Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas are the most important ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, however which one do you have to select?
When you’re planning a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s exhausting to go fallacious with an Icon Class ship. These megaships are the most important on the earth and supply unbeatable facilities and sights. Whether or not it is the Class 6 Waterpark or the indoor ice-skating rink, there are limitless methods to have enjoyable onboard.
At present, there are two ships within the Icon Class: Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas. For probably the most half, the 2 vessels are similar. You’ll discover most of the similar eating places, bars, leisure venues, and cabins onboard.
Even nonetheless, there are just a few variations between the 2 ships that will make you select one over the opposite.
Right here’s the whole lot you need to take into account when selecting between Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.
First, the place do you wish to embark in your cruise?
Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas depart from totally different cruise ports in Florida, so it’s essential to contemplate the place you’d prefer to sail from earlier than you ebook.
Icon of the Seas calls Miami house, whereas Star of the Seas sails from Port Canaveral.
So far as transportation logistics, each ports supply execs and cons.
Port Canaveral is positioned considerably removed from Orlando Worldwide Airport. Driving from the airport to the port takes just below an hour, and rideshare costs might be as excessive as $80 every means. Shuttles can be found, too, which begin round $25 per individual.
The Port of Miami, alternatively, is nearer to Miami Worldwide Airport. You possibly can count on to spend round $30 for the 20-minute journey. You even have the choice of flying into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport, which is a 40-minute drive from the Port of Miami.
It’s all the time beneficial to reach in your embarkation metropolis the day earlier than your cruise departs. Each Orlando and Miami supply a lot to do earlier than you embark.
When you’re cruising on Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral, you would possibly take into account spending just a few days at Common Studios or Disney World earlier than your cruise. This may be a good way to increase your journey and expertise Orlando’s prime sights.
These cruising from Miami on Icon of the Seas can benefit from the metropolis’s highlights earlier than embarking. You would possibly select to spend the evening in South Seashore, discover nightlife in Brickell, or take a road meals tour in Little Havana.
Both embarkation port is a wonderful alternative. In the end, I like to recommend looking flight choices from your private home airport to Orlando and Miami. If flight itineraries and costs are considerably higher at one airport, you would possibly wish to take into account cruising from that port as a substitute of the opposite.
Is one ship inexpensive than the opposite?
Icon Class cruise ships could supply an unbelievable variety of issues to do onboard, however they aren’t low-cost. For many 7-night itineraries, you’ll be able to count on to pay between $1,300 and $2,000 per individual for an inside cabin.
Star of the Seas launched a 12 months after Icon of the Seas, however costs are comparable between the 2 vessels. You’ll discover little distinction in cruise fare, and costs could fluctuate drastically relying on the month you sail, in addition to how far upfront you ebook the cruise.
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Typically Icon of the Seas could be priced greater than Star of the Seas, and vice versa.
Let’s check out just a few itineraries to gauge how costs would possibly fluctuate:
7-night Western Caribbean itinerary throughout hurricane seasonInterior cabin, taxes and charges included:
Icon of the Seas: $1,205 per personStar of the Seas: $1,483 per individual
7-night Japanese Caribbean itinerary in NovemberInterior cabin, taxes and charges included:
Icon of the Seas: $1,628 per personStar of the Seas: $1,607 per individual
7-night Japanese Caribbean itinerary in JuneInterior cabin, taxes and charges included:
Icon of the Seas: $2,048 per personStar of the Seas: $2,096 per individual
For probably the most half, worth variations between the 2 ships are negligible. As all the time, you’ll wish to ebook your cruise additional upfront to snag the bottom deal. Plus, you’ll be able to all the time reprice the crusing up till the ultimate cost date to economize if the value drops.
Leisure is comparable, however Broadway reveals differ
Like all of Royal Caribbean’s new ships, each Icon and Star of the Seas supply stellar leisure choices.
Even a complete week isn’t lengthy sufficient to expertise the huge array of leisure selections. Whether or not reside jazz music in Central Park or a high-energy piano efficiency at Dueling Pianos, each night presents a wide array of issues to expertise.
Relating to reside music and actions, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas are on a fair enjoying area. You’ll discover the identical bars and lounges on each ships, together with fan favorites just like the Schooner Bar and English-style pub.
The signature reveals, nonetheless, differ between the 2 vessels. There are three foremost leisure venues: the Royal Theater, the AquaTheater, and the Absolute Zero ice rink.
Associated: Royal Caribbean reveals by ship
Reveals within the AquaTheater and Absolute Zero are comparable on each ships. Regardless of having totally different themes and soundtracks, you’ll see most of the similar stunts, dives, and jumps throughout any present.
The primary distinction in leisure is within the Broadway reveals within the Royal Theater.
On Icon of the Seas, the Broadway present is Wizard of Oz, whereas Star of the Seas showcases Again to the Future: The Musical.
Each reveals are equally entertaining, however some company could favor seeing one present over the opposite. If Broadway reveals are an essential a part of the cruising expertise for you, you might wish to take the 2 reveals into consideration earlier than choosing a ship.
Eating choices are nearly the identical, however include two main variations
Meals is a vital side of any cruise trip, and there’s no scarcity of locations to eat on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.
Most eating venues are precisely the identical between the 2 vessels. You’ll discover basic eating places just like the Windjammer buffet and Fundamental Eating Room, but in addition Icon Class-specific eateries like Pearl Café and Surfside Bites.
Nonetheless, there are two variations in eating to notice between Icon and Star of the Seas.
First are the meals stalls within the AquaDome market. The AquaDome market is a staple of the Icon Class ships, and it presents quick-service bites from quite a lot of cuisines around the globe.
There are 5 meals stalls on every ship. Two—Crème de la Crêpe and Feta Mediterranean—are supplied on each vessels. The opposite three differ from ship to ship.
On Icon, you’ll be able to get pleasure from mac n’ cheese at Mac’s, sandwiches at Toast & Backyard, and Chinese language classics at GNGR. Star of the Seas, nonetheless, options BBQ favorites at Pig Out BBQ, spicy Thai meals at Mai Thai, and Latin American road meals at La Cocinita.
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Likewise, the supper membership varies from ship to ship, too. This elegant, tremendous eating restaurant combines curated cocktails with a regionally-inspired menu.
The idea is comparable between the 2 ships, however they differ of their theming.
On Icon of the Seas, the Empire Supper Membership encompasses a Twenties New York theme, whereas Star of the Seas’ Lincoln Park Supper Membership transports company to Thirties Chicago.
Associated: Lincoln Park Supper Membership evaluation on Star of the Seas
For probably the most half, although, delicate variations between the AquaDome market meals stalls and the supper membership make little distinction within the total expertise onboard Icon or Star of the Seas.
I wouldn’t essentially advocate choosing one ship over the opposite simply due to these minor variations. Reasonably, should you’ve already sailed on Icon of the Seas, take into account crusing on Star to check out the brand new eating choices.
General, the ships are practically similar, and both possibility is a improbable alternative
Each Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas supply, for probably the most half, the very same expertise.
There are small variations between the ships, however they’re way more alike than they’re totally different. They’ve the identical structure, neighborhoods, swimming pools, actions, and onboard thrills.
Variations in art work, eating venues, and leisure productions are minor within the massive image of your trip.
As well as, regardless of having totally different homeports, the 2 ships supply the identical itineraries. Each sail 7-night cruises to the Japanese and Western Caribbean, which embody a cease at Good Day at CocoCay.
When selecting between the 2 ships, I’d argue there are solely two issues to actually take into account:
The place you’d favor to embark in your cruiseThe worth distinction between the ships for a specific week
When you’re hoping to sail in mid-March and Star of the Seas is $500 dearer than Icon, you’re higher off selecting the latter. Likewise, if cruise fares are comparable however a flight to Orlando is $300 cheaper than to Miami, Star of the Seas can be a better option.
No matter which ship you select, you’re assured to have a one-of-a-kind cruise expertise on an Icon Class ship.
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