visits, and time to relax, our days filled up quickly.
Looking back, I was happiest with the purchases that added something memorable or served a practical purpose. Giovanni’s and Chops were both excellent dinners for the added cost, while our interior cabin was comfortable without paying for an upgrade.
Unfortunately, Mason Jar brunch and Hideaway Beach were harder to justify. I liked trying both of these experiences, but I wouldn’t repeat them at the prices we paid.
What I appreciated most was how much Utopia of Seas offered before we spent anything extra. The entertainment, variety of included restaurants, and afternoons in the Solarium were all important parts of why I loved the cruise.
If you’re planning a Royal Caribbean cruise and want to know more about the ships, dining options, drink packages and destinations, check out our Ultimate Royal Caribbean Cruise Guide.
