Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas is the first ship in the Oasis class to be LNG fuelled and the first of the company’s newbuilds to specifically target the short cruise market.
Construction of Utopia of the Seas commenced at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France, in March 2022. Upon completion, Royal Caribbean’s newest addition will become the third-largest cruise ship globally, measuring 362-m long, 64-m wide, and featuring 18 decks to accommodate 5,668 guests.
The ship has undergone sea trials, it was announced in May. Royal Caribbean says, “The sea trial, one of the final construction milestones, saw more than 900 experts push the ship to its limits as it covered more than 2,700 km and reached speeds of up to 25 knots. Everything was inspected, from the navigation and engines to the signature AquaTheater’s stage elements and resort-style pools – all less than 10 weekends ahead of the homecoming party at Port Canaveral, Florida in July.”
Utopia of the Seas is the first vessel to deploy the new Wärtsilä 46TS-DF engine. Six engines are deployed with a power of 96,000 kW. Three azipods of 20 MW each are fitted, and selective catalytic reduction is used for NOx removal.
Wärtsilä says “close collaboration between Royal Caribbean Group, Wärtsilä and French yard Chantier de l’Atlantique was key to the successful development and introduction of the first Wärtsilä 46TS-DF engine”.
“It is important to introduce new technology on our ships to continue advancing our net-zero ambitions while providing an exception experience for our guests,” explains Royal Caribbean Group technical manager Laurent Tessier.
With built-in upgradability and fuel flexibility, the Wärtsilä 46TS-DF represents the next generation of medium-speed engines. Wärtsilä says it is designed to set a “new benchmark” for fuel efficiency and emissions performance and is ready to run on future fuels.
The engine supports maximum comfort with low noise and vibration expected from guests as well as Royal Caribbean Group’s need for excellent fuel efficiency and low emissions.
Wärtsilä sales director Glenn Mattas notes the importance of the new technology qualification process run together with Royal Caribbean Group and DNV. “We got some good feedback leading to modifications in our design. The customer’s direct feedback on the design of the engine will serve us for the future.”
Royal Caribbean Group chose the Wärtsilä 46TS-DF for its power density and lower fuel oil consumption – much lower than the previous version of the engine. The engine was also chosen for its ability to meet guest demands – primarily minimal vibration, emissions and noise. These were a focus of the factory acceptance tests carried out in Vaasa, Finland in November 2022.
“The first thing to check is the performance,” shared Mr Tessier at the time. “Specific fuel oil and gas consumption is very important. We also check the vibration, the normal behaviour of the engines, different loading points, transient operations and safety. We know this is a first-of-series engine, but I was impressed by the quality, behaviour and performance during the test.”
Wärtsilä also provided the LNG tanks. By introducing the first LNG-powered Oasis-class ship, Royal Caribbean says it took another step toward a “clean-energy future” after its first LNG ship, Icon of the Seas, which was introduced to the market earlier this year.
Utopia of the Seas is the first ship in the Oasis class to be LNG fuelled (source: Royal Caribbean)
Other energy-efficient and green features include an advanced wastewater purification system that treats 2.6M litres a day. Average guest water consumption a day is expected to be 205 litres; the ship also has a reverse osmosis desalination plant.
Its waste management is wide ranging and includes landfill-free (where green hub ports allow) with no plastic straws, milk containers or condiments. It will have cold room storage, glass crushers, incinerators, a cardboard bailer, aluminium can compacter and food waste pulper.
The ship is the company’s first newbuild to be focused on short cruises. Royal Caribbean explains more about this in a recent blog. It says Utopia’s 3- and 4-night sailings are specifically to attract first-time cruisers who are hesitant to make week-long commitments.
It says, “By embarking on a short cruise, guests will get a taste of the best Royal Caribbean has to offer, including onboard amenities, entertainment, dining options, and its award-winning private island in The Bahamas.
“Plus, Utopia will attract those loyal to the Royal Caribbean brand through the introduction of new experiences that cannot be found on any other ship in the fleet, including the first-ever immersive train car specialty restaurant.”
Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class debuted in 2009 with the introduction of Oasis of the Seas. Since then, the class has grown to include six ships, including Utopia of the Seas.
It recently placed an order for a seventh ship from Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard that is set to launch in 2028.
Royal Caribbean International has announced Utopia will homeport year-round at Port Canaveral beginning July 2024.
The debut of Utopia of the Seas will introduce an array of signature adventures alongside innovative features and reimagined experiences. Notably, it will include access to the newly unveiled adults-only Hideaway Beach, set to open in early 2024. Guests can look forward to indulging in a new Caribbean tiki bar, the longest dry slide at sea and newly designed resort-style pools.
Utopia will boast five pools, three water slides, 21 dining venues, 23 bars, two casinos, eight hot tubs, and will be the only Oasis-class ship to include two Solarium suites.
Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive Michael Bayley highlighted the ship’s offerings, saying, "Vacationers want to make the most of their time by celebrating and reconnecting with loved ones, and Utopia of the Seas offers endless possibilities to achieve just that. With a wide range of dining options, bars, pools, entertainment and exhilarating experiences that have revolutionised Oasis-class ships, combined with the incredible offerings on our private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, we have created the ultimate weekend getaway for everyone."
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