Royal Caribbean is forward of schedule with its subsequent new cruise ship and needs to get it in service sooner.
Friends booked on the inaugural crusing of Utopia of the Seas have been knowledgeable on Tuesday that there might be a brand new first crusing.
Inaugural sailings are a giant deal to be on, because it’s each a badge of honor to have the ability to be say you have been onboard. Plus, they’re a giant celebration too.
The inaugural crusing was scheduled to be on July 22, 2024, however Royal Caribbean might be including an additional voyage prior.
The brand new inaugural crusing is 3-night weekend cruise on July 19, 2024. Utopia will then proceed along with her beforehand scheduled sailings after, which might be the July 22 crusing.
Why the change? Royal Caribbean mentioned in an e-mail the brand new ship might be prepared sooner, “Utopia of the Seas is forward of schedule and arriving at Port Canaveral sooner than initially deliberate.”
Anybody booked on the unique inaugural crusing of Utopia of the Seas can have alternative to maneuver their reserving to the brand new inaugural 3-Evening Bahamas & Good Day Cruise on July 19.
Learn how to transfer to the brand new crusing
For those who have been booked on the unique inaugural and need to switch to the brand new voyage, there are alternatives obtainable.
Royal Caribbean is providing friends the possibility to maneuver to the very same stateroom presently booked – at no extra price to you.
The cruise fare charge might be prorated for the change from a 4-night to a 3-night cruise, which means, Royal Caribbean will present a 1-day cruise fare refund. It is solely obtainable for altering to the brand new date.
If chosen, the reserving might be transferred to the brand new sail date by March nineteenth, 2024.
In any other case, friends can stay on the July 22 crusing as booked.
Friends have till March twelfth, 2024 to pick the provide. If you’re booked on the July 22 crusing and do completely nothing in your half, you may stay on that crusing.
Transferring to a weekend cruise for her inaugural
It is nearly becoming that Utopia of the Seas is transferring her inaugural to a 3-night weekend cruise, as that’s the focus of the brand new ship.
Utopia might be Royal Caribbean’s first new Oasis Class ship to begin cruises with quick 3- and 4-night cruises as a substitute of 7-night cruises. It is a flip of the script for the cruise line, as a result of normally older ships function weekend cruises.
The change is a concerted effort to draw first-time cruisers, who’re leery of occurring any cruise ship for every week.
The thought is to supply quick cruises on its latest {hardware} in order that anybody who’s contemplating a brief cruise as their first crusing will see a transparent delineation between what choices are on the market.
Learn extra: 5 strikes Royal Caribbean is making to overtake its weekend cruise enterprise for the longer term
Utopia would be the second new Royal Caribbean cruise ship to launch in 2024, following up on Icon of the Seas.
Icon has drawn a considerable quantity of consideration for being the largest cruise ship on the planet and ushering in a brand new class of vessel.
Whereas Utopia is about 7% smaller than Icon, she remains to be filled with loads for passengers to do to maintain them busy.
On the highest deck, you may discover three pool areas, an aqua park for teenagers, surf simulator, zip line, basketball court docket, and 295-foot dry slide down the again of the ship.
The Royal Railroad will function a basic prepare motif that delivers a blended actuality expertise. After prototyping the prepare automobile expertise at Royal Caribbean’s Miami headquarters, the crew feels assured it’s going to ship an unimaginable new possibility for passengers.
Izumi has been moved as much as Central Park, which is a primary for the Oasis Class. Izumi will even have a brand new pickup window which permits fast seize and go choices for friends.
Park Cafe can have a brand new night terrace expertise, which the cruise line hopes will invigorate evenings on this neighborhood.
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar has been relocated into the deck 11 and 12 former Wonderland location.
Talking of meals, there might be a meals truck on the pool deck, and a tiki bar on the Royal Promenade.
Learn extra: Utopia of the Seas restaurant and eating information
One other inaugural cruise change
That is the second Royal Caribbean cruise ship to have her inaugural crusing change in only a week.
Final week Royal Caribbean introduced the primary crusing for Star of the Seas can be pushed again by two weeks.
Star of the Seas would be the second Icon Class ship and launch in 2025. As a substitute of her first cruise being on August 17, 2025, the brand new inaugural crusing was pushed again to August thirty first, 2025.
The explanation for the delay was not specified, apart from noting, “after a assessment of the work that is still to be finished, we’re sadly pressured to delay the ship’s supply date.”
Similar to Utopia, friends booked on the unique inaugural cruise of Star of the Seas got the possibility to maneuver to the brand new crusing with no penalty and cruise fare value safety.
