Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas floats out for testing

Royal Caribbean International’s Utopia of the Seas is making its way to the open ocean for the first time to begin five days of testing.

The sea trial, also known as one of the final construction milestones, begins just 10 weeks ahead of the new vacation’s homecoming party and official introduction in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida, in July 2024.

More than 900 experts, specialists across areas like naval architecture, engineering, navigation and design, are on Utopia to push the ship to its limits and make sure it’s ready for smooth sailing. The teams are carrying out hundreds of tests and inspections, from how the ship moves through the open water and the operation of its navigation systems to engine performance, back-of-house technical checks and more.

The short getaway will cover more than 1,000 miles during the five-day trial, and once complete, it will be all systems go for the final phase of construction at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France.

Utopia welcoming guests July 19

Starting July 19, Utopia will welcome vacationers to make more memories on short getaways than ever before as the first Oasis Class ship to debut with three-night weekend and four-night weekday cruises. Guests can experience more than 40 ways to dine, a first-of-its-kind immersive train car dining experience (the Royal Railway); the longest dry slide at sea; and show-stopping entertainment across air, ice, water and stage.

Every vacation on Utopia includes time on Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.

The island offers 14waterslides, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean and The Bahamas, and a newly opened adults-only oasis, Hideaway Beach, that features a private beach, pools and spots for drinks and bites, exclusive cabanas and live music.

More details on Utopia are available on Royal Caribbean’s website