Icon of the Seas Review
By Scarlett Shepherd
If I could choose only one word to describe Icon of the Seas, then it would be WOW. However, one word alone does not do justice to the marvel and wonder which is this magnificent ship and her crew. This post will give our full review of Icon of the Seas which is apart of the Royal Caribbean fleet, including everything from the cabin to the entertainment and food.
The Ship
Icon of the Seas is a beautiful ship that has been well designed and built. It is clear that a great amount of thought and consideration has been put into building the largest cruise ship in the world.
This can be seen in all the key design considerations, starting with remembering that this vessel is actually a cruise ship, and along with that comes the added bonus of beautiful sea and port views. The designers of this ship have made sure that guests are able to take in the beauty of the ocean by including loads of glass, with the most impressive windows being in the Overlook. The Overlook is an area at the top front of the ship, where there is lots of seating just behind the aqua theatre stage. Here you can sit down, look out, and enjoy the amazing views while getting a drink at the rye and bean or overlook bars.
In addition to enjoying the beauty of the world outside the ship, there is also plenty of beauty to enjoy inside the ship too. Throughout the ship you can find lots of art displayed on the walls, along with statues, sculptures and structures that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. The most stunning of these can be found in the Royal Promenade with the magnificent Pearl, which is the world’s largest kinetic structure. The Pearl is an absolutely draw dropping feature of the ship, with a staircase thought the middle taking you to the deck above. Walking through the Pearl makes you feel like you are inside of a living being, with it constantly moving and changing colour. It is by far the standout feature of the Royal Promenade and also provides a brilliant photo op.
Not only have Royal Caribbean created a ship which allows you to enjoy the beauty both inside and out, but they have also though through the practical logistics of how everyone is going to move around this massive ship. They have achieved this though completely redesigning the lift system to prevent the long waits which we have experienced on other Royal Caribbean ships such as Brilliance of the Seas. The lifts on Icon work by selecting the floor you are travelling to before you enter the lift. You are then told on the screen which lift you will need to enter. This was a great system as it stopped overcrowding of the lifts, and allowed for a shorter wait. In addition, the lift banks were also very large with loads of lifts that could actually handle the passenger capacity of the ship.
You can check out our full Icon of the Seas ship tour below:
Included Food and Dining
The included food and dining options on Icon of the Seas are by far the best of any Royal Caribbean cruise ship. During our cruise we did not have a single meal which we did not enjoy. Also, the great thing about Icon of the Seas is that it provides a dining experience like no other Royal Caribbean ship, as there are LOADS of brand-new eateries to try out onboard.
For us the best place was the AquaDome Market. This is a new style of restaurant on Icon of the Seas, which includes different food stations with options from all over the world, such as Asia and the Mediterranean. The food here was always fresh and tasty, and as a result was one of our go to places for lunch. The best part of the AquaDome Market through was the crepe station, where you could finish your meal with a sweet treat (we had one of these every day).
The new eating options did not end at the AquaDome Market, as another great addition was the surfside eatery. This is a smaller buffet style restaurant catering more to families with children, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. We felt that this was a great addition, as the food here was different to what you would find in the main buffet, and they often included a fun twist which kids would find exciting. The other bonus of this restaurant was its location, being located in the surfside neighbourhood, meaning that you would not have to venture far from all the activities in order to find some food.
In addition to all the new restaurants, the old classics also made a return to Icon of the Seas. This includes the Windjammer buffet, main dining rooms, and our favourite restaurant on Royal Caribbean ships, which is El Loco Fresh. We experienced great food and service in all of these restaurants, especially the main dining room. During our cruise we were traveling with a baby, and every night the staff were brilliant at ensuring that there was something prepared that she would like in puree form.
Along with the baby friendly food, the staff were also very attentive to any food allergies or intolerances. We were travelling with my sister who is gluten free, and each night the staff would let her look at the following days menu, and make accommodations to prepare her something gluten free.
Speciality Dining
During our cruise we only went to one speciality dining restaurant, as we could not fault all of the included options.
The specialty resultant which we dined at was the Teppanyaki. This is a Japanese style restaurant, where the chef cooks the food live in front of you in an entertaining show. We have dined at teppanyaki restaurants multiple times on cruise ships, and although this was a good experience with tasty food. For the additional upcharge of around $60 per person, we felt as though this was not worth the price compared to the experience that we have received on other cruise lines. For example, MSC Cruises does a far better teppanyaki experience that is half the price, and you get more food. Therefore, even though we had a great time with good food, we would probably give this a miss on Royal Caribbean ships, as you can get a cheaper and better experience on other cruise lines.
Bars and Drinks
One thing there is no shortage of on Icon of the Seas is places to get a drink. There are loads of bars spread throughout the ship and there is never an opportunity to get thirsty.
On Icon of the Seas you will get all of your classic bars including the lime and coconut by the pool and the characteristic schooners bar. However, there is also many new additions which also provide great experiences. These include Royal Caribbeans first swim up bar at sea, the swim and tonic. Along with Lou’s Jazz n Blues and Dueling Pianos which both provide great music to accompany your drink.
Along with the many brilliant places to get adult beverages on Icon of the Seas, there was also loads of options for the kids too. The best of these can be found at the Lemon Post which is in Surfside. Here they have a great selection of fun kids drinks which include different sweets within the drink, and the best part was that these were included in our refreshment drinks package.
Another great spot for kids was the Desserted Milkshake bar, where they serve a great selection of premium milkshakes. The unfortunate thing about this though is that they also come with a premium price, and they are not included in the drink’s packages.
We found the deluxe drinks packages to be very pricy during our cruise, but we did opt to get the refreshment package which included all non-alcoholic drinks. We found this much better value for money compared to the deluxe drinks package, and it was easy to get your money’s worth with this. If you prefer to buy drinks a la carte then we feel that Royal Caribbean is definitely on the pricier end for drinks, especially compared to other companies such as P and O Cruises where prices are comparable to a pub, well a London pub.
The Cabin
During our cruise we stayed in an ocean view cabin with large balcony.
It is clear that a lot of thought has gone into the layout and design of these rooms, as they were nothing like what we had previously experienced on other Royal Caribbean ships.
The cabin was of a decent size, although a bit tight for 4 people (3 adults, 1 baby), a pram and a travel cot. However, if we did not have the travel cot then I think we would have been okay for space.
There was lots of storage areas incorporated into this room, with shelves, hooks and a decent size wardrobe. Also, under the bed there was plenty of space to put suitcases and luggage.
The bathroom in our cabin was modern, and included shelves and cupboards to store away toiletries. It also came equipped with a shower, which was a good size and had a door instead of a curtain which is always preferred. However, when traveling with kids it is always better to have a bath, but unfortunately this is not offered in the standard balcony cabins.
During our cruise we opted to pay a little extra for the large balcony, and I don’t think that this was worth it. The cabin which we had was near the front of the ship, which meant that the bottom of the balcony railing was mental and not glass, for me this was an issue, as it blocked out a lot of the view when you are sitting on the balcony. Also, the balcony may have been a bit deeper than a standard one, but not to any meaningful amount. Next time, I would rather just stick with a standard size balcony, and get one that has the glass bottom to the railing in order to get those better sea views.
The Activities
The included activities on Icon of the Seas are simply AMAZING. There was loads to keep you occupied and you will never have the opportunity to get bored.
Regarding the activities put on by the crew, there was loads of these at all times of the day, and it was never difficult to find something for everyone in the family to enjoy. For the kids, in addition to the itinerary in the kids’ clubs, there was also fair game style activities in the surfside neighbourhood, and for the adults there were lots of quizzes, DJs, music and shows.
The activities put on by the crew were only the start though, as there was so much fun to be had around the ship.
My favourite part of the ship was Thrill Island with its category 6 waterpark. This was an adrenaline inducing waterpark with 6 of the best waterslides at sea. There was everything from drop slides to mat racers and family raft slides. All these slides were great fun, are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
If you did not want the adrenaline filled rush to end, then there was also the crown edge. This is a highline style obstacle adventure which takes you over the side of the ship. However, there is an upcharge for this activity.
If you wanted to take things a little slower, then another great activity was the carousel in the middle of surfside, which was complete with flamingos and lollipops. Furthermore, there was also the mini golf course lost dunes. This had some great theming, along with some tricky golfing obstacles for you to negotiate along the course. This is a great activity that the whole family can enjoy (and maybe get a bit competitive over).
Shows
When it comes to shows and productions, Royal Caribbean is one of the best cruise liners in the world for putting on high quality entertainment.
On Icon of the Seas it felt like they were trying to move away from the typical style of theatre show which are usually found on cruise ships. Instead, they have created the absolute marvel which is the aquadome theatre. This amazing space at the front of the ship is a fully enclosed area displaying the Aqua Action show. This is an entertainment phenomenon which will have your draw dropping as you see aerialists flying through the air, high divers performing amazing dives and even BMX bikes. This style of show is very similar to the aqua theatre on the Oasis class ships, but having this as an enclosed indoor area really raises the game with the inclusion of waterfalls from the ceiling, high tech lights and robotic screen arms.
The top-class entertainment does not end there, as they also have the new absolute zero ice ring, where you can see some brilliant ice shows. The ice ring on Icon of the Seas is very different to the other Royal Caribbean cruise ships as it round, instead of rectangle. This was a massive game changer for the ice shows, as there is so much more usable space which the performs are able to utilise during the shows. These are Starburst Elemental Beauty which is a magnificent evening show filled with excitement and amazement, and the other show is Once Upon a Time the Kings Royal Ball which is aimed more at children with lots of great characters from fairy tales.
In addition to the aqua theatre and ice shows you can still find your traditional evening theatre style performances in the Royal Theatre along with the West End / Broadway style show, which on Icon of the Seas was The Wizard of Oz.
The Ultimate Family Vacation / Holiday?
Royal Caribbean are advertising Icon of the Seas and the “ultimate family vacation”, and I am inclined to agree with them on this, as for us this was by far the best family cruise which we have ever been on.
Icon of the Seas is simply an AMAZING ship, and the staff and entertainment which Royal Caribbean have put on this ship are just as brilliant as the ship itself.
It is clear that a lot of thought and planning has been put into making this ship the best experience for the whole family, and this is especially evident in their brand-new surfside neighbourhood. This was our favourite place on the ship, as there was loads there for kids to enjoy, along with plenty of good food, drinks and relaxation areas for adults too.
The other aspect that was brilliant on Icon of the Seas was the family entertainment team. This appeared to be a separate team outside of the Adventure Ocean Kids Clubs, who were dedicated to putting on activities and events which the whole family could enjoy. These were often taking place in the surfside neighbourhood, and often featured Admiral Awesome.
Summary
In summary we had a brilliant time on Icon of the Seas, and we would highly recommend booking a cruise on Icon. We have sailed on multiple family friendly cruise lines and ships; however, Icon of the Seas has by far been the BEST ship we have ever experienced.
Icon of the Seas is currently a cruise ship in a class of its own at the moment, offering an experience which no other cruise line or ship can really come close to matching. This makes it the perfect option for your family cruise holiday, as they are offering an experience which you can’t get anywhere else.
To us it appears that Icon of the Seas has been a huge success, and this does not seem to have gone unnoticed by Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines, as there are more Icon class ships in the pipeline, along with other cruise lines also starting to bring out new mega cruise ships too. We think this is going to be brilliant for the future of cruising, as what Royal Caribbean have done with Icon of the Seas is truly a masterpiece, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for more amazing cruising holidays at sea.