The long-awaited Icon of the Seas made a giant splash when it was introduced, and for a lot of, many causes. It surpassed an array of milestones within the cruising business.
Nonetheless, relating to foodie vacationers and their reactions, they targeted in on one key element: The ship affords greater than 20 eating choices, together with a number of brand-new eating places showing on a Royal Caribbean ship for the very first time.
Now, Royal Caribbean Worldwide was definitely by no means shabby within the eating division (particularly not when in comparison with different cruise strains), so when the model mentioned it was going larger and higher than ever earlier than, cruisers received excited.
If you happen to’re amongst these vacationers watering on the mouth for a style of all that Icon of the Seas affords — and even for those who’re not, and also you simply are planning an Icon of the Seas cruise and wish to know what you’ll be able to anticipate to eat throughout your journey — we now have you coated.
Right here’s all the pieces it’s worthwhile to know concerning the many Icon of the Seas eating places.
Icon of the Seas Complimentary Eating places
There’s no must spend a lavish amount of cash to be able to safe an pleasing eating expertise aboard Icon of the Seas. Due to the ship’s many complimentary eating places, new venues and menu upgrades, you’ll be able to dine in excessive fashion with out spending an additional penny.
In whole, Icon of the Seas has 15 complimentary eating places, together with some venues for helpful fast bites. Meaning, technically, you possibly can go on a five-day cruise and eat three meals per day, and nonetheless not eat on the identical restaurant twice — and, sure, all with out spending any further out of your journey finances. Now, that’s an incredible deal that we are able to get behind.
AquaDome Market
Model-new to Royal Caribbean, AquaDome Market is the Royal Caribbean’s first meals corridor. As such, the new spot combines a spread of counter-order eateries into one location, for straightforward informal eating, it doesn’t matter what you’re within the temper for. If you happen to and your touring companions simply can’t agree on the place to eat, that is the place you go.
The meals corridor options 5 totally different stalls with walkup home windows, serving 5 distinct forms of road meals: crepes, Asian fare, macaroni and cheese, Mediterranean dishes, and sandwiches and salads. Every counter affords restricted choices, although. The Creme de la Crepe counter solely affords three savory crepes and three candy crepes.
On the Asian counter, you construct a bowl, primarily, topping rice or noodles along with your selection of protein and veggies; the idea is identical on the Feta Mediterranean counter, however with contemporary pitas. The macaroni and cheese counter affords 5 mac n’ cheese bowls, and the sandwich and salad spot affords simply 4 sandwiches and three aspect salads.
- Value: Free
- Location: The AquaDome
Basecamp
Younger households will love this feature. Basecamp has a really family-friendly vibe to it, with the colourful chairs and tables and nautical theme. The menu is fairly kid-friendly as properly.
Suppose choices like sizzling canines and pretzels. There are a couple of menu objects that include further charges, like rooster nuggets and burgers, so preserve that in thoughts earlier than you head over. There’s a bar within the restaurant, too.
- Value: Free
- Location: Chill and Thrill Island
Coastal Kitchen
The Coastal Kitchen restaurant is situated inside Royal Caribbean’s Suite Neighborhood, so whereas it’s free, it’s solely open to these with entry to the Suite Neighborhood, aka cruisers staying in suites. Costal Kitchen serves a Mediterranean-inspired menu close to the suite solar deck.
- Value: Free (with Exceptions)
- Location: The Suite Neighborhood
The Crown Lounge
The Crown Lounge is primarily thought-about a bar, however it does additionally serve gentle bites. It’s solely open to Royal Caribbean Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Membership members as a part of the cruise strains’s Crown and Anchor Society Loyalty program, however for these cruisers, the lounge’s snacks and drinks are free.
- Value: Free (with Exceptions)
- Location: Royal Promenade
Cantina Fresca and El Loco Contemporary
These quick-bite eateries provide customary Mexican-American eats, reminiscent of made-to-order tacos, quesadillas, and burritos. You’ll discover each venues proper subsequent to one another, and they’re a great choice for visitors taking a break from all of the open deck thrills.
- Value: Free
- Location: Chill and Thrill Island, Deck 15
The Grove
Like Coastal Kitchen, The Grove is one other restaurant that’s complimentary — however solely open to suite visitors. The Grove is extra informal than Coastal Kitchen, and affords al fresco eating, however it nonetheless incorporates a Mediterranean menu.
- Value: Free (with Exceptions)
- Location: The Suite Neighborhood
Fundamental Eating Room
The fundamental eating room is your home to go for the quintessential cruise ship eating expertise. Suppose three-course menus, each single night time, and an upscale really feel that comes freed from cost. (Actually, you’ll discover that some particular nights within the fundamental eating room are “formal” nights, whereby visitors may costume up a bit greater than they in any other case would.)
Every night time within the fundamental eating room is totally different, however you’ll all the time get your selection of an appetizer, fundamental course and dessert. Usually, the menu choices are diversified sufficient that there’s somebody for everybody to like on the menu, with premium American delicacies taking middle stage.
Value Studying: Icon of the Seas vs Titanic: A Big Comparability
Typically, nonetheless, the menus are themed round a special delicacies; for instance, there’s French night time, Italian night time, and many others. Nonetheless, even with the themes, there’s sufficient selection for many choosy eaters (you’ll be able to nearly all the time discover a steak and a Caesar salad on the menu).
- Value: Free
- Location: Deck 4
Park Cafe
The informal Park Café is your solely complimentary choice within the Central Park neighborhood, however it’s certainly not a lackluster one. Sit down for informal bites like sandwiches and salads.
- Value: Free
- Location: Central Park
Pearl Cafe
This glossy and fashionable restaurant located on the Royal Promenade is primarily complimentary, although you’ll be able to improve and buy a couple of objects (like specialty coffees) that do include a small payment.
This café isn’t essentially the place you may go to take a seat and linger awhile. As a substitute, it affords gentle bites and snacks which might be packaged so that you can tackle the go as you discover the ship. Suppose sandwiches and ready-made salads.
- Value: Free
- Location: Royal Promenade
Sorrento’s
A protracted-time Royal Caribbean favourite, Sorrento’s affords pizza in any respect hours of the day, making it fashionable with the kiddos, in addition to these on the lookout for one thing to absorb all these cruise ship libations at a late hour.
- Value: Free
- Location: Royal Promenade
Sprinkles
What goes higher with a day by the pool than an ice cream cone? Not a lot. That’s why this ice cream spot is located proper subsequent to all of Icon of the Seas’ cool water options.
- Value: Free
- Location: Chill Island and Thrill Island
Surfside Bites
Befitting the Surfside neighborhood on the ship, Surfside Bites is vibrant and pleasant, with an order window the place you’ll be able to request a restricted variety of menu objects which might be what you’d get at any water park or theme park. Suppose fries, cheeseburgers, pizzas, popcorn rooster and rooster fingers.
- Value: Free
- Location: Surfside
Surfside Eatery
For, properly, ever, Royal Caribbean cruisers had one buffet choice: Windjammer Market. That may imply, for cruisers who completely love the cruise ship buffet expertise, the restaurant may get a bit crowded and, wherever you have been on the ship, you’d must haul your self to at least one central spot for all of your meals.
No extra is that this the case! With Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has launched a second buffet. Surfside Eatery gives a secondary buffet outpost within the vigorous Surfside neighborhood of the ship.
- Value: Free
- Location: Deck 7 Aft Starboard, Surfside
Vitality Café
Because the identify suggests, Vitality Café is your home for healthful choices. Anticipate granola and fruit, alongside a couple of upgraded menu objects obtainable for a small payment, like smoothies and contemporary juices.
- Value: Free
- Location: The AquaDome
Windjammer Buffet
If you happen to’ve ever cruised with Royal Caribbean earlier than, Windjammer Market. That is the road’s basic cruise ship buffet. Don’t anticipate something fancy, however do anticipate to pile your plate excessive with a spread of delicious choices, 3 times a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Value: Free
- Location: Chill and Thrill Island
Icon of the Seas Specialty Eating places
Whereas sure, there are fairly a couple of complimentary eating places which you could dine at, on Icon of the Seas, with out dipping into your pockets, for those who’re on the lookout for one thing particular — say a date night time expertise at sea, or a celebratory meal — or simply wish to splurge a bit, you could have much more choices.
Icon of the Seas’ specialty eating places vary from the opulent and over-the-top (see the brand new Empire Supper Membership), to plain and anticipated (see Chops Grille). They vary from high-end to informal, and canopy a spread of cuisines. From caviar to cheeseburgers, wagyu beef to pretzel bites, yow will discover it. Right here’s what you’ll be able to anticipate.
Celebration Desk
Celebration Desk isn’t actually a restaurant per se. As a substitute, it’s a singular eating area within the AquaDome that provides a high-end setting, nice meals and a personal expertise, for teams and particular events. Anticipate VIP therapy on this 12-seat area. (This takes the place of the ship’s older Chef’s Desk.)
- Value: $999 per group of as much as 12
- Location: The AquaDome
Chops Grille
Chops Grille is the signature Royal Caribbean steakhouse and it matches that eating class completely. The inside is paying homage to a big-city steakhouse with all of the darkish wooden and leather-based seating you’d anticipate. The menu focuses on decadent beef choices and sides, reminiscent of filets, ribeyes, New York strips, rack of lamb and Maine lobster, plus creamed spinach, jumbo asparagus and truffled French fries.
Do observe that this menu just isn’t a la carte and, as a substitute, you pay a per-person payment that comes with one appetizer (per particular person), one soup or salad, one entrée and shareable sides. A children menu can be obtainable.
- Value: $55.99 per particular person (for dinner; the per-person payment is barely decrease for lunch)
- Location: Central Park
Desserted
This ice cream parlor, with a twist, particularly focuses on milkshakes. Combine and match toppings and substances to craft your excellent deal with at this new milkshake bar (and, sure, booze is on faucet for the adults).
Location: Chill and Thrill Islands
Empire Supper Membership
One of the extremely anticipated new eating places to debut on Icon of the Seas, the Empire Supper Membership is attractive from head to toe.
The decadent Twenties-inspired eatery boasts a phenomenal eating room with a lot of jewel tones, a glowing chandelier overhead and velvet seating, with a reside music stage at one far finish of the room for the swanky three-piece band. You’ll positively pay for all this decadence, although. The adults-only Supper Membership serves an expensive prix fixe eight-course expertise solely.
- Value: $200
- Location: Central Park
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
This restaurant has turn out to be a staple on Royal Caribbean ships, because the model’s requisite Italian eatery. Don’t anticipate something super-fancy right here, when it comes to ambiance, however you’ll be able to anticipate Italian classics. Suppose carbonara, gnocchi, pasta Bolognese, risotto, osso buco and extra.
- Value: $49.99 per particular person (for dinner; the per-person payment is barely decrease for lunch)
- Location: Royal Promenade
Hooked Seafood
With stunning ocean views courtesy of the lengthy wall of home windows to at least one aspect of this restaurant, Hooked Seafood is your home to each eat from the ocean and watch it.
The seafood menus embrace a spread of starters reminiscent of soft-shell crab, shrimp cocktail, ceviche and chowder, whereas the entrees are your typical lobster roll, mussels, salmon and fried fish platters. Just about all of your fundamental seafood favorites may be discovered right here.
- Value: $54.99 per particular person (for dinner; the per-person payment is barely decrease for lunch)
- Location: The AquaDome
Izumi Hibachi &Sushi
A protracted-standing establishment on Royal Caribbean ships, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, affords the basic hibachi expertise. If you happen to’re not up for hibachi, you may as well, because the identify suggests, dine on contemporary sushi. If you happen to’re going with the hibachi meal, you’ll pay a flat payment primarily based on whether or not or not you need one meat or two meats in your meal.
- Value: Beginning at $30 per particular person
- Location: Central Park, Deck 8 Midship Portside
Izumi within the Park
A brand-new Royal Caribbean providing among the many Icon of the Seas eating places, Izumi within the Park is an order window the place you’ll be able to request sushi and Taiyaki ice cream in bubble cones to go. The menu is straightforward, candy and to the purpose. You possibly can order numerous sushi choices, which are available two rolls to an order, alongside your selection of an edamame or seaweed salad.
Just a few sizzling choices are additionally obtainable. The bubble cones are available tempting flavors like rainbow mochi and matcha, with vanilla ice cream topped by matcha mud, a strawberry swirl, and rainbow mochi.
- Value: Beneath $10
- Location: Central Park
Pier 7
Whereas Pier 7 isn’t a complimentary restaurant, it does provide complimentary eating for youngsters. Adults can discover fairly cheap costs, too. That is your home to go for all-day brunch, together with classics, but in addition a couple of seaside-inspired bites, reminiscent of surf and turf tacos and mango lime shrimp tostadas.
- Value: Beneath $20
- Location: Surfside
Playmakers Sports activities Bar and Arcade
Playmakers has lengthy been Royal Caribbean’s sports activities bar choice, and the identical is the case relating to the Icon of the Seas eating places. Anticipate all of your staple sports activities bar fare right here: burgers, wings, fries, nachos, and many others.
- Value: Beneath $30
- Location: Surfside
Starbucks
It won’t appear to be your neighborhood Starbucks, however it definitely tastes prefer it. Get all of your favourite Starbucks basic caffeinated drinks at this outpost from the well-known model.
You possibly can even order the vacation and seasonal favorites that you simply’d anticipate at any Starbucks location. Along with drinks, the outpost additionally affords Starbucks’ meals and even merchandise. It truly is like somebody took your neighborhood Starbucks and plopped it proper in the midst of a cruise ship.
- Value: Beneath $10
- Location: Royal Promenade, Deck 5/6 Midship
How Many Eating places Does Icon of the Seas Have?
In whole, Icon of the Seas boasts a whopping 26 free and specialty eating places, not together with any of the bars and lounges which may provide gentle bites along with their beer, wine and cocktails (just like the Trellis Bar). There actually is one thing for everybody on this ship, irrespective of for those who’re a foodie or simply need some scrumptious gas on your cruising adventures.
Last Ideas
It’s clear: For foodies who desire a spectacular cruising expertise, Icon of the Seas delivers with its 20-plus eating places and plethora of new venues. If you happen to’re prepared to spend only a bit extra in your cruise, you’ll be able to attempt all of them, however even for those who don’t pay to dine at a single specialty restaurant, you’ll nonetheless probably discover that you’ve greater than sufficient complimentary eating places to fill a whole cruise’s value of meals.
Learn Additionally: Icon of the Seas Cabins and Suites Information
Didn’t handle to attain a spot on this largest cruise ship on the earth when it set sail from Miami to the western Caribbean in January 2024? If you happen to think about your self a fan of cruising, in addition to a foodie traveler, there’s no excuse to not make tracks for this ship as quickly as you presumably can.
Whereas, sure, Icon of the Seas is a lot extra than simply eating, with its leisure venues and spectacular suites and staterooms, the vary and high quality of this ship’s eating program can’t be ignored.
