You must give credit score the place credit score is due, and Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is worthy of each accolade attributed to it to this point.
Icon of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship, however measurement alone would not make it essentially one of the best. It is the assortment of options, tweaks, and enhancements that basically make the brand new ship stand out from each different Royal Caribbean ship within the fleet.
I sailed on Icon of the Seas final week for the primary time because the ship’s inaugural voyage in January. I used to be curious to see now that it has been about six months since her launch, would the novelty have worn off and the ship reside as much as hype she acquired earlier this yr.
Learn extra: I took the inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean’s latest ship
After spending 7-nights onboard, I am satisfied Icon just isn’t solely nonetheless worthy of all of the reward, however Royal Caribbean raised the bar but once more for what all different cruise ships are judged towards.
Crowd administration second to none
It is superb how a cruise ship that may deal with over 7,000 passengers would not really feel crowded.
If you stroll round Icon of the Seas, you will shortly begin to surprise the place everybody else is. Our summer time crusing had loads of children onboard, and that meant the ship was just about maxed out to capability.
Whether or not you have been on the Royal Promenade, across the pool deck, or going to a present, crowds have been few and much between. I do not need to make it appear to be you’ve gotten the ship to your self, however in comparison with different Royal Caribbean cruise ships, crowds have been largely absent.
On different ships, the Promenade is a zoo of individuals (particularly on embarkation day). The pool deck is packed on sea days too.
On Icon, there was rather more area to unfold folks round and it confirmed.
Royal Caribbean additionally solved crowding with its vacation spot elevators, which extra effectively assign elevators to passengers. Ready for an elevator on a cruise ship is a standard ache level for company, and Royal Caribbean referred internally to these wait occasions as, “microwave minutes” as a result of it feels just like the longest wait ever.
If you happen to’ve cruised on different ships after which attempt the elevators on Icon, I feel you will discover the waits pleasantly higher.
Learn extra: Is the world’s largest cruise ship crowded? Not as a lot as you would possibly worry
Reveals you will need to see once more
Royal Caribbean has a well-deserved fame for providing one of the best leisure at sea, and as soon as once more, they lapped the competitors with Icon.
Whereas the reveals weren’t completely prepared for the maiden voyage, I received to expertise all of the reveals this time round and it is best assortment assembled on one ship.
The Wizard of Oz manufacturing present within the Royal Theater is by far one of the best present on a cruise ship that did not first start on Broadway.
An adaptation to the beloved 1939 movie, Royal Caribbean crafted a present that mixes unimaginable visuals, a gifted solid, and songs the viewers is aware of nicely.
As somebody that values seeing reveals with a plot, it was so good to see Wizard of Oz on Icon and luxuriate in Royal Caribbean’s model.
The opposite signature reveals on Icon embody Aqua Motion! within the AquaTheater and Starbust in Absolute Zero. Whereas aqua reveals and ice performances are usually not new to Royal Caribbean ships, the variations on Icon of the Seas incorporate one of the best methods and classes realized to this point.
I might be remiss if I did not discuss concerning the reside music on Icon, as a result of it blew me away. Musicians onboard will change each few months, however we had an all-star lineup on our crusing Jennifer Hart within the Schooner Bar and Kevin Philip within the Pub have been excellent abilities that I went to see each evening of the cruise.
The brand new Dueling Pianos bar is such a enjoyable spot, particularly if you happen to can convey a bunch with you to get pleasure from. The 2 pianists feed off visitor participation, and there are as a lot laughs as songs you already know the phrases to.
If you sail on Icon of the Seas and see your first present, it’ll hook you to need to see the remaining.
The perfect included meals within the fleet
The everlasting cruiser debate of if it is price it to pay for specialty eating places is kind of totally different on Icon of the Seas due to the superior meals choices which might be included in your cruise fare.
Different Royal Caribbean cruise ships are inclined to have just a few eating places included that definitely cowl the fundamentals, however there is not an excessive amount of selection.
With Icon, many passengers remarked how they skipped paying for extra-cost eating places as a result of they discovered the included eating places so significantly better than they anticipated.
Learn extra: Icon of the Seas restaurant and eating information
There are just a few new restaurant ideas, beginning with Aquadome Market. That is Royal Caribbean’s first foray right into a meals corridor, and it is a revelation. 5 totally different meals cuisines, and some keep open nicely into the evening providing one thing aside from pizza.
Pearl Cafe has 24-hour grab-and-go snacks that additionally provide you with selections of snacks that embody wholesome and indulgent.
You’ve got enhanced stalwarts of the included meals sport, comparable to El Loco Recent on the pool deck and even a Windjammer buffet that serves steak and lobster.
Learn extra: What the Meals Was Like on Icon of the Seas
I feel the vacation spot elevators nonetheless get essentially the most consideration from people who attempt Icon, however the included meals high quality must be a detailed second.
Elevated eating definitely worth the $200 price ticket
After telling you the way good the included meals is, I really feel obliged to speak about how spectacular the Empire Supper Membership expertise is.
When Royal Caribbean introduced Icon of the Seas would have a specialty restaurant that price $200 per individual, it raised just a few eyebrows. However Royal Caribbean was adamant this was not going to be simply one other new restaurant.
Empire Supper Membership is a 3 hour eating journey that mixes meals, cocktails, and leisure. Supper golf equipment are about enveloping everybody attending in a efficiency, and I used to be shocked how a lot I actually favored all of it.
The jazz music was stunning, and each course is paired with a signature cocktail. It was enjoyable to see what could be served subsequent, and the service was customized given the restricted capability of the venue. There’s only one seating every evening.
To place it in perspective how a lot I loved it, I used to be invited by Royal Caribbean to attempt it with none price the primary time, after which I rotated and paid to do it once more per week later.
Identical to the way you would possibly do a elaborate evening out in a metropolis at a well known restaurant, I feel Empire Supper Membership is the form of evening out you possibly can select to do this you simply will not discover on one other cruise ship.
Icon retains fan favorites
Whereas there are numerous new improvements, Icon of the Seas nonetheless has the “Royal Caribbean DNA” that followers of the road will discover acquainted.
Early in Icon’s growth, Royal Caribbean Worldwide President and CEO Michael Bayley stated Icon of the Seas will characteristic a mixture of “custom, evolution and revolution”, which suggests it could keep sincere to the corporate’s roots whereas additionally including in new concepts.
Stalwart eating places comparable to Sorrento’s Pizza, Chops Grille, and the Windjammer buffet are all right here and they’re arguably one of the best variations of every.
You may discover Boleros, the Schooner Bar, and the Lime and Coconut, along with the brand new bars.
The Central Park neighborhood is acquainted, but extra refined than the Oasis Class model.
There’s at all times room for enchancment
I’m sure if you happen to requested Royal Caribbean, they might acknowledge there are issues that might be higher on Icon of the Seas. No cruise ship is ideal, and I definitely have my want record of enhancements.
If you happen to’re somebody who normally stays in a set, I feel the Oasis Class suite choices are nonetheless higher due to they’re bigger and Icon’s suite lounge feels very cramped.
Talking of cabins, there appears to be much less cupboard space than on Oasis Class ships too. For instance, the selection of baskets as a substitute of drawers looks like an answer to an issue that by no means existed.
Learn extra: What a cabin on Icon of the Seas is like
I additionally assume staggered efficiency occasions on the Royal Promenade is not sensible. On many nights, the reside music within the Schooner Bar, Pub, or Boleros ended far too early due to noise bleed considerations. Royal Caribbean needed a energetic Royal Promenade with a number of vitality, however I feel it is a disservice to passengers.
The selection of Absolute Zero having one entrance and exit that flows via Playmakers Sports activities Bar is one other head scratcher.
Whether or not these points get sorted out on one of many new Icon Class ships or Icon of the Seas itself, they are not sufficient to detract from Icon of the Seas being not solely my favourite Royal Caribbean cruise ship, however a generational leap ahead inside the business.