Luxury Cruising Editorial

Balmoral is the longest-serving ship still sailing for Fred. Olsen, and also the oldest in the fleet too, having originally been built in 1988 and serving as the ship Crown Odyssey for the now-defunct Royal Cruise Line.

Yet despite her age, she remains very popular with Fred. Olsen guests, as she has been caringly refurbished over the years. Her accommodation options, in particular, remain comfortable and welcoming, but there are a lot to choose from – and with the ship being older, she has some quirks that make some rooms less appealing to some guests than others.

In this guide, I’ll help you filter between all the cabin options on Balmoral so that you can find the ones that are most suitable for you and see which you should avoid.

How To Choose the Best Cruise Cabin

While this guide is tailored towards Balmoral, there are some tips which apply to any cruise ship and any cruise line. I’ve made a handy checklist so that you always have those tips to hand, and you can get a copy sent straight to your inbox…

The Different Rooms on Balmoral

There are 710 cabins and suites that you can choose from onboard Balmoral – not a bad selection, but at the same time, that’s a lot fewer than many of the largest ships in the world, which have thousands.

Within those cabins and suites, there are 17 different options available, from the smallest single interior rooms to the very best suites. Here’s a breakdown of all your Balmoral accommodation options:

Cabin	Type	Category	Max. Guests	Decks	Average Size (sq. ft.)
Single Interior	Inside	N	1	3, 6	130
Interior	Inside	H, I	2-4	3-6	160
Single Superior Interior	Inside	M	1	9	160
Superior Interior	Inside	G	2	8-9	160
Single Ocean View (Porthole)	Ocean View	L	1	3	140
Ocean View (Porthole)	Ocean View	F	2	3-5	165
Single Ocean View (Picture Window)	Ocean View	K	1	4, 8	165
Ocean View (Picture Window)	Ocean View	D, E	2	4-5	165
Superior Ocean View	Ocean View	B, C	2	5, 6, 8	165
Single Balcony Cabin	Balcony	J	1	8	218
Balcony Cabin	Balcony	BA	2	8-9	248-260
Single Balcony Suite	Suite	JB	1	9	270
Balcony Junior Suite	Suite	BJ	2	8-10	279
Superior Suite	Suite	SS	2	9, 10	341
Marquee Suite	Suite	MS	2	10	472
Premier Suite	Suite	PS	2	10	601
Owner’s Suite	Suite	OW	2	10	1,181

Balmoral Room Sizes

Most of the rooms on Balmoral are a standard size, but there are a few that fall within a range. The best thing you can do is check out the Balmoral deck plans on the Fred. Olsen website, as you can then browse to see which of the rooms is the biggest – they’re accurate and to scale, so if a room looks bigger on the deck plans, that means it is.

Balmoral Cabins to Avoid

Here are some of the Balmoral cabins you might want to avoid – though they aren’t ‘bad’ cabins, just some that you may or may not prefer.

1. Porthole Cabins

Many of the Ocean View cabins on Deck 3-5 have portholes instead of a larger picture window. You aren’t limited to just one porthole, you might get in a row – but the experience isn’t the same.

Porthole cabins aren’t really any good if you want to enjoy the view. You need to bend over and peer through, and with them being lower on the ship the views aren’t great anyway.

If you don’t care about the view, and only want some natural light, then these cabins are a good choice (and they’re cheaper than Picture Window Ocean View cabins). Otherwise, consider booking another cabin type if you want to be able to enjoy that sea view from your cosy cabin.

2. Cabins Under the Pool Deck

Premier and Superior Suites 1007 to 1024

Whenever I write guides on cabins to avoid, one of the most common complaints I find is about noisy cabins, typically above the theatre, or near the engines. But to be honest, the noise complaints on social media and forums for Balmoral are almost non-existent. That’ll be helped by the typical audience, who generally aren’t late-night party animals, and the fact that the lowest cabins aren’t super-close to the engine deck.

One potential noise issue is with the pool deck, which is directly above some of the Suites on Deck 10. It’s not the actual pool that can be noisy, but the decking area when people wake up early and go to move/reserve a lounger for the day, scraping it across the wood.

If you’re someone who tends to be awake early anyway then it’s not much of a problem at all. The sound is muffled, after all, and it only lasts a few seconds at a time at most. However, if you’re a lighter sleeper and those cruise lie-ins are important to you, consider booking one of the suites further back on that deck.

3. Higher Cabins If You Suffer Seasickness

Balmoral isn’t a tiny ship, but she is a little older, and without some of the latest innovations in stabilising technology, that does mean you can often feel the movement of the boat on the water, especially when you’re towards the front or aft (rear) of the ship and on a higher deck.

The way Balmoral’s accommodation is designed, the better cabin classes are further up, because they offer better views. I saw a great phrase when researching this guide – “The more you pay, the more you sway”, because the better a room you book, the higher up you are.

You can avoid this if you book a mid-ship cabin, since the motion is felt less there, but if you suffer from seasickness really badly then I’d recommend a lower deck.

4. Connecting Cabins If Not Needed

Like many cruise ships, Balmoral has connecting cabins. These are side-by-side cabins with an extra door between them, which normally stays locked on a cruise. However, if you book both adjacent cabins, you can ask for the door to be unlocked and essentially create one larger cabin for your travelling party.

This is the only other time where noise could play an issue though, because connecting doors on cruise ships are always worse than a metal wall for soundproofing. So, if you book one of the connecting rooms, you might hear the other guests in the adjoining room through the door.

Loud, rowdy passengers are rare on a Fred. Olsen cruise, so it shouldn’t be too much of a concern for you, but again light sleepers (especially if loud snoring drives you mad) might want to make sure they don’t get one of these rooms.

There is one problem though, and that’s that Balmoral doesn’t have its connecting cabins marked on the deck plans. You might want to contact the cruise line if this is a bigger concern for you.

5. Balcony Suites If You Hate Smoking

One of the quirks of Fred. Olsen cruises is that smoking is still permitted on balconies. Very few cruise lines still allow this, and usually have very limited smoking areas on the ship.

So, be aware that if you book a Balcony Suite of any kind on Balmoral, you might be adjacent to someone smoking. An ashtray will be provided, too.

On a windy day, it might not be too bad as the smoke is quickly carried away, but I know some people hate the smell of smoke, so it’s good to be aware of these rules.

I suppose, if you are a smoker, this also makes these rooms even more appealing since you don’t need to trek to a designated public area to have a cigarette or use your vape.

6. Deck 3 Rooms With Potential Noise Issues

Again, Balmoral is a relatively quiet ship and noise complaints are rare. But if you do choose a Deck 3 cabin, be aware that you might hear a little more than you would elsewhere on the ship.

Firstly, you’re closer to the engines, so the vibrations can sometimes be felt, especially in cabins near the mid-ship (there are no aft cabins on Deck 3).

It’s also where there’s a big laundry room, the medical centre, and the arts and crafts room, so traffic during the day can be a little hectic between crew and guests.

If you want your cabin to be somewhere peaceful, aim for a higher deck instead.

Best Cabins on Balmoral

Here’s a look at some of the best cabin options on Balmoral:

1. Owner’s Suites

The Owner’s Suites are the best accommodation options on the ship. There are two, each offering almost 1,200 square feet of space – that’s around six times the amount of space you get in the smallest rooms on the ship.

They are still only one-bedroom accommodation options though – that extra space gives you a much bigger bathroom with an oversized bath, a separate shower, a spacious private balcony with loungers, and separate dining, dressing and sitting areas too.

You also get the Suite Dreams package, which comes with all the suites on the ship, which gets you:

• Priority check-in
• A welcome bottle of sparkling wine
• A fruit basket topped up throughout the cruise
• Free pressing for formal wear
• An afternoon canape service
• Use of binoculars, an atlas, a bathrobe and slippers in your suite, along with more luxurious towels
• Discounted laundry

So, while this is the most expensive option on Balmoral, it’s worth considering if you want your cruise to feel even more special.

2. Single Cabins

Solo cruising is growing in popularity across the cruise industry, but it’s always been a popular option with Fred. Olsen. And so, Balmoral caters to this with a range of single options, including interior and ocean view. But what’s really unique to Fred. Olsen is the option to book a solo suite – normally on a cruise, you’d be paying full price for two people if you wanted to enjoy a suite on your own.

If you’re looking for a solo cruise option to meet new friends, then Balmoral’s range of accommodation options is one of the most varied of all cruises.

3. Aft-View Cabins

9091, 9098

There are just two cabins on Balmoral that offer an aft view, being positioned right at the back of the ship and looking out over the wake.

Your own opinion matters here, but it’s widely believed that the aft views are the best on a cruise ship, since you get to enjoy the serenity of the scenery fading away.

These two rooms are hard to secure since they’re typically going to be popular, but if you have the chance then I’d recommend it.

What is the Best Deck on Balmoral?

The best deck on Balmoral is Deck 10, which is where you’ll find most of the suites on the ship. Normally you want to cruise with cabins above and below to minimise noise but on Balmoral, noise is rarely an issue.

Being on Deck 10 not only means getting some of the best accommodation options but it also means you’re close to the pool and sports decks, yet not too far from the restaurants either.

What is the Best Room on Balmoral?

The best rooms on Balmoral are the Owner’s Suites but there are several good options, including the Premier Suites and the range of Single Cabin options. The least popular rooms are the Porthole rooms.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Fred. Olsen offers…

Find More Information About Balmoral Cabins

When researching this guide I spent time on social media and cruise forums to help find the cabins that people wanted to avoid. To be honest, I had to look a little harder than normal – complaints are few and far between!

If you want to do your own research, read some Balmoral reviews and see Balmoral cabin pictures, consider checking these resources out for yourself:

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Borealis is a very popular cruise ship despite her age. One of just three ships in the Fred. Olsen fleet, she’s a firm favourite of many a British cruise passenger, with a relaxed atmosphere, warm service, and comfortable accommodation choices.

But there are quite a few of those cabins available, and so picking the right one is important. You don’t want to waste your money on a cruise that isn’t quite perfect – and while the wrong cabin will never ruin a cruise, it could put a dampener on an otherwise amazing experience.

I’ve been on a Borealis cruise, so using my own knowledge and a lot of research in cruise groups online, I’ve put together this guide to all of the cabin options on the ship, with tips on some that you might want to avoid.

How To Choose the Best Cruise Cabin

While this guide is tailored towards Borealis, there are some tips which apply to any cruise ship and any cruise line.

I’ve made a handy checklist so that you always have those tips to hand, and you can get a copy sent straight to your inbox…

The Different Rooms on Borealis

Borealis has the most cabins of any ship in the Fred. Olsen fleet, with 702. While she shares a very similar design with her sister ship Bolette, there are differences, and Borealis has 12 additional cabins along with one extra cabin type.

That puts her at 19 options – lots to choose from! You can break those down into Inside, Ocean View, Balcony and Suite options to help narrow your choices, and some are designed for people with accessibility needs too – only book those if you need them.

Here’s a look at all of the cabin and suite options on Borealis:

Cabin	Type	Category	Max. Guests	Decks	Average Size (sq. ft.)
Single Interior	Inside	N	1	1	182
Interior	Inside	H, I	2-4	1-3	182
Single Superior Interior	Inside	M	1	2, 7	182
Superior Interior	Inside	G	2	2, 3, 6	182
Ocean View (Porthole)	Ocean View	F	2	1, 2	214
Ocean View Adapted (Porthole)	Ocean View	FD	2	1	214
Single Ocean View (Picture Window)	Ocean View	K	1	1-3	214
Ocean View (Picture Window)	Ocean View	D, E	2	1, 2	214
Superior Ocean View	Ocean View	B, C	2	3, 6	190-214
Superior Ocean View Adapted	Ocean View	BD	2	3, 6	214
Superior Ocean View Fully Restricted	Ocean View	CO	2	3	214
Terrace Cabin	Balcony	TC	2	3	218
Terrace Cabin Adapted	Balcony	TCD	2	3	218
Single Balcony Suite	Suite	JB	1	6	244
Balcony Junior Suite	Suite	BJ	2	6	280-290
Balcony Suite	Suite	BS	2	6	280-290
Premier Suite	Suite	PS	2	7	568-644
Premier Adapted Suite	Suite	PSD	2	7	568-644
Olsen Suite	Suite	OW	2	7	1,181

Borealis Room Sizes

Most of the rooms on Borealis are a standard size, but there are a few that fall within a range. The best thing you can do is check out the Borealis deck plans on the Fred. Olsen website, as you can then browse to see which of the rooms is the biggest – they’re accurate and to scale, so if a room looks bigger on the deck plans, that means it is.

Borealis Cabins to Avoid

Here are some of the Borealis cabins you might want to avoid – though they aren’t ‘bad’ cabins, just some that you may or may not prefer.

1. Terrace Cabins

Borealis doesn’t have any regular balcony cabins. Instead, it can either offer a suite with a private balcony, or a Terrace Cabin.

Terrace Cabins are all situated on Deck 3, which is the Promenade Deck. Each cabin has sliding doors that open out directly onto the promenade, so instead of a private balcony, think of it as a giant balcony that wraps around the whole ship that you share with all the other guests!

You do get two sun loungers, which are exclusively for your use, situated right outside your cabin. And it’s important to note that the glass is one-way, so people can’t wander around the promenade and stare into each room.

Still, if you don’t want to risk someone hovering right outside your cabin or walking past, you might prefer to upgrade to a suite with a balcony, so you have your own space.

2. Porthole Cabins

Many of the Ocean View cabins on Deck 1 and Deck 2 have portholes instead of a larger picture window. You aren’t limited to just one porthole, you get several in a row – but the experience isn’t the same.

Porthole cabins aren’t really any good if you want to enjoy the view. You need to bend over and peer through, and with them being lower on the ship the views aren’t great anyway.

If you don’t care about the view, and only want some natural light, then these cabins are a good choice (and they’re cheaper than Picture Window Ocean View cabins).

Otherwise, consider booking another cabin type if you want to be able to enjoy that sea view from your cosy cabin.

3. Cabins Under the Pool Deck

Premier Suites 7005 to 7019

Whenever I write guides on cabins to avoid, one of the most common complaints I find is about noisy cabins, typically above the theatre, or near the engines.

But to be honest, the noise complaints on social media and forums for Borealis are almost non-existent. That’ll be helped by the typical audience, who generally aren’t late-night party animals, and the fact that the lowest cabins aren’t super-close to the engine deck.

One potential noise issue is with the pool deck, which is directly above some of the Premier Suites on Deck 7. It’s not the actual pool that can be noisy, but the decking area when people wake up early and go to move/reserve a lounger for the day, scraping it across the wood.

If you’re someone who tends to be awake early anyway then it’s not much of a problem at all. The sound is muffled, after all, and it only lasts a few seconds at a time at most. However, if you’re a lighter sleeper and those cruise lie-ins are important to you, consider booking one of the suites further back on that deck.

4. Higher Cabins If You Suffer Seasickness

Borealis isn’t a huge ship, but she is a little older, and without some of the latest innovations in stabilising technology, that does mean you can often feel the movement of the boat on the water, especially when you’re towards the front or aft (rear) of the ship and on a higher deck.

The way Borealis’ accommodation is designed, the better cabin classes are further up, because they offer better views. I saw a great phrase when researching this guide – “The more you pay, the more you sway”, because the better a room you book, the higher up you are.

You can avoid this if you book a mid-ship cabin, since the motion is felt less there, but if you suffer from seasickness really badly then I’d recommend a lower deck.

Fresh air and a view of the horizon are helpful so this might actually be when a Terrace Cabin is worth choosing.

5. Connecting Cabins If Not Needed

Like many cruise ships, Borealis has connecting cabins. These are side-by-side cabins with an extra door between them, which normally stays locked on a cruise. However, if you book both adjacent cabins, you can ask for the door to be unlocked and essentially create one larger cabin for your travelling party.

This is the only other time where noise could play an issue though, because connecting doors on cruise ships are always worse than a metal wall for soundproofing. So, if you book one of the connecting rooms, you might hear the other guests in the adjoining room through the door.

Loud, rowdy passengers are rare on a Fred. Olsen cruise, so it shouldn’t be too much of a concern for you, but again light sleepers (especially if loud snoring drives you mad) might want to make sure they don’t get one of these rooms.

6. Part-Accessible Cabins If Using a Wheelchair

1806, 1807, 1956, 2500, 2702, 2704, 2709, 3394, 3399, 3428, 3439

On the official cabin listings for Borealis, rooms are either standard or they are designated as ‘Adapted’, meaning they offer extra features to accommodate guests with disabilities or accessibility requirements.

However, what you’ll only find out if you check the deck plans is that there are two kinds of adapted cabin – fully adapted, and part-adapted.

Fully adapted cabins are designed for guests with wheelchairs or scooters who need the extra room to manoeuvre, whereas part-accessible cabins don’t offer additional space but have an adapted bathroom with fold-down shower seat and grab bars.

Make sure, if you use a wheelchair or scooter, you book the right type of room. I’ve listed the part-adapted cabins above but you can also see them on the deck plans with the code PA.

7. Balcony Suites If You Hate Smoking

One of the quirks of Fred. Olsen cruises is that smoking is still permitted on balconies. Very few cruise lines still allow this, and usually have very limited smoking areas on the ship.

So, be aware that if you book a Balcony Suite of any kind on Borealis, you might be adjacent to someone smoking. An ashtray will be provided, too.

On a windy day, it might not be too bad as the smoke is quickly carried away, but I know some people hate the smell of smoke, so it’s good to be aware of these rules.

To be clear, it’s only in rooms with a private balcony where smoking is allowed. It’s not permitted in Terrace Cabins.

I suppose, if you are a smoker, this also makes these rooms even more appealing since you don’t need to trek to a designated public area to have a cigarette or use your vape.

Best Cabins on Borealis

Here’s a look at some of the best cabin options on Borealis:

1. Olsen Suites

The Olsen Suites are the best accommodation options on the ship. There are four, each offering almost 1,200 square feet of space – that’s around six times the amount of space you get in the smallest rooms on the ship.

They are still only one-bedroom accommodation options though – that extra space gives you a much bigger bathroom with an oversized bath, a separate shower, a spacious private balcony with loungers, and separate dining, dressing and sitting areas too.

You also get the Suite Dreams package, which comes with all the suites on the ship, which gets you:

• Priority check-in
• A welcome bottle of sparkling wine
• A fruit basket topped up throughout the cruise
• Free pressing for formal wear
• An afternoon canape service
• Use of binoculars, an atlas, a bathrobe and slippers in your suite, along with more luxurious towels
• Discounted laundry

So, while this is the most expensive option on Borealis, it’s worth considering if you want your cruise to feel even more special.

When I was onboard Borealis I met a couple who were staying in the Olsen Suite. They showed me photos of it on their phone. I asked what they thought of it and their reply was: “It’s nice, but VERY orange!”.

2. Single Cabins

Solo cruising is growing in popularity across the cruise industry, but it’s always been a popular option with Fred. Olsen. And so, Borealis caters to this with a range of single options, including interior and ocean view.

But what’s really unique to Fred. Olsen is the option to book a solo suite – normally on a cruise, you’d be paying full-price for two people if you wanted to enjoy a suite on your own.

If you’re looking for a solo cruise option to meet new friends (or more…) then Borealis’ range of accommodation options is one of the most varied of all cruises.

When I cruised solo on Borealis, I was given a twin room (pictured below) when I booked the solo traveller rate. It would have been nice to have a double bed, and I’m sure my cabin steward would have changed it for me if I would have asked.

3. Aft-View Cabins

2704, 2707, 2711, 3437, 6223, 6225, 6227, 6229, 6234, 6236, 6238, 6240, 7061, 7063, 7065, 7067, 7070, 7072, 7074, 7076

There are a select few cabins on Borealis that offer an aft view, being positioned right at the back of the ship and looking out over the wake.

Your own opinion matters here, but it’s widely believed that the aft views are the best on a cruise ship, since you get to enjoy the serenity of the scenery fading away.

It’s a nice-to-have feature with the Ocean View rooms lower on the ship, but for the Balcony Junior Suites on Decks 6 and 7 it’s even more useful, since you get a more sheltered balcony – it’s one of the calmest places to relax on the ship.

What is the Best Deck on Borealis?

The best deck on Borealis is Deck 7, which is where you’ll find the Olsen Suites, the Premier Suites, Balcony Suites and a handful of Superior Single Interior rooms. Normally, you want to cruise with cabins above and below to minimise noise, but on Borealis, noise is rarely an issue.

Being on Deck 7 not only means getting some of the best accommodation options, but it also means you’re close to the pool and sports decks, yet not too far from the restaurants either.

What is the Best Room on Borealis?

The best rooms on Borealis are the Olsen Suites, but there are several good options, including the Premier Suites and the range of Single Cabin options. The aft-view Balcony Junior Suites are also excellent. The least popular rooms are the Terrace Cabins, which open straight onto the Promenade Deck.

NEW DEALS JUST RELEASED!

Don’t miss the latest Fred. Olsen offers…

Find More Information About Borealis Cabins

I read a lot of Borealis reviews when putting this guide together. Honestly, they are all so positive! It was quite tricky digging through all the love for the ship to find the cabins that people weren’t a fan of, so that’s promising if you were looking to book a cruise on the ship.

If you want to do your own additional reading, and see cabin pictures from past guests of Borealis, you can take a look:

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If you enjoyed this article please share!

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

It seems that, for the foreseeable future at least, Royal Caribbean has a monopoly on the largest cruise ships in the world. And as soon as one ship has launched, they start planning how they can beat it.

It feels like we’ve only just welcomed Wonder of the Seas into the fleet and now we’re already looking at the shiny new plaything, Icon of the Seas. Both are utterly incredible ships – genuinely amazing feats of engineering and planning, and packed with things to see and do.

But how do they compare, and ultimately, which is best? Let’s take a look.

Size

Is Icon of the Seas Bigger Than Wonder of the Seas?

Icon of the Seas is the biggest cruise ship in the world – bigger than Wonder of the Seas. It has a higher guest and crew capacity, more passenger decks, a higher gross tonnage, and it is 10 feet longer too.

With the Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas size comparison, we’re only talking marginal differences from a percentage perspective – overall, Icon of the Seas is around 5% bigger than Wonder of the Seas in terms of gross tonnage. In terms of the Icon of the Seas capacity, that’s around 8% more.

But it is larger in every area overall. Harmony of the Seas was actually a couple of inches longer than Wonder of the Seas, but Wonder was bigger overall – Icon beats both in every criteria.

Read more: Royal Caribbean Ships By Size

Neighborhoods

The Oasis-class ships, including Wonder of the Seas, first introduced the concepts of neighborhoods to the fleet. Each neighborhood is a themed area of the ship where different features are grouped together.

Icon of the Seas has taken that concept and pushed it even further. While both ships have 8 neighborhoods, Icon of the Seas has improved old favourites and added some thrilling new ones.

The neighborhoods shared by the ships are:

1. Central Park

Central Park is an indoor neighborhood with live trees and greenery, as well as relaxing dining venues and entertainment. Icon of the Seas has an enhanced version of Central Park which is described as “lusher and livelier”.

2. Royal Promenade

The Royal Promenade is one of the main hubs of the ship, home to speciality dining restaurants, bars and shops galore. The Royal Promenade on Icon of the Seas brings a little more of the outside in – it’s the first in the fleet to have floor-to-ceiling ocean views.

3. Suite Neighborhood

The Suite Neighborhood is a relaxed area of the ship that is available exclusively to suite guests, including private pool, dining and sun terrace areas. Icon of the Seas has the largest and most luxurious in the fleet.

The other neighborhoods on Wonder of the Seas (but not on Icon of the Seas) are:

1. Boardwalk

Designed to be similar to classic boardwalks on the oceanfront, this is where you’ll find Johnny Rockets, the arcade, the sports bar and the candy store.

2. Pool and Sports Zone

A straightforward name for a straightforward neighborhood where you’ll find the pools, hot tubs and sports court.

3. Entertainment Place

Home of live entertainment including the theatre, comedy club and ice skating rink, as well as the casino.

4. Youth Zone

Another arcade can be found here, as well as the Adventure Ocean kids club and the teen club.

5. Vitality Spa and Fitness

With a fitness centre open to all guests, and a spa and salon with various treatments available, this is a place where guests can unwind and burn off some steam.

And the neighborhoods debuting on Icon of the Seas are:

1. AquaDome

Situated at the top of the ship, AquaDome offers a peaceful oasis during the day (with its own tranquil waterfall), and at night it comes to life with vibrant bars and restaurants.

An enhanced version of the AquaTheater, it incorporating more technology than ever before including state-of-the-art projection and robotic arms.

2. Chill Island

Chill Island is the main pool area – home to four of the seven pools on the ship. As well as the Swim & Tonic pool with swim-up bar, the Royal Bay Pool (the largest pool in the fleet) and Cloud 17, an adults-only pool, it also has four Lime & Coconut bars.

3. Surfside

Surfside is a fun-packed family area of the ship, replacing elements of the Pool and Sports Zone, Youth Zone and Entertainment Place on Wonder of the Seas. It’s here you’ll find Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay, as well as the Adventure Ocean kids club, Social020 for teens, the arcade, carousel and more dining venues.

4. The Hideaway

This peaceful neighborhood is situated higher up the ship in a quiet corner, ideal as a space for the adults to escape and unwind. It has the first suspended infinity pool at sea, as well as a multilevel sun terrace with whirlpools and a bar.

5. Thrill Island

Few ships can introduce 6 new water slides at once, but Icon of the Seas doesn’t just do that – it introduces 6 slides that all break records, including the tallest drop slide at sea, the first mat-racing duo slides, and the first open free-fall slide.

Here, you’ll also find the unique Crown’s Edge – part skywalk, part ropes course, part thrill ride.

Staterooms and Suites

Both Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas have some of the most innovative accommodations you’ll find on a cruise ship, including some incredible suites!

There are actually fewer staterooms on Icon of the Seas than on Wonder of the Seas – Icon has 2,805 while Wonder has 2,874. 

Despite that, Icon can carry 600 more guests than Wonder – which tells us there are even more family suites available that can host families of four, five and six.

Read more: Wonder of the Seas Suites

Read more: Icon of the Seas Suites

Ultimate Family Accommodations

Both Wonder and Icon have a multi-storey suite that offers incredible accommodations for families. On Wonder of the Seas that’s the Ultimate Family Suite, a two-storey room with a slide from the bedroom to the living area, and loads of fun features.

On Icon of the Seas, it’s the Ultimate Family Townhouse. A third storey has been added, the slide has been retained, while the balcony area has a cute white picket fence and its own mailbox. It’s also around 50% larger than the Ultimate Family Suite

Icon of the Seas Stateroom Debuts

There are some other debuting suites and staterooms on Icon of the Seas that you won’t find on Wonder of the Seas. These include:

• Inside Plus – a redesigned Inside stateroom with a full dividing wall between the bedroom and bathroom for extra privacy
• Surfside Family Suites – new suites located near the pool areas, with alcoves just for the kids to enjoy
• Panoramic Ocean View rooms situated inside the AquaDome
• Family Infinity Balcony staterooms to sleep families of three, four, five and more

Restaurants

Icon of the Seas features a really exciting mix of dining venues. Included options include the obvious spots like the Windjammer Marketplace buffet, the main dining room, Sorrentos Pizzaria and the Park Cafe. However, there are some new options that you won’t find on Wonder of the Seas like the AquaDome Market, the Surfside Bites snack bar and the Surfside Eatery buffet.

When it comes to speciality dining on Icon of the Seas versus Wonder of the Seas you can, again, expect a mix of classic speciality dining favourites like Chops Grille and Izumi Hibachi & Sushi as well as some new spots to try like Pier 7 which serves ‘beachside’ cuisine and the Empire Supper Club, a luxurious 1920s New York restaurant.

Just as on all Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there will be an extra charge to eat at the speciality restaurants so you’ll want to know which ones are worth your money. Check out my guide to Icon of the Seas restaurants to learn more.

Bars & Lounges

Here’s how the ships compare from a bars and lounges perspective:

Lime & Coconut, the Caribbean bar that appeared on Wonder of the Seas, is returning for Icon of the Seas but with four locations on the ship instead of just one, one of which will be the first frozen cocktail bar for the fleet.

There’s also Swim & Tonic – one of the pools situated in the Chill Island neighborhood that has the first-ever swim-up bar at sea. Guests will be able to relax with a gentle swim and a tasty cocktail at the same time.

And there’s a bar in The Hideaway, where guests can enjoy a peaceful drink away from the louder areas of the ship whilst overlooking the suspended infinity pool.

The bars and lounges available on Wonder of the Seas are:

• Schooners Bar
• Trellis Bar
• Playmakers Bar & Arcade
• The Attic
• The Lime & Coconut
• Boleros
• Cask & Clipper
• Diamond Club
• Rising Tide Bar
• Solarium Bar
• Suite Lounge
• Bionic Bar
• English Pub
• Vue Bar
• Wipe Out Bar
• Cantina Fresca

Activities and Entertainment

Wonder of the Seas has some of the best activities and entertainment at sea. While we don’t know the full extent of what Icon of the Seas offers yet, we do know that it includes many of the features that are present on Wonder of the Seas, and adds some exciting new ones.

Waterslides

Wonder of the Seas has four main waterslides:

• Typhoon
• Cyclone
• Supercell

It also has Ultimate Abyss which is a dry slide, so there’s no water, but it is the tallest slide at sea.

Icon of the Seas has six main waterslides, including:

• Pressure Drop – the first open free-fall slide at sea
• Frightening Bolt – the tallest drop slide at sea
• Storm Surge & Hurricane Hunter – the first family raft rides at sea
• Storm Chasers – two mat-racing slides (the first at sea)

AquaTheater

Both Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas have an AquaTheater. On Wonder of the Seas it’s located at the rear of the ship, but on Icon it’s moved inside the AquaDome, on top of the ship. Both offer incredible choreographed shows, although Icon’s AquaTheater has upgraded projection and robotics.

Live Shows

Both Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas feature epic live entertainment on-board every night. While we don’t know what Icon will have to offer yet, Wonder of the Seas includes inTENse at the AquaTheater, and 365 at the ice rink.

Ice Skating

Both ships have a large ice rink where guests can skate during the day, and enjoy live shows at night. Of course, Icon of the Seas has one that’s larger – Absolute Zero, the biggest in the fleet.

Read more: The Best Royal Caribbean Ships for Kids

Itineraries

One of the biggest differences between Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas is destination – at least for part of the year.

Wonder of the Seas is based in Orlando, Florida for half the year, offering 7-night Caribbean sailings. Guests will visit the private resorts of Labadee and CocoCay, as well as explore Basseterre and Nassau.

During the summer months, the ship crosses to the Mediterranean, with Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) becoming its base. From here, guests will be able to enjoy 7-night cruises to Palma de Mallorca, Marseille, Florence/Pisa, Barcelona and Naples/Capri.

Icon of the Seas isn’t offering any cruises in Europe. Instead, it will be based in Miami year-round. 7-night cruises to the Caribbean will include popular ports like Cozumel, Philipsburg and Roatan, as well as CocoCay, the private island.

It’s worth noting that the new adults-only beach at CocoCay is named The Hideaway, opening at the same time as Icon of the Seas launches with its own Hideaway neighborhood.

Cost to Build

The Wonder of the Seas cost $1.35 billion to build, with the final figure being revealed close to her launch in 2022. This did not make her the most expensive cruise ship in the world though – her elder sisters Oasis and Allure of the Seas actually cost more at around $1.4 billion.

The final cost for Icon of the Seas hasn’t been revealed yet, but early estimates put the cost of the ship at around $2 billion, which would be a significant increase. However, there are some who now estimate the cost of the ship as being closer to the $1.3 billion mark. It will likely be a similar cost to Wonder of the Seas once it is finalised.

There are some savings – a lot of the new features have already been designed for Wonder of the Seas – but as the first ship to be powered by LNG, and with new areas of the ship including the impressive AquaDome, it will still be quite an expensive ship.

Which Is the Best?

With all the excitement around the launch, people are saying that Icon of the Seas is better overall – it’s bigger and has some very exciting new neighbourhoods. 

However, bigger isn’t always better, and some people prefer the (slightly) smaller crowds of Wonder of the Seas.

Destination plays a big part too. You won’t think Icon of the Seas is better if you want to book a cruise in the Mediterranean – the natural choice would be Wonder of the Seas. And if you wanted a post-Disneyworld cruise, Wonder of the Seas sails from the nearer port too.

What isn’t up for debate is just how impressive both of these ships are. They might not be to everybody’s taste, but they are amazing for families or anyone who essentially wants a theme park/city on the sea. 

With so many places to eat, bars to drink at, activities to try and more, you won’t even need to leave the ship during a port day.

Or more likely, when comparing Wonder of the Seas vs Icon of the Seas, you’ll need multiple cruises on each ship to enjoy them to their fullest.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

The Icon of the Seas is making waves (sorry) for its amazing onboard features. As the biggest ship in the world, it is packed with things to see and do, as well as plenty of shops, restaurants, bars and more.

But despite everything there is to do on board, a cruise is about the experience as well as the ship. What matters just as much, for many people, is where the ship is sailing to, and where it departs from as well. So, let’s take a look…

Where Does Icon of the Seas Sail To?

Icon of the Seas sails to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Itineraries almost always include a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay – the private resort owned by Royal Caribbean, with a new adults-only beach opening for the ship’s launch.

While the itineraries will vary throughout the year, CocoCay will be almost ever-present on the Icon of the Seas route.

Guests will be able to enjoy everything that the island has to offer, including the Thrill waterpark with its 13 water slides, including the tallest in North America (although with Icon featuring six amazing water slides of her own, you might be all waterslided-out).

There’s also the Coco Beach Club, which has the first over-water cabanas in the Bahamas, although expect demand for these to be high – try to book early if you can. If you want the best views, you’ll want to book on the Up, Up & Away excursion with a helium balloon adventure.

CocoCay is also opening the new Hideaway Beach. This will be an adults-only oasis and will include its own large pool, and private cabanas with their own pools too. Again, expect this to be very popular.

One itinerary doesn’t sail to CocoCay, but instead sails to Labadee, which is Royal Caribbean’s private Haitian resort.

There are seven Icon of the Seas itinerary 2024 & 2025 options that are offered:

Unless you have a specific port of these that you really want to visit, the experiences at the Icon of the Seas destinations will be relatively similar – expect a vibrant and welcoming culture, plenty of great bars, expansive beaches that are great for the kids and some unique gift shops. 

Obviously, each does have some unique excursions and cultural landmarks, so it’s worth researching the ports first if you can’t decide on a specific date.

Where Does Icon of the Seas Sail From?

Icon of the Seas sails from Miami year-round. Most of Royal Caribbean’s larger ships tend to offer winter seasons around North America, and summer seasons in Europe, but Icon will be based in Miami permanently, at least initially.

The Icon of the Seas home port is Port Miami. The ship sails from Terminal A, which is the largest cruise terminal in the USA and is perfectly suited to host the largest cruise ship in the world.

There’s always the chance that plans could change – that’s the beauty of cruise ships, they can be moved. Royal Caribbean may shake things up and bring Icon of the Seas to Europe or Asia in future. But initially, the ship will call Miami its home for the entire year.

Miami is already the busiest cruise port in the world, so it’s no surprise that the largest ship in the world will also choose this city as its home port. Just bear in mind how many people may be travelling to the port on your departure day, and allow enough time to get there.

When Does Icon of the Seas Sail?

Icon of the Seas sails all year round since she launched in January 2024. There won’t be any downtime – guests can book a cruise from Miami to the Caribbean at any time of the year, including over Christmas.

You should be aware that the Caribbean does have a hurricane season that runs from early June to late October. This could impact your itinerary, if you decide to cruise on Icon of the Seas during these months.

You’ll be perfectly safe – all modern cruise ships are equipped with advanced tech to help them avoid storms. But it could mean that some days in port have to be cancelled, or your itinerary re-arranged, if the weather blocks the ship from docking.

Read more: What Happens If There Is A Hurricane While On A Cruise?

Of course, there isn’t a better ship in the world for this to happen on – it’s not like you’ll be bored having to spend another day on Icon!

Even if you miss CocoCay, you still get an incredible resort experience on your ship. You might just have to make do with 6 waterslides instead of the 13 on the island.

Icon of the Seas’ Maiden Voyage

The inaugural sailing of Icon of the Seas was set for 27th January, 2024 from Miami. Before this, she sailed across the Atlantic Ocean from the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland with delivery of the ship taking place in late 2023.

The early sailings were extremely popular. People love to be one of the first to cruise on any ship – never mind the fact that it’s a Royal Caribbean ship, which is always a popular choice, and it’s the biggest in the world.

If you don’t book early, you might find that the ship sells out fast, even with the capacity for 7,600 guests. But if you do want to sail on Icon of the Seas, you hopefully won’t have to wait too long to find a date that works for you.

To Conclude

Choosing to base Icon of the Seas in the Caribbean all year round is not a huge surprise from Royal Caribbean, especially with the money that’s been invested in turning CocoCay into the amazing resort that it is.

If you’re looking to book a cruise on Icon of the Seas, you know that you’ve got one home port to contend with, and it’s mostly about finding a date that works for you – unless you have a specific Mexican or Caribbean destination you want to tick off your list.

And if you were hoping to sail in Europe on Icon of the Seas, there’s always the second and third Icon-class ships yet to be revealed – there’s a good chance one of those will be stationed on the eastern side of the Atlantic, at least for part of the year.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me