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Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas, just set sail. Of course, we had to test out this World’s Biggest Weekend for ourselves, so we hopped onboard the ship’s inaugural 3-day cruise. For this sailing, we booked a guaranteed ocean view balcony cabin. See how it compared to the competition in our Utopia of the Seas balcony room review.
We Stayed in a Utopia of the Seas Balcony Room, and Here’s How It Compares
To lock in a lower rate, we decided to book the guaranteed ocean view balcony room category for this trip. With this option, we did not know the exact location of our room up until a few weeks before our sail date. This can be a great option for those looking to save some money. However, it might not be a good choice if you need a specific room or location, or if you are prone to motion sickness.
It is important to note that even if you choose a traditional balcony layout on Utopia of the Seas, not all balcony rooms have an ocean view. This ship also features Central Park view balcony cabins as well as Boardwalk view balcony cabins. These cabins still have a balcony but face interior towards these neighborhoods rather than outward towards the ocean.
A couple weeks prior to our cruise, we were assigned to cabin 11680. Reviewing the deck plans, this starboard side balcony cabin is a 3D category balcony stateroom. It is located just aft of the midship elevators. According to Royal Caribbean’s website, this room measures 191 square feet with a 50 square foot balcony.
We have sailed on all five previous Oasis class vessels, so we had a good idea what to expect from this Utopia of the Seas balcony room in terms of layout and decor.
Layout of a Utopia of the Seas Balcony Room
Immediately entering our cabin, the bathroom was to the right. Continuing into the room, there was the desk with the sofa across the way. The sofa was flanked by two small closets. The bed was closer to the balcony which is our preferred configuration. It was located on the aft wall facing forward.
This room was almost identical, except a mirror image, of our Wonder of the Seas balcony cabin. The color palette is mostly muted featuring light wood tones with pops of blue and subtle patterns. There are also additional charging outlets around the cabin which is always an added convenience on a cruise ship.
Inside the Utopia of the Seas Balcony Room
Bathroom
The bathroom in this Utopia of the Seas balcony room was pretty typical for a newer Royal Caribbean ship. Unfortunately though, it did not have the newly configured setup or shower like Icon of the Seas. It still has a contemporary feel with neutral colors and pops of blue, but it maintains the cylindrical-shaped shower with glass door.
Aside from the shower, the bathroom features a strategically designed sink and toilet area with a few small shelves off to one side and some counter space. In terms of storage, it always helps that we bring a hanging shoe organizer where we store many toiletries and other small items.
Unfortunately, Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas still only provides one dispenser of hair/body wash in the shower unlike more premium lines that include shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
Main Cabin Area
The desk, positioned on the left, has a small elevated shelf as well as several power outlets. There are three 110 V outlets, 2 European outlets, 1 USB outlet, and 1 USB-C outlet. There’s also a series of five adjacent dresser drawers, one of which contained the hair dryer. This is also where you will find the mini-fridge and additional counter space.
The seating area on the right included a somewhat larger sofa but no coffee table. It provided plenty of space for two adults to sit and even stretch out a bit.
The sofa was flanked by a closet on each side. One closet was a full length clothes bar with hangers while the other was half clothes bar and half shelving. This closet also housed the safe and had two underneath drawers for additional storage. Given that Utopia of the Seas is sailing short 3- and 4-day cruises, the closets and dresser drawers provided more than enough storage.
The Royal king bed was on the right (aft) wall. There was a small night stand on each side of the bed.Both sides of the bed had a lamp with a power outlet and USB outlet for easy charging access. Unfortunately though, the USB outlets in our lamps did not work for charging our phones at night.
Overall, the bed in this Utopia of the Seas balcony room provided adequate comfort during our trip. We had no issues falling asleep after our long days and nights on this World’s Biggest Weekend.
Across from the bed was the television as well as some pegs for hanging items like bags or hats.
Balcony
Finally, there was the balcony. At 50 sq. ft., the size of the balcony is what we have come to expect from mega-ships–somewhat cramped. There was just enough room for 2 adjustable upright chairs, 2 small ottomans, and a small round table.
Honestly, given the short duration of this cruise and the number of activities and events occurring, we barely used our balcony all trip. We stepped outside on a few occasions to grab some photos or watch a sail away, but we didn’t spend any time relaxing in this private outdoor space.
Recap of Our Utopia of the Seas Ocean View Balcony Room Review
Similar to our experiences on other Royal Caribbean cruise ships, our Utopia of the Seas balcony room was the perfect mix of size and value, while still providing direct access to ocean views. The accommodations were comfortable and had plenty of storage. Further, the square footage was on par with most contemporary cruise lines.
Our stateroom had easy access to the stairs and elevators, with the public areas only a few decks below or above us. Plus, with the new smart elevator design on Utopia of the Seas, grabbing an elevator is more convenient than ever.
The décor was simplistic yet inviting, and we welcomed the number of outlets in the cabin. Although, we did miss the upgraded bathroom on Icon of the Seas which had a larger and more rectangular shower setup.
Overall, this stateroom was the right fit for us; however, we suggest you review the cruise line’s website before booking to find the right fit for your travel party. Maybe you are a group of friends looking to party on this weekend sailing and don’t need a balcony room. Or, maybe you are a family looking for a little more space and want to upgrade to a suite. Luckily, Utopia of the Seas features a variety of stateroom options.
Comments
Have you sailed in an Ocean View Balcony room on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship? What is your preferred cabin category when you cruise? Drop us an anchor below with your review of this stateroom category.
