Get ready to embark on an exciting journey with the newest maritime marvel, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Set to become the world’s largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas combines cutting-edge technology, environmental responsibility, luxurious amenities, and unparalleled entertainment options, promising an extraordinary cruising experience for its 7600 guests. Its maiden voyage with guests is set to sail on January 27, 2024.
Table of Contents
How Much Does It Cost to Go on the Icon of the Seas?
What is the Layout of the Icon of the Seas?
Icon of the Seas vs. Utopia of the Seas
What Makes It Different?
The Icon of the Seas is set to be the pioneering vessel of Royal Caribbean’s new class of ship, the Icon Class. Formerly known as Project Icon, the Icon class is the newest ship series by Royal Caribbean since 2014 and aims to introduce three new ships by 2030. With an impressive 1,200 feet in length(265 meters) and weighing a massive 250,800 gross tonnes, it is destined to claim the title of the largest cruise ship ever built.
Building the Icon of the Seas
How Much Did It Cost to Build?
The Icon of the Seas cost more than $2 billion to build – the most ambitious project in Royal Caribbean’s 54-year history.
Where Was It Built?
The Icon of the Seas was built in the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland in 2021.
How Many Passengers Will the Icon of the Seas Have?
The ship will comfortably hold 2350 crew members and 5610 passengers at double occupancy, making its maximum capacity 7600 passengers.
Is the Icon of the Seas the Biggest Cruise Ship?
Icon of the Seas is set to be the most giant cruise ship at nearly 1,200 feet long (365 meters) and weighing 250,800 gross tonnes.
Icon of The Seas vs. Titanic
The Icon of the Seas is almost 1 ½ times as long as the Titanic, has more than five times the tonnage, twice as many decks and can carry more than 3 times as many passengers.
Icon of the Seas Itinerary
The cruise offers seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Miami all year round and takes you to some of the world’s most stunning beachfront destinations. Every sailing includes a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island destination, as well as its latest expansion, Hideaway Beach.
- Seven-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay:
- Miami; Phillipsburg, Saint Maarten; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Perfect Day at CocoCay; Miami.
- Seven-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay:
- Basseterre, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; Perfect Day at CocoCay; Miami.
- Seven-night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay:
- Miami; Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; Perfect Day at CocoCay; Miami.
How Much Does It Cost to Go on the Icon of the Seas?
When cabins first went on sale, one of the lowest rates at was $1,007 per person for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on October 19, 2024. Premium rooms were more expensive, with the highest rate being $2,879 per person for a suite. Now, as prices climb, the least expensive voyage is $1,851 a person for an interior room with some running high as $3,300. Prices vary based on sailing dates.
Where Will the Icon of the Seas Sail From?
The Icon of the Seas will begin sailing out of its homeport, Miami, starting January 2024 through at least April 2025.
What is the Layout of the Icon of the Seas?
Deck Plan
Icon of the Seas deck plans feature 20 total decks and 18 of them will be guest decks. The giant of ships will also have 8 neighborhoods, each offering unique experiences, live entertainment, and delicious food and drinks. Out of the eight, there will be 5 brand-new neighborhoods: AquaDome, Thrill Island, Chill Island, Surfside, and The Hideaway.
Neighborhoods
At AquaDome, guests can enjoy a bite or a drink while admiring panoramic ocean views and a majestic waterfall during the day. At night, the AquaTheater becomes a lively place with restaurants, bars and famous aqua shows.
Category 6 is the largest waterpark at sea and is home to six record-breaking slides at Thrill Island. There are other noteworthy options to check out. The 66-degree incline Pressure Drop is the first open free-fall slide in the industry. The 46-foot-tall Frightening Bolt is the tallest drop slide in the world.
Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter are the first family raft slides at sea that hold four riders per raft. The Storm Chasers are two blue mat racer slides and are the first of their kind.
Guests can also wind down at Chill Island, where you’ll find a three-deck paradise with four amazing pools for every mood, each offering supreme ocean views. Swim & Tonic is the first swim-up bar at sea.
Royal Bay Pool, will become the largest pool at sea. Cloud 17 is an exclusive adults-only retreat. Guests will relax at the peaceful infinity-edge Cove Pool. Also, The Lime & Coconut is back with four locations, including Royal Caribbean’s first frozen cocktail bar.
A family-friendly oasis is the Surfside, where parents can relax at the Water’s Edge pool in close proximity to their kids, while they have fun at Splashaway Baby and Baby Bay. The Hideaway is another new neighborhood featuring vibrant beach clubs, stunning ocean views, and the first suspended infinity pool at sea at the center.
Features
Aside from the exciting eight neighborhoods, cruisers will find seven pools (one for each day of the week), a 55-foot indoor waterfall, a rock climbing wall, the largest waterpark at sea and so much more.
The largest pool on the Icon of the Seas, Royal Bay pool, also reigns as the biggest pool at sea with more than 40,000 gallons. This pool is four times the size of the typical swimming pool. Cruisers can find the Royal Bay pool on Deck 15 starboard midship, complete with water lounge seats, palm trees, and whirlpools for a tropical island vibe.
Rooms
The vessel takes luxury accommodations at sea to a new level. There are 2805 total staterooms on the Icon of the Seas: 179 suites, 1815 balcony staterooms, and 276 ocean-view staterooms. All are designed for ultimate comfort and elegance. Whether you opt for a cozy interior room, a spacious suite, or a breathtaking balcony stateroom, you’re guaranteed to enjoy Royal Caribbean’s signature style and world-class service. Plus, with a dedicated crew of 2,500, every guest’s need will be catered to.
Is There an Adults-only Area on the Icon of the Seas?
Looking to escape the hustle and bustle? The adults-only retreat at Cloud 17 is a poolside paradise that comes with its own bar, the Lime & Coconut.
Are Drinks Included?
Most activities are free, such as admission to Cloud 17, but sodas, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, and select activities will cost extra.
Icon of the Seas vs. Utopia of the Seas
Icon of the Seas’ clean-energy sister ship, Utopia of the Seas, is also making its debut later in the year. This ship will make its homeport Port Canaveral on July 22, 2024. This lively ship is one to keep an eye out for because she is sailing from the busiest port in the world. Despite being slightly smaller than the Icon Class, Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas is still a massive ship belonging to the Oasis Class. The Utopia of the Seas holds a similar amount of passengers to the Icon of the Seas (with a capacity of 6,788 passengers vs. Icon of the Seas capacity of 7,600 passengers).
Itinerary
For cruisers looking for quick yet elevated getaways, Utopia of the Seas offers 3 and 4-night weekend sailings. Compared to Icon of the Seas’ week-long vacation style, Utopia of the Seas prides itself as the world’s “biggest weekend.”
Dining
The Icon of the Seas offers 28 different dining options, whereas Utopia of the Seas has 29 dining venues. Some fan-favorites are Izumi in the Park, Dog House, and Hooked Seafood. There are 14 complimentary restaurants and 15 that charge extra.
Pools
Icon of the Seas has a greater number of pools and hot tubs compared to Utopia of the seas. Specifically, Icon of the Seas offers 7 pools and 9 hot tubs, whereas Utopia of the Seas has 5 pools and 7 hot tubs. However, Utopia of the Seas offers more exclusive access to certain pools and hot tub areas – so if you don’t mind spending a bit more for less crowd, this will be a better option.
If you’re considering sailing on the Utopia of the Seas from Port Canaveral, it’s important to also start planning a hotel stay and transportation to complete your cruise vacation. Go Port is the #1 land-travel provider – offering a range of cruise shuttle packages from both the Orlando Airport as well as a variety of nearby hotels to Port Canaveral. Cruisers flying in who also need a hotel stay can book a Fly Snooze Cruise package that includes accommodations and all your necessary transportation for one low rate. Go Port’s hotel and cruise transportation packages will be available to reserve online up to a year before your sail date.