What Are Royal Caribbean’s Icon-Class Cruise Ships?

Royal Caribbean’s Icon-class consists of 5 cruise ships which have turn out to be famend for being larger and extra revolutionary than another cruise ships crusing the seas as we speak.

Right here’s every little thing it is advisable to learn about this ground-breaking group of ships, so you possibly can resolve if an Icon-class cruise is in your future.

The Icon Class at a Glimpse

The 5 vessels within the Icon-class embrace Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas, Legend of the Seas, and two which might be but to be named.

What Makes the Icon Class So Particular?

When the brand new Icon of the Seas launched in 2024, it was a giant deal — a huge deal. Each actually and figuratively. The cruise group couldn’t wait to get its fingers on this ship that was reportedly larger and higher than something that had ever come earlier than it.

And it’s true — this ship has confirmed to be fairly particular, as have those who have come after it. 

The Icon class options the biggest ships on the planet, by an extended shot, each by way of gross tonnage and visitor capability. Whereas the vessels carry 5,610 visitors at double capability, they’ll deal with roughly 7,600 visitors, plus greater than 2,000 crew, after they’re stuffed to their max.

The ships additionally launched a brand-new structure to Royal Caribbean’s fleet, with redesigned areas that match the wants of the trendy cruiser. 

Moreover, Royal Caribbean actually went all out with providing the last word in choices (whether or not you’re searching for issues to do, locations to eat and drink, or simply selecting your stateroom or suite). Ships are additionally stuffed with high-end tech and every little thing new-new-new.

Learn Additionally: Icon of the Seas Dimension Comparability – Info and Stats

Mainly, even in case you’ve been cruising all of your life, like me, the Icon-class continues to be going to be a brand-new expertise like none you’ve ever had earlier than.

How the Icon Class Ships are Laid Out

Most Royal Caribbean ships characteristic “neighborhoods,” or distinct areas themed round a sure exercise or perform, just like the Royal Promenade or Central Park. Nonetheless, the Icon-class vessels expanded on this concept, with new, extra deliberate neighborhoods.

The Icon ships characteristic eight neighborhoods in complete:

The Suite Neighborhood

Royal Promenade

Central Park

Surfside

The Hideaway

Chill Island

Thrill Island

AquaDome

Central Park, the Royal Promenade and the Suite Neighborhood are usually not new to the category, however the remaining 5 neighborhoods are.

The AquaDome is the place one of many class’s most inventive and distinctive (for my part) options lives. The enormous, glass dome on the ship’s bow affords wonderful views, a glossy and modern aesthetic, two bars, just a few eating choices and the AquaTheater.

Thrill Island is house to the biggest waterpark at sea, with record-breaking slides in addition to alternatives for different thrills and journey, on the zip line and sports activities courts. 

Chill Island affords a number of swimming pools, a number of bars and eating places and a swim-up bar (a characteristic that was utterly new for Royal Caribbean when it was launched on Icon of the Seas).

Value Studying: Icon of the Seas Cabins and Suites Information

The Hideaway is an adults-only space with a bar and an infinity pool.

Surfside, lastly, is the spectacular family-geared neighborhood, with staterooms designed with households’ wants in thoughts, a carousel, splash pool, video games and kid-friendly eateries. 

Prime Progressive and Distinctive Options within the Icon Class

The Pearl

It’s exhausting to clarify The Pearl in case you haven’t seen it for your self, however I’ll give it a shot!

A part of the reimagined Royal Promenade, The Pearl — created by the Brooklyn-based artwork studio BREAKFAST — is a three-deck sphere that options an artwork set up made up of greater than 3,000 high-tech tiles. The tiles change based mostly on music, in addition to knowledge associated to precise, real-time wind and tide information. 

A staircase leads cruisers up by way of and inside The Pearl to view this artwork set up up shut. It’s additionally one of many first stuff you see as quickly as you board the ship, so it actually will get your cruise off on the suitable foot. Whenever you ascend the staircase, you’ll discover spectacular views and The Pearl Café.

Technically, The Pearl is the biggest kinetic artwork sculpture on the planet. 

The AquaDome

The AquaDome is the biggest glass and metal construction to be featured on any cruise ship.

Actually a dome, it affords 220-degree ocean views and, as already talked about, many public areas, together with bars, eating places and the cruise line’s staple AquaTheater amphitheater. There’s additionally a 55-foot waterfall — no huge deal. 

The Class 6 Waterpark

The 17,000-square-foot Class 6 waterpark is significantly jaw-dropping. It additionally made waves by racking up an enormous variety of “firsts” at sea.

Not solely is it the biggest waterpark at sea total, nevertheless it additionally boasts the most important raft slide at sea, the tallest waterslide at sea, the primary open free-fall slide at sea and extra. From the Horrifying Bolt to Stress Drop, there’s a special slide for on daily basis of the week.

Then, whereas not technically a part of the waterpark, the Royal Bay Pool within the Chill Island neighborhood can also be the biggest pool at sea. 

The Expansive Eating

Whereas it may not be all that thrilling to some, for foodie vacationers like myself, extra and higher eating on a cruise ship is all the time a plus. 

The Icon-class blew me away with the ships’ greater than 20 restaurant choices (and if you add on the locations to seize a drink, too, the quantity climbs to above 40). 

As a lot as you attempt, it’s exhausting to slot in all of these eateries in a single crusing!

A few of the highlights, although, embrace the AquaDome Market, which is a meals hall-style eatery. 

Subsequent, every ship has its personal high-end supper membership, with completely different themes relying on the ship. Icon of the Seas’ supper membership has a Jazz Age NYC vibe. Star of the Seas faucets into Nineteen Thirties Chicago. Legend of the Seas channels the golden age of Hollywood.

Then, whereas it’s not on Icon of the Seas or Star of the Seas, the Royal Railway eating expertise is on Legend of the Seas. Beforehand, it was simply on Utopia of the Seas. It’s an immersive expertise whereby you dine in what seems like an actual rail automobile, with surroundings projected out your home windows.

The Elevators

The elevators? Actually? 

Yep, in case you ask nearly anybody who’s sailed on an Icon-class ship concerning the elevators, they’ll most likely have one thing complimentary to say. 

There are 22 complete elevators on the ship, however these aren’t simply any elevators. They’ve been outfitted with spectacular tech that helps to attenuate wait instances.

For instance, relatively than everybody ready for an elevator, choosing their particular person decks after which all of these individuals crowding into no matter empty elevator opens subsequent, which then has to cease at each single chosen deck… these are destination-based elevators. 

So, you choose your deck and then you definately’re assigned a particular elevator to get on. That method, the elevator takes everybody who’s going to the identical vacation spot, often instantly there. There’s no large quantity of stopping and beginning.

Learn Additionally: Icon of the Seas vs Marvel of the Seas – A Big Comparability

Plus, the elevators harness AI capabilities to trace cruisers’ utilization throughout the day and alter their availability accordingly. They’re much more sustainable, with elevators transferring up utilizing the vitality generated by elevators taking place.

Cool, huh? 

Ought to You Be Fearful About Crowds When Crusing on an Icon Class Ship?

In fact, if you unveil that your new cruise ship can maintain greater than 7,000 individuals, that’s going to result in one huge query: How are the crowds?

Even in case you love crusing on a mega ship with all its choices, most cruisers don’t take pleasure in crowds. 

Nonetheless, there’s excellent news: Icon-class ships don’t really feel crowded, and it’s not simply me saying it. This has been a continuing level of dialogue among the many cruise group on Reddit.

In one thread from 2024, a cruiser stated that there was actually solely two instances that they felt Icon of the Seas was crowded, through the first-night promenade balloon drop at midnight, after which on the breakfast buffet on a sea day. In any other case, they famous, the ship was so effectively laid out that it by no means felt overwhelmingly crowded. 

In one other thread from summer season of 2025, one poster stated that Icon of the Seas was the least-crowded-feeling Royal Caribbean ship that they’d ever been on.

They credited the ship’s well-defined neighborhoods for this truth, as they assist unfold the crowds out, and in addition talked about these high-tech elevators.

Who’s the Icon Class Finest for?

There are just a few sorts of cruisers who’re actually going to take pleasure in crusing on an Icon class ship probably the most.

Households

Royal Caribbean actually knocked it out of the park when it got here to creating these ships as family-friendly as attainable.

Not solely is the Surfside neighborhood totally geared at making household cruises extra pleasurable, however the ship affords family-specific suites and staterooms, family-friendly eating places and leisure galore.

For the most effective household trip, with bolder bonding throughout the board, choose an Icon ship.

Foodie Cruisers

I already talked about it, nevertheless it’s value repeating once more. In the event you journey to eat, you’re going to essentially respect all the restaurant choices aboard Icon of the Seas and its sister ships.

Not solely do you get tons of choices, however these are literally fascinating and inventive choices that transcend the everyday most important eating room, buffet, steakhouse, Italian eatery and sushi joint that you just’d discover on nearly any cruise ship.

You’ve acquired a meals corridor. You’ve acquired the supper golf equipment. You might have the 24/7 Pearl Café. You might have the Royal Railway expertise.

Cruisers Who Don’t Thoughts Skipping Port Days

Some cruisers cruise for the ports. They’re all about seeing as many locations as attainable over the course of their itineraries.

Different cruisers cruise for the ship. In the event you fall into this camp, you’ll seemingly love an Icon-class cruise. With a lot to do proper on the vessel, there’s no must disembark to search out methods to fill your days. 

Plus, it’s value noting that these fashionable ships cease at a few of the hottest ports — the Bahamas, Cozumel, CocoCay, and so forth. So, likelihood is seemingly chances are you’ll’ve already seen these locations up to now. 

Professionals of Crusing on an Icon Class Ship

So what are the professionals of crusing on an Icon-class ship?

Tons to do and loads of choices at each flip, it doesn’t matter what you’re within the temper for

Household-specific facilities, venues and staterooms

Distinctive sights that you just received’t discover on another ships

New tech and revolutionary choices for the most effective of twenty first century cruising

Cons of Crusing on an Icon Class Ship

You received’t discover a very intimate environment right here (some cruisers on Reddit have talked about the shortcoming to make buddies with fellow cruisers on Icon class ships, the best way you possibly can on smaller ships)

Excessive costs — you possibly can count on that Royal Caribbean goes to cost a premium for its greatest, largest ship, until you discover some particular affords or last-minute cruise offers

So is an Icon Cruise Proper for You?

An Icon cruise isn’t going to be for everybody, nevertheless it’s positively for lots of people. 

In the event you love numerous choices, desire a family-friendly cruise and actually worth getting the most recent and greatest within the business, then crusing on an Icon-class ship shall be proper up your alley.

If, although, you worth the extra low-key, less-busy cruising expertise, and the chance to see the identical fellow cruisers frequently, you may wish to go for a smaller ship.

What Are Royal Caribbean’s Icon-Class Cruise Ships?