Royal Caribbean has said Icon of the Seas, the first ship in the line’s first new class for over a decade, will be “bigger” than its Oasis-class, making it the largest ship in the world when it launchesin autumn next year.
Outgoing vice president of international sales Sean Treacy confirmed Icon would be the line’s largest ship during a press conference held on board Wonder of the Seas – the current largest ship in the world – as it made its European debut out of Barcelona last week .
Asked if Royal would ever build a ship bigger than Wonder, whichhas a capacity of 6,988 guests, he said Icon would be bigger still.
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“Icon will be the biggest. It launches in the fall of next year and will be the first new ship class for Royal in a decade,” he said.
Previously, it was suggested the Icon-class would be smaller than the Oasis-class, with an article on the unofficial Royal Caribbean Blog saying: “According to filings made by Royal Caribbean, Icon of the Seas will have a capacity of approximately 5,600 passengers.
“This would make the Icon class ships larger than the Quantum-class ships, but slightly smaller than the Oasis-class ships.”
However, a spokesperson this week confirmed: “Icon-class ships will be bigger than our Oasis class.”
Shewould not be drawn on releasing any further details about the new-build.
Back in April 2021, Royal Caribbean International president and chief executive Michael Bayley talked briefly about the new ship, saying: “We have the brand new Icon class coming, which is going to be a real game-changer.”
These comments were echoed by Royal Caribbean’s vice president for Europe, Ben Bouldin, who said the first Icon-class vessel will be “bigger and better” than the Oasis-class ships.
Three Icon-class ships are currently on order for delivery in the third quarter of 2023, and second quarters of 2025 and 2026.
Wonder of the Seas’ captain Hendrick Loy said: “There is no limit to how big a ship you can build. But keeping the sustainability of our operation in mind, we have to work with destinations to make sure that they will be able to handle us coming.”
The revelation came as Royal Caribbean showcased Wonder of the Seas to the trade ahead of its inaugural season in Europe.
Treacy said: “This is the most stunning ship ever to be launched and is a statement that Royal Caribbean is back and back in a big way.”
It will be followed by the line’s final Oasis class ship, Utopia of the Seas, in 2024.
FAQs
Wonder of the Seas debuted in 2022 as the then-world's largest cruise liner, measuring 235,600 gross-tons, 1,188 feet-long, and 18 decks-tall. The ship can accommodate up to 9,288 people, including 2,204 crew. Icon of the Seas is, comparatively, 13,063 gross-tons heavier, eight feet longer, and two decks taller.
Will Utopia of the Seas be larger than Icon of the Seas? ›
At 1,188 feet long and 236,860 gross tons, Utopia is shorter and lighter than Icon. It is, however, 52 feet wider and has a higher double occupancy capacity of 5,668 guests. Royal Caribbean did not respond to Business Insider's request about Utopia's maximum capacity.
What decks to avoid on Oasis of the Seas? ›
As a rule of thumb, most of the Oasis of the Seas cabins to avoid are those on Deck 3 below the ice rink and the casino; staterooms on decks 6 and 7 closest to the theater, and those on Deck 14, as they're subject to noise from the pool deck directly above.
How big is the Icon of the Seas cruise ship? ›
Icon of the Seas measures 364m in length with a width of 43m and a gross tonnage of 2480,663t. It features 20 decks, of which 18 are passenger decks, and can accommodate a total of 5,610 guests in double occupancy and an international crew of 2,350.
Will Icon of the Seas feel crowded? ›
The space is crowded upon embarkation, but gets less busy throughout the sailing. After exploring and eating my way through the ship, here are the things you won't want to miss on Icon of the Seas.
Is Icon of the Seas bigger than Oasis-Class? ›
Oasis-class ships were surpassed by the first Icon-class ship, Icon of the Seas, at 248,663 GT in 2023.
How many people will fit on the Icon of the Seas? ›
Finding time to fit in everything onboard Icon of the Seas promises to keep passengers busy. And speaking of passengers, the ship can carry a whopping 7,600 guests at full capacity, along with 2,350 crew – so about the whole population of Sedona, Arizona.
What will be different about Icon of the Seas? ›
In January 2024, the Icon of the Seas will begin service as the world's largest cruise vessel. The 20-deck floating resort will have 2,805 rooms to accommodate up to 7,600 guests.
Is Utopia going to be bigger than Icon? ›
Utopia measures about 1,188 feet in length and 211 feet in width, with a gross tonnage of 236,860 tons. Icon of the Seas is considered to be the largest ship, measuring 1,198 feet in length and 216 feet in width, featuring a gross tonnage of 250,800 tons. Both ships are impressive and are considered to be 'mega' ships.
Is Oasis of the Seas overcrowded? ›
It can accommodate 6,780 guests. But the funny thing is, you really don't feel crowded. We've read countless posts from potential cruisers saying that they absolutely hate sailing on these “monster” sized ships, citing long lines and big wait times because of the overcrowding.
Royal Loft Suite: The most opulent accommodations on Oasis of the Seas, the Royal Loft Suite is the size of a modest home (1,599 square feet with an 875-square-foot balcony), and features such luxuries as a baby grand piano and a dining area with a dry bar for entertaining on the bottom level.
Why is there no deck 13 on Oasis of the Seas? ›
So, why is there no deck 13 on a cruise ship? You may have noticed that many cruise ships omit deck thirteen from construction plans. Certain vessels also avoid numbering cabins with the superstitious digit, for fear of bad luck.
Will Icon of the Seas be bigger than wonder? ›
The Icon itself is huge. At 250,800 gross tons, the Icon is 6% larger than the Wonder of the Seas, which was the world's largest cruise ship until the Icon supplanted it.
Is Icon of the Seas going to be the biggest? ›
Icon of the Seas is the lead ship of the Icon class. She entered service on 27 January 2024 out of the Port of Miami in the US. At 248,663 gross tonnage (GT), Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world.
Is Icon of the Seas or Utopia of the Seas bigger? ›
Ships are generally ranked in size by their gross tonnage, a measure of their overall internal volume. For this reason, Icon of the Seas is far and away the biggest cruise ship on the planet with a gross tonnage of 248,663, compared to Utopia's 236,473.
What ship is bigger than the Wonder of the Seas? ›
At 250,800 gross tons, Icon of the Seas is more than 6% larger than Royal Caribbean's 1-year-old Wonder of the Seas, which previously was the biggest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet (and the biggest ship operated by any line).
Will Icon of the Seas be the biggest ship in the world? ›
The ship is officially the biggest cruise ship in the world, with Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, new in early 2022, trailing close behind at 1,188 feet long and 235,600 gross tons.
What is the world's largest cruise ship in 2024? ›
1. Royal Caribbean International – Icon of the Seas: 248,663 gross tonnes. Weighing 248,663 gross tonnes and measuring 365 metres (1,1967 feet), the Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world. Christened on 23 January 2024, the Icon has a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew across 20 decks ...
How big is the Icon of the Seas 2024? ›
Just How Big Is Icon of the Seas? Icon of the Seas is a massive cruise ship and is 250,800 gross tons, making it the largest cruise ship in the world. The ship has a passenger capacity of 5,610 at double occupancy and is 1,196 feet long.
