Royal Caribbean Has Another New Cruise Ship, With Short Getaways in Mind  

If you’re planning on a summertime cruise to the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean has another new option for you: the ambitiously-named Utopia of the Seas, which is headed to Port Canaveral for a July launch. 

The massive new ship officially joined the Royal Caribbean fleet at its shipyard in France, a little over a month before it begins Caribbean sailings out of the east coast of Florida. 

So what do you need to know about the newest Oasis-class ship?

The biggest story is the length of its itineraries. Royal says the ship was designed with short getaways in mind: think three-night or four-night cruises, all of which stop at the line’s private destination in The Bahamas. 

So what’s included? 

Five pools, a FlowRider, a 10-story zip line, a 259-foot-long waterslide and even a new food “station” that takes passengers on a “train” style culinary adventure. 

That’s along with new Royal Caribbean additions like a Caribbean tiki bar and a Japanese street-food outlet. 

So what do Royal Caribbean’s Utopia cruises cost? 

A sample itinerary for a cruise starting July 29 out of Port Canaveral starts at $932 per person, before adding taxes, fees and port expenses to the tune of about $102.43. 

The July 22 cruise is a bit more, with rates starting at $1,182, according to the company’s Web site. 

To learn more, visit Royal Caribbean Cruises.