Crusing on the inaugural cruise of the most important ship on the planet has a premium price ticket. In any case, to be one of many first individuals to sail on a brand-new ship comes at an enormous value.
From the preliminary price of the cabin, plus airfare, many rideshares, a lodge, and onboard purchases, this once-in-a-lifetime journey got here out to be nearly $8,000.
Learn extra: I took the inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean’s latest ship
Right here’s what the whole lot price throughout my seven-night Jap Caribbean & Excellent Day cruise on Icon of the Seas, in addition to how a lot I spent to get to and from Miami, Florida.
The price of my Spacious Infinite Central Park View Balcony cabin was $5,179.62
I booked a cabin on Icon of the Seas as quickly as bookings grew to become out there for the ship.
I selected a Spacious Infinite Central Park View Balcony on deck 10, midship. This cabin price $5,179.62 for 2 individuals, together with pre-paid gratuities. After all, this was the most important expense throughout my inaugural journey.
Icon of the Seas is the primary ship within the Royal Caribbean Worldwide fleet to have infinite verandas, in order that was the principle motive why I chosen this kind of cabin. For analysis functions, I needed to see if an infinite balcony cabin was completely different from a conventional balcony cabin, and after crusing on Icon, I positively suppose they’re.
Whereas I appreciated with the ability to open and shut the veranda, I a lot favor to have an precise balcony the place I can absolutely step outdoors. The veranda did permit me to get some contemporary air, however it simply wasn’t the identical as a daily balcony.
I had a number of onboard purchases throughout my week on Icon, and this totaled $1,014.17
While you go on a cruise, you’ll be able to select to not spend something additional. It’s attainable to not spend an extra dime on cruise add-ons, however whereas on Icon of the Seas, I made a variety of onboard purchases.
Earlier than the cruise, I bought Wi-Fi for one machine. This was $23.99 per day, or $167.93 for seven days. If I had bought the Wi-Fi extra prematurely, I in all probability might’ve gotten a greater deal. Whereas onboard, I assumed that the Wi-Fi was fast; I had no issues streaming movies or posting on social media.
I splurged on two specialty eating experiences whereas on Icon: Dinner at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and dinner on the new Empire Supper Membership.
Since I’m a Diamond Plus cruiser, I used to be in a position to make the most of my BOGO supply once I dined at Giovanni’s on the primary evening of the cruise. The full for my meal was $37.44, and it was properly value it!
On the second evening, I dined at Royal Caribbean’s most costly restaurant, Empire Supper Membership. This meal was pre-paid and price $200. That is the most costly restaurant within the Royal Caribbean fleet.
Throughout this formal dinner, I loved 4 appetizers, a fundamental course, three desserts, six cocktails, and different starters and palate cleansers not listed on the menu. All through the meal, the American Requirements Trio performed jazz music which was pretty to take heed to whereas I used to be consuming my many programs.
Learn extra: I dined at Royal Caribbean’s most costly restaurant: I did not count on to love it as a lot as I did
After attending the Women Pamper Occasion on the second day of the cruise, I made a decision to deal with myself to a therapeutic massage on the Vitality Spa. As a result of I attended the occasion, I bought $50 off a Swedish therapeutic massage (together with different “mini” massages that targeted on my arms, shoulders, and many others.) that was initially $210. Once more as a result of I’m a Diamond Plus cruiser, I additionally bought a complimentary add-on spa therapy, so I opted for a foot exfoliation. In whole, the therapeutic massage price $188.80. This included a service cost of $39.80.
One other brand-new expertise I needed to attempt was renting one of many daybeds at The Hideaway, the adults-only space onboard Icon of the Seas. Earlier than the cruise, I bought a daybed for a sea day, and this price $350. The fee is an all-day rental and may maintain a most of 4 individuals.
The fee does fluctuate relying on if you purchase the rental and whether or not you select a sea day or port day (port days are cheaper).
My sister collects Starbucks mugs from around the globe, so I purchased the unique Icon of the Seas mug for her, which price $20.
My final expense was suggestions for varied crew members, together with my cabin steward, and this totaled round $50.
I went on one tour to St. John for $85
In the course of the seven-night cruise, we visited St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Excellent Day at CocoCay. Whereas docked in St. Thomas, I made a decision to buy an tour to St. John. This tour was known as “St. John On Your Personal.”
This tour price $50 and coated the price of a ferry that took me between St. Thomas and St. John. The 2 islands are shut, so the ferry trip was pretty fast and took round 20-Half-hour.
We have been docked in St. Thomas from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., so everybody on the tour needed to meet on the Royal Theater at 7:30 a.m. and get on the ferry round 8 a.m. By the point we bought off the ferry in St. John, discovered a taxi to the seashore, after which needed to allocate time to get again to the ship, we have been on the seashore for under an hour and a half.
As soon as the ferry arrived in St. John, I took a taxi to Trunk Bay. The taxi trip price $20 roundtrip, together with a tip. Upon arrival to Trunk Bay, I needed to pay a $5 admission payment. I additionally needed a seashore chair, and this price $10.
The seashore was gorgeous and the water was an ideal temperature. I cherished this quick seashore getaway. I want we had extra time docked in St. Thomas so I might’ve stayed at Trunk Bay longer!
Attending to and from my cruise
Let’s simply say it was fairly an ordeal for me to get to Miami!
I initially spent $638.21 on airfare, however ended up spending $715.62 due to winter climate delays and rebooking flights so I might make my cruise.
Flying to Fort Lauderdale seemed to be the most cost effective choice for my Miami cruise. I booked United flights for $578.21, plus $60 roundtrip for a checked bag, totaling $638.21.
Nevertheless, my journey didn’t go as deliberate. On a cold January morning, after boarding, the captain introduced a delay on account of a frozen gasoline tank, inflicting a six-hour wait. I missed each my authentic and backup connections via Denver and couldn’t retrieve my checked bag from the aircraft.
With restricted choices, I booked a last-minute direct flight on Allegiant to Fort Lauderdale for $416.02. Although Allegiant is thought for low fares, the last-minute reserving was expensive, and I needed to journey with out my baggage.
As soon as I lastly made it to Miami, I stayed with household earlier than the inaugural cruise, so I took the Brightline prepare for $168.
The Brightline Good fare (the most cost effective choice) was $59 every method; this included a carry-on and my backpack as my private merchandise. I had my 50-pound bag too, so I needed to pay $25 every solution to get that checked.
I took the Brightline again to Miami so I might keep in a lodge the evening earlier than my cruise. This was $260.73
It’s extremely inspired to get to your embarkation metropolis the day earlier than your cruise simply in case of journey delays or cancelations. Due to this, I arrived again in Miami on January 26, the day earlier than the inaugural crusing of Icon of the Seas.
Whereas there are many lodge choices in Miami, I selected Courtyard Miami Airport. This lodge is ideal for these flying out and in of the Miami Worldwide Airport due to its shut location. I selected this lodge as a result of it was the most cost effective choice for me: $260.73. This value included my dinner, which was $17.78.
I had to make use of many rideshares all through my journey, and this totaled $405.84
Every time I needed to get someplace just like the airport, lodge, prepare station, or cruise port, I used the rideshare Lyft.
The rides that price probably the most have been those from the Orlando prepare station to my household’s home and vice versa. Every of those rides price $90, together with a tip, because it was an almost 50-mile drive.
One other expensive journey was going from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport to Miami and vice versa. Each of those journeys price between $50 and $60, together with a tip, and have been 27 miles of driving. I nonetheless favor to fly out and in of the Fort Lauderdale airport over the Miami Worldwide Airport, though the trip is 30-40 minutes between the 2 cities.
The rides inside Miami (like from the lodge to the cruise port or the prepare station to the lodge) have been shut and solely price round $20 every method.
In whole, I spent $7,828.98 to sail on the inaugural cruise of Icon of the Seas
I knew that my journey on Icon of the Seas would price loads, however I did not suppose it will be nearly $8,000!
The most important expense was the price of the cabin at $5,180, and when taking a look at costs all year long and into 2025, it seems that I bought an honest value. For instance, trying on the similar itinerary in the identical cabin for January 2025, my Infinite Central Park cabin would price $7,360 – greater than $2,000 extra!
There have been many occasions once I might’ve saved cash, like saying no to specialty eating places, Wi-Fi, or the spa therapy. However, these cruise add-ons made my journey extra satisfying.
I actually appreciated plenty of the free leisure onboard Icon of the Seas, together with The Wizard of Oz, the ice skating present, Starburst, and the diving present, Aqua Motion! I additionally took benefit of the various free eating choices, like AquaDome Market and Park Café, for many of my meals which I assumed have been scrumptious.
General, I had a blast onboard the maiden voyage of Icon of the Seas. I can now say that I used to be one of many first individuals to sail on the world’s largest cruise ship! It was an expertise I’ll always remember.