Royal Caribbean is the line that keeps reinventing what a cruise ship can be. Icon of the Seas genuinely changed the game — it's a floating theme park, resort, and entertainment complex rolled into one. I send families here because the kids' programming is unmatched, but couples and groups have a blast too. Just don't expect intimacy — this is big, bold cruising at its most ambitious.
Royal Caribbean International is the world’s largest cruise line, and its fleet of 29 ships — soon to be 30 with Legend of the Seas joining in 2026 — represents the most ambitious vision of what cruising can be. The Icon class ships, led by Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, are the largest passenger vessels ever built, topping 250,000 gross tons and carrying over 5,000 guests across eight distinct neighbourhoods, each with its own personality, dining, and entertainment offerings.
The scale is genuinely staggering. Icon of the Seas features the largest waterpark at sea, a surf simulator, rock climbing walls, a zip line, an ice-skating rink, and a Central Park-style open-air garden — all on a single ship. But Royal Caribbean has learned that size means nothing without substance: the dining has improved markedly across the fleet, with speciality restaurants from celebrity chefs sitting alongside complimentary options that outperform most mainstream competitors. Broadway-calibre shows, the signature FlowRider surf simulator, and the Perfect Day at CocoCay private island experience round out an offering that is genuinely hard to fault for sheer breadth of entertainment.
For families, Royal Caribbean remains the gold standard. The Adventure Ocean kids’ programme caters to every age group from toddlers to teens, with dedicated spaces, supervised activities, and enough variety to keep even the most restless young travellers engaged. The Oasis class ships — including the popular Allure of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas — remain excellent choices for those who want the mega-ship experience at a slightly more accessible price point.
Royal Caribbean sails everywhere from the Caribbean and Mediterranean to Alaska, the South Pacific, and Northern Europe. Their short three- and four-night getaways from Florida are among the best-value cruise experiences available, while longer itineraries offer a surprising depth of destination immersion for a mainstream line. Whether you are a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveller seeking maximum variety, Royal Caribbean delivers an experience that is hard to outgrow.
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