Relatively new to travel, Emily O’Neill recently headed off to Florida for her first cruise. A guest aboard Utopia of the Seas – the newest addition to Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships – she’s been fully converted to life at sea.
In recent years I have realised how much I love travelling and exploring new destinations. I never had a huge interest in travelling in my late teens and early twenties but now, I can’t get enough of it. My travels have been mainly confined to Europe but now I really do have an itch to explore more. My most recent trip involved a cruise which is something I never thought I would do. Now, I am planning my next one!
In July, I boarded the World’s Biggest Weekend, Utopia of the Seas, in Port Canaveral, Orlando. I genuinely had no expectations prior to stepping foot on the ship. All I can say is, if I did have expectations they would have all been blown out of the water (excuse the pun!). Utopia of the Seas is the perfect cruise for a first-timer. You can stay for three or four nights and get a taste for cruising. I was immediately sold and I can’t wait to go on an even longer one next time.
As we walked through the tunnel from the cruise terminal and onto the ship, you could feel the excitement building. In fact, for the whole three days we were on board, the excitement never stopped building. The boardwalk was packed with dancers, inflatable parrots, a DJ and even a merry-go-round! We definitely pinched ourselves a few times as we walked back down through the Royal Promenade on the way to our stateroom on deck 9.
There is nothing I love more than a gorgeous hotel room to relax in. What could top that? Well, a stateroom onboard Utopia of the Seas could! Opening the door to a bright and airy double room was a surprise for me – I think I watch way too much Below Deck because I expected a dark room with bunk beds. The little towel animal on the bed got a ten out of ten! The stateroom was beautifully decorated with a mix of whites, neutrals and a gorgeous splash of sea blue. I instantly felt a sense of calm when I entered. The room had everything we needed and more. The attention to detail was incredible. There were hooks on the wall to hang your hats or handbags, USB plugs, more than enough hangers for two overpackers and even a clothesline to dry your clothes. Although the bathroom was on the smaller side, it was fully equipped with soap, facecloths and shower gel. The shower itself had a dreamy waterfall shower head which was bliss! The pièce de résistance for me though was the sea view balcony. As the sun went down every evening, we spent lots of time sitting and taking in the sounds of the Atlantic Ocean. It was breathtaking and the perfect way to unwind before going to bed.
Now, for the fun parts… where do I even begin? The experience is bursting with endless food and drinks, three different waterslides, five pools and even a rock climbing wall. There really is something for everyone!
The food options were insane. I didn’t think it was possible to have such a variety of different options in one place, never mind at sea. We loved the Windjammer Food Hall. It is the perfect place to eat if you all fancy something different. There are over 200 dishes and sides to choose from including burgers, stir-fries, carvery, salads and desserts. The Oreo layer cake was my favourite! I am also a huge fan of seafood and we were lucky enough to dine in Hooked, one of the specialty restaurants on the ship. I opted for the Captain’s Platter and I was not disappointed. It was my dream meal – lobster, salmon and prawn all on one plate. I would eat it every day if I could! If you are a pizza lover, you need to stop by Sorrento’s on the Royal Promenade. It is the perfect spot for a late-night snack if you’re feeling peckish after a show. I could go on and on about the food but I could write a whole article on Sorrento’s alone.
The pool area was a hub of activity with dance-offs, water fights and even a DJ. We thoroughly enjoyed watching with a cocktail in hand! There are also multiple smaller heated pools on the upper deck. I had such a fun time there looking down over the main pool. You get the best of both worlds! If you have children in tow, they will never get bored. The outdoor areas alone would keep them entertained for days. Between the waterslides, splash pads, mini golf and an epic climbing wall – it is a dreamland for kids. I still see myself as a very overgrown child so I enjoyed lots of these activities on board too! Let’s just say my mini-golf skills need some work…
If you are looking for one showstopper performance during your trip, you have to watch AQUA80TOO in the Aqua Theatre – 80’s music fans will love it. It is an incredible show. This was definitely a big highlight of my trip. One of our favourite things to do when we go away is to have a glass of wine and listen to some live music. A gorgeous spot on board for this is the Bell & Barley Bar. The bar itself is decorated like a traditional pub and it feels like a little bit of home. Almost every night we enjoyed watching the amazingly talented Stephen Burke belt out the best tunes. Dare I say it almost felt like we were in Temple Bar!
If you think all of the above sounds exciting, wait until I tell you about Perfect Day At CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private Island in the Bahamas. When I say I was in awe, I am not joking in the slightest! It was like stepping into a movie. I have never seen anything like it in my 27 years! I can hand on my heart say I had one of the best days of my life here and it was even more special spending it with my mam. Again, we went for a very relaxed approach and spent the day at Chill Island. The white sand and clear blue water took my breath away. The beach was adorned with colourful huts selling clothes and souvenirs from local traders. We spent some time in the afternoon browsing each hut and picked up some lovely little gifts for friends and family. As Nadine Coyle once said, ‘I’d never really thought of myself as a beach girl’… but that was before I spent a day at CocoCay. I am now a fully-fledged beach girl and I have been dreaming of it ever since I left it. We swam, we sunbathed and had a lovely lunch with some gorgeous girls we met from Mexico and Vienna. If I’m lucky enough to go back in the future, I hope I am brave enough to take on the Thrill Waterpark. It looked like the best fun!
All good things must come to an end but this is one trip I never wanted to end. I had one of the best experiences of my life on board Utopia of the Seas – I can’t speak more highly of it! Royal Caribbean really is the best of the best when it comes to staff, facilities and the overall experience. I can’t wait to spend another trip of a lifetime on board a Royal Caribbean Cruise with my entire family at some point in the future.
Emily O’Neill was a guest of Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean International is offering 2025 Caribbean and Bahamas cruise itineraries onboard Utopia of the Seas, starting from €492 for 3 nights and €575 for 4 nights. To book, or for more information, please visit www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en.
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