This restaurant might look like it’s on board a famous luxury train like the Orient Express or the Flying Scotsman – but it’s actually on a cruise ship.
This is The Royal Railway Utopia Station, a restaurant onboard Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas.
It’s the last place you’d expect to find a railway station, but the dining experience aims to bring a slice of the American frontier to the waves.
Located on the fourth deck of the massive ship, it stimulates a train ride through the rugged landscapes of the Wild West.
From deserts and rocky mountains to gold rush towns, digital displays from the train carriages ‘windows’ bring the scenery to life, all while guests are served a five-course meal.
The experience begins on a vintage-style train platform, where guests are greeted with welcome drinks before stepping aboard the Royal Railway Express.
They’re then invited into the train carriage, where they’ll enjoy dinner and entertainment from actors.
The decor – with fixed tables, walnut wood-coloured panels, white tablecloths and vintage lamps – creates the illusion of a real train journey, as do the moving LED screens in the windows.
One TikToker, Mikaela, who goes by @orlandofamilyfun, gave her 50,000 followers a tour of the cabin. She loved it so much, that she thinks it’ll be a sell-out, and ‘one of the hardest reservations’ on the entire ship.
She filmed inside the retro cabin, which appeared to be moving due to the changing virtual scenery, and revealed she was served three courses alongside Western-themed entertainment.
Another traveller, Marisha, known as @travelsbymarisha, took her 43,000 followers on the journey with her.
While filming the train’s entrance and sleek interior of the cabin, she said:
‘We loved it. We enjoyed it. My kids wanted to go back every single night.
‘You eat dinner on a train cart that literally feels like you are going through the desert. There’s scenery, there’s effects, there’s a storyline, of course.’
Marisha revealed a menu with starter, main and dessert options. Dishes like fart and dart baked beans, golden (chicken) nuggets and corn chowder were among the options.
She said: ‘I’ve heard mixed reviews from people saying they don’t love the food. We enjoyed it. We thought it was great and my kids are picky so I think that says a lot.’
‘We are happy we did it, it was expensive but worth it. We enjoyed the evening.’
World's largest cruise ship
As well as the quirky restaurant on Utopia of the Seas, Royal Carribbean also boasts the world largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas.
Welcoming 5,610 guests (although it can hold a maximum of 7,600) and employing 2,350 crew, the ship comes in at an impressive 1,198 feet or 365 metres long.
By comparison, the famous Titanic – which was the largest ship afloat back when it debuted in 1912 – measured 269 metres.
There are different packages, depending on your budget, but it can be pricey. The cheapest option starts at £1,482 per person for a seven-night stay in an interior cabin in September 2024.
Meanwhile, the ship’s townhouse three-storey apartment (which sleeps eight and comes with its own cinema and a slide between levels) works out at roughly £70,000 for a week.
And, there are some jaw-dropping amenities to entertain guests:
- The boat is home to the largest waterpark at sea, Thrill Island, which also includes the first freefall slide at sea. There’s six record breaking waterslides, seven pools and nine whirlpools on board.
- Of course, the largest waterpark at sea is home to the largest pool at sea – which is filled with 40,000 gallons of water.
- Perhaps the biggest feat of engineering is the Aquadome – the largest free-standing dome at sea, made up of 700 glass panels. During the day, it boasts panoramic views of the ocean, and by night, it houses the AquaTheatre, where a 55ft waterfall tumbles down to a stage below, where circus style shows take place.
- The ship is laid out in eight distinct neighbourhoods – Central Park is a relaxing area with an actual park that features real trees and 33,500 plants.
- Fed up with all that lounging around and need a surge of adrenaline? There’s a zip-line suspended 154ft above the ocean.
The train reportedly consists of two cars, each with 24 seats and has limited availability for passengers. Royal Caribbean can book the experience via the Royal App.
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The 90-minute train journey starts at $74.99 (£58.99) for adults and $59.99 (£47.19) for children.
The Utopia of the Seas made its maiden voyage in July this year and travels between Orlando, Florida, Nassau, Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas.
The cruise ship has a total of 18 decks and measures over 1,188 feet long and 211 feet wide.
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It boasts a range of amenities from zip lines, whirlpools and rock climbing walls to vitality spas and a jogging track.
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