The Voyage of the Seas set off from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique establishment in France for a five-day trial at sea, marking a momentous step before its launch this coming July.
In the upcoming days, more than 900 experts in the fields of engineering, ship design, navigation, and naval architecture will endeavor to test the limits of the Royal Caribbean-owned vessel. They will carry out numerous assessments and tests to guarantee the vessel’s safety and functionality.
The team will also keep a close eye on the vessel’s performance in open waters, its engine efficiency, and its navigation systems. The ship will cover a distance of more than 1,000 miles before heading back to the Saint-Nazaire dockyard, where final construction touches will be applied.
On the 19th of July, 2024, Utopia will become the inaugural Oasis-class liner offering shorter three- and four-night voyages from Port Canaveral, Florida. Its highly awaited features encompass the Royal Railway dining venue inspired by train cars, ten pools, and the Ultimate Abyss dry slide, towering at 216 feet.
Upcoming Cruise Ships on the Horizon
The Voyage of the Seas is part of a series of four ships for Royal Caribbean, including a yet-to-be-named seventh Oasis-class vessel and two Icon-class vessels: the Icon of the Seas, which embarked on its maiden voyage on the 27th of January, 2024, and the upcoming Star of the Seas, anticipated to arrive on the 31st of August, 2025.
The Icon of the Seas currently holds the title of the world’s largest vessel, surpassing the previous Royal Caribbean record-holder by 10 feet. Relative to the erstwhile largest cruise liner, Wonder of the Seas, it boasts an additional two decks.
Robust marketing strategies, robust demand, and the record-breaking size of the Icon propelled an increase in bookings for the cruise line, resulting in its highest number of reservations in 2022.
Expectations are equally high for the Star of the Seas. Once the $1.1 billion vessel is completed, it will mirror its sister in the Icon-class regarding weight (250,800 tons), passenger capacity (5,610 passengers at double occupancy), and facilities.
Development of Beach Clubs in Cozumel and Nassau
In addition to its recent constructions, the cruise company is in the process of establishing two new destinations, one in Cozumel, Mexico, and the other in Nassau, The Bahamas. Both locations fall under the umbrella of the cruise line’s Royal Beach Club brand.
Construction began on the exclusive 17-acre resort in The Bahamas last April, with an expected opening date in 2025. Meanwhile, the Royal Beach Club in Cozumel is slated for completion by 2026.