After Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas grew to become the world’s largest cruise ship, she’s earned plenty of reward and accolades, and so they’re all well-deserved.
I’ve sailed on Icon for 3 full cruises to this point, together with just a few shorter sailings main as much as her debut. Every time I’ve stepped onboard I’ve rediscovered why this ship is now my absolute favourite ship within the fleet.
You needn’t go on an enormous and new ship with a view to have an amazing trip, however Icon makes it so darn simple.
I have been crusing on Royal Caribbean’s latest ships for years, and every one introduced a bit of one thing totally different to 1 up the earlier. Â Nevertheless, Icon takes a leap ahead from the fleet and it is obvious fairly rapidly whenever you get onboard.
Improvements that transcend another ship
I can sum up Icon of the Seas in two phrases: really modern.
That phrase will get tossed round lots, however Royal Caribbean got down to construct the last word cruise ship and threw out the whole lot they knew about ships previous to it.
They known as it a “white paper cruise ship design”, which implies they began with a clean canvas to give you the issues its company needed, whereas bettering on issues which have already been a hit.
Should you’ve been on another cruise ship, the enhancements made to Icon quickly stand out. Â Some are large and others refined, however all of them contribute to a greater visitor expertise.Â
If you have not been on a cruise ship earlier than, then Icon will really feel extra pure and never as jarring as a cruise may be for newbies.
What you may count on occurring Icon of the Seas is a clean course of every step of the way in which, and it is plenty of the fixes and enhancements made to Icon that make this ship so visitor pleasant.
You will not be uninterested in so many issues to do on this ship
I am amazed how a lot there’s to do on a ship like Icon, and it is a part of why I really like occurring it.
Some of the widespread causes individuals use to keep away from occurring a cruise ship is they’re afraid they will be bored. Â I do not see how that is doable on this ship.
Being the largest cruise ship on this planet, it may well deal with as much as 7,600 passengers if each mattress was bought out. Â The usual double occupancy price is 5,610 passengers. Â No matter how many individuals are on this ship, good luck discovering a crowd as a result of the distribution of individuals is phenomenal.
It is really easy to be drawn to 1 space of the ship due to what number of totally different actions and venues exist. Â It is a boon for first time cruisers who I feel can be astonished by the variability.
The spotlight of this ship is what you may see as you drive as much as the ship: the pool deck.
Icon was designed with a “water, water in all places” strategy. Â You may see the water from so many locations and be within the water too.
There are seven swimming pools, together with a suspended infinity pool only for adults. Â There are numerous different swimming pools for teenagers and households to take pleasure in collectively, and every has its personal theme. Â By providing extra swimming pools, it spreads individuals round and avoids the widespread cruise ship trope of a crowded and bustling pool.
Then there’s the waterpark behind Icon, which has six slides. Â Most cruise ships have possibly two or three slides, however Royal Caribbean pushed the restrict with sufficient to have a real waterpark.
There’s additionally a surf simulator, mini-golf course, rope/swing problem, rock wall, and sports activities court docket. Â There’s sufficient to taking place within the Thrill Island space that you just most likely may spend a complete day right here with out attempting all of it.
The ship has three theaters onboard, with distinctive exhibits in every venue: an indoor AquaTheater, conventional stage theater, and an ice skating rink.
On prime of all of that, there’s a complete part devoted to younger households.
You probably have a child beneath the age of seven, Surfside goes to be the perfect factor you by no means knew you wanted on a household trip.
This complete space was designed with younger children in thoughts, and the tone is ready when there is a slide for them to go down into it, proper subsequent to the steps.
Inside Surfside is a carousel, arcade, three totally different eating places that serve kid-friendly meals, a bar to take a seat at along with your children, and a large aqua park.
What Royal Caribbean has finished with Surfside is double down on what households need: tons for the younger children to do together with their dad and mom.Â
When my children have been rising up, extra devoted programming for them was type of a brand new idea that was being explored by Royal Caribbean. However children at this time have arguably the perfect at school choices for this age group to make sure they may adore it, with out making their dad and mom should run across the ship between actions.
It is simple to seek out your manner across the ship
I do know you is likely to be apprehensive that the ship is a maze, however it could not be simpler to get from level A to level B.
The ship is cut up up into 8 neighborhoods, which is an concept borrowed from the Oasis Class ships. Consider it like themed lands across the ship, the place the look of the realm immediately tells you the place you might be.
- AquaDome: An indoor house and theater capped by a big dome, providing immersive leisure and eating experiences (Deck 15).
- Central Park: Open air park with actual bushes, shrubs, and flowers that has quite a lot of eating places, outlets, and bars (Deck 8).
- Thrill Island: All issues enjoyable and thrilling, with a water park, mini-golf, sports activities court docket, and plenty of extra actions (Deck 16)
- Chill Island: Many of the swimming pools, whirlpools, and bars for time spent having fun with being in or across the water (Decks 15, 16 & 17)
- Royal Promenade: Two deck excessive leisure “avenue” that has eating places, bars, and is house to The Pearl (Deck 5 & 6)
- The Hideaway: Adults solely enclave for passengers at the very least 18 years outdated, with a suspended infinity pool, whirlpools, and quite a lot of seating choices (Deck 16).
- Suite Neighborhood: Reserved space of the ship solely for company booked in a set. Â There’s two devoted eating places, bar, and solar deck (Deck 16, 17, & 18).
- Surfside: A family-friendly neighborhood with a children’ splash zone, arcade, carousel, and family-friendly eating places (Deck 6).
The advantage of the neighborhoods is it makes it simple to guess what kind of actions or eating selections is likely to be there.
Many eating selections, however plenty of eating places price additional
Royal Caribbean contains an astonishing quantity of locations you may eat on Icon of the Seas, with greater than 40 totally different eating spots and bars to select from.
There is a alternative of locations included in your cruise fare, and others that price additional. You actually will not go hungry limiting your self to only the included spots, however it’s fairly tempting to pay extra for the opposite ones.
Whereas I indulge within the specialty eating places, I’ve to confess the included meals provided is great and higher than most different Royal Caribbean ships.
The Foremost Eating Room and Windjammer buffet are staples of any ship to offer most meals, however my favourite locations to eat for gratis are the Aquadome Market and Pearl Cafe. Each are new ideas launched for Icon and actually up the free meals recreation.
I additionally actually like El Loco Contemporary. It is fast service Mexican meals and you may customise your meals with a beneficiant toppings bar. Following visitor suggestions, Basecamp was modified to be utterly complimentary and it provides a handy alternative whenever you’re feeling peckish across the waterpark.
Should you’re keen to spend extra, there are plenty of nice specialty eating choices too. Â Some are acquainted favorites, similar to Chops Grille or Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. Others are new concepts, just like the three-hour $200 per individual Empire Supper Membership expertise.
My favourite additional price eating places are Izumi, Giovanni’s, and Empire Supper Membership. Every gives a unique expertise, delicacies, and really stands out with wonderful meals.
Anybody booked in a set needs to be attempting the meals at Coastal Kitchen as a result of it is appears like a specialty restaurant however with out the value tag.
It is out there for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily for company in a Grand Suite or above (Dinner just for Junior Suite company).
My favourite cruise ship as a result of it is higher than each different ship
Why must you select Icon of the Seas over another Royal Caribbean ship? As a result of it is simply that significantly better at the whole lot it does.
I am a fan of massive cruise ships, and I’ve discovered the opposite ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet unbelievable. The distinction is Icon builds on all of them and solves plenty of points that historically would have been ache factors.
It is clear this ship has a two-pronged strategy to its design: ship wonderful experiences and make the whole lot simpler than ever earlier than.
The best way crowds are managed on Icon is astounding to me as a result of they’re so nicely unfold out. Â
Except there is a dance celebration, the Royal Promenade is never crowded in any respect. Â On different ships, it appears like Occasions Sq. most of the time.
The pool deck has a lot seating unfold across the three decks that it is most likely the perfect strategy but at fixing the chair hog drawback. Plus, I feel having so many alternative swimming pools helps too.
The very best innovation on the ship is using vacation spot elevators, the place you inform the system which flooring you need to go to, and are subsequently assigned an elevator. Â It is extremely environment friendly and quicker than common elevators.
In fact, the calling card of any Royal Caribbean ship is how good the leisure is across the ship. Â There are must-see exhibits at every venue, and I feel the Wizard of Oz present is Broadway high quality.
In brief, Icon makes taking a cruise as simple as doable for brand spanking new and veteran cruiser alike due to the the improvements this ship has.
What I cherished to do on Icon of the Seas
The included eating places are so good
Royal Caribbean invested plenty of effort and time to give you eating choices included in your cruise fare that you’re going to need to eat at lots.
The addition of Aquadome Market has been unbelievable, because it provides a restaurant that gives a real different to the Foremost Eating Room and Windjammer. Â It is quick, environment friendly, and the meals is de facto good.
Pearl Cafe is an upgraded Cafe Promenade, and likewise has some wonderful seating to go together with it.Â
Do not overlook the included meals in Surfside, as a result of it is vastly underrated. Â Each Surfside Bites and Surfside Eatery have so many good family-friendly choices.Â
It could be labeled as for teenagers, however I’m sure there are many adults who would like to eat there too due to how good the meals is.
I’d by no means need to hand around in Cafe Promenade after ending my espresso, however the Pearl Cafe house is gorgeous. It is simply a type of well-liked locations to hang around on the ship. Plus, the grab-and-go meals choices are actually good.
In fact, the meals within the Foremost Eating Room and Windjammer are each actually good, and I admire how massive the Windjammer is on Icon so that there is a number of seating and meals picks.
Royal Caribbean additionally added Basecamp as a handy possibility close to the waterslides, and it is whole menu now comes at no additional price.
The elevators are wonderful
One ache level solved on Icon are the cruise ship elevators.
As a substitute of conventional elevators, vacation spot elevators change them and together with the additional vehicles added to deal with the capability, it really works so significantly better.
The fantastic thing about these elevators is you not often wait various seconds for one to reach.
They’re much more environment friendly in how they assign vehicles to every flooring, and it will get you shifting quicker to the place you need to go.
I feel you may be pleasantly shocked how nicely the elevators work as quickly as you get onboard.
Wizard of Oz is the perfect present you by no means knew you needed to see
Whereas not a real musical, I am very impressed by Royal Caribbean’s Wizard of Oz present.
It is included in your fare, the manufacturing worth is off the charts. From the set, to the costumes, to the particular results, that is no musical medley. It is on par with any stage present you may see in a metropolis (and should pay additional to see).
Whereas I cherished the film as a lot as anybody, I used to be leery of the present being value it. Any considerations I had have been rapidly unwarranted.
One issue that elevates this present is the imaginative use of aerial stunts, similar to when Dorothy is in her mattress within the twister scene and flies over the viewers.
I feel even informal theater followers will like this efficiency.
Empire Supper Membership is not like another restaurant
At $200 per individual, I wasn’t certain if the Empire Supper Membership can be value it to justify the associated fee and time concerned. Â Fortunately, it completely is.
It is a curated meal expertise with cocktails paired to every course, and a jazz band taking part in songs to match up with all of it.
I particularly love that Royal Caribbean made the house intimate with out forcing everybody to take a seat with one another, like at Chef’s Desk. There is no awkward conversations to fret about right here.
Plus, it has wonderful meals too. The Chilean Sea Bass was extraordinary, as have been just a few of the appetizers.
The meals is top of the range, and I believed it was merely not like another eating expertise I have been to on a cruise ship. It isn’t “simply one other” specialty restaurant.
The ship feels so uncrowded
Up till I sailed on Icon of the Seas, I assumed all cruise ships have been going to be crowded and there was nothing I may do about it.
By creating broad open areas onboard, implementing higher elevators, and redesigning venues, the ship nearly feels unusual being so uncrowded.
It is exceptional how uncrowded the ship has felt, particularly the place I normally look forward to finding lots of people, such because the pool deck or Royal Promenade.
This was true on our spring break crusing that had 7,300 passengers onboard and I feel you may rapidly discover it too whenever you board.
What I hated about Icon of the Seas
Adults solely space has no shade
I like that Royal Caribbean got here up with a brand new idea for the adults solely space, however it’s extremely sizzling there with little shade.
The Hideaway is a good spot total, and it has a pool celebration vibe. Â I simply want there was extra shade to take pleasure in.
Each the pool and loungers close by are all straight within the solar, and the one shade is close to the bar or beneath some steel “palm bushes” near the new tubs.
Throughout most months of the yr, it will get very popular, in a short time.
Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen format is simply too shut collectively
I want there was more room allotted for each the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen so it did not really feel so smushed collectively.
It isn’t unusual for each areas to share the identical total room, however it feels fairly cramped on Icon.
When the suite lounge is busy throughout completely happy hour within the night, the conversations there can simply bleed into Coastal Kitchen (and vice versa). A number of the tables are just about proper close to one another.
Basket storage is questionable
Icon of the Seas has many inventions, however one I would rethink was the selection of baskets as an alternative of drawers.
The difficulty I’ve with the hampers is I do not need any garments on show. Plus, they’re extra cumbersome than helpful.
As a result of the hampers are pretty small, all you may actually put in there are most likely undergarments, and that is the very last thing I need seen.
On prime of that, it is clear there’s total much less space for storing in any of the rooms in comparison with the Oasis Class ships.Â
Normally there’s extra space for storing than we will use on new Royal Caribbean ships, however Icon feels prefer it’s lacking just a few drawers right here and there.
Who ought to guide Icon of the Seas
I feel Icon of the Seas might be the perfect household cruise ship I’ve ever sailed on due to how a lot it gives for everybody, not simply children.
The ship leans closely in the direction of the multi-gen group, the place dad and mom, children, and their grandparents can really take pleasure in a trip collectively and discover various things every would take pleasure in.
This ship has the easiest that Royal Caribbean, and the cruise business, can provide. It is like occurring the latest airliner or freshest lodge idea. There’s one thing to be stated about occurring the newest and biggest.
Royal Caribbean desires this ship to be the proper first ship for anybody, and it is well-suited for somebody new to cruising.
The children areas, together with the children membership, are really spectacular. In reality, I feel Royal Caribbean’s children membership is ignored, however the workers is so good at not solely supervising them, however maintaining them engaged with occasions, video games, and actions.
For me, I really like the sheer number of actions provided. The on line casino is big, there are nice exhibits, unbelievable bars with reside leisure, and a number of the finest eating places we may hope for on a cruise ship.
Itineraries and pricing
Icon of the Seas is crusing from Miami, providing 7-night cruises to each the jap and western Caribbean. Every cruise features a go to to Good Day at CocoCay.
These weeklong cruises are the correct quantity of time to take pleasure in the whole lot there’s to do onboard. Â You most likely will not be capable to do the whole lot in a single crusing, however ought to be capable to knock out the key must-dos.
Plus, the number of islands you go to is gorgeous, every with nice seashores, meals, and enjoyable actions.
Costs for a 7-night Icon of the Seas cruise from Miami begin at $1497 per individual for an inside cabin, primarily based on double occupancy.Â
Cruise costs will rely upon whenever you need to sail, as sure months are cheaper than others. Â Nonetheless, you will not discover low cost discount basement costs for an Icon of the Seas cruise.
Being a brand new ship means you may pay premium pricing to go on it.