If you’re trying to choose between Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas for your next Royal Caribbean cruise, good luck.
These two megaships are the line’s newest, biggest floating playgrounds. Both are loaded with headline-worthy thrills, dazzling shows, next-generation dining and pools upon pools. The ships set sail in 2024: Icon’s maiden voyage was that January, with soccer star Lionel Messi as the ship’s godfather, and Utopia embarked that July, with godmother Meghan Trainor christening the vessel.
While Icon and Utopia share brand DNA and have many similarities, these sister ships have a few key differences that may make one preferable to the other, depending on the trip and traveler. From itinerary length and onboard energy to price and size, consider these 10 key differences to help you decide which is right for you.
Key Difference No. 1: Home Port
Whether you live in Florida or have to fly to reach the cruise port, your proximity to the cruise embarkation point may be important to consider. Utopia sails from Port Canaveral, which is located on the east coast of central Florida. One thing that may not be immediately obvious to cruisers is that there’s not a very convenient airport to reach Port Canaveral. The closest is Melbourne International Airport, located about 30 miles south, but most travelers fly into Orlando International Airport (45 miles west) or Orlando Sanford International Airport (about 60 miles northwest).
In other words, for cruisers coming from afar, sailing from Port Canaveral will require a drive of about an hour (or more if there’s traffic) in addition to your flight. This may make the journey more difficult for small children, older adults or those with limited travel time. Companies like Go Port offer shuttles from Orlando International Airport to Port Canaveral for $29.99 per person, but renting a car is another popular option for those with more wiggle room in their budgets.
Icon, on the other hand, sails from Miami — a major air travel hub. The driving distance from Miami International Airport to PortMiami is about 10 miles; it typically takes about 20 minutes, though Miami traffic can get notoriously congested, especially during rush hour.
Key Difference No. 2: Ship Size
As the largest (Icon) and second-largest (Utopia) cruise ships in the world, both vessels are massive. However, their differences in size and stats are still worth noting.
Icon spans 20 decks, measures 248,663 gross tons and accommodates up to 7,600 passengers at full capacity (5,610 at double occupancy) — plus 2,350 crew members. Because Icon was designed for families, it factors in children sharing cabins with their parents. As such, Icon actually has slightly fewer staterooms (2,805) than Utopia (2,834), despite being a bigger ship overall.
Utopia, by contrast, is part of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class. It clocks in slightly smaller, with 18 decks and a weight of 236,473 gross tons. Utopia carries fewer people, as well: up to 5,668 guests and 2,290 crew members.
Key Difference No. 3: Vibe and Clientele
While Icon and Utopia both aim to wow — and adults and kids alike will have fun on either — the energy of the two ships does differ. Icon is branded as the “Ultimate Family Vacation” and has a dedicated Surfside neighborhood for young families, multigenerational cabin configurations, kid-friendly dining venues and more. Plus, the entertainment focus is arguably more centered around theatrical and immersive entertainment than the bar and drinking scene (though revelers will find it’s still plenty robust aboard Icon).
Utopia, by contrast, dials up the adult-centric energy with 23 bars and lounges, two casinos, five live music venues, and party-focused programming built around weekend getaways. Utopia is more focused on high-energy fun for grown-ups, while Icon blends action-packed and relaxed options for families or travelers spending a full week at sea.
While families can still cruise comfortably aboard Utopia, its shorter itineraries and added emphasis on nightlife make it especially appealing for couples, friend groups and celebrations.
Key Difference No. 4: Entertainment
Entertainment is where both ships shine, but they do so differently.
When it comes to shows, Icon focuses on next-level tech: robotics-aided AquaDome shows, a Broadway production of “The Wizard of Oz,” and ice performances at Absolute Zero, the biggest ice arena at sea, are among the offerings. Both ships keep the party going, but Icon leans immersive and theatrical.
Utopia brings high-energy live entertainment with a nostalgic twist, like the “Aqua80Too” dive show at the AquaTheater, “Youtopia” on ice, and themed productions like “All In!” in the Royal Theater. It’s home to five live music venues, a lineup of?parties found only aboard Utopia and a Caribbean-themed tiki bar called the Pesky Parrot (another Utopia exclusive).
When it comes to things to do, both ships have plenty of pools, mini golf, waterslides and a FlowRider surf simulator (a signature amenity aboard Royal Caribbean ships). Icon also has Crown’s Edge, a thrill ride challenge of sorts that’s part skywalk, part ropes course. In addition, Utopia has the?Ultimate Abyss dry slide (towering 150 feet above sea level), which plummets thrill-seekers down 10 decks and speeds through multiple twists and turns.
Note that Utopia also has an AquaTheater, but it’s located outside at the back of the ship. As such, there’s a risk of shows being postponed or canceled due to inclement weather. In comparison, Icon’s AquaDome is fully enclosed at the bow of the ship.
Key Difference No. 5: Layout
There are signature Royal Caribbean neighborhoods that are found on both ships, including the open-air Central Park, family-friendly Boardwalk, Royal Promenade, Vitality Spa & Fitness and Suite Neighborhood. However, Icon introduces brand-new concepts like the AquaDome neighborhood — complete with a 55-foot water curtain, a food hall, the Overlook and panoramic wraparound windows — and Surfside, the first neighborhood designed specifically for young families. It also features the Hideaway, the first suspended infinity pool at sea.
Icon’s newer layout is more segmented and deliberately compartmentalized by experience or traveler type, like a resort village. It’s designed to be intuitive, but returning guests more familiar with the typical Royal Caribbean layout may find navigating it takes a little getting used to.
Utopia sticks to the tried-and-true Oasis-class design, but special amenities like the new Royal Railway — Utopia Station (a first-of-its-kind immersive train car dining experience) offer something new. Also, Utopia is the first Royal Caribbean ship to feature two full casinos, while Icon has just one standard Casino Royale.
While Utopia modernizes familiar favorites, Icon introduces entirely new neighborhoods to explore.
Key Difference No. 6: Restaurants
Both ships share a slew of core restaurants: Main Dining Room, Windjammer Café, El Loco Fresh, Park Café, Sorrento’s, Chops Grille, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, Izumi in the Park, Hooked Seafood, Giovanni’s, Playmakers and Starbucks. However, each ship has its own unique offerings, as well.
Utopia boasts Royal Railway — Utopia Station, Solarium Bistro, Boardwalk Dog House, The Spare Tire, The Mason Jar, 150 Central Park, Coastal Kitchen and Johnny Rockets. Meanwhile, Icon has AquaDome Market, Surfside Eatery, Empire Supper Club, Pearl Café, Basecamp, Bubbles, Pier 7 and Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues.
Key Difference No. 7: Suites and Stateroom Options
Both ships’ cabin options cater to high-end travelers, but in different ways. Icon launched with 28 different stateroom categories, including new layouts for multigenerational travel and the Ultimate Family Townhouse (an over-the-top trilevel suite with an in-suite slide, a cinema and direct access to the Surfside neighborhood). As the first ship in Royal Caribbean’s Icon class, it also debuted the line’s most expansive Suite Neighborhood to date, spanning four decks with access to the Grove Suite Sun Deck, a two-story Coastal Kitchen and sweeping AquaDome views.
Utopia counters with the exclusive Solarium Suite category. The suite offers 280-degree sea views, Royal Suite Class Star perks and a breezy indoor-outdoor layout. Still, for luxury travelers, Icon offers more diversity.
Key Difference No. 8: Cruise Length
If your time is limited, the decision is easy: Utopia is built for weekend warriors and short-but-splashy vacations, with three- to five-night sailings offered from Port Canaveral. These clipped trips make Utopia ideal for short getaways, birthday trips, bachelor and bachelorette parties, or anyone looking to squeeze in a voyage without taking a full week off work. Utopia’s quicker cruises are also a nice option for timid or first-time cruisers who want to experience a megaship without committing to a longer journey at sea.
Although Utopia bills itself as “The World’s Biggest Weekend,” note that the ship does offer one seven-night sailing per year: a weeklong Eastern Caribbean with Perfect Day at CocoCay stretch from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Eve.
In comparison, Icon exclusively sails seven-night itineraries from Miami, covering the Eastern and Western Caribbean with more sea days (and more destination variety). Icon is built for the long haul with extended itineraries and more space to relax and reset, giving cruisers a true weeklong vacation and more time to spend on the ship.
Key Difference No. 9: Destinations
Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay — the line’s private island in the Bahamas — is a highlight on both ships’ typical itineraries. But with their differing home ports and sailing lengths, the vessels also hit different destinations.
Utopia offers three- to five-night cruises round-trip from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas. Most itineraries visit only Nassau and/or Perfect Day at CocoCay, though some four-night sailings also hit Cozumel, Mexico. The once-a-year seven-night, Eastern Caribbean voyage adds stops in St. Thomas and St. Maarten.
Icon, on the other hand, sails seven-night itineraries round-trip from Miami, visiting ports in the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Eastern Caribbean sailings may hit St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Puerto Rico (San Juan or Ponce), or Haiti, while Western Caribbean sailings hit Mexico (Puerto Costa Maya and Cozumel) and Roatan, Honduras. The weeklong agenda allows for more sea days, which many travelers look forward to for the chance to go all-out on entertainment, spa appointments, restaurants and more.
In short: Utopia is optimized for a fast, fun escape to the Bahamas and nearby, while Icon is designed for a more comprehensive Caribbean vacation experience that blends onboard thrills with farther-flung ports of call.
Key Difference No. 10: Price
With their different trip lengths, it makes sense that there’s a price difference between Icon and Utopia sailings. You can cruise on Utopia starting at $643 per person on the three-night Bahamas & Perfect Day cruise; sailings aboard Icon start at $1,321 per person for the seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise.
However, if you break those starting fares down further, you can think of it as $214 per person, per night on Utopia versus $189 per person, per night on Icon. In that respect, the rates are actually quite comparable.
Why Trust U.S. News Travel
Skye Sherman has been cruising since childhood, when her parents took her on her first cruise through the Caribbean. She has sailed on various ocean cruise lines, gone off the grid for a six-day riverboat expedition deep into the Amazon River and even planned a European river cruise with 48 of her closest family and friends. She’s a fourth-generation Floridian and hopes to visit every country in the world during her lifetime. She covers travel and lifestyle topics for major publications, including U.S. News & World Report.
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Utopia of the Seas vs. Icon of the Seas: Which Royal Caribbean Ship Is Right for You? originally appeared on usnews.com
