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Dear Disney Cruise Line, Don’t Become Like Royal Caribbean

Icon of the Seas

Dear Disney Cruise Line,

Earlier this week, your competitor, Royal Caribbean International, unveiled the look and details of its latest ship, theĀ Icon of the Seas, I am so glad your ships are nothing like it.

In fact, it is your complete opposite take on cruising that is what makes you so great. The Disney Cruise Line fleet is an example of how the more traditional ocean liner experience can be romanticized, modernized, and–most importantly–Disney-fied. Even the silhouette is a call back to the classic shape of the ships operated by Cunard and White Star Line.

What Royal Caribbean has done and is continuing to do is create basic Amusement Park barges capable of moving massive amounts of people at a time, and the Icon of the SeasĀ is just the latest version of that.

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

Credit: Royal Caribbean

According to Royal Caribbean:

“She has 20 decks and has a capacity at double occupancy of 5,610 passengers, and up to 7,600 passengers if every cabin is maxed out.Ā 

She’s 1197 feet long.

  • 20 total decks (18 guest decks)
  • 5,610 guests @ double capacity and 7,600 max guests
  • 2,350 crew (bringing ULTIMATE total to 9,950 guests)
  • 7 pools, 9 whirlpools
  • 6 record-breaking waterslides
  • 250,800 GT
  • 1,198 feet long

That makes her bigger than the Oasis Class ships, in the sense that Wonder of the Seas measures 1,188 feet in length and has 18 decks.”

Icon of the Seas

Credit: Royal Caribbean

Iā€™m sorry, but thatā€™s too big. Itā€™s to the point of providing an impersonal experience and an inability to experience the entire ship in an entire trip. The number of distractions on this ship, from a ā€œcentral parkā€ and a full-blown water Park, completely eliminates the adventurous spirit that should be found on a cruise. This is not a ship for people who want to do ā€œrealā€ cruising. This is for people who want an entertaining tropical Resort Hotel that can also take them to Nassau.

Sure, theĀ Disney MagicĀ andĀ Disney WonderĀ might be getting old, but they offer a much more exclusive experience. Even the biggerĀ Disney DreamĀ andĀ Disney FantasyĀ seem to provide that classic style, with the Disney Wish adding to that ocean liner experience with additional Disney magic included. But that smaller amount of passengers and more-intimate amenities give a Disney Cruise the sense of a luxury adventure that is far greater than these ā€œcruise in bulkā€ people carriers.

Disney Cruise Line

Castaway Cay, Credit: Disney

Related: Disney Cruise to Australia Sold Out During Pre-Sale

Earlier this month, we reported that Disney Cruise Line was rumored to be buying a partially-built ship that would fit even more people, and I just have to say–I hope it is not true.

I am looking forward to my next Disney Cruise and the personal experience it provides.

Your Fan,

TK Bosacki.

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are the writerā€™s and may not reflect the sentiments of Disney Fanatic as a whole.

About T.K. Bosacki

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, TK Bosacki is a professional writer, amateur adventurer, and lifelong Disney Fanatic. His Disney Park days include Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Nomad Lounge. He believes in starting at the Canada pavilion (IYKYK), and the Monorail is superior to all Ferry Boats.

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