When the world's two largest superyachts meet for the first time

Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas and the newest addition to the company's fleet, Icon of the Seas, docked at Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line's $350 million private island in the Bahamas, on January 15th. Let's compare these two luxury cruise ships.

Two giant ships meet for the first time

The "Wonder of the Sea," with a total tonnage of 235,600 tons, is the world's largest cruise ship, measuring 1,188 feet (approximately 362m) in length and 18 decks high. This "floating resort," capable of accommodating 9,288 people, launched in March 2022 with 2,867 guest cabins and amenities such as boardwalks over the water.

Both are described as "resorts" by the sea.

However, at the end of 2023, Wonder of the Seas' title of "world's largest" was "stripped" and awarded to Icon of the Seas, a 20-story ship, a giant vessel measuring 1,198 feet (approximately 365m) in length and weighing 250,800 tons.

This iconic cruise ship can carry 9,950 people with a total of 2,805 cabins, an onshore water park, and 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges, making it one of the largest in the world in the cruise industry.

Icon of the Seas will begin commercial voyages on January 27th.

Icon of the Seas, left, and Wonder of the Seas, right, are the world's two largest cruise ships, each packed with colorful, family-friendly amenities.

Icon of the Seas was built at Meyer Turku in Turku, Finland, and is one of the most expensive ships ever built, costing a staggering $2 billion. The ship is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Meanwhile, the significantly less expensive but still impressive $1.35 billion Wonder of the Seas was built at Chantiers de L'Atlantique in St. Nazaire, France.

The ship boasts the largest water park at sea, Thrill Island, which also features the first freefall slide at sea. There are 6 record-breaking water slides, 7 pools, and 9 whirlpools on board.

Technically, the Aquadome – the largest free-standing dome at sea, made up of 700 glass panels – is the most impressive feature. During the day, it offers panoramic ocean views, and at night, it houses the AquaTheater with a waterfall cascading down onto the stage below. The ship is divided into eight distinct zones – Central Park being a relaxation area featuring a real park with 33,500 real trees.

A spokesperson for the cruise line told Business Insider that, prior to the public launch of Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean conducted a "staff test voyage" from Finland to Miami, USA, and then docked in the Bahamas.

Thanks to this, the two largest ships in the world had the opportunity to meet each other when the Wonder of the Sea also docked at Perfect Day as part of its 7-night Caribbean cruise.

Having only been open for just over a year, the records of the Sea Wonders have already been broken.

Icon of the Seas is now back in PortMiami, USA, while Wonder of the Seas has arrived at its next port in Mexico. In the near future, Icon of the Seas will operate 7-night cruises in the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

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