Dare to compare: Utopia of the Seas v Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has been setting the standard for the world’s largest ships, with new ship Utopia of the Seas set to become the world’s second largest ship as it starts sailing this week. 

Utopia of the Seas becomes the sixth ship in Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class and the largest of the class by gross tonnage.

While Utopia is the talk of the minute, it hasn’t stolen quite as many headlines as fellow Royal Caribbean ship Icon of the Seas, which began sailing earlier this year and became the biggest cruise ship ever to sail. 

However, when you look at the numbers, the two ships aren’t really so far apart.

Icon v Utopia: the numbers

Ship	Icon of the Seas	Utopia of the seas
Gross tonnage	250,800	236,860
Length	1198	1188
Beam/width	216	211
Passenger decks	18	16
Passengers (double occupancy)	5610	5668
Crew	2350	2290
Passenger to crew ratio	2.4	2.5
Dining options	40+	40+
Bars and lounges	26	23
Pools	7	5
Hot tubs	9	7

So, what’s the difference?

While Icon is the world’s largest ship, as you can see above, it isn’t exactly dwarfing Utopia of the Seas in size. The key in the differences between the two of them, is that they’re from a different ship class. This means differences in dining venues, design, activities and more.

Dining

• The two ships have a very different range of dining options. Icon has five included restaurants that can’t be found on Utopia of the Seas, being Surfside Bites, Surfside Eatery, Pearl Cafe, AquaDome Market and Basecamp.
• There are also three paid dining options on Icon of the Seas that can’t be found on Utopia, Pier 7, Empire Supper Club and Celebration Table.
• On Utopia you can find Poolside Food Truck, Sprinkles, Cafe Promenade, Solarium Bistro and Dog House, which are all included dining options, that you can’t find on Icon.
• As far as specialty dining on Utopia that you can’t find on Icon there’s Johnny Rockets, Starbucks, Sugar Beach, 150 Central Park, The Mason Jar and Playmakers Bar & Arcade.

Design

• Radiance Class ships were the first to feature Royal Caribbean’s innovative ‘neighbourhood’ style designs. Utopia of the Seas for example has The Boardwalk, The Entertainment Zone and The Pool & Sports Zone.
• However, Icon of the Seas has elevated the neighbourhood-influenced design to new levels, featuring five neighbourhoods; Surfside, Chill Island, Thrill Island, The Hideaway and the AquaDome.
• Icon has been specifically design to feel like a small city, diving up the ship between neighbourhoods that have unique features. For example, someone might go to the Hideaway to spend the day at the beach club, away from the noise, whereas you’d go to Thrill Island for the exact opposite, to ride rollercoasters or try your hand at highropes.

Entertainment

• While Utopia has the renowned Royal Caribbean AquaTheater, Icon has an upgraded offering, with the AquaDome, which facilitates higher production shows.
• Icon has Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues located in Central Park on the ship, a jazz bar unique to the ship. However, Icon doesn’t have The Mason Jar, where visitors on Utopia will head for southern food and country music.
• You will be able to find largely the same activities on both ships, however, there are some differences such as Category 7 waterpark, the skywalk and the Crown’s Edge zipline on Icon. Furthermore, on Utopia there’s the Perfect Storm Waterslides and the ice skating at Studio B, which you can’t find on Icon (although there is still an ice rink).

Cabins

• The accomodation offerings are largely differentiated by some of their premium offerings.
• Unique to Utopia is The Solarium Suite, a luxury suite with 280-degree ocean views, three bedrooms that fit up to 10-guests, an in-suite cinema, in-suite karaoke, table tennis table, private whirlpool and two-story slide.
• Icon has the Ultimate Family Townhouse, which will set you back well over $100,000 for a one-week cruise. Inside you’ll find a slide, karaoke, a backyard, indoor cinema and much more, with a playful design made with families in mind.

Summary

• Perhaps most important to consider if you were thinking which ship to hop on, Icon of the Seas has more brand-new features. As Icon is a new class of ship, if you’re a regular Royal Caribbean sailor, you’ll find more new dining venues, a refreshed design, different activities and more.
• However, if you want to stick with what you know and love from Royal, and don’t want to quite break out into the Icon price point, then Utopia of the Seas is the go.

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