A superlative like “the world’s biggest” might be a red flag for some people, but in the case of Icon on the Seas, its size is actually its biggest asset. Even before its January 2024 debut as the largest and most exuberantly top-decked vessel in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, the 1,198-foot-long ship, which can carry 5,610 guests at double occupancy and as many as 7,600 at full capacity, had social media buzzing — both with giddy anticipation and outright disdain.
So does Icon of the Seas live up to the hype or deserve the ridicule? I’ll admit I was a skeptic, but once on board I was pleasantly surprised — shocked in fact — by how easy this 20-deck megaship is to navigate. I was even more impressed by its design, with wide-open spaces and visual delights around every corner. Not once did I feel that sense of overcrowding that usually sends me retreating to my stateroom, although, admittedly, on my media preview cruise there were only around 4,000 guests versus the 6,000 to 7,600 Icon of the Seas will typically accommodate. Yes, this massive 250,800-ton ship might not be for everyone, but Royal Caribbean loyalists will find a lot to love.