Skip to main content
Tracking 380+ ships170+ ports

Ship comparison

Icon of the Seas vs Symphony of the Seas

Side-by-side cruise ship comparison. Icon of the Seas wins 5 of 7 scored categories.

At a glance

Quick Compare

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
3.2 guests per crew
3.0 guests per crew
Space ratio
33.0 GT per guest
34.1 GT per guest
Decks
No data
18
Length
365 m
362 m
From price
$1,105.39 pp
$854.9 pp

The verdict

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 travelers seeking modern amenities and design. Symphony of the Seas edges ahead in service at 3.0 guests per crew, meaning more crew per guest.

CategoryWinner
SizeIcon of the Seas
CapacityIcon of the Seas
ModernityIcon of the Seas
ServiceSymphony of the Seas
SpaciousnessSymphony of the Seas
DecksNo data
LengthIcon of the Seas
Fleet PowerIcon 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.

Decide

Which Ship Is Right for You?

Choose Icon of the Seas if

  • You want the newer ship (built 2024, 6 years newer)
  • Size matters to you (250,800 GT)
  • More onboard variety (7,600 guests)
Book Icon of the Seas

Choose Symphony of the Seas if

  • More crew per guest (3.0 guests per crew)
  • More space per guest (34.1 GT per guest)
  • Lower fares per night (from $122 per person per night)
Book Symphony of the Seas

Prices

See Current Prices

You have compared the ships. Now see what they cost.

Icon of the Seas

from $1,105.39 per person

Book Icon of the Seas

Symphony of the Seas

from $854.9 per person

Book Symphony of the Seas
Cruise and flight packages

We may earn a commission from partner bookings at no extra cost to you.

Fares

Sailing Prices

DetailIcon of the SeasSymphony of the Seas
Cheapest$1,105.39 pp$854.9 pp
Per night$158 pp$122 pp
DepartingNov 14Nov 8
Duration7 nights7 nights
View sailingView sailing

Prices from Cruisebound, per person, for the sailing shown.

Go deeper

Deep Dive

Sailings

Upcoming Sailings

Upcoming Sailings on Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas sailing from Miami, Florida

7 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day

Royal Caribbean • Icon of the Seas

Oct 31, 2026 · 7 nights

Mexico

$1,274/person$182/night
View Deal
Icon of the Seas sailing from Miami, Florida

7 Night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day

Royal Caribbean • Icon of the Seas

Nov 7, 2026 · 7 nights

Bahamas

$1,260/person$180/night
View Deal
Icon of the Seas sailing from Miami, Florida

7 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day

Royal Caribbean • Icon of the Seas

Nov 14, 2026 · 7 nights

Bahamas

$1,105/person$158/night
View Deal
Powered by Cruisebound

Upcoming Sailings on Symphony of the Seas

Powered by Cruisebound

Hotels & Accommodations Near Port Miami

Compare prices from 100+ booking sites

See Accommodations

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the comparison score calculated?

We score 8 categories from spec data: size, capacity, modernity, service, spaciousness, decks, length and fleet power. Each category awards one point to the winning ship. A category where either ship has no data is marked No data and left out of the score.

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, and mass-market ships often fall between 30 and 40.

What does the passenger-to-crew ratio mean?

It is the number of guests for each crew member, shown as "3.0 guests per crew". Lower is better: more staff per guest usually means more attentive service. Luxury lines aim for fewer than 2 guests per crew, and large mainstream ships often carry 3 to 4.

Are the prices shown accurate?

Prices come from Cruisebound and are per person for the sailing shown. They change with cabin type, date and demand, so open the sailing to see the current fare.

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+ ships, and this page refreshes daily. An "Updated" date appears at the top when either ship's record changed in the last 30 days.