Icon of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship and the primary in a very new class for Royal Caribbean. So, there’s loads to be taught earlier than your cruise. We spent ten days on this new cruise ship and have provide you with these 22 professional Icon of the Seas suggestions, methods, and secrets and techniques that it’s worthwhile to know earlier than setting sail.
Our 22 Knowledgeable Icon of the Seas Ideas, Tips, and Secrets and techniques You Must Know
Don’t Let the Dimension Scare You
Sure, Icon of the Seas is over 250K gross tons with 20 decks, 8 neighborhoods, and over 40 eating places, bars, and lounges. However, don’t let the scale scare you. Having sailed on lots of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class and Oasis-class ships, we personally loved Icon of the Seas extra.
In our opinion, we just like the format higher and thought that the ship felt extra spacious general than Oasis-class vessels. The Royal Promenade is extra open, and the reimagined neighborhoods assist to disperse the crowds higher.
Particularly, there are devoted areas for adults, households, and teenagers with all of the facilities wanted to remain all day. So, you may carve out your individual area with out feeling like you’re surrounded by 6,000 different friends.
Be Positive to Strive the New Free Eating Choices
On a very new ship, in fact you’ll discover a number of new eating choices. Whereas there are new up-charge venues, there are additionally many new informal and complimentary choices. And we made positive to strive all of them!
A few of our private favorites embrace the AquaDome Market, Pearl Cafe, and Surfside Bites. AquaDome Market is a brand new meals corridor serving up gyros, mac n’ cheese, small Asian dishes, crepes, and extra. The Pearl Cafe is an evolution of the Cafe Promenade serving elevated breakfast, lunch, and to-go objects all through the day. Surfside Bites is a brand new takeout window within the household neighborhood serving up popcorn hen, burgers, and churros.
Whereas Park Cafe is a staple on many Royal Caribbean ships, this Central Park model options tapas within the evenings. There’s additionally Basecamp providing snacks in Thrill Island and a second buffet, Surfside Eatery.
Youngsters Eat Free at Pier 7
With the addition of recent complimentary eating choices, there are additionally just a few new specialty eating choices. Pier 7 is one among them. This informal restaurant within the Surfside neighborhood has a beachside vibe that’s excellent for households.
The venue serves brunch and dinner with an a la carte menu that includes objects like shrimp tostados, seafood cioppino, and a California burger, together with brunch objects like Dawn Benedict and pancakes.
And the most effective half is that youngsters beneath 12 eat free! Now, mother and pop can get pleasure from elevated menu objects whereas nonetheless spending time with the children.
Snag Your AquaTheater Seats Early
In case you are aware of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class, then you definately most likely know that the AquaTheater options a few of the finest manufacturing exhibits discovered wherever at sea, or on land for that matter. Whereas in a brand new location, you received’t need to miss these exhibits on Icon of the Seas both.
As a substitute of being outdoors within the Boardwalk neighborhood aft on the ship, you’ll discover all of the high-diving and acrobatics indoors within the AquaDome neighborhood ahead on Deck 15 on Icon of the Seas.
The signature productions right here do require reservations however seating is first come, first served. Thus, one among our professional Icon of the Seas suggestions is to scope out your ideally suited seats early. You may then seize a drink from the close by Rye & Bean bar whereas awaiting all of the motion.
Previous to showtime, employees will come round to scan your SeaPass card to make sure that you do have a reservation. No, you received’t have the ability to sneak in to the present this manner, as you can be requested to go away in the event you don’t have a reservation for that individual showtime.
You Can Do Extra With the App
Royal Caribbean is at all times in search of methods to innovate, and so they’ve finished that with all facets of Icon of the Seas. Even the app has new options to streamline processes so you may spend extra time having fun with the ship and fewer time ready in line.
As an example, there’s a new chat function the place you may ask questions as a substitute of ready in line at Visitor Providers. An AI-based “virtual assistant” is the primary line of protection however somebody onboard from Visitor Providers can be monitoring and can reply when wanted.
You may as well now view and order all of your pictures inside the app. In reality, your entire Photograph Gallery is basically absent on Icon of the Seas other than a small space behind the Pearl that doubles as a shore tour and picture gallery desk and works off of a digital queue system.
Know Your Cabin Choices
Icon of the Seas launched a number of new cabin choices for Royal Caribbean. There are 28 various kinds of rooms, together with probably the most controversial infinite balcony cabins. So, earlier than you e book your cruise, be sure you know all of the cabin classes and subcategories. It will make sure you decide the correct one in your journey social gathering.
As an example, if you’re balcony cabins, you’ll have the selection between ocean view balconies, Central Park view balconies, Surfside household view balconies, together with infinite balconies.
Personally, we desire a traditonal balcony when in comparison with an infinite balcony; thus, we stayed in an ocean view balcony whereas crusing on Icon of the Seas. It actually all comes all the way down to your private perferences and your funds when deciding on a room sort.
Get Acquainted With the New Structure
Even in the event you’ve sailed on different Royal Caribbean megaships, it’ll take a bit to get your bearings on Icon of the Seas because the format is pretty totally different. We advise you assessment the deck plans previous to your crusing after which spend a while on embarkation day exploring the totally different areas. It will assist be sure that you don’t miss out on something.
For starters, you’ll discover the Royal Promenade is far bigger and now two tales. Right here, you’ll discover some new venues together with some which were relocated like The Attic comedy membership and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.
Additional, there isn’t any Boardwalk neighborhood; as a substitute, there may be the brand new Surfside neighborhood devoted to households with babies. Subsequently, the AquaTheater is relocated to the entrance of the ship.
It additionally takes some manuevering to search out Absolute Zero, the brand new ice rink, which may solely be accessed by strolling by means of Playmakers. The children and teenagers areas are discovered close by as effectively. Equally, there’s an escalator off the Promenade that you simply’ll have to take all the way down to the on line casino.
You Can Get Sushi With out an Izumi Reservation
Izumi is without doubt one of the hottest Royal Caribbean specialty eating places. On Icon of the Seas, this venue has been relocated to Central Park with sushi and hibachi choices. Like every specialty restaurant, Izumi requires reservations and has an related charge to dine on the venue.
Nonetheless, one among our Icon of the Seas suggestions is you can truly get sushi and not using a reservation on the brand-new Izumi within the Park take-out window.
The menu options grab-and-go objects at a la carte costs that friends can get pleasure from wherever, any time of day. So, in the event you’re within the temper for some sushi however don’t need to take the children to a 2-hour sit-down dinner, that is the right compromise.
We advise you strive the bubble cones too!
You Can Get Starbucks Drinks With Your Beverage Package deal
When you have a Royal Caribbean drink bundle, you CAN get Starbucks drinks which might be included however you simply have to know the place!
On Deck 5 of the Royal Promenade, there’s a licensed Starbucks kiosk. Right here, you may get frappucinos, refreshers, teas, espresso, chilly brews, and different coffee-based drinks. These drinks WILL price you extra cash although.
One deck above, there’s the Pearl Cafe. Pearl Café is open 24 hours a day and is your go-to spot for snacks and occasional. This drink menu additionally options espresso and coffee-based drinks, chilly brew, teas, and frappucinos. Whereas not as intensive of a beverage menu, these Starbucks drinks WILL NOT price you extra cash if in case you have a drink bundle. Cafe Choose espresso playing cards will also be used on these drinks.
After all, in the event you don’t have a drink bundle, you’ll pay a la carte for the drinks at both location.
However Milkshakes Aren’t Included
Talking of what’s included and what’s not included within the drink packages on Icon of the Seas, let’s discuss milkshakes. As many Royal Caribbean cruisers most likely know Johnny Rockets milkshakes are included on different ships within the fleet. Nonetheless, there’s no Johnny Rockets on Icon of the Seas. As a substitute, there’s the Desserted Milkshake Bar.
Situated in Thrill Island on Icon of the Seas, you would possibly nearly miss it amongst all of the thrills. Whether or not the kiddos need a conventional milkshake or adults need to indulge on a boozy concoction, these will price you further. They aren’t included in any drink packages, and costs vary from $9 to $18 for milkshakes and $7 for floats.
Our vote is to skip them as they give the impression of being higher than they style.
There Are Extra Eating Instances Obtainable
With regards to the Major Eating Room, Icon of the Seas provides a fairly typical cruise expertise. The three-story grand eating room is situated on Decks 3, 4, and 5 and has each conventional and My Time eating choices. Like different ships within the fleet, friends can get pleasure from a rotational menu that modifications nightly no matter which eating choice they select.
My Time Eating is on the market from 6:30 PM to 9 PM each day within the Deck 3 eating room. Nonetheless, as a substitute of your typical Early and Late seating for conventional eating, Icon of the Seas truly has 4 totally different dinner occasions. The Deck 4 eating room has a 5 PM and eight PM seating and the Deck 5 eating room has a 5 PM, 6:45 PM, and eight:30 PM.
This offers cruisers much more choices. Personally, 5 PM is simply too early for us and eight PM is simply too late, so we love the addition of the 6:45 PM timeslot.
Crown’s Edge is Cheaper on Port Days
The Crown’s Edge is Royal Caribbean’s try at a ropes course on one among its ships. Nonetheless, not like the ropes programs on NCL or Carnival, this exercise is an up-charge. We’ll give Royal Caribbean that it’s extra themed with adventurers needing to flee from Thrill Island. However, the one actual draw of this 90-second attraction is when the ground drops from beneath you and also you zip line over the sting of the ship.
So, we do assume the value is a bit steep. Regardless that the value dropped drastically because it’s preliminary launch at $89, it was nonetheless $49 on our crusing for a sea day or $39 for a port day. In case you actually need to take a look at out this attraction, we advise you join within the app for a port day to avoid wasting cash.
Alternatively, you may also verify your cruise planner for any gross sales and promotions pre-cruise as some cruisers have just lately reported even decrease costs.
Know the Necessities for Class 6
In case you and the household plan to check out the thrilling Class 6 water park on Icon of the Seas, you’ll need to know the necessities first. These sights are actually geared for tweens and teenagers, so the youthful kiddos most likely received’t make the reduce.
The Class 6 Waterpark is dwelling to six slides and 5 distinctive sights. These waterslides embrace two physique slides, two household raft slides, and two mat racing slides.
- Strain Drop
- Scary Bolt
- Storm Chasers
- Storm Surge
- Hurricane Hunter
Cruisers have to be 52” tall to experience the physique slides, Strain Drop or Scary Bolt. To compete towards household and mates on the Storm Chasers mat-racing duo slides, riders have to be a minimum of 48” tall. Likewise, all relations have to be a minimum of 48” tall to experience the Hurricane Hunter or Storm Surge household raft slides.
There Are Retailers Across the Ship for Charging Units
The times of disconnected cruising are up to now. No matter whether or not or not you need to disconnect from the skin world whereas on trip, you’ll seemingly nonetheless use your smartphone. Even when it’s solely to speak with members of your journey social gathering or to view the each day schedule.
Doubtless although, you’ll have smartphones, earbuds, tablets for the children, and possibly even laptops that might want to keep powered. Fortunately, there are a number of spots round Icon of the Seas with shops for charging such units.
The Pearl Cafe and the Overlook within the AquaDome are two such locations. So, you may loosen up with a view and possibly even seize a snack or a drink whilst you let your units cost. This eliminates the necessity of getting to return to your stateroom to cost them up. After all, we at all times convey a moveable energy financial institution as effectively particularly when going ashore.
Don’t Let the Elevators Out Good You
Whereas clever elevators have been a factor on land for some time now, they’ve solely simply begun popping up on cruise ships. Once we heard that Icon of the Seas would have them, we had been skeptical. Our first expertise with such elevators was on an MSC ship and it was a catastrophe. So, how would they work on the biggest cruise ship on the earth?
Fortunately, Icon of the Seas has loads of massive elevator banks, so there have been by no means any points requesting a experience up or down all through the day. Even throughout busy occasions, like after a present or after dinner, the system had no points discovering area for everybody needing a raise.
All friends have to do is choose a deck and an elevator shall be assigned to them. When the elevator arrives, it should take you (and the opposite friends additionally assigned to the elevator) to your required locations with none fumbling with elevator buttons. Throughout our crusing, this course of was fast and environment friendly, usually giving us an specific experience with few stops. So, we’ll take that as a win!
There’s a Sea Day Brunch
As a comparatively newer providing, Royal Caribbean ships now have a sea day brunch. This happens on the primary sea day and is distinct from the opposite days of the crusing which provide breakfast and/or lunch. The menu is a hybrid of breakfast and lunch objects. It consists of dishes like a cheese plate, potato soup, omelets, pancakes, hen and waffles, steak frites, and extra.
Brunch is on the market from 8:30 AM to 12 PM within the Deck 3 MDR, and there’s no additonal cost for this meal. It’s the right solution to begin your cruise in the event you select to sleep in a bit on that first sea day. Regardless that we wouldn’t suggest sleeping in as there may be a lot to do and see in simply seven days!
Guide Early for the Finest Value
This Icon of the Seas tip truly applies to all cruises. However, as the latest and largest ship within the fleet, Icon of the Seas comes with a hefty price ticket. Thus, it’s much more necessary to e book your Icon of the Seas cruise early to safe the most effective value.
We sometimes e book our cruises 8 months to a yr prematurely. Although, Royal Caribbean has Icon sailings open to e book by means of April 2026. So, planning a visit for one or two years sooner or later is unquestionably potential. After all, there may be at all times the potential for final minute offers, however we typically discover that the value of a crusing solely goes up over time.
Reserving forward of time not solely offers you decrease fares, however it additionally offers you a greater collection of cabins and extra time to repay the cruise. Additional, it offers vacationers time to assessment the ports of name, plan their time ashore, and contemplate different add-ons like drink packages or specialty eating.
Make Positive to Full Your Examine In Early
You’ll need to control your Royal Caribbean app when it will get nearer to your crusing date. The app will let you already know when check-in opens however it’s often round 45 days previous to your cruise. It’s necessary to finish this check-in early to safe an early boarding time. In spite of everything, the sooner you board the ship, the earlier your trip begins!
The check-in course of additionally entails inputting your private data, importing a safety picture, linking a type of fee for onboard purchases, including passport data, and signing the cruise contract. As soon as all that is full, you’ll be “cruise ready” and ready to make use of the Specific lane on the terminal on boarding day.
Discover Your Pool Vibe
Together with the opposite reimagined areas on Icon of the Seas, there are additionally some variations in the case of the standard “pool deck”. This out of doors area now options three distinct neighborhoods: Chill Island, Thrill Island, and The Hideaway. And there are seven complete swimming pools on the ship! This implies there’s at all times a pool to suit your vibe.
In Chill Island, there’s the Cloud 17 pool on Deck 17 which provides a extra relaxed setting for all cruisers, with loads of padded loungers and a small infinity pool. The Deck 16 Swim and Tonic is one other well-liked spot, because it’s Royal Caribbean’s first swim-up bar at sea. On Deck 15, there’s the record-breaking Royal Bay Pool on the starboard facet and the secluded Cove Pool for these looking for some shade on the portside.
Adults will need to take a look at the Hideaway. Overlooking the wake, this venue options the primary suspended infinity pool at sea, together with signature cocktails and a seashore membership vibe. And households with little children can entry the Surfside neighborhood’s Water’s Edge pool on Deck 7, together with a separate splash pad and even a water function for infants adjoining to this pool.
Don’t Miss All of the New Bars
Just like eating, Icon of the Seas additionally debuts a number of new bars and lounges with signature cocktails and leisure that you simply received’t need to miss. In reality, there are ten utterly new ideas for Royal Caribbean.
Inside the Royal Promenade, there’s the 1400 Foyer Bar and Dueling Pianos. The full of life Dueling Pianos is wildly well-liked, so remember to arrive early if you need an opportunity at getting seats for a present. We additionally actually loved the signature cocktails and glamourous decor on the 1400 Foyer Bar.
A few of our different favourite drinks might be discovered on the Lemon Put up within the Surfside neighborhood and Rye & Bean within the AquaDome. There’s additionally a walk-up champagne window and Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues in Central Park, a frozen Lime & Coconut bar, and the tasty Overlook Spritz served on the Overlook Bar.
This “drink around the ship” goes to take some technique to perform!
Be Positive to Make Your Leisure Reservations
Royal Caribbean is at all times within the forefront in the case of leisure, and Icon of the Seas lives as much as that popularity with a few of the finest manufacturing exhibits we’ve ever seen.
The signature leisure on Icon of the Seas happens in one among 4 venues: Royal Theater, AquaTheater, Absolute Zero, and The Attic. The Wizard of Oz and AquaAction had been our favorites, however the newly redesigned ice rink is sort of spectacular as effectively.
All of those exhibits do require superior reservations which might be made pre-cruise in your on-line cruise planner or as soon as onboard the ship. We suggest that you simply e book these exhibits as quickly as you may as a result of they shouldn’t be missed.
If for some cause you may’t get reservations, all hope just isn’t misplaced. We had been unable to get reservations for the comedy present in The Attic however had been nonetheless in a position to see the present utilizing the standby line. Simply bear in mind that the queues begin forming effectively earlier than showtime.
Put together Your Cabin
No matter your cabin choice, it’s best to do a number of issues on the primary day of your cruise to arrange the room. We at all times suggest packing magnetic hooks to hold objects like baggage, hats, and coats.
One other packable merchandise we at all times take is an over-the-door shoe organizer. Right here, you may place equipment and toiletries like suntan lotion, sun shades, jewellery, cords, and small electronics that can assist you save worthwhile counter area.
Additionally, it would be best to be sure you unpack your garments. Packing cubes will make this activity straightforward and arranged, particularly given the brand new metallic baskets within the closet. Then, together with your baggage unpacked, make certain to put your suitcase beneath the mattress; that means, you will have as a lot area as potential in your stateroom.
One other merchandise we at all times counsel is a cruise-approved energy adapter for charging units. Nonetheless, Icon of the Seas does have fairly just a few shops, together with USB and USB-C, so it won’t be mandatory this journey.
Feedback
Do you will have every other Icon of the Seas suggestions so as to add to our record? Have you ever cruised on this new Royal Caribbean ship but? Drop us an anchor under to share your experiences crusing on the world’s largest cruise ship.
