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Icon Of The Seas
Former names: icon1, mayer turku nb-1400.
Cruise line Royal Caribbean
- Miami (Florida)
Icon Of The Seas current position
Icon Of The Seas current location is at North West Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 25.76197 N / -77.26957 W) cruising at speed of 16.3 kn (30 km/h | 19 mph) en route to Coco Cay. The AIS position was reported 15 minutes ago.
Current itinerary of Icon Of The Seas
Icon Of The Seas current cruise is 7 days, round-trip Eastern Caribbean Perfect Day . Prices start from USD 3759 (double occupancy rates). The itinerary starts on 24 Feb, 2024 and ends on 02 Mar, 2024 .
Specifications of Icon Of The Seas
- Itineraries
- Review
- Wiki
Icon Of The Seas Itineraries
Icon of the seas review, review of icon of the seas.
The 2024-built Icon of the Seas cruise ship is RCI-Royal Caribbean's first ICON-Class vessel scheduled for delivery and inauguration in 2024 January, being postponed from 2022-Q2 and 2023-Q3 due to the COVID crisis. The liner is currently the world's largest by volume/GT-tons (~6% bigger than Wonder OTS ) and has two same-designed sisterships - Star Of The Seas (2025-Q2) and TBN of the Seas (2026-Q2).
"Project Icon" is the name for a passenger ship class ordered by RCG-Royal Caribbean Group/shipowner to Meyer Merf's Shipyard in Turku Finland .
The vessel (IMO number 9829930) is currently Bahamas- flagged (MMSI 311001178) and registered in Nassau .
History - construction and ownership
Royal Caribbean International (RCI) is a US company, trademarked brand, and subsidiary owned by Royal Caribbean Group (RCG/shipowner). RCI was established in 1968 and currently has over 1/5 of the worldwide cruise market. RCI also has RCG's largest fleet by both vessel number and GT tonnage (ship sizes and capacities).
All RCI liners have names ending with "of the Seas".
Each vessel from the ICON series has passenger capacity 5610 (lower berths) and GT tonnage/volume 250800 tons, making the design Royal Caribbean's/world's largest.
On May 5, 2022, an RCI spokesperson announced that the ICON class will be bigger (in both passenger capacity and volume) than the OASIS class, which makes Icon of the Seas currently the world's largest passenger ship ever constructed. On October 20th, RCI revealed more details, including the vessel's exact volume (250800 GT-tons) and max capacity (9950/7600 passengers + 2350 crew). For comparison, the previously largest passenger ships (OASIS PLUS class) have GT ~227000 tons and max capacity 8800 (6410 pax + 2390 crew).
Initially, the ICON ship design was announced with passenger capacity ~5200 and GT tonnage ~200K.
Decks and Cabins
Of all Icon of the Seas staterooms (2805 total, in 28 grades), ~70% are balconies and over 80% accommodate 3 or more people. The ship has 179x suites, 1815x balconies, 276x oceanviews (including 12x Panoramic) and 744x inside cabins (534x Standard plus 214x Interior-Facing/Promenade View Balcony). Infinite Balconies are 693 (615x Standard plus 78x Family). Wheelchair-accessible cabins are 50.
Icon OTS has 14 new for RCI cabin categories - Inside Plus, Panoramic Ocean View (redesigned/both cabins and suites), Infinite Balcony, Family Infinite Balcony, Surfside Family Suite, Sky Junior Suite, Sunset Suite, Sunset Corner Suite, Icon Loft Suite, and the Ultimate Family Townhouse.
"Panoramic Ocean View" cabins and suites are in the AquaDome Neighborhood and all are with floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows.
"Infinite Balcony" are "French Balcony" cabins with drop-down panoramic/wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling windows enclosing the terrace. These accommodations are designed as convertible, transforming the veranda into an indoor space (within the cabin/separated by accordion doors) at the push of a button. This category (as Edge Veranda Infinity) debuted on Celebrity Cruises ' EDGE-class ships.
"Family Infinite Balcony" cabins accommodate 6 people and are with split bathrooms, a separate kids' bedroom (with bunk beds), and an infinite balcony.
"Surfside Family Suite" is in the Surfside Neighborhood, accommodates 4 people, has a separate kids' bedroom (convertible into a lounge room) and its occupants receive Royal Suite Class perks.
"Sunset Corner Suite" (fleet's first) represents aft-facing staterooms (located at the stern) featuring large wraparound terraces.
The "Ultimate Family Townhouse" is a 3-deck/level suite designed for families. The stateroom is with private access to Surfside Neighborhood and features an indoor dry slide, media room/cinema, karaoke room, huge terrace.
The 3-deck Suite Neighborhood houses all the top-tier staterooms. It features an exclusive 2-deck Sundeck and an expanded Coastal Kitchen (suite-only restaurant on 2 levels, overlooking the AquaTheater). There is a larger exclusive sundeck (accessed only by Star Class and Sky Class suites) with its own swimming pool and an outdoor Jacuzzi, plus a new, suite-only casual dining venue (The Grove) offering traditional Mediterranean cuisine specialties.
The suites are in categories (high to low grade) Family Townhouse, Royal Loft, Icon Loft, Owner's, Infinite Grand, Grand, Sunset Corner, Surfside Family, Sunset, Junior, and Panoramic (with windows).
ICON ships also have a new (patented design) crew cabin type with an L-shaped bed layout.
The boat has 19 decks , of which 18 are passenger-accessible and 12 with cabins.
RCI's ICON-class vessels have 40+ F&B concepts (including 23 fleet-firsts) and 26 fleet-firsts (features, amenities, technologies) including 15 water activities.
For detailed information on the RCI's ICON ships as technologies see the ship's Wiki page .
Shipboard facilities and amenities
RCI's ICON class features the OASIS class' Central Park Neighborhood - an inside-the-ship, open-air, multi-deck space whose base level is fitted with live vegetation (trees, bushes, flowers). The design also includes the fore-located Solarium - a 2-decks spanning adults-only relaxation complex (covered by a glass rooftop) with its own cafe/bistro, bar, thalassotherapy pool, large Jacuzzies, indoor sunbathing area (deckchairs, loungers, daybeds), an outdoor sundeck.
The Sun Deck (positioned midship) is on two levels and fitted with a large swimming pool surrounded by a sunbathing area. A series of columns (midship-aft) support the waterslides and the Ropes Course (costs US$90 per person).
The stern (like on the OASIS liners) is open-deck and with cascading suite terraces.
Like all RCI boats, Icon also has a FlowRider (surfing simulator positioned aft-starboard on top deck), an island-themed Mini-Golf Course (Lost Dunes) and Rock-Climbing Walls (at Adrenaline Peak), Ice-Rink Arena (Absolute Zero/fleet's largest).
Icon OTS has 10x new for RCI dining concepts out of 20x total different venues, of which 11x are complimentary and 9x are at fee.
Icon ship's retail shopping complex spreads across four floors (decks 5-6-8-15) and groups a total of 14 retail shops. The onboard stores sell duty- and tax-free priced products like perfumes, cosmetics, fashion clothing and accessories, watches, jewelry, liquor and tobacco, confectionery, games and toys. Additionally, a dedicated Tech Shop sells electronics, gadgets, batteries, headphones, walkie-talkies, Nintendo 3DS gaming consoles. The Splash Store sells sunscreens, skincare products, swim accessories. The Health Essentials Store sells toiletries and medicines.
Neighborhoods
Icon OTS has 7x swimming pools (scattered across 5 decks), 9x outdoor Jacuzzies/whirlpools, and the fleet's largest waterpark with 6x waterslides (including the largest at sea).
Next are listed pools' operational/opening hours.
- (Chill Island Neighborhood/Deck 15) Royal Bay Pool (starboard, with 2x Jacuzzies) and Cove Pool (portside infinity pool/adults-only), Hideaway Pool (aft/beach club-themed) are open between 9 am and 10 pm.
- (Chill Island Neighborhood/Deck 17) Cloud 17 Pool (adults-only solarium/sundeck, max 250 people, starboard-positioned, with a whirlpool) is open between 8 am and 7 pm.
Like the OASIS and OASIS PLUS ships, the ICON ships have 8x neighborhoods (themed decks) which are named AquaDome, Central Park, Chill Island, Thrill Island, Royal Promenade, The Hideaway, Surfside, and Suite Neighborhood.
( Deck 5 and Deck 6 ) Royal Promenade Neighborhood is on two levels and houses staterooms plus 15x F&B venues (bars, lounges, cafes, restaurants) including Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, Pearl Cafe (similar to Cafe Promenade/open 24-hours, offers complimentary grab-and-go food/sandwiches, fresh-baked croissants, packaged salads, sweets, beverages/tea, sodas, specialty coffees), Campfire Cookie (patisserie), Sorrento's Pizzeria (pizza by the slice, fresh-baked specialty pies/different each day, also selling draft beers on tap), Point & Feather (104-seat English pub hosting dart tournaments and live acoustic guitar performances in the evenings, serves a selection gin-based cocktails), Boleros (Latin-themed bar lounge with live music performances/85 seats), 1400 Bar (named after the ship's hull number/offering live piano music in the evenings/capacity 67 indoor + 18 outdoor seats), Spotlight Karaoke Bar (106 seats), The Attic (comedy club lounge/159 seats), Starbucks (coffee shop), Crown Lounge (fka Diamind Lounge ^ Bar /exclusive venue for Diamond and above members), Dueling Pianos Bar (with 2x Baby Grand pianos), Music Hall (on 2 floors/decks 3-4). On Royal Promenade are also the 4-deck-high The Pearl (sphere-shaped structure positioned midship on decks 5-6-7-8) and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade (107 seats).
The Pearl is a unique kinetic art sculpture providing multi-sensory experiences and housing special "sound and sight" events. It has height 14 m (45 ft), diameter 16 m (52 ft), and is constructed from ~3000 computer-driven kinetic tiles. At this unique facility can be emulated natural occurrences like rolling waves, gentle breezes, shooting stars, and the dynamic ocean surface. The tiles' arrangement follows a Fibonacci sequence, mirroring patterns observed in marine life. The Pearl's movements are interactive and influenced by real-time data (tidal and wind) from the sea, allowing it to continually transform, mirroring the current environmental conditions.
Icon's Royal Promenade has length 110 m/362 ft, and unlike RCI's previous Royal Promenade design has floor-to-ceiling windows providing unobstructed ocean views. Also, on the lower level (in the Embarkation Area starboard on Deck 5) is the "1400 Lobby Bar" (with indoor/outdoor seating, serves juice-based beverages and cocktails). The Lobby Bar's name has the ship's hull number (1400).
( Deck 8 ) Central Park Neighborhood is 1/5th larger than on the OASIS ships (with thousands of live plants and live music performances) and houses several dining venues - Izumi Hibachi & Sushi (Asian/Japanese restaurant also offering Teppanyaki - food cooked on an iron griddle), Izumi in the Park (sushi to-go, sweets), Chops Grille (steakhouse), Park Cafe (casual restaurant for breakfast/lunch/dinner, and also for late-night snacks/open 5:30-10 pm), Empire Supper Club (8-course-meal food hall), Trellis Bar (12 seats), Schooner Bar, Desserted (milkshake bar also serving Cinnamon Toast Crunch Milkshake), Lou's Jazz 'n Blues (71 indoor + 16 outdoor seats/live performances nightly, classic and crafted cocktails), Bubbles (walk-up champagne bar with live music). Central Park is an outdoor relaxation zone (within the ship's interior).
Central Park's garden houses 21000+ live plants and features multi-deck-high metal columns and green walls (covered in vines and ferns), several pathways, recordings of various species (birds, insects, animals) played, live seasonal plants (flowers, shrubs, trees). Signage boards provide detailed information on all Central Park's trees and plants.
Central Park's Empire Supper Club is a 1930s NYC-themed restaurant with two evening seatings (at 6 and 8:30 pm) and an 8-course menu. The cuisine is American and each course is paired with a beverage (wines by the glass or cocktails/created exclusively for RCI by Tony Abou-Ganim). Empire Supper Club is RCI's "most elegant restaurant" and the first dining venue combining food with music. The resident 3-piece band performs a different song during each course. The Supper Club has 38 seats (max capacity/one seating per night) and costs ~US$200 per person.
Part of Central Park, on ICON-class ships was introduced "Izumi in the Park" - Izumi's sushi-to-go/takeaway food bar with a pick-up window. Open between 11:30 am -10:30 pm, the venue offers sushi, spicy beef gyoza, sweets (bubble waffles, ice cream cones). A sushi bento box can be ordered and eaten elsewhere onboard.
Suite Neighborhood spans 3 floors (forward on decks 16-17-18) and features a 2-floor exclusive sundeck (with swimming pool and Jacuzzi/on deck 18) and two exclusive restaurants (for Star- and Sky Suite passengers-only) - The Grove (38-seat alfresco buffet restaurant serving popular Mediterranean dishes/on deck 18) and Coastal Kitchen (capacity 154 seats, fleet's first on 2 levels/on decks 16-17).
( Deck 15 /aft) The Hideaway Neighborhood is a beach club-themed pool deck with a suspended infinity pool (the first at sea), and a surrounding 2-deck terrace/tiered outdoor lounge with Jacuzzies, a dedicated poolside bar (Hideaway Bar) and a variety of seating. Here is also the Windjammer Marketplace (complimentary Lido buffet restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, dinner/has 2 indoor bars). Two types of daybeds (in-pool and oceanview, each for 2-4 people) can be reserved for The Hideaway Pool. Daybed amenities include 4x bottled waters, 4x towels, 1x bottle of champagne (in an ice bucket, with 4x souvenir glasses), a side table, and beverage service by dedicated staff. For season 2024, The Hideaway's In-Pool Daybeds cost US$250/350 (port day/sea day) while the Oceanview Daybeds cost US$200/300 (port day/sea day).
( Deck 15 /forward) AquaDome Neighborhood is fully covered by a glass dome (transparent roof with unobstructed 220-degree outside views via floor-ceiling/wall-to-wall windows). AquaDome features the largest-at-sea waterfall (transforming in the evenings into AquaTheater) which waters fall right from the ceiling. During the day, AquaDome serves as a relaxation complex with a serene ambiance and various food and beverage options (restaurants and bars). In the evening, AquaDome transforms into a "nightlife zone" housing RCI's signature entertainment venue AquaTheater (redesigned, smaller-sized and indoor/glass-covered on ICON ships) hosting high-diving aquatic and aerial acrobatic shows. The AquaTheater has a transforming deepwater swimming pool and is fitted with modern technologies including multi-media equipment (superior light-sound-smoke effects, 3D flying projections), stage lifts, 4x robotic arms. A new for RCI venue in the AquaDome is Rye & Bean (coffee shop/bar).
AquaDome Market is a complimentary food hall with 5x different stands - Feta Mediterranean (Greek cuisine/fresh-baked pitas and Mediterranean bowls, with a separate bar for beverages/including beers and wine by the glass), Mac's (fresh-baked macaroni and cheese pizza, with toppings like smoked gouda, BBQ sauce, slow-roasted pulled pork), Toast & Garden (light fare/salads, sandwiches), GNGR (Asian dishes), and Creme de la Crepe (sweet and savory French crepes/thin pancakes), with made-to-order choices. AquaDome Market is open for breakfast (7 am), lunch (11:30 am) and dinner. Extra cost beers and wines by the glass (table service).
Near Aquatheater's entrance is Royal Bling (Retail Shop) selling Royal Caribbean-logoed/RCI-branded merchandise (keepsakes/jewelry rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc). Among the store's merchandise is a US$100,000 gold-adorned chalice, the owner of which will enjoy unlimited onboard beverages for life.
Note: OASIS liners' outdoor AquaTheater (positioned at the stern) is replaced on the ICON boats with a family-themed activity deck. AquaDome has two dining venues - Hooked Seafood (seafood restaurant) and Celebration Table (an upgraded Chef's Table/VIP dining experience/12-seats, floor-ceiling windows, 4x different menus - American, Italian, Asian, Seafood) plus the bow-facing Overlook Lounge (in front of the AquaTheater) that provides 160-degree ocean views. The 2-floor Overlook Lounge (decks 14-15) is an indoor observation lounge with capacity 164 seats (112 chairs + 52 pods).
(aft on Deck 7 ) Surfside Neighborhood (fleet-first) is specifically designed for young families - adults and kids aged under six. Surfside houses family-type staterooms as well as a swimming pool (Water's Edge/infinity pool), a carousel, Splashaway Bay (kids' aquapark with a slide), Baby Bay (waterpark for toddlers, with a splash pool), Adventure Ocean (children's clubs/indoor facilities for age-appropriate supervised activities), Social020 (teen-only complex hosting activities like playing video games, watching movies, dancing, various classes, fun contests), Challenger's Arcade (classic and new games), The Lemon Post Bar (family bar with a great selection of both alcoholic cocktails and mocktails), soft ice cream station (complimentary), Sugar Beach (candy shop, gourmet ice cream), plus three dining venues - Surfside Bites (open 11 am-5 pm/takeaway food bar with a pick-up window; offers grab-and-go burgers, popcorn chicken, cinnamon sugar donuts), Surfside Eatery (family buffet for breakfast and lunch, buffet+sit-down venue in the evening/ offers pancakes with chocolate chips, fun cookies, fresh fruits, pasta with various sauces) and Pier 7 (Supper Club/specialty restaurant but kids eat for free).
(aft on Deck 16 ) Thrill Island Neighborhood is adventure-themed and dedicated to outdoor activities. It houses Crown's Edge (activity zone at fee/costs extra) and "Category 6" (aquapark, currently the largest at sea/covering a total area of 1580 m2/17010 ft2) and is served by the Basecamp Bar. The water park groups 6x slides - ranked the industry's tallest (Frightening Bolt/height 46 ft / 14 m), longest (Storm Chasers), and fastest (Storm Surge & Hurricane Hunter). The slides are named "Pressure Drop" (free-fall slide/incline 66-degrees), Storm Chasers (dual mat-racing slide) and "Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter" (suspended dual raft-racing slides/max capacity 4x riders per raft). Crown's Edge zone (another fleet-first) combines a glass-bottomed skywalk (positioned off the superstructure's midship-portside), a ropes course, zip-line, bumper cars, water slides, and a thrill ride as in a surprising moment the skywalk's floor drops and guests start swinging 154 ft / 47 m above the sea.
The outdoor Basecamp Bar offers complimentary food plus premium a la carte-priced items and beverages. The venue is open between 11 am and 10 pm, while its bar for beverages opens at 9 am. Fast food choices include smash burgers, fried chicken nugget waffles with honey, crispy shrimp bao buns.
Deck 20 is Category 6 Waterpark's entry level for the slides. The waterslides' min-height/max-weight requirements are as follows: Frightening Bolt and Pressure Drop (55 inches/265 lbs), Storm Chasers (42 inches/265 lbs), Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter (48 inches without parents, 55 inches with parents/595 lbs).
The midship-positioned Chill Island Neighborhood spans 3 decks (15-16-17) and houses 4x (of the ship's 7x) swimming pools and is served by the poolside bar "Swim & Tonic". Chill Island has the largest on-a-cruise liner swimming pool (Royal Bay Pool), Cove Pool (infinity-edge), Sprinkles (complimentary ice cream bar), the Cloud 17 (adults-only sundeck with a Smoking Area and a Jacuzzi), and is served by The Lime & Coconut Bar Lounge (with four locations, including the fleet-first frozen cocktail bar) and Swim & Tonic.
Swim & Tonic is RCI's first shipboard swim-up bar (capacity 12 people). It is in a shallow swimming pool (with floating loungers) and adjacent to a hot tub and a sunbathing area (with loungers).
The following dining venues serve both adventure-themed top decks - El Loco Fresh (complimentary grab-and-go Mexican food/open 11 am - 7 pm), Cantina Fresca (complimentary Mexican-themed bar/food and beverages), AquaDome Market (complimentary food hall) and Hooked Seafood (specialty restaurant) positioned below Sports Court (deck 16).
Besides the 22x lifts/"destination elevators" (positioned in the forward and aft atriums) and all staircases, an escalator interconnects decks 2-4-5. An indoor staircase (positioned midship-aft) directly connects three neighborhoods - Royal Promenade (decks 5-6), Surfside (deck 7) and Central Park (deck 8).
Destination elevators allow passengers to more efficiently move between decks for reduced crowding and better passenger flow. In front of the lifts, there are digital panels to select which deck to go to and which lift to take. Inside the elevators there are no panels/buttons to push, meaning fewer stops on every floor.
The Main Dining Room/MDR is on 3 levels (decks 3-4-5) and is traditionally positioned aft. The MDR has a different 3-course menu each night of the voyage (with differently-themed cuisine) and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Royal Theater is the main show lounge spreading over 3 floors (forward on decks 3-4-5). The venue doubles as a cinema and also hosts daily scheduled activities (like trivia games, bingo, enrichment lectures) while in the evenings are presented Broadway-style, grand-scale music, dance and show productions, as well as aerial acrobatic performances. The theater presents nightly 2 grand shows - early (at 8 pm) and late (at 10 pm) to match the assigned dining room sittings. Both are full-length production shows with professional performances (singing, dancing, acting, live band music) by the ship's resident entertainment staff. Signature shows are "Hairspray" (musical comedy / original Broadway production themed on humor and commentaries on early 1960's race relations) and "Flight" (themed on the history of flying). Specifically for Icon OTS was developed "The Wizard of Oz" (2011-created musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber) presented on the ship 3-4 times weekly. Other theater entertainment options are the rotating Headliners (tribute band show) and popular game shows (like "Love and Marriage"). Royal Theater has its own bar for refreshments (waiter service during the shows).
Absolute Zero (decks 4-5) is an Ice-Rink Arena and RCI fleet's largest ice-skating stadium (complimentary show lounge/theater). Daily, Absolute Zero is operated with 45-min sessions (max 50 guests per session) for ice-skating, ice games, hockey, demonstrations, adult scavenger hunts. In the evenings, there is a live RCI original production show (professional ice show). Absolute Zero is a complimentary venue (equipment is provided) and reservations are not required but tickets must be obtained in advance. Here is also played "The Fight for Atlantis" (laser tag game).
Traditionally for RCI, Icon OTS has the Royal Escape Room that provides adventure gaming experiences (team-building exercises). Gaming at the Royal Escape Room involves a group of players who must solve a series of puzzles by using clues, hints and group strategy. The team is given a set time limit to solve the secret plot hidden within the room.
The 2-level wellness complex (decks 12-14) consists of Vitality Spa, Vitality Cafe (open for breakfast and lunch), and To Dry For (blow-dry bar for quick beauty fixes/hairstyling, with a beverage service). Vitality Spa groups ShipShape Spa, YSPA (teen spa), Beauty Salon, treatment rooms (for massages and treatments), Razul Room (mud treatments), Medispa (botox treatments), Jacuzzi Room, Thermal Suites (heated ceramic beds, saunas, steam rooms, rainforest showers).
The 2-level Fitness Center (decks 5-6) consists of a Gymnasium (complimentary, with Life Fitness equipment for cardio/resistance training), Aerobics Studio (for classes), and private training rooms. The Gym has modern bodybuilding and training exercise equipment (free weights, weight machines, treadmills, steppers, ellipticals, stationary bikes, Kinesis wall). In the mornings/afternoons are scheduled health seminars and wellness presentations (free of charge/timeshare events).
The Music Hall (dance lounge/disco nightclub introduced on QUANTUM-class RCI boats) is a 2-level venue (decks 3-4) and provides live music entertainment (band performances daily and DJs in the evenings).
Signature RCI restaurants available on Icon OTS are also Wonderland, Celebration Table (Chef's Table/Deck 15), and Johnny Rockets.
Icon OTS' venues hosting grand shows are three - Royal Theater, AquaDome, and Absolute Zero (Ice-Skating Arena).
AquaDome's shows are titled "Aqua Nation!" and "Pirates vs Mermaids".
Absolute Zero's ice-skating shows are titled "Starburst" and "Once Upon A Time".
Royal Theater's grand productions (90-min evening shows) are titled "Effectors" (themed on superheroes), "Wizard of Oz" (musical) and "SHOWBAND! Live. Music. Now." (stage performances by 16 musicians/string, woodwind, brass, percussion).
On the Royal Promenade is hosted RCI's traditional family-themed parade "Ships Ahoy!". Unlike on all previous RCI ships with a Royal Promenade, Icon OTS' Royal Promenade has a dog statue instead of a classic car/vintage automobile.
On the ICON ship, RCI introduced 60 cocktails (new for the company).
Family-themed activities
Icon OTS is Royal Caribbean's first liner to have a dedicated "family ambassador".
Called "Admiral Awesome", the professional employee hosts different family-themed events. Among these events are Surfside Neigborhood's "Larger-than-Life Family Festival" (live music, dancing, supersized/giant outdoor games - dart-throwing, ring tossing, dicing, bowling), the "Steel Pan Family Jam" (playing on instructional instruments), the Big Shark Block Party (dancing to popular kids songs like "Baby Shark" and "Baby Beluga") and Once Upon a Bedtime Story (reading outdoor/on open deck of original bedtime stories).
The "family neighborhood" has two complimentary dining venues open throughout the day - "Surfside Bites" (grab-and-go) and "Surfside Eatery" (buffet restaurant/Windjammer's alternative), while the casual "Pier 7" (Surfside's specialty restaurant) serves a-la-carte-priced food for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. The Lemon Post Bar has an impressive selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails/mocktails. While the Soft Ice Cream station is complimentary, the candy shop Sugar Beach sells gourmet ice cream and sweets.
The Surfside Neighborhood also houses two outdoor water playgrounds - Splashaway Bay (kids' aquapark with a slide), and Baby Bay (waterpark for toddlers, with a splash pool), as well as the ship's Adventure Ocean complex (children's clubs/indoor facilities for age-appropriate supervised activities), Social020 complex (for teenagers), Challenger's Arcade (coin-operated machine games).
Curiously, Icon OTS is RCI's first vessel with a Chief Dog Officer - the "family dog" Rover (5-month-old female golden retriever) who boarded the ship in Ponce (Puerto Rico) with Alison Hubble (Chief of Staff).
Crew Neighborhood (staff and crew cabins and facilities)
RCI's ICON ships have a 4-deck Crew Neighborhood (housing 2350 people) featuring redesigned (new/patented) crew cabins with an L-shaped bed layout. Crew staterooms are all with double occupancy (each accommodates max two persons) and fitted with TV, a writing table, electric sockets (with USB ports), storage spaces, privacy curtains, fixed lower and upper beds (the latter is accessed via stairs), and laminate flooring.
Another novelty is The Clubhouse - forward located crew lounge with full bar service, fitted with massage chairs, ping pong and foosball tables, and billiards, as well as 4x LCD Virtual Windows providing real-time outside views.
Also new are the crew-only Beauty Salon (hairstyling and barber services), Store, Game Room, and Gym. The Crew Buffet Restaurant has porthole windows and, along with the traditional cold and hot food stations, also has live cooking stations.
There is also a Messhall (multipurpose room/entertainment venue) where can be hosted crew training sessions as well as celebrations and dance parties.
Each ICON-class ship has 23 galleys/kitchens (serving 27 dining venues) and 425 chefs. Most food/beverage supplies are sourced from the homeport, the rest are locally sourced (in call ports). The stored supplies are enough for 3 consecutive voyages (21 days).
Itineraries
Icon Of The Seas itinerary program was officially revealed on October 20, 2022, and RCI opened Icon OTS' cruises for booking on Oct 24th (for loyalty program members) and Oct 25th (to the general public).
Icon OTS' Maiden Voyage departs from homeport Miami Florida on January 27, 2024.
The ship is currently scheduled to operate alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries (7-day roundtrips from Miami), all visiting CocoCay Bahamas . The voyages' call ports include Philipsburg (St. Maarten) , Basseterre (St Kitts) , Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas, US Virgin Islands) , Coxen Hole (Isla Roatan, Honduras) , Mexico's Cozumel and Costa Maya .
In September 2023 were opened for booking the ship's 2025-2026 voyages. The 7-day roundtrip Miami itineraries included "Eastern Caribbean & CocoCay" (Puerto Plata Dominicana, San Juan Puerto Rico, Philipsburg St Maarten, Charlotte Amalie St Thomas) and "Western Caribbean & CocoCay" (Costa Maya and Cozumel Mexico, Isla Roatan Honduras).
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- Anthem of the Seas
- Brilliance Of The Seas
- Enchantment Of The Seas
- Explorer Of The Seas
- Freedom Of The Seas
- Grandeur Of The Seas
- Harmony Of The Seas
- Independence Of The Seas
- Jewel Of The Seas
- Liberty Of The Seas
- Mariner Of The Seas
- Navigator Of The Seas
- Oasis Of The Seas
- Odyssey Of The Seas
- Ovation Of The Seas
- Quantum Of The Seas
- Radiance Of The Seas
- Rhapsody Of The Seas
- Serenade Of The Seas
- Spectrum Of The Seas
- Star Of The Seas
- Symphony Of The Seas
- Utopia Of The Seas
- Vision Of The Seas
- Voyager Of The Seas
- Wonder Of The Seas
Icon Of The Seas Wiki
On October 10, 2016, Meyer Turku Oy (Finland) and RCG-Royal Caribbean Group signed the MoU agreement (memorandum of understanding) and officially announced the building order for two vessels under the project name "ICON". The units are LNG-powered (by liquified natural gas), employ fuel cell technology, and are classified by DNV GL (Hovik Norway-headquartered international ship registrar and classification society). The MoU ceremony was attended by Michael Bayley (RCI's President and CEO), Jan Meyer (Meyer Turku's CEO) and Harri Kulovaara (Finnish naval architect, RCCL's Maritime and Newbulding's Executive Vice President).
The ICON shipbuilding order with Meyer Werft Turku was contingent upon the completion of contractual conditions, including documentation and financing.
Royal Caribbean also trademarked the name "Icon of the Seas", which has been suggested as the indication to the name of the first unit from this series. On October 17, 2016, the company filed a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the "Icon of the Seas" ship name.
On June 27, 2017, Royal Caribbean filed for new trademarks on "Joy of the Seas" (serial number 87507232) and "Apex of the Seas" (serial number 87507244). The cruise company registered the trademarks in September 2014. However, both were abandoned one year later, on September 14, 2015. The registration came days after trademarking Spectrum of the Seas .
On July 2, 2019, was ordered the third ICON unit, scheduled for delivery in 2025. The signing ceremony was signed by Richard Fain (RCCL's Chairman and CEO), Jan Meyer (Meyer Turku's CEO), and Michael Bayley (RCI's President and CEO).
In 2019, the Finnish shipbuilder Mayer Turku had an order book listing the following cruise ships planned for deliveries in:
- 2019 ( Costa Smeralda /GT 180K)
- 2020 ( Carnival Mardi Gras /GT 180K)
- 2021 ( Costa Toscana /GT 180K)
- 2022 ( Carnival Celebration /GT 180K, ICON 1/GT250K)
- 2023 ( TUI Mein Schiff 7 /GT 110K)
- 2024 (ICON 2/GT 250K)
- 2025 (ICON 3/GT 250K)
ICON ships have volume ~250800 GT-tons and DWT deadweight ~13500 tons. ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD is registered as the shipowner and management company.
Liquefied natural gas was envisioned as the primary fuel for the ICON-class ships, which decreases CO2 (carbon dioxide) and completely eliminates soot particles, nitrogen oxide (NOX), and sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions. On Royal Caribbean's ICON ships was introduced fuel cell technology, which combined with hull air lubrication means the vessels are among the most fuel-efficient ever built.
RCI's ICON liners run primarily on LNG but also on distillate fuel (MDO/marine diesel oil), in order to accommodate itineraries with call ports without LNG-support infrastructure. The design includes shoreside power capabilities allowing the main engines to be shut down while the boats are docked/berthed in ports fitted with such equipment. During the port stay, all the electricity needed for onboard operations/hotel services is provided by the city's power grid.
Before the new ships' debut, testing of fuel cell technology began on the existing OASIS-class vessels, while larger fuel cell projects were tested on QUANTUM-class units (while under construction).
ICON is the first new ship class/design by RCG since 2018 - when debuted Celebrity Cruises ' new EDGE class with Celebrity Edge . RCG continued to expand RCI's fleet with newbuilds from the existing and popular OASIS- and QUANTUM-class liners.
The vessel's construction officially started on June 14, 2021, with the steel-cutting ceremony (yard/hull number 1400) held at Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku Finland . The ceremony was attended by Richard Fain (RCG's Chairman and CEO), Michael Bayley (RCI's President and CEO), and Tim Meyer (Meyer Turku's CEO). The same yard also built RCI's first two OASIS-class boats - Oasis OTS (2009) and Allure OTS (2010).
All blocks (hull+superstructure sections/201 total) were made in Germany (at Neptun Werft in Rostock ), then transported/tugged on heavy-lift barges to Finland for assembly.
The keel-laying for the first Icon-class ship (hull/Mayer Turku yard number NB-1400) was initially planned for October 2019. For the sisterships were allocated the following IMOs/hull numbers - "Apex of the Seas" (9829942/NB-1401) and "Joy of the Seas" (9888560/NB-1402).
Meyer Werft Turku works with 1000+ suppliers from various countries. Cruise ships' cabins are modular (prefabricated and later assembled at the shipyard) and made by the subsidiary Piikkio Works Oy, which has a factory in Piikkio Finland (approx 20 km / 13 mi to the east of Turku City). Cruise ships' public spaces are also prefabricated (and later drydock-assembled) and made by the subsidiary Shipbuilding Completion Oy (in Turku). Technology design and engineering services are provided by the company ENGnD Oy ( Rauma Finland ).
In May 2021, the first hull blocks of Icon OTS (fabricated at Neptun Werft Shipyard, Rostock Germany ) were loaded onto barges and shipped to Finland for drydock assembly (welded together). Meyer Turku also constructed RCI's mega-liners Oasis OTS (2009) and Allure OTS (2010).
In late-December 2021, to Meyer Turku were towed/barged by 4x tugboats the first pre-assembled in Poland (at Gdansk Shipyard ) hull blocks, with weights 37-67 tons. Their assembly/the ship's physical construction officially started with the keel-laying ceremony held on April 5, 2022. The special event was attended by Jason Liberty (RCG's new President and CEO), Richard Fain (RCG's Chairman), Bernard Meyer (Meyer Group's Chairman), Tim Meyer (Meyer Turku's CEO), Olli Jantunen (Meyer Turku's Head of Department and ICON-class Project Manager).
The DOBEL Film Laminated Steel used for the vessel's construction (approx 350,000 m2/~3,8 million ft2) was delivered by Metalcolour Group (1974-founded company specializing in the production of high-quality, film-laminated and pre-coated/painted steel and aluminum plates). Metalcolour Group has subsidiaries/production plants in Sweden, Denmark and Singapore.
The vessel was launched/floated out from drydock on December 9, 2022. The construction process in Finland involved ~2600 workers from 20+ different nationalities, including shipyard employees and subcontractors,
The Baltic Sea trials were successfully completed in the period June 18-22, 2023. Conducted by 450+ people (crew, shipyard- and contract workers) the 4-day sea trials were to assess the hull, to evaluate all technologies and equipment (engines, propulsion/thrusters, navigation system/full-stop, steering), various machinery, electronics, lifeboats, as well as noise and vibration levels. The second sea trials are planned for December 2023, for pushing the vessel to its limits before the official delivery to RCI in January 2024.
Icon OTS' Master is Captain Henrik Loy ( Bergen Norway -born, with RCI since 1997).
In September 2023, RCI signed a partnership with Gebr. Heinemann SE & Co KG (1879-founded, Hamburg -based company) for managing the retail shopping venues on Icon OTS. The ship's shopping complex spreads across four floors (decks 5-6-8-15) and groups a total of 14 retail shops. The onboard stores sell duty- and tax-free priced products like perfumes, cosmetics, fashion clothing and accessories, watches, jewelry, liquor and tobacco, confectionery, games and toys. A dedicated Tech Shop sells electronics, gadgets, batteries, headphones, walkie-talkies, Nintendo 3DS gaming consoles. The Splash Store sells sunscreens, skincare products, swim accessories, while the Health Essentials Store sells toiletries and medicines. In 2023, besides Icon OTS, RCI had contracts with the German company for the retail venues onboard the fleetmates Wonder OTS , Odyssey OTS and Independence OTS .
In October 2023 was extended the 2019-signed contract with SOMEC Group's subsidiary SOMEC Navale(1995-founded, Italian company). The EUR 19,4 million contract was for the supply and installation of all glass structures (including windows and railings on open decks and balconies, and motorized blinds embedded in all sliding windows) for both ICON ships (Icon OTS and Star OTS).
Icon OTS was officially delivered to RCI from Meyer Turku on November 27, 2023. The delivery documents were signed by Jason Liberty (RCG's President and CEO), Michael Bayley (RCI's President and CEO) and Tim Meyer (Meyer Turku Oy's CEO).
In December 2023, RCI announced that Icon OTS' christening ceremony (in PortMiami) will be led by Lionel Andres Messi (aka Leo Messi/1987-born Argentine footballer) serving as the ship's godfather.
Each of RCI's ICON ships has a powerplant based on six Wartsila marine engines (dual fuel) running on both diesel and LNG/liquified natural gas. The powerplant's total output is 67,5 MW (90520 hp). The ship also has installed hydrogen-based fuel cell technology using seawater to generate electricity and fresh water. Icon OTS became RCI's first vessel to use the new technology.
Icon OTS' first engine (No 2) was powered for the first time on March 15, 2023, at 11 am (10 am UTC). Also in March was published the "The Top Deck Challenge" video about the construction works related to open deck and water installations, including the top deck's facilities (waterpark/slides and the swimming pools).
The next "teaser" video was YouTubed by RCI on September 22, 2022.
ICON-class are LNG-powered ships, each having two LNG fuel tanks (for storing liquefied natural gas, manufactured at Meyer Neptune) each with capacity 307 tons and length 27,4 m (90 ft). Fuel tanks, like the engines and other large machinery, are installed into the hull blocks assembled at Meyer Turku.
RCI's ICON-class ship technologies also include shore power connectivity (using the port's/city's power grid electricity for onboard services while berthed) and an advanced WHRS (waste heat recovery system) that generates power using waste heat from the main engines and the output gases. Cold temperatures from the LNG tanks are utilized by the onboard cooling systems. The lighting is entirely LED. The underwater hull's exterior is with a specialized coating (anti-fouling paint) to slow the growth of and facilitate the detachment of marine organisms.
The ICON ships debut the Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis technology - an innovative (the first-at-sea) waste-to-energy plant. The technology turns solid waste (food/bio) into fuel (used to power the desalinization plant) while the remaining by-product (pelletized carbon) is supplied to farmers as fertilizer.
These RCI vessels are also outfitted with bigger-capacity water treatment systems (evaporators and reverse osmosis plants) to support the increased freshwater consumption (for the hotel operations and at all water facilities/pools, slides, etc). Curiously, ~93% of the needed freshwater is produced onboard.
RCI's Icon OTS construction update teaser (released in May 2022) showed a huge white sphere installed midship on top deck. The spherical object weighs 175 tonnes, has diameter 50 ft (15,2 m), height 46 ft (14 m) and consists of 578 aluminum panels. In late-June RCI's President (Michael Bayley) called the big white ball "The Pearl".
In early-June 2022, RCI trademarked 6x names for facilities/venues on Icon OTS - The Orb, The Oyster, The Gem, The Jewel, The Pearl, The Star. In September was trademarked "Icon of Vacations".
On June 15, 2022, RCG signed with Eagle LNG Partners LLC (Eagle LNG) a contract for providing LNG (liquefied natural gas) and bunkering services to RCI liners, the first of which is Icon OTS. The gas supply is sourced from Eagle LNG's facilities in JAXPORT-Jacksonville Florida , shipped throughout the Caribbean and bunkered by Eagle LNG-owned newbuild vessels.
Another fleet-first facility is the "AquaDome". Positioned above the Wheelhouse, this is an AquaTheater (redesigned concept but) similar to OASIS- and QUANTUM ships' Solarium. The glass roof structure/dome weighs 367 tons and is comprised of 12 modules made of different materials (glass, steel, aluminum panels).
Icon OTS also has a hull (painted in baby blue) with a parabolic bow and vertical stern (also fleet's firsts) both creating a curved indentation in the hull's bottom. The parabolic bow design increases the vessel's overall stability (by shifting the gravity center forward) and also makes it less prone to heeling or capsizing. Like on all large newbuild cruisers, the hull is fitted with Wartsila's air lubrication system that reduces frictional resistance by creating a coating of microbubbles on the flat bottom.
For the vessel's construction were used ~14,5 km / 9 mi of electric cables.
In the period March 10 - April 4, 2023, RCI launched the new "Artist Discovery Program" allowing artists from around the world to submit original works to be later displayed on Icon OTS. RCI also commissioned Caribbean artists to create 9x large-scale murals displayed within 3x locations: Suite Neighborhood, Royal Promenade Neighborhood, and at the main ship entrance. Each mural received an RCI grant varying between USD 20K-100K.
During the drydocking in Cadiz Spain (Dec 5-23, 2023), the Central Park received 10,000+ live plants. The drydocking was also for final adjustments and technical works, including on the boxcoolers (heat exchangers) and sea chests (recesses in the hull), as well as repairs to the propulsion system (an ABB Azipod).
Inaugural cruise itineraries (2024)
Icon Of The Seas cruises (as itineraries) were officially revealed on October 20, 2022, and opened for booking on Oct 24th (for loyalty program members) and Oct 25th (to the general public).
Icon OTS left Europe (departed from Cadiz Spain ) on December 22, 2023, repositioning to the Caribbean. The liner was carrying only service staff (crew members, shipyard workers, contractors, RCI shore teams. The 7-day Transatlantic crossing included an overnight in Algeciras (Dec 23-24) and a technical stop in Ponce Puerto Rico (arriving January 2, 2024) for passing regulatory inspections and crewing, as well as bunkering/fueling and provisioning, and loading and offloading of equipment. In Ponce, the yard workers were disembarked and flown back home. Icon OTS stopped overnight at CocoCay (Jan 8-9th) to allow the startup crew to rest and party before the arrival in PortMiami (Jan 10th, at 12:08 UTC).
Leaving roundtrip out of Miami, before the official inaugural sailing (Jan 27th), Icon OTS had several shakedown/test cruises. During the passenger-free voyages, company employees (crew and service staff) acted as guests, to test/adjust the onboard procedures. The last test cruise (Jan 20-23) was attended also by Royal Caribbean executives, VIP guests, travel agents and media representatives. The voyage ended with the naming ceremony (Jan 23rd, in PortMiami) led by the ship's godfather Lionel Messi.
The next tables show the Maiden Voyage and the inaugural season's itineraries in the Caribbean, with homeporting in Miami (Florida USA) .
(MAIDEN VOYAGE) 7-day "Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day Cruise" (with St Kitts Island) - prices started at USD 2260 per person with double occupancy
(inaugural) 7-day "Western Caribbean & Perfect Day Cruise" - from US$ 1560 pp
(inaugural) 7-day Eastern Caribbean with St Maarten Island (from U$1320 pp)
(inaugural) 7-day Western Caribbean with Roatan Island - from US$1190 pp
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MEET THE ICON OF VACATIONS
Icon of the seas, arrives 2024, this is more than a vacation upgrade. it’s the best family vacation in the world — where you’ll have the time of your life, multiple times a day. introducing the new icon of the seas℠, arriving early 2024., set sail for a first-of-its-kind royal caribbean® adventure onboard icon of the seas℠. brace yourself for the largest waterpark at sea, category 6. or choose from seven pools including royal bay℠, the largest swimming pool on a cruise. and in between, fuel bolder bonding with tons to do for everyone in your crew at the ultimate stay-all-day family destination right onboard, surfside℠. plus, discover dishes to delight every appetite, with 40 dining redefining concepts. only on royal caribbean®..
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Icon of the seas℠ brings on thrills never imagined, next-level chill never dreamed possible and a fusion of art and innovation never expected..
DIAL UP THE DARING
Take your best-ever vacation and crank it up — way up. This is a whole new kind of adventure with new thrills that change the way you play for good. Like six record-breaking waterslides and an all-out test of courage dangling high above the ocean.
POOL HOP NONSTOP
Save room for some extra splash. Pick from seven different pools, plus nine whirlpools to satisfy any mood you're in. Or cool off with refreshing cocktails at The Lime and Coconut® bar spanning multiple levels of chill beach vibes.
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Technology and artistry merge on the new Icon of the Seas℠, inspiring awe on a grand scale. From performances that push the bounds of bravery to mixology magic against a background of wraparound ocean views — icons don’t just steal the show, they change the way you see it forever.
STAND OUT NIGHTLIFE
There’s never been a night out like going all out onboard the new Icon of the Seas℠ with over 15 spirit-sipping spots and vibrant live music venues to choose from. When the sun goes down, your night lights up with possibilities.
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WESTERN CARIBBEAN GEMS
Turn up bold adventures at some of the most beautiful destinations in the Western Caribbean. Marvel at lush tropical jungles in Roatán, trek through Mayan ruins in Cozumel — and brave the tallest waterslide in North America at our gamechanging private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
EASTERN CARIBBEAN WONDERS
Unlock the shores of the Eastern Caribbean and max out memories like never before on 7-night getaways. Discover all-out adventure in the tropics on every sailing with stops at our private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Voted Best Private Island by Travel Weekly readers, it’s a place unlike any other.
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On the World’s Largest Cruise Ship, Thrills and Space to Chill
Our reporter joined thousands of passengers on the inaugural sailing of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas. Yes, the water rides were wild. But the most surprising thing she found? Some actual peace and quiet.
Ceylan Yeginsu, a reporter for the Travel section, tries out a ride in the sprawling water park on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas cruise ship. Credit...
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By Ceylan Yeğinsu
Photographs by Scott McIntyre
- Published Feb. 9, 2024 Updated Feb. 22, 2024
One man got down on his knees and kissed the rug emblazoned with the ship’s logo. Another lifted his wife and swung her around, ecstatic to be among the roughly 5,000 passengers to embark on the inaugural sailing of the world’s largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas.
For months, the 250,800-ton ship, which can carry nearly 8,000 people, has been making headlines — including some that have criticized its size and potential to damage the environment . But the passengers who plunked down $1,800 to $100,000 and boarded the ship at Port Miami in Florida on Jan. 27, said nothing could have prepared them for the vessel’s sheer scale.
“It’s stunning,” said Christina Carvalho, a 43-year-old accountant from Oakland, Calif., as she stood on the ship’s Royal Promenade, gaping up at “The Pearl,” a gigantic kinetic art installation. “It feels even bigger than I expected.”
While Royal Caribbean has packed the ship with amenities to craft “the ultimate family vacation,” the company’s design team has tried to defy negative stereotypes like crowded decks and long lines. Instead of steel walls, the interior is open and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows to bring passengers closer to the water and make the central thoroughfare feel less like a shopping mall.
“Over the years our customers told us that despite being on the ocean, they did not feel connected to it, so with Icon we wanted to bring water everywhere,” said Jennifer Goswami, the director of product development at Royal Caribbean International.
I was on board the Icon of the Seas for five days of its seven-night inaugural sailing to the eastern Caribbean. Here are some of my takeaways:
Embarkation
Embarkation starts through Royal Caribbean’s app. After some glitches, it took me 10 minutes to scan identification documents, fill out a health form and pick a time slot for boarding.
On the day of the sailing, I headed to Port Miami expecting chaos, but as I got out of the taxi, I was greeted by a porter who took my bag and ushered me to the terminal. I scanned my app, showed my passport and went through security in less than 10 minutes. I lingered, waiting to see if others had as smooth an experience as I did, but there was just a steady flow of passengers ascending the gangway.
The ship has the feel of a city, with eight distinct “neighborhoods.” My favorite, Central Park, was filled with more than 33,000 plants; it was the perfect place to stroll or read on a bench. The Royal Promenade, with karaoke and a piano bar, could get crowded and noisy at peak times.
The seven swimming pools are designed for different vibes and demographics: The Hideaway is an adults-only infinity pool, with D.J. sets and cocktails; another adult pool has an adjacent children’s splash pool. Empty lounge chairs were plentiful for sunbathers across the ship.
On our first sea day, I was so surprised by the relative absence of crowds that I walked the ship trying to find them. But with so many venues, including 40 restaurants, bars and entertainment spaces, passengers were constantly moving around.
Seeking a quiet space one afternoon, I found the Aquadome , a tranquil lounging area with wraparound windows. Fellow passengers napped there.
Entertainment and activities
From a sunrise surf simulator lesson to late-night dancing in the nightclub, the ship seems to offer something for everyone, most of it free. The water park with six slides was a big draw. One ride, the Crown’s Edge, is not complimentary: Starting at $49, it tosses you (in a harness) above the sea, leaving you dangling.
There is a fitness center, jogging track, a basketball and soccer court, a putt-putt course, pickleball, rock climbing and dancing. A wellness center and spa offers treatments for an additional cost. All can be reserved on the app; for popular attractions like the Crown’s Edge it’s helpful to book ahead because places fill up fast.
For nightly entertainment, “Aqua Action” was a standout, with aquatic entertainers performing under a 55-foot waterfall, as was the comedy club.
Not surprisingly, some passengers felt overprogrammed. “There’s almost too much to do,” said Nancy Carter, 54, a nurse from Brighton, England. “It’s hard to plan your day and even when you are busy doing something, you feel like you are missing out on something else.”
At the Surfside neighborhood, there are pools and restaurants for both adults and children so that families can spend time together. For parents wanting alone time, the Adventure Ocean child-care facility has play areas and programs for ages 6 months to 12 years that is included in the fare.
There’s a social center for teenagers, too, with games and music. “It’s a great place to meet new people and make friends,” said Madison Foxx, 14, from Morrisville, N.C. Her mother, Ashley, a 38-year-old federal prosecutor, said the ship kept her two children entertained and allowed her both alone time and quality family time.
“I can relax and the kids are happy and busy all day," she said. “Then we have many special moments together.”
One of the biggest surprises was the array of dining choices.
The Windjammer Cafe and the main dining room were the busiest all-inclusive options. My daily go-to was the Aquadome food hall, with crepes made-to-order and a Greek food stand. Another favorite of mine was Pier 7, a restaurant in Surfside that served raw-tuna Buddha bowls, mango-lime shrimp tostadas and other dishes.
Meals at specialty restaurants, such as Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Hooked Seafood, come at an additional cost, or are included in some food and beverages packages that range from $9.99 to $115 per day. Reservations are recommended.
The Empire Supper Club offers an eight-course meal paired with cocktails. At $200, the tasting menu included Wagyu rib-eye, rabbit and sea bass topped with parsnip and red beets.
Cabin prices — which recently increased, because of high demand — range from $2,699 per person for an interior cabin to over $100,000 for a three-story townhouse with an indoor slide and backyard. Some family accommodations have connecting rooms and large terraces.
Though only 204 square feet, my ocean balcony room did not feel cramped thanks to minimalist design and the views.
Environment
Royal Caribbean says it set a new standard for sustainability with this ship, installing advanced water-treatment and waste systems, among other features. But some environmental groups say that building a vessel this size is not compatible with the cruise industry’s long-term sustainability goals.
On board, I saw staff sorting through the trash to take out misplaced items to recycle, and single-use plastic appeared to be minimal; passengers were given reusable cups at drinking stations.
That the water slides remained on, even after they were closed to passengers, caught me by surprise. It seemed like an unnecessary waste of energy. (Royal Caribbean did not respond to a request for comment.)
Passengers I spoke to did not seem too concerned about the ship’s potential to harm the environment, with some arguing that land and air travel are not climate-friendly either.
Our seven-night itinerary started with two days at sea. The first stop was on Day 4 at Basseterre, the capital of St. Kitts and Nevis. Excursions ranged from a hike up Mount Liamuiga to a food-and-rum tour, with prices from $39 to $249. I chose a sailing and snorkeling excursion ($155) and enjoyed the secluded bay, but the beach was crowded and touristy.
An anticipated excursion for Ms. Foxx, the federal prosecutor, and others was Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island. When I asked about her visit — I called later, having to disembark before the excursion — Ms. Foxx said her children loved the slides and snorkeling.
And would she sail on the Icon of the Seas again?
“Yes, but I might wait a bit,” she replied. “I want everyone to get a chance to try it out.”
Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .
An earlier version of this article misstated the number of plants in the Central Park “neighborhood” of Icon of the Seas. It has more than 33,000 plants, not 20,000 plant species.
How we handle corrections
Ceylan Yeginsu is a travel reporter for The Times who frequently writes about the cruise industry and Europe, where she is based. More about Ceylan Yeğinsu
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The World's Largest Cruise Ship Is Coming in January—Here's What It's Like Inside
By Jessica Puckett
The biggest thing to ever hit cruising is coming in January 2024, when Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas —which will be the largest cruise ship in the world —will debut to passengers for the first time.
With capacity for nearly 10,000 passengers and crew, Icon of the Seas is billed as part all-inclusive resort, part theme park, and a massive destination unto itself . Clocking in at 250,380 gross tons and measuring nearly a quarter mile long (1,198 feet to be exact), the vast ship will sport a total of 20 decks, 18 of which will be accessible to guests.
The ship will be divided into eight different “neighborhoods,” each with their own distinct atmospheres, dining options, and activities. “ Icon of the Seas is truly what we call a white paper ship,” Anna Drescher, manager of architectural design, new building and innovation for Royal Caribbean group, said in a video statement . “The reason that we call it that is we start with a blank sheet of sketch paper, so it truly is starting fresh.”
In June 2023, the ship hit a major milestone when it completed its first sea trials outside the shipyard in Turku, Finland. Next up is the colossal new ship’s first voyage, slated to depart on January 27, 2024. It will sail roundtrip from Miami to the Caribbean islands of St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and the Bahamas.
The ship's typical seven-day itineraries include three at-sea days, so passengers have time to fully enjoy the endless choices of amenities on board. “We want guests to walk up to the ship and just have this moment of: I can’t believe that’s where I’m going ,” said Jennifer Goswami, the line’s senior manager of product development.
Here's a look at the enormous scale of the new ship and what to expect on board.
When it begins sailing, the Icon of the Seas will offer a total of 2,805 staterooms that can hold 5,610 passengers at double occupancy, or a maximum of 7,600 guests. Passengers can choose from a whopping 28 different room types, including Sunset Suites with wraparound balconies and Family Infinite Balcony staterooms with bunkbeds fit for a family of up to six.
The largest suite on board will be the three-story, 1,772-square-foot “Ultimate Family Townhouse,” which comes with its own movie theater, ping-pong table, karaoke, and a slide between floors. It can sleep up to eight people and costs approximately $75,000 per week.
Among the eight "neighborhoods," or sections of the ship with distinct ambiance, are Central Park, which offers greenery and sidewalk cafes, and The Hideaway, which aims for a European beach club aesthetic. There's also The Suite Neighborhood, Surfside, Thrill Island, Chill Island, The Royal Promenade, and the Aquadome.
The ship's 2,350 crew members will also get their own neighborhood, complete with amenities like a gaming room and hair salon.
Another superlative for Icon will be sporting the largest waterpark at sea. The park, called Category 6, features six different record-breaking waterslides, including the tallest onboard waterslide. There will also be a free-fall slide, plus a raft-style slide for four passengers to ride together.
Steph Koyfman
Mark Ellwood
Janice Wald Henderson
Rachel Chang
Seven pools and nine whirlpools will be located throughout the ship, including the first infinity pool on a cruise ship to be suspended in the air. The Royal Bay pool, located on the 15th deck, will break the record for largest pool at sea, holding an astounding 40,000 gallons of water.
Across the towering vessel, there'll be more than 20 food venues and 15 bars and nightlife experiences, including a sweeping three-level main dining room.
Among the options for grabbing a drink will be the line's first onboard swim-up bar, a walk-up Champagne bar, and a bar specializing in coffee cocktails like espresso martinis.
On the entertainment front, Royal Caribbean has hired 75 performers to titillate guests across three cavernous theaters. The Absolute Zero ice arena will feature shows with Olympic-level skaters, while the AquaTheater will combine the talents of divers, robots, and skateboarders.
In the Royal Theater, a 16-piece orchestra (the largest one at sea), will accompany shows like the Wizard of Oz.
In smaller venues throughout the ship, like the dueling piano bar, 50 live musicians and comedians will perform each night, making it possible for every type of passenger to find something that fits their style.
Icon of the Seas review: What's it like on the world's largest cruise ship?
Editor's Note
It's "the biggest, baddest ship on the planet" (according to Jason Liberty, CEO of Royal Caribbean Group), the most expensive Royal Caribbean ship to book and a social media star with equal numbers of lovers and haters. But what's it really like to sail the 250,800-ton, 7,600-passenger Icon of the Seas? It's pretty dang fun.
Royal Caribbean's goal was not to break size records. Instead, the cruise line wanted to create an epic family vacation experience that would rival not only other cruise ships, but the best resorts and destinations on land. To do that, the line would need to put a wide variety of delicious dining venues, appealing watering holes with modern cocktail menus, inviting hangouts and attractions and entertainment for all ages onto one ship.
Is it any surprise that the ship needed to be humongous to house all that?
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It's hard to be bored on Icon of the Seas, whether you like thrill rides or chill hangouts in the sun. With the ship divided up into "neighborhoods" with their own unique vibes, you're bound to find someplace to love. Or perhaps you'll find new areas of the ship to explore each day. The neighborhoods, plus some smart operational planning by the cruise line, make it easier than you think to make your way through the ship, no matter where you wish to go.
Whether you've been avidly waiting for this floating entertainment behemoth to arrive, or whether you've got a morbid curiosity about this sea monster, check your preconceptions and discover what it's really like to cruise Icon of the Seas.
Overview of Icon of the Seas
Icon of the Seas is 20 decks high (with 18 passenger decks) and 1,198 feet long and measures 250,800 gross tons. It can carry 5,610 passengers at double occupancy (two passengers per cabin) or up to 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy, plus 2,350 crew members. These stats make it the largest ship in the world .
That's larger than fleetmate Wonder of the Seas, the 2023 record holder for the world's largest cruise ship. To compare, Wonder of the Seas measures 235,600 tons and carries 7,084 passengers at maximum occupancy.
However, Wonder of the Seas beats Icon of the Seas in one specific area: cabins. Wonder of the Seas has 2,867 cabins, while Icon of the Seas will only have 2,805. That's because Royal Caribbean has styled Icon of the Seas to attract more families, with 80% of cabins designed to accommodate more than two guests.
Related: The 7 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained
Icon of the Seas also borrows the Oasis Class use of "neighborhoods" — themed areas of the ship with a mix of attractions and dining, drinking and shopping venues. It features eight neighborhoods, including three returning areas from its sister ships and five that are exclusive to its new class of ships.
From the lowest deck to the highest, here are the eight neighborhoods and what you can expect to find on board.
Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade is a Royal Caribbean staple found on all Voyager, Freedom and Oasis Class ships. Icon of the Seas offers a two-deck version of this indoor mall-like space with multiple shopping, dining and drinking establishments. Highlights of Icon's Royal Promenade are floor-to-ceiling glass windows on either side that bring light and sea views into the space and The Pearl, the ship's iconic indoor sphere that functions as an artistic stairway and also as the support structure that holds up that section of the ship.
Surfside, on Deck 7 aft, is a neighborhood dedicated to young families . It's open to the sky and the back of the ship. A slide leads from Deck 8 down to the neighborhood, and the area is mere steps from the Adventure Ocean kids club and Social 020 teen club on Deck 6.
The stay-all-day destination for kids under 7 and their adult caregivers features family-friendly eateries, the Lemon Post bar with a menu of matching kid-and-adult mocktails and cocktails, a carousel, an arcade, a splash area with slides aimed at the youngest splashers and an infinity pool for grown-ups.
Despite its name, Surfside will not be home to Royal Caribbean's surf simulator, the FlowRider.
Related: Is Icon of the Seas the 'ultimate family vacation'? It depends
Central Park
Another open-to-the-sky neighborhood, the greenery-filled Central Park makes a return on Icon. On Deck 8, it lures adult cruisers to its bars and restaurants for a romantic date night or walk in its onboard park, featuring live trees and plants. New venues here include a grab-n-go window for Izumi's sushi, the intimate and upscale Empire Supper Club, jazz club Lou's Jazz 'n Blues and the walk-up Champagne venue, Bubbles.
Icon of the Seas does not have a Boardwalk, but it does offer its own version of that neighborhood's popular AquaTheater. The AquaTheater — which hosts acrobatic and diving shows in a high-tech stage/pool — has been moved from its outdoor, lower-deck, back-of-ship location on Oasis-class ships to an indoor, upper-deck, front-of-ship spot on Icon.
The theater is the marquee attraction within the ship's Deck 15 AquaDome neighborhood — if the draw is not the dome itself. The giant 363-ton glass-and-steel structure offers guests 220-degree ocean views. Inside, you'll find dining and drinking venues, cozy lounge space, a Royal Caribbean logo jewelry store and new cabins with panoramic views through the dome.
Chill Island
Aft of the AquaDome is Chill Island, Icon's main pool area featuring four of the ship's seven pools among its three decks. It will include the line's first swim-up bar, Swim and Tonic, and what Royal Caribbean is claiming is the largest pool at sea. Pools and hot tubs are positioned along the edges of the ship so guests can take in the sea views while soaking in the water.
Cabanas will be available to rent in this neighborhood, but there'll be plenty of free lounge space, too.
The Hideaway
High above Surfside, at the back of Deck 15, is The Hideaway — Royal Caribbean's take on an adults-only beach club. The main attraction here is the first suspended infinity pool at sea. It's flanked by tiered lounge space, hot tubs and a bar specializing in Champagne and Champagne-based cocktails.
Thrill Island
Thrill Island is Icon's go-to neighborhood for adrenaline-pumping activities. Found on Deck 16 aft, it's home to all the wild top-deck attractions Royal Caribbean is known for — as well as some new thrills.
The FlowRider surf simulator, Lost Dunes miniature golf, the Adrenaline Peak rock climbing wall and the sports court are all Thrill Island staples. Category 6 is the largest water park at sea, featuring an open free-fall slide, the tallest drop slide at sea, family raft slides that accommodate four riders at once and two mat-racing slides. The Crown's Edge is a ropes course-style attraction based around a giant version of the ship's crown-and-anchor logo.
Suite neighborhood
The ship's final neighborhood spans decks 16 to 19. The Suite neighborhood is a mix of many of the ship's top suites plus restaurants, lounges and outdoor areas exclusive to suite guests and some of Royal Caribbean's most loyal travelers. Icon of the Seas' suite neighborhood is Royal Caribbean's largest restricted-access enclave for suite guests, a la Norwegian Cruise Line 's The Haven.
The Coastal Kitchen restaurant returns, but is now two decks high, with windows overlooking the AquaTheater. The sun deck has been transformed into The Grove, a multistory space featuring an alfresco restaurant and bar, pool, hot tub and lounge areas.
Related: Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society cruise loyalty program: The ultimate guide
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What I loved about Icon of the Seas
It's surprisingly easy to get around.
You might think you'd spend a week lost on the largest cruise ship on the planet. But you can learn your way around Icon of the Seas in a day. That's because the neighborhood concept (arranging themed attractions in one area of the ship) makes it easy to figure out where you're going.
The Royal Promenade on decks 5 and 6 is the central public space, flanked by the main dining room and the theater. Its upper level leads to Deck 7's family-focused Surfside, which leads up to leafy Central Park. (And if you don't want to hit Surfside, you can get directly from The Royal Promenade to Central Park via stairs by the Pearl Cafe.)
Chill Island, Thrill Island, The Hideaway and The Aquadome all flow into each other across the ship's top decks. The AquaDome is at the front (easy to remember once you've seen the outside of the ship with its bulbous forehead), with The Hideaway and the water park at the back for balance.
It's not perfect; I definitely got turned around in the huge elevator lobbies (there are two, each with 12 elevators), and I never remembered which spaces were on the forward or aft ends of the Royal Promenade. But the few dead ends are easily learned; access the Hideaway from Thrill Island (not the Windjammer), Absolute Zero from Playmakers and the Royal Theater from the Promenade (not through the casino). You'll be a pro in no time.
Related: Why the world's largest cruise ship won't be as crowded as you fear
The lighter, brighter Royal Promenade is the best in the fleet
The Royal Promenades on Royal Caribbean ships have always been compared to shopping malls because the long corridors are lined with restaurants, bars and shops and suffer from a lack of natural light. The second-level dead ends also frustrated guests trying to get from point A to B on a megaship. So the cruise line rethought out the promenade space on Icon of the Seas, and came up with a winning design that's lighter and more inviting.
Royal Caribbean ditched the promenade-facing cabins for multideck-high glass walls that flood the space with light. The need for a replacement structural support led to the creation of The Pearl, the central focal point art piece of the neighborhood. The cafe behind it is a win for its comfy windowside seating with killer views and elevated cafe snacks.
Another win is that the upper level is now a complete circle, so you can walk from the forward to the aft elevator banks and back on both decks of the Royal Promenade. There's even a stairwell up into Central Park.
Plus, some of the new venues on the promenade are quickly becoming guest favorites. The hip 1400 Bar, with its craft cocktails and central indoor-outdoor location, and Dueling Pianos Bar were happening hot spots on my sailing.
Related: TPG's first impressions of Icon of the Seas
The shows are incredible
My favorite evenings combine dinner and a show, and the top-notch entertainment is something I've always loved about Royal Caribbean. Icon of the Seas brings it in a big way with its new shows.
I was dreading a 90-minute version of "The Wizard of Oz" but fell in love with Icon's production due to its creative use of flying technology, gorgeous costumes and sets, adorable puppets and modern staging. "Starburst," the ice show, combined some stellar skating moves with an incredible juggler, and the AquaTheater is always killer no matter what those divers, dancers and acrobats are doing.
I was also pleased to see that Icon of the Seas will introduce shorter shows at earlier show times for families with young kids in the AquaTheater and Absolute Zero ice rink.
What I didn't love about Icon of the Seas
Thrill island is more extreme than i expected.
I was so excited to take my 9-year-old daughter on all the Category 6 waterslides at Thrill Island, and figured that we'd play there for hours, as we did on a recent trip to the Great Wolf Lodge water park. But four of the six slides were simply too extreme for a kid and her mom.
Our favorites were the two family raft slides, where two to four riders slide together in round rafts. But there wasn't a basic body slide that a kid could ride again and again without a friend or parent along. All the others had steep drops or were face first and super fast, with too much water in your eyes and nose.
Opposite the water park, the new Crown's Edge ropes course is also not a play-all-day, kid-friendly course, like the ones I've tried on Carnival cruise ships and Great Wolf Lodge. The course is extremely short, with a vertigo-inducing section over the open ocean. It's also got a steep entry fee (the water park is free).
I was hoping that Thrill Island would be a place where older kids and their parents could spend an entire afternoon hopping from ride to ride. The Lost Dunes minigolf course and the rock climbing wall are very accessible. But I'd rate the water park and ropes course more T for teen than E for everyone.
Related: What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
New Infinite Ocean View Balcony cabins are a mixed bag
On Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean added a new kind of balcony room: the Infinite Ocean View Balcony. An idea borrowed from sister line Celebrity Cruises , these cabins bring the balcony sitting area into the cabin's interior to create a longer room. To bring the fresh air in, the far wall of each cabin is a wall of glass, and the top half can roll down at the push of a button (like a car window).
Some of these cabins look out over the ocean, while others face inwards, overlooking Central Park.
I loved the extra cabin space and the additional sitting area facing a window. However, we rarely opened the window because it messed with the entire room's climate control as heat (or, in my case, chilly breezes) flooded the cabin. Plus, noise from other decks, like the poolside DJ, also infiltrated the entire room.
The new rooms also had a few design flaws, which were repeated in other categories as well. These included a lack of outlet variety by the beds, clunky wire baskets beneath the wardrobe that were hard to access because they were too close to the cabin's sofa and possibly not enough general storage for anyone traveling as a family in one room.
Icon of the Seas cabins and suites
Royal Caribbean cruisers will have 14 new cabin and suite types to choose from out of 28 total accommodation types. Many of these are family-friendly rooms that sleep four guests; some can accommodate six or eight guests. In total, 313 cabins and suites are listed specifically as family-focused accommodations, though many regular room types can sleep more than two guests.
Related: Royal Caribbean cruise ship cabin and suite guide: Everything you want to know
Inside cabins
The most affordable rooms on Icon of the Seas are inside cabins (and they're still not cheap). In addition to standard 156-square-foot inside cabins and 178-square-foot Spacious Interior cabins, new 157-square-foot Interior Plus rooms feature extra-large walk-in closets.
Icon of the Seas also features 187-square-foot Surfside Family View Interior cabins (replacing Boardwalk View cabins) and similarly sized Central Park View Interior cabins. These rooms do have windows, but they look inward onto the neighborhoods.
No rooms on Icon of the Seas are listed as offering the "virtual balconies" found on select Royal Caribbean ships.
Ocean-view cabins
Icon of the Seas has only two types of ocean-view rooms with a window but no balcony. Its new Panoramic Ocean View rooms are within the AquaDome, offering floor-to-ceiling windows rather than the standard picture window. They will also be larger than the standard balcony cabin at 258 square feet (compared to 160 to 187 square feet).
Balcony cabins
The majority of Icon of the Seas' cabins are balcony rooms , ranging from 196 to 285 square feet in indoor space, with private verandas of 50 to 70 square feet. The ship introduces four new types of balcony cabins to the fleet.
The Infinite Ocean View Balcony cabin design takes an idea from Royal Caribbean sister line Celebrity Cruises, where instead of a standard balcony external to the ship, the room features a glass wall with a window that can roll down halfway (like a car window) to allow fresh air in. There are also curtains to close off that area from the rest of the cabin to create a veranda-like space.
Additionally, Icon has an extra-long family version of this room type. The Family Infinite Balcony cabin can sleep up to six people, with an alcove featuring upper and lower beds for kids, a separate sleeping area for grown-ups, a living area and a split bathroom (toilet and sink in one room and shower and sink in the other).
Also new to Icon are smaller Surfside Family View Balcony cabins and Infinite Central Park View Balcony cabins. Central Park balcony rooms, which look out over the interior's open-to-the-sky neighborhood, come in regular balcony versions as well. Icon also features hundreds of standard balcony cabins looking out to sea.
I stayed in an Infinite Central Park View Balcony cabin, which has the same cabin design as the regular Infinite Balcony room but overlooks the interior neighborhood instead of the sea. As I said above, I adored the additional interior space, but didn't make much use of the window. In addition to climate control issues, when I opened the window in my room, the noise from around the ship flooded my cabin, and I'm not sure any conversations I had on my "balcony" would be private.
I also discovered that all the inward-facing rooms of any category lack privacy. From my room, I could see straight into the cabins across from me. I watched people leaning on their balcony and room attendants cleaning cabins. And, yes, I did see a dude in his underwear one morning. Any time we needed to change clothes and once it got dark outside, I would close the curtains, changing my lovely room with a view into an inside cabin with no natural light.
Related: Which cruise ship cabin category should your family book?
Royal Caribbean offers three tiers of suites , and each subsequent tier comes with increasing Royal Suite-class perks and amenities .
Icon's Sea-tier suites include Junior Suites and four new Sunset Junior Suites with expansive balconies.
The Sky tier includes several new suite types, starting with the Surfside Family Suites. These 269-square-foot suites sleep four with a glassed-in living area that can turn into a kids bedroom at night, plus a real 53-square-foot balcony overlooking the Surfside neighborhood.
Sky Junior Suites have the same layout as regular Junior Suites but are high up on the ship's top decks. Guests in these suites receive additional Sky-tier perks (such as access to all the Suite neighborhood amenities), whereas regular Junior Suites come with more limited amenities. Sunset Suites and Sunset Corner Suites feature extra-large balconies and beds that face the ocean rather than a wall.
Panoramic Suites are within the ship's iconic AquaDome structure, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. You won't miss the balcony when you're gazing out to sea from your chic sitting area in front of the glass wall.
The Infinite Grand Suite offers the new convertible balcony design in conjunction with a larger space that sleeps four and includes a split bathroom, useful when multiple guests need to get ready at the same time.
Of the nine top Star-tier suites, only one, the Royal Loft, is on other Royal Caribbean ships. Seven of these top accommodations are new Icon Loft Suites, two-deck-high accommodations with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large balcony with a private dining area and floor-to-ceiling windows.
The creme de la creme of suites on board is the three-deck-high Ultimate Family Townhouse, an evolution of the Ultimate Family Suite that wowed guests on Oasis-class ships. In addition to kid and adult sleeping areas, this 1,772-square-foot top-level suite features an in-suite slide, a movie-viewing room, a karaoke machine and spacious indoor living spaces.
It also offers 751 square feet of outdoor space divided among two balconies and a "backyard" with a pingpong table, outdoor seating and a white picket fence leading directly to all the Surfside neighborhood attractions. It can sleep up to eight guests.
Icon of the Seas restaurants and bars
Icon of the Seas takes Royal Caribbean's drinking and dining game to the next level. The line added new-to-the-brand restaurants to ensure that every neighborhood had a food venue easily accessible, with more quick-service eateries and options for families.
In addition, the line worked with master mixologists to create new and innovative bar menus, complete with zero-proof mocktail options, in watering holes throughout the ship.
Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean cruise ships and itineraries
Restaurants
Icon of the Seas showcases new dining venues and updated spins on guest favorites. From elevated dining experiences to quick bites, here is what you can expect on board.
The Dining Room: The three-level main dining venue (decks 3, 4 and 5) will offer three courses of globally inspired dishes, such as escargot and spaghetti Bolognese, as well as the cruise line's signature dishes. The center chandelier is stunning. Choose from multiple set-dining times or a more flexible dining plan . You'll find plenty of variety, a kids menu and waiters willing to expedite your dinner so you can make a show, even giving you your dessert to go. (Included.)
Windjammer Marketplace: It wouldn't be a Royal Caribbean ship without an enormous pool deck buffet, and Icon of the Seas has its version on Deck 15. The options are varied and tasty, with Indian entrees and a gluten-free counter in the back. I was impressed with the quality of my meals here. (Included.)
Sorrento's Pizza: You'll find several restaurants within the Royal Promenade, starting with Sorrento's . The popular complimentary all-day and late-night pizza parlor on the Royal Promenade churns out several flavors of pies daily. You'll also find a soda machine here. (Included.)
Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar: The extra-fee purveyor of pizza, pasta, meatballs and more Italian specialties found on some Oasis Class ships and a smattering of other Royal Caribbean vessels has a new location on Icon of the Seas. It's moved from Central Park (on Oasis Class ships) to the upper level of the Royal Promenade, open to all the hubbub and foot traffic of the bustling neighborhood. (Lunch $24.99 per person, dinner $54.99)
Pearl Cafe: This new grab-and-go coffee shop in the Royal Promenade is your day or night spot for fresh sandwiches, pastries and to-go salads. The warm sandwiches are a cut above what you'll find in its predecessor, the Promenade Cafe, but its comfy seating and stellar views steal the show. (Snacks included, but coffee drinks cost extra.)
Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade: Bite into a juicy burger or an outrageous dessert at this extra-fee bar and grill. You can even order signature cocktails that come in football helmets. Playmakers has been repositioned to Deck 6 in an interior location across from Adventure Ocean and Social020 at the far end of the second level of the Royal Promenade. It makes the bar feel like more of a dive and less like a family-friendly grill where you'd take your kids for burgers. (A la carte pricing.)
Surfside Eatery: This new family-friendly buffet venue in the Surfside neighborhood is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It serves up kid-friendly casual fare and options for adults, meaning families don't need to trek up to the Windjammer buffet for meals, and kids can play within sight of their parents if they finish eating first. (Included.)
Pier 7: Also in Surfside, Pier 7 is the casual specialty restaurant aimed at families dining together. It serves California-inspired dishes for lunch and dinner, as well as breakfast all day (but not at night). The baja fish tacos and Korean fried chicken were excellent, and the warm toffee chocolate cake was perfectly molten with bruleed marshmallows on top. Kid dishes include grilled cheese and chicken tenders; brunch options range from a pancake board to eggs Benedict. (Included for kids under 12; a la carte pricing for adults.)
Surfside Bites: This walk-up window eatery makes it easy to grab quick snacks like burgers, popcorn chicken, french fries and cinnamon-sugar churros. (Included.)
Izumi Hibachi & Sushi: Another relocated venue, Izumi takes its rolls, sashimi and juggling hibachi chefs to a new and larger Central Park location with more hibachi tables. It will also feature a Royal Caribbean first: Izumi in the Park, an all-day grab-and-go window for sushi takeout. (Hibachi $64.99 per person, sushi priced a la carte.)
Chops Grille: Royal Caribbean's steakhouse returns to Central Park on Icon but with a twist. Guests can now choose their own cut of meat from the butcher's display. Also, an open window provides diners with a view of chefs preparing their selected cut. (Lunch $29.99 per person, dinner $69.99.)
Park Cafe: This casual favorite for breakfast, lunch and snacks also returns to Central Park on Icon of the Seas. Its Royal Kummelweck roast beef sandwich has a cult following. (Included.)
Empire Supper Club: Designed to evoke an atmosphere of New York City in the 1930s, this new venue offers an upscale experience. Guests can savor an extravagant eight-course meal (think: caviar and wagyu), complete with entertainment. Each dish is paired with a cocktail created by celebrity mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim specifically for Royal Caribbean. A meal here will set you back some serious cash, though with spots for only 38 guests a night, you'll have to book quickly to get a table. ($200 per person.)
Vitality Cafe: Icon of the Seas' spa area on Deck 14 is home to a healthy cafe for extra-fee smoothies and fresh juices. (A la carte.)
AquaDome Market: The line's first food hall will feature five dining options — Feta Mediterranean (fresh pitas and bowls), Toast and Garden (sandwiches and salads), Mac's (macaroni and cheese with varied toppings like beef chili or bacon), GNGR (Asian dishes like tofu-vegetable stir-fry and sweet-and-sour shrimp with pineapple) and Creme de la Crepe (both sweet and savory options). (Included.)
Celebration Table: The new private 14-seat dining experience provides an ideal backdrop for celebrating milestone events. Choose from exclusive American, Italian, Asian and seafood menus. The table is set up inside Hooked Seafood, and your party pays the same rate to reserve the table regardless of whether you fill all the seats or not. Unlike a Chef's Table, you cannot purchase individual meals and seats and join a larger group at Celebration Table. ($999 for dinner for up to 14 people.)
Related: The ultimate guide to cruise ship food and dining
Hooked Seafood: Found in the AquaDome neighborhood, this New England-style seafood venue is the place to go when you're craving oysters, fish & chips and lobster rolls after staring at the waves all day long. (Lunch $24.99 per person, dinner $64.99.)
Sprinkles: Help yourself to ice cream at this Chill Island poolside lineup of soft-serve machines. You'll also find a soft-serve machine in the Surfside neighborhood. (Included.)
El Loco Fresh: Fast-casual Mexican hits the spot after a day in the sun. Pick up a quick lunch or dinner at this Chill Island outpost. (Included.)
Basecamp: When you've worked up an appetite after all the sliding, climbing and surfing at Thrill Island, head to Basecamp to fuel up. Order a hot dog, warm pretzel and tater tots for free, or pay a la carte for comfort food like chicken waffle bits, shrimp bao buns and Wisconsin cheese curds. (A la carte pricing.)
Desserted: Thrill-seekers can enjoy a different kind of rush at this milkshake bar in the Thrill Island neighborhood. You'll find sugary options for kids and spiked versions for grown-ups. At $14 a milkshake, we expected more than just a cute photo; get a cone of soft-serve and top it with a cookie or brownie from the buffet, and you'll replicate the taste for free. (A la carte pricing.)
Coastal Kitchen: This restaurant, exclusive to suite guests and Royal Caribbean's top-tier Pinnacle loyalty program members, features a new two-story layout overlooking the AquaTheater. (Included for select guests.)
The Grove: Icon's expanded Suite neighborhood now includes a casual, alfresco Mediterranean restaurant, reserved for suite guests. (Included for select guests.)
Royal Caribbean is doubling down on the craft cocktail craze with Icon of the Seas. The line worked with master mixologists to create new bar concepts and menus to take the ship's drinking game to the next level. If you're game to try them all, buy your drink package in advance of your cruise when they're often discounted.
The Royal Promenade is home to Royal Caribbean's first double-pianist bar, Dueling Pianos. The two performers take requests and involve guests in musical fun. It is definitely becoming a hot spot at night. That doesn't mean the lone pianist at the Schooner Bar on the opposite end of Deck 6 is feeling lonely. The nautical-themed bar is always a fan favorite.
You'll also find dueling coffee bars here — the dedicated Starbucks venue on Deck 5 and the Pearl Cafe, serving coffee drinks on Deck 6. Other Royal Promenade bars include 1400 (the place for craft cocktails that pay homage to the cruise line's history), Spotlight Karaoke (for that musical buzz), Boleros (the always popular bar and lounge for Latin music and dancing) and the Point & Feather pub.
Down on decks 3 and 4, the Music Hall is the place to jam out and dance to live music. Next door, the casino, of course, has its own bar.
You might not think the ship's family neighborhood would have a bar, but the Lemon Post in the Surfside zone serves both cocktails for the parents and mocktails (elevated lemonade mixes and overly sweet colorful juice concoctions) for the kids.
In Central Park, guests find the new jazz club Lou's Jazz 'n Blues, with cocktails themed to the biggest jazz cities around the world. The walk-up Champagne venue, Bubbles, features mimosas, bellinis and other bubbly-based drinks. The Trellis Bar is also back, now with an extra-fee food menu to accompany your beverage of your choice.
In the AquaDome, the Overlook is a gorgeous lounge featuring special nooks (Overlook Pods) and wraparound windows providing fantastic ocean views. Order the Overlook Bar's signature drink, the AquaDome Spritz, exclusive to this ship and venue. The new coffee shop Rye & Bean will offer caffeine hits and cocktails starring tea and coffee. (Don't miss the chai Old-Fashioned that smells as good as it tastes.)
Beverage destinations in Chill Island include a three-story Lime and Coconut Bar (now with frozen cocktail machines) and Cantina Fresca (serving margaritas). Swim & Tonic is the line's first swim-up bar.
The Basecamp bar in Thrill Island is the place to steady your wobbly post-ropes-course knees with a drink, or you can order a Desserted milkshake with a shot of Baileys or Fireball. The Hideaway Bar serves the adults kicking back in their no-kids-allowed resort-style infinity pool hangout.
Suite guests will find bars exclusive to them in the Coastal Kitchen restaurant and the Grove sun deck. The spa also keeps guests refreshed with the Vitality Cafe smoothie bar.
Icon of the Seas activities
A Caribbean cruise is all about fun in the sun, and Icon of the Seas' upper decks are the place to be.
Chill Island is the ship's three-deck pool area with multiple pools and hot tubs situated along the sides of the ship for stunning ocean views. You'll also find a couple of ping-pong tables and a dry slide from Deck 16 to 15. Open-air cabanas are available to rent.
The Hideaway is an adults-only retreat with hot tubs, lounge chairs facing the ship's wake and an infinity pool cantilevered over the sides of the ship 15 decks up. You can only access The Hideaway from above on Deck 16; don't try to cut through the Windjammer Marketplace like we did. You won't get there.
Thrill Island consolidates all of Icon of the Seas' high-octane activities into one area along Deck 16 aft. Here, you'll find the FlowRider surf simulator, Lost Dunes minigolf courses and rock climbing wall.
Most of Thrill Island is dominated by the Category 6 water park with six slides. Two are raft slides that accommodate two to four people, and two are toboggan-style forward-facing racing slides. One is a drop slide and the other is a 90-degree plunge. Most of the slides are pretty extreme, and little kids (and their wussy parents) might find them too intense.
Also new on Icon of the Seas is the Crown's Edge ropes course. Its claim to fame is that the course takes you around the ship's giant logo, out over the ocean, with a zip line finish. However, there's not much else to the attraction; it's possibly the shortest ropes course we've ever traversed. You'll spend more time gearing up than you will enjoying the course. Crown's Edge offers a fun thrill, but I don't think it's worth paying $89 per person for one run of the course.
Related: 35 Royal Caribbean cruise tips and tricks that will make your voyage better
The ship's Vitality Spa on Deck 14 offers salon services for men and women, plus all your favorite spa treatments and an extra-fee thermal suite with heated loungers and aromatherapy showers. The fitness center is separate, located on decks 5 and 6 (though the Deck 5 entrance is off the jogging track that loops that deck). It's a sprawling gym, with space upstairs for fitness classes.
If you're looking for kid-friendly water play areas, the Surfside family neighborhood is your destination. It features Baby Bay for diapered tots; Splashaway Bay, with a dump bucket, water sprayers and junior waterslides; and an infinity pool for grownups and older siblings. Kids can also enjoy a climbing structure and the carousel with its colorful cartoon creatures to ride.
The Adventure Ocean kids club and Social 020 teen lounge, both on Deck 6, are the it spaces for the under-18 crowd. Adventure Ocean is easily accessible from Surfside, with a long entrance hallway peppered with gaming screens so kids can be entertained while they wait to be checked in (or parents can sneak in a game while they wait to pick up).
Unlike on older ships, Adventure Ocean is divided into AO Babies, the nursery for ages 6 to 36 months; AO Juniors for 3- to 5-year-olds, with their own play space; and the main Adventure Ocean club for kids ages 6 to 12. The Adventure Ocean space is further divided into the Hangout, with video games and digital game tables; the Arena for sports and active play; and the Workshop for science experiments and art projects. A theater space is set to host a black-light, interactive puppet show that families can participate in together.
Drop-off play at Adventure Ocean is free during the day and early evening; it's an hourly rate per child after 10 p.m. The nursery also charges per hour for drop-off at any time.
Social 020 is hidden between Playmakers and the Absolute Zero ice skating rink. It has gaming pods, hangout nooks and comfy seating, and foosball tables. It's meant to be a place for teens ages 13-17 to meet up and hang out, but much of the teen programming will take place around the ship. Look for teen-only takeovers of the water park and Hideaway Pool, VIP seating for select shows, group dinners at Izumi and exclusive laser tag play.
Absolute Zero is the ship's skating rink, accessed from Deck 6. If you're inspired by the cast of its shows, you can lace up and try a few spins during open skating hours on sea days. This is typically where Royal Caribbean hosts its laser tag games as well.
On the opposite end of Deck 6, Icon's escape room sits across from the Crown Lounge for Crown & Anchor VIPs.
You have to search to find the ship's casino on Deck 4. The Casino Royale has all your favorite slots and table games. Other nightlife options include Spotlight Karaoke for embarrassing guest performances, Music Hall for dancing, Dueling Pianos and Lou's Jazz 'n Blues for live music and Playmakers for watching sports and playing table games.
You'll also stumble upon live music across the ship, from the pool deck to Central Park to the pub.
The ship offers a mix of programming from Latin dance classes to liquor tastings, spa seminars, pool games, trivia and more. Check the line's app or the printed Cruise Compass daily newsletter so you don't miss events around the ship.
Family programming in Surfside will be led by Admiral Awesome, who's more or less the family cruise director. You won't miss him in his wild, brightly colored outfits. Activities include the Larger Than Life Family Festival (with giant games and face painting) and evening bedtime stories.
You'll find souvenir and jewelry shops throughout the ships, but predominantly in Central Park and along the Royal Promenade. A Park West art gallery is here, too.
Surfside features the Sugar Beach candy shop and Sunshine & Sundries, which sells plush dolls and kid swim gear you forgot to pack. Don't miss Royal Bling in the AquaDome, where you can buy Royal Caribbean logo jewelry, including a bejeweled chalice that costs $100,000 and comes with a free lifetime drinks package on all Royal Caribbean ships.
The guest services and NextCruise desks are located on the Royal Promenade by the pub. Shore excursions and the photo gallery are behind The Pearl on Deck 5. A conference facility and medical center are located on the ship's lower decks.
Icon of the Seas shows
Royal Caribbean is known for its innovative high-tech, large-scale shows — in the theater, in the water and on the ice. The entertainment on Icon of the Seas stays true to brand and does not fail to impress.
It's difficult to know this early on how hard it will be to get a seat at your preferred show time with so many people on board. It's a good idea to figure out how early you can book shows and book them in advance on the Royal Caribbean app or the "My Royal Cruise" section of the website, or as soon as you board. You'll also want to arrive early for the best seats — or to get in a standby line in case of no-shows.
Icon of the Seas' Royal Theater is located forward of the Royal Promenade on decks 4 and 5. Its signature show is "The Wizard of Oz," and you shouldn't dismiss it. Royal Caribbean has found a way to modernize the show, and the impressive special effects, including set pieces flying above the audience, will captivate cruisers of all ages. Don't miss Toto and other puppets created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
"Wizard of Oz" employs the biggest-ever orchestra at sea (16 pieces), so it's no surprise that Icon of the Seas' second theater show highlights their talents. "Showband!" was not running on my sailing, but the line describes it as an immersive, sensory experience, employing state-of-the-art technology.
On the opposite side of the Royal Promenade on Deck 5 aft is the Absolute Zero ice rink. You can access it past Playmakers on Deck 6. The venue features a circular rink versus the square ones in the Studio B rinks on sister ships.
Its new show is "Starburst," which is themed around the elements (carbon, helium, etc.). Group, solo and pair skating numbers are combined with next-level juggling by a character dubbed "The Starman."
The costumes are creative and fun (including glow-in-the-dark and light-up outfits), and the use of lighting and video on the walls and the ice sets a spacey scene. The round ice stage makes it easier for the skaters to use the entire space to get up speed to do jumps and tricks. You'll gasp at the impressive lifts, spins and jumps the skaters can execute on a moving ship.
The same cast will also present a second, shorter, family-focused show called "Once Upon a Time: The King's Royal Ball." In the show's story, familiar fairytale characters come to a king's party to entertain the families of the world.
Royal Caribbean's famous AquaTheater has been moved from an outdoor space at the back of the ship to the indoor AquaDome at the front of the ship on Deck 15. It also will run a longer, later main show and a shorter, earlier family-friendly show. Neither were ready yet on my preview sailing, but we got to see a few numbers, and they were jaw-dropping and stunning as only acrobatic/diving/synchronized shows with robots, wild lighting and video imagery can be.
The main show, "Aqua Action!" doesn't have a storyline, as far as I could tell, but is meant to push the boundaries of entertainment and wow every audience. You'll witness an aerial pas de deux, dancing robotic arms, crazy high dives and dancing with a lot of splashing. Trust me — you'll be mesmerized. Arrive early because the seating area is surprisingly small given the size of the ship and the popularity of these shows.
The family show is called "Pirates vs. Mermaids," featuring an epic battle to decide who truly rules the waves.
Icon of the Seas will carry on Royal Caribbean's Promenade parade tradition with a pirate-themed show called "Ships Ahoy!" Look out for a soon-to-debut Promenade street party focused on one-hit wonders.
The Attic is the ship's comedy club, located on the Royal Promenade on Deck 6 forward. You'll definitely want to show up early to get a seat for these popular shows.
Live bands perform at night in The Music Hall on decks 3 and 4 by the casino.
Icon of the Seas itinerary and pricing
Icon of the Seas sails weekly from the port of Miami. Its itineraries include weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries that began with the ship's maiden voyage on Jan. 27, 2024. Travelers can book one of several routings available through April 2026:
- Seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyages with stops at St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Royal Caribbean's private island in the Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay
- Seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyages with stops at St. Maarten (the Dutch side of the island of St. Martin), St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay
- Seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyages with stops at St. Thomas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Perfect Day at CocoCay
- Seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyages with stops at St. Maarten, San Juan and Labadee, Royal Caribbean's private beach on Haiti
- Seven-night Eastern Caribbean voyages with stops at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas; San Juan; and Perfect Day at CocoCay
- Seven-night Western Caribbean voyages with stops at Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Perfect Day at CocoCay
- Seven-night Western Caribbean voyages with stops at Costa Maya, Cozumel and Perfect Day at CocoCay
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Royal Caribbean ship
Cruises on Royal Caribbean's newest and largest ship don't come cheap, and the prices have only increased since the ship first went on sale in 2022. Expect premium pricing for this highly sought-after ship.
When we checked in January 2024, the lowest price for an Icon of the Seas sailing was $1,775 per person, based on double occupancy, for an inside cabin. The cheapest balcony cabins started at $2,426 per person. These prices are for cruises departing in January 2026!
The most expensive sailing at present is a New Year's cruise, departing Dec. 28, 2024, with inside cabins starting at $9,419 and balconies at $10,104 per person.
You might wonder if Icon of the Seas' fares are all-inclusive — they are not. The fares include meals in the main dining room, buffet and a handful of other complimentary restaurants; most entertainment and activities; use of the kids club; and basic drinks like standard coffee and tea, milk and select juices at breakfast. You will pay extra for soda and alcoholic beverages, specialty restaurants, spa treatments and select activities.
Related: 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts — and what you can do about them
What to know before you go
Required documents.
Since Icon of the Seas is currently sailing round-trip from Florida, U.S. citizens can sail with either a current passport or an official copy of their birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo I.D. Passports must be valid for at least six months.
The name on your reservation must be the same as what's printed on your passport or other official proof of nationality. Double-check if you've recently gotten married or go by a different version of your name.
If you're traveling with a child for whom you are not the legal guardian, you will need to bring a notarized letter, signed by the child's parents or legal guardians, giving you permission to travel with the child.
Related: What documents do you need for a cruise? From passports to printouts, here's what to take
The room stewards and dining staff on Icon of the Seas are friendly and helpful and deserve an extra thank-you. Royal Caribbean makes that easy by charging you an automatic gratuity of $18 to $20.50 per person per day, depending on your cabin category, added to your onboard account and final bill. You are allowed to adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking, but please don't — even if you are disappointed by the service. Gratuities are an important part of crewmembers' paychecks.
An 18% gratuity is added to bar, specialty dining and spa/salon bills. You should not feel pressured to add an additional tip.
Related: Everything you need to know about tipping on cruise ships
Royal Caribbean has one of the fastest Wi-Fi systems at sea, called Voom, and you can take advantage of this on Icon of the Seas. Currently, Wi-Fi packages with streaming bandwidth start at $30.99 per day for one device (or $24.99 per day per device for packages accommodating two, three or four devices), though prices do change over time.
Often you can get the best discounts on onboard Wi-Fi by purchasing your plans online in advance of your cruise. If you're a member of Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor Society cruise loyalty program, check to see if you're eligible for discounts on Wi-Fi packages.
Certain suite guests and upper-tier loyalty program members receive complimentary Wi-Fi, so know your included perks before you sign up for a package.
Related: How fast is the internet on Royal Caribbean ships? We put it to the test
Carry-on drinks policy
Royal Caribbean guests of legal drinking age can bring one bottle of wine or Champagne onto Icon of the Seas at boarding. If you want to drink that bottle outside your cabin in a restaurant or lounge, you must pay a $15 corkage fee.
Guests can also bring up to a dozen standard cans, bottles or cartons of nonalcoholic drinks such as sodas on board on embarkation day.
Smoking policy
Smoking (including e-cigarette smoking) is forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies, and those who violate this rule will face a $250 cleaning fee.
Passengers can smoke in Icon of the Seas' casino while playing or in a designated outer area on Deck 17 by the Cloud 17 pool area.
Icon of the Seas does not offer self-service launderettes. Passengers can pay extra for laundry, pressing and dry cleaning services.
Electrical outlets
Cabins on Icon of the Seas have a ton of outlets, though not always where you want them. In my Infinite Ocean-View Balcony cabin, I found two USB, two USB-C, one North American-style 110-volt outlet and one European-style 220-volt outlet by the desk. Two more USB outlets were hidden in the shelving across from the sleeping area. One side of the bed had a USB outlet and the other a 110-volt outlet. (I would have preferred to have one of each on either side of the bed.)
There's also an outlet for shavers by the bathroom shelving near the sink.
The onboard currency is the U.S. dollar, but you won't need cash on the ship. You'll receive a SeaPass card that functions as your shipboard ID, room key and credit card. You'll charge shipboard purchases (drinks, souvenirs, extra-fee meals, shore excursions and so on) to your onboard account, and Royal Caribbean will charge your credit card on file once the cruise ends. You can check your onboard bill in the cruise line's app or at Guest Services.
The shops on CocoCay also take your SeaPass card. The onboard Starbucks outlet (not other cafes where Starbucks-brand beverages are sold) should take Starbucks gift cards and payment through the Starbucks app.
Drinking age
You must be 21 to consume alcohol on Icon of the Seas.
During the day, people dress casually. T-shirts, shorts, athletic wear, casual sundresses and bathing suits are commonly worn on board and ashore. Bring a cover-up to go from the pool back indoors.
You'll also want to dress for the activities you plan to do on board. Wear long pants, socks and a sweatshirt for skating in Absolute Zero (and bring something warm to wear when you go to one of the shows); full-coverage swimwear for the FlowRider and waterslides; and closed-toe shoes and a glasses strap for the Crown's Edge ropes course (and skip the skirt so you can easily put on the jumpsuit).
In the evening, the ship does have a suggested dress code, either casual (just look decent, but shorts are frowned upon at dinner), smart casual (nice restaurant or date attire) or formal (your version of fancy). A seven-night cruise will typically have two formal nights.
Royal Caribbean ships are pretty casual about the dress codes. What you really want to avoid is swimwear, bare feet, pajamas and athletic-style tank tops in the main dining room and specialty restaurants. And dress for your dining venue: You'll want to get dolled up more for a meal at the Empire Supper Club or Chops Grille than you might at Pier 7 or Giovanni's.
Related: Ultimate cruise packing list
Bottom line
Icon of the Seas is a groundbreaking ship for Royal Caribbean, introducing new venues, attractions and accommodation styles while bringing back and evolving fan favorites from past ships. Entertainment is next-level, and the ship's amazing attractions are sure to please all types of vacationers with multiple interests.
Though the ship is the line's largest, it's easy to get around, with lots of crowd control measures in place. You will, however, want to book quickly to obtain your preferred restaurant and show reservations. It might be difficult to be spontaneous and still get to see and eat everything you wish.
The ship has put special emphasis on catering to families with young kids and has created innovative programming for teens. However, its adults-only pool area, inviting bars with creative cocktail menus and plethora of grownup entertainment venues make the ship a perfect option for multigenerational families, friend groups and couples, as well.
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7 wild facts about the world’s biggest cruise ship
The icon of the seas has more than five times the tonnage of the titanic.
Is it a dream vacation or nightmare scenario? Depictions of the world’s largest cruise ship — the Icon of the Seas , setting sail in January — have the internet in an uproar.
One image especially seems to have captured the public’s imagination: a rear-end view that looks like a towering layer cake topped with silly string.
“The physical manifestation of Barbenheimer,” wrote one Twitter user, referring to the releases of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” about the development of the atomic bomb, on the same day. “Nightmare clown lasagna,” wrote another.
Many invoked the Northern European painter Hieronymus Bosch , Dante’s “Inferno ” and hamster cages . A smattering said it looked like actual fun .
The "Icon Of The Seas" sets sail in January 2024. 5610 passengers, 2350 crew members, 5 times larger and heavier than the Titanic, 19 floors with more than 40 bars, restaurants and bowling alleys. What a monstrosity! pic.twitter.com/igoQRUZ3nP — Ray Monk (@Raymodraco) July 9, 2023
Tanner Callais, founder and editor of cruise information site Cruzely , said in an email that it’s no surprise the behemoth is creating buzz.
“Looking at those renderings, I think the ship almost looks like a cartoon with the huge water park at the back,” he said. “It’s just unreal that something like that can be built to sail the ocean.”
Whatever the impression it’s leaving, cruise line Royal Caribbean International says Icon, which completed initial sea trials in June, is selling like mad. The company reported its single largest booking day when reservations opened in October; sales have since set two more records.
The Miami-based company is no stranger to setting records: Royal Caribbean has brought several “world’s largest” ships to market, notably the Oasis of the Seas in 2009, which dwarfed all others in its wake. Additional iterations have been slightly larger than the original, and even Icon of the Seas will only be 10 feet longer than its closest runner-up.
Travel adviser Danny Genung, CEO of Harr Travel , said he was up in the middle of the night booking trips for clients when reservations opened. He snagged a spot on the inaugural voyage for himself.
“There’s never been a ship launch like this in the industry,” he said.
Here are seven standout stats about the ship.
10 things you didn’t know were on cruise ships
It can hold 5,610 passengers.
That’s not including crew. That’s a few hundred more people than the population of Bar Harbor, Maine, which is U.S. News & World Report’s top small town in the United States to visit this year.
Crew adds another 2,350 to the total. And because ships are designed to accommodate more than two people per room with additional beds for families or groups, the total guest capacity is actually a whopping 7,600. When Oasis of the Seas was introduced as the biggest ship in the world in 2009, its capacity at double occupancy was 5,400 guests.
The average capacity for the 44 ships being introduced between this year and 2028 is 2,749 passengers, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.
It’s nearly 1,200 feet long.
The ship is only 10 feet longer than previous biggest-ship record-holders, at 1,198 feet. That’s the equivalent of more than three football fields or nearly four Statues of Liberty, pedestals included.
To visualize another way, the ship’s length is just 52 feet shorter than the height of the Empire State Building , not including the spire.
every time I see a picture of the Icon of the Seas cruise ship I am filled with an intense dread — Kylie Noele (@KylieNoele) July 11, 2023
It has more than five times the tonnage of the Titanic.
Cruise ships are ranked according to gross tonnage, the measure of internal volume. This is where Icon of the Seas really outshines the competition, at 250,800 gross tons. The next-closest is Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, which comes in at 235,600.
To compare, the Titanic was 46,329 gross tons.
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It has more than a dozen decks.
Icon of the Seas will feature 20 decks, 18 of which are for guest use. Those decks encompass eight “neighborhoods,” including a Central Park packed with live plants; a massive water park; a three-deck cluster of pools; a massive dome featuring a waterfall and performances; and an area for families with young kids to play and eat.
The next-largest ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Wonder of the Seas, has 18 decks, all but two of which are for guests.
There’s a pool for every day of the week.
There will be seven pools on the ship, including a swim-up bar, suspended infinity pool and what Royal Caribbean describes as the “largest pool at sea.”
Voyager of the Seas , which was the world’s largest in 1999 when it launched, has three pools.
It has the biggest water park on the water.
Royal Caribbean is boasting that Icon will have the “largest waterpark at sea,” called Category 6. That refers to hurricane strength (which tops out at Category 5) but also the six slides on board. There’s an open free-fall slide, a 46-foot drop slide, family raft slides and a pair of mat-racing slides.
“Everybody now has a waterslide or two but having a water park with six slides that would be as good on land as they are on sea, it’s really unheard of,” Genung said.
In a 2022 roundup of best cruise ship water parks, Cruise Critic highlights Carnival. Many of its ships offer a trio of slides. MSC Cruises comes close to Icon’s number on some of its recent ships, offering four or five slides, and the cruise site notes that some of Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships have up to five waterslides.
Love that cheap cruise price? Don’t forget the boatload of fees.
There are 40-plus places to eat and drink yourself silly.
Cruise ships have expanded their food and beverage options in recent years far beyond just a buffet, main dining room and pool bar. Icon will offer more than 40 ways to “drink, dine and be entertained,” including 15 bars and nightlife experiences and more than 20 dining options.
Restaurants on board run the gamut, with an eight-course supper club experience, an all-day brunch spot, sushi, street food, a steakhouse and, yes, buffets. Reflecting cruise passengers’ appetite for variety, this total is actually on par with the current record-holder, Wonder of the Seas.
For a land-based comparison, Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas says on its website that it offers 21 restaurants and 19 bars and lounges.
Genung, the travel agency CEO, said he has clients who say the ship looks amazing but seems too big for them.
“You get all the scope of reactions: ‘That’s cool, that’s crazy; I can’t wait to do it, I would never want to do that,’” he said. But he said that, especially for multigenerational families who want to travel together, it’s a great fit.
“The thing with this is it’s a perfect cruise for lots at different people at different times in life,” he said.
More cruise news
Living at sea: Travelers on a 9-month world cruise are going viral on social media. For some travelers, not even nine months was enough time on a ship; they sold cars, moved out of their homes and prepared to set sail for three years . That plan fell apart, but a 3.5-year version is waiting in the wings.
Passengers beware: It’s not all buffets and dance contests. Crime data reported by cruise lines show that the number of sex crimes has increased compared to previous years. And though man-overboard cases are rare, they are usually deadly .
The more you know: If you’re cruise-curious, here are six tips from a newcomer. Remember that in most cases, extra fees and add-ons will increase the seemingly cheap price of a sailing. And if you happen to get sick , know what to expect on board.
My First-Ever Cruise Was on the Largest Ship in the World—Here’s My Honest Review of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas
The good, the bad, the bougie.
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here .
When you think of a cruise vacation, what comes to mind? Breakfast buffets, Elvis trivia and the unlikely but not totally implausible threat of pirates? Same. That is, until I actually went on one.
I was raised by two adventure-loving nomads (who have since settled in New Jersey because, life), so the urge to travel is in my blood. I’ve been lucky enough to ski the mountains of New Mexico , hike the Swiss Alps, trail race around Jackson Hole and safari through Kenya, but in my 30 plus years on this planet, I’ve never taken a cruise. And to be honest, I’ve never really wanted to.
So, how did I, a self-proclaimed land lover, end up on the maiden voyage of the largest ship in the world? It’s simple: Cruises are cool again.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association industry report, 2024 is shaping up to be the year we all go cruising. With post-pandemic bookings steadily rising since 2022, 35.7 million passengers are projected to set sail in 2024, a whopping 20 percent more than in 2019. And with this increased interest comes a whole new customer base. As more millennials and Gen X travelers dip their toes in the proverbial waters, gone are the days of the stereotypical cruiser repping a Hawaiian shirt and a boomer birthday. Plus, with both solo and multi-generational family travel firmly on the rise, cruises seem to be at the top of everyone’s bucket list—not to mention their “For You” page.
Between the nine-month world cruise making waves on social media to a number of new ships launching in 2024 , I couldn’t resist kicking off the year with a floating getaway. At the top of my maritime list was Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas , the newest kid on the block that everyone (from The New York Times to TikTok ) couldn’t stop talking about. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned vet, this ship has a little bit of something for everyone. Here’s my honest review.
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Ship Features & Onboard Activities
True to its moniker, the world’s largest ship is a stunning behemoth that, upon arrival, made all the other ships casually parked in the port look like bath toys. Powered by liquefied natural gas—a more energy-efficient and cleaner burning fuel source—the Icon of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s most sustainable ship to date. At full capacity, it can house 7,600 passengers with 28 different types of accommodations ranging from an infinite ocean-view balcony to a $100,000 three-story family townhouse .
To keep all those people happy, the ship features seven different pools, nine hot tubs and over 40 restaurants with cuisines ranging from coastal seafood to Japanese hibachi. Marketed as the ultimate family vacation , the ship’s stand-out features shine a light on multigenerational fun, from epic waterslides and mini golf to comedy shows and craft cocktails.
As a first-time cruiser, the boat can be overwhelming with 20 decks full of places to explore and activities to book. Luckily, the Royal Caribbean app makes it easy to both prep for your trip prior to leaving and organize your stay while on board. Though I logged way more steps than I ever anticipated (a plus!), the ship’s layout made its size feel less daunting. Divided into eight different neighborhoods each with their own unique function and theme, the overall flow felt seamless and convenient with numerous elevators, easy accessibility and tons of open space. Here are a few of my favorite neighborhoods onboard:
- Thrill Island: Highlights include Category 6 (the largest waterpark at sea featuring the tallest drop slide and the first family raft slide at sea), Crown’s Edge (a part ropes course, part zip line experience that suspends passengers out over the open ocean), as well as cruise classics like the FlowRider surf simulator, a sport court, a rock-climbing wall and family-friendly mini golf.
- Chill Island: The place to be to have the ultimate lounge day, featuring swim-up bars, whirlpools and tropical refreshments.
- The Hideaway: An adult only (18+) area featuring the first suspended infinity pool at sea with ocean views and a dedicated DJ and bar.
- Surfside: As the first neighborhood designed specifically for kids, Surfside has everything young families would need to stay and play all day, including a splash pad, a baby pool, an arcade and an underwater-themed carousel, plus five different dining options the whole family can enjoy.
- Central Park: This open-air hub features tons of live greenery for a full-theme immersion. Similar to its stateside namesake, there are seven unique bars and restaurants that call this neighborhood home, including a blues club and a walk-up Champagne bar.
- AquaDome: With panoramic views of the open ocean, the AquaDome is home to the most epic aqua show this writer has ever seen. Hosted at the AquaTheater, the highly anticipated experience features high divers, synchronized swimmers and the first-ever aerial pas de deux (duet dance). It’s weird and wonderful in the most extraordinary way. A must-see for anyone lucky enough to snag a seat.
- Royal Promenade: A mainstay in many Royal Caribbean vessels, the Royal Promenade is located at the heart of the ship. In addition to 15 bars, restaurants and lounges, this neighborhood includes a dueling piano bar, music hall and comedy club. At the center of it all is The Pearl, a multi-sensory immersive structure that features kinetic tiles and specialized lighting to mimic the movement of water.
Stateroom Accommodations
Upon arrival, we made our way to an ocean-view balcony stateroom on the 12 th deck, our home away from home for the next few days. At 204 square feet, the room was perfectly suitable for two people. Cozy, inviting and surprisingly quiet, with smart storage options, well-placed charging ports and a good amount of room to move about freely without feeling like you were on top of each other. The on-suite bathroom was on the smaller side, but the spacious shower made up for the crowded toilet and sink area. My favorite part of the room was the outdoor balcony, which felt private and secluded while bringing in tons of natural light.
Food & Drink
Though the number of dining options onboard is impressive, the quality at certain locations was a little lackluster. My favorites included Izumi for sushi and hibachi, Sorrento’s for all-you-can-eat thin-crust pizza and Pearl Café for 24-hour snacks, both sweet and savory. I was also pleasantly surprised by the breakfast and lunch buffet options at both Windjammer and Surfside Eatery (which has a menu catered to a much younger age bracket but hey, sometimes you just need a chicken nugget).
The main dining room, however, was a miss for me. A standard in all Royal Caribbean ships, the table service offerings were perfectly fine (I did like my salmon), but largely boring and mass-produced. After ending the meal with a curdled crème brûlée that resembled scrambled eggs, it was a one-and-done experience.
In addition to the standard buffet options, Icon of the Seas also features laidback brunch spots, kid-approved bites and extravagant dining experiences like the Empire Supper Club complete with a live jazz band, an eight-course meal and cocktail pairings.
Unlike some of the food offerings, the specialty cocktails on board were a memorable highlight. Each bar has its own curated list of libations that are intriguing and innovative—not to mention delicious. The 1400 Lobby Bar, a mainstay in the Royal Promenade, features unique twists on classic cocktails like a pineapple pisco sour and a rose and grapefruit Aperol spritz. And if you’re still on the espresso martini train (no shame) both Point and Feather and Rye & Bean offer top-notch blends. So whether you like Bombay or Bulleit, there’s truly something for everyone–including a handful of zero-proof options.
Destinations & Pricing
More interested in the destination than the journey? The Icon of the Seas currently offers six different routes sailing to both the Western and Eastern Caribbean with highlights including the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. All round-trip voyages depart from Miami, Florida , and most include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas—a private island resort owned by Royal Caribbean.
Though the cruise I went on was a shortened version of their standard week-long package, we did spend a few sunny hours on Perfect Day at CocoCay, which features white sand beaches, tons of pools, overwater cabanas and a massive waterpark with heart-pounding thrills (including the tallest waterslide in North America). My favorite part of the island had to be Hideaway Beach, the brand-new adults-only oasis with swim-up bars, in-water hammocks and stunning views of the ocean.
As the newest vessel in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, a vacation on the Icon of the Seas does not come cheap. Prices vary depending on your preferred travel route, but for a standard seven-day cruise, dynamic pricing starts at $3,600 per week for two people in an interior stateroom when booked directly through Royal Caribbean. Luckily, this price also includes meals and beverages at select restaurants, most entertainment options and a number of daily activities, but if you’re traveling with multiple people or are looking for a bigger room with a better view, prepare to shell out even more.
Final Thoughts
What we like.
- the ship is the star of the show—it’s both the main attraction and the destination
- great for large groups and young families
- tons of dining and entertainment options
- excellent craft cocktails
What We Don't Like
- lackluster food
- limited destinations and departure port
To all the hardcore cruisers out there, I see you. Though I still prefer exploring the world on my own two feet (there’s so much to see beyond the port), I can honestly say that I understand the appeal. Aside from only having to unpack once, the benefits of vacationing on a cruise are undeniable. Feel like hitting a comedy show tonight? Done. Prefer to spend the day lounging by the pool? Easy. Offspring too old for the kid club but too young to wander around a city on their own? Stick ‘em on a boat!
If you’re traveling as a family or in a large group, cruises just make sense, and that’s especially true on the Icon of the Seas. Like a fully planned vacation with minimal effort and the added bonus of a zero-commitment itinerary, this ship offers something for every generation to enjoy (yes, even Elvis trivia).
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What's So Special About Icon of the Seas? We Sailed to Find Out
From pricing to activities, here's everything you need to know about the world’s largest cruise ship from Royal Caribbean.
In advance of its highly anticipated inaugural cruise, we were able to explore the ship during its pre-inaugural preview sailings, and we’re sharing everything you need to know (along with plenty of insider photos!) to help you plan.
What’s so special about the Icon of the Seas?
Neighborhoods and activities, entertainment and nightlife, cruise itinerary, bottom line: is sailing on icon of the seas worth it.
Picture this: Twenty stories, more than 50 dining experiences, seven pools, over 2,800 staterooms and a capacity of 5,610 guests (plus staff!). Add to this an expansive two-level shopping promenade and a reimagined Central Park (complete with 30,000 living plants and trees), and you'll very quickly forget you’re on a boat once you board the Icon of the Seas. The ship itself is 1,198 feet long and 250,800 GT (gross tonnage; or the internal volume), making it over five times as large as the Titanic (which was 46,328 GT).
In fact, Icon of the Seas is so big that it’s broken up into eight different "neighborhoods." It has just started sailing and will depart from Port Miami in Miami with seven-day cruises through the Eastern Caribbean or the Western Caribbean. Regardless of which trip you take, you’ll stop at Royal Caribbean’s award-winning private island, “Perfect Day at CocoCay.”
It turns out that bigger really is better. Not only is it the biggest cruise ship in the world, but it’s also home to many “biggests” and “firsts” at sea. It has the largest water park at sea (including the first family raft slide), the first (and only) suspended infinity pool at sea and the biggest swim-up bar at sea — plus, there are six thrilling water slides and a 50-foot-tall waterfall. It even has the first dog at sea — a golden retriever named Rover who lives on board to bring joy to guests and the crew.
And while family fun is front and center on Icon of the Seas, it is thoughtfully designed to cater to every type of traveler. There’s something for every age group and trip preference, and it does a great job of separating these offerings into distinct neighborhoods (e.g., adult-only travelers and families with young kids can have little to no interaction with one another if they choose). From a variety of new room choices to seemingly endless dining and entertainment options, the offerings of the Icon of the Seas have raised the bar for cruise vacations.
A significant aspect in which Icon stands out from other cruise ships is in its having a whopping 28 different room types. Many staterooms are similar to those on other large ships and sleep from two to four people, but there are a variety of more spacious rooms available to make your stay more comfortable, especially if you’re traveling as a family .
Rooms are outfitted with tons of USB-A ports and electrical outlets in all the right places (and some even with USB-C ports by the vanity). Our team was impressed with the amount of storage in every room, including drawers and multiple closets (complete with a good number of hangers) and nooks to stash your things. Royal Caribbean has even made sure the space under the beds is perfectly sized for tucking away carry-on luggage . Rooms come in two categories, Staterooms and Suites, and below are the most common types for each class:
Staterooms are the more affordable way to experience the ship. They come in various sizes and each is outfitted with a mini beverage fridge, but no other food or beverage amenities. All come with basic bathroom amenities, meaning standard bar soap and a shower with a single wall-mounted dispenser with hair and body wash but no conditioner lotion. “I’m not a regular cruiser, so I was very surprised to discover there wasn’t any conditioner in the room — and I regretted not bringing my own,” said one guest. (Of course, there’s an easy solution: If you stay in a stateroom, consider yourself warned and bring some!) Here’s what else you should know before choosing your stateroom.
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It’s the smallest class and has no windows, but it’s also the cheapest way to experience the ship’s grandeur. This type of room is not recommended for anyone who is prone to feeling claustrophobic.
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You get a window, but not fresh air from a balcony.
Neighborhood Balcony
These rooms have an outdoor balcony that faces an interior neighborhood (such as Central Park or Surfside).
Ocean View Balcony
As the name implies, this room’s exterior balcony gives you views of the ocean while the ship is sailing.
Ocean View Infinite Balcony
Unlike a regular balcony room with a separate outdoor space, this type of room has a large window that opens wide enough to feel like a balcony. When the window is open, you feel exactly as if you’re on a balcony, but you gain valuable interior living space when the window is closed.
Family Ocean View Infinite Balcony
Giving families more space to spread out, these have a bed and a pullout sofa in the main area, along with a separate nook with bunk beds. They are designed for groups of four to six people. The main living and sleeping area feels very comfortable and spacious (like a regular hotel room), but the kids’ nook is smaller in person than it appears in photos. One standout plus: the split bathroom, one part with a toilet and a sink, the other with a sink and a shower. It’s a huge bonus and almost feels like two full bathrooms instead of one divided into two. The kids’ nook can also come in handy as a changing room for everyone, thanks to its curtain “door.”
For more space, added in-room amenities in Icon’s suites such as a Lavazza espresso coffee machine and soft drinks, luxury bathroom amenities from Malin+Goetz (including conditioner and lotion), plush bathrobes and access to other exclusive offerings deliver a more elevated ship experience. These rooms are available in three classes:
Rooms in this category include Junior Suites , which give you a bit more space than regular staterooms and can sleep up to four on a pullout sofa. You get access to the suite-exclusive Coastal Kitchen restaurant (for dinner only).
Sky Class
You get everything in Sea Class as well as concierge service, full access to the suite-exclusive neighborhood and priority boarding and departure. A variety of suites are available that sleep up to four or five, many of which are newly available on Icon. The most common suite in this class is the Surfside Family Suite, which we got to experience with two adults and two children during our preview. Although the shared pullout sofa bed was on the smaller side, it was great to have the separate space for kids and all the perks that came with the suite class.
This top tier includes everything in Sky Class along with premium seats for entertainment, complimentary dining packages and more. You even get a “genie” – i.e., a personal concierge. Only nine suites in this class are available, including seven Icon Lofts, one Royal Loft and one Ultimate Family Townhouse, a three-level paradise that even has an in-suite slide, gaming area, movie room, patio and more. It can cost over $80,000 for a week — and it is already sold out for all of 2024.
The Icon is so big that it’s broken up into eight distinct neighborhoods:
Thrill Island
Located at the back of the ship, this is the home of all of the action and adventure on board. Its Category 6 waterpark has six large water slides, including ones with big drops, zero-gravity suspensions and even the first family raft slide at sea. There’s also the Crown’s Edge , a daring adventure course that leaves you dangling 154 feet above the ocean. (Just note that there's an added fee for Crown’s Edge.)
Other highlights include the Adrenaline Peak rock climbing wall, the Flowrider surf simulator, the Lost Dunes mini golf course and a sports court.
Chill Island
This is where you can find four of the seven pools, which are spread out over three separate decks. It is home to Swim &Tonic, the biggest swim-up bar at sea (and the first for Royal Caribbean) as well as Royal Bay Pool, the largest pool at sea.
Designed as a family-friendly area (especially for younger kids), this neighborhood is intended to be used as a spot where families can spend their entire day. There’s a carousel (with whimsical motifs instead of horses), a dry climbing area, a splash park (including smaller water slides) and an arcade.
There’s also a lounge area for grown-ups to hang out near their kids. The kids’ club and kid-friendly dining options are also located in this area.
This is a breathtaking indoor space at the front of the ship. During the day it’s meant to be a “tranquil oasis” with ocean views and a picturesque waterfall. At night, it’s a buzzing hot spot with restaurants, bars and entertainment in the AquaTheater.
The Hideaway
An adults-only area at the back of the ship, it has the first suspended infinity pool at sea, offering stunning views of the water and beach club vibes.
Royal Promenade
Located in the middle of the ship, this is the indoor entry point when passengers embark, and it serves as a central hub. You’ll find many of the restaurants in this area as well as shops, guest services, a shore excursions desk and more. There’s a Royal Promenade on many Royal Caribbean ships, but it’s elevated on the Icon thanks to The Pearl, a massive orb structure that’s just as functional in the ship’s architecture as it is a piece of art.
Central Park
An open-air area in the middle of the ship, this neighborhood features trees and living plant walls that make you feel as if you’re in an actual park while at sea. There are Central Parks on other Royal Caribbean ships too, and like the others, this one has several restaurants and bars.
Suite Neighborhood
For guests staying in the Sky and Star Class suites, this area is toward the front of the ship (near the AquaDome) and offers amenities like a private pool, a sun deck, a lounge, a restaurant and more.
As on other Royal Caribbean ships, there’s also an ice-skating rink (which converts into a laser tag arena), a spa, a fitness center and more activities available, including an escape room.
The Icon has over 20 places to eat and boasts more than 50 dining experiences, some of which are included in the main charge and others of which cost extra. There’s a three-floor main dining room and a buffet (the Windjammer) available at no charge.
Other complimentary options include the Aquadome Market (the first ever food hall on a Royal Caribbean ship), Sorrento’s (a pizza place), El Loco Fresh (Mexican fare), Park Café (a deli), Surfside Eatery (a kid-friendly buffet) and more. “We loved the grab-and-go and serve-yourself options at El Loco Fresh,” said one guest. “I could eat those quesadillas all day long.” In the main buffet, the Indian counter was also exceptionally delicious.
Then there are specialty restaurants you have to pay for such as Chops Grille (a steakhouse with out-of-this world crab cakes), Giovanni’s (Italian), Izumi (hibachi and sushi) and Hooked (seafood). For fancier options, there’s the Empire Supper Club (with an extravagant eight-course menu with a ritzy New York theme) and Celebration Table (a VIP experience for 12 people).
There are plenty of other places to grab snacks (including ice cream!) throughout the day as well as quick-service spots (Izumi in the Park has out-of-this-world bubble waffle creations) and even a Starbucks on board the ship. For a great place to start your morning, the Pearl Cafe is a comfortable and centrally located cafe on Deck 6. Head over to the Vitality Spa on Deck 14 for juices and smoothies.
Royal Caribbean stands out from other cruise lines for its shows, and the Icon takes it to another level. It has The Wizard of Oz as a Broadway-style show and Aqua Action, which features water-based stunts in its signature AquaTheater. There’s also an ice skating show called Starburst: Elemental Beauty and live music (including rock, blues and a DJ), dueling pianos, karaoke and comedy shows. All shows are included as part of the cruise.
Beyond the shows, there are a casino (called Casino Royale) and plenty of bars, from sports bars to more swanky venues.
The Icon of the Seas is sailing from and to Miami and currently offers two itineraries:
- 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise to Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas
- 7-night Western Caribbean cruise to Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas
Both itineraries include stops at Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay (which previously won a Good Housekeeping Family Travel Award ). It offers water parks, beaches, pools and more – and the best part is that it's all just steps from the ship. For the other stops, you can book shore excursions directly through Royal Caribbean.
A 7-day sailing on the Icon of the Seas typically costs around $2,000 per person.
However, you can often find promotions from Royal Caribbean, and we even discovered some options in 2025 that let you book for around $1,000 per person. The pricing varies based on room type, dates and availability, but Icon is considered more of a luxury cruise than a budget option. That said, the price covers much of the food, amenities and experiences throughout your week-long vacation.
Yes. While it's certainly not for everyone because of its size and price, we were impressed by the innovation this cruise delivers. The highlights compared with other cruises were the family-friendly room layouts, the next-level activities and the design of the neighborhoods.
For instance, on other Royal Caribbean ships you'll find the carousel for kids located next to the sports bar and in the same neighborhood as the AquaTheater, which gets congested around showtimes. With this new layout, there’s less overlap and it’s easier to navigate the experiences.
Meet Your Icon of the Seas Guides
- Lexie Sachs is the executive director of strategy and operations at the Good Housekeeping Institute , where she oversees travel content ranging from the best luggage to Good Housekeeping’s Family Travel Awards . Lexie has been on eight cruise ships from a range of cruise lines (including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival) and has sailed through Alaska, the U.S. East coast, the Caribbean, Bermuda, South America and Europe. She attended a preview sailing on the Icon of the Seas with her husband and two daughters.
- Laurie Jennings is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s general manager and lead consumer tester across categories like travel, home, automotive and more. This was Laurie’s first overnight cruise experience. Her multigenerational group included her mother, a seasoned cruiser (who raved, “Everything about this ship is perfect! It will blow you away,”) as well as her daughter, 9, and her nephew, 11. During her sailing, Laurie visited all 28 room classes as well as every neighborhood and restaurant available for viewing.
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See how the world's largest cruise ship feeds 10,000 people every day
- Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas ship accommodates 9,950 people: 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew.
- The cruise ship has over 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges.
- Tour one of its 37 kitchens responsible for 2,400 dinners a day.
Most people don't go on airplanes just to get airplane food. Some travelers do, however, go on cruises just to get cruise food .
And for these hungry sailors, Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas could be the closest thing to culinary heaven on earth (or at sea).
On the new world's largest cruise ship , dining is more than just a traditional buffet and poolside grill with burgers and pizza. It's that, of course, plus a feast of spaghetti Bolognese, raw oysters, and even rabbit — enough of it to feed up to 9,950 people (7,600 guests and 2,350 crew).
As you can probably guess, feeding everyone isn't cheap: Food is Royal Caribbean's second-highest expense after fuel, Linken D'Souza, the cruise line's senior vice president of food and beverage, told reporters in late January.
Icon's food preparation process begins on land in Miami, where the ship takes delivery of its provisions before every sailing.
Icon of the Seas currently operates seven-day cruises from Miami to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Fresh goods like berries, cheeses, and herbs are refreshed weekly, Germán Rijo, the executive chef, told said during a tour of the kitchen.
But frozen items — think prime rib, lobster, and fish — are received every two to three cruises.
A mega cruise ship means mega food orders.
Icon of the Seas stocks up on about 20,000 pounds of rice and 3,500 pieces of lobster for a typical weeklong cruise.
On a smaller sailing, let’s say one with 4,000 guests, the ship would still carry about 2,500 pieces of prime rib and 120 to 200 pieces of beef tenderloin.
Over the last few years, Royal Caribbean has been trying to source more of its ingredients domestically, where its ships are homeported, D'Souza said.
Icon of the Seas' restocked food supply is then distributed to its 37 kitchens.
The ship has more than 20 restaurants and cafés. Upcharged options include a grab-and-go sushi stand and a luxurious $200 per person dinner (the one that serves rabbit).
Travelers who don’t want to splurge on specialty dining could frequent the ship’s complimentary Main Dining Room.
The restaurant pumps out more rice, potatoes, lobster, beef tenderloin, and prime rib than any other dishes. But its menu rotates every night, giving repeat diners options like crab cakes, fried chicken, and escargot.
Just be sure to reserve your table in advance: The three-floor venue can feed 6,000 guests over 3 ½ hours.
To keep operations running smoothly, every floor of the restaurant has its own kitchen.
The one that services the bottom level is responsible for 2,400 people during a busy dinner service.
The first-floor kitchen isn’t your grandma’s 'heart of the home.'
The kitchen is a sterile and stainless steel land of giant pans, ovens, and mixers.
Unlike your decorative KitchenAid stand mixer at home, these tools aren't collecting dust.
Of Icon’s 425 cooks, 45 work in this kitchen, churning out 10 or 11-hour workdays.
Preparing food is an around-the-clock affair: Some work night shifts.
Besides servicing the Main Dining Room, the kitchen also prepares the ship’s breads and pastries.
It's no small feat for a ship of Icon of the Seas' size : Every day, the bakery churns out 35,000 to 40,000 baked goods, which include baguettes, muffins, and the most popular item: croissants, according to Alexander Perberschlager, a traveling executive corporate baker with the cruise line.
Nearby, soups and sauces (of large enough quantity to satisfy Bigfoot) simmer in 40 to 120-gallon pots.
Cooks also have typical tools like vegetable slicers, machines that portion meats, and pineapple peelers.
Like the ship’s buffet, guests in the Main Dining Room can order as much food as their hearts and stomachs desire.
To maintain portion sizes and decrease food waste, Royal Caribbean uses in-house historical data to determine what food and how much of it to cook, adjusted according to the demographic of its guests.
"If we have a lot of Latinos, we're going to need a lot of rice, beans, and chicharron," German Rijo, the executive chef, told reporters in late January.
Food waste could be a daunting problem on a ship that services the equivalent of a small town.
Some overproduced foods are stored in a blast chiller and reused later, mitigating waste.
Take rice, for example. Instead of tossing extra batches of the little carby morsels, the kitchen can blast chill and reuse it for fried rice or paella. Or, it can be reheated and served again as is.
According to the cruise line, non-reusable leftovers are put through a "waste-to-energy" system.
The tech, called Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis (MAPs), can use organic waste to generate 200 to 300 kilowatts of energy — enough to run Icon of the Seas' waterpark , a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean told Business Insider.
But the best part about being on a cruise vacation (besides the unlimited food)? There’s no need to clean your dishes.
The kitchen's larger-than-life dishwashers will do it for you.
- Main content
Biggest cruise ship on Earth has docked in Florida. What to know about the vessel.
Cruise lines are back to prepandemic sale levels, and thankfully the industry is built, and building, to support the demand.
The vacation vessels seem to be getting bigger and bigger. Florida is now home to the world’s largest cruise ship.
Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas began welcoming passengers last month. USA Today 10Best Expert Carly Caramanna , who has sailed on the mammoth ship, said it was easy to forget you were on a cruise given its size.
“The demand for cruising is bigger than ever and as ships grow in size, brands are finding new ways to address the biggest issue - how to manage the flow of guests,” Caramanna said. “Icon of the Seas did a great job of this, from the destination elevators, to the infinite amount of seating and lounge areas to the 50-plus live musicians performing each night. You could do as much or as little as you wanted.”
How big is Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas?
Icon has 2,805 staterooms; a double-occupancy capacity of 5,610 passengers; a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers; and a crew of 2,350. It has 20 decks; weights 250,800 tons; and is 1,198 feet long.
What Florida port does Icon of the Seas sail from?
Icon of the Seas sails out of PortMiami, the world’s busiest cruise port .
In its latest budget year that ended Sept. 30, PortMiami had a record-setting cruise passenger count of 7.3 million.
Where does Icon of the Seas sail to?
The ship will sail seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.
Each cruise will visit the line’s private Bahamian island, Perfect Day at CocoCay . Other possible stops could be in Mexico, Honduras, Puerto Rico and other locations.
What activities are available aboard Icon of the Seas?
Icon has eight separate neighborhoods, all with their own identity. Five of the areas are new to RCL.
Surfside is geared toward young families. Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay are the only places on the ship where children wearing swim diapers can enjoy water activities. The area also includes an arcade, carousel and quick-service restaurant that serves all the food kids love like pizza, cheeseburgers and fries.
Thrill Island is home to the “largest water park at sea,” Category 6. This also is where thrill seekers can wear a harness and walk a ropes course where you walk 154 feet above the ocean. There’s also a FlowRider surf simulator, mini golf and rock climbing.
If chilling is more your speed, you’ll probably want to head to the three-deck Chill Island. It’s home to four swimming pools and plenty of loungers to relax and, well, chill. If walking takes too long, you can get from deck-to-deck using a dry slide.
Hideaway is the adults-only deck. It’s where those 18 and older can enjoy a suspended infinity pool and relax in hot tubs while a DJ entertains.
AquaTheater is an enclosed steel and glass structure, home to a thrilling show combining high dives, aerial dancing and skateboarding. Other shows include “The Wizard of Oz” and the ice-skating show “Starburst: Elemental Beauty.”
What are the restaurants on Icon of the Seas?
You’ll need all week (and probably more time) if you want to eat at all of the ship’s 40-plus restaurants, bars and lounges. AquaDome Market is the cruise line’s first food hall, which serves Mediterranean dishes, crepes and more.
The ship also features RCL’s first swim-up bar at sea, Swim & Tonic.
Frequent cruisers will find there are some familiar restaurants, including Windjammer buffet and the steakhouse Chops Grille.
How much does it cost to sail on Icon of the Seas?
Prices vary depending on the time of year and the itinerary.
To give you an idea, prices for a seven-night Eastern Caribbean sailing leaving June 1, start at $3,489 per person based on double occupancy for an interior cabin.
We're gonna need a bigger boat
As if this ship wasn’t big enough, the second, and even bigger, ship in the “Icon Class” is scheduled to set sail in July 2025.
Star of the Seas is expected to make six- and seven-night cruises to the Western Caribbean, and seven- and eight-night cruises to the Eastern Caribbean.
Sailing will be out of Port Canavera l.
Spitzer can be reached at [email protected].
Everything But The Expected
Technology and artistry merge on the new Icon of the Seas SM , inspiring awe on a grand scale. Get swept away by innovation to a whole new dimension of awesome. Because icons don’t just steal the show — they change the way you see it forever.
This is Next-Level Wow Factor
When anything can happen, the only thing you can expect, is the unexpected. The new Icon of the Seas SM introduces the coolest innovations at sea. Watch ice skaters dazzle with double axels at our biggest ice arena ever. Or marvel at performances that push the bounds of bravery beneath a mesmerizing, morphing waterfall. And that's just the beginning.
Awe Inspiring By Day. Iconic By Night.
A world of sensory discoveries awaits you at the AquaDome SM — the most immersive scene at sea. From a towering shapeshifting waterfall that cascades into a dive pool to dining options designed to pique your culinary curiosity.
Absolute Zero
An ice bold revolution.
Step into Absolute Zero, our biggest ice arena ever, to watch all-star performers unleash maximum axels and supersize spins, all while an immersive, digitally mapped backdrop transforms this arctic arena to showcase storylines beyond any you’ve imagined.
Spectacular Takes The Stage
With our boldest entertainment lineup ever, the new Icon of the Seas SM raises the bar on curtain raising. Like Broadway-style renditions of storytime classics, productions dreamed up for littles, adults-only comedy shows and live music for any mood. Plus, two new venues that set the stage for spectacular — from the largest ice skating arena at sea to a first-of-its-kind venue that takes the only aqua shows at sea to an unimaginable new level
The Wizard of Oz
AQUA ACTION!
STARBURST: ELEMENTAL BEAUTY
PIRATES VS. MERMAIDS
SHOWBAND! LIVE. MUSIC. NOW
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Icon of the Seas is a first-of-its-kind Royal Caribbean ship with the largest waterpark at sea, six record-breaking slides, and a new family neighborhood. Sail to the Western or Eastern Caribbean and enjoy Perfect Day at CocoCay, the best private island.
Learn what is included in a cruise on the first Icon Class ship, from the largest water park at sea to the largest pool at sea, and how to enjoy the AquaDome, the FlowRider, the Rock Climbing Wall and more. Find out what is considered extra and how to plan your vacation on Icon of the Seas℠, the first cruise ship with a water park, an aqua park, a FlowRider and a Rock Climbing Wall.
Icon of the Seas on her first sea trial outside Turku, Finland in 2023. Icon of the Seas is a cruise ship built for Royal Caribbean International and is the lead ship of the Icon class. She entered service on 27 January 2024 out of the Port of Miami in the US. At 248,663 gross tonnage (GT), Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world.
Icon of the Seas: Royal Caribbean's first Icon Class ship, Icon of the Seas, debuts as the world's largest cruise ship.At maximum capacity, it carries nearly 10,000 passengers and crew combined.
The 2024-built Icon of the Seas cruise ship is RCI-Royal Caribbean's first ICON-Class vessel scheduled for delivery and inauguration in 2024 January, being postponed from 2022-Q2 and 2023-Q3 due to the COVID crisis. The liner is currently the world's largest by volume/GT-tons ...
Giant of the seas: Royal Caribbean International's Icon of the Seas is expected to the the world's biggest cruise ship when it enters service early in 2024.In June 2023, the vessel began the first ...
The debut of Icon of the Seas marks the first time that an Oasis Class ship hasn't held the title of "world's largest cruise ship" in over a decade Icon of the Seas measures an astonishing 250,800 gross registered tons and can carry a maximum of 7,600 passengers, making Icon roughly 6% larger than Wonder of the Seas .
This is not just another ship. This is an extraordinary new class of adventure. We are proud to Introduce Icon of the Seas℠—the very first ship in an all-new class, Icon Class debuting in 2023. More details will follow, including itineraries and new onboard features. Stay tuned to learn more and reserve at a later date.
Some actual peace and quiet. Ceylan Yeginsu, a reporter for the Travel section, tries out a ride in the sprawling water park on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas cruise ship. One man got down ...
The world's largest cruise ship has been spotted in the Caribbean ahead of its highly anticipated inaugural voyage later this month. Royal Caribbean's 1,198-foot Icon of the Seas, due to set ...
Welcome to the brand new ICON OF THE SEAS! Royal Caribbean has hit it out of the park, and we can't wait to share it all with you. From the new Category 6 Wa...
December 4, 2023. Royal Caribbean. The biggest thing to ever hit cruising is coming in January 2024, when Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas —which will be the largest cruise ship in the world ...
Icon of the Seas is 20 decks high (with 18 passenger decks) and 1,198 feet long and measures 250,800 gross tons. It can carry 5,610 passengers at double occupancy (two passengers per cabin) or up to 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy, plus 2,350 crew members. These stats make it the largest ship in the world.
Icon of the Seas Review. For more than a year before Icon of the Seas launched, Royal Caribbean ran a marketing campaign unlike any we'd ever seen, with flashy messaging promising a ship filled ...
Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas will be the biggest cruise ship in the world and offer amazing new features including a water park, infinity pools, and de...
Icon of the Seas is the first Icon Class ship, which means this cruise ship will have a new design, size, and look compared to other ships that came before her. Icon of the Seas will carry 7,600 passengers at maximum occupancy (or nearly 10,000 people when you account for the crew) when it first sets sail with guests Jan. 27, 2024.
For some travelers, not even nine months was enough time on a ship; they sold cars, moved out of their homes and prepared to set sail for three years. That plan fell apart, but a 3.5-year version ...
Review of Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas - Photo by Brooke Franco The new world's largest cruise ship is officially sailing! After several years of lead-up and industry chatter, Royal Caribbean International debuted its highly-anticipated cruise ship Icon of the Seas on January 27, 2024. As the first in the line's Icon Class of vessels, the ship features many new and exciting onboard ...
Royal Caribbean has finally revealed their newest and largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, and the best word to describe it is INCREDIBLE. At 250,800 gross...
Powered by liquefied natural gas—a more energy-efficient and cleaner burning fuel source—the Icon of the Seas is Royal Caribbean's most sustainable ship to date. At full capacity, it can house 7,600 passengers with 28 different types of accommodations ranging from an infinite ocean-view balcony to a $100,000 three-story family townhouse .
Whether you're an experienced cruiser or a first-timer, you've probably heard of Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Icon of the Seas. Dubbed "The World's Largest Cruise Ship" and aimed at ...
Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas ship accommodates 9,950 people: 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew. The cruise ship has over 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges. Tour one of its 37 kitchens responsible ...
Icon has 2,805 staterooms; a double-occupancy capacity of 5,610 passengers; a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers; and a crew of 2,350. It has 20 decks; weights 250,800 tons; and is 1,198 feet long.
We are back from one of the first cruises on @RoyalCaribbean Icon of the Seas. The world's largest ship encompasses 20 decks and contains 8 neighborhoods. Ou...
A q u a d o m e. A b s o l u t e Z e r o. Technology and artistry merge on the new Icon of the Seas, inspiring awe on a grand scale. Icons don't just steal the show, they change the way you see it forever.