Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas: A Big Comparability

In 2024, Royal Caribbean launched two large ships which have garnered a whole lot of media buzz — and as they need to. Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas are among the largest ships on the earth, with among the most spectacular and ground-breaking options within the cruise trade. 

So, how do you decide which one to sail on on your upcoming cruise? Right here’s the whole lot it’s essential to know when deciding between Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas.

Building

Whereas each ships debuted in 2024, Icon of the Seas welcomed friends first, setting sail on its inaugural voyage on January 27, 2024. 

Icon of the Seas was initially ordered in 2016, as the primary ship of the Icon class, and building started in 2021. Constructed at Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland, Icon of the Seas gained standing as some of the costly ships to be constructed, ever. Simply how costly was it? Royal Caribbean paid about $2 billion!

Utopia of the Seas, in the meantime, was introduced in 2019, and building started at Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, in 2022.

Initially, Royal Caribbean supposed to debut the ship in late 2023. Nonetheless, the ship was not delivered till 2024, leading to its maiden voyage happening on July 19, 2024. This ship value fairly a bit much less to construct, at round $1.35 billion.  

Each ships could be powered through LNG (liquified pure fuel), and Icon of the Seas was the primary Royal Caribbean ship to characteristic this functionality. Utopia of the Seas is at the moment the one Oasis-class ship to characteristic this functionality.

Ship Sizes and Capability

So how do Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas measure up, by way of measurement? Right here’s how the 2 evaluate.

As you may see, Icon of the Seas is sort of a bit bigger than Utopia of the Seas (about 6% bigger), with two extra passenger decks.

Nonetheless, when you’re passenger capability at double occupancy, you’ll discover that, regardless of its smaller measurement, Utopia of the Seas can really maintain extra cruisers. It is because the vessel has extra general staterooms and suites than Icon of the Seas. 

Ship Lessons

Icon of the Seas kicked off Royal Caribbean’s new Icon class. The category contains the most important cruise ships ever constructed, and Icon of the Seas has been no disappointment so far as measurement is worried.

Three complete Icon-class ships are deliberate, with Star of the Seas scheduled to launch in 2025 and an unnamed ship scheduled to launch in 2026. Metal reducing started for Star of the Seas in February 2023, whereas metal reducing started for the unnamed ship in January 2024.

In distinction, Utopia of the Seas is a part of a long-standing class within the Royal Caribbean household: the Oasis class. Utopia of the Seas is the sixth Oasis-class vessel, and a last, seventh Oasis-class vessel is anticipated to debut in 2028. 

The Oasis class initially launched in 2009, with the namesake Oasis of the Seas. Different ships within the class embody Attract of the Seas, Concord of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Surprise of the Seas. Utopia of the Seas stands out from the pack as the most important Oasis-class ship so far. 

Up till Icon of the Seas debuted, the Oasis class featured the most important cruise ships within the trade and introduced quite a few adjustments to the trade, together with the neighborhood idea that’s turn into anticipated on Royal Caribbean ships general.

Neighborhoods

Talking of neighborhoods, which of those themed areas of the ship are you able to anticipate aboard Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas? 

Icon of the Seas options eight neighborhoods, together with: 

• AquaDome  
• Central Park
• Chill Island
• Royal Promenade
• Surfside
• Suite Neighborhood
• Thrill Island
• The Hideaway 

Utopia of the Seas additionally options eight neighborhoods, however they differ barely. They embody:

• Royal Promenade 
• Central Park
• Boardwalk
• Leisure Zone
• Pool & Sports activities Zone
• Youth Zone
• Vitality Spa & Health
• Suite Neighborhood 

The 2 share Royal Caribbean’s traditional Central Park and Royal Promenade neighborhoods. For those who’ve by no means sailed with Royal Caribbean earlier than, the previous is really a park-like environment, with plant partitions and entry to plenty of leisure and eating venues.

The Royal Promenade can be a middle spot for plenty of motion, with venues, eating places, and retail areas alongside a central walkway. Likewise, each ships have a Suite Neighborhood. Nonetheless, issues differ from right here.

Utopia of the Seas’ different neighborhoods are fairly in keeping with what you may anticipate to see on different Oasis-class ships and all neighborhoods are named in such a means that they’re fairly self-explanatory.

Learn Additionally: Icon of the Seas vs Surprise of the Seas: A Big Comparability

For instance, the boardwalk provides a family-friendly boardwalk-like environment. The pool and sports activities zone homes the pool and sports activities zones. The youth zone is the place you’ll discover youngsters golf equipment. The leisure zone is dwelling to theaters, and the Vitality Spa space is the place you’ll discover wellness facilities, together with the spa.

Icon of the Seas’ 5 distinct neighborhoods, in distinction, are a bit of extra uniquely named and a bit of extra fascinating. AquaDome is dwelling to the AquaTheater and nightlife.

Chill Island provides 4 swimming pools and a handful of bars. Thrill Island provides waterslides and Surfside likewise has a kiddy pool, in addition to different kid-focused facilities, like the children’ golf equipment. The Hideaway is a quiet spot with its personal pool and a bar.

Central Park on Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas

Whereas each ships are dwelling to Central Park neighborhoods, there are slight variations whenever you have a look at these areas on Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas — and the Central Park neighborhood on Icon of the Seas has been hailed as general higher as compared.

On Utopia of the Seas, the Central Park neighborhood on Deck 8 can be dwelling to retail retailers, Izumi, Izumi within the Park, Park Café, the Trellis Bar, Rising Tide Bar, 150 Central Park and Chops Grille.

At every finish of the neighborhood, there are elevator banks, and suites and staterooms alongside the perimeter of the ship, surrounding the neighborhood. 

On Icon of the Seas, the Central Park neighborhood on Deck 8 likewise options Chops Grille, Izumi, Izumi within the Par, the Trellis Bar, Park Café and retail house, nevertheless it additionally contains Lou’s Jazz ‘N Blues and The Pearl, a singular artwork characteristic. One finish of this deck, past Central Park, additionally homes the Empire Supper Membership.

The Royal Promenade

Equally, there are slight variations between the Royal Promenade on Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas.

On the previous, the Royal Promenade is on Deck 5, and also you’ll discover plenty of retail right here, in addition to Boleros, Sorrentos, Café Promenade, Starbucks, a number of bars, and visitor companies.

On the latter, the Royal Promenade stretches throughout Deck 5 and 6 and contains the entire above, plus Level & Feather, the Crown & Anchor Society, 1400 Foyer Bar, Pearl Café and Schooner Bar. You can too see The Pearl artwork set up all through the Promenade (sure, it’s actually that large!).

Do observe that, on each of those ships, on the ends of the Royal Promenade, you’ll discover additional venues, such because the ships’ theaters and essential eating rooms (though these aren’t technically instantly on the promenade itself. 

Staterooms and Suites

You’ll don’t have any scarcity of stateroom and suite choices whilst you’re aboard both of those ships. Nonetheless, there are a number of variations in what they provide. Because the lead ship in a brand new class, Icon of the Seas launched a number of new stateroom choices.

Icon of the Seas

• Inside Plus staterooms
• Panoramic Ocean View staterooms
• Household Infinity Balcony staterooms
• Surfside Household View inside cabins
• Infinite Ocean View balcony cabins
• Infinite Central Park View balcony cabins

An Inside Plus stateroom is principally a greater, extra luxurious inside stateroom. Panoramic Ocean View staterooms provide panoramic ocean views, in fact, however solely throughout the AquaDome neighborhood.

Infinite Ocean View balcony cabins are the primary of their sort for the cruise line. A glass wall separates the cabin’s balcony from the remainder of the cabin, however then that cup wall could be moved out of the best way fully. 

Household Infinity balcony rooms are the household model of this, however you get extra space and, when you’re within the Surfside neighborhood, you’ll be proper in the entire family-friendly motion, near kid-favorite facilities. 

Past the brand new choices aboard Icon of the Seas, different staterooms on this ship embody:

• Commonplace inside cabins
• Spacious inside cabins
• Central Park View inside cabins
• Ocean view cabins
• Ocean view balcony cabins
• Ocean view giant balcony cabins
• Central Park balcony cabins

Then, although, there are additionally the suites. Suite choices aboard Icon of the Seas embody:

• The Final Household Townhouse 
• Surfside Household suites
• Junior suites
• Sundown Junior suites
• Sky Junior suites
• Sundown suites
• Panoramic suites
• Infinite Grand suites
• Proprietor’s suites
• Grand suites
• The Royal Loft
• Icon Loft Suites

A few of these are brand-new additions to the Royal Caribbean lineup. 

For instance, the Surfside Household suites are situated within the Surfside neighborhood and are outfitted with the whole lot a touring household may need. The Final Household Townhouse can be new, and a brand new tackle Royal Caribbean’s present Final Household suite.

Icon Loft suites are two-floor suites with plenty of luxurious, and Infinite Grand suites characteristic the aforementioned infinite balcony. Panoramic suites are likewise new, and solely accessible within the AquaDome.

Utopia of the Seas

When evaluating staterooms and suites on Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas, you’ll discover there’s numerous overlap. Nonetheless, do do not forget that, though Utopia of the Seas is smaller than Icon of the Seas, it does have extra staterooms. 

Listed below are the choices for staterooms on Utopia of the Seas:

• Studio single cabins
• Digital balcony inside cabins
• Spacious inside household cabins
• Promenade view inside cabins
• Boardwalk and Central Park-view inside cabins
• Boardwalk and Central Park balcony cabins
• Oceanview cabins
• Household oceanview cabins
• Spacious balcony cabins
• Extremely-spacious household balcony cabins 

And listed here are the choices for suites on Utopia of the Seas:

• Junior suites
• Grand suites
• AquaTheater suites
• House owners suites
• Crown loft suites
• Royal loft suites
• Solarium suites
• The Final Household suite 

As you may see, Utopia of the Seas actually provides a whole lot of those self same Oasis-class stateroom and suite choices you will discover on all of its sister ships.

So, when you actually need a stateroom or suite that provides one thing recent, new and thrilling, contemplate reserving Icon of the Seas on your cruise, and ebook considered one of its brand-new choices, just like the Inside Plus staterooms or one of many a number of new family-focused staterooms or suites. 

Eating Venues

There are some cruise ship eating venues which can be simply classics, and that you just’ll discover on each single Royal Caribbean ship. Nonetheless, many have unique-to-them eating places, particularly when you’re evaluating two ships from totally different courses, as is the case when  Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas.

Listed below are the eating places you may look forward to finding on every ship.

As you may see, you positively received’t be left wanting for choices on both ship. Nonetheless, as you take a look at these Royal Caribbean classics like Windjammer Café and Sorrento’s, don’t neglect to additionally make sure you strive the most recent choices on both ship. 

The Spare Tire is a brand-new possibility on Utopia of the Seas, providing fast bites through a meals truck by the pool. One other newcomer simply on this ship is Royal Railway: Utopia Station. This specialty eating possibility brings luxurious rail journey to the cruise trade, as diners take their seats in a prepare eating automobile and watch a digital panorama roll previous the home windows.

Learn Additionally: Icon of the Seas Eating places – Eating Venue Information

Certainly one of Icon of the Seas’ standout new eating places is the Empire Supper Membership, for a high-end eating expertise in an Artwork Deco-style setting. Icon of the Seas additionally boasts a secondary buffet, Surfside Eatery.  

Bars and Lounges

You’ll likewise don’t have any scarcity of locations to seize a drink on both of those ships. Right here’s how the choices break down. 

Icon of the Seas’ standout new bar is Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues, a lounge the place you may take pleasure in dwell jazz alongside together with your libations. The Pesky Parrot, in the meantime, is the standout new watering gap on Utopia of the Seas, and is a tiki bar with trendy aptitude. 

Swimming pools and WaterSlides

For those who’re all in regards to the water enjoyable throughout a cruise, it’s possible you’ll need to set your sights on Icon of the Seas. Icon of the Seas has six waterslides, whereas Utopia of the Seas solely has three (plus 5 swimming pools).

In truth, Icon of the Seas can declare the most important waterpark at sea, with not simply these six waterslides, but in addition seven swimming pools and 9 sizzling tubs. Plus, for the adults, there’s the world’s longest swim-up bar at sea, within the adults-only space.

The waterslides are record-breakers, too, and embody Strain Drop, the primary open free-fall slide at sea; Scary Bolt, the tallest drop waterslide at sea; Storm Chasers, the primary mat-racing slide at sea; and Storm Surge & Hurricane Hunter, the primary family-friendly raft journey at sea. Nonetheless, regardless of having all these distinctive waterslides, there’s something lacking on Icon of the Seas. 

Leisure and Actions

Past swimming pools and waterslides, each Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas provide wonderful leisure and exercise choices for each form of cruiser. On each ships, you’ll discover: 

• Casinos
• Carousels
• Miniature golf programs
• Sports activities courts
• Rock-climbing partitions
• Comedy golf equipment
• Escape rooms
• Laser tag
• Ice skating

Icon of the Seas additionally has a ropes course. In the meantime, Utopia of the Seas provides a zipper line. Additionally discovered on Utopia of the Seas is the favored Final Abyss dry slide characteristic, situated on the ship aft and 10 tales excessive. This characteristic is well-known throughout the Oasis-class, however it isn’t featured on Icon of the Seas.

Utopia of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas: Which is Greatest?

When evaluating two big, stellar ships like this, you could have lots to think about. As you evaluate and distinction staterooms and suites, eating places and waterslides, although, don’t neglect to additionally contemplate these ships’ itineraries.  

Whereas each ships sail from Florida, Icon of the Seas is crusing its inaugural season out of Miami, whereas Utopia of the Seas’ inaugural season sails from Orlando. Royal Caribbean has branded Utopia of the Seas as a weekend getaway ship, with shorter sailings, whereas Icon of the Seas is providing longer sailings all throughout the Caribbean, from the Japanese Caribbean and on over to Mexico.

Icon of the Seas has additionally positively been designed as a family-friendly ship, and it reveals. Households will love the family-centric Surfside neighborhood, in addition to the wealth of family-friendly enjoyable, plus so many family-friendly stateroom and suite choices. In distinction, Utopia of the Seas places much less of a concentrate on households and offers you extra of a traditional, Oasis-class expertise. 

Price Studying: Royal Caribbean Facilities You Ought to Pre-Ebook

All the above thought-about, which ship is finest for you’ll rely on what sort of traveler you’re, who you’re touring with and the way lengthy you need to journey. 

For those who solely have a number of days to get away, Utopia of the Seas is a no brainer. For those who’re touring with kiddos and need them to have a stellar time, Icon of the Seas is a simple selection. For those who’re touring as a pair and need fewer household crowds and a traditional Royal Caribbean expertise, Utopia of the Seas delivers.

On the finish of the day, although, neither ship is a poor selection. Each are large, outfitted with all the newest and biggest facilities and able to give you a memorable trip.