Last week, I set sail on Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas. The massive cruise ship, which measures over 236,000 gross registered tons, is known as the “World’s Biggest Weekend” for the cruise line.
As a Florida resident, I was thrilled to learn the latest vessel from Royal Caribbean would be a few hours’ drive from home. Even better, I loved the opportunity to enjoy a quick escape aboard this brand-new vessel, which debuted in July 2024.
Utopia of the Seas is the sixth Oasis Class ship and sails exclusively on 3-night and 4-night cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida. My husband and I booked this cruise in August, while my parents and extended family booked over a year ago. Unfortunately, prices had increased when we decided to join the family cruise, so we paid more than others.
We booked the cheapest interior cabin available but paid slightly extra to select our specific stateroom location. The best option within our budget was cabin 9464 on Deck 9, costing us $1,539. This included prepaid gratuities. I was relieved that Royal Caribbean allowed us to apply a barely-expired future cruise credit, which reduced the cost slightly.
On the other hand, my parents paid $200 less for a balcony stateroom; however, we couldn’t commit to the cruise this early due to work conflicts. Even still, we were excited to cruise on a brand-new ship, especially because my husband had never cruised on an Oasis Class ship.
With countless options for dining, activities, and entertainment on Utopia of the Seas, I knew we wouldn’t be spending much time in our cabin anyway. We don’t mind opting for a windowless interior stateroom to save money.
First Impressions
After a quick boarding in Port Canaveral, we made our way onto the ship. The Royal Promenade was chaotically busy as everyone scrambled to reserve shows and complete their muster drill. We followed the crowds and made our way to the packed Windjammer for lunch around 1:00pm.
By this time, it was announced that our cabins would be ready. We were ready to drop off our luggage, get settled in our cabin, and enjoy some peace and quiet after dealing with the mobs of people. My husband and I made our way to deck 9, weaving through the hallways while attempting to find our cabin.
Our cabin was situated in a designated section of interior staterooms near the aft of the ship. On smaller vessels, interior cabins are typically arranged in a single row along each side of the ship. However, Utopia of the Seas is so massive that some decks feature multiple layers of interior cabins.
Instead of heading to the starboard or port side, our section had its own special entrance between the elevators. My husband and I laughed about being in the “ultimate” interior cabin, as we were surrounded by six other interior staterooms. I’ve cruised in many interior staterooms, but never in a location like this!
Cabin Design
It’s been three years since I last cruised on an Oasis Class ship, so I was eager to see what the stateroom would be like. We entered our cabin with just the touch of our SeaPass card, thanks to RFID technology on the ship.
We were immediately impressed by the cabin’s spacious size and modern aesthetics. My husband and I typically book older cruise ships with more interesting itineraries. In this way, we aren’t accustomed to contemporary designs and updated amenities.
The room had a fresh, airy feel, with light tones complemented by ocean-blue accents in the carpet, bathroom backsplash, and headboard. Even without natural light, the stateroom didn’t feel dark or cramped. Above the sofa, a small gallery wall arrangement of photos added a decorative touch.
Speaking of the couch, we were thrilled to have an additional place to sit in the cabin. Some newer cruise ships lack this seating option, requiring you to rest on your bed anytime you’re in the room.
Our stateroom featured a large couch with two wardrobe closets on each side. The couch was large enough for someone to sleep here, even though our stateroom only accommodated two guests. One wardrobe featured hanging space with hangers, while the second had shelving and drawers. This is also where our cabin safe was located.
Storage
Our sailing was only four nights, but that didn’t stop me from packing a 50-pound suitcase! After finding our stateroom and getting settled, our luggage arrived. I always unpack my suitcase regardless of the sailing's length. Otherwise, the stateroom can quickly become cluttered.
I filled the wardrobe with my outfits for our itinerary. Luckily, our room also featured a vanity with five additional drawers under the TV, which I used for my other outfits and belongings. I had just enough space for my clothes.
The vanity provided a cooling fridge, which we actually utilized for some leftover desserts we couldn’t finish at dinner. It was also nice being able to keep our bottled water cold!
My husband filled the second wardrobe, although he only packed a carry-on suitcase. Between the two of us, we filled up the storage quickly. I was surprised that our cabin didn’t have a more traditional closet, instead opting for two wardrobes for storage.
With only two people, we had plenty of storage to unpack comfortably. With more than two people in an inside cabin, the lack of storage could become an issue. On the other hand, balcony staterooms have larger closets for storage.
Cabin Experience
Because I was traveling with my husband, we configured our room with a king bed. Each side of the bed had a small nightstand with two shelves. Atop each nightstand was a lamp, which helped illuminate the room nicely.
One of the best features of the lamp included a USB-C port and an outlet for plugging in devices. I love having my phone on the nightstand each night while charging.
Older ships only have charging ports usually on the vanity, which can make it difficult to have your phone near you at bedtime. It’s a small detail, but something I appreciated.
As a frequent cruiser, I often sleep very well when on a cruise ship. However, my mattress seemed to sag towards the center of the bed. Normally, new cruise ships have firm mattresses, so I was surprised. This kept me awake through the night, as I continuously rolled towards the middle of the bed.
Read more: 21 easy ways to save money on a Royal Caribbean cruise
Temperature Control
One of the perks of booking an interior cabin is the ability to keep the room consistently cool, and our stateroom on Utopia of the Seas was no exception.
Unlike balcony cabins, which can be affected by outdoor temperatures and sunlight, interior rooms tend to have better temperature control throughout the cruise. This is especially important to me when cruising to warmer destinations, like the Caribbean.
Our stateroom included a key slot designed to control the power supply. When we arrived, we noticed that a blank card had already been placed in the slot. Rather than removing it, we left it there for the duration of our trip, allowing us to maintain a comfortably cool temperature without any issues.
Connectivity
Newer cruise ships have prioritized improved connectivity within the stateroom, adding more outlets and USB ports throughout. On Utopia of the Seas, we immediately noticed the multitude of charging options in the stateroom. This made it easier than ever to keep our devices charged throughout the cruise.
In addition to the conveniently placed outlets by the bedside, the vanity area featured multiple charging ports, which we found particularly useful. Below the mirror, our stateroom was equipped with two European outlets, three standard US plugs, and two USB ports. Between our phones, iPads, laptops, headphones, and smartwatches, we utilized most of these outlets during the cruise.
Normally, I pack an outlet extender to expand charging capabilities. However, for this cruise, I never felt the need to use one. Between the two of us, there were more than enough outlets to keep our devices fully charged without having to rotate plugs or wait for an open slot.
With travelers bringing more electronics onboard than ever before, it makes sense that cruise lines are adapting by incorporating more charging stations in each room. While this may seem like a minor feature, the added functionality makes a noticeable difference in overall convenience and comfort.
Bathroom
It may seem unusual to highlight a bathroom while on vacation, but I was very impressed with our cabin’s design and functionality. Cruise lines have prioritized making the bathrooms more spacious on newer ships—a vast improvement from the older vessels with cramped bathrooms.
First off, the shower felt incredibly spacious! Gone are the days of dealing with a cramped stall and an annoying, clingy shower curtain (the worst!). This shower was easily twice the size of those on older cruise ships, providing plenty of room to move around comfortably.
Royal Caribbean only provides a standard 2-in-1 soap-and-shampoo combination in their showers. Compared to other cruise lines that provide conditioner, this is an area of improvement, in my opinion.
As a Diamond Plus loyalty member, we were provided with upgraded bathroom amenities like lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. I always pack my own showering products when cruising, but I did appreciate the option to use these.
Second, we had plenty of storage and counter space for the two of us. Above the counter, we had three exposed shelves to utilize. In addition, there was a shelf below the sink. The counter wasn’t too wide, but it was sufficient.
Noise Concerns
Because our cabin was surrounded by so many other staterooms, I was worried we would have noise issues. In most cases, interior cabins are only bordered by two neighboring rooms, but this layout placed us in a more enclosed section of the ship.
In addition, Utopia of the Seas heavily emphasizes the party scene, leaning heavily into the weekend getaway vibe. With many different options for late-night parties, I had concerns about noise.
However, I was thrilled when we never heard a peep from our neighbors. Perhaps we were lucky with quiet cabins around us, or maybe the cabins have better noise control on newer ships. Either way, I appreciated how quiet our cabin was throughout the sailing.
Read more: I always stay in an inside cabin on a cruise ship. Here's why I actually like these rooms
Size of Utopia of the Seas
Utopia of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world, towering above the ocean with an impressive 18 decks! With so many venues, attractions, and neighborhoods spread throughout the ship, navigation is more difficult than a smaller midsize vessel.
Fortunately, our stateroom was conveniently located on Deck 9, which made it feel like we were never too far from anything on the ship. While we always tried to take the stairs when possible, Utopia of the Seas is so expansive that we relied on the elevators more often than usual.
Even still, you can expect to get plenty of steps in each day with a ship of this size. Whether walking to breakfast, heading to a show, or exploring the different entertainment venues, we easily hit our step goal each day!
Luckily, our cabin was situated right next to an elevator bank, making it incredibly easy to get back to our room from anywhere onboard. Considering the sheer scale of this Oasis Class ship, we really appreciated the more central location of our stateroom on Deck 9, as it provided a great balance between accessibility and convenience.
Bottom Line
Our cruise on Utopia of the Seas wasn’t cheap, costing $384 per day for the 4-night cruise. Had we booked earlier, our budget could have stretched further to book a balcony stateroom. However, we couldn’t commit earlier with a non-refundable deposit.
With so much to do onboard Utopia of the Seas, we hardly spent any time in our cabin, as I had anticipated. The stateroom was quiet, spacious, and comfortable. My only complaint was the sagging mattress on the bed, which seemed to be an anomaly among our travel group.
I’m already looking to book another cruise on Utopia of the Seas for next year, and I wouldn’t hesitate to book the same cabin again.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
