Irrespective of how a lot analysis you do beforehand, there’ll at all times be a number of surprises when you board a cruise ship, and this was actually the case on my current Icon of the Seas cruise.
Royal Caribbean’s latest and largest cruise ship was on the forefront of the cruise line’s advertising ever since its official announcement in fall 2022. After over a yr of writing concerning the new vessel, I assumed I might not have any surprises as soon as onboard. In any case, what may shock me once I, presumably, already knew the whole lot concerning the ship?
For sure, regardless of my thorough analysis, I nonetheless discovered myself encountering surprises as soon as onboard Icon of the Seas. Most of those surprises had been optimistic, just like the number of international delicacies obtainable to attempt all through the ship, however others had been unfavourable, such because the curious alternative of colour scheme in my cabin.
Listed here are the 5 issues that stunned me on Icon of the Seas.
I assumed the ship would really feel big, so I used to be stunned that it felt considerably just like the dimensions of an Oasis Class ship
As the brand new greatest cruise ship on this planet, I anticipated Icon of the Seas to really feel drastically greater than older Royal Caribbean ships.
Most of Icon of the Seas’ advertising revolved across the ship being the world’s greatest, and providing the last word trip expertise for households. This advertising led myself, and lots of different cruise followers, to image the ship to be considerably bigger than different ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.
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But once I noticed an image of Icon of the Seas docked subsequent to Surprise of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship, at Excellent Day at CocoCay, I spotted the 2 ships weren’t drastically totally different in dimension. And once I obtained onboard myself a number of days later, I felt a lot much less overwhelmed with the ship’s dimension than I initially thought I might be.
Icon of the Seas doesn’t really feel small by any means, and it does really feel bigger than Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, however not by a lot. The ship by no means felt unmanageable, and there gave the impression to be greater than sufficient distinct areas across the vessel that no specific venue ever felt too crowded.
The spectacular passenger circulation of the vessel from neighborhood to neighborhood and new vacation spot elevators made getting across the ship a breeze. Whereas I can perceive some cruisers being postpone by the dimensions of Icon of the Seas, it actually doesn’t really feel that a lot totally different from ships like Surprise of the Seas if you’re onboard.
I used to be stunned by the light-colored furnishings in my cabin, and I’m unsure it will maintain up nicely over time
Though I loved my snug balcony cabin on Icon of the Seas, I discovered the selection of furnishings to be… dangerous, to say the least.
In case you’ve sailed on older cruise ships earlier than, you’ve seemingly seen put on and tear on the furnishings in your cruise cabin. Whereas Royal Caribbean retains their cabins in comparatively good situation—even on the oldest ships—chances are you’ll sometimes discover stains on couches, chairs, and different smooth surfaces within the room.
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Stains are finest hid on dark-colored furnishings, so I used to be stunned by the sunshine tan sofa in my Icon of the Seas cabin. All it takes is one spill or mishap to stain these furnishings, immediately decreasing the cabin’s situation.
On the threat of embarrassing myself, I’ll admit I by chance spilled a small quantity of chocolate mousse I introduced again from Pearl Cafe on the carpet in my cabin. I panicked once I noticed the splatters of brown stain everywhere in the flooring, and it took so much of aggravating scrubbing to take away the stain.
Whereas I (fortuitously) obtained the stain out, I can’t think about what this carpet and furnishings will seem like in a number of years. I typically desire the look of lighter-colored wooden and decor, but it surely’s in all probability not the neatest choice for a cruise ship cabin.
I used to be stunned and happy by the brand new international delicacies choices onboard, an enormous enchancment from older ships
Royal Caribbean has upped its sport with worldwide delicacies choices on Icon of the Seas, and I used to be blissful to see it.
Every time I learn my coworkers’ articles about Virgin Voyages’ Korean BBQ restaurant or Norwegian Cruise Line’s meals corridor on our sister web site Cruise.weblog, I felt a sting of jealousy about these various eating choices.
As a result of I normally sail on Royal Caribbean, I discover myself eating on the identical varieties of eating places again and again, whether or not Italian, Japanese, or a normal American steakhouse.
Due to this fact, I used to be stunned to see the number of eating venues that launched on Icon of the Seas. Most notably, the brand new AquaDome Market is dwelling to 5 diverse meals stalls, which supply the whole lot from Mediterranean wraps to Chinese language noodle bowls and Nutella crepes.
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Exterior of the AquaDome market had been Baja fish tacos at Pier 7, curry rooster sandwiches at Pearl Cafe, and expanded to-go objects at Izumi within the Park. Previous favorites are discovered onboard, too, from the all-you-can-eat Mexican meals at El Loco Contemporary to hand-tossed pizzas at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.
Whether or not a complimentary falafel and hummus pita for lunch or extra-cost Korean bibimbap bowl for dinner, I appreciated simply what number of choices had been obtainable on Icon of the Seas. I’m nonetheless holding out for a Thai restaurant on Royal Caribbean (I can dream, proper?), however the brand new choices obtainable simply happy my culinary cravings.
I used to be stunned Royal Caribbean did not put The Mason Jar on Icon of the Seas
Icon of the Seas has a whopping 20+ eating venues onboard, however one restaurant I’m stunned didn’t make the reduce is The Mason Jar.
The Mason Jar is one among Royal Caribbean’s newer specialty eating venues that first launched in 2022 on Surprise of the Seas. The restaurant serves dishes from across the American South, with brunch and dinner choices together with crab beignets, rooster and waffles, and the basic po’boy.
Associated: The Mason Jar Southern meals restaurant assessment on Surprise of the Seas
Adjoining to the restaurant is The Mason Jar Bar, which gives southern-inspired cocktails and a stay band.
Presently, Surprise of the Seas is the one ship within the fleet to function the venue. Given its recognition on that ship, I initially assumed Royal Caribbean would add it to Icon of the Seas as nicely.
I may simply see The Mason Jar changing a venue like Hooked Seafood, which is discovered within the ship’s AquaDome neighborhood. On the identical time, although, maybe including extra stay music to the ship was not essential, given the quantity of latest venues like Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues and Dueling Pianos.
Nonetheless, I’m nonetheless fascinated with the restaurant’s decadent purple velvet pancakes I ate two years in the past, and I want this venue may have been onboard Icon of the Seas.
I used to be stunned by the quantity of latest bars and cocktails obtainable, and the stay music was spectacular
As a result of Icon of the Seas is the primary ship within the Icon Class, I anticipated there to be a number of new bars and lounges onboard, however I used to be stunned by the quantity of latest venues that launched on the vessel.
1400 Foyer Bar was one among my favorites on the ship, with its floor-to-ceiling home windows, elegant decor, and outside seating. The bar’s central location within the Royal Promenade makes it a handy hangout house, and the shortage of stay music on the bar means you’ll be able to higher maintain a dialog together with your journey celebration.
One of many bar’s signature cocktails, The Fourteen Hundred, combines Casamigos Blanco tequila, Italicus liqueur, pearl shimmer syrup, and lemon bitter, and it’s topped with a citrus bubble that pops if you take your first sip.
Associated: I attempted the brand new cocktails on Icon of the Seas
Moreover, two intriguing music venues launched on the vessel: Dueling Pianos within the Royal Promenade and Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues in Central Park. Not solely do these venues present stellar musical performances, however additionally they include a bunch of latest cocktails.
Friends can take heed to stay jazz music whereas sipping on a B-Flat Negroni, which mixes Hendrick’s gin, Suze liqueur, and dry vermouth. Or, for these cheering on the pianists at Dueling Pianos, they will attempt the signature cocktail, Snap, Crackle, Pop! This candy beverage combines gin with lime juice, easy syrup, grenadine, and pineapple juice with a bag of Pop Rocks, making the drink actually “pop” in your mouth!
I discovered the brand new bar ideas to be a pleasant change of tempo for Royal Caribbean, and I particularly appreciated having extra modern bar ideas on the Royal Promenade. On Oasis Class ships, as an illustration, the robotic Bionic Bar takes up a big house within the Promenade.
Whereas watching robotic bartenders craft a drink is fascinating the primary time you attempt it, I’ve by no means discovered this venue interesting for a daily hangout house. Someplace like Dueling Pianos or the 1400 Foyer Bar, however, makes for a way more aesthetic and entertaining house.
Have you ever sailed on Icon of the Seas? If that’s the case, what stunned you about your time onboard? Share your ideas within the feedback under!
