Table Of Content
Additionally, the slide within Splashaway Bay requires a minimum height of 42” tall and a maximum weight of 300 lbs. Surfside is a new neighborhood dedicated to young families, and it's at the heart of the focus of Icon of the Seas. After all that fun, you might want to take a break at Basecamp. There's Desserted, which is a milkshake bar that has over-the-top milkshakes (including some that have alcohol). Guests are strapped in and walk 154 feet above the ocean for this experience. It lasts about two and a half minutes and culminates with a drop-through portion, which Royal Caribbean described as "pretty scary."
Chill Island
This is your week to enjoy everything you’ve ever loved about every vacation — all rolled into one. However, Icon-class introduces 20 new dining options, 14 different accommodation types, a new Broadway show, Wizard of Oz and a spectacular section at the front of the ship called the AquaDome. Anyone who has sailed on an Oasis-class vessel will spot similarities on Icon-class ships, not least the sheer size of the ships, which carry 5,200 vs. 5,600 passengers respectively. Icon-class ships will have eight different suite types (though not all will be in the Suite Neighborhood -- some including the Ultimate Family Townhouse, are based in Surfside; while others are at the aft of the ship). Icon sails seven-night itineraries in the Caribbean from Miami, each voyage stopping at a variety of destinations, from Puerto Rico to St. Kitts and Nevis to Cozumel, Mexico.
Icon of the Seas Dining
The Wonder of the Seas is equipped to carry 6,988 passengers at maximum occupancy. There are still some details about the fun awaiting passengers on Icon of the Seas that have yet to be revealed. CEO Michael Bayley teased at a press conference in Miami on October 18 that the best experiences are still under wraps and will be revealed soon. Our mission is to serve the 50+ traveler who's ready to cross a few items off their bucket list. Technology and artistry merge on the new Icon of the SeasSM, inspiring awe on a grand scale.
Icon of the Seas Rooms Have Categories for All Family Sizes
From performances that push the bounds of bravery to mixology magic against a background of wraparound ocean views — icons don’t just steal the show, they change the way you see it forever. From performances that push the bounds of bravery to mixology magic against a background of wraparound ocean views – icons don’t just steal the show, they change the way you see it forever. Icon of the Seas has plenty of live music venues — including rowdy karaoke and dueling pianos bars, if that counts.
But other venues -- like Hooked Seafood, Celebration Table, AquaDome Marketplace and the weirdly cool Overlook Pods hangout areas – also bring AquaDome to life. Perfect for birthdays and celebrations, the menu at Desserted is all about extravagant milkshakes piled high with all your favorite toppings. Here, you can enjoy frothy classics inspired by old-school soda parlors or, for adults, boozy concoctions and spirited sweet treats. Located on Deck 16, it's the perfect spot to indulge à la carte. This decadent menu has me convinced to purchase a Specialty Dining Package to enjoy a discounted rate. A family vacation doesn’t get any more VIP than in the first-ever Ultimate Family Townhouse — a sprawling adventure-filled pad with three levels of incredible surprises.
This will be Royal Caribbean's largest area for suite guests, and it includes a suite sun deck, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and a new casual eatery just for suite guests, The Grove. Royal Caribbean wanted to go beyond just having water slides, so Icon will introduce the first water park at sea. Unlock the shores of the Eastern Caribbean and max out memories like never before on 7-night getaways. Discover all-out adventure in the tropics on every sailing with stops at our private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Voted Best Private Island by Travel Weekly readers, it’s a place unlike any other. And when the sun goes down, your night lights up with possibilities.
There are also many familiar restaurants, bars, accommodations and entertainment options on offer on both Icon-class and Oasis-class ships. From our tours of Icon of the Seas, it's clear Royal Caribbean continues to perfect its family-friendly ships with their Icon-class. Icon-class ships are the first Royal Caribbean ships to feature a family-specific neighborhood of cabins, suites and activities called Surfside. Royal Caribbean's Icon-class was imagined from scratch, with the line expanding its suite offerings and family-friendly extras. While the Icon-class ships will feel slightly familiar to those who've sailed on the line's Oasis-class ships before, including staple neighborhoods like the Royal Promenade and Central Park, the rest of the ship is new. Royal Caribbean begins to spotlight what’s in store with the first look at eight neighborhoods that come alive day and night, including five brand-new adventures and three bold, returning favorites.
AN ICE BOLDREVOLUTION
In preparation for sailing, I have “priced in,” as they say on Wall Street, the possibility that I may come from a somewhat different monde than many of the other cruisers. Without falling into stereotypes or preconceptions, I prepare myself for a friendly outspokenness on the part of my fellow seafarers that may not comply with modern DEI standards. I believe in meeting people halfway, and so the day before flying down to Miami, I visited what remains of Little Italy to purchase a popular T-shirt that reads DADDY’S LITTLE MEATBALL across the breast in the colors of the Italian flag.
Icon of the Seas neighborhoods & layout
On Board Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas for its First Cruise - The New York Times
On Board Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas for its First Cruise.
Posted: Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Each pool has its own unique vibe, and every one is free for cruise guests (though one is exclusively for Suite Guests…more on that later). So let’s take a tour of all the picture-perfect places to plunge. First stop is the Hideaway Pool — the only suspended infinity pool at sea, you can soak up ocean views surrounded by a multilevel sun terrace with its own resident DJ, whirlpools, a variety of seating and a dedicated bar.
Icon will sail year-round, 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Miami. Every cruise will visit Royal Caribbean’s top-rated private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas, where adventurers can create their ideal vacation day. In store is everything thrill and chill, from Thrill Waterpark’s 13 waterslides, including the tallest in North America; to Coco Beach Club, featuring the first overwater cabanas in The Bahamas; and Up, Up & Away, a helium balloon adventure. When Icon arrives, the cruise line will debut the island’s adults-only oasis, Hideaway Beach, with an expansive pool, private cabanas with pools, and unmatched views of the ocean hues. Vacationers will also visit Caribbean gems like Cozumel, Mexico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Roatan, Honduras.
Like the Frightening Bolt, the tallest waterslide to sail. And the Pressure Drop, the first open freefall waterslide on a cruise. Royal Caribbean terms their themed fun zones as “neighborhoods” and you’ll find five new spaces to play in that don’t yet exist on any other cruise ship.
It routinely holds gatherings for LGBTQ+ and solo travelers, though the ship does not have any solo or studio cabins. Cabins also are relatively quiet for a busy ship, though we did hear a little noise from the AquaDome, as our room was located at the front of the ship. Other rooms to avoid on Icon of the Seas include those directly above or below busy spaces, especially on Deck 14. Speaking of neighborhoods, there are eight on Icon of the Seas and five of them are new to Royal Caribbean – AquaDome, Thrill Island, Chill Island, Surfside and The Hideaway. Upon embarkation, you’ll enter through the Royal Promenade – a Royal Caribbean mainstay and the beating heart of the vessel.
It's the first show-at-sea I've seen with a waterfall and nine-foot-tall robotic arms, and so far, it's one of my favorites. However, if you don't like the feeling of your stomach dropping, I'd advise skipping the 46-foot-tall drop slide. It wouldn't be a roundup of Icon of the Seas' best amenities without a mention of its waterpark. Later, I look him up, and it appears that on land, he’s a financial adviser in a crisp gray suit, probably a pillar of his North Chicago community. “They asked me three times if I needed medication,” he says of the security people who apparently interrogated him in full view of others having breakfast. As a coddled passenger with a suite, I feel like I am starting to understand what it means to have a rank and be constantly reminded of it.
I'm most looking forward to the seven pools onboard, including the largest pool at sea and the largest swim-up bar. And that's barely scratching the surface of what the first-ever Icon Class ship has to offer. After breakfast, I explore the ship’s so-called neighborhoods. There’s the AquaDome, where one can find a food hall and an acrobatic sound-and-light aquatic show. Central Park has a premium steak house, a sushi joint, and a used Rolex that can be bought for $8,000 on land here proudly offered at $17,000. There’s the aforementioned Royal Promenade, where I had drunk with the Rands, and where a pair of dueling pianos duel well into the night.
There are several dining options where every bite is complimentary. This includes the casual, family-friendly Surfside Eatery buffet and Surfside Bites, your go-to for sweet and salty snacks. If you're staying in a suite, there's Coastal Kitchen and the Grove. More Icon of the Seas complimentary restaurants will be announced in the near future, so stay tuned.
Now, as someone who specializes in small-ship expedition cruising, I completely understand why a vessel that can carry more than 10,000 people between guests and crew might not be your cup of tea. But here's the thing about Icon — it really is a destination in itself. If I were to book a longer voyage on the ship, I probably wouldn't spend much time ashore at all, choosing to maximize my time on board to explore every nook and cranny, see every live performance, and drink and dine in every bar and restaurant.
No comments:
Post a Comment