Utopia of the Seas vs. Icon of the Seas: A Comparison of Royal Caribbean’s Latest Cruise Ships

When you dock Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas alongside Utopia of the Seas, two things stand out. First, as the largest and second-largest cruise ships globally, they are truly colossal. Second, although they share similar dimensions, their appearances differ somewhat.

For those unfamiliar with these vessels, distinguishing which of these giants suits your next cruise can feel daunting.

From the onboard atmosphere and cabin selections to entertainment offerings, let's explore the significant similarities and differences in the face-off between Utopia and Icon of the Seas.

Dimensions

Although Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas hold the titles of the two largest cruise ships in the world, there is still a notable size distinction between them.

Weighing in at 250,800 gross registered tons, the 20-deck Icon of the Seas accommodates 5,610 guests based on double occupancy (when two people share a cabin) and can host approximately 7,600 passengers at full capacity, alongside 2,350 crew members.

While still impressively large, the slightly smaller 18-deck Utopia of the Seas, with a gross tonnage of 236,473, can welcome 5,668 guests at double occupancy and around 6,988 when fully booked, with nearly 2,300 crew members onboard.

Despite having two additional decks compared to Utopia, Icon of the Seas accommodates fewer guests at double occupancy but more when at full capacity. This is due to Royal Caribbean's design choice for Icon of the Seas, which focuses on families, anticipating that parents would share cabins with their kids.

During Royal Caribbean's earnings call for the second quarter of 2024, executives noted that the ship has been operating with a 132% load factor, indicating it often sails with more than two people per cabin—sometimes accommodating three, four, or even five.

Ship Design

To grasp the layout differences between Utopia of the Seas and Icon, it’s essential to understand Royal Caribbean's neighborhood concept. Each unique section of the ship clusters popular themed attractions together, facilitating passenger movement throughout the vessel.

The initial vessels in the Oasis Class, which include Utopia of the Seas, featured seven distinct neighborhoods that have been carried over to Utopia.

The seven neighborhoods include:

• Central Park: An outdoor promenade filled with shops, bars, and restaurants, featuring over 10,000 live plants tended by a resident gardener, along with inward-facing balcony cabins that overlook this green space.
• The Boardwalk: An open-air boardwalk area with a hot dog stand, candy and ice cream shop, arcade games, a carousel, inward-facing balcony cabins, and the innovative wake-facing AquaTheater, which hosts high-diving performances.
• The Royal Promenade: An indoor social hub with a mall-like ambiance, where guests can find a pub, a karaoke lounge, two cafes (including a Starbucks), shops, and guest services. Inward-facing cabins with windows provide views of this neighborhood, which also hosts occasional parades and parties.
• Pool and Sports Zone: The destination for active outdoor fun and water activities, featuring surf simulators, rock climbing walls, mini-golf, a sports court, a zip line, bars, access to the Ultimate Abyss dry slide (which plunges 10 decks to The Boardwalk), teen clubs, an arcade, casual dining options, four pools, numerous hot tubs, plus areas for kids with water play and waterslides.
• Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center: The hub for health, wellness, fitness, and relaxation, offering complimentary exercise equipment, fee-based fitness classes and personal training, a large jogging track, Ping-Pong tables, and spa services like massages, manicures, pedicures, and hairstyling.
• Entertainment Place: A secluded cluster of indoor entertainment venues including casinos, a comedy club, a nightclub, the ship's main theater, an art gallery, and Studio B — a versatile space for ice skating, laser tag, and themed parties.
• Youth Zone: Home to Adventure Ocean, Royal Caribbean's kids club, which includes activity and learning rooms as well as separate areas for babies, toddlers, kids, and tweens; also where you can find the escape room (on ships that have one).

As Royal Caribbean has refined its ships over the years, new neighborhoods have been introduced. Beyond those mentioned above, Utopia of the Seas includes an eighth area — the Suite Neighborhood. This exclusive zone provides access to a private sun deck with hot tubs, a dedicated lounge, a sit-down restaurant, and 24-hour concierge service for guests staying in the ship's most luxurious accommodations.

With the launch of Royal Caribbean's Icon Class, to which Icon of the Seas belongs, some key areas have been removed, relocated, and reimagined, giving Icon a more segmented feel compared to Utopia of the Seas.

Similar to Utopia of the Seas, Icon of the Seas features eight neighborhoods; however, only three of them — Central Park, the Royal Promenade, and the Suite Neighborhood — are shared with Utopia.

Note: While Icon of the Seas lacks the Youth Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, and Entertainment Place neighborhoods, it still provides the Adventure Ocean kids club, onboard spa and fitness amenities, as well as a variety of entertainment venues.

Newly introduced neighborhoods on Icon include:

• Surfside: A designated area for families with young children, featuring family-friendly dining options, a bar with non-alcoholic cocktails, a candy shop, an arcade, a carousel, a playground, splash zones for kids, and a wake-facing infinity pool; it replaces The Boardwalk.
• AquaDome: A massive glass and steel structure offering 220-degree ocean views, housing an indoor AquaTheater for high-diving and acrobatic performances, the AquaDome Market — Royal Caribbean's first food hall — alongside bars and a gift shop.
• Chill Island: This area replaces the "pool" section of the Pool and Sports Zone found on Oasis Class ships; it features four pools — including one with a swim-up bar — along with sun loungers, hot tubs, and rentable cabanas.
• Thrill Island: This zone takes the place of the "sports" section of the Pool and Sports Zone; it includes classic attractions like the rock climbing wall, FlowRider surf simulator, mini-golf, and sports court, along with a ropes course-style feature and the largest water park at sea, complete with multiple waterslides.
• The Hideaway: An exclusive adults-only retreat located just beneath Thrill Island, offering a suspended infinity pool, loungers, hot tubs, a Champagne bar, and a vibrant party atmosphere.

The Royal Promenade has undergone a transformation on Icon of the Seas. Deck 6 now completely encircles the area rather than just partially overlooking it, and a spectacular three-deck illuminated sphere known as The Pearl has been introduced, serving both as an art installation and a structural support element. It also facilitates passenger movement between the two decks of the Royal Promenade, with large windows on both sides flooding the area with natural light.

The lower deck of the Royal Promenade no longer features the hydraulic "levitating" Rising Tide Bar, which has been removed along with Cafe Promenade. In its place, the familiar standalone Starbucks kiosk has been relocated to a more permanent spot, and the Pearl Cafe has been introduced one deck up.

For additional details regarding the updates to Central Park and the Suite Neighborhood, please refer to the "Dining" and "Cabins" sections below, respectively.

Theming

While both ships excel at accommodating various types of travelers, Icon of the Seas is particularly tailored for families, featuring the Surfside neighborhood and a range of cabins that can accommodate more than two guests.

Conversely, Utopia of the Seas is the first entirely new ship designed for short three- and four-night trips, which Royal Caribbean promotes as the "World's Biggest Weekend." It's ideal for quick escapes, contributing to a lively atmosphere that's festive yet refined.

If you're cruising on Utopia with your kids, there are still plenty of activities for them at the water play zones and Adventure Ocean kids club, along with an increased focus on live music. You'll also encounter more themed parties, including one with a frat party vibe and another pool party featuring music, giveaways, and Champagne sprayers.

Cabins

Both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas offer a range of accommodations, including standard inside cabins, ocean-view rooms with windows, balcony options, and a selection of suites, featuring spacious options ideal for families filled with amenities that kids will love.

Icon debuted with 14 new types of cabins and suites among a total of 28 accommodation choices. Many of these are designed for families, with options that sleep four guests; some can even accommodate six or eight. In total, there are 313 cabins and suites explicitly geared toward family needs, although most standard rooms can host more than two guests.

Notably, Icon of the Seas features new Panoramic Suites located in part of the AquaDome. These suites are designed to let in natural light through a floor-to-ceiling window in each room, providing a bright and airy atmosphere.

In a shift for the Suite Neighborhood, the new Icon Loft Suites are two stories tall, each featuring two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious balcony with a private dining area, and large windows that stretch from floor to ceiling.

Lastly, the Ultimate Family Townhouse represents the epitome of luxury accommodations on board. This three-deck-high suite builds on the success of the Ultimate Family Suite from Oasis Class ships. With dedicated sleeping areas for both kids and adults, this 1,772-square-foot suite includes an in-suite slide, a movie theater, a karaoke machine, and generous indoor and outdoor living spaces.

The only significant new addition to Utopia of the Seas is a collection of Solarium Suites. These spacious, bright, and airy accommodations are situated above The Solarium, the ship's peaceful, adults-only retreat.

Dining Experiences

All your beloved Royal Caribbean dining favorites are back on both Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas, including Chops Grille steakhouse, Izumi sushi, Giovanni's Italian, Sorrento's pizza, Playmakers sports bar, Park Cafe, El Loco Fresh Mexican, and the Windjammer buffet.

However, it’s the new offerings that truly shine on both of these vessels.

On Utopia of the Seas, guests can grab quick bites from the Spare Tire food truck or indulge in a train-themed dinner theater experience at Royal Railway: Utopia Station for an additional fee. Other extra-cost options range from budget-friendly shaved ice to the exclusive Omakase, an eight-course dining experience limited to just six guests at $130 each.

For an exclusive dining experience on Icon of the Seas, visit the Empire Supper Club, where an eight-course dinner is paired with live music for $200 per person. This major addition to the Central Park neighborhood features an art deco design and seats only 38 guests, reminiscent of New York's elegance.

If you're marking a special occasion, consider booking the Celebration Table, which costs a flat fee of $999 for up to 14 guests, regardless of how many seats you fill. Located in the ship's Hooked Seafood restaurant, you can select from a menu that includes American, Italian, Asian, and seafood dishes.

There are plenty of new family-friendly dining options, such as Pier 7, a specialty restaurant with a California vibe. It's complimentary for kids and a la carte for adults, featuring dishes like Baja fish tacos, Korean fried chicken, and warm toffee chocolate cake.

The AquaDome Market introduces Royal Caribbean's first food hall, showcasing a diverse range of cuisines such as Mediterranean, Asian, mac 'n' cheese, salads, sandwiches, and desserts, all at no charge. Additionally, the Pearl Cafe offers complimentary small bites and coffee beverages.

Entertainment

Both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas offer a wide range of entertainment options, including theater performances, comedy shows, high-dive acts, parades on the Royal Promenade, themed parties, and a plethora of live music and daily activities to keep guests engaged.

In terms of differences, the AquaTheater on Icon of the Seas has relocated from the Boardwalk neighborhood—originally on Deck 6, aft of Oasis Class ships like Utopia—to the new indoor AquaDome. Performances on both ships feature synchronized swimming, dancing, high-diving, acrobatics, and more. Utopia's show, titled "Aqua80," includes '80s hits with a contemporary flair, while Icon presents "Aqua Action!," themed around popular movies.

Both ships feature their own ice rinks showcasing specially choreographed ice-skating performances. Icon of the Seas introduces the Absolute Zero ice rink on Deck 5 in the Royal Promenade, replacing Studio B from Utopia, which is located on Deck 4. This enhanced venue on Icon is round rather than rectangular, and the themes of the shows differ as well.

On Icon, the show "Starburst" revolves around the elements (such as carbon and helium). It features group, solo, and duo skating routines alongside impressive juggling acts performed by a character known as "The Starman." Meanwhile, on Utopia, "Youtopia" combines contemporary and classic music with stunning costumes that resemble candy, executed with near perfection.

In the main theater on Utopia, guests can enjoy "All In," a show that celebrates legendary parties and music festivals throughout history, including Studio 54 and Burning Man. If you're in the mood for Broadway-style productions, Icon of the Seas offers performances of "The Wizard of Oz" on board.

As previously mentioned, Utopia of the Seas places a strong emphasis on parties compared to other Royal Caribbean ships. Onboard festivities include Senses, a pool deck party featuring house music and stunning sunset visuals on a massive outdoor screen; ReZolution, where passengers don white attire to transform into living art with high-tech projections; and Plunge, a lively daytime pool party.

Lastly, no Royal Caribbean cruise would be complete without a parade on the Royal Promenade. On Utopia, you can participate in "The Effectors Homecoming Parade," which diverges from the full show "The Effectors" performed in the Royal Theater on Icon of the Seas. This parade continues the storyline from the theater production, where (spoiler alert) the superhero team—Captain Viz, Lume, Pixel, and Reverb—triumphs over their nemesis, Crash, and his sidekick, Burn.

Itineraries and pricing

A significant difference between the two ships is their itineraries. Utopia of the Seas exclusively offers three- and four-night cruises to the Bahamas and Western Caribbean, departing from Port Canaveral near Orlando, while Icon of the Seas provides weeklong voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean from Miami.

Both vessels typically include stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's private island, on most itineraries. Utopia primarily visits Nassau in the Bahamas, along with Perfect Day and Cozumel in Mexico, with minimal variations.

Thanks to its longer itineraries, Icon boasts a broader selection of port calls, including stops at St. Kitts and St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; St. Maarten, the Dutch part of St. Martin; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico; and Labadee, Haiti, another of Royal Caribbean's private destinations, depending on the specific route.

Regarding pricing, Icon of the Seas offers seven-night cruises, while Utopia's itineraries are only three to four nights long, making the former generally more expensive to book.

In my recent comparison of nightly rates, the lowest price I found for an Icon of the Seas cruise was $1,186 per person for a seven-night journey in the Eastern Caribbean scheduled for January 2025. This averages out to $169 per person, per night for an inside cabin, which is quite reasonable considering that Icon of the Seas is the largest and one of the newest ships in the industry.

On the other hand, the cheapest Utopia of the Seas voyage I discovered for the same timeframe was $593 per person for a four-night cruise to the Bahamas and Perfect Day. This breaks down to $148 per person, per night, which is slightly less than the lowest nightly rate on Icon of the Seas.

Pricing can fluctuate based on sailing dates, destinations, and cabin types, but both ships are generally positioned at the higher end of Royal Caribbean's pricing spectrum due to strong demand. Expect to pay a premium for accommodations on both Icon and Utopia.

Final thoughts

When comparing Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas, both vessels are expansive, offering a wide array of activities, sights, dining options, and beverages for guests of all ages. Each features outstanding kids' clubs, remarkable entertainment, numerous bars and restaurants, and a diverse range of cabin types.

If you're seeking a brief cruise, a weekend escape, or a more budget-friendly option, or if you prefer a lively party atmosphere, Utopia of the Seas is your best choice. Among the two, it's also the top pick for fans of the original Oasis Class neighborhoods.

Conversely, families cruising with young children may find Icon of the Seas more suitable, especially if they desire dedicated family spaces, have a larger budget, prefer a weeklong cruise, or wish to sail on the largest cruise ship in operation.

Discover more about Royal Caribbean:

• Your comprehensive guide to Royal Caribbean cruises
• Understanding Royal Caribbean cruise ship classes
• Royal Caribbean cruise ships ranked by size
• Royal Caribbean cruise ships categorized by age
• Everything about Royal Caribbean cabins and suites
• Insights on Royal Caribbean dining options
• Information on Royal Caribbean drink packages
• Destinations served by Royal Caribbean
• How to choose the perfect Royal Caribbean ship for you
• Details on Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society loyalty program
• Tips for packing for a Royal Caribbean cruise