Cruise ship fans think they know why 'hated' new feature is on £1 billion boat

Cruise ship fans have been left conflicted over a brand new feature on the world's latest vessel that set sail just days ago. But they reckon they know why it has been included on the billion dollar ship.

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas, which cost $1.35 billion (£1.04 billion) to build, set sail with thousands of guests for the first time ever on Friday (19 July).

It spent the last few weeks preparing for its maiden voyage, with crew testing facilities to make sure any last minute fixes could take place.

Almost 5,700 passengers are now sailing onboard Utopia as it navigates the open seas, with a further 2,200 crew members making sure the holidays of their passengers go as smoothly as possible.

One member of the crew is musician Bryan James, a guitarist and singer who works on cruise ships for the vast majority of the year.

Having already shown off Utopia's 'so weird' living quarters that crew are calling home, he's now showcasing one of the newer features to a cruise ship on the top deck.

Not the pool, no. But right next to it. And it's left people a little bit anxious.

"I think see-through hot tubs are the new hip thing on cruise ships," Bryan says in the video posted on Instagram.

"And I'm not 100 per cent sure how I feel about that. I always felt great comfort getting in to one knowing that none of my body could be seen.

"The most self-conscious that I ever am is when I'm taking my clothes off to get in a pool but then once I'm under the water that's out of my mind.

"It's only my head floating up above. But now my entire body is being magnified times two across the entire pool deck.

"I think one main benefit is that if somebody pees in the pool we would know instantly. Either way I think see-through hot tubs are here for good."

Commenting, dozens of people who enjoy all things cruises were not a fan of the feature. But there seems to one two very obvious reasons why it exists.

One person who claims to know people that help design cruise ships posted: "As someone who knows folks who design cruise ships and work in the development stages of ship design… the trend also has to do with them trying to cut down on the below the waterline 'extra curricular activities'."

"Not a very good visual to look up and see all those bodies in a clear hot tub," another wrote, as a third said: "I hate it for me but appreciate no nonsense will happen with all eyes on people."

A fourth wrote: "I hate it. But good idea for safety reason, if children are in it."

And another added: "It keeps people honest [crying laugh emoji]."

If it stops people doing stuff reserved for the bedroom, and then on the complete opposite end could save the life of someone who has found themselves in difficulty, then can anyone really complain?