Icon of the Seas vs Mariner of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas is a fairly new ship, being built in 2024. Icon of the Seas is the first in a whole new class of ships by Royal Caribbean that's designed to provide the "ultimate family vacation." It is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. It's 21 years newer than the Mariner of the Seas, which was built in 2003 and renovated in 2018. Mariner of the Seas was Amplified in 2023 which added many new features, restaurants, and attractions to this ship.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Icon of the Seas is considered an extra large size ship. Coming in at 1,198 feet long and 216 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 3.3 football fields, as wide as 4.1 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 18-story building. Compared to the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas, the Icon of the Seas is 79% larger in terms of overall tons.

Number of Passengers

Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas holds 68% more passengers than the Mariner of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Icon of the Seas has more space per person compared to the Mariner of the Seas. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

The Icon of the Seas uses a neighborhood layout to break up large crowds across the ship, often making it feel less crowded.

Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Icon of the Seas has twenty-nine different dining options like Sorrento's Pizza, Starbucks, and Windjammer. Of those options, fourteen are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other fifteen options have an additional fee.

The Mariner of the Seas has thirteen fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Dog House, Cafe Promenade, and Playmakers. nine of these restaurants are complementary and the other seven have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Icon of the Seas might be a better choice. It has 81% more dining options than the Mariner of the Seas.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Mariner of the Seas might be a better choice then the Icon of the Seas. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Restaurants on Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas & Mariner of the Seas

Bars and Drinks

The Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas has 11 more bars than the Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Icon of the Seas and the Mariner of the Seas below.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas has a total of 7 pools and 9 hot tubs. 1 of the pools and 1 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas has fewer pools than the Icon of the Seas and fewer hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Mariner of the Seas. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.

Worried about lots of kids onboard? Visit The Solarium, an adult-only area for guests 18 and older only. On Icon Class ships, there's isn't a Solarium, but instead, the adult-only area is called The Hideaway.

Both the Icon of the Seas and the Mariner of the Seas have full-depth adult-only pools in The Solarium. The Solarium on both ships is unenclosed and open to the elements. The Icon of the Seas’ adult-only area is in the back, while the Mariner of the Seas’ is in the middle.

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids
Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Royal Caribbean editions with places like Studio B and Sorrento's featured.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. On the Icon of the Seas, 80% of the activities below are included in the cruise fare. On the Mariner of the Seas, only 75% of the activities are included, meaning you might spend more money while on board.

Cruise Costs

Royal Caribbean is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas will likely be more expensive than on Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

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