We’re going to see what Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee, operated by Carnival Cruise Line, will look like. Let’s compare several aspects of both ships, including dining, prices, accommodations, and more! This will help you make your own decision on which cruise ship to choose.
The 5,610-passenger Icon of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship. It features more amenities than just about any other cruise ship in the industry, including more pools, dining venues, slides, and cabin choices. It’s a family-friendly ship with plenty to do for everyone.
Carnival Jubilee, with a capacity of 5,282 passengers, is smaller but offers better value and focuses on families. The ship also has a ton of amenities, including a roller coaster! However, the Excel class ships do not offer as many venues as the Icon class.
Ship Overview: Size and Specs
The Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas set sail from the Port of Miami on January 27, 2024. Planning for the ship began in 2016, and construction began in June 2021.
The project was so immense because Icon of the Seas was designed to be the largest cruise ship in the world, with a gross tonnage of 248,663 GT, a length of 1,196 feet, and a capacity to hold over 7,600 passengers and a crew of 2,350. It’s part of the LNG-powered Icon class and built at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland.
While the immense scale of Icon of the Seas sets it apart from all other cruise ships, the ship is much more than its size. The ship is packed with innovative features, including a design that allows guests to explore eight unique “neighborhoods,” which act as distinct zones offering their own atmosphere, dining venues, décor, accommodations, and amenities.
While Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Jubilee does not quite match the record-breaking scale of Icon of the Seas, she is still an enormous cruise ship. The vessel is part of the Excel class, and currently, they are the largest in the fleet, constructed at Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard.
Entering service on December 23, 2023, Carnival Jubilee first set sail from the Port of Galveston in Galveston, Texas. Jubilee has a gross tonnage of 183,521 GT, a total length of 1,131 feet, and a maximum capacity of 6,631 passengers and 1,745 crew members. Like her sister ship, Carnival Celebration, it is amongst the largest ships in Carnival Cruise Line’s impressive fleet.
Like Icon of the Seas, guests aboard Carnival Jubilee can explore and enjoy different zones. While Royal Caribbean labels its areas “Neighborhoods,” and Icon of the Seas is outfitted with eight of them, Carnival Jubilee simply calls them “Zones,” and the ship features six of them.
As you will discover, both cruise ships feature cutting-edge designs and are outfitted with the most state-of-the-art navigation technology found anywhere in the cruise industry.
However, if you are looking for the ultimate in both size and scale, Icon of the Seas isn’t just the clear winner when compared to Carnival Jubilee; it beats out any other cruise ship on the planet!
Icon of the Seas vs. Carnival Jubilee Comparision Table
| Icon of the Seas | Carnival Jubilee | |
| Gross Tonnage | 248,663 | 180,000 |
| Length | 1,196 feet | 1,130 feet |
| Passenger Decks | 18 | 17 |
| Passenger Capacity | 5,610 | 5,282 |
| Crew Capacity | 2,350 | 1,750 |
| Entered Service | 2024 | 2023 |
| Built At | Meyer Turku, Finland | Meyer Werft, Germany |
| Power | LNG | LNG |
Dining Options
Now that you have a little bit of background on these two gargantuan cruise ships, we can compare their onboard amenities and accommodations more specifically. Given that eating and drinking are a big part of any cruise, we are going to start with the different dining options aboard either ship.
Icon of the Seas
When it comes to onboard dining, Icon of the Seas is difficult to beat. The ship boasts diverse restaurants, bars, and cafés, with over 20 distinct dining options available to passengers. From formal to casual dining establishments, the ship has it all.
As a first for any cruise ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet, the ship even has a food hall called the Aquadome Market, where passengers can visit numerous stands and enjoy street eats and a true international food tour. For a more intimate experience, there is a private restaurant called Celebration Table, where groups of 12 can enjoy a true VIP experience with a private chef cooking up family-style meals with a prix fixe menu.
There is even a small speakeasy-style eatery called the Empire Supper Club, which has a New York City theme, a gourmet menu, and Prohibition-Era cocktails.
For those looking for more traditional options, guests can explore 11 complimentary dining options and order room service. Specialty dining establishments, including Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, Hooked Seafood Restaurant, and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, provide more upscale experiences.
There are also Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade and Starbucks kiosks. In addition to the 20 dining establishments, Icon of the Seas features numerous snack and drink stands throughout its various neighborhoods.
As for drinks packages, Icon of the Seas has the same three options you will find on other Royal Caribbean Ships, including a Classic Soda Package, which covers sodas; the Refreshment Package, which also covers juices, coffee, tea, non-alcoholic cocktails, milkshakes, and more, and a Deluxe Beverage Package, which also covers cocktails, spirits, beers, and wines by the glass.
Prices for these packages vary depending on when you book, but they tend to be more affordable for most guests than buying individual drinks.
Carnival Jubilee
On Carnival Jubilee, guests can enjoy a diverse range of eateries and different bars. In total, the ship features 18 unique restaurants, bars, and cafés if you include the two main buffet dining rooms. So, despite its smaller size compared to Icon of the Seas, Jubilee still gives guests plenty of options.
These dining establishments include some true Carnival favorites, like Guy’s Burger Joint, Blue Iguana Cantina, and, of course, Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse. This reservation-only steak and seafood restaurant is a crowd favorite on several Carnival cruise ships.
Unique to Carnival Jubilee, guests can enjoy Cajun cuisine at Emeril’s Bistro 717, Mexican and Chinese fusion at Chibang. They can also dine on a la carte sushi at Bonsai Sushi, delicious appetizers at Bonsai Teppanyaki, and fresh seafood at Rudi’s Seagrill. And don’t forget to grab a drink and the Golden Mermaid after dinner.
In terms of drinks packages, Carnival Jubilee features the same options available on the cruise line’s other ships, including a Bottomless Bubbles Drink Package, which includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages for $11.21 per day, the Cheers Beverage Program, which covers alcoholic drinks for $70.74 per day, and a Cruise the Vineyard Wine Package that allows guest to pre-pay for bottles of wine.
So, while both ships offer a wide variety of dining experiences, the larger Icon of the Seas offers a slightly broader selection. With that said, foodies won’t be disappointed if they travel on either ship.
The drinks packages are also fairly similar in terms of what they include and their prices, so there is little to separate the two ships in this area.
Accommodations
When it comes to accommodations, Icon of the Seas is pretty challenging to beat. With just shy of 30 different types of staterooms and suites available to passengers, it isn’t difficult to choose the exact kind of room you and your family would want to enjoy.
Icon also offers truly unique suite categories, including the already iconic Ultimate Family Suites, which feature multiple levels, in-suite slides, ping-pong tables, and even private movie theaters. If you are traveling with kids, they can make an already memorable cruise unforgettable.
Even if you choose a standard interior cabin or an inward-facing balcony room, these affordable rooms are still nicely designed and outfitted with all the modern amenities you need. You can choose one of the ocean-view balcony cabins or one of the 179 suites the ship offers for more spacious and luxurious layouts.
Basically, Icon of the Seas offers a variety of choices for both suits and cabins, ensuring that you will be able to find something that fits your unique preferences and budget.
Plus, thanks to the ship’s unique neighborhood-based design, even some of the interior cabins offer fun and exciting views that will make you think you’re staying in a resort or city hotel.
Carnival Jubilee also offers 20 different types of staterooms and suites for guests to choose from. The ship also offers unique accommodations, including the Havana Staterooms and Cabana Suites, which offer luxurious amenities like rain showers, and the Cloud 9 Spa Cabins, which give guests exclusive access to relaxation zones.
Although there are plenty of options for staterooms, suites, and even more premium rooms on Jubilee, the enormous Icon of the Seas offers far more options. This is not overly surprising, given that the ship was designed with a more creative approach to accommodations.
Basically, Icon of the Seas was made to be the ultimate destination for families, so it only makes sense that they outfitted it with a huge variety of different accommodations that could provide truly unique room experiences.
Entertainment
Both ships are outfitted with incredible amenities, but if you’re looking for non-stop entertainment and an experience unlike any other, it is pretty difficult to beat the Icon class vessel.
One of the ship’s defining features, a giant glass dome called the AquaDome, hosts a variety of complex and immersive live performances, which are performed around the world’s largest waterfall at sea.
However, that’s not it for the ship’s record-breaking features; it also has the largest waterpark at sea, called Category 6. The waterpark features six full-sized water slides, while the nearby Thrill Island Neighborhood features the FlowRider surf simulator, numerous pools and hot tubs, a lazy river, and more.
Thrill Island also features other amenities, like an arcade, carousel, ice skating rink, mini golf course, laser tag, and much more. For adrenaline junkies, the ship also has a rock climbing wall and an escape room.
All in all, the ship has seven full-size swimming pools and numerous whirlpools and splash pads, so it’s easy to find a place to cool off on a hot day.
While Icon of the Seas certainly offers an impressive array of amenities, the Carnival Jubilee is no slouch either. The ship offers plenty of ways to stay entertained, with the various themed zones offering things you would expect to see at a theme park rather than on a ship.
The Ultimate Playground Zone features BOLT—a returning roller coaster that was unveiled in 2021 on another Carnival Cruise Line ship, Mardi Gras. Jubilee also has the largest waterpark in the entire Carnival fleet called WaterWorks.
This waterpark features three huge waterslides, several pools, hot tubs, and splash pads. SportSquare also features a miniature golf course, a full-scale basketball court, a rope climbing course, and much more.
For more relaxed fun, the Grand Central Zone features Center Stage, a huge live entertainment venue that hosts a rotating selection of live performances and entertainers.
This is also where you will find 14-foot-high LED screens that can showcase live sports, movies, and much more. With the Grand View bar right beside the stage, it is an ideal location for kicking back and enjoying some live or televised entertainment.
The truth is, you will not be bored if you choose to travel on either of these amazing cruise ships. While Icon of the Seas offers a wider variety of attractions, Jubilee can also hold its own. Still, if you want to experience the most innovative and diverse amenities on any cruise ship, Icon of the Seas is the clear winner.
Pools and Hot Tubs
We have already mentioned that Icon of the Seas offers an impressive total of seven swimming pools, including the Royal Bay Pool, a huge pool complex that is the largest at sea. Icon also features multiple hot tubs and numerous family-friendly water attractions like splash pads and wading pools.
The abundance of pool areas, water slides, and other water-based amenities helps ensure that no one area becomes overcrowded. For those looking for a more relaxing time, there’s also a small pool and hot tub at the back of the ship in a more exclusive, adult-only area called The Hideaway.
We also discussed Carnival Jubilee’s pools and water park. While they may be smaller in scale than those on Icon of the Seas, the ship still has its own impressive water park, with WaterWorks, the Lido Deck, and the Splash Zone featuring full-sized water slides, multiple swimming pools, hot tubs, and plenty of poolside lounging areas.
Worth Reading: Icon of the Seas vs Wonder of the Seas – A Giant Comparison
Again, the five pools, three water slides, and ten hot tubs on the Excel class cruise ship may not quite stack up to Icon’s seven pools, six water slides, and numerous hot tubs, but both cruise ships definitely deliver in this department.
However, it is worth mentioning that many of the pools on Icon of the Seas have a more family-friendly vibe, which may be of importance to families traveling with small children.
In the end, if swimming pools, water slides, and other aquatic fun are high on your list, Icon of the Seas is almost certainly the better choice.
Family Fun
Once again, Icon of the Seas is really difficult to beat when it comes to creating a family-friendly atmosphere. This is because the entire ship was designed with families in mind, with Royal Caribbean even marketing the ship as “the ultimate family vacation.”
From offering the largest family-oriented suites of any cruise ship to the ship’s Adventure Ocean children’s program, everything is geared towards ensuring that there are entertainment options for all ages. You can also explore Surfside, another area dedicated to family-friendly fun.
On top of that, there’s even a dedicated teen area that offers amenities and live entertainment that appeals to this often-neglected age bracket, like karaoke, headphone parties, and Social 020, a dedicated space for passengers between ages 13 and 17.
As we discussed, the ship also has countless amenities and dining establishments that appeal to families. With the exception of a few of the VIP restaurants, like Celebration Table, every dining establishment also offers kids’ menus.
Unlike some more adult-oriented cruise ships, which tend to focus on alcoholic bar menus at their poolside bars and drink stands, these types of establishments offer non-alcoholic juices and name-brand sodas that appeal to children and teens, like Sprite, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Mountain Dew, and others.
Basically, Icon of the Seas is the ideal cruise ship for families that are planning to travel with kids of any age.
On the other hand, Carnival Jubilee can still be a very enjoyable option for families, with the Ultimate Playground’s rides, ropes course, mini golf, and movie theater offering lots of activities for whole families.
Like Icon of the Seas, Jubilee has its own youth programs, including Camp Ocean, a concept similar to Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean, providing daytime entertainment for children under the age of 13. Jubilee also has a teen-oriented program called Circle C, which helps provide a space for teens to interact with each other.
Like Icon, Carnival Jubilee’s restaurants cater to guests of all ages, with kids’ menus and family favorites like pizza and ice cream. They also offer non-alcoholic beverages at their poolside bars, with the Pepsi family of products being a major push, including Pepsi, Mug Root Beer, Diet Pepsi, and others.
Again, both ships certainly cater to families, but Icon of the Seas just has the edge. In fact, Icon pretty much has the entire cruise industry beat in this regard!
Cruising Cost and Onboard Purchases
Prices on either ship can vary significantly depending on the time of year, itinerary and ports of call, class of cabin or suite, and upgrades, like pre-paid excursions and drinks packages.
However, in general, base cruise fare on Carnival Jubilee tends to be slightly more affordable, with 7-night cruises averaging around $600 to $800 per person, while cruising on the more elaborate Icon of the Seas usually starts at around $1,100 per person for a similar itinerary.
Again, there are countless factors that can alter the cost of the cruise on either ship, including whether or not you choose double occupancy for your cabin if you choose to pay an additional fee to upgrade your room, or if you opt for extra expenses while you are on the ship, like dining in specialty restaurants.
As for onboard expenses, prices are actually somewhat similar, so the cost of a cruise once you are actually on the ship doesn’t have to change much.
For example, for Wi-Fi, Icon of the Seas offers several packages, including the VOOM Internet Package, which starts at $19 per day, whereas internet packages on Carnival Jubilee start at $15.30 per day for the basic Social Wi-Fi Plan.
Prices for premium dining experiences vary significantly, as both ships have VIP restaurants that come with steep additional fees. With that said, you can usually expect to pay between $30 and $70 per person for specialty dining on either ship, but keep in mind there will always be an extra charge for specific items, like a bottle of wine.
While there isn’t a huge difference in cruise pricing when you are discussing onboard purchases and upgrades, there is no doubt that booking a cruise on Icon of the Seas tends to be more expensive.
For some, the enhanced amenities and greater variety of entertainment and dining options justify the extra money, but for more budget-conscious travelers, saving money by booking a voyage on Jubilee will be a much better bet.
Which Cruise Ship Is Better?
Choosing to book a cruise on Icon of the Seas or Carnival Jubilee will always come down to your own priorities, budget, and preferences. While Icon of the Seas has Carnival Jubilee beat in just about every category when assessing amenities and accommodations, it also tends to be a more expensive ship to travel on.
Read Also: Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival Cruise Line – Which One Does it Better?
On top of that, Icon of the Seas is a much larger ship that can carry a greater number of passengers, so large crowds can be an issue. It also stands as the most family-friendly cruise ship on the water today, so those looking to avoid loud kids might want to steer clear.
In other words, both cruise ships offer world-class cruising opportunities, so you cannot go wrong, regardless of which specific ship you decide to travel on.
You can enjoy an unforgettable vacation on either Icon of the Seas or Carnival Jubilee, but just be sure to make the most of every single day you’re on the ship, as both have plenty of areas to explore!
