Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas: Largest cruise ship's first voyage
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Thrill Island is the name of a brand new neighborhood coming to the first Icon Class cruise ship, and it is a new approach to aquatic fun on a cruise ship for Royal Caribbean. It was originally slated to be the adults-only area, but Royal Caribbean changed that to The Hideaway and made Cloud 17 open to all guests. If you want a quieter pool experience, head to the infinity-edge Cove Pool that has in-water loungers.
Family rooms redefined
Dedicated buffet in the Surfside neighborhood so families don't have to go far to get a meal. Keep in mind there may be items on the menu here that cost extra, but the majority of the menu has no additional cost. Also located within the Royal Promenade is Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, which is a new location for this restaurant.
Icon of the Seas Dining
At first glance, I had snubbed the dining and lounge area as a rip-off of a generic airport coffee shop. But during my three days on Icon, I returned to the centrally located space more often than expected. While I would've preferred a quieter atmosphere (the DJ did not, in fact, play smooth jazz), the pool's views, day beds, and lack of screaming children were hard to beat. Izumi's Teppanayki and Sushi Bar has been relocated to Central Park -- and on Icon, it has a takeout window!
Icon of the Seas Reveal: What Is Included in a Cruise with Royal Caribbean?
When completed, Icon will be 20 decks high and 1,198 feet long and measure 250,800 gross tons. She is the first new type of vessel for the cruise line since 2014. Moreover, Icon will have a long lineup of other energy efficiency initiatives onboard, all of which help to contribute to Royal Caribbean Group's goal of introducing a net-zero ship by 2035. Star of the Seas will sail out of Port Canaveral; however, the home port for the third ship is currently unknown. Even though Meyer Turku's time with Icon has come to an end, they're hard at work building Star of the Seas.
Personally, we're all about the various Mac and Cheese combos, and would make a no-elevator vow just to try them. It serves specialty coffee drinks, both alcoholic and non -- this is the place for espresso martinis. The Overlook -- a space that we instantly fell in love with -- is directly behind the AquaTheater. The menu for the Lemon Post is super cute, with one side listing the cocktails and the other having the mocktails. While the drinks don't actually match (boo!), the mocktails sound super refreshing and even more delicious than those with alcohol, TBH, although on a very hot day, the Slice of Life would probably be giving us life.
With so many exciting things to look forward to, you may be wondering what cruise foods and vacation activities included in a cruise on the first Icon Class ship. Three signature neighborhoods of former ship classes are also making returns, including the Royal Promenade. The area now features floor-to-ceiling ocean views, Royal Caribbean said, plus more than 15 restaurants, cafes, bars, and lounges. On a beautiful sunny day, head to Splashaway Bay, an aqua park for pint-sized cruisers. It's designed exclusively with tots to tweens in mind and offers plenty of cool interactive water features and mini waterslides just for little ones. But this pool at the back of the ship, where parents can hang out while their kids play, will have some of the best ocean views onboard.
But if you're a jazz fan or looking for a peaceful nightcap, none of these options will top the live music at Lou's Jazz 'n Blues. Plenty of family-friendly cruise ships have waterslides, but few have six — or even one that requires a multi-person raft. Now, as someone who specializes in small-ship expedition cruising, I completely understand why a vessel that can carry more than 10,000 people between guests and crew might not be your cup of tea. But here's the thing about Icon — it really is a destination in itself. Long gone are the days when a ship was just a means of transportation; Icon is the star of your vacation. The new Surfside zone, for instance, was designed for young families, focusing on adults and kids ages six and under.
This decadent menu has me convinced to purchase a Specialty Dining Package to enjoy a discounted rate. Since Icon of the Seas is the biggest ship to ever set sail, you won't run out of things to do. In fact, any guest can access any neighborhood onboard Icon of the Seas℠ for free, including Thrill Island, Chill Island, the Royal Promenade, Surfside and the Hideaway. The advantage LNG has over diesel is it is more energy-efficient and will reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
First Look! See Photos of the New Spaces on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas
There’s no shortage of ways to score unbelievable ocean views from your room. With spacious balconies, extended ocean side escapes, and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, there’s so much to see at sea. This is your week to enjoy everything you’ve ever loved about every vacation — all rolled into one. It features a multilevel, in-suite slide, areas for karaoke and watching movies, two private balconies, and even a private entrance to Surfside – complete with a white picket fence and mailbox.
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. 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. Be sure to check out Swim & Tonic, the largest swim-up bar at sea. Admission is free if you want to hang out and wade in the water, though alcoholic beverages will cost you extra unless you purchase a Specialty Beverage Package. The package is a great deal, and it includes beers, wines, and other vacation libations at bars such as the Lemon Post. The Surfside and Thrill Island neighborhoods are home to some incredible specialty restaurants.
There are more than 40 bars and restaurants on Icon of the Seas, so on a classic seven-night sailing, it would be remarkable if you made it to all of them. Suite guests can dine at two additional complimentary restaurants in their private neighborhood, and all guests can choose to book specialty dining at a surcharge. Unfortunately I wasn't able to dine at the star premium dining venue — the new Empire Supper Club, an elegant affair for date night with live music — but that's definitely the one that intrigued me most. Each pool has its own unique vibe, and every one is free for cruise guests (though one is exclusively for Suite Guests…more on that later).
Water's Edge Pool has everything families need to make a splash with the little ones right in the heart of Surfside. And on the flip side, Cloud 17 is a chill adults-only pool you can pair with a poolside drink from The Lime and Coconut. Finally, the Cove Pool is located portside and directly facing the wide-open sea, offering stunning views and a laid-back vibe perfect for a day spent reading or listening to your favorite podcast.
World’s biggest cruise ship undergoes checks just weeks before first-ever voyage - CNN
World’s biggest cruise ship undergoes checks just weeks before first-ever voyage.
Posted: Thu, 04 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Royal Caribbean will offer a combination of new and fan-favorite bars to enjoy. While it might seem like there's a lot of ways to spend extra money on Icon of the Seas, there's quite a few options included with your cruise fare. These restaurants have an additional cost to dine here, either a cover charge or are priced individually for each item you order. The jazz club will be a new spot to offer "jazz in the park" as passengers stop in for a set. The open-air garden neighborhood will have living plants, where you can enjoy all sorts of dining and entertainment.
Cabins also are relatively quiet for a busy ship, though we did hear a little noise from the AquaDome, as our room was located at the front of the ship. Other rooms to avoid on Icon of the Seas include those directly above or below busy spaces, especially on Deck 14. Here's an insider's guide to what is included onboard Icon of the Seas vs. what is considered extra. Finding your crew’s just-right space is easy, with more rooms designed for families.
Specialty dining is also a highlight – our tip here is to buy a dining package so you can sample a few for-fee restaurants in addition to the included options. The ship also comes with a higher price tag than any of the other vessels in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Many of its Caribbean sailings start at nearly $200 per person per night, based on double occupancy. What you get, though, is a ship that will keep you and your family busy and happy throughout your vacation; you might not even want to leave the ship when it's in port. You’ll come away having some great meals, but perhaps nothing that stands out, unless you’re willing to invest in specialty dining. Still, kids will be happy, as the line offers children’s menus in virtually every restaurant onboard.
Icon of the Seas will also be 10 feet longer than Wonder of the Seas. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to be a useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean. All new suites, excluding the Sunset Junior Suite, are part of the Royal Suite Class' Sky or Star Tier, meaning that they come with all-day access to Coastal Kitchen and The Grove Suite Sun Deck. Prior to arriving in Miami on January 10, the ship sailed to Cádiz, Spain and Ponce, Puerto Rico for some finishing touches.
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