Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is in a class all of its own. Along with the ship being the largest cruise ship in the world, it is home to several first-at-sea attractions. Among the most popular onboard amusements is the Category 6 Waterpark. To help ensure your cruise on Icon of the Seas is smooth sailing, we have a complete guide to this one-of-a-kind attraction. Stay one step ahead of everyone else on board with our look at everything you need to know about Category 6 Waterpark on Icon of the Seas.
Everything You Need to Know About Category 6 Waterpark on Icon of the Seas
What is Category 6 Waterpark?
The Category 6 Waterpark is the first of its kind waterpark at sea. This 17,000-square-foot waterpark is the largest on a cruise ship. It can be found in Thrill Island on Icon of the Seas, which is the newest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet.
The Category 6 Waterpark does not contain any pools, just waterslides. Also, it is separate from the cruise line’s surf simulator, the Flowrider. The Category 6 Waterpark does not have a splash pad or attractions for younger children either; those can be found in the Surfside Neighborhood on Deck 7.
How many waterslides are there in Category 6?
The Category 6 Waterpark is home to 6 slides and 5 unique attractions. These waterslides include two body slides, two family raft slides, and two mat racing slides.
CRUISE DEALS: BOOK NOW FOR EXCLUSIVE SAVINGS ON ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES!
What are the slides in the Category 6 Waterpark?
There are a variety of thrilling attractions at the Category 6 Waterpark.
- Pressure Drop
- Frightening Bolt
- Storm Chasers
- Storm Surge
- Hurricane Hunter
There is the Pressure Drop, which is the first open freefall slide at sea. The 108-foot-long slide plummets cruisers down a near-vertical slide with a 66-degree incline. The other body slide is the Frightening Bolt. At 46 feet tall, it is the tallest drop slide at sea with gravity swirling cruisers through a 360-degree loop.
The Storm Chasers are the duo of mat racing slides. These head-first mat slides are a whirlwind of heart-pumping music and glowing lights. The race culminates with a slide down to a scoreboard at the bottom so you know which racer gets the bragging rights.
On the first bank of slides as you enter Thrill Island, there are two family-friendly raft slides. The Storm Surge is the first suspended raft slide at sea. Up to 3 family members can get some serious air time as the raft almost goes over the edge on this 395-foot-long attraction.
Finally, there is the Hurricane Hunter. This raft ride can accommodate up to 4 cruisers. Get ready to get drenched as stormy surprises are around every corner of this 425-foot-long slide.
Is the Category 6 Waterpark free?
Yes, the Category 6 Waterpark is completely FREE on Icon of the Seas. Like many Royal Caribbean ships, this onboard attraction is included in the cruise fare. Thus, all cruisers on the ship who meet the requirements below can use Category 6 as much as they want during their cruise vacation. They can come and go from the waterpark throughout the day as they please.
However, the cruise line advises cruisers to use the waterpark at their own risk and to ensure they are in proper medical condition to use any of the waterslides.
Where is the Category 6 Waterpark located on Icon of the Seas?
This waterpark is located in Thrill Island, the sports deck of sorts on Icon of the Seas. The main entrance to the waterpark is on the aft, starboard side on Deck 16. Cruisers can use this main entrance to access the park and all its waterslides.
Or, cruisers can access the second bank of slides at the aft of Deck 16 from the portside behind the mini-golf.
Thrill Island is open to all cruisers, even those not using the waterpark. The main pathway between the slides is marked and can be slippery. So, be cautious when walking around the area.
What are the age requirements for the Category 6 Waterpark on Icon of the Seas?
There are no official age requirements to access Category 6. However, there are strict height and weight requirements (see below). Additionally, riders must be toilet trained, and no children in diapers are allowed on any of the slides. This restriction includes the family raft slides.
In addition, cruisers must be comfortable using water attractions without a life vest. Further, cruisers are not allowed to wear footwear on any slides. This goes for flip-flops or water shoes.
Are there weight restrictions for the waterslides on Icon of the Seas?
Yes, strict weight restrictions exist for all the waterslides in the Category 6 Waterpark. The two body slides and the mat duo racing slides have a weight restriction of 300 lbs.
Each of the family raft slides have different weight requirements. The Storm Surge, the green suspended raft slide, has a maximum weight restriction of 441 pounds with up to 3 riders. Similarly, Hurricane Hunter, the pink raft ride, has a maximum weight restriction of 595 pounds with up to 4 riders.
For both raft slides, there needs to be at least two people in a raft. Cruisers cannot ride either the Hurricane Hunter or the Storm Surge as a solo slider.
All cruisers are weighed in before loading onto the slide to ensure they meet the weight requirements. So, you might want to skip breakfast that morning just to make sure you make the cut!
What are the height requirements for the waterslides at Category 6?
The two body slides have the tallest height requirements. Cruisers must be 52” tall to ride the Pressure Drop or the Frightening Bolt in Category 6.
To compete against family and friends on the Storm Chasers mat-racing duo slides, riders need to be at least 48” tall.
Likewise, all family members must be at least 48” tall to ride the Hurricane Hunter or Storm Surge family raft slides.
Do the waterslides on Icon of the Seas land in a pool?
No, none of the slides in Category 6 Waterpark land in a pool. The water depth in the exit areas ranges from about 10 inches to 15.75 inches.
BOOKING BONUS: Get Exclusive Cruise Fares and Perks On Your Next Cruise!
What is the best slide in Category 6 Waterpark?
Picking the best slide in the Category 6 Waterpark on Icon of the Seas is tough. These slides rival slides found in waterparks back on land. Having tested waterslides on other cruise ships, we can attest that these are certainly the best and most exciting at sea.
Both the Pressure Drop and Frightening Bolt body slides have some great speed. I might lean towards the Pressure Drop because of the initial moment of airtime before crashing down the near vertical drop.
However, the mat slides were also surprisingly fast. We witnessed many cruisers fly out of the tunnel straight to the exit area’s end. To get the most speed on these slides, make sure to hold up the front part of the mat.
Lastly, the raft slides are great for families. While they might not go as fast as the body slides, they are pretty long and offer plenty of re-rideability.
Can you wear an action camera on the waterslides in Category 6?
Royal Caribbean does not allow cruisers to use action cameras on the slides. Cruisers are not allowed to bring any devices on an attachment or to wear any device on their body on the slides.
So, GoPros or 360 cameras like the Insta360 X3 are not allowed on the waterslides in Category 6 Waterpark.
Further, cruisers cannot bring their cell phones to any attractions. This includes wearing your cell phone or having it in your pocket or bathing suit.
Are jewelry or other accessories allowed on the waterslides?
Once again, the cruise line does not allow cruisers to wear accessories of any kind on the waterslides. This includes items like watches, rings, earrings, and necklaces. In addition, cruisers can not wear items like glasses or water shoes.
Further, lifeguards even made me remove my rash guard on the Pressure Drop and Frightening Bolt slides.
When is the Category 6 Waterpark open on Icon of the Seas?
The best part about Category 6 is that it is open every day of your cruise. During the inaugural cruise, the waterpark was open from 9 AM to 9 PM every day. During one port of call, I spent the morning riding all the slides without waiting much at all. I rode the Pressure Drop three times in a row with no one in front of me.
Cruisers can still use the pathways through Thrill Island to get to the aft of the ship when the park is not open, as the crew just block the entrances and exits to all the slides when the park is closed.
But, given the extended hours of operation, there will be ample time during your Icon of the Seas cruise to test out all the slides in the Category 6 Waterpark.
Is the children’s splash pad located in the Thrill Island waterpark?
There is no splash pad for young children or toddlers on Thrill Island. Little kids have a separate water feature and pool area on this ship. Located on Deck 7 aft, the Surfside neighborhood is designed for families with children 6 years old or younger.
Here, there is Splashaway Bay. This play area has water cannons, a dump bucket, and other features your younger kids will love. Right next door is the Water’s Edge pool. This family-friendly pool overlooks the wake and is the perfect place to relax while the kiddos enjoy the rest of this area.
Are there towels at Category 6 Waterpark?
Yes, there is a towel stand at the entrance to the waterpark on the starboard side of Deck 16. Cruisers do need to scan their SeaPass card to obtain a towel though.
Towels are free but must be returned to the towel station where the SeaPass card will be rescanned. The failure to return a towel can result in a $25 charge. So, waiting until you are done using the waterpark to grab a towel to dry off is best.
Is the Category 6 Waterpark accessible?
All persons wanting to use the waterslides must be able to climb several flights of stairs to get to the ride entrances. There are no elevators or other accommodations for cruisers to access the slides. Further, all cruisers must be free of pre-existing conditions to use the attractions at Category 6 Waterpark.
However, there are plenty of other accessible attractions and amusements throughout Icon of the Seas that are available to all cruisers.
Are food and drinks available in the waterpark?
Cruisers can not bring any food and drinks into Category 6. So, technically, you will not find any restaurants or beverage stations in the park. But, there are several restaurants on Icon of the Seas, many of which are just a short walk away from the waterpark.
On the portside of Deck 16 in Thrill Island is the Basecamp quick service restaurant. This venue offers small bites like pretzel bites or a hot dog that are complimentary. In addition, there are snacks for an upcharge, like waffle chicken nuggets or shrimp bao buns.
Complimentary beverages and a Coke Freestyle machine are also located here.
Next door is the Basecamp Bar, serving a signature cocktail menu and other classic alcoholic beverages and drinks. The drinks here are covered in the Royal Caribbean Drink Package.
Further, other nearby dining options include El Loco Fresh and Windjammer Marketplace on Deck 15. The Cantina Fresca Bar and several Lime and Coconut bars are also a short walk from the waterpark near the pools.
Comments
Do you have any additional questions about the Category 6 Waterpark on Icon of the Seas? Do you plan on conquering these record-breaking slides on your next cruise? Drop us an anchor below with your thoughts on this largest waterpark at sea.
