What We Loved (and Hated) About Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, is unlike anything else in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Like anything new, there are some things we love about Icon of the Seas. But, we also think the cruise line made some huge mistakes with its newest mega-ship. So, we share what we loved and hated about Icon of the Seas.  

What We Loved (and Hated) About Icon of the Seas

Hated: The New Upcharges

The one thing we used to say about Royal Caribbean is that the cruise line didn’t nickel and dime cruisers. Norwegian Cruise Line is famous for offering a variety of onboard attractions that are an upcharge. But, up until Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean seemed to mostly eschew this industry trend, offering complimentary experiences like laser tag for example.

Well, someone in the finance department at Royal Caribbean must have sailed on the competitor brands and had an eureka moment. Now, Icon of the Seas has many more upcharges– even casual dining options.

Cruisers wanting to experience the Crown’s Edge need to pay up. This 90-second “ropes course” experience is nowhere near as thrilling as free alternatives on Norwegian Cruise Line or Carnival Cruise Line ships.

Further, cruisers wanting to get one of the day beds next to the adult pool will need to spend hundreds of dollars for this upgrade. This is in addition to the casitas on the pool deck, which are an upcharge fleetwide. On our sailing, these casitas were going for $800 on a sea day. This price did include some bottled water and a welcome drink.

There are also upcharge casual dining venues now. Along with Playmakers, which is found on several ships, there are upcharge snacks at the Trellis Bar. Basecamp, the new casual dining option at Thrill Island, also has upcharge items on the meu. While cruisers can get a hot dog or tater tots for free, a hamburger or grilled chicken sandwich will cost extra money. So will the cheese curds, waffle chicken nuggets, and shrimp bao buns.

In our opinion, all the food at Basecamp should be complimentary. This would be comparable to offerings on Carnival like Guy’s Burgers and Shaq’s Big Chicken or the Dive-In poolside burger joint on Holland America.

Also, the new Desserted milkshake bar is an upcharge, which we’d expect, but it’s not covered in the drink package or the dining package. We ordered two milkshakes here which cost $35, and they definitely weren’t worth the money. We’d opt for the upcharge ice cream at Izumi in the Park instead.

Not to mention, the new Pier 7 specialty restaurant is serving chicken fingers and pancakes at a la carte prices for brunch. These are items you can get for free at other venues. This is not to discount the dinner menu here, as we did enjoy those options. Perhaps, Pier 7 should be complimentary for breakfast/brunch similar to Johnny Rockets on Oasis Class ships.

Overall, we were disappointed that several new eateries on Icon of the Seas cost extra money. But on a positive note, the Category 6 waterpark is complimentary, and the ship does have several other included attractions, like the FlowRider and mini-golf. So, they do still have that over Norwegian Cruise Line who charges for mini-golf on its newest class of ships.

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Loved: The New Casual Dining

Luckily, cruisers don’t need to spend money on all the casual dining. We tried all the dining on Icon of the Seas and can attest that several new casual spots are a significant upgrade to the typical lineup of quick service on other Royal Caribbean ships.

Our favorite was the AquaDome Market. This food hall is a mix of NCL’s Indulge Food Hall and Street Eats on Carnival cruise ships. The five stalls on Icon of the Seas offer perfectly portioned small bites. It was tough to pick a favorite as we enjoyed all the options. From the Asian selections at GNGR to the various mac and cheeses, the freshly made gyros, and the decadent crepes, we visited this spot multiple times during our cruise.

Likewise, we were fans of the new Surfside Bites. This takeout window served burgers, popcorn chicken, and churros, reminiscent of snacks at a theme park.

The Pearl Café is the updated onboard café, and the offerings here were leap and bounds better than the Café Promenade found on other ships in the fleet. This was another place to get something quick and delicious, from the steak and egg breakfast sandwich to the barbecue chicken biscuit. The dessert case also had some perfectly portioned desserts that were pretty tasty.

Another nice feature, taking a nod from Virgin Voyages, was the grab-and-go options available here. Now, cruisers don’t have to wait in line to grab pre-made sandwiches, salads, and fruit cups, among other takeaway options.

The cruise line also added some new selections at Park Café, reopening the venue for tapas from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Likewise, El Loco Fresh, the casual quick-service restaurant, is now open until 8 pm. So, families have more options for dinner than the Windjammer and the main dining room.

Loved: The Redesigned Layout

As the largest cruise ship in the world, Icon of the Seas is massive. Unlike some new mega-ships that feel cramped or crowded, this ship feels very open and spacious. With some design tweaks, the cruise line created several unique spaces that dispersed crowds.

With the addition of the Pearl, the cruise line could recapture over 30% more of the interior space in the Royal Promenade. So, this area feels wide open and never overly busy. This two-story promenade is now home to several bars and lounges, which all have been elevated and reconfigured to offer more space.

The same is true on the outdoor decks. The Hideaway, the adults-only pool area, feels just that. It is tucked away from the rest of the ship quite well. Meanwhile, the Cloud 17 pool area sits above and away from the busier main pools down two decks.

Then, there is the Royal Bay pool, the largest family pool. This Deck 15 spot hosts events and is most like the main pool on other megaships. Still, there is also a family pool in the Surfside neighborhood, a pool and swim-up bar one deck above, and another pool with shaded seating across the way on Deck 15.

Our cruise was at close to double occupancy or about 5500 cruisers, and the pool deck never felt busy. There were plenty of lounge chairs available on the various decks. Besides the Hideaway, we never had issues finding a spot, even during a busy sea day.

Before sailing on Icon of the Seas, we were skeptical of the cruise line repositioning the AquaTheater to the top of the ship. But, creating the Surfside neighborhood specifically for families with little kids was a smart move. Instead of families crowding the pool deck with the splash pad, they have an entire area all to themselves.

The same can be said about the Category 6 waterpark. Instead of having some waterslides jammed into the pool area, this waterpark has its own home on Thrill Island.

The layout and design of Icon of the Seas functions better than any other mega-ship we have sailed on to date.

Hated: Our Cabin

The decor and design of Icon of the Seas is modern and inviting. The Park Café in Central Park looks more like a trendy metropolitan restaurant than a cruise ship quick service venue. The 1400 Lobby Bar is a sleek and stylish venue with an equally sophisticated cocktail menu.

Along with the updates to the outdoor decks, many public venues on the ship remind us of the Celebrity Edge Class. So, we were stunned with the staterooms. The cabins are pretty bland and basic in our opinion.

We stayed in a standard balcony cabin, which seemed interchangeable with most other Royal Caribbean cruise ships in the fleet.

The cruise line did incorporate a few upgrades though. The bathroom has a new rectangular shower design with a glass door. The closet has been redesigned as well, and while it offers more clothes hanging space, there are no shelves. These tiny shelves are now tucked behind the mirror and barely deep enough to put a small packing cube.

And under the closet are four storage cubbies with annoying metal baskets that aren’t even on a sliding track.

We were still able to unpack fully with some of our cruise cabin hacks. But we are unsure how a family of 3 or 4 could fit everything in these standard cabins. 

Additionally, there are several outlets throughout the room. These include the typical lineup on the desk and two additional USB-C options. There are more USBs near the bed and even additional ones near some narrow shelves tucked around the corner from the desk.

Overall though, with all the other updates throughout the ship, we expected more from these accommodations similar to the oversized cabins on Norwegian Prima.

Loved: The Smart Elevators

We were worried when we boarded Icon of the Seas and saw the intelligent elevators. While these work well in hotels, they were a disaster on our MSC Seascape cruise. Luckily, Royal Caribbean has plenty of large elevator banks, and there were never issues requesting a ride up or down throughout the day.

Even during busy times, like after a show or after dinner, the system had no issues finding space for everyone needing a lift. We even secured an elevator with our carry-on bags on disembarkation morning on the first attempt. Now, that says something!

For those unaware of the technology, like some hotels on land, the elevators on Icon of the Seas assign cruisers to an elevator based on the selected deck. You simply select a deck, head to the assigned elevator, and wait to hop in.

The wait times for elevators were never long, and we never had an issue with there not being enough room when the assigned elevator arrived. In fact, we only saw this happen once during our entire cruise when our elevator was too full to accommodate a family with a stroller. These were issues that happened almost constantly during our MSC cruise.

So overall, we would say that this is an excellent addition to the ship and helps reduce crowding and cruiser headaches when traveling with over 5,000 of your closest friends.

Hated: Surfside Eatery

While most of the casual dining on the ship was great, the Surfside Eatery was a big letdown. While many cruisers raved about the taquitos and lasagna bites, the items we sampled were passable at best.

We gave the Surfside Eatery several chances and none of the meals were memorable. The food always seemed like it had been sitting under the warmers for too long. While we don’t love buffets in general, the Windjammer food quality far exceeds this venue.

To be fair, the restaurant is geared towards kids and families, so there are plenty of offerings for the little ones, like sliders, mini pizzas, and chicken nuggets. And even, grilled cheese-wrapped hot dogs? For the parents, there were offerings like grilled fish and chicken parmesan, which were dry and barely edible.

We didn’t try the venue for breakfast, but the offerings looked primarily similar to the Windjammer.

Personally, with so many other great casual dining options, we suggest you grab food elsewhere before heading to Surfside with the little ones. Or, get some bites at the takeout window next door instead.

Loved: The New Elevated Bar Menus

Royal Caribbean debuted ten new bars and lounges on Icon of the Seas. Couple that with classic bars, like the Schooner Bar, and there are plenty of places to grab a drink on this new ship. Overall, the ship offers one of the best mixes of nightlife and bar menus. We were also happy to see that the cruise line did not raise the drink prices on the ship either. A majority of these new beverages are included in the Deluxe drink package.

The new 1400 Lobby Bar is a swanky, upscale bar on the promenade. It serves up a signature cocktail menu inspired by the different classes of Royal Caribbean ships.

The new Rye and Bean offers espresso-infused drinks near the tranquil and beautiful Overlook. Espresso martinis here are a must as a pre-show drink before watching AquaAction in the newly relocated AquaTheater.

The typical pool bar received an upgrade with the addition of the Hideaway Bar. Like the Oh Mai Gawd, the signature drinks here are refreshing and light, perfect for sipping on a sun lounger while watching the wake views.

Of course, you can also still find the Lime & Coconut poolside, now in 4 different locations including one serving up frozen concoctions only.

On the Surfside neighborhood, the Lemon Post mixes up both alcoholic and zero-proof drinks featuring lemonade that all members of the family can enjoy.

Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues features New Orleans-inspired cocktails like a hurricane and the jazzy saz. While in Central Park, cruisers can grab a glass of champagne at the new take-out window Bubbles as well.

Not to mention, other staple Royal Caribbean venues received a facelift. The Schooner Bar is more open and has an updated menu with new favorites like the toasted marshmallow old-fashioned. The Point and Feather pub has a new façade and upgraded bar menu. Likewise, Boleros has a tweaked menu in a new location on the Promenade.

The real challenge is fitting all of these venues and drinks into a weeklong cruise.

Hated: The Addition of Infinite Balconies

Icon of the Seas has a variety of staterooms and suites, a total of 28 different room categories to be precise. On this ship, another crossover from sister brand Celebrity Cruises is the addition of infinite balconies to many of these stateroom categories.

For instance, the cruise ship has over 1500 ocean view balcony staterooms. But, about one-third of them are infinite verandas. Similarly, some suites have a traditional balcony and others have the new infinite verandas. Plus, the cruise line has replaced many Central Park balcony staterooms with infinite veranda staterooms.

We are not huge fans of this style of balcony. It is true that these cabins offer more interior space. But, to us, the infinite veranda is just a glorified, oversized window. We prefer the separation with a traditional balcony where travelers must physically step out of the cabin to experience the ocean breeze or the sunset. This means that the air conditioning will stay on in the cabin; whereas, it shuts off when you open the infinite balcony.

For some regions, we do think there is an advantage to an infinite balcony. For instance, we believe the verandas are ideal in Alaska or other cooler destinations. But, in the Caribbean, we like being outdoors, which the infinite veranda does not replicate.  

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Loved: Category 6 Waterpark

In an attempt to be the best of every vacation, Icon of the Seas has a full-fledged waterpark in Thrill Island. Category 6 includes six slides and five unique attractions.

Many are record-breaking slides, like the Frightening Bolt, the longest drop slide at sea. Or the Pressure Drop, the first open drop slide at sea with a 66-degree incline. The Category 6 waterpark is as thrilling as many waterparks on land.

In fact, it offers some attractions similar to Thrill Waterpark on Perfect Day at CocoCay. As a fan of amusement park attractions and waterslides, Category 6 lived up to the hype.

It is open every day from 9 am to 9 pm. So cruisers can stay onboard on a port of call day and knock out the slides in no time. I rode the Pressure Drop three times in a row with no wait. Similarly, I barely had to wait to ride the duo mat slides and Frightening Bolt. During our stop in St. Thomas, the family raft slides had the longest wait of about 10 minutes.

But even on sea days, the wait times seemed manageable. According to the President and CEO of Royal Caribbean, the waterpark can process 1500 cruisers in about an hour. So, you shouldn’t be standing in line all day during summer vacation.

Just make sure to read all of the restrictions and requirements ahead of time. Riders are weighed in before riding every attraction. Also, cruisers can’t wear accessories like jewelry or action cameras on most rides.

While in Thrill Island, there are other complimentary activities that kids and teens will love too. There’s a rock-climbing wall, mini-golf, the FlowRider surf simulator, and a sports court. This makes for endless days of fun in the sun.

Loved: Dueling Pianos

The biggest hit on Icon of the Seas was the Dueling Pianos bar. This venue was packed every night and for good reason. The two performers on our cruise, Tim and Sarah, were fantastic. The massive bar serves the Music Hall drink menu, but you can also get any other classic cocktail.

But, the real draw is the dueling pianos of course, the musicians are lively and belt out classic sign-along songs by request. The venue is high energy and the perfect addition to the Royal Caribbean fleet.

Get to the venue early though, as getting a seat is nearly impossible. Fortunately, Royal Caribbean made this lounge somewhat open to the promenade. So, all the onlookers can still listen in from the outside and even order a drink from the bar.

We had the best luck getting seats at the late-night sessions, but others told us they arrived very early for the first sets and were able to get seats too.

In addition to the Dueling Pianos, Icon of the Seas still features several other musicians in various venues around the ship. For more classic piano tunes, cruisers can head to the Schooner Bar. There’s acoustic guitar music in the Pub, Latin music and dancing in Boleros, jazz tunes in Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues, and more.

Hated: The Price of the Cruise

We booked our cruise as soon as it became available to Crown and Anchor members. So, for that inaugural cruise, we were able to get an oceanview balcony stateroom for a reasonable rate of $4,100 for two adults.

Flash forward about 6 months before our cruise, and the same room was going for close to $7,000.

We investigated pricing for a similar cruise in 2025, about a year out, and a guaranteed oceanview balcony cabin was over $8,000 for two adults. And the price is nearly triple what we paid if you want to cruise on Icon of the Seas over the holidays. Standard oceanview balconies are priced at $12,000 at double occupancy.

So, while we certainly like all Icon of the Seas has to offer, we definitely don’t like the prices.

Not only are the cruise fares high, but as we mentioned, there’s more upcharges than other ships in the fleet…and these upcharges aren’t cheap either.

Take the Empire Supper Club for example, which will cost $200 a person to dine here. Yes, it is an eight-course meal with a cocktail pairing and live music. But, is it worth $400 for a couple to enjoy the 2.5-hour experience? Given Heidi is a picky eater, we couldn’t justify the costs.

And it looks like these high prices will continue. The second ship in the Icon Class, Star of the Seas, looks just as expensive. The inaugural cruise for that ship is over a year out still, in August of 2025, and oceanview balconies are going for $8,500.

You can certainly cruise on other ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet, or comparable vessels from Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, or MSC Cruises for much cheaper. Heck, you might even score a cheaper Disney cruise!

Loved: The Entertainment

We think Royal Caribbean has some of the best entertainment in the industry. So, regarding the signature productions, we are happy to report that the shows were terrific on Icon of the Seas as well.

The AquaAction show in the AquaTheater was a heart-pounding, thrilling spectacle. The LED dome adds a layer of immersion and storytelling to the visually stunning performance. The new elements of the theater make this show a must for any cruiser.

The Wizard of Oz in the main theater is a can’t-miss. The technologically advanced theater brings this beloved story to life throughout the entire theater. From a tornado whipping through the crowd to flying monkeys and a fantastic cast, this 90-minute production is one of the best Broadway adaptions at sea.

Additionally, Icon of the Seas is home to two ice shows in the newly enlarged and redesigned Absolute Zero. With better sight lines and more space, the cast of skaters dazzles with intricate shows. Starburst: Elemental Beauty brings the essential elements of the universe to life. This 50-minute production utilizes special effects and projection mapping in a unique show that departs from the narrative love story that is the theme of many ice shows on other Royal Caribbean ships.  

The second show, Once Upon a Time, is a family-friendly production that occurred on a sea day and did not require reservations. This more light-hearted show still made great use of the cast’s talent and technical features of the theater to bring classic fairytale characters to life.

The cruise line is adding a second show to the AquaTheater and the main theater later this year. So, book reservations as soon as they become available for your cruise.

Finally, you don’t want to miss the adult comedy happening in the comedy club. The Attic is now on Deck 6 on the second level of the Royal Promenade and is home to comedy and other events like the Liars Club.

After sailing on Icon of the Seas, we can say that Royal Caribbean retains its position as the leader in cruise ship entertainment, always pushing the boundaries of what is possible on a moving vessel.

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