Nearly 800 people gathered at Port Canaveral’s Jetty Park to bid “Bon Voyage” to Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas as it embarked on its first revenue sailing from the port. The event, dubbed “The World’s Biggest Wave Out,” was organized by the port for the local community, campground guests, and beachgoers. Attendees enjoyed a festive afternoon featuring a DJ, bubble machine, giveaways, and refreshments provided by local vendors.
The Friday afternoon cruise ship departure featured a special parade of ships including Carnival Cruise Line’s Glory, Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas, and Disney Cruise Line’s Wish. Utopia of the Seas was led out of Port Canaveral by Brevard County Sheriff’s Marine Unit and Canaveral Fire Rescue’s Fireboat 2 with a water cannon display. The procession also included two resident tugs: Christine S from E.N. Bisso & Sons Towing and St. Johns from Marine Towing of Port Canaveral.
“Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas is one of the most anticipated new cruise ships in the industry,” stated Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral CEO. “We’re proud to be Royal Caribbean’s partner for this industry-first experience and excited to support the strong market demand for short itineraries. Our team is ready and committed to providing high-quality experiences to help all cruise guests launch their memorable journeys from our port.”
Port Canaveral welcomed home Royal Caribbean International's new Utopia of the Seas when it arrived on July 11. The wave-out party marked its maiden voyage for passengers, offering three-night weekend and four-night weekday vacations that include a visit to Royal Caribbean's private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Port Canaveral serves as homeport for two of the three largest ships in the world. With Utopia's arrival, it joins sister ships Wonder of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas at Port Canaveral. Another Royal Caribbean ship, Voyager of the Seas, will homeport at Port Canaveral starting November 26. Over the past year, Port Canaveral has expanded parking capacity by approximately 1,000 additional spaces at Cruise Terminal 1 (CT1) to accommodate guests arriving by personal vehicles.