It’s easy to get lost when you explore the world’s biggest cruise ships. Let us be your guide

Deciding to cruise with Royal Caribbean International is no small matter. For starters you’ve got 28 ships to choose from, making it one of the largest fleets in the world. What’s more, in the list of the world’s biggest cruise ships, the top seven fly the Royal Caribbean flag.

This fleet of floating mega resorts redefined – and continues to redefine – what it means to cruise and the list of onboard facilities can be overwhelming.

Need help? This article gives you a greater insight into this cruise line and helps you make that ever so big decision.

So let’s step on board:

Who is Royal Caribbean International?

This cruise line belongs to the Royal Caribbean Group, which also happens to own Celebrity Cruises and the luxurious Silversea line.

Based out of Miami, the line took its maiden voyage way back in 1996 with its Vision-class ship Grandeur of the Seas. Grandeur is an apt name, because Royal Caribbean has grown on a grand scale - with a capital G.

The crown for being “world’s biggest cruise ship” goes to Icon of the Seas in terms of both of both tonnage and passenger capacity – a title it stole from its fleet mate Wonder of the Seas.

At maximum capacity, Icon of the Seas can hold up to 7,600 guests. Throw in the 2,300 crew members and that’s nearly 10,000 people on board the one ship. That’s what you call big.

But, spread across 20 decks and with more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges, seven pools, the largest waterpark at sea and 28 different types of cabin categories, this behemoth of a ship can handle it.

Icon may be the champion when it comes to size, but it’s sister ships hardly pale into insignificance. They too can be described as “mega resorts”. Royal Caribbean is renowned for being ‘that’ line that has the water parks, the surf simulators, the skydiving simulators, the zip lines, the ice rinks, the rock climbing walls, carousels, mini-golf courses, bumper car pavilions … so many experiences you would never have imagined having while on board a cruise ship.

Who is a typical passenger?

If you’re in the camp that thinks ‘big is best’ then you’re in the right ball park.

If you love the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas coupled with the entertainment of Orlando and the magic of Disney, then step straight on board with Royal Caribbean. You’re going to love it.

And if sharing the ship with thousands of other people is all part of the fun, then you’re in excellent company.

With such a daring and dazzling array of entertainment, unsurprisingly Royal Caribbean cruises are right up there as a favourite family choice. Increasingly, multi generational families are also stepping on board, because there really is something for everyone.

Older people can still, for example, partake in ballroom dance classes – but in addition to the more sedate waltz they’re likely to find themselves also learning to salsa or merengue.

While it’s indisputable that the big ships can get crowded, particularly during the peak school holidays, the ship designers have been clever in creating distinct areas – they call them ‘neighborhoods’. You can easily escape the crowds if you want to. The adult-only Solarium tends to be relatively quite compared to the rest of the ships. And the ships’ spas are always a haven of tranquility.

Having said all that, if you’re a couple looking for a more intimate cruise, then consider the much smaller (and older) Vision or Radiance class of ship. Designed back in the 90s, these ships are more reminiscent of classic cruise ships. You’ll see more marble, gold, wood and glass on these smaller ships. So couples looking for a quieter holiday are advised to flick through the brochure to check out these options.

Being a mass-market cruise line, it really does cater to the masses. If you’re on a budget then Royal Caribbean is just as much of an option for you as it is to the well-heeled passenger who is able to splash out and check into one of the most luxurious suites at sea. You’ve got a host of cabin options to choose, from basic inside cabins to three-bedroom, multi-storey, lavish suites.

What ships are in the fleet?

You’ve got 28 cruise ships to choose from – at the moment.

By the summer of 2025 this number will have increased to 29 once Star of the Seas launches.

In 2024 we’ve already seen two new ships join the fleet. Icon of the Seas made the biggest splash when it set sail in January 2024. Inter Miami superstar footballer Lionel Messi set the tone when he named what is the cruise line’s first Icon-class of ship and the world’s biggest ship. Star of the Seas will be the second in the Icon series. A third as-yet unnamed Icon-class ship will set sail in 2026

In July 2024, pop sensation Meghan Trainor was announced as Godmother when she named Utopia of the Seas – the world’s second biggest ship at sea, and the sixth ship in the line’s Oasis class.

The fleet can be split into seven classes. Together the 20 Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom and Voyager-class ships make up Royal Caribbean’s big-ship fleet.

Starting at the top is the Icon class – bigger, brasher and more brazen than ever. These feats of engineering continue to push the boundaries to the limits, to the extent that’s it’s questionable if these mega ships can (or should) get any bigger.

Next up is the Oasis class comprising six ships (including Utopia of the Seas). A seventh is under construction and scheduled to launch in 2028. This is the class that sees passengers enter the jaws of the death defying Ultimate Abyss – the world’s tallest slide at sea towering 150ft above sea level and spanning 10 storeys with twists and turns the whole way down.

Five Quantum-class ships have total capacities up to 4,905 passengers. Being fractionally smaller they don’t have the massive waterparks or ice skating rinks on board like their bigger sisters, but they do have the North Star.

Unique to Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class cruise ships, the North Star is a viewing pod that rises 300 feet in the air above the top deck of the ship for the best 360-degree view at sea. It’s a glass bubble somewhat resembling one pod of a giant Ferris wheel – only bigger, attached to an arm that not only rises up and down, but also circles from one side of the ship to the other.

The other factor that distinguishes Quantum from the other classes is that the ships have more attractions inside. This includes some of the inside pools – making these ships ideal for colder climes.

The three Freedom-class ships were game changers when they first set sail as early as 2006. Again they hold up to 5,000 passengers. They were the first to launch the Flowrider – now a signature for the Royal Caribbean line. They still have the waterparks, a miniature golf course and a rock climbing wall on their top decks but you won’t find the zip wires on Freedom.

The Voyager class comprises five ships built from 1999 to 2003. They’re similar to those in the Freedom class but are smaller with a maximum capacity of around 3,800 passengers.

The remaining eight ships sit within the Radiance and Vision classes. As the first ships launched by Royal Caribbean they are much older and smaller – but they shouldn’t be dismissed.

Holding around 2,500 passengers they offer a more intimate feel and being smaller means they can access ports that their far bigger sisters can’t.

Let’s talk entertainment: what’s on offer?

The danger here is that we could be talking forever. There’s absolutely no room for boredom on board these ships.

Entertainment is Royal Caribbean’s raison d’etre.

As we’ve already said, expect waterparks, climbing walls, FlowRider surfing simulators, ice skating rinks, mini golf courses, zip wires, bumper car tracks… the (bizarre) array of entertainment is more akin to a theme park.

It’s worth checking the ship’s inventory of facilities carefully when choosing which to board. The rule of thumb is that the bigger the ship the more facilities. For example. while every Royal Caribbean vessel now has one of the line's iconic climbing walls (some have two), only the 20 ships of the line's big-ship classes have a FlowRider surfing simulator. Only the 15 ships of the Icon, Oasis, Freedom and Voyager classes have ice skating rinks. As mentioned, Quantum has its North Star observation pod – but doesn’t have the big waterpark.

All this aside, come the evening it’s time for passengers to sit back and watch the entertainment unfold. Royal Caribbean puts on a show like no other cruise line.

Stage shows:
On stage expect no less than Tony-award-winning Broadway shows. Productions of the likes of Chicago, Hairspray, Cats, Mamma Mia fill the state-of-the-art main theatres.

Alongside this, expect a line up of electrifying original productions. On its ice rinks be prepared for displays of mesmerising spins, lifts and jumps by world-class professional figure skaters.

And be prepared for dare devil acrobatics, synchronised swimming and captivating high-dives at the open-air AquaTheater. This unique ‘stage’ is found only on the Oasis-class ships and is the deepest pool at sea. Flanked by two 30-foot diving platforms, the AquaTheatre is the setting for mesmerising dive spectaculars.

Icon of the Seas has its own version of an AquaTheatre – its glass-covered AquaDome.

Meanwhile, Quantum ships have Two70, a high-tech theatre space for singing dancing and acrobatics, plus its two-deck-high Music Halls.

Casinos:
If you’re feeling lucky, then head to the casino. Every Royal Caribbean ship has a casino – and they’re big business. The Casino Royale on Oasis of the Seas has 450 slot machines and 27 table games.

Promenades:
The Royal Promenades that you’ll find on the Voyager, Freedom, Oasis and Icon ships are the main thoroughfares and the most ‘happening’ neighbourhoods on board. Here you’ll find an array of shops, restaurants, cafes, nightclubs and bars.

For pizza, head to Sorrento’s; for coffee make a beeline for Starbucks; for a taste of home, pop into the English pub; and for something different, check out the Bionic Bar, which is manned by a robot.

The line’s five Quantum ships have a much smaller Royal Promenade called the Royal Esplanade.
These ships are also home to The SeaPlex, where you’ll find the bumper car pavilion, circus school, air hockey and table tennis.

Kids’ Clubs:
Whether your child is six-months-old or 17-years-old, they’re welcome to join Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean kids’ club. The programme is one of the most extensive kids’ clubs at sea.

For parents and babies there’s a timetable of classes. When they reach 18 months they can join the Royal Tots playground sessions.

Three to five-year-olds graduate to Aquanauts; Explorers are six to eight year olds and kids from nine to 12-year-olds are part of the Voyagers club.

Meanwhile, teens and tweens have their own dedicated space called The Living Room, ideal for gaming and watching movies and generally chilling out with their new mates. They also have their own nightclub called Fuel. Plus, YSpa is a spa designed exclusively for young passengers with a menu of treatments like manicures and facials for young skin.

Spas:
For adults wanting the ultimate pampering experience, then the Vitality Spa beckons. Signature facials, Botox, body wraps and scrubs, acupuncture, tooth whitening, hair and nail services – the menu is vast. Some of the spas themselves are huge with as many as 12 treatment rooms and thermal areas with hot stone chairs, rain forest shower areas, saunas and steam rooms.

What’s on the menu?

Your plate (and your stomach) is always full with Royal Caribbean. There are loads of complimentary restaurants and cafes included in your cruise.

The multi-level, main dining room serves casual breakfasts and lunches and more formal three-course dinners. Many of the dishes on the menu rotate each night, which means you can easily go an entire week without ever repeating a course.

To dine here, you need to sign up for either My Time Dining, which allows you to dine whenever you want, or Traditional Dining, where you have a fixed table and a set time for dinner each evening.

Windjammer is another of the biggies open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Expect vast buffets here serving dishes from almost every single country.

For Mexican flavours head to El Loco Fresh; grab a hot dog from the Dog House; pizza lovers can sample a slice from Sorrento’s or head to the noodle bar for those Japanese noodles.

There are eateries dotted all over the ship, meaning you never have to step too far to refuel. Right beside the pools you’ll find the Surfside Eatery or a few flip-flop feet away from the kids’ pool you’ll find the Splashaway Cafe.

And if you fancy a bite in the middle of the night then head to the bustling Cafe Promenade open around the clock serving your morning coffee to your late-night bite.

Coastal Kitchen is exclusively for guests staying in suites. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving farm fresh seasonal flavours with suitably paired wines (although not for breakfast).

Icon of the Seas has a few new complimentary eateries, including the food hall called The AquaDome Market. Plus you’ll find The Pearl, serving up grab-and-go options – ideal if you want to take them back to your cabin to eat. Plus, it’s open 24 hours.

While the complimentary eateries offer a vast menu, there are a host of speciality restaurants to tempt you. These do cost extra.

New for Royal Caribbean is the Empire Supper Club on board Icon of the Seas.

This is possibly Royal Caribbean’s most lavish restaurant. Diners need to don their formal attire here (in other words, men need to wear a jacket). But that’s befitting what is a very sophisticated three-hour, dining experience that includes an eight-course meal, matching cocktails and evening entertainment in one.

Meanwhile, Utopia of the Seas also features several new venues, including Pesky Parrot, a Caribbean take on a tiki bar, and Royal Railway – Utopia Station, an immersive dining experience inside two custom-built train cars. Each train carriage seats 24 people and, thanks to video screens built into the window panes, the ‘passing scenery’ takes diners to destinations that match the culinary theme. Even the floor vibrates to conjure up that feel of being on board a train.

A favourite speciality restaurant across the fleet is Chops Grilled, the line’s signature steakhouse. Many ships have the family-style Italian eatery Giovanni’s Table or Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver.

Hooked Seafood is found on the newer ships serving lobster rolls and fresh fish. Sushi lovers should check out Izumi Hibachi; Johnny Rockets is a traditional American diner; Wonderland serves imaginative creations inspired by Alice in Wonderland and 150 Central Park is an upscale restaurant serving palate-pleasing appetisers and elevated classic dishes with menus often curated by celebrity chefs.

If you know prior to stepping on board that you’re going to want to dine in the speciality spots then it’s best to plan ahead. There are a couple of dining packages that will keep costs down.

Treat yourself to the Unlimited Dining Package, which allows you complete flexibility to dine in whichever speciality restaurant you fancy and how many times you like.

Alternatively, the 3-night Dining Package allows you to sample the menus in three different speciality restaurants during your cruise.

Both these packages work out better value than simply tipping up and paying as you go.

Where will you sleep?

Emmmm, that’s not a simple question. Some ships have up to 30 categories of cabin to consider. Royal Caribbean calls them ‘Staterooms’.

You’ll have the choice of relatively low-cost inside cabins (sorry, we mean Staterooms) that are perfect for travellers on a budget, right up to a mega grand suite on Icon of the Seas that is three storeys high!

More than 50% of Icon’s room types are new to the cruise line, including eight new Suite categories and rooms designed specifically with families in mind.

For example, the Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony stateroom is a brand new concept that combines families' need for additional space, as well as the new infinite balcony. The bathroom is conveniently split – in other words, the toilet is segregated from the shower – and there’s a separate alcove with bunk beds for the kids, each of which comes with its own TV to save arguments.

Overall, more than 82% of all rooms on board Icon of the Seas accommodate three or more guests. Or, for multigenerational families travelling together or for parents with teens in tow, you’ll find more connecting rooms. By this we mean two separate rooms that share a private foyer area.

And just a little more on that three-storey ‘cabin’: it’s the Ultimate Family Townhouse on board Icon. It comes complete with a slide (saves taking the stairs); a cinema and a patio with exclusive entrance to the ship’s Surfside Neighborhood.

The whole family enjoys Royal Suite Class Star status that unlocks exclusive experiences, like a personal Royal Genie, priority access everywhere onboard, and so much more.

Having said that, all guests staying in a suite get the VIP treatment. There are loads of perks that come with this, including fast-track check in and exclusive restaurants and bars.

Where can you go?

With 300 ports of call, you can tick off pretty much every corner, nook and cranny of the world.

Cruise the Caribbean; marvel in the magic of Mexico; go on an intrepid adventure to Alaska; explore the hidden gems of Europe; discover exotic Asia; venture DownUnder and cruise the islands of the South Pacific and discover North America.

As the name suggests, the Caribbean is a top and typical haunt. On the whole, you’re most likely to find the fleet cruising primarily around the Caribbean and Europe. In a typical summer, about half the ships are sailing the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda, while another seven or eight ships are in Europe. The line typically sends four ships to Alaska every summer.

During the winter, the line will move even more of its ships to the Caribbean, and send a few to Asia and Australia.

Royal Caribbean’s private island of CocoCay is the perfect beach haven to chill out on the sands or in a private cabana. It’s here that you can also ride the gauntlet on the zip wire, take to the skies in a hot air balloon or brave the slides and rides at its waterpark.

The line also has Labadee, a private beach destination in Haiti.

Sailings around Europe are highly favoured by the fleet. With cruises can be as short as three nights right up to 16 nights, taking in the likes of Barcelona, treasured Italian cities or the Greek islands.

For Northern Europe you’ll mostly sail out of Southampton, Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

What’s included?

You can very easily enjoy your cruise without having to shell out (too many) extra pounds. As you’d expect, your cruise fare includes all your accommodation and dining in the complimentary eateries. Most of the entertainment is thrown in too, including the rock climbing, waterparks, surf simulators and all the pools.

However, there are loads of options that will tempt you to splash out additional money – spa treatments, fitness classes, speciality dining, room service, the casino, laundry, shore excursions and your drinks in the bars (or for that matter any drinks that aren’t your basics). As a matter of course you should always consider the dining and drinks packages.

Plus, there’s the matter of gratuities – that’s the tips. Royal Caribbean automatically adds daily gratuities to your final bill. This can be in the region of $19 per person, per day. Around 18% gratuity is also added to bills for bars, minibars and the spa.

Wifi also comes at an extra cost per day for a single device. The service on board is pretty good though allowing you to easily stream your favourite soaps and films on your phone. For the best value, check out the packages that cover multiple devices.

Bottom line

Royal Caribbean is the perfect choice for the ‘mega-resort lover’. The thrills and spills found on its ships are akin to that found in the world’s big hotels and theme parks. If non-stop ‘wow’ entertainment, world-class theatre shows, a vast variety of dining options and the hubbub of crowds (and the inevitable queues) are right up your street, then this could be the cruise for you.

Its big ships are ideal for multigenerational families, while its smaller vessels attract families and couples.

This is a cruise line where the onboard experience pretty much tops the itinerary. Some passengers find themselves having such a great time on board that they’d rather stay put when the ships drop anchor.

Being such a huge cruise line, we really do advise you to take your time when booking. With 28 ships in the fleet, thousands of cabins on board each one, hundreds of itineraries and a host of on- board packages to choose from, it’s not only time consuming, it’s very easy to make the wrong choice.

A Not Just Travel agent has got all the information at his or her fingertips and will help guide you through the entire booking process. They’ll match you with the right ship. They’ll ensure you get the best available cabin at the best available price and they’ll advise you on the most cost-effective packages to take out.

Once all the basics are booked all you need to do is wait for the adventure to unfold.

We look forward to hearing from you.

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