Luxury Cruising Editorial

Royal Caribbean is home to the very biggest cruise ships in the world, and they don’t come bigger than Utopia of the Seas or Icon of the Seas.

These two ships are absolutely breathtaking, and packed with amazing features that will entertain families, couples, solo travellers – anyone, really – for hours and hours. Indeed, it’s almost impossible to see everything these ships have to offer on a single cruise.

But how do they compare, and which is the better ship? Let’s take a look.

Size

Which is the Biggest?

Icon of the Seas is around 6% bigger than Utopia of the Seas in terms of gross tonnage (internal volume). Icon has two extra passenger decks, and a higher capacity too.

Utopia of the Seas will still be one of the biggest ships in the world when she launches in 2024, but the Icon Class, led by Icon of the Seas, is the biggest.

Icon of the Seas bigger in every aspect – capacity, length, passenger decks etc. So it all adds up. While Royal Caribbean likes to build bigger and better ships, Utopia of the Seas isn’t designed to be the biggest, but instead the ultimate sign-off to the Oasis Class, the previous biggest ship class in the world.

Because Icon of the Seas launches first, this means that Utopia of the Seas will be the only Oasis-class ship to not be the biggest ship in the world when she launches – at least, until her next sister ship also launches in 2028.

Neighborhoods

The Oasis Class, which Utopia of the Seas belongs to, was the first class of ship for Royal Caribbean to introduce the concept of neighborhoods. These are districts of the ship that are themed, and have certain features grouped together.

Icon of the Seas also has neighborhoods – in fact, both Icon and Utopia have 8 – but they’re different. There are some that are shared though, so let’s look at those first:

1. Central Park

Central Park is a really cool feature that’s unique to Royal Caribbean ships – a real, living park packed with live trees and shrubs right in the heart of the ship. It’s an open-air area with a selection of dining venues and bars, as well as some live entertainment too.

Icon of the Seas does have an ‘enhanced’ Central Park which is described as being “lusher and livelier”

2. Royal Promenade

The Royal Promenade is a central part of the ship which is home to a number of shops, bars, restaurants and more. It’s one of the main hubs of the ship. Icon’s does have a bit of a twist compared to Utopia, with floor-to-ceiling ocean views.

3. Suite Neighborhood

The Suite Neighborhood is part of the ship that is reserved for suite guests – the name sort of gives it away. It’s a relaxed space with its own pool, terrace and dining options, creating a calm space for guests in suites who want to avoid the bustle of the rest of the ship.

Then these are the five neighborhoods you’ll find on Utopia of the Seas (and other Oasis-class ships), but not on Icon of the Seas:

1. Boardwalk

The Boardwalk is designed to be similar to the classic boardwalks that you’d find in many oceanfront towns. It has an arcade, a sports bar, and a candy store. The Boardwalk is a really popular space on Royal Caribbean ships, so it’ll be interesting to see whether Utopia is the last ship to get it.

2. Entertainment Place

Entertainment Place is the home of the live entertainment on the ship, including the theatre and the comedy club. It’s also where you’ll find the casino and the ice skating rink.

3. Pool & Sports Zone

Guess what happens in this neighborhood? Yes, this is where you’ll find Utopia of the Seas’ swimming pools, hot tubs, and sports court.

4. Youth Zone

The Youth Zone is the dedicated space for the kids club and teens club, and it’s also where you’ll find another arcade.

5. Vitality Spa & Fitness

This neighborhood is where you’ll find the spa and salon on the ship, along with a fitness center – if walking all over this amazing ship isn’t enough exercise for one cruise!

And then there are five neighborhoods that debuted on Icon of the Seas, but that won’t then be found on Utopia of the Seas:

1. AquaDome

The impressive dome structure at the top of Icon of the Seas is a fantastic venue. During the day it’s a peaceful oasis with its own waterfall, while at night it becomes a much more vibrant location, with various bars and restaurants to enjoy.

It’s also where you’ll find the enhanced version of the AquaTheater, with more technology incorporated into shows than you’ll find on Utopia of the Seas.

2. Chill Island

Chill Island is the neighborhood that’s home to four of the seven pools on Icon of the Seas. It’s a relaxing spot, with a swim-up bar, an adults-only pool, and four Lime & Coconut bars.

3. Surfside

One of the most exciting debutant neighborhoods on the ship, Surfside is aimed at young families, with a whole host of exciting attractions and dining venues. It’s where you’ll find the Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay splash areas, the kids’ and teens’ clubs, an arcade, a carousel and loads more.

4. The Hideaway

The Hideaway couldn’t be more different from Surfside. Located higher up the ship in a quiet corner, it’s aimed at adults who want a tranquil escape. It has a multilevel sun terrace with whirlpools and a bar, and the first suspended infinity pool at sea.

5. Thrill Island

Thrill Island is the home of the waterpark and the Crown’s Edge attraction. There are six brand new waterslides to try here, and plenty of other exciting activities.

Staterooms and Suites

On both the Utopia of the Seas and the Icon of the Seas, you have a huge wealth of accommodation choices available. These range from the cheapest inside cabins, right up to incredible multi-storey suites that cost upwards of £20,000 per person per week.

Utopia of the Seas actually has more guest staterooms than Icon of the Seas, but Icon has a higher maximum capacity. That’s because she has more family rooms and suites, and so she’s able to host around 600 more guests.

Ultimate Family Accommodations

One of the best accommodation options on both the Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas is the Ultimate Family option.

On Utopia, that’s the Ultimate Family Suite, and it’s a two-storey room with a load of fun features, including games for the kids to play, a huge balcony area, and a slide from the bedroom down into the living area.

Icon of the Seas has the Ultimate Family Townhouse, which adds an extra storey. It still has the slide, but it also now has a scenic little outdoor space with a white picket fence that leads right out onto the Surfside neighborhood.

Unique Staterooms to Icon of the Seas

There are a number of staterooms that will be available on Icon of the Seas but not on Utopia 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

I have a full guide to suites on Icon of the Seas here.

Restaurants

There are some incredible options for dining on both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas.

However, we don’t yet know the full list of restaurants that Utopia of the Seas will offer – only a selection that have been confirmed. So a full side-by-side comparison isn’t yet possible.

However, let’s take a look at some of the restaurants that feature on both ships:

• Main Dining Room
• Windjammer Buffet
• Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
• Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
• Chops Grille
• Hooked Seafood

Utopia of the Seas Restaurants

While we don’t know a huge amount of detail about the Utopia of the Seas restaurants yet, here are some that you’ll find on the ship that aren’t on Icon of the Seas:

The Mason Jar Southern Restaurant and Bar

This lively venue offers a real taste of the South, including Bayou staple foods and some incredible BBQ food. You’ll enjoy fantastic homely food whilst relaxing with live country music. There are some incredible brunch options too.

TBC – Immersive Train Dining Experience

We don’t even know the name of this restaurant yet, but we do know that it will be making its debut on Utopia of the Seas. Guests can expect an immersive experience where they will feel like they’re on a scenic train journey while they dine.

Icon of the Seas Restaurants

Here are some of the Icon of the Seas restaurants that you won’t find on Utopia of the Seas:

Empire Supper Club

The Empire Supper Club is being described as a “super premium dining experience”, so expect a super premium cover charge. It has a 1920s New York vibe and will offer 8-course dinners with curated cocktails and specially selected music.

AquaDome Market

The AquaDome Market is a food hall with a number of different food options that are new to Royal Caribbean. Creme de la Crepe will offer a range of savoury and sweet crepe options, while GNGR is a relaxed Asian-inspired venue.

Toast and Garden offers a selection of sandwich options, and Mac’s is a venue themed all around mac-and-cheese, with lots of variants including pepperoni pizza mac, and creole mac.

Surfside Eatery

The Surfside Eatery is a second buffet restaurant on the ship, this time tailored to families. It has lots of simple food options and, of course, an ice cream machine.

There’s also Surfside Bites, a pick-up window offering snacks like fries, popcorn chicken, donut holes and more.

Pier 7

Pier 7 is a speciality restaurant aimed at young families, offering an “all-day brunch” experience. While it will have a cover charge, there are a selection of “Kids Eat Free” options including grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers, chicken tenders and more.

Base Camp

Base Camp is situated in Thrill Island and offers fast-food style casual food options for those on the go. Smash burgers, crispy shrimp bao buns, fried cheese curds and more will be offered here.

Pearl Cafe

Pearl Cafe is a cafe restaurant that serves handcrafted sandwiches, bakery desserts and speciality coffees.

Bars, Lounges, Activities and Entertainment

With Utopia of the Seas still under construction, a lot of the information about the bars, lounges, and entertainment onboard is still under wraps.

So, comparing her to Icon of the Seas isn’t easy.

There will be some shared features, including waterparks, the AquaTheater, the Lime and Coconut Bars, and all the features you would expect from a Royal Caribbean cruise – live shows, kids clubs, arcades, casinos, and so much more.

We do know that Icon of the Seas will feature more waterslides (six, compared to Utopia’s three) and that they will all be brand-new, record-setting slides.

It will also have an improved AquaTheater inside the AquaDome, with robotic arms and more screens.

Once we know more about Utopia of the Seas and the various features she will have onboard, we can do more of a direct comparison. But expect Utopia to be similar to Wonder of the Seas.

Read more: Icon of the Seas Vs Wonder of the Seas

Itineraries

A major difference between the two ships is the itineraries being offered.

Firstly, the home ports – these aren’t drastically different, with both sailing from Florida. Icon of the Seas sails from Miami, while Utopia of the Seas will sail from Port Canaveral.

Both Miami and Orlando airports are easy to reach, but if you wanted to craft the ideal family break and include a trip to either Walt Disney World or Universal Studios before or after you sailed, then Utopia of the Seas would be more convenient.

As for the actual itineraries, Utopia is aimed at short cruises of either three or four nights only. It’s meant to be a ship for the ‘Ultimate Weekend’. Cruises all visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line’s private island.

Icon of the Seas, meanwhile, only offers 7-night cruises. There’s a choice of Western and Eastern Caribbean sailings, including ports in Mexico, Honduras, St Maarten, the Dominican Republic and more. Most (but not all) cruises also call at Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Read more about Icon of the Seas’ itineraries.

Cost to Build

One of the biggest potential differences in the two ships is the cost to build them. Utopia of the Seas cost around $1.35 billion, similar to her sister ship Wonder of the Seas. While costs have risen since Wonder was built, savings can be made because the ship is so similar in design.

Icon of the Seas may end up being a lot more expensive – while a final figure has yet to be revealed, it’s anticipated that she could have cost as much as $2 billion. Some estimates have the figure lower, and close to the amount that Utopia of the Seas will cost. But Icon has a lot of new features, and they take a lot of designing.

One feature that the ships will share is their fuel type. Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet to use Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), instead of older diesel fuels that were much more polluting. Utopia of the Seas will also use LNG, becoming the first Oasis-class ship to be adapted for this fuel type.

Which Is The Best?

There is no simple answer when it comes to which is best between Utopia of the Seas and Icon of the Seas.

Despite the many similarities between the two ships, they’re being pitched quite differently. Icon of the Seas is designed to be the ultimate family ship, with more family accommodation options, improved dining options for kids, and neighborhoods like Surfside that are specifically tailored to younger families.

Whereas Utopia of the Seas is designed for the ‘World’s Biggest Weekend’, so more for action-packed breaks for families and adults alike.

In reality, many of the experiences are shared. Icon has more new features, since a lot of what Utopia of the Seas offers has been seen before on Wonder of the Seas and other Oasis-class ships.

But just because Icon is bigger and newer, that doesn’t mean she’s better. Both are incredible, and so unless you specifically want to experience something like Surfside or one of the new restaurants on Icon of the Seas, I’d suggest checking the itineraries and dates and choosing your cruise based on those.

Related Posts

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

When the Icon Class of ships for Royal Caribbean was first announced, there was some speculation that it wouldn’t be as big as the Oasis Class. That’s now turned out to be completely wrong – Icon of the Seas is, by some distance, the biggest cruise ship in the world.

But how big, exactly? How does she compare with the other large ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, and the biggest ships for other cruise lines around the world?

Let’s take a look.

How Big Is Icon of the Seas?

Icon of the Seas has an internal volume of 250,800 Gross Tonnes, and a length of 1,198 feet (365 metres). She has 20 decks in total including 18 that passengers can access, making her the biggest cruise ship in the world.

Icon of the Seas is as long as three and a half football fields, meaning that it takes almost 15 minutes to walk from one end of the ship to the other. With 20 decks, the ship is taller than the Eiffel Tower!

This is a truly massive ship, with 8 separate neighbourhoods as well as over 2,800 staterooms. There are over 40 bars and restaurants onboard, with 23 being completely new to Royal Caribbean.

Icon of the Seas will definitely be busy, but there’s enough to keep everyone entertained without huge crowds forming, including 7 different swimming pools, 6 record-breaking waterslides, separate splash parks for kids and babies and more.

Is Icon of the Seas the Biggest Cruise Ship?

Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship of any in the world, surpassing Wonder of the Seas for being the biggest by gross tonnage and passenger capacity, and Harmony of the Seas for length. 

It looks likely that Icon of the Seas will hold onto that title for at least a year. No other cruise line has, at this stage, announced a ship which would surpass it. 

There will be a second Icon-class ship launching in 2025 if she remains on schedule – Star of the Seas – and if she follows the form for Royal Caribbean then she will be a similar size, but perhaps marginally bigger. Royal Caribbean often likes to find an additional half-a-foot or slight increase in Gross Tonnage so that it can announce a ‘new’ biggest ship in the world.

Icon of the Seas Specs

Let’s take a look at the Icon of the Seas dimensions to see how she measures up from a statistics perspective. It’s useful to compare it to some other ships too, so that you get an idea of the scale of the ship in comparison.

First up, let’s look at how big Icon of the Seas is when compared to Wonder of the Seas, the previous largest ship in the fleet, as well as compared to Spectrum of the Seas, the largest of the ships in the Quantum Ultra Class.

And then here’s how Icon stacks up against the largest ships belonging to some of the other top cruise lines in the world:

This helps to demonstrate just how much bigger Icon of the Seas is compared to the other largest ships in the world. Wonder of the Seas (and the other Oasis-class ships) already held quite a lead in terms of size over other cruise lines, but Icon of the Seas takes that even further.

Of course, bigger doesn’t always mean better when it comes to cruise ships – many people would be overwhelmed by a ship the size of Icon, especially with the capacity that she has.

And larger ships are limited in the ports they can visit – so some people may prefer a smaller ship so that they can sail to quieter, more remote destinations.

Icon of the Seas Gross Tonnage

Icon of the Seas is the first cruise ship in the world to surpass 250,800 gross tonnes. Gross tonnage doesn’t refer to weight, but it’s a measurement of volume – how much internal space the cruise ship has.

So it’s the best measurement to use when comparing ship sizes, since it takes into account length, width and height as a volume measurement. And the Icon of the Seas tonnage is 5% larger than the previous biggest ship in the world, Wonder of the Seas.

5% may not seem like much, but it’s a difference of around 13,000 GT – to put that into perspective, the total gross tonnage of the 10 smallest cruise ships in the world is 9,916 – combined! 

So, Icon of the Seas has more than an extra 10 ships’ worth of space compared to Wonder of the Seas. 10 small ships, sure, but still.

Icon of the Seas Length

Icon of the Seas is 1,198 feet long, making her around 10 feet longer than the previous longest cruise ship in the world, Harmony of the Seas.

That 10 feet may sound like nothing when you consider how much extra capacity the ship has, but it’s not about length – the extra two decks will make all the difference.

Icon of the Seas Capacity

The Icon of the Seas passenger capacity is 5,610 guests at double occupancy, and 7,600 guests maximum. Many of the staterooms on Icon of the Seas are specifically designed for families of three, four, five or more, giving the ship an incredible capacity overall.

The stark difference here is when you compare the number of staterooms – there are actually around 70 fewer staterooms on Icon of the Seas than there are on Wonder of the Seas, despite having a maximum capacity of 600 more.

But with new family-specific accommodation options including the Surfside Family Suites and Family Infinity Balcony staterooms, there are more options for anyone travelling that wishes to have more than two people in one room.

Icon of the Seas also has the highest crew number of any cruise ship at sea, with 2,350. That means the total capacity of the ship is 9,950 – just 50 shy of 10,000. Don’t be surprised if Royal Caribbean saves that notable capacity for one of the follow-up Icon-class ships.

Icon of the Seas Decks

Icon of the Seas has 20 decks in total, of which 18 are accessible to guests, with 2 reserved for the crew for sleeping quarters and for the behind-the-scenes running of the ship. That’s two more decks than Wonder of the Seas overall.

It’s not the first ship in the world to have 20 decks, although it’s the first to have 18 that the public can access. Remember that Icon actually has fewer staterooms than Wonder of the Seas, despite having two extra decks – telling you that the staterooms are larger, and there’s more to do on board as well.

To Conclude

Without seeing the ship in person, it can be hard to grasp the sheer scale of Icon of the Seas. If you’ve ever seen any of the larger ships in the world you’ve probably been wowed by them – imagine that same feeling, but even bigger.

The good news is you certainly won’t miss her when you’re arriving at the Port of Miami for your cruise.

She really is impressive, and while she may end up sharing the title of biggest ship in the world with her impending sister ships (or even giving up the title if they are slightly bigger), she will remain – dare I say – iconic for many years to come.

Related Posts:

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

One of the best parts of any cruise is the food. It might not always be the finest gourmet fare, but it is generally really, really good – and there’s a lot of it, too!

And many of the bigger cruise ships give you a huge amount of choice when it comes to dining. Icon of the Seas, being the biggest cruise ship in the world, is no different.

You’ll be spoiled for choice when you dine on Icon of the Seas, and on a typical 7-night cruise you’d struggle to even fit in half of your options.

In this guide I’ll take you through everywhere you can eat on this incredible ship, including letting you know which venues are included in your fare, which cost extra and whether they’re worth it.

List of Complimentary Dining Venues on Icon of the Seas

All of these restaurants and dining venues are included in your fare. For almost everything you eat here, you won’t have to pay a penny extra.

While these restaurants are all free of charge for food, they don’t include all drinks.

Drinks are generally not included, but you may choose a drinks package which will include your beverages at these locations. There are some included drinks though, particularly in the Windjammer where a small selection is always available.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each of the included restaurants, cafes and dining venues on Icon of the Seas…

AquaDome Market

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type: Global food hall

The AquaDome Market is a food hall with a number of food stands to enjoy. There’s Feta Mediterranean offering fresh pitas and bowls; Macs, which serves a range of mac-and-cheese dishes; Toast and Garden, offering sandwiches and salads; GNGR, which offers Asian favourites; and Creme de la Crepe, which has a range of sweet and savory crepes.

Basecamp

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Type: Fast casual food

Basecamp is situated on Deck 16 and it serves essentially as a ‘base camp’ for a lot of the outdoor activities in that part of the ship, including the waterslide exits, the rock-climbing wall and so on.

Expect a casual walk-up bar and hatch which we can guess will serve lighter snacks, such as pretzel bites or a beef hot dog. Or you can pay a little extra for some next-level snacks, such as shrimp bao buns and waffle chicken nuggets.

El Loco Fresh

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Type: Mexican

El Loco Fresh is a casual Mexican diner where you can enjoy a range of fresh flavours, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more. Select your protein (including veggie options) and then head to the fixings station to add all your preferred toppings.

It’s open for lunch and dinner and you can pull up a chair or grab yourself a snack and take it with you if you’ve got a busy day planned. There’s also the Cantina Fresca next door if you want to add a margarita to your lunch.

Main Dining Room

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type: Varied

The Main Dining Room is where you’ll be able to enjoy sit-down dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a varied menu that changes each day.

There are formal nights, but on most evenings you’ll be fine with smart casual, and a lot of people ignore the formal dress code anyway – they aren’t super-strict. There’s always a vegetarian and vegan option here, and a selection of meals suitable for younger guests too.

Park Cafe

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Type: Sandwiches

The Park Cafe is situated in the Central Park area of the ship and it serves a selection of lighter bites such as sandwiches and soups, ideal for a picnic sitting outside among the plants.

The Royal Kummelweck roast beef sandwich is always a highlight so if you’re a meat-eater, you won’t want to miss this. There are plenty of good vegetarian options here too though.

Pearl Cafe

• Meals: Breakfast, lunch, snacks
• Type: Sandwiches and sweets

The Pearl Cafe offers stunning views from its expansive windows, and is the ideal stop-off point for a lighter bite. Enjoy freshly-pressed panini sandwiches, salads, sweets and more, along with a quieter atmosphere.

Sorrentos

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Type: Pizza

The ever-popular Sorrentos will be present on Icon of the Seas, serving a range of pizzas by the slice which you can grab during the day and long into the night.

All your favourites are there, as well as some exciting flavours you might be tempted by. Sorrentos is often the go-to place for a bite to eat if you’re staying up late to enjoy the party on board.

Sprinkles

• Meals: Snacks
• Type: Ice Cream

Sprinkles is the ice cream station situated on Deck 15, close to the Cove Pool and the Royal Bay pool. Here you can grab a soft-serve ice cream whenever you’re in the mood.

There’s loads of seating in this area, so it’s a popular spot to take 5 if you want a sweet treat while soaking up the sun.

Surfside Eatery & Surfside Bites

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type: Buffet

The Surfside Eatery is another new venue being added to Icon of the Seas, and it’s a second buffet. It’s aimed at families and will offer all kinds of popular favourites, such as fun-shaped pasta dishes with marinara and cheese sauces, pancakes and a whole lot more.

Next door is Surfside Bites, which will serve a selection of “salty and sweet” treats throughout the day, such as burgers, popcorn chicken, donut holes and more, so if you’re too busy having fun to sit down and eat then you can pick something up and get back to the activities.

Vitality Cafe

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Type: Healthy snacks

The Vitality Cafe is located in the Vitality Spa (which makes sense) and is a great spot for healthier snacks.

The main focus of the cafe is its smoothies and juices, but these aren’t complimentary – only the snacks served here are. But because the focus is on the drinks, the food options are limited – don’t expect a hearty meal here.

Windjammer Marketplace

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Type: Buffet

The Windjammer is the main buffet restaurant on the ship and it’s open from early morning (6.30 am) until late at night (9 pm), giving you plenty of opportunity to grab a meal or a snack.

At breakfast, expect a huge range of cereals, pastries, cooked items and sweets, while lunch and dinner have an equally-varied menu covering all dietary requirements. From pizza, pasta, meat, fries, and sweets too, you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Coastal Kitchen & The Grove

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type: Mediterranean

The Coastal Kitchen and The Grove are exclusively for the use of suite guests and members of the Pinnacle Club on the ship. Coastal Kitchen is a returning favourite, serving fresh Mediterranean food that is beautifully prepared. Junior Suite guests are welcome for dinner only, but Pinnacle Club and higher-tier suite guests can enjoy lunch and dinner here too.

Suggested read: Guide to Suites on Icon of the Seas

The Grove is a new venue, and so far I just know that it’s a more casual venue, but again with a lean towards Mediterranean cuisine. I’ll update this as I know more.

List of Speciality Dining Venues on Icon of the Seas

As if all of the included food isn’t enough, Icon of the Seas has many more options in the form of speciality dining venues. These are all available for an extra charge.

Here’s a list of the speciality dining restaurants on Icon of the Seas….

Now, let’s take a closer look at what each of these has to offer, so that you can decide which ones are worth spending your cash or onboard credit on. I’ve also included the prices of dining at each restaurant, where that’s known.

Celebration Table

• Meals: Dinner
• Type: Varied – VIP
• Price: TBC

Celebration Table is an exclusive dining experience located in the AquaDome. It has its own personal lounge, and a dining room with a table for 12 offering fantastic views.

You can choose from a selection of prix fixe menus – American, Italian, Asian, and Seafood – all served family style alongside some fantastic cocktails. It’s a premium venue to hire but it’s worth it for those special occasions.

Chops Grille

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Type: Steakhouse
• Price: Lunch $19, Dinner $39

Another Royal Caribbean favourite, Chops Grille is the steakhouse restaurant situated in Central Park serving a wide variety of beef, lamb, fish, pork and chicken dishes.

The lunch menu is smaller but less expensive, and a good way of trying this venue if you don’t want to pay full price, especially as dinner often books up very quickly.

Desserted Milkshake Bar

• Meals: Snacks
• Type: Loaded milkshakes
• Price: TBC

The Desserted Milkshake Bar is a debuting venue on Icon of the Seas, so I don’t know the cost yet but I do know that you’ll be able to grab some seriously hefty milkshakes absolutely loaded with toppings. This is not just a scoop of ice cream blended with milk.

Adults can also get a spiked milkshake including their favourite booze, so this isn’t just a kid-friendly venue.

Empire Supper Club

• Meals: Dinner
• Type: Premium American
• Price: TBC

The Empire Supper Club is described as a “premium speciality restaurant”, referring likely to the cuisine and also the cost. It offers an eight-course dining menu that includes dishes such as caviar and wagyu beef, with each course paired with a carefully selected beverage. The venue has a 1920s New York feel for a lively but sophisticated atmosphere.

It’s likely that, of the Icon of the Seas speciality restaurants, this will be one of the most popular. So make sure you make those reservations as quickly as you can!

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Type: Italian
• Price: Lunch $15, Dinner $35

Giovanni’s Italian is another returning restaurant for Royal Caribbean, serving hearty Italian fare including fresh pasta dishes alongside chicken and beef favourites and a good vegetarian menu.

The atmosphere is very warm and friendly, great for guests with families, and the food is delicious, so this is another venue that often gets booked up fast. Again, the lunch menu is reduced but for just $15 per person, it’s a good way to try the venue without spending a huge sum.

Hooked Seafood

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Type: Seafood
• Price: Lunch $20, Dinner $43

Hooked Seafood is a fantastic casual restaurant serving – you won’t believe – seafood dishes. It is only on a handful of Royal Caribbean ships so far, but it’s always popular.

Starters include crab, shrimp cocktails, oysters and chowder, while mains vary from mussels, salmon, fish sandwiches and a selection of platters if you want to sample a lot of treats. While the adult mains are all seafood-based, there is a beef tenderloin on the kids’ menu if they aren’t keen.

Izumi Hibachi & Sushi

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner
• Type: Japanese
• Price: A la carte, $4-$21 per dish. Hibachi $30-35

Enjoy Royal Caribbean’s take on Japanese cuisine at Izumi, where a fantastic selection of sushi dishes are available alongside other appetizers and entrees including hot-rock cooked meats.

Opt for the hibachi and you’ll be sat around a cooking area where your chef will prepare a feast before your eyes, with a choice of meats available for your main alongside soups, salads and stir-fried vegetables. Choose two types of meat for $5 extra if you can’t pick just one.

Pier 7

• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Type: ‘Beachside’ Favourites
• Price: TBC

Pier 7 is a debuting speciality restaurant in the Surfside neighbourhood. It serves food all day and offers “beachside favourites” including surf ‘n’ turf tacos and shareable platters.

They’re describing it as an all-day brunch venue, so expect a selection of lighter bites to enjoy after a hard day spent riding Icon’s waterslides.

Playmakers Sports Bar

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Type: Bar Food
• Price: A la carte, $3-$25

Playmakers is a sports bar that offers a selection of typical bar foods, including burgers, nachos and fries. There are a couple of sweet items too.

Expect plenty of live sports and a fun atmosphere. And if you’re up to it, you could try the 100-wing challenge – finish the lot in 45 minutes and you’ll win a t-shirt. You still have to pay though, with the challenge costing $45 to attempt.

Room Service

• Meals: Dinner
• Type: Seafood
• Price: A la carte, various

If you’re looking for a lazy morning in your stateroom or you just need a snack late at night, order on room service and enjoy a selection of lighter bites and treats, as well as drinks.

Typically it’ll take around 30-45 minutes for your room service order to arrive, so bear that in mind – you may just want to go grab something from the buffet instead if you’re really hungry.

Starbucks

• Meals: Snacks
• Type: Pastries
• Price: A la carte, various

Yes, there is a Starbucks on Icon of the Seas, as there is on many ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Here you can grab all your favourite coffees, as well as a selection of cakes and pastries just like you’d find in your Starbucks back home.

Everything here has an additional cost, so even if you’re on a beverage package, you can’t get a Starbucks coffee for free. But if you just can’t leave that spiced pumpkin latte behind for a week during the Halloween season, you can grab one here alongside a croissant or pain au chocolat.

Sugar Beach

• Meals: Snacks
• Type: Candy/Sweets
• Price: A la carte, various

Sugar Beach is the candy/sweet store on Icon of the Seas, packed with goodies to buy whenever you want to sate your sweet tooth.

You’ll find all kinds of goodies including hard candies, gummies, fudge and even cupcakes. You can buy what’s called a ‘grab bag’ – what we call a pick ‘n’ mix – if you want to try lots of different options.

To Conclude

Icon of the Seas is an incredible ship, with an incredible selection of restaurants. Good luck fitting in as many as you can on your cruise!

While you could absolutely have a fantastic cruise just sticking to the complimentary venues, it’s worth checking out the speciality options if you can.

Especially if you get a cruise with any included onboard credit – treating yourself to a speciality meal is one of the best ways you can spend the credit on the ship.

Read more: 15 Ways To Use Your Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit Like A Pro

Do you have a favourite place to eat on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Which of the new Icon of the Seas dining venues are you most excited about?

Related Posts:

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

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world, but how does it compare to the Titanic?

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at the two ships, in terms of not only size but also the facilities, technology and cost to build.

When the Titanic was built in 1912, it was the largest ship in the world. But, a lot has changed in the past 110 years, and today’s mega-ships like Icon of the Seas would actually make the Titanic look pretty small in comparison!

How Does Icon of the Seas Compare to Titanic in Size?

The Icon of the Seas size is five times that of the Titanic, with an internal volume of 250,800 GT compared to 46,328 GT. With a length of 1,198 feet, Icon of the Seas is around 35% longer than Titanic.

In terms of the Icon of the Seas capacity, she can accommodate 9,950 people (of which 7,600 are guests and 2,350 are crew). This is much more than the 2,435 guests and 892 crew members that could be accommodated on board the Titanic.

Of course, whenever you do an Icon of the Seas size comparison, the other ship is going to be smaller – it’s the biggest cruise ship ever built!

The following table shows some key stats to compare Titanic with Icon of the Seas…

How Fast Is Icon of the Seas Compared to the Titanic?

Titanic and Icon of the Seas have similar cruising speeds, with both cruising at 21 to 22 knots and a maximum possible speed of around 23 knots. This equates to around 25 miles per hour.

Speed isn’t particularly important for cruise ships, as they’re designed to make leisurely journeys and have plenty of time to get from one port of call to the next. Both Icon of the Seas and Titanic are pretty average in terms of speed. But even the fastest cruise ship, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, can only reach top speeds of 30 knots.

Read more: How Fast Do Cruise Ships Go?

Facilities on Icon of the Seas Vs Titanic

Although it’s interesting to compare Icon of the Seas and Titanic in terms of size and speed, I think that the most interesting comparison comes when you look at things like accommodation, swimming pools and dining. This shows just how far cruise ships have come over the past century.

Take a look at this infographic that shows what you can expect from Icon of the Seas. Then, read on to learn more about the facilities offered on the Titanic…

Activities

On board Icon of the Seas, guests can enjoy a whole host of activities such as rock climbing, surfing, laser tag and mini-golf. The ship has an over-the-edge ropes course, a full-size carousel and an indoor AquaTheater.

Titanic had a squash court as well as deck games like quoits and shuffleboard. To pass the time, guests enjoyed playing cards, dominoes and chess.

Icon of the Seas has chess too, but it’s on a much larger scale!

Swimming Pools

Icon of the Seas has seven swimming pools, including the first with a swim-up bar, nine whirlpools and a waterpark featuring six high-speed slides.

By comparison, whilst Titanic did have a swimming pool, it was only accessible to first-class guests and had set times for men and women. This video shows what it looked like…

Dining

Icon of the Seas has 15 restaurants in the Royal Promenade area alone, as well as other options too. There are a great many bars and lounges where you can enjoy a drink, including four different locations just for one bar, the Lime & Coconut.

Read more: Icon of the Seas Restaurants Guide

Titanic had four restaurants. These were the A la Carte Restaurant, the Dining Saloon, the Verandah Cafe and Cafe Parisien.

Accommodation

Icon of the Seas has 2,805 staterooms. There are options to suit everyone, from the cheapest windowless rooms to luxury suites like the Ultimate Family Townhouse, which comes complete with a picturesque white picket fence and mailbox, and a slide to get from the bedroom to the living room.

The top suites on Titanic were the Deluxe Parlour Suites. These had two large bedrooms, two walk-in wardrobes, a private bathroom and a spacious sitting room with a faux fireplace and writing desks.

Safety

As we all know, the Titanic tragically sank after it struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic in 1912, despite being hailed as ‘unsinkable’.

So you may be interested to know how modern cruise ships like Icon of the Seas compare in terms of safety. Could Icon of the Seas sink?

While it’s technically possible that Icon of the Seas could sink, it would be highly unlikely to happen. During a storm, a rogue wave could cause Icon of the Seas to capsize and sink, but this would happen slowly enough for all passengers and crew to escape.

Titanic had 20 lifeboats onboard – enough to evacuate 1,178 people out of the 2,240 passengers and crew on board when the ship sank. Icon of the Seas has much larger lifeboats and can accommodate every person on the ship.

Cost

We’ve not had a confirmed figure for the Icon of the Seas cost to build yet – early speculation had it at around $2 billion, although it may cost much closer to $1.3 billion, whereas Titanic cost $7.5 million.

Even when you factor in inflation, the Titanic would have only cost around $200 million in today’s money, meaning that Icon of the seas cost at least six times as much in relative terms.

Read more: How Much Does A Cruise Ship Cost To Build & Operate?

Cruises on Icon of the Seas start at $731 per person for a 7-night Caribbean cruise. The cheapest tickets on Titanic cost £7. This is equivalent to around $900 today.

Staying in the Ultimate Family Townhouse for Christmas week on Icon of the Seas would set you back around $85,000. That’s still cheaper than the most expensive First Class suites on Titanic, which cost £870, or $104,000 in today’s money.

While a cruise on Icon of the Seas is cheaper than a cruise on Titanic in relative terms, most people did not have enough money to afford cruises a hundred years ago, whereas we generally enjoy more disposable income in modern society.

Read more: How Much Was A Ticket On The Titanic?

To Conclude

Icon of the Seas is a much larger ship than Titanic in every dimension. Cruise ship design and technology has come a very long way over the past century, with ships like Icon of the Seas featuring far more facilities and activities for guests to enjoy.

While the cost of building the largest cruise ships has increased, the relative ticket prices have come down. So, as well as being safer than ever before, modern cruise ships also offer much more value for money than those of the past.

Related Posts:

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

Windstar Cruises, a small-ship cruise line known for its outstanding luxury and adventurous spirit, has announced the first ever “President’s Mystery Cruise”.

The cruise will embark from Athens on 19th April 2025, but the itinerary will remain a secret – guests will only learn which ports they are visiting while on the cruise, with each destination announced 24 hours before arriving.

The annual President’s Cruise is always attended by the cruise line’s president Chris Prelog, and even he is being kept in the dark on the itinerary.

The team is keeping the itinerary secret even from me. They know I get excited about things and can’t help sharing; I’m looking forward to the anticipation of finding out where we’re going along with the guests on board.

Chris Prelog, Windstar President

The cruise is taking place on Star Legend, a ship with a capacity of just 312. She was extensively renovated in 2021, including new dining venues, a revamped spa and significant upgrades to each suite onboard.

Interestingly, the idea of a mystery cruise was inspired by a recent cruise that didn’t go to plan. Sister ship Star Breeze was due to sail an 11-day cruise around French Polynesia, but had to be re-routed due to a tropical cyclone.

At short notice, the captain of the ship instead sailed her to the Marquesas Islands, and the three unique ports of call (including a beach party on Hiva Oa) struck a chord with passengers, leading to the decision to make the 2025 President’s Cruise a more mysterious one.

Prelog said “It’s sort of awakening the sense of adventure again, which is what travel should do. It’s a cruise for guests who like adventure, and who don’t want to plan everything out.”

Related Posts

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

Booking a cruise can sometimes be a little complicated, especially if you’re new to cruising. There’s a lot to consider and work out, including what type of room to book, when to sail, and more.

You’ll also need to check what’s included, and see whether your cruise line offers additional packages to cover things the basic fare normally wouldn’t.

NCL has a Free at Sea package that guests can book for a more inclusive cruise, but things get a little more complex because there’s also Free at Sea Plus.

So, what does each one give you, and which should you book? Is it best to book neither and choose a cruise-only fare? Let’s take a look.

Free at Sea Explained

Free at Sea is a package that guests can book alongside their NCL cruise to give them a more included fare. It gives guests a limited range of free drinks as well as a small amount of free WiFi credit, speciality meals and shore excursion credit.

NCL has changed how Free at Sea works over the years. It used to be that you could book and choose one of the benefits for your cruise without paying extra, or pay more to get all the packages included.

But in more recent years, the offer has changed so that you don’t get any of the extra benefits with a standard cruise fare, but you can often pay a reduced-price upgrade fee to get all of the packages included.

And now there’s the additional option of Free at Sea Plus, which costs more again and gives you additional benefits.

It can be a little confusing, but the option is always there to just choose a cruise-only fare if you like, and then pay for the different parts of your cruise individually. However, you may find that Free at Sea or Free at Sea Plus offers much better value, depending on how much you’ll use the perks.

Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus Compared

Here’s a quick guide to what you get with Free at Sea and Free at Sea Plus:

To really understand the range of benefits, you need to delve a little deeper, so let’s look at what each package gives you in more detail.

NCL’s Free At Sea Package Includes:

1. Drinks

The Free at Sea cruise package includes NCL’s Unlimited Open Bar Package. Despite the name, this isn’t completely unlimited, because there are restrictions on which drinks you’re allowed.

What you get is:

• Selected premium cocktails and spirits under $15
• Selected beers and wines by the glass under $15
• 20% off all bottles of Champagne and wine
• Unlimited soft drinks and juices

But this bit is really important – who gets the drinks package depends on where you cruise from.

If you’re cruising from the UK, only Guests 1 and 2 enjoy the drinks package, and anyone else sharing your cabin will need their own drinks package. 

On cruises booked with NCL in the US, the terms and conditions are different, and the drinks package covers up to 8 guests in the same cabin, provided they are aged 21+. Kids don’t get the drinks package.

Sounds like the US gets a great deal compared to anyone booking in the UK, right? Well actually, US guests need to pay a gratuity for the Open Bar package, which UK guests don’t have to pay. And that gratuity is 20% of the cost of the drinks package per day, so while you’re getting a ‘free’ drinks package, you’re still asked to pay $21.80 per person, per day. 

While this is a lot cheaper than paying the full cost for the package (which would be $109 per day, plus the $21.80, for a total of $130.80 per day), it still is a little bit of a kicker when you get almost $300 added to your cruise fare for a week-long cruise for two guests for your ‘free’ drinks package.

2. Speciality Dining

NCL ships have a range of speciality dining restaurants onboard which come with an additional fee. But with Free at Sea, you’ll be able to enjoy at least one free meal in one of these restaurants.

The amount of free speciality dining meals you get will depend on which cabin type you book, and how long your cruise is:

• Cruises of 3-6 nights – 1 meal
• Cruises of 7-11 nights in a Studio, Inside or Oceanview cabin – 1 meal
• Cruises of 7-11 nights in a Balcony cabin or above – 2 meals
• Cruises of 12+ nights in a Studio, Inside or Oceanview cabin – 2 meals
• Cruises of 12+ nights in a Balcony cabin or above – 3 meals

Regardless of whether you book your cruise in Europe or the US, these free speciality meals are for first and second guests only – anyone else dining with you will need to pay the regular cover charge.

Read more: NCL Free At Sea Specialty Dining Explained

3. Shore Excursions

With the standard Free at Sea package, you get a $50 credit to use against shore excursions, but it’s $50 against each tour. Essentially, this means you’re getting a $50 discount at each port of call you visit.

It only applies to the first guest though, so if you have a shore excursion costing less than $50 per person, one guest will get it free but the other guests will have to pay full price.

4. WiFi

You get a limited amount of free WiFi with the Free at Sea package, but both the first and second guests can make use of the credit. The number of minutes you get depends on your cruise length:

• 3-6 nights – 75 minutes of WiFi
• 7-11 nights – 150 minutes of WiFi
• 12+ nights – 300 minutes of WiFi

It’s not a huge amount – around 15-20 minutes per day on average, enough time to check a few emails and send a few messages, but it’s better than having to pay for a WiFi package if you don’t plan on using the internet much.

Free At Sea Plus Includes: 

1. Drinks

You get the Premium Plus Beverage Package when you choose Free at Sea Plus, which gets you a much wider range of drinks included. You get:

• All top-shelf cocktails and spirits
• All beer, wine and Champagne by the glass
• Select premium bottles of wine and Champagne served with dinner, and 40% off all other bottles
• Unlimited soft drinks and juices
• Unlimited still and sparkling bottled water
• All Starbucks coffees and speciality drinks
• Energy drinks

If you’re travelling from the UK, then the same rules apply as with the regular Free at Sea package – only Guests 1 and 2 get a Premium Plus Beverage Package, and all other guests must pay for their own drinks package.

Things get a little more confusing with bookings made for US guests though. Unlike Free at Sea, not everybody gets the drinks package. Instead, you need to pay extra to cover the upgrade charge from Unlimited Open Bar to Premium Plus, which means paying an additional $29 per person, per day plus the extra gratuities.

Guests 1 and 2 will instead be paying $27 per person, per day as that’s the gratuity cost for the Premium Plus Beverage Package.

So to summarise for US guests:

• Guests 1 and 2 pay $27 per person, per day gratuities for their drinks package
• Guests 3-8 in a cabin pay $56 per person per day ($29 upgrade fee + $27 gratuities)

If Guest 2 is a child travelling with an adult then they will get a Soda Package with Free at Sea Plus. This applies to all guests no matter where you’re booking your NCL cruise. But Guests 3-8 don’t get any drinks package if they are under 21.

2. Speciality Dining

When you book a Free at Sea Plus package, you get two extra speciality dining meals, compared to the equivalent Free at Sea package. So again, it depends on how long you’re cruising for, and the cabin type you book.

Here’s a simple guide for comparison:

It’s also worth clarifying that if you’re travelling as a solo guest, you still get the extra speciality dining meals but only for one person – you can’t invite a guest you meet on the ship to dine free with you.

For everyone else, the free meals continue to apply to Guests 1 and 2 in a cabin only.

3. Shore Excursions

With Free at Sea Plus, you still get $50 shore excursion credit per tour for Guest 1, and you get an additional $50 credit for Guest 2.

So if you’re a couple, you’ll each get $50 off your shore excursions in each port. But remember that if you’re travelling with 3 or more guests in a cabin, everyone else will have to pay full price for their excursions.

4. WiFi

The free WiFi offering you get with Free at Sea Plus is a lot simpler than with regular Free at Sea. Regardless of how long your cruise is, you’ll get an Unlimited WiFi package for your cruise for Guests 1 and 2 (Guest 1 only for solo travellers).

It’s the basic package so you won’t be able to use streaming services – if you want to, you can upgrade for an additional £9/$10 per person, per day to get the Unlimited Premium WiFi package which includes streaming.

Free at Sea Vs Free at Sea Plus Costs

One of the biggest deciding factors for whether or not you should upgrade your cruise is the cost of the package. 

In the UK, the cost of upgrading to Free at Sea is very clearly explained. You’ll pay between £149 and £449 per person, depending on the length of your cruise.

• 3-5 day cruises – £149 per person
• 6-8 day cruises – £199 per person
• 9-11 day cruises – £249 per person
• 12-14 day cruises – £299 per person
• 15-17 day cruises – £349 per person
• 18-21 day cruises – £399 per person
• 21+ day cruises – £449 per person

In the US, it’s not as straightforward, and depending on the promotion at the time, you might find that you get Free at Sea with one or two of the perks included for lower-value cabins, with the option of adding more if you upgrade.

It gets a little clearer when you upgrade to Free at Sea Plus though. Here are the upgrade prices:

These are the prices you’ll pay on top of your standard Free at Sea fare, so in the UK for a 7-day cruise you’ll be paying £199 per person for Free at Sea, plus an additional £273 per person for Free at Sea Plus, so a total of £472 per person above the cruise-only fare.

Which To Choose?

Which of the Free at Sea packages you should choose will depend on your budget for your cruise, and how much you’ll use each element.

Let’s use the working example of a 7-day cruise to demonstrate the value of each package, and let’s assume you’re booking a balcony cabin. 

In the UK you’ll pay £199 per person for Free at Sea, or £472 per person for Free at Sea Plus.

Here’s the value of each element, broken down:

Drinks

With Free at Sea, your Unlimited Open Bar would normally cost you $109 per person, per day – so that’s $763 per person, which is around £600.

With Free at Sea Plus, the Premium Plus Beverage Package would normally cost you $138 per day – so that’s $966 per person, which is around £760.

Speciality Dining

For this example of a 7-night Balcony cabin cruise, you’d get 2 meals with Free at Sea. While individual restaurant costs can vary, a 2-meal speciality dining package would normally cost you $99, or around £78.

Free at Sea Plus would get you 4 meals, and a 4-meal package usually costs $169, which is around £133.

Shore Excursions

Remember you get either $50 or $100 credit depending on which Free at Sea package you choose, but that’s against every tour.

For the sake of this example, let’s say you book 3 tours on your 7-night cruise. That means a total value of $150 for the Free at Sea package (approximately £118) and a total value of $300 for Free at Sea Plus (approximately £236).

WiFi

It gets a little trickier to place a value against WiFi on the Free at Sea package, because you can’t normally pay for WiFi by the minute. So for Free at Sea, we have to value it at £0, and just give the minutes as bonus time.

For Free at Sea Plus, you get the Unlimited WiFi package worth $29.99 per day, which is around $210 for a 7-night cruise, or approximately £165.

This means that booking Free at Sea gets you £737 of value per person for a cost of £199, meaning a saving of £538.

Free at Sea Plus gets you £1,176 of value per person for £472, for a saving of £704.

So, which should you book?

Free at Sea Plus offers better value but only if you would be buying a Premium Plus Beverage Package, a Speciality Dining Package, multiple shore excursions and a WiFi package anyway.

Most of the value comes with the drinks. If you aren’t someone who drinks alcohol, then think hard about whether the speciality dining, shore excursion credit and WiFi costs you get are worth the package.

With Free at Sea they are, but it’s not worth paying £472 per person to get £133 of dining credit, £118 of shore excursion credit and £165 of WiFi. You’d actually be overpaying by £416.

Of course, the Premium Plus beverage package does include soft drinks too, as well as Starbucks coffees and bottled water. You don’t get that with regular Free at Sea bookings.

Final Word

I wish there was an easy answer to tell you which of the packages was the right one for you, but it entirely depends on how much you like to drink (and what you drink), how many excursions you take, how valuable WiFi is to you and whether you prefer to dine in speciality restaurants or the complimentary ones.

For a lot of people, it might make sense to book a cruise-only fare and then pay just for a soda package or even buy drinks individually.

But for anyone who likes to drink premium spirits and Starbucks coffees, dine in the speciality restaurants, or get online during their cruise, choosing Free at Sea Plus could be a better choice.

Related Topics

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