I attempted Royal Caribbean’s newest thrilling attraction at sea, and whereas it had my adrenaline pumping, I’m not satisfied it’s price the associated fee.
With the launch of Royal Caribbean’s latest ship, Icon of the Seas, got here the launch of a model new attraction for the cruise line: Crown’s Edge.
Marketed as a combination between an impediment course and ropes course, members of Crown’s Edge navigate a sequence of suspended platforms that dangle off the ship of the cruise ship. On the finish of the course, the platform under their toes drops, sending visitors flying on a zipper line over the ocean and again to the ship.
From the second I heard about Crown’s Edge, it piqued my curiosity, though I felt hesitant to guide the expertise. On the time, the price of Crown’s Edge was $90 per individual, however apart from the associated fee, I’ve to confess I used to be scared.
Simply pondering of hanging over the facet of the ship with nothing however the ocean under was sufficient to make my palms sweat… would I actually be capable of full the course if I attempted it?
However what’s life and not using a problem? Feeling brave as soon as I obtained onboard, I booked Crown’s Edge on a whim, regardless of my hesitations.
Right here’s what Royal Caribbean’s latest—and most horrifying—exercise is like, and whether or not or not it’s definitely worth the worth.
I used to be nervous once I confirmed as much as my reserving, though the exercise appeared a lot shorter than I imagined
“Why am I doing this?!”
As fellow workers member Angie and I left the protection and luxury of our Icon of the Seas cabin to move to Crown’s Edge, I couldn’t assist however ask myself what I had gotten myself into.
Not solely did I guide a time slot for Crown’s Edge, however the one time accessible was at 7:30 PM, which meant I’d be strolling over the facet of the ship at the hours of darkness. May there be something scarier? I wasn’t actually certain.
Upon arrival on the check-in desk for Crown’s Edge, I used to be introduced right into a small room with different members. Right here we become the “uniform” for Crown’s Edge—a long-sleeve bodysuit and laborious hat. Closed toed sneakers are required for the exercise, so be certain to put on these as properly.
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We have been additionally required to observe a quick security video, after which it was time to place my abilities to the take a look at.
If something helped calm my nerves, it was the size of the Crown’s Edge expertise. Regardless of researching Crown’s Edge previous to my cruise, it didn’t hit me how quick the trip was till I obtained onboard and noticed it for myself.
I’ve to confess I anticipated a ropes course to be longer than only a few steps off the facet of the ship, however I used to be grateful for the shorter size when it got here time to placed on my harness and begin the course.
The start of Crown’s Edge was a simple warmup for the extra terrifying sections in a while
I first walked throughout a brief overhung bridge, which was not all that scary, regardless of the big gaps between items of the bridge. In truth, the left facet of the bridge doesn’t have any gaps on the bridge, making this part of Crown’s Edge a simple begin to the attraction.
As soon as throughout the bridge, I stepped onto the primary of 5 oval platforms, that are suspended roughly fifteen toes above the ship’s deck.
Once more, I didn’t discover this part of Crown’s Edge significantly horrifying, even when a big step was essential to make it from one platform to a different. I used to be comforted by the truth that I used to be not but hanging off the facet of the ship.
Subsequent up was the extra nerve-racking a part of Crown’s Edge, and my worry shortly took over
After efficiently strolling throughout all 5 oval platforms, I reached what I discovered to be the scariest a part of Crown’s Edge: the x-shaped platforms, that are suspended over the ocean.
There are 4 of those x-shaped platforms on the course, which take you from strolling above the ship to strolling off the sting of Icon of the Seas. I discovered this part difficult, each bodily and mentally, because it not solely required extra cautious footwork, however strolling off the sting of a cruise ship is fairly terrifying, to say the least.
I couldn’t resolve whether or not making an attempt Crown’s Edge at evening was a more sensible choice than throughout the day. Maybe it was simpler to dam out the truth that I used to be standing over the open ocean at evening, nevertheless it was laborious to not be afraid of the darkish abyss under.
Nonetheless, I took a deep breath and made it throughout.
I had yet one more hurdle on Crown’s Edge: the drop
The ultimate a part of Crown’s Edge includes strolling onto a platform and ready for the platform to drop beneath your toes, leaving you dangling over the ocean by your harness After the drop, you’ll trip a zipper line again to the start line.
Permitting your self to step onto a platform that may drop and go away you hanging over the ocean requires an excessive amount of belief in each the trip’s engineering and security harnesses, however I felt pretty assured I’d not fall into the ocean under.
As I stood on the platform ready to drop, I used to be surprisingly not as panicked as I assumed I’d be. I had, in any case, gotten myself into this example, and the earlier the platform dropped, the earlier I may get again to the protection of the ship.
What I didn’t anticipate was that the crew members would shock members with when the platform would drop. Throughout one trip, I witnessed a crew member trick the participant by saying he needed to come over to her and repair her harness. As he started strolling over, although, he pressed the button to drop the platform, sending her right into a terrifying flight again to the ship!
Fortuitously, there have been no methods performed on my flip, and I courageously dropped off the platform and rode again to the ship.
Crown’s Edge was definitely thrilling, however for such a brief trip, it comes with a hefty worth
When Royal Caribbean first introduced that Crown’s Edge was accessible to guide on the Cruise Planner website, they have been charging $90 for the exercise. Since then, it seems Royal Caribbean has lowered the worth of Crown’s Edge on sure sailings, with some visitors reporting pricing nearer to $50 as an alternative.
After making an attempt Crown’s Edge myself, I’d not pay $90 for the expertise, however I may see paying $50. Personally, I’d say the expertise is price about $30, however I don’t suppose the cruise line can have any hassle promoting it at the next worth.
Don’t get me mistaken, it was some of the thrilling experiences I’ve had at sea, however it’s merely approach too quick to justify the unique price ticket of $90. Truthfully, I discovered the joys of Crown’s Edge fairly much like the zip line on Oasis Class ships, which is included in visitors’ cruise fares.
This isn’t the primary exercise to return with an additional cost on Royal Caribbean, nevertheless, however most different extra-cost actions present a extra prolonged expertise.
Associated: High 30 further cruise prices that aren’t included
The cruise line’s escape rooms, for instance, price $40 per individual, however the exercise lasts an hour. Likewise, reserving The North Star statement pod on a sea day will run visitors round $30 for a 15-minute trip, though it’s free on port days.
And though RipCord by iFLY, Royal Caribbean’s indoor skydiving simulator, prices $50 for a 2-minute flying expertise, a complimentary 1-minute trip can be provided onboard for many who don’t wish to pay further.
There is no such thing as a complimentary providing of Crown’s Edge, and, if excluding the prep time for the exercise, you’re spending round $1 per second of the trip.
In the event you merely can’t sail on Icon of the Seas with out making an attempt an exercise as distinctive as Crown’s Edge, I’d suggest giving it a attempt. That being mentioned, you shouldn’t really feel like you’re lacking out on something by skipping it.
Am I glad I attempted Crown’s Edge? Certain, and I believe the demand is there for the attraction to achieve success. Nonetheless, it was positively a “one and executed” expertise for me, as there are greater than sufficient different thrilling actions onboard Icon of the Seas to attempt that don’t price something further.
