By
Laura Hyde |
Royal Caribbean International has taken delivery of its latest Oasis-class cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas, after two years of construction by shipbuilders Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
The official handover ceremony took place at the shipbuilding yard in Saint-Nazaire, France, and was attended by Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group; Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International; and Laurent Castaing, general manager of Chantiers de l’Atlantique. They were joined by more than 1,600 crew members and ship workers in the ship’s AquaTheater for the first onboard party (pictured above).
“Taking delivery of Utopia of the Seas is an incredibly important milestone, as it marks yet another evolution of our game-changing ships and our mission to create the best vacation experiences responsibly,” said Liberty. “From the ultimate multigenerational vacation on this year’s earlier debut of Icon of the Seas to now the ultimate weekend getaway on Utopia of the Seas, we are laser-focused on delivering a variety of vacation options and priceless memories for our guests.”
(from left) Michael Bayley of Royal Caribbean International and Jason Liberty of Royal Caribbean Group with Laurent Castaing and Jean-Yves Jaouen of Chantiers de l’Atlantique
Utopia of the Seas will now make its way to the USA, where Royal Caribbean teams will make the finishing touches ahead of the ship’s scheduled debut on 19 July from Port Canaveral in Orlando, Florida. Once in service, the ship will sail three- and four-night getaways to the Caribbean, including visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas.
“With the delivery of Utopia of the Seas, we have the keys to the ultimate weekend,” said Bayley. “This is the short vacation that packs every way to make amazing memories in a three-night weekend or four-night weekday getaway. Vacationers want every minute to be a minute well spent, and the unmatched combination of Utopia and Perfect Day at CocoCay will deliver that. We are proud and excited to soon debut Utopia in a big way!”
Utopia of the Seas will spend its inaugural season sailing Caribbean itineraries which include visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas