Most meals on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship are rather predictable. A round of drinks, three courses, friendly service, and perhaps even the servers parading around the dining room with napkins waving in the air. So, when we were enjoying our meal on the last night of our Utopia of the Seas cruise and witnessed buffalo stampeding by our window, we knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary dining experience. But, the scenery was only the beginning of our immersive evening at the new Royal Railway – Utopia Station.
This one-of-a-kind experience on Utopia of the Seas blends elements of dinner theater, theme park attraction, and cuisine. But, all this hoopla does comes with a fairly steep price tag. So, we share our honest Royal Railway – Utopia Station review to help you decide if it is worth breaking the bank on your next cruise.
Inside the Royal Railway – Utopia Station
Overview & Pricing
- Price: Adults- $74.99 increasing to $119 | Children- $24.99, plus 18% service charge
- Cuisine: This multi-course menu features Southwestern flavors, including spicy starters, hearty entrees, and decadent desserts, that pair with the Wild West theme.
- Dress Code: While there is no formal dress code, guests are encouraged to wear their favorite Western-inspired outfits. So, cowboy hats, boots, and slip-knot ties are more than welcome. You can also go business casual, like in the main dining room.
For most of the cruise, the large ticker board outside of the main dining room, portside on deck 4 aft, seems out of place. During the day, the board displays the station’s name and not much else.
Yet, twice each evening, this station comes to life with the appearance of railway crew. Not to mention, the ticker board displays the names of the lucky cruisers who scored tickets to board the Royal Railway -Utopia Station bound for Grand Junction.
We were lucky enough to book a ride on this Royal Railway during the last night of our cruise.
On the day of our train departure, we received a telegram and tickets in our stateroom. Remember to bring the tickets with you, as you will need them to board.
For added theming, the chief engineer even left a voicemail on our stateroom telephone as a friendly reminder not to be late. Just like your cruise ship, this train has a tight schedule and will leave with or without you.
Getting Ready to Ride
About 30 minutes before your scheduled dinner time, the station opens to reveal a loading platform and two railway cars. Upon checking in, a member of the railway crew directs you to this loading platform and offers up some flasks of apple-flavored moonshine.
All guests are asked to arrive no later than 20 minutes before their scheduled dinner time (ours was 6 PM) to ensure the train departs on time without any unwanted visitors. It’s rumored that there are outlaws in the area looking to hitch a ride.
Atmosphere & Theming
Royal Caribbean made sure to go all in on the theming. This queue area felt like the pre-show area you would expect to find in a Disney theme park attraction. In fact, this interactive dinner theater is probably the most immersive and well-themed experience at sea.
While enjoying our moonshine on the loading platform, railway staff dropped hints about the events that were about to unfold. Once our party was called to board the train, it was time to leave the rest of the cruise behind and set off on our adventure through the American Frontier.
Stepping on to the Royal Railway – Utopia Station felt like stepping back in time. The immaculately detailed cars immediately transported us to the early 19th century.
With the stage set, it took only a few minutes to forget we were on one of the world’s largest cruise ships. For the next 90 minutes, we would be in the center of a Wild West adventure.
Be sure to pay attention to all of the “small talk” that occurs between the performers. There is a lot going on during this multi-sensory dinner train ride, so you don’t want to miss anything.
Royal Railway – Utopia Station Menu
A meal at the Royal Railway Utopia Station is not cheap for a specialty dinner experience. With prices reaching up to $119 a person, plus an 18% service charge, the menu itself is only a slight upgrade from the main dining room.
There is also a small signature cocktail menu. Thankfully, our Diamond vouchers covered the drinks at the Station. The cocktails are also covered in the Royal Caribbean drink package.
I went with the Sarsaparilla Old-Fashioned, which perfectly fit this dinner experience. Heidi went with the Pisco Sour, which was reportedly the sweetest drink on the menu. Let’s just say she preferred the apple moonshine we had before leaving the station over this drink.
Royal Caribbean describes this specialty restaurant as a five-course meal, but that is a bit of a stretch. After settling in with the menu, all guests receive an amuse-bouche — a mini cowboy hat pastry filled with BBQ chicken.
From here, guests order off a three-course menu filled with a variety of American flavors.
For starters, we dug into the Empanada Trio, the popular Fart & Dart Beans, and the Golden Chicken Nuggets. Honestly, these items were good but not worthy of the up-charge price.
Perhaps one of the best parts of the meal was the bread basket. I mean the Outlaw Bread Cart. After all, we can’t miss out on any of the theming. We guess this is the additional course that Royal Caribbean is referring to when describing the Royal Railway – Utopia Station menu. This cart features a hearty bread selection along with a cheesy pimento dip and onion butter.
For dinner, I went with Braised Short Ribs. The bountiful portion was tender and juicy, with plenty of flavor and rich sauce. Heidi went with the Roasted Poussin. This chicken dish came with potatoes and vegetables. It was a meal that one wouldn’t pass up at a nearby saloon.
For dessert, we tested out the two different options, the Royal Railway Cigar and Denver Gold Bar. The clear winner was the Royal Railway Cigar.
This chocolatey dessert was velvety smooth and super sweet, not to mention photo-worthy. It was just the right touch for this final course along our adventure.
Riding the Royal Railway – Utopia Station
While the menu pairs well with the restaurant’s theme, the main draw to the Royal Railway is the interactive show. The total experience is unlike anything else at sea, part simulator ride, part theater.
While Disney Cruise Line does offer a dinner with characters as part of its rotational dining, Royal Railway goes one step further with the immersion. Using technology that is reminiscent of the Hogwarts Express in Universal Studios, the railway car takes cruisers on a journey from the Utopia Station to Grand Junction via digital windows near each table.
Once departing, the window blinds rose to display a detailed and intricate Western landscape. As the trip progressed, a cast of characters routinely entered and exited the train car. With the ever-changing vistas and developing stories, it is tough to absorb everything that is happening, not to mention enjoy the multi-course dinner.
This simulator ride, complete with realistic sound effects, made us feel like we were really riding in a train with the changing views outside of our window. Not to mention, the live-action skits made us feel like we were part of the hijinks taking place.
Along the way, the conductor even read out telegrams to some cruisers that had the whole train car laughing. Additionally, the Chief Engineer intermittently comes over the PA to announce upcoming destinations and share facts about each stop. His short banter included plenty of dad jokes for good measure.
We don’t want to spoil the plot, but let’s just say that we may have encountered the notorious Yates Triplets along the way too. Law enforcement even gets involved as the gang attempts to acquire the “Royal Bling”.
This multi-senorsory “show” is light-hearted and family-friendly. However, it is also fast-paced. At times, the Royal Railway can be overstimulating. It was difficult for our table of three to enjoy our meal, watch the changing scenery, and follow along with the story unfolding in the train car aisle beside us. Not to mention, get photos and videos of the experience.
Overall, the timing of this experience felt rushed. With the dinner on a time schedule, we felt forced to hand over our unfinished plates to the servers. Sure, we might have spent a few extra minutes taking videos and photos, but we weren’t the only ones doing so. In fact, I don’t think we finished any of our courses during this experience.
And just like that, before I could have two bites of dessert, the train ride was over. Our server delivered the check, while the train car doors were opening to let us know we were back at the station.
Overall Royal Railway – Utopia Station Review
Our exploration of the Wild West on the Royal Railway -Utopia Station was engaging, fun, and tasty. However, the current iteration of the show was overwhelming. Royal Caribbean needs to work on the timing by either removing some of the scenes or making the entire experience longer.
There never seemed to be a lull in the action to actually enjoy our meal. From food and drink orders and delivery, to the different locales on the screens, to the plot unfolding in the train car, to the overhead PA announcements and telegram deliveries, something seemed to be occurring the entire time.
There wasn’t any time to enjoy our courses or hold a conversation.
We appreciated the detailed storytelling and supporting materials. From the map of our travels to the tickets in our cabin, this is truly an immersive experience.
But, this level of detail meant the dinner and show were on a tight schedule. There was little wiggle room to get a second round of drinks or extend any of the courses. So, make sure to eat fast and have your camera ready. You never know when something photo-worthy might occur inside or “outside” the train.
With a bit of work, we think this Royal Railway experience could be successful for the brand. This Wild West Train Ride is something the whole family will love. Royal Caribbean has also hinted at expanding to other concepts like a more upscale Silk Road trip. While our experience wasn’t perfect, we do see this technology being yet another differientating factor for Royal Caribbean and can’t wait to see how it evolves.
So, is the Royal Railway – Utopia Station worth it for you?
Book the Royal Railway – Utopia Station if:
- You are a fan of immersive experiences and technology-enhanced attractions on land or at sea.
- You are a regular Royal Caribbean cruiser and need to try the newest and most innovative experience on a cruise ship.
- You are looking for something unique to celebrate a special occasion or want a truly unforgettable night out with the family.
Skip the Royal Railway – Utopia Station if:
- You are a foodie and expect the specialty restaurant to excel at providing a fine dining experience.
- You would prefer to eat at two other specialty restaurants for the same price as dining at the Royal Railway.
- You like to enjoy a well-paced, quiet meal with few distractions.
Comments
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