Symphony of the seas vs Icon of the seas

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Symphony of the seas vs Icon of the seas

Both Symphony and Icon of the Seas are massive Royal Caribbean ships offering a world of activities across seven themed neighborhoods.

icon of the Seas, launched in 2024, takes the crown from Symphony of the Seas (2018) as the world’s biggest cruise ship. Both are Royal Caribbean giants with exciting neighborhoods, restaurants & activities. Icon offers a slightly more spacious layout and some new features, but Symphony boasts a wider variety of complimentary dining options.

Symphony of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas : A Comparison

Symphony of the Seas

Feature	Detail
Class and Type	Oasis-class cruise ship
Owner/Operator	Royal Caribbean Group/Royal Caribbean International
Homeport	Port Miami
Route	Caribbean
Cost	US$1.35 billion
In Service	2018–present

Icon of the Seas

Feature	Detail
Class and Type	Icon-class cruise ship
Owner/Operator	Royal Caribbean Group/Royal Caribbean International
Homeport	Port Miami
Route	Caribbean
Cost	€1.86 billion
In Service	2024–present

General Characteristics

Feature	Symphony of the Seas	Icon of the Seas
Tonnage	228,081 GT	248,663 GT
Length	361.8 m (1,187 ft)	364.75 m (1,196.7 ft)
Beam	47.448 m (155 ft 8 in)	48.47 m (159 ft)
Draught	9.322 m (30 ft 7 in)	9.25 m (30.3 ft)
Decks	18	20
Speed	22 knots (41 km/h)	22 knots (41 km/h)
Passenger Capacity	5,518 (double occupancy)	5,610 (double occupancy)
Max Capacity	6,680	7,600
Crew	2,200	2,350

Design and Facilities

Symphony of the Seas

Number of Decks for Guests: 16
Restaurants: 22
Pools: 4
Cabins: 2,759

Unique Facilities:

Children’s water park
Full-size basketball court
Ice-skating rink
Zip line (10 decks high)
1,400-seat theater
Outdoor aquatic theater
Two 43-foot rock-climbing walls
Park with over 20,000 tropical plants

Icon of the Seas

Number of Decks for Guests: 20
Pools: 7
Water Slides: 6

Unique Facilities:

Aquadome (diving and performance venue)
The Pearl (dynamic art installation)
Absolute Zero (ice skating rink)
Surfside (family neighborhood)
The Hideaway (beach club with suspended infinity pool)
Thrill Island (largest waterpark at sea)
Swim & Tonic (largest swim-up bar at sea)

Power and Propulsion

Symphony of the Seas

Installed Power:
- 3 × 14.4 MW Wärtsilä 12V46D
- 3 × 19.2 MW Wärtsilä 16V46D
Propulsion:
- Diesel-electric; 3 × 20 MW ABB Azipod (all azimuthing)
- 4 × 5.5 MW Wärtsilä WTT-55 bow thrusters
Energy Efficiency:
- Uses 25% less fuel due to design changes
- Energy-efficient lighting and waste heat recovery systems

Icon of the Seas

Installed Power:
- 3 × Wärtsilä 14V46DF (16,030 kW each)
- 3 × Wärtsilä 12V46DF (13,740 kW each)
Propulsion:
- Diesel-electric; 3 × 20 MW ABB Azipod (all azimuthing)
- 5 × 4.8 MW Wärtsilä WTT-45 CP bow thrusters
Environmental Considerations:
- Powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG)
- Incorporates biofuels, methanol, and shore power

Historical Notes

Symphony of the Seas

Keel Laid: 29 October 2015
Launched: 9 June 2017
Maiden Voyage: 7 April 2018

Significant Events:

Largest cruise ship by gross tonnage when built.
Suffered guest overboard incidents and a COVID-19 related death among crew

Icon of the Seas

Keel Laid: 4 April 2022
Launched: 9 December 2022
Maiden Voyage: 27 January 2024

Significant Events:

Largest cruise ship by gross tonnage as of 2024
Fire incident in Costa Maya in 2024, quickly extinguished

Symphony of the Seas Key Features

Two-Story Suite:

Over 1,100 square feet
Slide from upper loft to main living area
3D theater area
Air hockey table
Large balcony with hot tub
Bumper pool table
Netted climbing wall
Cost: Over $20,000 on most sailings

Sports Bar and Arcade:

Located on the entire port side of the Boardwalk
Dozens of screens broadcasting games
Menu of sports bar favorites

Glow-in-the-Dark Laser Tag:

Studio B transformed into a laser tag arena
Join your team and battle for Planet Z

New England Seafood Specialty Dining:

Located in the solarium on Deck 16
Classic menu items: crab cakes, New England clam chowder, lobster rolls, etc.
Pricing: $40-$44 per person

Complimentary Open-Air Dining:

Located on Deck 15
Features made-to-order tacos, fajitas, burritos, and a selection of salsas

Sugar Beach:

Located in the Boardwalk
Dozens of candy varieties
Ten different ice cream flavors and toppings

Entertainment:

Broadway hit “Hairspray”
New production show “Flight” (satirical journey of the history and future of flying)
High dive show “Hero” in the Aqua Theater
Ice skating show “1977” in Studio B

Ultimate Abyss Slide:

Winding down 10 stories
Returns with new elements

The Perfect Storm Water Slides:

Cyclone and Typhoon: super-fast racing slides
Supercell: champagne bowl slide

Splashaway Bay:

Features two slides, water dump bucket, fountains, and spray nozzles
Great spot for younger cruisers

Submarine-Themed Escape Room:

Deep diving adventure to solve the mystery

Returning Favorites:

Zipline
Dual FlowRiders
Rock climbing walls

Symphony of the Seas Deck Details

Lower Decks (Decks 1-4):

Primarily house technical spaces, crew areas, and storage facilities.
May also include guest laundry facilities and some specialty restaurants on Deck 4.

Main Decks (Decks 5-8):

Deck 5: Often houses tender boarding areas, guest services, and some shops.
Deck 6: Typically has cabins, some specialty restaurants, and the main theater.
Deck 7 & 8: Mostly dedicated to guest cabins in various categories.

Public Decks (Decks 9-16):

Where most guest amenities are located.
Deck 9: Promenade with shops, cafes, and possibly some specialty restaurants.
Deck 10: Pool decks with swimming pools, whirlpools, bars, and poolside dining options.
Deck 11 & 12: Likely to have a mix of cabins, public areas like the Solarium (adults-only retreat), and outdoor activities like a rock climbing wall or a mini golf course.
Deck 14 & 15: Contain the majority of restaurants offering diverse cuisines, bars, lounges, and entertainment venues like discos or karaoke bars.
Deck 16: Sundeck with additional pools, whirlpools, and potentially a splash pad for children.

Upper Decks (Decks 17 and above):

Primarily consist of luxury suites and specialty venues like private sun terraces or observation areas.

Symphony of the Seas Deck Details in PDF

icon of the seas Deck Details

Deck 3:

Forward: Medical Center, Music Hall

Deck 4:

Forward: Royal Theater (goes up to Deck 5)
Midship: Casino Royale (one of the largest casinos at sea)
Aft: Dining Room (triple story from Deck 3 to Deck 5)

Deck 5:

Aft: Absolute Zero (ice skating shows and laser tag)
Outside: Jogging track and ocean view seating
Royal Promenade: Retail, Guest Services, Internet Desk, 1400 Lobby Bar, Pearl (three-story window with views), Pearl Cafe, Starbucks, Retail Shops, Spotlight Karaoke, Sorrento’s Pizza, Upper Level of Royal Theater, Fitness Center (multi-story to Deck 6)

Deck 6:

Forward: Fitness Center
Midship: Royal Promenade upper level, Dueling Pianos, The Attic
Aft: Escape Room, Crown Lounge, Giovannis Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, Schooner Bar, Boleros, Playmakers Sports Bar and Arcade, Adventure Ocean (kids area), Social 20 (Teens Club)

Deck 7:

Surfside: Carousel, Arcade, Sugar Beach (sweets and activities), Surfside Eatery (buffet), Playscape, Surfside Bites, Pier 7, Lemon Post, Splashaway Bay (kids pool)

Deck 8:

Central Park: Empire Supper Club ($200 per person), Chops Grill, Trellis Bar, Izumi (Japanese dining), Park Cafe, Bubbles (Champagne Bar), Live Jazz and Blues

Decks 9-14:

Mostly staterooms

Deck 14:

Forward: The Overlook (270° views, lounges, bar), Vitality Spa, Vitality Cafe

Deck 15:

Forward: Aqua Theater (water shows)
Midship: Lime and Coconut Bar, Sprinkles (complimentary ice cream), Royal Bay Pool, El Loco Fresh (Mexican food), Cantina Fresca (drinks), Windjammer Marketplace (buffet), Hideaway (infinity pool)

Deck 16:

Aft: FlowRider, slides, bar, mini golf, Base Camp (snacks), Adrenaline Peak, Deserted Milkshake Bar, Crown’s Edge (Skywalk), Lime and Coconut Bar, Swim and Tonic

Deck 17: