I'm one of those people, who swore I'd never go on a cruise. It just never seemed like my holiday vibe.I'm into ski trips and golfing getaways and summer beach breaks.
I love the excitement of exploring international big cities and road tripping through charming country towns. But mostly, I really just enjoy NOT being sea sick.
Yep, I'm also one of those people who gets queasy sometimes just looking at a boat. So the idea of being hideously unwell and trapped out there in the middle of the ocean could potentially be the holiday from hell.
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But when the team at Royal Caribbean invited me to join the preview cruise for their brand new ship Utopia of the Seas on a 3-night getaway to one of my bucket list destinations, The Bahamas, I decided to strap on the sea sickness bands and finally face my cruising phobia.
Utopia of the Seas sets sail
It did sound like this had the potential to be my perfect cruising match. Utopia of the Seas is the first all-new ship dedicated specifically to 3- and 4-night getaways, so it's moreappealing for customers who are cruise-curious, but worried about spending seven or 10 nights at sea.
Plus, did I mention, it goes to THE BAHAMAS?!
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With Travel Weekly voting Royal Caribbean 'best cruise line overall' for the past 21 consecutive years, I figured this would be a safe bet for a first-timer.And who knows, with cruising more popular than ever (the global cruise industry is estimated to reach US$37 billion by 2028), I might even unlock a whole new world of travel opportunities.
The good news is, I did not get sick. I did feel the motion of the ocean occasionally, but I committed to wearing those travel bands 24/7 and they actually did the trick.
And that wasn't the only thing that pleasantly surprised this (not so green) 'new-to-cruiser'.
A private island for cruisers
I was most excited about ticking The Bahamas off my bucket list on this trip, and it absolutely exceeded all expectations.
We spent one glorious day at Royal Caribbean's private island, Cococay, which is home to a full water theme park, stunning beaches and an adults-only party zone.
I was invited to spend the day at the private Coco Beach Club, a more exclusive area, tucked away from the crowds. I swam in the unbelievably clear turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean, I ate perfectly grilled lobster, I napped in a hammock under a palm tree … and it was pure heaven.
One of those "I never want to leave" days we all hope to have when we're on holiday.
While our port day in the Bahamas was the absolute highlight of my trip, the sea days were also really enjoyable.
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Sea days delight
I feel like Royal Caribbean make it impossible for you to get bored onboard, with a jam-packed schedule of live entertainment. From large-scale productions to string quartets, comedy shows, and Caribbean beats on the pool deck - you can enjoy multiple performances every day, and night, of your cruise.
Stand outs for me were the spectacular water-themed Cirque-du-Soleil-style show at the Aqua Theatre and afternoon co*cktails and live jazz in 'Central Park' (an open air garden on deck 8).
I was onboard for the official 'Naming Cruise', so we were also treated to a special performance by the ship's Godmother - Meghan Trainer. And in a total throwback to my 80s, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Rev Run from Run DMC, did a live DJ set with the best hip-hop playlist I've ever heard!
In addition to all the live entertainment, there's also five pools, water slides, mini-golf, laser tag, a rock climbing wall, karaoke, and two casinos. There's a world-class spa if you're partial to a little pampering, an enormous gym with every piece of workout equipment you could possibly need and even a jogging track.
The food
And that brings me to… the food.
I'd heard food was a big draw card for the cruising crowd, mainly because you can eat as much as you want, whenever you want, but I didn't expect the quality to be so impressive. The folks at Royal Caribbean clearly understand that food (and eating) is an important part of the overall cruising experience, with around 40 different dining and drinking venues onboard. I was also relieved to discover it wasn't only wall-to-wall buffets.There are several a la carte restaurants onboard as well.
I was also not expecting to take a train ride through the American Frontier on my Caribbean cruise. In what's sure to be the most sought after reservation on Utopia, the 'Royal Railway' is a unique theatre restaurant offering an immersive 5-course dinner with an entire cast of performers, on a virtual rail journey through the wild west - all while never leaving the ship. Because… why not? Who doesn't love dinner and a show!
With thousands of people having access to unlimited food, it was also great to hear they have systems in place for managing and minimising food waste. That's a big tick from me.
The cabin
Another big tick goes to my ocean view balcony cabin. I expected the rooms to be small, and yes, mine was certainly compact.As someone who enjoys a healthy amount of personal space, I'm glad I didn't bring a plus one on this trip, because I would have struggled to share that space (and bathroom!) with another body.
However, I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent on my private balcony, admiring the endless expanse of ocean.
A scientific study found that staring at the ocean can change the frequency of your brain waves, putting you into a mild meditative state. It also made me feel oddly disconnected from the world – in a good way. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed just sitting there on my balcony, watching the waves roll by.
Perfect for first-timers
The 'Captains Deck' tour was another unexpected highlight. It was fascinating to visit the bridge and learn about how the team get us from A to B. And how they handle energy efficiency, how they treat, conserve and create all the water on board and the not so pleasant but entirely essential process of managing the waste of almost 6000 people daily. Super gross to think about, but also good to know they've got that particular situation under control.
I'm giving myself a gold star for not getting lost on the ship - not even once!Utopia of the Seas is outrageously enormous - with 18 decks and 2834 guest rooms - but everything is extremely well signposted. And with a little help from the handy Royal Caribbean App, it was surprisingly easy to find my way around.
One thing I did not find onboard was a laundry, which created an unexpected clothing crisis. As someone who recently converted my packing strategy from folding to rolling (you can absolutely fit more in!) … everything came out of my suitcase wrinkled.
I had no idea they don't provide irons in guest rooms (they're considered a fire hazard) and with only two full days on board, there wasn't enough time to use the pressing service (also, too expensive). This, unfortunately, resulted in some limitations with my cruising wardrobe.
That said, I reckon Utopia was my perfect cruising match – three nights was just enough! It's a fantastic on-ramp for the new-to-cruise clientele.
Royal Caribbean are also counting on this short break product to appeal to the huge volume of international tourists visiting the area.Utopia is also being marketed as "the world's biggest weekend", and with the non-stop music, late night dance parties and poolside twerking competitions, I imagine it will be popular for destination Bachelor and Bachelorette parties as well.
Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley says their mission with the shorter cruises is for everyone to "make the most out of every moment and to leave the ship exhausted". And after three days onboard Utopia of the Seas, I can confidently confirm: mission-most-definitely-accomplished.
That was the wildest weekend I've had in a long time!
Sami travelled as a guest of Royal Caribbean. You can follow her on instagram @samilukis.
