Icon of the Seas is the bigger ship: 248,663 gross tonnes against Symphony of the Seas’ 228,081, with two extra decks and a waterpark Symphony simply doesn’t have. Symphony sticks with the tried-and-tested Oasis-class layout of Central Park, Boardwalk and its own AquaTheater, usually for less money on a similar Caribbean itinerary.
Icon of the Seas vs Symphony of the Seas size compared
Icon wins on every measure that counts: tonnage, length and deck count. Symphony doesn’t beat it on a single one of these, though the gap is smaller than the “world’s largest cruise ship” headlines make it sound. For the full specification sheet and deck-by-deck detail, our Icon of the Seas guide covers the ship on its own.
| Measurement | Icon of the Seas | Symphony of the Seas |
|---|---|---|
| Gross tonnage | 248,663 GT | 228,081 GT |
| Length | 364.75 metres | 361.011 metres |
| Decks | 20 | 18 |
| Double occupancy capacity | 5,610 passengers | 5,518 passengers |
| Maximum capacity | 7,600 passengers | 6,680 passengers |
| Crew | 2,350 | 2,200 |
Symphony belongs to the Oasis class, the family of ships Icon was built to leave behind. Oasis of the Seas, the ship that started it all, comes in at 226,838 GT, which tells you how little that class actually grew over the years.
Harmony of the Seas, built later in the same class, sits at 226,963 GT and 362.12 metres, within a whisker of Symphony on both counts, while Icon is a proper step up. For a closer look at how that gap plays out deck by deck, our comparisons of Icon of the Seas against Oasis of the Seas and Icon of the Seas against Harmony of the Seas go through each ship in turn.
Neighbourhoods and layout: Icon’s eight against Symphony’s seven
Icon is split into eight neighbourhoods, one more than Symphony’s seven, and that extra space goes mostly on family and water features rather than just more of the same. Icon’s neighbourhoods are:
- AquaDome
- Thrill Island
- Chill Island
- The Hideaway
- Surfside
- Central Park
- Royal Promenade
- Suite Neighbourhood
Five of these are brand new to the Icon class. Central Park, Royal Promenade and the Suite Neighbourhood carry over from the Oasis class, just reworked and expanded. Symphony’s seven neighbourhoods are:
- Central Park
- Boardwalk
- Royal Promenade
- Entertainment Place
- Pool and Sports Zone
- Youth Zone
- Vitality Spa and Fitness Center
The real difference is who each layout is built for. Icon puts more of its space towards young children and water attractions, while Symphony sticks with the established Oasis-class mix of a park, a boardwalk, a sports deck and a spa, all on a slightly smaller footprint.
Waterparks and aqua features: Category 6 against Perfect Storm
Icon has the bigger waterpark, no question. Thrill Island is home to Category 6, billed as the largest waterpark at sea, with six record-breaking slides: Frightening Bolt, the tallest waterslide at sea, Pressure Drop, the first free-fall slide at sea, Storm Chasers, the first mat-racing duo at sea, plus the family raft slides Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter.
Icon-class ships also carry seven swimming pools and nine outdoor Jacuzzis between them, against four pools on Symphony. For ride times and drop heights slide by slide, see our Icon of the Seas water slides guide.
Chill Island is where Icon’s main pool deck lives, including the Royal Bay Pool, the largest pool at sea at 40,000 gallons, plus Swim & Tonic, Royal Caribbean’s first swim-up bar. The AquaDome, the glass dome sitting in the ship’s crown, puts the AquaTheater show into a new semi-circular format and wraps it with Hooked Seafood, a coffee and cocktail bar, shopping and a food hall.
Our Icon of the Seas AquaDome guide covers what happens there through the day.
Symphony isn’t short of thrills either. The Ultimate Abyss is the tallest waterslide at sea on an Oasis-class ship, the Perfect Storm adds three high-speed slides, and a 40-foot FlowRider surf simulator sits alongside Splashaway Bay for younger children.
Symphony’s own AquaTheater, on the Boardwalk, runs movie screenings and game shows by day and switches to aqua acrobatics and high diving by night. Our Symphony of the Seas water slides guide covers each ride in more detail.
For how both ships’ slides sit against the rest of the fleet, our Royal Caribbean water slides guide goes ship by ship, and our best cruise ship water slides list takes in other cruise lines too.
Family cabins and suites compared
Family cabins and suites are trickier to line up side by side, because Royal Caribbean hasn’t published matching square footage for Icon’s newest categories against Symphony’s older ones. What’s clear is the shape of each offering.
Icon expands its Suite Neighbourhood well beyond anything on the Oasis-class ships, grouping suites together with their own pools and lounges, with Surfside built nearby as a dedicated family zone. Symphony spreads its 2,759 cabins across neighbourhoods such as Central Park and the Boardwalk, with ocean view and balcony categories in each.
Icon’s higher maximum capacity points to more staterooms built to sleep bigger groups, though exact suite dimensions for each ship aren’t published side by side. For the categories currently available, our Icon of the Seas suites guide has the full list.
Dining and entertainment: new on Icon, proven on Symphony
Icon leans on venues that didn’t exist on any previous Royal Caribbean ship. Complimentary options include AquaDome Market, Park Café, El Loco Fresh and Surfside Bites, while speciality dining runs from the upscale Empire Supper Club to the swim-up Swim & Tonic bar. Our Icon of the Seas restaurants guide breaks down which of these carry an extra charge.
Symphony relies on a dining and entertainment line-up that’s had years to bed in. Central Park holds speciality restaurants including Chops Grille, Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver, 150 Central Park and the Vintages wine bar. Entertainment includes Casino Royale, the largest casino at sea, the Studio B ice rink, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, The Attic comedy club and lounge, and the Jazz on 4 lounge.
Price and value: is Icon of the Seas worth the premium?
Icon is worth the extra money only if you’ll put the extra size to use. Thrill Island’s six slides, the AquaDome, Surfside’s family-first spaces and the newer suite categories justify paying more if your family will spend real time in them.
Symphony still delivers Central Park, the Boardwalk, its own AquaTheater, ice skating shows, a FlowRider and a dining network built up over years. If Icon costs a lot more than Symphony for the same cabin type and the same number of nights, Symphony is the safer bet for value.
For a sense of how the cost breaks down by cabin category, see our guide to Icon of the Seas cabin pricing.
Crowds and capacity: does Icon feel busier than Symphony?
Icon carries close to a thousand more passengers than Symphony at full capacity, but that’s not the whole story, since it spreads them across two extra decks, more swimming pools and a far bigger waterpark, so a higher headcount doesn’t automatically mean a busier pool deck.
At double occupancy, the gap shrinks right down, just under a hundred passengers between the two ships, so most cruises won’t feel markedly different in everyday crowding.
Which ship suits you: families, couples, budget travellers and first-timers
The right ship comes down to who’s travelling and what matters most to them on board.
- Families chasing the newest water features and the most space for young children: Icon of the Seas, for Thrill Island, the AquaDome and Surfside.
- Couples wanting a quieter trip with shorter walks between venues: either ship works, though Symphony’s smaller footprint means less distance between Central Park and the pool deck.
- Budget-conscious travellers watching the cost per night: Symphony of the Seas, for its established dining and entertainment, typically at a lower fare for the same itinerary.
- First-time Royal Caribbean cruisers wanting the format the line has refined for years: Symphony of the Seas.
- First-time cruisers who want the newest ship in the fleet for its own sake: Icon of the Seas.
If you’re building a trip specifically around the newest features, our Icon of the Seas family guide has more.
Itineraries and home ports for Icon of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas
Icon sails 7-night Caribbean cruises from PortMiami to Perfect Day CocoCay, alternating between an Eastern Caribbean route calling at Puerto Plata, San Juan, Philipsburg and Charlotte Amalie, and a Western Caribbean route calling at Costa Maya, Cozumel and Roatán. Royal Caribbean has also announced a Western Caribbean season sailing from Galveston, Texas, though that’s not due to start for some time yet.
If you’re booking flights from the UK, check which home port your sailing uses before you arrange travel, since Miami is the season that’s currently running. For the week-by-week stops and the practicalities of boarding in Miami, see our Icon of the Seas itinerary guide and our Icon of the Seas Miami port guide.
Symphony also sails from PortMiami on Caribbean itineraries. Our Symphony of the Seas guide covers its current routes and what each port call involves.
Icon of the Seas vs Symphony of the Seas FAQs
How much bigger is Icon of the Seas than Symphony of the Seas?
Icon is around 20,600 gross tonnes bigger than Symphony, measures 364.75 metres against Symphony’s 361.011 metres, and carries two more decks, 20 against 18.
Is Symphony of the Seas an Icon-class ship?
No, Symphony belongs to the older Oasis class, while Icon of the Seas is the lead ship of a newer, separate class Royal Caribbean introduced afterwards.
Does Symphony of the Seas have an adults-only area?
Yes, Symphony has a Solarium, a covered adult-only pool and lounge space kept apart from the family pool deck, for passengers wanting a quieter spot on sea days.
How many restaurants does Symphony of the Seas have?
Symphony has 22 restaurants across its decks, ranging from complimentary buffet-style dining to the speciality venues clustered around Central Park and the Boardwalk.
How much more crew does Icon of the Seas carry than Symphony of the Seas?
Icon carries around 2,350 crew, roughly 150 more than Symphony’s 2,200, reflecting the extra decks, dining venues and family spaces on the newer ship.
Is there a quiet adult-only spot on Icon of the Seas away from the waterpark?
Yes, Icon has Cloud 17 on Chill Island, a quieter adult retreat set apart from the ship’s livelier family pool areas and the Category 6 waterpark.
Last Updated: 25 October 2026