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The two largest cruise ships in the world set sail from Florida. Here’s how they compare

Utopia of the Seas sailings start July 19

The Icon of the Seas (top photo) and Utopia of the Seas (bottom) are the top largest cruise ships in the world. (Haley Coomes, Royal Caribbean)

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – With ports along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, Florida is a top cruise destination. On Thursday, a new ship was homeported at Port Canaveral, and it’s another Royal Caribbean behemoth.

Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas will offer 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday cruises. The vessel can hold 5,668 passengers and has 18 total decks, The cruise ship is the first of its kind to debut three-night weekend and four-night getaways to CocoCay. The ship includes a 10-story dry slide, waterslides, rock-climbing walls, over 40 dining options and two casinos.

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While impressive in size, it’s second to Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, which is the world’s largest cruise ship.

Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas. On 7-night vacations to the Caribbean and The Bahamas, adventurers can experience highlights like six record-breaking waterslides, an adults-only retreat, seven pools, the first neighborhood designed for young families, 40-plus ways to dine, drink and be entertained; and more. (Royal Caribbean)

The Icon of the Seas had its maiden voyage out of Miami in January 2024. As Jalopnik put it, it’s the size of five Titanics. A striking feature is its upper deck, where there’s a different pool option for every day of the week. There’s also Category 6 — the ship’s 17,000-square-foot water park, currently the largest at sea.

The 82-foot-tall steel and glass AquaDome crowns part of the top of the Icon of the Seas. It houses a theater, a 55-foot-tall water curtain feature, a bar and Royal Caribbean’s first food hall. (Royal Caribbean)

Below is a breakdown of how the two vessels compare in size.

Icon of the SeasUtopia of the Seas
20 Total Decks (18 Guest Decks)18 Total Decks (16 Guest Decks)
2,350 Crew (International)2,290 Crew (International)
2,805 Staterooms2,834 Staterooms
5,610 Guests (Double Occupancy)5,668 Guests (Double Occupancy)
248,663 GT236,473 GT
1,196 Feet, 364 Metres Long1,188 Feet, 362 Metres Long
159 Feet, 48 Metres Wide211 Feet, 64 Metres Wide
29 Feet, 9 Metres Draft30 Feet, 9 Metres Draft
Icon: Lionel MessiGodmother: Meghan Trainor
The Ultimate Abyss is the longest dry slide at sea on the new Utopia of the Seas. (Royal Caribbean)

The Icon of the Seas is part of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class, while Utopia is in the Oasis. Port Canaveral is also home to the third-largest ship, Wonder of the Seas.


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