ocean view room voyager of the seas

• CruiseMapper

Voyager Of The Seas cabins and suites

Voyager of the seas staterooms review, floor plans, photos.

Voyager Of The Seas cabins and suites review at CruiseMapper provides detailed information on cruise accommodations , including floor plans, photos, room types and categories, cabin sizes, furniture details and included by Royal Caribbean en-suite amenities and services.

The Voyager Of The Seas cruise ship cabins page is conveniently interlinked with its deck plans showing deck layouts combined with a legend and review of all onboard venues.

1-Bedroom Royal Suite

Layout (floor plan), 1-bedroom owners suite, 2-bedroom family grand suite.

old categorization (FS) Two-Bedroom Royal Family Suite

Categories OT-GT (Two-Bedroom Grand Suite) cabins have each 2 bedrooms with all 4 (2 sets of) single twin beds (convertible to 2 King-size double beds), 1 double sofabed, 2 Pullman beds, 1 walk-in closet, 2 bathrooms (both with glass-door showers, 1 with bathtub).

1-Bedroom Grand Suite

Junior suite.

Some Junior Suites on Deck 11 (forward) are with larger balconies (410 ft2 / 38 m2).

2-Bedroom Family Oceanview Suite

Category VP (OceanView Panoramic Suite) is a family-type stateroom with 2 bedrooms - master (with 2 single twin beds convertible to a King-size double bed), second (with 2 bunk beds/upper and lower), a double sofabed (in the living room), 2 bathrooms (1 full, 1 half), floor-ceiling window (wraparound).

Balcony Cabin

Categories 1B-2B (Spacious OceanView Balcony Accessible) are double-occupancy cabins (with 2 beds), larger sized (350 ft2 / 33 m2) but with smaller balconies (40 ft2 / 4 m2).

2-Bedroom Family Oceanview Cabin

old categorization (FO) 2-Bedroom Family Oceanview Cabin

Category 1K (Ultra-Spacious Oceanview) is a family-type stateroom (bow-facing) with master bedroom (2 single twin beds convertible to a Queen-size double bed), second bedroom (2 Pullman beds/upper and lower bunks), a double sofabed (in the living room), 1 bathroom (WC-shower), 2 round windows (non-opening).

Panoramic Oceanview Cabin

Category 1L (Spacious Panoramic OceanView) is fitted with 2 twin beds (convertible to King-size double bed) plus 1 double sofabed. Category "Panoramic OceanView Accessible" is larger-sized (285 ft2 / 27 m2).

Oceanview Cabin

Categories 1N-2N (OceanView Accessible) are double-occupancy staterooms and larger sized (275 ft2 / 26 m2).

Categories 1N-2N on decks 2-3 are outside cabins with Porthole Windows.

Promenade View Interior Cabin

Category 2T-Promenade cabins as amenities offer 2 twin beds (convertible to Queen-size double bed), sitting area (double sofabed), bay window views (bow window overlooking the Royal Promenade / ship's interior).

Interior Cabin

Categories 1V-3V (Interior Accessible) are larger-sized (255 ft2 / 24 m2) quad cabins with 2 twin beds (convertible to King-size double bed) plus 1 double sofabed. The other Interior quad cabins are fitted with 2 twin beds (convertible) plus 2 Pullman beds (foldable). All Interior cabins on Deck 3 and some on Deck 6 are smaller-sized (135 ft2 / 13 m2).

Virtual Balcony Interior cabins are fitted with a floor-ceiling LED screen (size 80-inch / 2 m) mounted on one of the walls. The 4K Ultra-HD screen is without TV functions and provides "balcony views" by receiving live/real-time video streaming from the cruise ship’s outside cameras.

Voyager Of The Seas cabins review

Voyager Of The Seas staterooms (1708 total) include 121 Suites, 669 Balcony, 228 OceanView, 157 Promenade View, 533 Inside (including Virtual Balcony). Most cabins are sized 150-160 ft2 (14-15 m2). Most cabin balconies are sized 50 ft2 (5 m2). The largest is Royal Suite (1090 ft2 / 101 m2 plus 215 ft2 / 20 m2 terrace with Jacuzzi).

The cruise ship has a total of 27 handicap staterooms (ADA-certified, wheelchair-accessible cabins) in the types/categories Junior Suite (2), Balcony (8), OceanView (7), Promenade View (1), Inside (9). The total number of cabin categories is 38, including the "Guaranteed" categories (W-Suite, X-Balcony, Y-Oceanview, Z-Inside).

During the ship's Royal Amplified 2019 drydock were added 72 new staterooms (Interior and Balcony) and new "family cabin" categories were introduced - CB (Connecting Balcony), CO (Connecting Oceanview), CP (Connecting Promenade View Interior), CI (Connecting Interior).

Follows the review of RCI Voyager of the Seas staterooms as amenities, furniture and services.

All Suites have a king bed, large-size bathroom (whirlpool bathtub, separate shower), vanity area, walk-in closet, large living area (queen-size sofabed, dining area/pantry, wet bar, kitchen, dining table), private balcony (sliding floor-ceiling doors, whirlpool bathtub, sun loungers). Guests in all Suites (excluding Junior Suites only) enjoy the following bonus amenities: Concierge Service (24-hour Concierge Lounge access /continental breakfast, hors d'oeuvres, CD/DVD library, private parties arrangements, priority services (Salon/Spa reservations, booking RCI cruise tours/excursions, dining reservations).

Royal Suites have 2 separate bedrooms (each has 2 twin beds /convertible to Queen), another room with bunk beds (for 3rd/4th person), extended balcony (whirlpool, deluxe lounge furniture). Additional amenities in Royal Suites are media center (surround sound, large HDTV, stereo, CD/DVD player), baby grand piano.

Owner Suites have queen beds, walk-in closet, large bathroom (separate bathtub/shower), large living room (double sofabed, dining area, bar, fridge), media center.

GT-Two-Bedroom Grand Suite (former Royal Family Suites) have 2 separate bedrooms (each with 2 twin beds /to Queen), guest bedroom (2 lower single beds /convertible, plus 2 bunk beds), living room (vanity, double sofabed, dining table, dresser, sofa), bathroom (shower). Grand and Junior Suites have 2 twin beds (convertible), walk-in closet, larger bathroom (bathtub, shower), large living room (desk, drawers, vanity, sofabed, chairs).

All balcony staterooms are with floor-ceiling sliding doors opening to a private veranda. On the Royal Caribbean Voyager ship, cabin balconies on decks 7 and above have plexiglass, while those on deck 6 are with steel railings. All portside and starboard balconies are with an in-hull design. Solid metal rises up to 3 ft / 1 m from the deck floor, while the other part of the railing is open. Aft-location verandas have larger metal structures. Aft-facing balconies are warmer compared to the other ones during cold-weather cruise itineraries. Side-location balconies offer better views since the ones closer to the middle are more enclosed. The ship's mid-aft part is humped (wider). Cabins on the aft hump's outer part are premium location staterooms.

You can save money by booking a forward/aft stateroom in the category you are interested in. Their sizes and features (amenities) are the same as of the more expensive mid-location staterooms.

Categories VP (Oceanview Suite), 1K (Ultra-Spacious Oceanview), and 1L (Panoramic Oceanview) are bow-facing, family-type cabins perfect for families with more kids. They accommodate up to 6 passengers making them a cheaper alternative to booking connecting cabins. Each stateroom has 2 large picture windows (round-shaped, non-opening), a separate bedroom (with Pullman beds / upper-lower bunk beds), large living area (1 double sofabed, 2 lower single beds (convertible to Queen-size double bed), larger bathroom (shower/bathtub). These staterooms offer amazing unobstructed views and can be booked cheaper than balcony cabins.

Oceanview Suites are with floor-ceiling windows (sized in inches 76 high x 100-320 wide / in meters 1,9 height x 2,5-8 width). These are premium family-type accommodations, each with 2 single beds (convertible to a double), large living area (desk, drawers, vanity, double sofabed), ample closet space, bathroom (WC/shower).

Standard Oceanview cabins are with a Porthole Window (round-shaped, size 24-inch / 61 cm) or with rounded Picture Windows. The fore-located Oceanviews have two round-shaped windows overlooking the ship's bow.

Atrium Promenade staterooms (category 2T-Promenade View/former PR) are a unique type of inside cabins with bowed windows overlooking the Atrium's Royal Promenade. The room's bowed window gives more interior space and is also a great vantage point to watch the Royal Promenade's "street" activities - including the parade each evening. Remember to keep the curtains closed at night as there are Promenade cabins across the "street" too.

A unique Royal Caribbean cabin type is the "Interior Virtual Balcony". The stateroom features a floor-ceiling LED screen (size 80-inch / 2 m). This is a 4K ultra-HD screen (no TV functions) that receives real-time/live video streaming from the cruise ship's outside cameras. This means you will enjoy "balcony views" without paying the higher-priced cabins with step-out balconies.

All Voyager OTS cabins as amenities have 2 twin beds (convertible to queen), ample closet/drawer space, private bathroom (shower, hairdryer, bath products), sitting area (desk, drawers, vanity, sofa), smart HDTV (infotainment system, Internet, on-demand-movies), individual air-conditioning, direct-dial phone, electronic safe box and lifejackets (in the closet), radio, minibar, Internet access, 24-hour room service (5-12 am /complimentary).

Some staterooms have either sofabed or upper/bunk beds (Pullman beds) for 3rd/4th person. The twin bed size is 36 x 82 inches (90 x 210 cm).

In-cabin babysitting is available at an hourly fee (US$19 per kid) for 4 kids per stateroom max. For in-cabin use can be borrowed movies, toys and games suitable for kids with autism.

RCI's new Wi-Fi costs US$15 per device per day (50% discount on a second device). The Wi-Fi is always on (shipwide coverage) and super fast (even for streaming movies).

Voyager Of The Seas cabin and suite plans are property of Royal Caribbean . All floor plans are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

• Find a Cruise​ Cruise Deals Cruise Ships Destinations​ Manage My Cruise​ FAQ Perfect Day at CocoCay​ Make a Payment Crown & Anchor Society​ Royal Caribbean Blog Royal Caribbean Group
• Back to Main Menu
• Search Cruises " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-1-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/gbr/en/cruises" target="_self"> Search Cruises
• Cruise Deals
• Last Minute Cruises​
• Family Cruises​
• 2024-2025 Cruises
• Mini Cruises
• First Time Cruisers
• What's Included
• Cruising Guides
• All Cruise Ships " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-3-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/gbr/en/cruise-ships" target="_self"> All Cruise Ships
• Deck Plans​
• Cruise Dining 
• Onboard Activities
• Cruise Rooms​
• The Cruise Experience​
• All Cruise Destinations " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-4-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/gbr/en/cruise-destinations" target="_self"> All Cruise Destinations
• Cruise Ports​
• Shore Excursions​
• Perfect Day at CocoCay​
• Mediterranean Cruises​
• Caribbean Cruises​
• European Cruises​
• Greece Cruises​
• Italy Cruises​
• Cruise Planner
• Book a Flight
• Check-In for My Cruise​
• Make a Payment
• Redeem Cruise Credit
• Update Guest Information
• Beverage Packages​
• Dining Packages​
• My Account​
• All FAQs " id="rciHeaderSideNavSubmenu-6-1" class="headerSidenav__link" href="/gbr/en/faq" target="_self"> All FAQs
• Boarding Requirements
• Royal Caribbean
• Celebrity Cruises

PACK LIGHT. THINK BIG.

Stay royally, award-winning & awe-inspiring accommodations.

Redefining the cruising experience one room at a time. Our staterooms are an alluring escape from the non-stop action that our cruise ships are known for. From our spectacular views to our deluxe amenities, a stay with us is like nothing else at sea.

DESIGNED TO MATCH YOUR COMFORT NEEDS

We’ve thought of the details, so you don’t have to.

BABY FRIENDLY

Bringing a baby? Let us know and we'll provide a cot and supplies.

COUPLES RETREAT

Enjoy spa-like comfort in your stateroom, perfect for couples.

EXTENDED FAMILIES

Select staterooms can connect to accommodate more guests.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Our ships are equipped to accommodate you regardless of your special needs.

READY FOR YOUR STAY

All the creature comforts you’d expect to have during your holiday.

VOOM SURF & STREAM

Giving a new meaning to connected staterooms.

24-HOUR ROOM SERVICE

Indulge your midnight cravings.

DAILY CLEANING SERVICE

Sweet dreams are on the horizon.

DAILY STATEROOM ATTENDANT

A helping hand when you need it the most.

EXPLORE MORE

Previewing: Promo Dashboard Campaigns

My Personas

Code: ∅.

Looking for more information about Events at Sea? Click here.

MEETINGS & INCENTIVES

THE ULTIMATE EVENT DESTINATION

• Voyager of the Seas

Maiden Voyage & Enhanced

1999 / 2019

Total Guest Rooms

Ocean view rooms, largest meeting room.

• Ship Overview
• Accommodations
• Event Spaces

Voyager of the Seas Staterooms

Suite Stateroom

More space. More comfort. More to love! Indulge in one of Royal Caribbean’s luxurious suites for the ultimate at-sea experience. With additional perks such as concierge service, priority boarding and departure privileges, and dedicated entertainment seating, everything you need for a lavish voyage is at your fingertips. For an extra-special journey, with its exclusive experiences, deluxe amenities, and the most spacious luxury suites at sea. No matter which suite you choose, experience Royal Caribbean’s legendary personalized service, spacious accommodations, and special touches at every turn.

Balcony Stateroom

Imagine waking up every morning, opening your balcony door, and being greeted with views of a brand-new and breathtaking part of the world. Reserve a Royal Caribbean Balcony stateroom to enjoy spectacular vistas each and every day from the comfort and privacy of your own room. We believe the best way to explore the world is by sea – and a Balcony stateroom is the perfect way to get a little bit closer to everything!

Ocean View Stateroom

As your Royal Caribbean cruise sails to some of the world’s most stunning destinations, you don’t want to miss a single moment. In an Ocean View stateroom, you’ll be treated to a beautiful new view every day! Spend the day exploring the world, then retreat to your comfortable, well-appointed stateroom and don’t miss a thing.

Interior Stateroom

After an action-packed schedule of meetings, activities, and exploring the world, you need to relax. At the end of a busy day, retreat to your Interior stateroom and unwind in comfort! These well-appointed staterooms offer everything you need for a comfortable voyage. Aboard our Voyager-class ships, opt for a Promenade stateroom, offering all the features of a standard room plus a bowed window overlooking the Promenade.

Stateroom Amenities

These amenities are available in all of our stateroom categories.

• Luxurious Bedding
• Two twin beds or one queen-size bed
• Sitting Area
• Private bath with shower, vanity area, and hair dryer
• 24-Hour Room Service*
• Round-the-Clock Stateroom Attendant
• Nightly Turn-Down Service
• Interactive TV & Movies
• In-Room Safe
• Phone and Voicemail Service

*A late-night service charge applies.

Suite Amenities

Experience the “Suite Life” when you book a suite on Royal Caribbean. Suites offer even more amenities and personalized service for an exceptional cruise experience. Our suite program focuses on distinctive, tailored service and touches every aspect of the guest’s cruise, from arrival through departure.

• Get on board faster with exclusive priority check-in.
• Receive personalized attention during the cruise with complimentary Concierge Club service on select ships.
• Enjoy the best seats in the house during shows and performances with reserved prime seating (where available).
• Receive priority tender tickets on select cruises.
• Relax in style with VIP pool deck seating, where available.
• Indulge in in-room dining during breakfast, lunch, and dinner – simply order from our dining room menus.
• Enjoy private breakfast seating in specialty restaurants on our Voyager and Freedom Class ships.
• Let us handle your bags with our complimentary luggage valet service.
• Luxury spa bathrobes.
• Look your best on formal night with our complimentary pressing service.
• At the end of your cruise, enjoy priority departure through our exclusive suite* departure lounge, which includes continental breakfast.

Concierge Lounge

Available for your use, our Concierge Lounge is staffed by a dedicated Concierge, who will attend to your needs in a relaxed lounge environment. Enjoy the following exclusive services:

• Make your mark using personalized stationery.
• Start your day with daily continental breakfast, available in the Lounge from 7:00 AM until 10:00 AM.
• Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and petit fours in the Lounge, served before and after dinner beginning the first day of the cruise.
• Need some refreshment? An honor bar (self service bar with no fee) is available for your convenience.
• Book reservations for Specialty Dining, Explorations Shore Excursions and Barefoot Beach Cabanas.
• Schedule some relaxation into your day. Make appointments for salon services or spa treatments.
• Get help arranging a private party for your group with our team of experienced event planners.
• Receive assistance booking show tickets.
• View the day’s dining menus and order dinner wine in advance.
• Take care of business with Royal Caribbean’s business services, including faxing and copying (additional fees may apply).

Note: The above suite amenities are not available to guests staying in our Junior Suites.

Find your Perfect Venue

Start Planning

Voyager of the Seas Panoramic Oceanview

• Click here for ALL
• Promenade View Interior
• Spacious Oceanview

Panoramic Oceanview

• Ultra Spacious Oceanview
• Spacious Balcony
• Panoramic Suite
• Junior Suite
• Grand Suite - 1 Bedroom
• Grand Suite - 2 Bedroom
• Owners Suite
• Royal Suite
• Ship info and tracking
• Cabin Check

Voyager of the Seas Panoramic Oceanview cabin location, stateroom cabin videos, stateroom cabin pictures, floor plans, diagrams, stateroom features and perks. Cruisedeckplans.com also provides links to actual stateroom cabin pictures and videos on this page. You can see details and floor plans for all of Voyager of the Seas's different stateroom cabin categories on the NEW cabins page.

Sub Categories

   Panoramic View

• Two lower twin beds that convert to Royal King (72.5 by 82 inches)
• Double sofa bed for quad staterooms
• Vanity with sitting area
• Private bath with shower
• Floor to ceiling wrap around panoramic window

Floor plans may not represent actual stateroom. Click to zoom.

Deck locations

Deck 12  

Important Info

Voyager of the seas panoramic oceanview pictures.

Voyager of the Seas Panoramic Oceanview stateroom videos

Scroll over cabin (stateroom) tiles below to click and watch videos. Cruisedeckplans.com shows up to 10 of the most recent videos added to our collection on this page. Be sure to click the link in the section below to see other cabins we have videos for. The date shown is the date video was published. Use this to see decor changes.

Looking for specific Panoramic Oceanview cabins with pics/videos?

Other categories on voyager of the seas.

Click on a category below to go to that page. Stateroom cabin categories are simply the way that Royal Caribbean groups the different types of staterooms (cabins). You can see details and floor plans for all of the categories on Voyager of the Seas on this page.

CRUISEDECKPLANS.COM Use the input buttons above to go to the main page for a Cruise Ship or Cruise Line.

I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.

• I booked a stateroom on Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, one of the biggest cruise ships.
• For $2,000 a week, the 179-square-foot cabin had a private bathroom, a king-size bed, and a view.
• I thought I'd feel cramped in the room, but it had everything I needed and left no space unused.

In April 2022, I cruised on board Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas . At the time, it was the largest cruise ship in the world , but the title has since been replaced by Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas .

During my voyage, the ship sailed to Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico; and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas .

For $2,000, I spent seven nights in an ocean-view stateroom on deck eight. The cruise was on sale, as it was originally priced at $3,000. Take a look inside the 179-square-foot space.

My room was a mid-tier cabin at the front of deck eight.

I booked a mid-tier room — a step above interior staterooms , which have no window. It's a category below staterooms with a balcony , and two steps below a suite.

My cabin was on the same deck as Central Park, an outdoor space with 20,000 plants.

I thought it was the most relaxing area on the ship, so I enjoyed being close by.

When I stepped inside my stateroom, I was surprised at how big it felt.

Right away, I thought the cabin made great use of a small space.

To operate most of the electricity in the room, I had to insert my room key into a slot on the wall.

I appreciated the energy-saving system.

On one side of the room, I had a mirror and a desk with several outlets to charge electronics with USB, American, and European ports.

I thought the desk was useful for eating, as well as storing daily flyers about the day's events.

Next to the desk, a set of drawers included a cabinet with a minifridge inside.

The desk drawers were mostly empty aside from a hair dryer, which I didn't end up using.

Across from the desk, I had a couch positioned in between two closets.

Inside each closet, I found a rack of hangers, shelving, and a small safe. I thought it was plenty of space for a weeklong journey

Next to the couch and desk area, a small bathroom used clever storage hacks, like placing the trash can and toilet paper under the counter.

In the bathroom, there were two glasses, a bar of soap, and a two-in-one hair and body wash.

At the top of the shower, a pullout clothing line was useful for drying my bathing suits.

Each night, my stateroom attendant replenished towels and brought flyers and schedules for the next day.

Sometimes, the towels were folded creatively to look like animals.

I noticed that my king-size bed at the back of the room was actually two twin beds pushed together.

All Royal Caribbean cabins come with this configuration, according to its website , so they may be separated for additional guests. I often woke up in the crevice.

A large flat-screen TV was mounted across from the bed with storage hooks below.

Skinny nightstands on either side of the bed held lamps, charging ports, and a room phone on one side.

Because I booked an ocean-view room, I was able to look out over the front of the ship from a window above my bed.

The window was equipped with an electronic shade that could be opened during the day for grand views and closed when I was ready to sleep.

While I thought the room might have been a tight space for a couple with a lot of luggage or a family, it was just right for me.

And watching the sun rise over the Caribbean Sea from the comfort of my room was the best part.

• Main content

Jupiter's moon Io is a volcanic hellscape—and has been since the solar system began

Io is the most volcanic body known to science, and researchers have puzzled over its history for years. A new report suggests it was born this way.

Earth’s silvery moon is impressive in many ways, but it doesn’t hold a candle to those of the solar system’s gas giant planets. These moons are worlds unto themselves. Some, like Europa or Enceladus, have spectacular and perhaps even habitable liquid water oceans. And then there’s Jupiter’s moon, Io .

Io is the most volcanic object known to science. A rust-hued orb, its rocky seas of lava are larger than cities and its eruption plumes arc across the sky like infernal umbrellas. Yet until now, scientists have had little idea of Io’s history, including for how long it has been so eruptive. Io’s volcanism means that the moon resurfaces itself every million years.

All worlds are dynamic, and those with beating geologic hearts change—sometimes in extreme ways. Earth’s past self, for example, was very different from its present form. What about Io? Was it always a fiery hellscape?

To find out, astronomers studied its atmospheric chemistry to work out how long it might have taken for countless eruptions to shift its composition from an ancient starting point. Yet as they reported today in the journal Science , Io looks to have more-or-less been continuously erupting for billions of years—perhaps even 4.5 billion years, or for as long as the solar system itself has existed. In other words, Io has been volcanically hyperactive for as long as the sun itself has been shining.

“We are seeing Io just as it’s been all along!” says Jani Radebaugh , a planetary geologist at Brigham Young University and who wasn’t involved with the new work. That makes Io a time machine of sorts, whose unyielding heat engine—one powered by gravitational tides—can tell us about worlds both near and far.

“That process is going on throughout the solar system, as well as in exoplanets,” Katherine de Kleer , a planetary astronomer at Caltech and the study’s lead author. “We study Io to better understand this universal process.”

A volcanic paradise

The solar system may not look that changeable from a human perspective. But it most certainly is on astronomic timescales. For example, in recent years, scientists have found that Saturn’s iconic rings were not permanent fixtures, but recent decorations: they formed a few hundred million years ago, and they will fade away in a similar amount of time.

Io, then, may not have always been the volcanic maestro it is today. But to find out, we must understand how its volcanism works —and why it’s so dramatic.

In 1979, two major science moments laid the ground work: NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft flew through the Jovian system and photographed ginormous plumes of volcanic matter rising above Io’s surface, and an independent team of scientists calculated that Io may possess a potent, but unusual, source of heat.

That mathematical prediction came from the strange voyages of Europa and Ganymede, a pair of moons close to Io. Every time Ganymede makes a complete orbit of Jupiter, Europa makes two, and Io makes four. This rhythm, known as a resonance , alters Io’s own orbit, shaping it into something more elliptical than circular.

When Io is closer to Jupiter on its wonky orbit, it experiences a stronger gravitational pull; when it’s more distant, the gravitational pull of Jupiter is a little weaker. That causes tides on Io not dissimilar from the way Earth’s moon makes tides in our own world’s seas and oceans. But in this case, the tides are so strong that Io’s surface trampolines up and down 330 feet—comparable to a small skyscraper.

All that movement creates a lot of friction, which generates an astonishing amount of heat. Within Io, that heat melts a considerable amount of rock, perhaps creating an ocean of magma . And that powers some truly fierce eruptions at its surface, often taking the form of serpent-like rivers of lava longer than most of Earth’s watery versions, towering columns of sulfur-rich lava confetti, and cauldrons of liquid rock that act like portals into Io’s underworld.

You May Also Like

4.5 billion years ago, another planet crashed into Earth. We may have found its leftovers.

800,000 years ago, a huge meteorite hit Earth. Scientists may have just found where.

Did Pluto ever actually stop being a planet? Experts debate.

“It’s awesome,” says de Kleer. “It has these volcanoes that give us a window into what’s happening inside the moon, which is something we don’t usually have.”

The extreme nature of its volcanism doesn’t stop with its eruptions. As well as sulfur-containing compounds, it coughs out gases made of sodium and potassium chloride. On Earth, we use these to season our food. “It’s like table salt gas that’s coming out of the volcanoes,” says de Kleer.

Much of its erupted material can also be jettisoned through Io’s thin atmospheric bubble and into space. There, it mingles with sunlight, gets electrically excited, before falling into Jupiter’s magnetized skies and exploding as powerful aurorae —the gas giant’s version of Earth’s northern and southern lights.

Io’s source of heat—a mechanism known as tidal heating—is ultimately responsible for all this planetary sorcery. Scientists wanted to know if that tidal heating always existed within the moon. But as it’s so volcanically active, its lava flows have quickly and repeatedly covered its surface, burying any evidence of ancient geologic processes.

“It’s not possible to look at Io’s surface and say something about what happened more than a million years ago,” says de Kleer. That’s why she and her team took a different approach and looked to its skies instead.

Io loses as much as three tons of material every single second to space through its volcanic outgassing and atmospheric erosion. “One could argue that Io’s losing its mass like a comet,” says Apurva Oza , a planetary astrophysicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who wasn’t involved with the new work.

Over time, that would mean that Io’s modern-day eruptions will be relatively enriched in heavier versions (isotopes) of various chemical elements than lighter ones, because lighter isotopes in the upper atmosphere can more easily escape into space. If the team could measure the present-day ratios of the atmosphere’s heavy isotopes to lighter isotopes, they could calculate how long it would have taken for Io to get to that state from an original reservoir of subterranean, but eruptible, compounds within Io.

Using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile to observe gases in Io’s atmosphere—most notably, sulfur—de Kleer’s team did just that. They also estimated the moon’s "original" reservoir of heavier and lighter isotopes by using (among other things) ancient meteorites, which preserve a record of the average chemistry of the primeval era of the solar system.

They found that the high proportion of heavier sulfur isotopes in today’s Ionian atmosphere suggests that Io has lost 94 to 99 percent of its original sulfur reservoir. And the only way that makes sense, and fits with preexisting models of the evolution of Jupiter and its inner moons, is that Io has been erupting for perhaps as long as 4.5 billion years.

Orbital dance  

“The orbital dynamics of planetary satellites can get very chaotic,” says James Tuttle Keane , a planetary scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who was not involved with the new work. Moons can drift in and out of stable orbits, sometimes colliding or potentially being ejected from the solar system entirely.

But it seems that Io, Ganymede, and Europa have been dancing about in a similar way for billions of years, and “the Io we see today is somewhat representative of Io over its long history,” says Keane.

That’s extraordinary in itself—but it also has implications for Io’s neighbor, Europa. This icy orb not only has a liquid water ocean beneath its frozen shell, but it is thought to be kept warm and liquid by tidal heating too. That means that if Io has been volcanically active for billions of years, then Europa’s ocean may be similarly primeval.

“Maybe this has some implications for the long-term history of Europa’s habitability,” says de Kleer. We don’t yet know if this ocean contains life. But if it does, it owes its existence to the same eternal force that makes Io blaze with volcanic fire.

Related Topics

• PLANETARY MOONS
• VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS
• PLANETARY GEOLOGY

9 spectacular night sky events to see in 2024

In the hunt for alien life, this planet just became a top suspect

The 11 most astonishing scientific discoveries of 2023

Earth is a geological oddball in our solar system. This is why.

Today, it’s a massive volcano on Mars—but it may have once been an island

• Environment

History & Culture

• History & Culture
• Coronavirus Coverage
• Mind, Body, Wonder
• Paid Content
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved