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

Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas and the company’s newest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, docked at CocoCay, the company’s $350 million private island in the Bahamas, on January 15. Let’s compare the two superyachts.

Two giant ships meet for the first time

The 235,600-ton wonder of the seas is the world's largest cruise ship, measuring 1,188 feet long and 18 stories high. The "floating resort" can accommodate 9,288 people and will debut in March 2022 with 2,867 guest cabins and amenities like a boardwalk.

Both are likened to "resorts" on the sea.

However, in late 2023, the Wonder of the Seas' "world's largest" title was "stripped" and given to the 20-deck Icon of the Seas, a giant ship measuring 1,198 feet (about 365m) long and weighing 250,800 tons.

The iconic seagoing vessel can carry 9,950 people with a total of 2,805 cabins, an ocean water park and 40 restaurants, bars and lounges, among the largest in the world in the cruise industry.

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

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.

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

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

The ship is home to the largest water park at sea, Thrill Island, which also features the first free-fall slide at sea. There are six record-breaking waterslides, seven pools, and nine whirlpools on board.

Technically, the Aquadome - the largest free-standing dome at sea, made up of 700 glass panels - is the most elaborate. During the day, it will offer panoramic views of the ocean and at night, it will feature an AquaTheater with a waterfall cascading onto the stage below. The ship is divided into eight distinct areas - Central Park is a relaxation area that features a real park with 33,500 real trees

Before Icon of the Seas debuted to the public, Royal Caribbean had a "staff test cruise" from Finland to Miami, and then docked in the Bahamas, a spokesperson for the cruise line told Business Insider .

Thanks to that, the two largest ships in the world had a chance to meet each other when Wonder of the Seas also docked at Perfect Day port as part of a 7-night cruise in the Caribbean.

Just over a year since its release, Wonder of the Sea's records 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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