Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas 

Royal Caribbean is a popular cruise line known for its big and fancy ships. Royal Caribbean has two new ships called Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. People are curious about how a huge ship Icon of the seas compared to Wonder of the Seas a second largest ship in the fleet.  

Wonder of the Seas was the largest cruise ship when it first came in 2022. But now, Icon of the Seas (launched in 2024) setting sail for the first time this year. It’s the biggest cruise ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet and in the world.  

If you’re wondering which one to book, here’s everything you need to know about Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas. 

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas Class Difference 

The main difference between Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas is their class. Royal Caribbean has 7 classes of ships, each with different layouts and things to do onboard. Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Icon Class, while Wonder of the Seas is the fifth ship in the Oasis Class.  

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas Size Comparison 

The Icon of the Seas is slightly bigger than the Wonder of the Seas, with a 5% difference in gross tonnage and has two more decks, 10 feet longer. The Icon of the Seas can hold about 8% more people. 

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas: Construction Cost 

Icon of the Seas cost $2 billion to build, making it one of the most expensive ships ever. The ship is powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG). Icon of the Seas was built in Turku, Finland at Meyer Turku. 

Wonder of the Seas cost $1.35 billion to build. It is not the most expensive cruise ship in the world. Its elder sisters, Oasis and Allure of the Seas, cost around $1.4 billion each. It was built at Chantiers de L’Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France.  

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas: Passenger Capacity 

Icon of the Seas is bigger than Wonder of the Seas in terms of size but can’t accommodate more passengers at double occupancy. 

The number of passengers in double occupancy is reduced by 100 on Icon of the Seas. The maximum occupancy of Icon of the Seas is greater than Wonder of the Seas and can accomodate 600 more people. 

This means Royal Caribbean expects more people to stay in suites on the Icon of the Seas with more than two passengers in one room.  

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas: Staterooms and Suites 

Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas have very cool rooms, including amazing suites! Icon of the Seas has 2,805 cabins, while Wonder of the Seas has 2,874. Even though Icon has fewer rooms, it can hold 600 more guests than Wonder of the Seas. This means there are more family suites on Icon that can accommodate families of four, five, or six people. 

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas: Neighborhoods 

Royal Caribbean divides its ships into neighborhoods, which are themed areas with specific activities. The Oasis class ships, such as Wonder of the Seas, introduced the concept of neighborhoods to the fleet.  

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas: Restaurants 

Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas both ships have restaurants that Royal Caribbean always includes. Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas same restaurants include the main dining room, Windjammer Café, Sorrento’s Pizza, Starbucks, Wonderland, Coastal Kitchen, Giovanni’s, Chops Grill, and Izumi Hibachi & Sushi. Further information about Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas restaurants is included in the table.  

Both ships have familiar Royal Caribbean dishes, as well as new and exciting choices but the dining options are not the same. 

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas has Johnny Rockets, Vitality Café, The Mason Jar, and the Doghouse. Icon of the Seas offers AquaDome Market, Empire Supper Club, and Izumi in the Park. 

New dining options on the Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas include Pearl Caf for casual bites, Basecamp for theme park-style fun, Celebration Table for special events, Pier 7 for all-day brunch, and The Grove for Mediterranean cuisine.  

Just like on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there is an additional cost to dine at these specialty restaurants, so it’s important to choose wisely.  

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas: Bars & Lounges 

Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas have many bars and lounges. Some are new and while other are common on Royal Caribbean ships, like English pubs, Lime & Coconut and Playmakers sports bar. 

Icon of the Seas has a variety of bars and lounges that offer a wide selection of drinks. There is a swim & Tonic bar, pool bars, Casino Bar, bars at new restaurants, and lounges like Lou’s Jazz n Blues where you can enjoy drinks and live music. 

Wonder of the Seas has several bars and lounges that are common on newer Royal Caribbean ships. It also has some unique ones that Icon of the Seas doesn’t, like the Solarium bar, Rising Tide Bar and the Bionic Bar with its robotic twist.  Here you can Check Royal Caribbean Drink Menus.

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas: Activities and Entertainment 

Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas both ships offer many activities including pools, waterslides, and shows to keep you entertained during your cruise. They also have additional fun spaces and activities.  

The Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas includes 80% activities in the cruise fare, while the Wonder of the Seas includes 79% activities, potentially leading to higher onboard expenses.  

Icon of the Seas have some similar features to Wonder of the Seas, along with some new exciting ones. For example, Icon of the Seas has a ropes course called Crown’s Edge, which is not available on Wonder of the Seas. This feature combines a skywalk and ropes course, extending over the ocean. Wonder of the Seas has a Zip line instead.  

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas: Pools and Waterslides 

Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas both ships have fun activities for enjoying the sun and playing in the water to keep you entertained during your cruise. They both have a FlowRider surf simulator, waterslides, and hot tubs. But there are some differences. 

Wonder of the Seas has 4 waterslides: Typhoon, Cyclone, Supercell, and Ultimate Abyss. Ultimate Abyss is a dry slide, not a water slide, and it is the tallest slide on the ship. The ship has 5 pools and 4 hot tubs. 

Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas: Itineraries 

The Wonder of the Seas and the Icon of the Seas have different routes at least for part of the year that suit different preferences.  

Wonder of the Seas is based in Florida for half the year, offering 7-night Caribbean cruises including visit to private island Labadee and CocoCay. In the summer, Wonder of the Seas ship goes to the Mediterranean.  

Icon of the Seas is not cruising in Europe. Instead, it’s in Miami all year. 7-night Caribbean cruises will include ports like Cozumel, Philipsburg, Roatan, and CocoCay. 

This difference lets travelers choose between visiting European cities or enjoying the Caribbean. 

Wonder of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas: The Best One 

Which ship is better, Icon of the Seas or Wonder of the Seas? Choosing between booking a cruise on Wonder of the Seas or Icon of the Seas is a personal decision based on your preferences. If you love cruising on big ships and being the first among your friends to do so, you’ll want to get on Icon of the Seas as soon as possible. This ship has been making headlines and avid travelers are excited to see what Royal Caribbean has to offer.  

On the other hand, if you’ve traveled on Wonder of the Seas before or prefer to avoid large crowds, you may prefer Wonder of the Seas. This ship is still new and offers plenty of fun without the crowds.  

The destination also matters. Whether you prefer the Mediterranean, Western Caribbean, or the Bahamas, both ships offer excellent options for solo travelers, couples, or families looking for luxury, entertainment, dining, and fun activities.