Royal Caribbean christens LNG-powered Utopia of the Seas

American cruise line Royal Caribbean International has christened the first LNG-fueled ship in its Oasis class, Utopia of the Seas.

The christening ceremony for the cruise ship took place on July 15, ahead of the ship’s official debut scheduled for July 19 in Port Canaveral (Orlando), Florida.

During the three-day event, the cruise line hosted maritime and cruise industry players onboard Utopia of the Seas. They discussed key suggestions for decarbonization solutions, focusing on three key areas: technology development, alternative fuel opportunities, and policy and regulation.

Utopia of the Seas, which was built by the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, is the second Royal Caribbean ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

In addition to being able to run on LNG, the ship boasts a number of environmentally friendly initiatives such as shore power connection and waste heat recovery systems.

The ship is equipped with a new dual-fuel engine delivered by the Finnish technology group Wärtsilä. Specifically, it features six Wärtsilä 46TS-DF engines with Gas Valve Units, NOx Reducer SCR systems, LNGPac and Transverse thrusters. 

The introduction of the Utopia of the Seas follows the delivery of Royal Caribbean’s first LNG-fueled ship, Icon of the Seas, in late 2023.

Icon of the Seas is the lead ship in the cruise line’s Icon class. The keel for the second ship in this class, Star of the Seas, was laid in December 2023. The third ship is scheduled for delivery in 2026.

The LNG-powered cruise ships fit into Royal Caribbean’s comprehensive decarbonization strategy, Destination Net Zero, aimed at achieving zero-carbon emission cruising by 2050.