The Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas is a massive and luxurious cruise ship. It is a marvel of engineering that has captured the attention of travelers worldwide. People were unsure at first, but now they are amazed by this impressive vessel.
But how big is this massive ship really? Let’s explore the Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas Size Comparison to other ships in the fleet and those of competing cruise lines.
How Big is Icon of the Seas?
Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world. It is about 1,198 feet long, weighs around 250,800 GT, and can hold 5,610 guests at double occupancy with a maximum capacity of up to 7,600 passengers. Icon of the Seas is like a big floating city with 2,805 staterooms. The ship has 20 decks with various facilities like pools, water parks, entertainment areas, and dining places.
Icon of the Seas offers a wide range of dining options for cruise passengers. The ship has more than 40 bars and restaurants. 23 of these venues are completely new to Royal Caribbean. This variety allows guests to try different types of food in various settings, from casual to upscale.
Is Icon of the Seas the Biggest Cruise Ship in the World?
Icon of the Seas is currently the world’s largest cruise ship. It surpassed the Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ship (Wonder of the Seas) which was previously the world’s biggest cruise ship. Icon of the Seas is about 10 feet longer and has a higher gross tonnage than Wonder of the Seas (5th ship in Oasis Class).
Icon of the Seas will still be larger than Utopia of the Seas. Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas (6th ship in Oasis Class) which is set to be launched in July 2024.
The upcoming Icon Class Ship (Star of the Seas) will launch in 2025, is expected to be even larger than Icon of the Seas. This aligns with Royal Caribbean’s trend of increasing the size of ships within the same class.
Icon of the Seas will probably be the world’s biggest ship for a year. It’s interesting that no other cruise line has announced plans for a ship to surpass Icon of the Seas in size. This suggests that Royal Caribbean is maintaining its lead in the “mega-ship” category.
Icon of the Seas Size Comparison
Here is the Icon of the Seas Size comparison with Oasis Class Ships such as Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.
| Stats | Icon of the Seas | Utopia of the Seas | Wonder of the Seas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ship Class | Icon | Oasis | Oasis |
| Gross Tonnage | 250,800 | 236,860 | 235,600 |
| Length | 1,198 ft | 1,188 ft | 1,188 ft |
| Width | 213 ft | 211 ft | 210 ft |
| Decks | 20 | 18 | 18 |
| Cabins | 2,805 | 2,834 | 2,874 |
| Max Guests | 7,600 | 6,988 | 7,084 |
| Crew | 2,350 | 2,290 | 2,300 |
| Pools | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Hot Tubs | 9 | 7 | 10 |
| Large Water Slides | 6 | 3 | 3 |
Here is an Icon of the Seas size comparison Chart with biggest cruise ships from other different cruise lines.
| Stats | Icon of the Seas | Carnival Celebration (Carnival) | Iona (P&O) | MSC Virtuosa (MSC) | Norwegian Encore (NCL) | Wish (Disney) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross tonnage (GT) | 250,800 | 183,900 | 184,089 | 181,541 | 169,116 | 144,000 |
| Length (ft) | 1,198 | 1,130 | 1,130 | 1,087 | 1,094 | 1,119 ft |
| Width (ft) | 213 | 138 | 137 | 164 | 158 | 128 ft |
| Total decks | 20 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 15 |
| Maximum guest capacity | 7,600 | 6,500 | 5,206 | 6,334 | 3,998 | 4,000 |
| Crew capacity | 2,350 | 2,000 | 1,762 | 1,704 | 1,735 | 1,555 |
Here is an Icon of the Seas vs Titanic Size Comparison Chart.
| Stats | Icon of the Seas | RMS Titanic |
|---|---|---|
| Ship Class | Icon Class | Olympic Class |
| Gross Tonnage | 250,800 GT | 46,328 GT |
| Length | 1,198 Feet | 883 Feet |
| Height | 196 feet | 175 feet |
| Width | 213 feet | 92.5 feet |
| Total Decks | 20 | 10 |
| Guest Capacity | 7,600 | 2,435 |
| Crew Capacity | 2,350 | 892 |
Icon of the Seas Stats & Fact
Here are the Icon of the Seas Specs:
Icon of the Seas Length
The Icon of the Seas is one of the longest cruise ships in the world, measuring 1,198 feet (365 meters) in length. It’s about three and a half NFL football fields long. If you stood it upright, it would be taller than the Empire State Building in New York City. An average adult would take approximately 8 to 10 minutes to walk from end to end.
The Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas is even 10 feet longer than the upcoming Royal Caribbean Utopia of the Seas. These 10 feet difference may seem small as compared to these massive vessels, but it’s important to note that Icon of the Seas features two additional decks compared to Utopia of the Seas.
This large size means that Icon of the Seas can offer many amenities and rooms, making it a floating resort for thousands of passengers.
Icon of the Seas Gross Tonnage
Icon of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship, with a huge size of 250,800 gross tonnage (GT). Icon of the Seas is even heavier than Utopia of the Seas by about 13,940 GT. It means Icon of the Seas weighs 5.5% more than upcoming Utopia of the Seas.
Note: The total Gross Tonnage of the 10 smallest cruise ships is 9,916 GT, much less than the 13,940 GT difference between the two ships. Icon of the Seas has more space than these 10 small ships combined, showing how much bigger and heavier it is.
Icon of the Seas Height
The Icon of the Seas is a huge cruise ship that is about 200 feet tall above water and has 20 decks. It is as tall as an 18 to 19-story building or about two-thirds the height of the Statue of Liberty.
Icon of the Seas Width
The Icon of the Seas is 213 feet (65 meters) wide. It is wider than any other cruise ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet and other cruise line. This width is equal to about two-thirds of a football field.
Icon of the Seas Decks
Icon of the Seas has 20 decks, with 18 for passengers and 2 for crew and ship operations. It is the first ship with 18 decks for passengers. The ship is like a floating city with lots of activities, dining, and entertainment for passengers.
Icon of the Seas Capacity
The Icon of the Seas guest capacity is greater than any cruise ship in the world, accommodating 5,610 people at double occupancy and up to 7,600 guests at maximum capacity. Icon of the Seas has 2,230 crew members, higher than any cruise ship.
Icon of the Seas Cruise ship has 29 fewer staterooms than Utopia of the Seas, even though it can accommodate 610 more guests at its full capacity. This means, Icon of the Seas features numerous rooms designed for families of three, four, or more people, allowing it to efficiently house more guests in fewer, but larger, staterooms.
Icon of the Seas Accommodation
Icon of the Seas offers a diverse range of accommodation options to suit various preferences and group sizes. The ship features 28 types of cabins and suites and a total of 2,805 staterooms. 80 to 82% of cabins can accommodate more than two guests.
Icon of the Seas Accommodation Breakdown
Icon of the Seas has 2805 Suites and Cabins.
- Suites: 179
- Balcony Cabins: 1,815
- Ocean-view Cabins: 276
- Interior Cabins: 535
Passengers can choose the cheapest Interior Cabins for a more affordable cruise, or from Junior suites to luxurious Ultimate Family Townhouse Suite for luxury cruise experience.
Icon of the Seas Neighborhood Breakdown
Icon of the Seas features 8 neighborhoods, 3 of which are familiar to Royal Caribbean guests from previous ships, while the other 5 neighborhoods are brand new. The common neighborhoods include Central Park, the Royal Promenade, and the Suite Neighborhood.
The 5 new additions are Thrill Island, AquaDome, The Hideaway, Chill Island, and the Surfside neighborhood.
Here is the breakdown and explanation of each Icon of the Seas neighborhood:
Thrill Island
Thrill Island on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is a fun neighborhood for adventure seekers. It has thrilling attractions like a FlowRider, Rock Climbing Walls, and ropes courses. Thrill Island has the ship’s largest waterpark, Category 6, with 6 big water slides. Passengers can also find drink and snack bars when they’re hungry. Thrill Island aims to offer exciting experiences for guests of all ages.
The AquaDome
The AquaDome on Icon of the Seas Royal Caribbean is a new feature located at the front top deck of the ship. It is a large glass dome that gives panoramic ocean views and natural light. During the day, it is a peaceful place with a 55-foot waterfall and lounging areas. At night, it becomes an entertainment venue with acrobatic and aquatic shows in AquaTheater.
The AquaDome also has restaurants and bars, giving guests a special dining and entertainment experience with great views.
The Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade on Icon of the Seas is a central hub of activity, spanning three decks and offering a variety of dining, shopping, and entertainment options. Passengers can enjoy numerous bars, cafes, and restaurants, as well as stores and live shows. Guests can also enjoy activities like an escape room and an ice rink. The piano bar has live music while serving cocktails.
The Royal Promenade offers something for everyone, ensuring there is always something to do for all ages and tastes on the Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas.
Central Park
Central Park on Icon of the Seas is a large outdoor area in the middle of the ship. It is like the famous NYC park and has over 33,500 real plants and trees, making it feel like a peaceful city park at sea. The neighborhood has fancy restaurants, small shops, and live music, bars, coffee shops, jazz clubs that remind of NYC.
Guests can sit outside, walk on paths, and relax in a calm setting. Central Park has special Icon of the Seas rooms with balconies that look out onto the park.
The Hideaway
The Hideaway on Icon of the Seas is a special adults-only area, located at the back of the ship. It has the first suspended infinity pool at sea, giving amazing ocean views. There is a sun terrace with whirlpools for relaxation. The area has casitas and daybeds, creating a beach club feel. There are lounges, cocktail bars, and champagne bars where you can relax and enjoy a drink.
Surfside
Surfside is a new neighborhood on Icon of the Seas for young families. It is above the Royal Promenade at the back of the ship. This area features Water’s Edge, a family-friendly pool with a splash area for kids. It also includes the Baby Bay, a dedicated space for infants and toddlers.
Surfside also has a casual restaurant called Pier 7 for families to eat. The neighborhood also has Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean’s youth program area, and Social020, a teen-only hangout space. Surfside aims to be a convenient and fun place for families with kids of all ages.
Chill Island
Chill Island is a new neighborhood on Icon of the Seas, located at the back of the AquaDome. It is made for adults to relax. It has seven pools, including the biggest pool at sea, the Royal Bay Pool. There are also four whirlpools and an adults-only area called Cloud 17.
Chill Island has different places to lounge, like in-water loungers and casitas, so guests can relax in many ways. The neighborhood has Swim & Tonic, the cruise line’s first swim-up bar, where guests can have drinks in the pool.
The Suite
The Suite Neighborhood on Icon of the Seas is an exclusive area designed for suite guests. It has a private restaurant, lounge, and sun deck, away from the main parts of the ship. The neighborhood includes The Grove, an outdoor terrace with a private pool and whirlpool, and beautiful ocean views.
Suite guests get a dedicated concierge service and priority boarding. This area gives a luxurious and personalized experience for guests in the ship’s top accommodations.
FAQs – Icon of the Seas Size Comparison
How Long did it Take to Build Icon of the Seas?
Icon of the Seas took 900 days to build in Turku, Finland, starting with the first cut of steel in June 2021.
How Much did an Icon of the Seas Cost to Build?
The Icon of the Seas costs $2 billion USD to build.
Where does Icon of the Seas Sail From?
Icon of the Seas sails from Miami, Florida. The ship offers 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises. These voyages include visits to popular destinations such as Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Cozumel, and Roatan.