In the battle of megaships, MSC's brand-new World America competes head-to-head with Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. See which one comes out on top for price, amenities, entertainment, food and more.
I’ve Been on Two of the Biggest Cruise Ships in the World—Here’s the One I Would Be Most Excited to Sail on Again
Published on Apr. 29, 2025
In 2023, I got my first look at the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, as it was being built in a shipyard in Turku, Finland. From my first glance of the under-construction cruise ship everyone had been waiting for, it was immediately clear that this enormous vessel would most certainly be living up to its name.
And in January 2024, I boarded the Icon for a sailing I’ll never forget—it was a larger-than-life experience filled with every amenity you could imagine (and some I never thought possible). It was excess at its finest, a true floating city that practically made the itinerary irrelevant because I never wanted to leave the ship for fear of running out of time to explore everything on board.
Then, last week, I stepped aboard MSC’s brand-new World America for the media preview sailing. I already had a pretty good idea of what the ship would look like, having sailed on its sister ship, the World Europa, out of Barcelona last summer. Because it’s the Swiss cruise line’s first ship custom-built for the North American market, I was curious to see how MSC would adapt it to appeal to U.S.-based cruisers.
I’m happy to report that World America was a beauty, with many of the things I loved about World Europa—including the Jean-Philippe Chocolat & Café, where you can make your own custom chocolate bars, and Jaw Drop, the longest dry slide at sea—replicated stateside. To appeal to the new American audience, MSC added a sports bar, comedy club and more theme park–style attractions on the top decks.
Both Royal Caribbean and MSC are on our list of the best cruise lines to book right now, and for good reason—their latest ships are giants in the modern cruise world, redefining what’s possible at sea. But only one of these two ships stole my heart. Read on to find out their similarities and differences, as well as which ship I preferred and why.
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How Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas and MSC’s World America compare
Size and capacity
Let’s start with the numbers, as these two ships are among the 10 largest in the world (which makes me wonder how cruise ships float when they are so darn heavy).
Icon of the Seas holds the title of the largest cruise ship in the world. Measuring 1,198 feet long and weighing in at approximately 250,800 gross tons, at full capacity, it accommodates about 7,600 passengers.
World America clocks in at about 215,800 gross tons, stretching 1,092 feet and hosting up to 6,762 passengers. It’s currently the eighth-largest cruise ship in the world, and the biggest MSC ship to homeport in North America.
I found the size difference barely negligible, especially because both ships are broken into easy-to-navigate groupings that contain both eateries and activities, which means you won’t be constantly schlepping from one end of the ship to the other when you want to switch gears. Royal Caribbean calls them “neighborhoods” (and Icon has eight), while MSC just debuted this feature and calls them “districts’ (there are seven on World America).
Decor and vibe
Here’s where the personalities of the two ships start to show. Icon of the Seas is bold, colorful and playful—almost theme park–esque. Think bright oranges and teals, neon lights, waterslides that twist through the sky and larger-than-life sculptures. It’s unapologetically over-the-top, in a way that feels like Las Vegas on water.
World America, by contrast, is sleek and sophisticated overall—more Monte Carlo than Miami Beach. Its interiors are dominated by polished metals, neutral tones, ambient lighting and striking architecture (like the spiral dry slide and the 374-foot-long indoor World Galleria under an LED dome). It’s a more subdued kind of luxury—elegant rather than exuberant.
Itinerary and private islands
Both ships sail the Caribbean and make PortMiami their home base.
Icon of the Seas offers mostly seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. These itineraries are jam-packed with beach days and high-energy excursions that pair well with the ship’s onboard thrills. Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay is one port stop, and essentially a theme park in the Bahamas. It features a water park with the tallest slide in North America, an exclusive adults-only beach club, overwater cabanas, a zip line and a helium balloon ride. It’s a thrilling, curated experience where every detail is designed to entertain.
World America offers similar routes, but MSC’s itineraries often include a stop at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the cruise line’s private island in the Bahamas. Ocean Cay is far more tranquil than CocoCay, which was once a sand-mining site. MSC transformed the area into a marine reserve. It’s peaceful and eco-conscious, with walking trails, a spa, food trucks and multiple beaches spread out across the island. The vibe is more like a nature retreat than a party.
Ocean conservation and sustainability efforts
The abandoned sand-mining site turned cruise-ship oasis of Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve had just opened the Marine Conservation Center for scientific research and coral-reef restoration during my sailing. It will serve as a base for biologists, scientists, students and island visitors alike and will feature interactive pavilions, a lecture hall, a Bio Lab and a land-based coral nursery.
Both Royal Caribbean and MSC have committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; Royal Caribbean’s most ambitious milestones include the delivery of a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.
Exclusive spaces
Icon of the Seas offers Royal Suite Class, with its own upscale neighborhood and perks like Coastal Kitchen dining, private sun decks and concierge services. It’s high-end, but it feels less distinct from the rest of the ship compared to MSC’s offering.
MSC’s Yacht Club is its “ship within a ship” experience, and it’s one of the best values in luxury cruising. Guests staying in the Yacht Club enjoy an entirely separate area of the ship with their keycard access, complete with a private pool deck, lounge, restaurant, 24/7 butler service and priority everything. It’s quiet, refined and well worth the splurge.
Entertainment and activities
This is where Icon goes full Vegas. With record-breaking waterslides, a massive surf simulator, seven pools, an ice-skating rink and AquaDome shows featuring high-diving stunt teams, the entertainment is nonstop. Plus, The Wizard of Oz on the main stage adds Broadway-level polish.
World America has plenty to offer too, giving Icon a run for its money. It has six pools and 14 hot tubs, the heart-pumping Cliffhanger over-water swing ride (while I’m glad I tried it, once was enough for me!), a sleek slide spiraling through the center of the ship and a beautiful LED-lined promenade with rotating digital art displays. Entertainment includes Dirty Dancing in Concert with live singers, dancers and musicians; shows featuring acrobatics and illusions; and Hall of Fame, the ultimate live pop concert featuring the music of pop legends such as Justin Timberlake, Whitney Houston and Elton John.
Cabins and suites
Looking for the best place to stay on a cruise ship? Both ships offer a wide range of accommodations, from budget-friendly interiors to lavish two-story suites. The cabins on both ships offer plenty of storage, convenient hooks on the walls, USB ports, standard plugs and a variety of lighting.
Icon introduces some clever options, like Family Infinite Balcony cabins and Surfside Family Suites, spaces that feel fun, vibrant and well-planned for active cruisers with kids. The shower in a standard balcony cabin on Icon was much larger than on World America (something I cherished).
World America cabins were comfortable and well appointed, but somewhat lackluster in decor. The suites I toured were large with plenty of light, but some of them didn’t make the best use of the space available and felt sparsely furnished.
Restaurants and bars
Both ships are bursting with variety when it comes to food and drink venues.
Icon boasts more than 40 restaurants and bars, which means you’d have to try almost six each day to get through them all on a seven-day sailing. From a food hall and a walk-up milkshake bar to a top-tier steakhouse and immersive Empire Supper Club experience, it’s easy to try something new every night—or practically every hour. There’s also a sushi bar in Central Park and a cantina that serves Baja-style tacos by the pool.
World America counters with a more curated approach to its 19 dining experiences and 20 bars and lounges. Venues like Hola! Tacos, Butcher’s Cut steakhouse and Kaito Sushi & Robatayaki feel elevated. The only Eataly at sea is on board as well, and this is the hot specialty restaurant to book. The Chef’s Garden offers a fine-dining experience surrounded by greenery, and the drinks program is strong, especially in the Champagne Bar and the cocktail-focused Elixir Mixology Bar.
Cruise terminal
Your vacation truly begins the moment you arrive at the cruise terminal. Royal Caribbean’s Terminal A is built for speed and efficiency, offering facial recognition technology and a smooth embarkation process. It’s a modern facility designed to handle the volume of Icon-class ships with minimal pinch points.
It’s worth noting that MSC officially just inaugurated the world’s largest cruise terminal: Terminal AA in PortMiami. Built in partnership with PortMiami and Miami-Dade County, it has a total maximum capacity to process 36,000 passengers daily. The building is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including biometric scanners that made my embarkation a total breeze.
Price point
In the world of megaship cruising, the experience may feel high-end, but the price doesn’t always have to be. That’s where World America has a big advantage, especially for value-conscious travelers.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas has been making headlines since its launch, and its prices reflect the demand. At press time, fares for a seven-night Caribbean sailing start around $1,215 per person for an interior cabin. Family suites can reach well into five figures.
MSC’s World America, while still massive and modern, comes in at a much lower base price. Seven-night sailings start at $689 per person for an interior room. Even Yacht Club suite, MSC’s most premium offering, can sometimes be had for less than the cost of a mid-tier suite on Icon.
Of course, pricing varies based on promotions, dates, itinerary and cabin type, but generally speaking, World America offers a more affordable entry point to the megaship experience. Watch for “Kids Sail Free” promos; both cruise lines frequently offer these deals, which can make a big difference for families. And if an interior cabin doesn’t exactly float your boat, learn how to score a free upgrade.
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas vs. MSC’s World America: The verdict
As you can see, the competition was fierce—both Icon of the Seas and World America sail out of the same convenient port, both offer more restaurants and bars than you’ll have time to visit, both have extraordinary waterslides and rides, both have endless entertainment options, and are both roughly the same size.
I believe MSC World America takes the cake when it comes to the exclusive and intimate Yacht Club experience, its new cruise terminal, the passenger-facing ocean-sustainability efforts at its new Marine Conservation Center and the much lower price point—this last one almost makes it impossible to beat. The fact that you could spend a week on this gorgeous ship full of thrills and chills for less than $100 per day is mind-boggling, and I’m honestly shocked 2025 sailings aren’t sold out yet! I chalk that up to the fact that most Americans just aren’t familiar with the MSC brand, so I’d highly suggest getting ahead of the curve.
However, Icon is my personal top pick—it’s bigger, bolder and just a bit more breathtaking. I found Perfect Day at CocoCay to be a superior island experience, the onboard decor and vibe scream “Caribbean vacation,” the suites are more visually appealing and packed with more impressive amenities, and the quality and variety of entertainment is just a slight cut above. Sure, the price point is nearly double, but I believe the value is there if you have the budget.
Either way, you truly can’t go wrong—I’d happily sail on either ship again because both vessels are top-notch experiences.
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