Sail Away With Us On Icon of the Seas First Voyage!
More travelers are cruising now than ever before. Here’s why you should too.
Icon of the Seas has more than 40 dining and drinking concepts, eight neighborhoods and the largest waterpark at sea. Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean.
Set the Course for Adventure
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, cruising is the fastest-growing sector in tourism, with more than 31.5 million passengers sailing in 2023. This is higher than pre-pandemic numbers, with volume up 106% from 2019. And it isn’t just baby boomers who are cruising—more millennials and Gen-X travelers are cruising now than ever before; 75% of those who’ve never cruised before are open to a cruise vacation, and 87% of those who have cruised want to do it again. No matter what your age group, there are so many activities that you can cater them to your interests, making for an individualized cruise experience.
Never has that been the case more than on Royal Caribbean’s beautiful new behemoth, Icon of the Seas. Read on for all the stats and must-dos on Icon, get tips for smooth sailing and discover the best port cities to travel out of in the United States.
When Icon of the Seas set out for its inaugural voyage in January 2024, it became the world’s largest cruise ship. Icon is 1,198 feet long and has 20 decks, four of those being luxe suite decks. The Suite Neighborhood, as it’s called, has a dedicated restaurant, Coastal Kitchen, with private views of the AquaDome (more on that later) and an exclusive multilevel sun suite deck—The Grove—with a private pool, whirlpool and bar.
Icon has 28 different room types, ranging from 157 square feet for an Interior Plus room to 2,523 square feet in the Ultimate Family Lofthouse, a three-level paradise with a multilevel slide, wraparound balcony with a whirlpool and dining area, karaoke room and more. It accommodates eight people and has a private entrance to the Surfside neighborhood.
Our stateroom had an ocean view balcony, and some of our favorite moments were spent gazing out at the open sea while putting our feet up on the deck chairs’ ottomans. It’s the perfect spot to relax pre- or post-show, for a midnight snack and to watch air shows that are a precursor in arriving to port.
Icon has three resident production shows, and they’re all spectacular. The first time it’s been mounted at sea, “The Wizard of Oz” takes a fresh look at the classic tale of Dorothy, her friends and the Wicked Witch of the West. The movie is one of our favorites, so we had high expectations, and Icon’s production elevated it beyond our dreams. The story is vividly told through imaginative production design, with a series of vertical panels propelling the movement and creating a stage with no boundaries. If you can only make it to one show, “Wizard” should be it.
“Starburst: Elemental Beauty” is Icon’s ice show, and Royal Caribbean should be commended for creating such a fun, avant-garde piece. Using the Periodic Table of Elements as a jumping off point for an ice-skating extravaganza, “Starburst” thrills inside the largest ice-skating arena at sea.
Royal Caribbean is known for its aqua productions, and “Aqua Action!” is its most technologically advanced by far. Set inside the AquaDome, a full geodesic dome and perhaps Icon’s most recognizable design element, “Aqua Action!” features the tallest waterfall at sea and not one but two aerial artists who dance high above the audience.
“Action!” is the core of the AquaDome, where you will also discover the Overlook Bar and the Overlook Pods, both beautiful places to steal away to watch the sunset. The elevated pods provide a secluded spot to kick back, relax and carve out some me—or we—time.
And then there’s the food. More than two dozen dining concepts can be had on Icon, from fast casual to black-tie affairs. 425 chefs whip up these creations.
Our hands-down favorite is Chops Grille; its hand-cut steaks are simply unforgettable. Linz Heritage Angus provided six “Iconic Cuts” exclusively for the steakhouse, and this is the portion of the menu on which you should center your attention. We can’t stop dreaming about the generous tomahawk—it was enough for a few meals—and the perfectly marbled wagyu filet mignon.
Next door, Izumi in the Park serves up flawless sushi and street foods from Japan, and you can dine indoors or get it to go from the all-day window. Craving something sweet? Izumi’s ice cream cone is the ship’s most Instagrammable item, with Taiyaki vanilla ice cream served up in a bubble cone and drizzled with strawberry topping and rainbow sprinkles.
Chops Grille and Izumi are located inside Central Park, which is full of spots to drink, dine and play. Another standout here is Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues, with delicious cocktails and a band you’ll want to listen to until the wee hours of the morning—we couldn’t tear ourselves away.
Keep the fun going in the colorful Surfside Eatery. It’s located inside an area specifically designed for families, but the engaging format and color scheme makes it fun for all ages. It’s also where you’ll find the carousel (do take a ride!), more ice cream, sweet shops and the back of the boat, just behind a kid’s splash pad.
The 24-hour Pearl Café serves up the best breakfast on the ship and great anytime snacks.
For ’round the clock dining, head to the Pearl Café, where you can take in the sweeping views while dining on ready-made toasted sandwiches, salads and sweets. One of our favorite sandwiches on board was the steak and egg on a crusty roll. It’s adjacent to The Pearl, an orb that supports three decks and has approximately 3,600 kinetic tiles-—the best selfie spot on ship.
