Icon Class ships are the biggest in the world, and it includes a lot of dining, entertainment, and things to do in your cruise fare.

The world's largest cruise ships aren't the least expensive, but people are curious what you get at no additional cost and what other things will cost you out of pocket.

Both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas are sailing right now, with the addition of Legend of the Seas in 2026, followed by an unnamed Icon Class ship in 2027. 

For that price tag, you might be wondering what's included on an Icon Class ship. From multi-course meals in the Main Dining Room to family-friendly activities and jaw-dropping entertainment, there's a lot packed into the cruise fare. 

However, a vacation on an Icon Class ship isn't all-inclusive. 

Accommodations

Your cruise fare is based on the stateroom category you pick. The most affordable cabins are windowless, interior staterooms, while the most expensive options include suites within the Royal Suite Class. 

Icon Class ships have over 25 stateroom categories, with more than 70% having private balconies. Even better, over 82% of all the cabins can accommodate 3 or more guests, opening a broad array of cruise rooms for families. 

For example, certain staterooms have separate sleeping areas, bunk beds, and split bathrooms. Select suites also come with extra perks like access to the exclusive Suite Neighborhood, priority boarding, free Wi-Fi, a concierge team, and more. 

That said, even if you choose the cheapest cruise cabin on an Icon Class ship, you'll have once-per-day housekeeping and access to all the standard complimentary dining venues and entertainment. 

Read more: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

Dining

Icon Class ships have over 20 restaurants and bars onboard, from fleetwide favorites like Chops Grille to exclusive venues you won’t find on any other Royal Caribbean ship, such as the Aquadome Market, Surfside Bites, and Basecamp. 

Not all are included, though. If you aren't careful, you could stumble into the $200-per-person supper club. Still, between the complimentary restaurants, there’s more than enough variety to satisfy most cravings without spending extra.

Read more: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Complimentary restaurants on Icon Class ships

🍽️Pearl Café (with a few exceptions) 

🍴Park Café

🍽️Windjammer Marketplace 

🍴Surfside Bites

🍽️Surfside Eatery 

🍴AquaDome Market 

🍽️Main Dining Room 

🍴Coastal Kitchen (suite-only dining room) 

🍽️The Grove (suite-only al fresco buffet) 

🍴Basecamp 

🍽️Sorrento's 

🍴El Loco Fresh

🍽️Vitality Café (with a few exceptions) 

🍴Sprinkles

🍽️Room service (complimentary continental breakfast)

Extra cost restaurants on Icon Class ships

🍽️Empire Supper Club (Icon of the Seas) + Lincoln Park Supper Club (Star of the Seas) + unnamed, Hollywood-themed supper club (Legend of the Seas) 

🍴Celebration Table

🍽️Chops Grille 

🍴Izumi Hibachi & Sushi 

🍽️Izumi in the Park 

🍴Hooked Seafood 

🍽️Playmaker's Sports Bar & Arcade

🍴Pier 7

🍽️Starbucks

🍴Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar 

🍽️Trellis Bar (light bar bites) 

🍴Desserted

Read more: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them

Drinks

Like all Royal Caribbean ships, select beverages are included in your base fare. These include water, tea, drip coffee, lemonade, iced tea, milk, juices (not fresh squeezed), and hot chocolate. If you want anything else, like bottled water, a cocktail, fresh-squeezed juice, a glass of wine, specialty latte, or beer, you'll have to pay extra. 

You can purchase each drink individually or buy a Royal Caribbean beverage package. The Deluxe Beverage Package includes unlimited alcoholic drinks as well as non-alcoholic specialty beverages. As such, it's the most expensive Royal Caribbean drink package. 

The Refreshment Package covers all non-alcoholic drinks, like mocktails, energy drinks, soda, specialty coffees, and bottled water. However, if you’re only interested in soft drinks, the Soda Package offers unlimited soda.

Read more: I saved money by buying the coffee package

Entertainment

One of the best parts about a cruise vacation is the complimentary entertainment. On Icon Class ships, Royal Caribbean takes things to the next level with Broadway-caliber productions, ice skating performances, high-diving spectaculars, dueling pianos, fun parades, parties, and more. Here's what you don't have to pay extra for:

🎤Absolute Zero (ice skating shows)

🍿AquaTheater (high-dive and synchronized swimming water shows)

🎤Boleros (Latin-themed live music)

🍿Lou's Jazz 'n Blues (bar with live jazz music)

🎤Music Hall (two-story live music venue)

🍿Dueling Pianos (interactive sing-along piano battles)

🎤Royal Theater (Broadway-style shows and original productions)

🍿Schooner Bar (Nautical bar with live pianist)

🎤Spotlight Karaoke (public karaoke rooms, private ones are available for an extra charge)

🍿The Attic (comedy club)

🎤The Overlook (comfy lounge with live music)

Read more: What's new and different on Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas

Kids programming

Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships feature some of the best Adventure Ocean programming in the fleet. 

It's free for cruisers between the ages of 3 and 12 until 10 p.m. From 10 p.m. onwards, Adventure Ocean's late-night programming incurs an additional hourly fee. All activities are supervised by the youth staff. 

Teens aged 13 to 17 have a separate hangout space called Social020. It's designed for them to relax, socialize, and enjoy activities away from the younger kids and adults.

Thrills

Icon Class ships have some of the best thrills at sea, from the record-breaking Category 6 Waterpark to the over-water Crown's Edge ropes course/zip line. Like with dining, however, not all activities are included. 

Many attractions, such as the rock climbing wall, mini-golf course, and water slides, are free to enjoy as much as you'd like throughout the cruise. That said, some experiences, like Crown’s Edge, arcade games, and escape room, are available for an extra charge. 

Here's a breakdown of the included thrills on Icon Class ships:

🚢Adrenaline Peak (rock climbing wall)

🛝Baby Bay (baby splash zone)

🚢Splashaway Bay (kid-friendly aqua park)

🛝Carousel (Surfside family ride)

🚢Category 6 Waterpark (record-breaking waterpark at sea with 6 slides)

🛝Fitness center (gym with complimentary machines, weights, and more)

🚢FlowRider (surf simulator)

🛝Lost Dunes (mini-golf course)

🚢Playscape (outdoor play area for kids with climbing features and interactive games)

🛝Running track (open-air track that loops around the ship)

🚢Sports Court (basketball, pickleball, volleyball, and other court games)

🛝Absolute Zero (free skating sessions)

Chills

As fun as it is to take advantage of the adrenaline-pumping attractions on Icon Class ships, there are plenty of spots to relax by the pool, too. 

One important distinction compared to other ships is that there isn't an adults-only Solarium. Instead, it was replaced with The Hideaway, which has a more lively, upbeat atmosphere, with a live DJ and suspended infinity pool. 

😎Cloud 17 (upscale retreat tucked away on the top deck)

🛟The Cove (oceanfront infinity pool)

😎Whirlpools (nine on Icon, ten on Star of the Seas)

🛟Swim & Tonic (adults-only swim-up pool)

😎The Hideaway (adults-only retreat with suspended infinity pool)

🛟Royal Bay Pool (the largest pool at sea)

😎Water's Edge (family-friendly pool in the play-all-day Surfside neighborhood)

🛟The Grove (suite-only pool and sun deck)

Read more: Royal Caribbean's Star of the Seas is the plussed-up version of the best cruise ship in the world

Royal Caribbean has placed an order for a new megaship, and laid the groundwork for its next generation of cruise ships.

In a press release today, Royal Caribbean Group said it placed an order for a fifth Icon Class ship, and added an option for a 7th ship.

The Icon Class ships are the biggest in the world, measuring an 250,800 gross registered tons and can carry a maximum of 7,600 passengers. There are 28 different stateroom categories.

The deal was signed with Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, where all the other Icon Class ships have been built.

Icon 5 will be delivered sometime in 2028.

Prior to today's announcement, there were options for a fifth and sixth ship in the Icon Class.  Going forward, they have options for a 6th and 7th ship.

Shop options are essentially reserved slots at the shipyard, that buy the cruise line time to decide if they want to actually build it while not losing their place in line, so to speak.

New class?

Included in today's announcement was a mention of a new class of ship.

"This multi-year agreement strengthens Royal Caribbean Group's relationship with Meyer Turku, one of the world's largest and most modern shipyards specializing in cruise ships, and readies Royal Caribbean Group for a new, game-changing class of ship beyond Icon."

We don't know what that means, as the company didn't share any other details beyond the prepared statement.

One possibility is it refers to the long rumored Discovery Class ships. Or it could be another project for one of the Royal Caribbean Group brands. Cruisers will have to wait a bit longer to get clarification.

To date, Royal Caribbean International hasn't announced any new ship classes beyond the Icon Class. However, it's strongly hinted at a new ship class to come.

Known as the Discovery Class, it's group of new ships that is in the design phase where the company is dreaming up possibilities.

Earlier this summer, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President of Sales and Trade Support & Service, Vicki Freed, talked about the plans.

"The Discovery Project is our next new class of ships, following the Icon of the Seas, and the Star of the Seas, and the Legend the Seas. And we're in the design process now."

"We meet on a regular basis with the architects, with the designers...the ops team and the hotel operations, food and beverage. And so it is a top secret design at this point."

She then went on to say, "It's an exciting project. It'll be a new class of ship.

"In true Royal Caribbean style, it will be special, it will be innovative. And I think it'll be something that'll be a home run from the beginning."

A long-term agreement for more ships

Royal Caribbean's announcement is significant because it secures a deal to build ships at Meyer Turku into the 2030s.

The new timeline for ship deliveries looks like this:

• Legend of the Seas: 2026
• Icon 4: 2027
• Icon 5: 2028
• Oasis 7: 2028

In a statement, Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said, "As we continue to reimagine the future of vacations, we are excited to continue collaborating with Meyer Turku to grow the Icon Class - a first-of-its-kind series that delivers exceptional vacation experiences - and position us to usher in a new era of innovation that will disrupt the vacation sector through 2036."

It's an interesting quote since officially the orderbook goes through 2028, but he mentions 2036.  That very well could be the timeline for delivering the first batch of Discovery Class ships.

Royal Caribbean is in the midst of a building blitz that combines new ships and destinations.

Not only do they have orders for new ships, but they're also expanding their land presence with new private beach clubs and experiences.

There are plans in place to open a beach club in Nassau, Bahamas later this year, followed by a beach club in Cozumel, Mexico next year.

Then there's the massive Perfect Day Mexico opening that will add a second Perfect Day experience to the Caribbean portfolio.

After that, they'll shift to the Pacific and open a new experience in Vanuatu to offer more for Australian and New Zealand itineraries.

Of course, there are possible other projects on the horizon too to match their rumored ship ambitions.

The expansion of Royal Caribbean's highly successful Icon Class cruise ships continues with construction of its fourth ship underway.

A keel-laying ceremony was held earlier today at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The first building block was placed in the dry dock where the ship will take shape.

This marks the official start of construction, and it's as much a celebration as it is a milestone.

The cruise ship is on track to debut sometime in 2027.

Icon 4

There's no name for this ship yet, and we don't know what will make it different from the the other three ships in the class.

Icon 4 follows up on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, both of which are cruising now.  Legend of the Seas is the third Icon Class ship, and will start cruising in August 2026.

The reason a new Icon Class ship stands out is because of how impressive these cruise ships have become in the short period of time since their debut.

Meyer Turku CEO Casimir Lindholm spoke at the event, "Icon 4 is a very significant ship for both the shipyard and the entire partner network. With this ship, Meyer Turku is further strengthening its position as one of the world's leading cruise ship builders."

"Each luxury cruise ship of this size creates 13,000 person-years of employment, and we are constantly looking for new shipbuilders to join our team at various stages from design to implementation."

What does keel laying mean?

The ship's keel is the first block, and it is maritime tradition to commemorate this phase of a new ship construction. 

Another maritime tradition is to place the "lucky coins", which represent the shipyard and cruise line. 

For Icon 4's ceremony, coins were placed under the first steel block to bring good fortune and protection to the vessel.

Two ships at once

Construction of Icon 4 has now officially commenced while the third Icon Class ship is still under construction nearby.

Known as Legend of the Seas, this ship was put into water for the first time a few weeks ago at the end of August.

Having two cruise ships under construction at the same time is good business.  It allows Royal Caribbean to keep the flow of new ships, and attention for them, at the forefront of attention.

The same thing happened when Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas were being built.

What will Royal Caribbean name Icon 4?

While there's no word what the new ship will be named, there's plenty of speculation among cruise fans!

Royal Caribbean trademarks ship names with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, most of which never get used.

Examples of recent trademarks Royal Caribbean have made include:

• Happy of the Seas
• Fun of the Seas
• Idol of the Seas
• Love of the Seas
• Splendor of the Seas
• Nova of the Seas
• Titan of the Seas
• Sun of the Seas
• Marquee of the Seas
• Hero of the Seas
• Fantasia of the Seas

It's important to note there haven't been any recent ship name registrations, with the last batch coming in 2023.

For what it's worth, Legend of the Seas had her keel laid on October 11, 2024 and the name was revealed February 18, 2025. So perhaps we need to wait an additional 4 months before we know Icon 4's name.

What's next for Icon 4?

The fourth Icon class ship won't launch until 2027 and you can't book cruises yet for it.

Construction of the ship will continue for many months, with the ship's steel infrastructure being assembled to form the vessel.

The ship's keel is the first block, and other blocks will be joined together until the ship's primary structure is assembled.  Then more of the ship's features are added in, such as cabins, interior structures, and paneling.

The next milestone is to float it out, where its dry dock is filled with water to ensure it can float.  

After that, Icon 4 will continue construction work until it's ready for sea trials.  This is when the ship actually sails into the ocean under its own power to test all of its systems.  This is usually the last major step before delivery to the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean will reveal the ship's name, home port, and sailings, and other important details in the months to come.

If I'm going on Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships, I'll instantly change my approach to how I cruise.

Sailing on an Icon Class ship is far from an ordinary cruise experience. When I boarded Icon of the Seas for the first time last year, I couldn’t believe just how much there was to see, do, eat, and experience aboard the ship. I soon realized that if I wanted to experience it all, I had to totally change my cruising style.

Whether that meant skipping traditional dining venues or staying onboard for a port day, there were a few strategies I used to experience the ship to the fullest.

Then, when I cruised on Star of the Seas last month, I took my lessons learned from Icon to make my second Icon Class experience even better.

After two Icon Class cruises, my main takeaway is that you want to have the right approach before you board. If you expect your cruise to offer the same experience as any other Royal Caribbean ship, you’re going to be surprised.

So, after sailing on both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, these are the 9 things I do differently whenever I’m onboard.

I skip the Main Dining Room and buffet

Food is (almost literally) around every corner on Icon Class ships. These vessels feature over 20 unique restaurants, the majority of which are included in your cruise fare.

The Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet are two classic restaurants found on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship. They’re usually a staple for me when I cruise, but I often skip these venues on Icon Class ships.

The buffet, for example, is a typical stop for cruisers on embarkation day. On Icon Class ships, however, I head to the AquaDome Market instead.

Related: AquaDome Market on Star of the Seas review

This food hall features five different stands, which serve up everything from Thai curry to arepas and brisket sandwiches. Here I can enjoy lunch with far fewer crowds and more unique options than you’ll find elsewhere onboard.

Likewise, I avoid the Main Dining Room for dinner on Icon Class ships. As an alternative, I might dine at a specialty restaurant, head back to the AquaDome Market, or grab an early dinner at El Loco Fresh.

One of my favorite dinner spots is the wine bar at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. Whereas the restaurant itself requires reservations and comes with a cover charge, the wine bar offers an à la carte menu on demand.

On my recent Star of the Seas cruise, I spent just $7 on a margherita pizza, and it was much tastier than the pizzas found at nearby Sorrento’s. Plus, I loved the ambiance of eating in the middle of the Royal Promenade. The wine bar provides a prime spot for people watching.

I’m not opposed to eating in the Main Dining Room or at the Windjammer on Icon Class ships, but I’m more likely to dine elsewhere.

I actually use the elevators

On most Royal Caribbean ships, I steer clear of the elevators.

Wait times can be long, and more often than not, it seems like the elevators stop at every single floor. So, unless I’m going up more than six or seven decks, I usually opt for the stairs instead.

On Icon Class ships, however, I always use the elevators.

The class is equipped with destination elevators, and this makes them much more efficient. With destination elevators, you select a deck number while you’re still in the elevator lobby. You’re then assigned a specific elevator number, and that elevator will bring you to your destination.

In my experience, the destination elevators on Icon Class ships are significantly quicker than regular elevators. Even on a ship with over 6,000 passengers, I rarely had to wait more than a minute for an elevator.

Once inside, it often went directly to my destination rather than stopping at every floor along the way.

I attend all of the signature shows

Production shows can be hit or miss on cruises, especially on older ships. Sometimes they lack storylines, and, after watching dozens of shows, I find they start to feel repetitive.

On new cruise ships, however, and especially on Icon Class ships, this is not the case.

While I might skip a theater show on a ship like Radiance of the Seas, I’ll never skip a signature performance on an Icon Class ship.

Related: Mastering your Icon of the Seas cruise with the best tips

Both Icon Class cruise ships feature Broadway musicals, and they are of extremely high quality. I laughed so hard during Back to the Future: The Musical on Star of the Seas that I wish I could have seen it again before I disembarked.

The ice-skating shows, too, are out-of-this-world. I thought I had seen all that an ice-skating show can offer, but the shows on Icon Class ships proved me wrong. Not only is the rink larger than that on other ships, but the digital projections transport the audience directly into the story.

Royal Caribbean puts a ton of effort into its entertainment on these ships, and it’s always well worth attending the shows.

I ride the slides at Category 6 Waterpark

Many Royal Caribbean cruise ships have waterslides, but few compare to those available on Icon Class ships.

Icon Class ships feature the Category 6 Waterpark, a dream for thrill seekers onboard a cruise ship. As the name implies, the waterpark has six slides, and they’re all totally unique.

There are two raft slides onboard: Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter. These slides accommodate up to 3 and 4 guests, respectively, at one time, and Storm Surge extends off the side of the ship for an even bigger thrill.

Then you’ll find Frightening Bolt, the tallest drop slide at sea, along with Storm Chasers, which are two side-by-side mat-racing slides.

Related: Icon of the Seas vs. Star of the Seas: Which ship should you choose?

Finally, there’s Pressure Drop, where you can plummet at a 66-degree incline for a major adrenaline boost.

When I’m onboard Icon or Star of the Seas, I make sure to slide down the waterslides at least once. Although many other Royal Caribbean ships feature waterslides, I find the slides at Category 6 more intriguing. The raft slides in particular are extremely fun, and overall, I just love the variety of slides to choose from at the waterpark.

I’m more likely to skip a port day and stay onboard

On Icon Class ships, I treat my cruise ship itself as the destination rather than the places I visit.

Generally speaking, I am a destination-focused cruiser. I always search for itineraries that take me to unique ports around the world, whether a remote island in Vanuatu or a small town in Alaska.

Icon Class ships, however, don’t visit off-the-beaten-track cruise ports. Due to their size, the ships are somewhat restricted in port options. They typically visit common ports like Nassau, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Cozumel, and St. Thomas.

Related: 7 reasons to avoid booking ships with a lot of ports

I can visit these ports on dozens of other ships, so I’m never hard-pressed to find things to do in port while sailing on an Icon Class ship.

Instead, I am likely to skip a port day and enjoy all of the amenities onboard instead (with far fewer guests onboard, might I add).

I watch the sunset from a pool

There’s nothing quite like a sunset at sea, and something I do differently on Icon Class ships is watch the sunset from one of the many pools onboard.

Icon Class ships feature seven swimming pools, and each offers a distinct atmosphere. There’s the Swim & Tonic pool for party vibes, the Water’s Edge pool for younger cruisers, and the Royal Bay pool for a more traditional pool experience.

For sunset, though, none compare to the pool found at The Hideaway, the adults-only neighborhood on Icon Class ships.

Related: Daybed review at The Hideaway on Icon of the Seas

This neighborhood features an infinity pool right at the ship’s aft, providing absolutely stellar views of the ocean. Whenever the sun sets along the aft of the ship, I make sure to put on a swimsuit and watch the scenery from the Hideaway Pool. It’s truly a sight to see.

If the sun is setting in another direction, I’ll head to either the Cove Pool or Cloud 17 Pool, as these pools jet up directly to the side of the ship.

I skip classic Royal Caribbean bars for newer venues

It’s almost unfathomable how Royal Caribbean could pack Icon Class cruise ships with so many things to do.

Not only will you find Royal Caribbean's classic bars like Schooner Bar, Boleros, and the English-style pub onboard, but you’ll also find a variety of new concepts for the line.

Whenever I cruise on Icon Class ships, I find myself skipping the classic venues in favor of Icon-specific bars and lounges.

For example, I might skip live music at the pub in favor of the jazz band at Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues. Or, instead of listening to live piano music at the Schooner Bar, I’ll opt for a show at Dueling Pianos.

There’s nothing wrong with the classic Royal Caribbean entertainment venues, but I love how many more choices are available on Icon Class ships.

I enjoy my morning coffee with a view

One thing I especially like about Icon Class cruise ships is having access to ocean views. It seems like you can see the ocean from everywhere onboard, whether from the Royal Promenade, Surfside Neighborhood, or even from Central Park.

When cruising on Icon or Star of the Seas, I always start my morning with an iced coffee. There are several spots to grab specialty coffees on Icon Class ships, including Starbucks, Pearl Café, and the Rye & Bean.

Related: Royal Caribbean coffee card review

Regardless of where I grab my coffee, I make sure to enjoy my coffee with an ocean view.

If I order from Pearl Café, I’ll relax in front of the café’s massive, five-deck-high windows. If I grab a shaken espresso from Starbucks, I’ll sip it outdoors on the Promenade Deck. Lastly, if I order my coffee from Rye & Bean, it’s hard to beat the spectacular views from the AquaDome.

When I cruise on other ships, I miss having these sweeping ocean views in every direction.

I end my evenings with freshly-made crêpes

I might start my mornings with a coffee on Icon Class ships, but I’ll always end the day with a crêpe.

One benefit of cruising on Icon Class ships is the selection of late-night food options. On most other Royal Caribbean ships, food after 9PM is limited to pizza from Sorrento’s or small snacks from Cafe Promenade.

Fortunately, Icon Class ships have a lot more choices.

The AquaDome Market is open until midnight, which means passengers can choose between savory bites like empanadas or sweet treats like a scrumptious, freshly-filled crêpe.

Crème de la Crêpe features four crêpes on their menu, but you can also customize your order to your liking.

For research purposes, I’ve tested all four crêpes, but my favorite is the hazelnut and bananas option. The gooey, chewy crêpe dough mixed with sweet hazelnut sauce and perfectly ripe bananas is unbeatable.

No matter how many other desserts I’ve had throughout the day, I never miss a nightly crêpe at the AquaDome Market.

Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas are the biggest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, but which one should you choose?

If you’re planning a Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s hard to go wrong with an Icon Class ship. These megaships are the largest in the world and offer unbeatable amenities and attractions. Whether it's the Category 6 Waterpark or the indoor ice-skating rink, there are endless ways to have fun onboard.

Currently, there are two ships in the Icon Class: Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas. For the most part, the two vessels are identical. You’ll find many of the same restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, and cabins onboard.

Even still, there are a few differences between the two ships that may make you choose one over the other.

Here’s everything you should consider when choosing between Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

First, where do you want to embark on your cruise?

Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas depart from different cruise ports in Florida, so it’s important to consider where you’d like to sail from before you book.

Icon of the Seas calls Miami home, whereas Star of the Seas sails from Port Canaveral.

As far as transportation logistics, both ports offer pros and cons.

Port Canaveral is located somewhat far from Orlando International Airport. Driving from the airport to the port takes just under an hour, and rideshare prices can be as high as $80 each way. Shuttles are available, too, which start around $25 per person.

The Port of Miami, on the other hand, is closer to Miami International Airport. You can expect to spend around $30 for the 20-minute ride. You also have the option of flying into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which is a 40-minute drive from the Port of Miami.

It’s always recommended to arrive in your embarkation city the day before your cruise departs. Both Orlando and Miami offer plenty to do before you embark.

If you’re cruising on Star of the Seas from Port Canaveral, you might consider spending a few days at Universal Studios or Disney World before your cruise. This can be a great way to extend your trip and experience Orlando’s top attractions.

Those cruising from Miami on Icon of the Seas can enjoy the city’s highlights before embarking. You might choose to spend the night in South Beach, explore nightlife in Brickell, or take a street food tour in Little Havana.

Either embarkation port is an excellent choice. Ultimately, I recommend searching flight options from your home airport to Orlando and Miami. If flight itineraries and prices are significantly better at one airport, you might want to consider cruising from that port instead of the other.

Is one ship less expensive than the other?

Icon Class cruise ships may offer an unbelievable number of things to do onboard, but they aren’t cheap. For most 7-night itineraries, you can expect to pay between $1,300 and $2,000 per person for an interior cabin.

Star of the Seas launched a year after Icon of the Seas, but prices are similar between the two vessels. You’ll find little difference in cruise fare, and prices may vary drastically depending on the month you sail, as well as how far in advance you book the cruise.

Related: The best time to book a cruise by day, month, and last-minute

Sometimes Icon of the Seas might be priced higher than Star of the Seas, and vice versa.

Let’s take a look at a few itineraries to gauge how prices might vary:

7-night Western Caribbean itinerary during hurricane season
Interior cabin, taxes and fees included:

• Icon of the Seas: $1,205 per person
• Star of the Seas: $1,483 per person

7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary in November
Interior cabin, taxes and fees included:

• Icon of the Seas: $1,628 per person
• Star of the Seas: $1,607 per person

7-night Eastern Caribbean itinerary in June
Interior cabin, taxes and fees included:

• Icon of the Seas: $2,048 per person
• Star of the Seas: $2,096 per person

For the most part, price differences between the two ships are negligible. As always, you’ll want to book your cruise further in advance to snag the lowest deal. Plus, you can always reprice the sailing up until the final payment date to save money if the price drops.

Entertainment is similar, but Broadway shows differ

Like all of Royal Caribbean’s new ships, both Icon and Star of the Seas offer stellar entertainment options.

Even an entire week isn’t long enough to experience the vast array of entertainment choices. Whether live jazz music in Central Park or a high-energy piano performance at Dueling Pianos, every evening offers a wide selection of things to experience.

When it comes to live music and activities, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas are on an even playing field. You’ll find the same bars and lounges on both ships, including fan favorites like the Schooner Bar and English-style pub.

The signature shows, however, differ between the two vessels. There are three main entertainment venues: the Royal Theater, the AquaTheater, and the Absolute Zero ice rink.

Related: Royal Caribbean shows by ship

Shows in the AquaTheater and Absolute Zero are similar on both ships. Despite having different themes and soundtracks, you’ll see many of the same stunts, dives, and jumps during any show.

The main difference in entertainment is in the Broadway shows in the Royal Theater.

On Icon of the Seas, the Broadway show is Wizard of Oz, whereas Star of the Seas showcases Back to the Future: The Musical.

Both shows are equally entertaining, but some guests may prefer seeing one show over the other. If Broadway shows are an important part of the cruising experience for you, you may want to take the two shows into consideration before picking a ship.

Dining options are almost the same, but come with two major differences

Food is an important aspect of any cruise vacation, and there’s no shortage of places to eat on Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas.

Most dining venues are exactly the same between the two vessels. You’ll find classic restaurants like the Windjammer buffet and Main Dining Room, but also Icon Class-specific eateries like Pearl Café and Surfside Bites.

Still, there are two differences in dining to note between Icon and Star of the Seas.

First are the food stalls in the AquaDome market. The AquaDome market is a staple of the Icon Class ships, and it offers quick-service bites from a variety of cuisines around the world.

There are five food stalls on each ship. Two—Crème de la Crêpe and Feta Mediterranean—are offered on both vessels. The other three differ from ship to ship.

On Icon, you can enjoy mac n’ cheese at Mac’s, sandwiches at Toast & Garden, and Chinese classics at GNGR. Star of the Seas, however, features BBQ favorites at Pig Out BBQ, spicy Thai food at Mai Thai, and Latin American street food at La Cocinita.

Related: Royal Caribbean updated its food hall, and it's even better than the original

Likewise, the supper club varies from ship to ship, too. This elegant, fine dining restaurant combines curated cocktails with a regionally-inspired menu.

The concept is similar between the two ships, but they differ in their theming.

On Icon of the Seas, the Empire Supper Club features a 1920s New York theme, whereas Star of the Seas’ Lincoln Park Supper Club transports guests to 1930s Chicago.

Related: Lincoln Park Supper Club review on Star of the Seas

For the most part, though, subtle variations between the AquaDome market food stalls and the supper club make little difference in the overall experience onboard Icon or Star of the Seas.

I wouldn’t necessarily recommend picking one ship over the other just because of these minor differences. Rather, if you’ve already sailed on Icon of the Seas, consider sailing on Star to try out the new dining options.

Overall, the ships are nearly identical, and either option is a fantastic choice

Both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas offer, for the most part, the exact same experience.

There are small differences between the ships, but they’re much more alike than they are different. They have the same layout, neighborhoods, pools, activities, and onboard thrills.

Differences in artwork, dining venues, and entertainment productions are minor in the big picture of your vacation.

In addition, despite having different homeports, the two ships offer the same itineraries. Both sail 7-night cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, which include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

When choosing between the two ships, I’d argue there are only two things to really consider:

1. Where you’d prefer to embark on your cruise
2. The price difference between the ships for a particular week

If you’re hoping to sail in mid-March and Star of the Seas is $500 more expensive than Icon, you’re better off choosing the latter. Likewise, if cruise fares are similar but a flight to Orlando is $300 cheaper than to Miami, Star of the Seas would be a better choice.

Regardless of which ship you choose, you’re guaranteed to have a one-of-a-kind cruise experience on an Icon Class ship.

Royal Caribbean will build more of the world's largest cruise ships.

The company confirmed on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement to build a fourth Icon Class ship, with options to build a fifth and sixth Icon Class ship.

The options essentially mean that while Royal Caribbean has not committed to ordering them, the space is allocated within the shipyard if they decide later on to place an order.

The fourth Icon Class cruise ship is expected to be delivered sometime in 2027.

Royal Caribbean did not announce the ship's name or any new features we can expect on the fourth ship yet.

Just like the first three Icon Class ships, the order has been placed with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku. The first Icon Class ship, Icon of the Seas, was delivered in January 2024 and Star of the Seas is expected to enter service in August 2025.

A third unnamed Icon Class ship will be delivered in 2026.

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty issued a statement celebrating the order, “Building on the incredible momentum and market response to the launch of Icon of the Seas and the excitement for its sister ship, Star of the Seas, coming in 2025, we’re thrilled to join with Meyer Turku once again to expand our roster of Icon Class ships and continue our future growth plans.

“Since its debut, Icon has changed the game in vacation experiences and exceeded our expectations in both guest satisfaction and financial performance.”

The new standard in the cruise industry

Ever since Icon of the Seas launched in January 2024, Icon of the Seas has set a new standard that all other cruise ships are judged against.

While new cruise ships generate hype, Icon of the Seas delivered on it with a number of innovations and accolades beyond her size.

The Icon Class ships have the largest waterpark and ice rink at sea, eight neighborhoods to explore, a food hall, and so much more. 

Icon of the Seas measures an astonishing 250,800 gross registered tons and can carry a maximum of 7,600 passengers. There are 28 different stateroom categories.

Matching other cruise line new ship orders

One trend within the cruise industry is placing new ship orders.

Royal Caribbean joins a number of other lines that placed new cruise ship orders this year, and this has been a big year for orders.

The cruise industry refrained from placing new orders over the last 4 years due to the sizeable debt they accrued related to the cruise industry shutdown of 2020-2021.

Carnival Cruise Line placed an order in July for 3 new ships, which was placed a few months after Carnival ordered two more ships for its Excel Class series of vessels. 

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings ordered a whopping 8 new ships in April 2024.

No orders yet for its rumored plans

While Royal Caribbean placed an order for more Icon Class ships, it did not order the other ships many have expected.

The Discovery Class of ships is expected to be a new smaller class of cruise ship by Royal Caribbean, with the word "smaller" being a relative term.

Executives have hinted at the project's existence, but nothing has been officially announced or confirmed.

In August 2024, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about the plans in an interview he did, "We’re working now on another class of ship called Discovery Class. So, that’s going to be super exciting. That’ll come in about another 3 to 4 years from now."

Rumors have been circling for years about Royal Caribbean’s upcoming plans to build new ships of smaller size. However, the cruise line has not confirmed many details about Project Discovery.

Royal Caribbean might be considering going in a different direction with one of its new restaurants that was launched earlier this year.

Surveys have been sent out to select past cruisers to gauge their interest in a new specialty restaurant concept to potentially replace Pier 7 on Icon of the Seas.

To be clear, no change or announced has been officially announced. Surveys are just an opportunity to gather an opinion, and often lead to no change.

Pier 7 is currently on Icon of the Seas in the family-friendly Surfside neighborhood. 

It was the first time the restaurant was offered on a Royal Caribbean ship and represents one of 20 new ways to eat on Icon of the Seas.

Read more: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them

The restaurant comes at an extra-cost for adults and has served up cruiser favorites like Korean fried chicken and Budha bowls.

However, Royal Caribbean is now looking at other options for Surfside neighborhood.

The survey includes a total of six new venue concepts, with each offering a different twist on updating Pier 7.

The survey presents six new restaurant concepts

The survey that was sent out to select cruisers asked respondents to rate potential venues in Surfside.

These fleshed-out concepts would come at an extra cost, the survey said.

Respondents were asked to select the one venue they would be most likely to visit.

Read more: Royal Caribbean reveals new restaurants, bars, and activities on Icon of the Seas

Pier 7 by Momofuku

Immerse yourself in Asian fusion flavors crafted by Momofuku at our laid-back, casual quick-service restaurant (i.e. order at the counter with seating available). Surrounded by vibrant colors and street art, enjoy comfort dishes ranging from hearty bowls to Korean crunchy fried chicken sandwiches, perfect for those on the go. 

Sample Dishes: Fried chicken sandwich, Poke Bowl, Bao Buns 

Sweet 7

Get a sweet pick-me-up treat while you lounge and play around Surfside. Sweet 7 is a fun colorful quick service cafe (i.e. order at the counter with seating available) offering snacks and desserts. From fresh acai bowls to colorful popsicles to fruity smoothies, there's something for everyone. 

Sample Dishes: Acai Bowl, Popsicles, Ice Cream Sandwiches 

The Surfshack

Dive into poolside perfection at The Surfshack, our quick-service restaurant (i.e. order at the counter with seating available) offering made-to-order favorites for any time of day. Start your morning with fresh smoothies and acai bowls, or enjoy afternoon classics like lobster rolls, fried chicken sandwiches, and fish tacos. Featuring a vibrant color palette and casual seating, The Surfshack is the ideal spot for a pool day snack or a play pitstop. 

Sample Dishes: Acai Bowl, Poke Bowl, Lobster Roll 

Play Cafe

Enjoy a fun play-centric lounge featuring a quick service window (i.e. order at the counter with lounge seating available) offering snacks and refreshing drinks. Adults can relax and sip on iced coffee or smoothies while kids play with the seating's built-in toys. Indulge in delicious offerings like donuts and fresh sandwiches, making it the perfect spot for a family-friendly break. 

Sample Dishes: Iced Latte, Bacon-egg-cheese croissant sandwich, smoothies 

Pier 7

Inspired by beach towns and chill vibes, Pier 7 is a casual sit-down restaurant featuring modern seafood dishes. Parents can enjoy a tuna poke bowl, shrimp tostadas, and fish tacos while watching kids play in the nearby splash pad and playscape. Kids have their choice of classic favorites such as chicken tenders and grilled cheese. 

Sample Dishes: Shrimp Tostada, Baja Fish Tacos, Whipped Ricotta Bruschetta 

Surfside Kitchen and Surfside Village

Step into a whimsical surf town of make-believe with our immersive family experience, combining culinary adventures and wacky arts and crafts. At Surfside Kitchen, families can customize sweet and savory dishes, from rainbow grilled cheese to candy sushi.

Do guests prefer sit-down or speedy dining?

The survey goes on to ask respondents to imagine they are visiting Surfside with their travel group and want to take a break from the main attractions. In and around Surfside, there are various restaurants and activities the group could enjoy. 

Thinking about the groups you are traveling with, please indicate your preferences for the types of restaurants or activities you would like to visit while taking a break in Surfside.

Respondents can select between quick bites, sit-down dining, or a mix of both.

Read more: I spent a week on the world's largest cruise ship, the free food was the best of any Royal Caribbean ship

Then, the survey asks respondents to rate specific restaurant brands based on how familiar they are.

Cruisers can select one of four options regarding the brand: 

1. I eat from this brand often
2. I have eaten from this brand before, but not frequently
3. I have never eaten from this brand, but have heard of it
4. I had not heard of this brand

The 12 brands listed are as follows:

• PF Chang's
• Milk Bar
• Sweetgreen
• Applebees
• Chilis
• Momofuku
• Bonchon Chicken
• Morimoto
• Qdoba
• Benihana
• Wagamama
• Peiwei

Seven of these 12 brands serve Asian cuisine, so Royal Caribbean could be considering replacing Pier 7, which currently serves Californian dishes, with a specifically Asian restaurant.

Surfside neighborhood caters to young families

Icon of the Seas introduced Surfside neighborhood as an area dedicated to families and young children.

The cruise line has always aimed to provide stellar family vacations.

Surfside neighborhood has a variety of arcade games, water experiences, and dining options, so no one has to compromise.

The vibrant designs, creative amenities, and relaxing atmosphere provide the perfect experience for multiple generations.

Star of the Seas, the second Icon-class ship, is set to be released in the summer of 2025, and will likely mimic Icon's eight neighborhoods.

However, considering the survey sent to cruisers this week, the Pier 7 on Star of the Seas (or the third, unnamed Icon-Class ship) could be replaced by a different specialty restaurant.

Read more: Royal Caribbean will homeport Star of the Seas in Port Canaveral

Pier 7 has served up "California-inspired" cuisine and is complimentary for kids under the age of 12.

Adults pay a cover charge of $14.99 for two plates. The venue serves rice bowls, surf-and-turf tacos, smoked salmon benedict, Korean fried chicken, and shareable platters for the whole family.

Should the restaurant be replaced, it looks like Royal Caribbean is considering Asian cuisine, or partnering with well-known brands such as PF Chang's or Sweetgreen.

Could Royal Caribbean be letting the general public pick the name for its next cruise ship?

The selection of a cruise ship name is usually an internal process that executives undertake in order to determine the optimal name based on a variety of criteria, but Royal Caribbean may be opening it up in this case.

The cruise line posted on social media an invitation to choose between four names for its next Icon Class cruise ship.

The choices are:

• Star of the Seas
• Idol of the Seas
• Love of the Seas
• Queen of the Seas

There's even a voting poll on Twitter, along with an informal reaction poll on Facebook.

We want to hear from you! Which is your favorite for our second Icon Class ship? pic.twitter.com/DcLyDg26sW

— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) January 14, 2023

For what it's worth, the only name that is trademarked with the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Royal Caribbean is Star of the Seas, which the cruise line registered on June 14, 2022.

In searching the trademark database, there are no entries for the other three names. That may or may not mean anything.

Trademark registrations are not necessarily indicative of what the company may or may not do.

Read more: 8 things Royal Caribbean trademarked but never did anything with

Of course, the polls on social media may not be a binding choice in which name the cruise line will use. If nothing else, exposing possible names for the ship to the public is a rare occurrence.

Icon of the Seas, the first in the class, is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. Her first sailing is scheduled for January 27, 2024.

The company has orders in place for two more Icon Class ships. The other two Icon Class ships will be in service by 2026.

In speaking with Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider in November 2022, he indicated the name for the third Icon Class ship is set, but the second ship was still in the air.

"I'm still taking ideas on Icon two and Icon three. I feel really confident in the name we have for Icon three, it's actually two that we're still working on."

Picking a ship name

Picking a cruise ship name is no simple task, and Royal Caribbean often juggles dozens of names before settling on one.

Royal Caribbean will commonly register many trademarks for new cruise ship names with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 

As an example, in December 2021, the company registered 24 new cruise ship names.

Why so many?

Part of the process is not only reserving names they intend to use, but also names they know they will not use. Because trademarks are a matter of public record, from a competitive advantage standpoint, they'll include other names to prevent tipping their hand in which direction they'll go.

Will Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class cruise ships be the largest in the world?

When Royal Caribbean announced plans for a new class of cruise ship, they provided very few details, but becoming the new biggest cruise ship in the world wasn't part of the announcement.

It now looks like perhaps the Icon Class ships will be larger, according to recent comments made by a Royal Caribbean executive this week.

Travel Weekly is reporting the newly promoted Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations, Sean Treacy, indicated Icon of the Seas will be larger than the Oasis class cruise ships.

"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," Mr. Treacy said while onboard Wonder of the Seas during a trade event.

Travel Weekly went on to say a Royal Caribbean spokesperson confirmed the fact Icon of the Seas, which will be the first Icon Class cruise ship, will be larger, "Icon-class ships will be bigger than our Oasis class."

The disclosure by Mr. Treacy is the first public statement about the fact Icon will be larger than Oasis Class, although it's not clear in what aspect will Icon be larger.

According to Royal Caribbean's Form 10-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 5, 2022, it still lists Icon of the Seas has having slightly less passenger capacity than Wonder of the Seas or Utopia of the Seas.

In the filing, Icon and the other unnamed Icon Class ships have approximately 5,600 berths compared to Wonder and Utopia's 5,700 berths.

When Royal Caribbean first announced the Icon Class in October 2016, they estimated the ship would be able to handle approximately 5,000 passengers. Of course, the cruise line indicated at that time and for some time thereafter that the concepts were still being developed.

There are three Icon Class ships on order:

• Icon of the Seas delivery in 3rd Quarter 2023
• Unnamed second Icon class ship delivery in 2nd Quarter 2025
• Unnamed third Icon class ship delivery in 2nd Quarter 2026

The keel was recently laid for Icon of the Seas at the shipyard in Finland, which signals the official start of construction.

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley confirmed that Icon will initially debut in the UK, and then sail from Miami.

While Royal Caribbean has not announced yet what the ship will look like, itineraries, or other important features, they have hyped the vessel as a game changer.

“The ship is unbelievable," said Mr. Bayley in a recent interview. "It's an amazing ship. What’s fascinating about Icon is the sheer amount of product."

Bayley indicated Icon of the Seas will feature a combination of ‘tradition, evolution and revolution’ cruising elements from Royal Caribbean. 

Favorites, such as the Schooner Bar, will continue to be found on Icon.

On the other hand, evolution elements revolve around continuously improving elements that cruisers love, such as entertainment venues and waterslides. Finally, revolution elements are ‘industry-firsts’ and are meant to be WOW factors for the company.

Royal Caribbean announced the official start of construction for its newest cruise ship, along with its name.

On June 14, construction officially began on the first Icon Class cruise ship with a steel cutting ceremony at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, which is the same shipyard that built a number of Royal Caribbean ship, including Allure and Oasis of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean also confirmed the ship's name will be Icon of the Seas.

The Icon Class ships will be Royal Caribbean's newest class of cruise ships.

Debuting in fall 2023, Icon will be the cruise line’s first of three ships to be powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas). LNG and the state-of-the-art ship’s additional environmentally friendly applications, such as shore power connection, will boost energy efficiencies and reduce carbon footprint. More details about Icon’s advanced environmental technologies will be revealed at a future date.

Not much else is known about the Icon Class, but according to Royal Caribbean Group SEC filings in April 2021, the unnamed Icon Class ships 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.

There are three Icon Class ships on order:

• Unnamed first Icon class ship delivery in 3rd Quarter 2023
• Unnamed second Icon class ship delivery in 2nd Quarter 2025
• Unnamed third Icon class ship delivery in 2nd Quarter 2026

In attendance at the ceremony was Richard Fain, chairman and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group; Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International; and Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku.

“We made our commitment to making clean power at sea a reality – and soon the norm – when Icon Class was first announced in 2016, and we’re excited to see construction underway on what will truly be a ship unlike any other,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Our decades of work in ocean conservation, energy efficiency and continuous improvement will be evident all throughout Icon. We look forward to revealing more of the game-changing features our guests and crew have in store as she begins to take shape.”