Best Royal Caribbean Ships to Book in 2026: Icon, Wonder, and Symphony Ranked

Icon of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's best ship in 2026 — the world's largest cruise ship offers 8 waterpark slides, 6 pools, 40+ dining venues, and more onboard activities than any ship ever built. Wonder of the Seas is the second-best choice if Icon is sold out or too expensive — it's the same Oasis class with nearly identical amenities at typically $200-400 less per person. Symphony of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas are the best value picks in the fleet — both Oasis class ships offer 90%+ of Icon's onboard experience at meaningfully lower fares. For Caribbean short sailings (3-5 nights), the Freedom class ships (Freedom, Liberty, Independence) are the best value.