Spots going fastIcon of the Seas vs Symphony of the Seas
Side-by-side cruise ship comparison · Updated April 2026
Icon of the Seas is the larger vessel at 250,800 GT — 10% more than Symphony of the Seas's 228,081 GT. Built in 2024, Icon of the Seas is 6 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Symphony of the Seas edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 3.0:1, meaning more crew per guest.
Score: 5 – 2
Quick Compare
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Category
Icon of the Seas
Symphony of the Seas
Size
250,800 GT
228,081 GT
Passengers
7,600
6,680
Year Built
2024
2018
Crew Ratio
1:3.2
1:3.0
Space Ratio
33.0
34.1
Decks
—
18
Length
365m
362m
From Price
$1,944.97/pp
$790.07/pp
Comparison Verdict
Icon of the Seas is the larger vessel at 250,800 GT — 10% more than Symphony of the Seas's 228,081 GT. Built in 2024, Icon of the Seas is 6 years newer — an advantage for travellers seeking modern amenities and design. Symphony of the Seas edges ahead in service with a passenger-to-crew ratio of 3.0:1, meaning more crew per guest.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Size | Icon of the Seas |
| Capacity | Icon of the Seas |
| Modernity | Icon of the Seas |
| Service | Symphony of the Seas |
| Spaciousness | Symphony of the Seas |
| Decks | Tie |
| Length | Icon of the Seas |
| Fleet Power | Icon of the Seas |
Bottom line: Icon of the Seas leads 5–2 across our categories — strongest in Size. Choose Icon of the Seas for overall superiority; pick Symphony of the Seas if its strengths matter more to you.
Which Ship Is Right for You?
Choose Icon of the Seas if...
- You want the newer ship (built 2024, 6yr newer)
- Size matters to you (250,800 GT)
- More onboard variety (7,600 guests)
Choose Symphony of the Seas if...
- Better service ratio (3.0:1 crew ratio)
- More space per guest (34.1 GT/pax)
- Save $1,154.9/person on sailings
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Deep Dive
Upcoming Sailings
Upcoming Sailings on Icon of the Seas
Spots going fast
Leaves in 11 days
Leaves in 18 daysUpcoming Sailings on Symphony of the Seas
Spots going fast$1,054/person
View Deal →
Leaves in 12 days
Leaves in 18 days8 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day
Royal Caribbean • Symphony of the Seas
Aug 15, 2026 · 8 nights
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is the comparison score calculated?
We compute scores across 8 categories using real spec data — gross tonnage, passenger capacity, crew capacity, year built, length, deck count, space ratio, and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship.
What is the space ratio and why does it matter?
Space ratio is gross tonnage divided by passenger capacity. A higher number means more space per guest. Luxury lines typically score above 40; mass-market ships often fall in the 30-40 range.
What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?
Passengers per crew member. Lower is better — more staff per guest means better service. Luxury lines aim below 2:1; large mainstream ships may be 3-4:1.
Are the prices shown accurate?
Prices are sourced from Cruisebound and reflect real-time availability. They may change based on cabin type, date, and demand. Click through to see the latest fares.
Can I compare more than two ships?
Yes — up to four ships. Use the search tool on the compare hub page to add additional ships.
How current is the ship data?
Specifications come from our database of 380+ vessels, revalidated every 5 minutes via ISR. The "Updated" timestamp shows when records were last modified.
