Have you ever wondered what it would be like to enjoy a few days in the Orlando theme parks before heading out on a cruise to the Caribbean? Well, in March 2025, Anna Gibbs – the Content Manager here at Iglu Cruise – was offered the chance to go on a work trip with a difference; to spend 3 nights at Universal Studios Orlando, before embarking on a cruise from Port Canaveral onboard Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas.
In this blog, she’ll take you through an account of her trip, including her thoughts on the pre-cruise stay and the cruise ship itself.
Read on to find out more!
Day 1 - The Flight
Having worked for Iglu Cruise for the past 2 years, I’ve been very lucky to visit a variety of cruise ships for the day and spend 3 nights onboard Holland America Line’s Rotterdam. This, however, would be the longest FAM (familiarisation) trip I’ve been on.
As I arrived at the airport, I was so excited to board the plane, albeit, a little nervous as I was meeting a group of travel agents that I didn’t know. However, these nerves soon went away when I got talking with Virgin Atlantic’s representative, who would be coming on the trip with us.
I have been to Florida before, so I was ready for the long flight and began to check through what movies they had in the in-flight entertainment system. As I settled in with a film, I was excited to see what the next week would bring.
After several hours on the plane, we arrived in Orlando and boarded a coach to our hotel for the next three nights – Universal’s Cabana Bay.
Day 2 - Universal Studios
After getting ready for my day, it was time to head to breakfast at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort. A hotel that was located across the road from Cabana Bay, it was the perfect gateway to the parks; with a boat that takes you right into Universal’s CityWalk. After an incredible buffet breakfast, we headed off on the boat and were given a talk ahead of venturing into Universal Studios.
A view showing the boat that takes you from Loews Sapphire Falls to the parks, along with my breakfast & selection of doughnuts available!
Now came the exciting part - heading to the right of the main entrance, over to the VIP section. Here, we picked up our VIP pass that we could use for the day. This not only gave us a discount on merchandise, but fast track access to the rides and a tour of the park, including a behind-the-scenes peek at areas that aren’t accessible by normal ticket holders. This is an experience that I never thought I’d have!
Universal Studios entrance, my VIP pass and the Mystery Machine!
Throughout the day we enjoyed several rides (including some of my absolute favourites, the E.T Adventure and Revenge of The Mummy), had lunch at the Minion’s Café and were led around by two of the park’s team members.
Gringotts, Revenge of the Mummy and my E.T Adventure Passport
The day ended with a fantastic meal at Mama Della’s Ristorante, located within the Portofino Bay Hotel.
Day 3 - Universal’s Volcano Bay and Universal Studios
Before I knew it, it was the final day in Orlando. Starting off the morning in Universal’s Volcano Bay, I spent time relaxing on the beach taking in the views of the park’s main focal point – Krakatau; a 200ft volcano. I also enjoyed the lazy river and a wander around the park.
After Volcano Bay, I had a few hours to relax, before we met our group and visited Universal’s newest hotel – the Stella Nova Resort. There, we were given a tour, seeing a couple of the rooms and amenities.
Volcano Bay & the Stella Nova Resort
Next, we headed back to Universal Studios for the evening to watch the Mardi Gras Parade. This was such a fun experience; catching the beads and watching the incredible floats and performances. After the parade, we headed over to the NBC Sports Grill & Brew for dinner.
Mardi Gras Parade & my dinner at NBC Sports Grill & Brew
Day 4 - Time to Embark on the Cruise
After an exciting few days in Universal, it was time to head to Port Canaveral to board Utopia of the Seas! During the transfer I spent my time looking out of the coach window, taking in the views of Florida and spotting landmarks such as Kennedy Space Centre.
Then, I saw it - Utopia of the Seas was ahead. I was in awe of its size; I’m only used to mid-sized ships, so it was unlike anything I’ve experienced before. Once our luggage was taken and we’d gone through the formalities of passport checks and security, we boarded Utopia.
Entertainment Place & the sailaway party
It was so exciting seeing it in real life. I remember when I set up the ship page a couple of years ago, and to see what I’d written about in reality was a pinch me moment! It was my first time sailing with Royal Caribbean, so I was looking forward to what the next few days would bring.
I then enjoyed an in-depth ship tour, seeing a variety of facilities, from entertainment venues to restaurants and the beautiful Central Park. It was then time for Utopia to set sail, and the sailaway party began - featuring a vibrant DJ set and performers. A quick drink in the tiki-themed Pesky Parrot was to follow before dinner in the Main Dining Room.
The Pesky Parrot & Main Dining Room
After a delicious three-course meal, we made our way to the Royal Theater for ‘Name That Tune’ - a live gameshow in which participants had to guess a song within a certain amount of notes. Whilst I wouldn’t usually go to shows like this onboard a cruise ship, this one surprised me. I love music and I’m a particular fan of playing Beat the Intro, so I was in my element here.
Day 5 - Nassau, Bahamas
On day 5 of the trip, I set my alarm for 6:30am and took a wander around the ship; capturing photos and videos before all the guests were up. A great time to see Utopia in all its glory, it was the perfect way to ease into the day. I then headed to breakfast, enjoying a delicious eggs benedict in the Main Dining Room - a favourite of mine that I’ll always get on holiday!
Eggs benedict & Nassau
We then had the day at leisure to explore the port of Nassau. A destination I’ve not visited before, it was fun wandering through the colourful streets and taking in the beautiful views out over the ocean.
In the afternoon, I relaxed with a cocktail in hand from the Lime & Coconut at the main pool and experienced another sailaway party - this time with some fun competitions for guests to take part in; someone from our group entered too - which was hilarious.
Before dinner, we met at the Trellis Bar; a beautiful venue which gave picturesque views of the night sky and the Central Park neighbourhood. After a catch-up and a cocktail, we made our way to Chops Grille for dinner.
Beef carpaccio & filet mignon
And I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint! I ordered beef carpaccio to start, followed by a filet mignon, which was fantastic. Then, we made our way over to the AquaTheater for a performance of AQUA80too!– a part of the trip that I was so excited about. As we took our seats and the music began, I was in awe of what I was seeing. A performance made up of acrobatics, dance, diving and more, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing on the back of a cruise ship! It was the best performance I’ve ever seen on a cruise.
See a couple of my videos from the performance below:
Day 6 - Perfect Day at CocoCay
After an early morning explore of the ship, I enjoyed a continental breakfast in my room before heading out to Perfect Day at CocoCay. Yet again, it was incredible to see what I wrote about and seen in videos in real life. From the crystal-clear waters that surrounded it to the vibrant theming, it lived up to what I’ve seen on screen.
Entrance to Perfect Day, enjoying a cocktail & Hideaway Beach
As I made my way down the walkway, I was greeted by the tropical sounds of a band, which immediately made me feel as though I was on holiday. We then boarded a shuttle bus over to Hideaway Beach, an adults-only, exclusive part of the island that comes complete with bars, a place where you can grab a bite to eat, sun loungers and a large swimming pool. There’s even VIP cabanas for those who want to book them.
After a couple of hours relaxing on the beach and taking a dip in the beautiful lagoon, we walked over to Chill Island, where we grabbed a bite to eat. I’m a huge fan of tacos and tex-mex, so when I spotted the taco station, I was in my element! Once our food had gone down, we headed to the Thrill Waterpark.
I love waterparks, so I knew I had to try the 41-metre-tall Daredevil’s Peak waterslide. The tallest waterslide in North America, I was both nervous and excited to give it a go. Ahead of facing it, however, I thought it was best to start off easy in the wave pool.
I then made my way up the steps of Daredevil’s Peak, passing the Dueling Demons, Screeching Serpent, Green Mamba and Manta Racers waterslides along the way. When I reached the top, I was greeted by fantastic views out over Perfect Day and our cruise ship, which was accompanied by Liberty of the Seas for the day. The slide did not disappoint- and, whilst it was perhaps the most intense one I’ve ever been on, I’m so glad I put my nerves behind me and tried it!
It was then time to head back to the ship for the sailaway party. Once again, there was a fun DJ set and I ended my afternoon relaxing on a sun lounger by the main pool.
Ahead of dinner, which would be in the Main Dining Room again, I met our group at the Schooner Bar for a pre-dinner drink. A chic bar that’s located above Entertainment Place, it was the perfect place for a cocktail. We then made our way over to the MDR where I enjoyed French onion soup, followed by a chicken curry and key lime pie for dessert.
French onion soup, chicken curry & key lime pie
Full from dinner, we ventured over to Studio B for a performance of YOUTOPIA. The fact that a cruise ship had an ice skating rink was already mind-blowing to me, but the show itself topped my expectations. Whilst I wasn’t sitting in the best position (with a pole taking up some of the view), I loved the performance, which was accompanied by a variety of music.
Day 7 - The Final Day! Disembarkation & Orlando
It had arrived; the last day of my trip. Grabbing my morning coffee, I wandered down to Deck 4 and disembarked the ship.
After a short journey back to Orlando, I spent the last few hours of the trip at the Orlando Premium Outlets and Florida Mall, wandering around the shops and tucking into lunch in the food court. At 3pm, we departed the mall and were transported to the airport.
Final Thoughts
If you can’t tell, I had a wonderful time away on this work trip. Unlike any trip I’ve been on before, I met some lovely people and had the opportunity to experience things that I’ve never been able to before.
I would recommend this trip to anyone that loves a combination of relaxation and thrills; there is so much to do onboard Utopia of the Seas that it made me want to book onto it again in the future for longer, just so I would have the time to explore and enjoy even more onboard.
Top Tips for Utopia of the Seas Cruises
If you’ve booked your own Utopia of the Seas getaway, these top tips should help to get you ready for your cruise.
1) Download the Royal Caribbean App
This is essential for checking in, booking dining & shows, and tracking your onboard expenses, so make sure you download this as soon as you’ve booked your cruise!
2) Book Onboard Shows Early
On a Utopia of the Seas cruise, you’ll need to reserve your seats for the onboard shows in the AquaTheater, Royal Theater and Studio B. Not only can you book these on the app, but online via My Royal Cruise.
You can reserve your spot between three months and four days prior to your sailing. If you miss out on a reservation online, be sure to check onboard at the Box Office during your cruise, as a seat might have opened up for one of the shows you want to book.
3) Make Dining Reservations Ahead of Time
No dining reservations are required for breakfast in the Main Dining Room, however, whether you have to book for dinner will depend on what type of dining option you have – My Time Dining or Traditional.
For Main Dining Room (My Time Dining): This is the flexible dining option, which allows guests to book a dining slot at a time that suits them. However, with this option, it’s strongly recommended that you reserve a table either by calling the restaurant onboard or by visiting the hospitality desk. Whilst there might be availability for walk-ins, this is limited and not guaranteed.
For Main Dining Room (Traditional Dining): Dining reservations are not required for dinner if you have this option; you will have a set dinner time and table with the same waiter each night.
Whilst you don’t have to book a reservation for complimentary restaurants such as the Boardwalk Dog House, Café Promenade, El Loco Fresh, Sorrentos or the Spare Tire, regardless of the type of dining option you’ve chosen, you will have to reserve a table in the speciality restaurants onboard.
For speciality restaurants, you can make a reservation either online or on the app up to 2 days prior to your cruise. Alternatively, you can try to reserve a table by calling the restaurant onboard from your cabin during your cruise, however space is limited.
4) Consider Purchasing a Drinks Package
If you enjoy cocktails, specialty coffees or soft drinks, you might want to consider purchasing a beverage package. Whilst you can enjoy a selection of soft drinks in the Windjammer restaurant, if you want another drink onboard, you’ll have to pay for these individually if you haven’t purchased a package. It is cheaper to purchase a drinks package ahead of time rather than onboard, and there are often discounts available on the app ahead of time.
Book Your Utopia of the Seas Getaway with Iglu Cruise Today
Are you ready for your own adventure onboard Utopia of the Seas? View our selection of tempting Utopia of the Seas getaways, including a selection of cruise and stay universal holidays. Book your Utopia of the Seas cruise with us today and look forward to a cruise escape that you’ll remember for years to come.
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