The differences between a brand new cruise ship and one that was built almost 30 years ago is quite stark.
In the past few months, I sailed on an old Royal Caribbean cruise ship and two ships that launched in the past year. You can't help but compare them, even though their approach to cruising is quite different.
Royal Caribbean's Enchantment of the Seas began cruising in 1997 just before the era of mega ships began.
The cruise industry was about to undergo a massive shift in focus, as the launch of Voyager of the Seas in 1999 and Oasis of the Seas in 2010 redefined what the public expected from a cruise ship. Then in 2024, Icon of the Seas raised the bar yet again, and for some people, it's difficult to go back to the older ships.
I recently sailed on Enchantment after spending my summer on both Icon of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas. Each of these ships entered service in 2024, and both of them offer an overwhelming amount of places onboard to relax, eat, explore, and watch.
Big, new ships are quintessentially what cruising is about today, with so much of the focus of what you can do onboard. Royal Caribbean is very much in tune with what consumers are looking for in a vacation, and they've built ships to rival land resorts.
Meanwhile, aging ships like Enchantment of the Seas are still sailing and while they don't have nearly as much to do onboard, they're fun ships for a relaxing trip away from work.
Activities were much more varied on Icon of the Seas
One thing you'll quickly notice on a new cruise ship is just how much there is to do onboard.
Icon of the Seas is split up into different areas, with different venues in each one. It's practically impossible to feel bored, as the line packs every day with activities and events. There are game shows, live music, dance parties, and of course the top deck attractions that capture everyone's attention.
Icon of the Seas is a popular choice for families because of how much Royal Caribbean targets for children and their parents. Naturally, that means there will be lots of kids onboard.
The Surfside neighborhood alone is a great example of this, as the whole section gravitates towards younger children. There's a carousel, buffet serving kid-friendly food, splash park, pool, and more. It's really no surprised there were a lot of families onboard.
Up on the pool deck, there are multiple pools, an entire water park, surf simulator, mini-golf course, and an adrenaline experience that is kind of like a ropes course.
You won't find most of these things on a ship like Enchantment, but it has the basics. It has a main pool, adults-only pool, and lots of loungers.
Offering all these flashy activities on Icon is going to naturally attract families in the same way a theme park would capture the attention of families more than a national park might. It's hard to resist the glitz of everything on Icon.
Enchantment has a relaxing pool deck with much more space to spread out
One thing I really liked about Enchantment of the Seas was how inviting and spread out their pool deck felt.
It has one main pool, and a lot of deck space around it. This means you can easily find chairs on either deck of the pool decks, and it felt more sedate compared to Icon's pool deck.
Chair hogs are present on all cruise ships, regardless of size, but I think the fact Enchantment's pool deck was a bit more serene, it helps a bit with that.
Plus, I really think the pool bar scene is superior on Enchantment. Between the enormous pool bar located in the shade, and the Oasis Bar that faces the ocean, they're great spots to enjoy a cocktail or beer while at sea.
The difference in prices are eye opening
Probably the biggest difference between Enchantment and Icon will be the price to go on each.
Cruise prices are on the rise thanks to record demand, and there is premium pricing to go on a ship like Icon of the Seas.
As an example, if you wanted to go on Icon for spring break in 2026, an oceanview balcony cabin would cost $2,247.80 per person for a week-long cruise on Icon.
An oceanview balcony on Enchantment would cost just $997.60 per person for a 5-night cruise.
No matter which week you compare prices, you're going to see a stark price difference between these ships. Families on a tight budget will get more bang for their buck on an older ship, even if there's compromise on what you can do onboard.
Many more dining choices on Icon, including extra cost restaurants
If there was an area of Enchantment of the Seas I was disappointed with, it was their dining variety.
Enchantment has just one specialty restaurant and a small Windjammer buffet. It was sufficient, and I didn't go hungry. But I missed having more choices.
Meanwhile, Icon of the Seas has 27 places to eat, including 12 extra cost restaurants.
Some might question the need of extra cost restaurants, but there are so many on new ships because clearly cruisers are buying it up.
It's debatable what's necessary, but I think having more choice is always a good thing. Some cruises I'm quite content eating in the buffet or enjoying my favorite dishes in the Main Dining Room. But I like to step out and have sushi, or grab nachos and a burger at the sports bar.
Icon even has a food hall that's included in your cruise fare and it's one of my favorite places to eat on any cruise ship.
On the other end of the spectrum is the Empire Supper Club, which is about as fancy a dinner experience you'll find on a cruise ship with jazz music, fine dining, and exquisite service.
While dining upcharges will add to your vacation budget, it's a factor a lot of people look for in a cruise ship.
You'll find fun bars on both ships
What would a cruise ship be without drinks?
There are bars throughout both ships, and I don't think you can be disappointed in the drinking opportunities on either ship.
Enchantment has a great pool bar with Oasis Bar, but I like its Schooner Bar even better. It's massive and actually has a nautical theme, unlike the one on Icon.
The Viking Crown Lounge bar on Enchantment has a stunning view of the top deck and ocean around you.
Icon has better bars that include entertainment, such as the English Pub or Dueling Pianos.
I'm also a sucker for the Swim & Tonic pool because it has a swim-up bar.
Both ships have enticing drink packages you can purchase, but be sure to buy them before the cruise begins to save a lot of money.
The shows on Icon are incredible
Another area where there's simply no comparison is the onboard entertainment.
Icon has three different theaters, with each one a full production show that will take your breath away.
The Wizard of Oz is the probably the top show to see on Icon, and it's a wonderful production true to the 1939 film. It has all the songs you know, a beautiful production, and talented cast.
The aquashow in the indoor Aquatheater is the kind of thing you'll take a lot of video to show friends at home because it's such high energy and you have to remind yourself a few times "I'm watching this on a cruise ship!".
Then you have the ice skating show that features skaters who have competed on the world stage.
Enchantment has a production show in its theater, but it feels like a high school medley compared to what Icon has.
But both ships had better-than-expected cabins
I'll always prefer a cabin on a new ship for the aesthetics, but I was pleasantly surprised how nice my balcony cabin was on Enchantment too.
No matter which ship you sail on, the stateroom experience is more similar than not, especially in standard rooms.
In terms of amenities, they are very close. So it's really the look and feel of the room that stands out between an old ship and a new ship.
You will find many more electric outlets on Icon, along with USB plugs too. A ship like Enchantment that was built in the '90s just wouldn't have had those options.
My favorite feature of any cabin on Icon is the fact there is a seat in the shower, something that bucks the decades long trend of having just a tube for a shower.
How much you value activities and your budget make each an obvious choice
I like both cruise ships for different reasons, and I think you'll gravitate towards one or the other depending on what your needs are.
Enchantment lacks the exciting family activities, variety of dining, and excellent shows, but it makes up for it in a great price. Plus, it's the kind of cruise you can go on to chill.
Icon of the Seas is my favorite cruise ship right now because of how much it packs in, and I greatly value variety. I can't get over how much this ship has changed what I expect from a cruise ship, and it's the place I'd easily go back again and again with my family.
For many people, the price is what drives them in one direction or another. It's hard to overlook the price gap between a new and old ship.
If you don't have kids and want to save money, Enchantment will win every time. Even if you have kids, I think you'd find more value in taking them on a smaller ship because there's just enough to keep them occupied.
But if you can afford Icon, it's an incredible vacation that is sure to make a lot of memories along the way.
I've done both, and I'll continue to sail on both in the future. But each has its strengths that will probably pull you in one direction.
