Crusing on the inaugural cruise of the most important ship on the earth has a premium price ticket. In spite of everything, to be one of many first folks to sail on a brand-new ship comes at an enormous value.
From the preliminary value of the cabin, plus airfare, many rideshares, a lodge, and onboard purchases, this once-in-a-lifetime journey got here out to be virtually $8,000.
Learn extra: I took the inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean’s latest ship
Right here’s what all the things value throughout my seven-night Japanese Caribbean & Excellent Day cruise on Icon of the Seas, in addition to how a lot I spent to get to and from Miami, Florida.
The price of my Spacious Infinite Central Park View Balcony cabin was $5,179.62
I booked a cabin on Icon of the Seas as quickly as bookings grew to become out there for the ship.
I selected a Spacious Infinite Central Park View Balcony on deck 10, midship. This cabin value $5,179.62 for 2 folks, together with pre-paid gratuities. In fact, this was the most important expense throughout my inaugural journey.
Icon of the Seas is the primary ship within the Royal Caribbean Worldwide fleet to have infinite verandas, in order that was the primary cause why I chosen any such cabin. For analysis functions, I wished to see if an infinite balcony cabin was completely different from a standard balcony cabin, and after crusing on Icon, I positively suppose they’re.
Whereas I preferred with the ability to open and shut the veranda, I a lot favor to have an precise balcony the place I can totally step outdoors. The veranda did permit me to get some contemporary air, however it simply wasn’t the identical as a daily balcony.
I had a number of onboard purchases throughout my week on Icon, and this totaled $1,014.17
While you go on a cruise, you may select to not spend something additional. It’s attainable to not spend a further dime on cruise add-ons, however whereas on Icon of the Seas, I made plenty of onboard purchases.
Earlier than the cruise, I bought Wi-Fi for one machine. This was $23.99 per day, or $167.93 for seven days. If I had bought the Wi-Fi extra upfront, I most likely might’ve gotten a greater deal. Whereas onboard, I assumed that the Wi-Fi was fast; I had no issues streaming movies or posting on social media.
I splurged on two specialty eating experiences whereas on Icon: Dinner at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and dinner on the new Empire Supper Membership.
Since I’m a Diamond Plus cruiser, I used to be capable of make the most of my BOGO provide once I dined at Giovanni’s on the primary evening of the cruise. The whole for my meal was $37.44, and it was properly price it!
On the second evening, I dined at Royal Caribbean’s most costly restaurant, Empire Supper Membership. This meal was pre-paid and value $200. That is the most costly restaurant within the Royal Caribbean fleet.
Throughout this formal dinner, I loved 4 appetizers, a primary course, three desserts, six cocktails, and different starters and palate cleansers not listed on the menu. All through the meal, the American Requirements Trio performed jazz music which was beautiful to hearken to whereas I used to be consuming my many programs.
Learn extra: I dined at Royal Caribbean’s most costly restaurant: I did not anticipate to love it as a lot as I did
After attending the Women Pamper Social gathering on the second day of the cruise, I made a decision to deal with myself to a therapeutic massage on the Vitality Spa. As a result of I attended the occasion, I bought $50 off a Swedish therapeutic massage (together with different “mini” massages that centered on my arms, shoulders, and many others.) that was initially $210. Once more as a result of I’m a Diamond Plus cruiser, I additionally bought a complimentary add-on spa remedy, so I opted for a foot exfoliation. In whole, the therapeutic massage value $188.80. This included a service cost of $39.80.
One other brand-new expertise I wished to strive was renting one of many daybeds at The Hideaway, the adults-only space onboard Icon of the Seas. Earlier than the cruise, I bought a daybed for a sea day, and this value $350. The associated fee is an all-day rental and may maintain a most of 4 folks.
The associated fee does fluctuate relying on if you purchase the rental and whether or not you select a sea day or port day (port days are cheaper).
My sister collects Starbucks mugs from world wide, so I purchased the unique Icon of the Seas mug for her, which value $20.
My final expense was suggestions for varied crew members, together with my cabin steward, and this totaled round $50.
I went on one tour to St. John for $85
In the course of the seven-night cruise, we visited St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Excellent Day at CocoCay. Whereas docked in St. Thomas, I made a decision to buy an tour to St. John. This tour was known as “St. John On Your Personal.”
This tour value $50 and lined the price of a ferry that took me between St. Thomas and St. John. The 2 islands are shut, so the ferry trip was pretty fast and took round 20-Half-hour.
We have been docked in St. Thomas from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., so everybody on the tour needed to meet on the Royal Theater at 7:30 a.m. and get on the ferry round 8 a.m. By the point we bought off the ferry in St. John, discovered a taxi to the seaside, after which needed to allocate time to get again to the ship, we have been on the seaside for less than an hour and a half.
As soon as the ferry arrived in St. John, I took a taxi to Trunk Bay. The taxi trip value $20 roundtrip, together with a tip. Upon arrival to Trunk Bay, I needed to pay a $5 admission payment. I additionally wished a seaside chair, and this value $10.
The seaside was gorgeous and the water was an ideal temperature. I cherished this brief seaside getaway. I want we had extra time docked in St. Thomas so I might’ve stayed at Trunk Bay longer!
Attending to and from my cruise
Let’s simply say it was fairly an ordeal for me to get to Miami!
I initially spent $638.21 on airfare, however ended up spending $715.62 due to winter climate delays and rebooking flights so I might make my cruise.
Flying to Fort Lauderdale gave the impression to be the most cost effective possibility for my Miami cruise. I booked United flights for $578.21, plus $60 roundtrip for a checked bag, totaling $638.21.
Nonetheless, my journey didn’t go as deliberate. On a cold January morning, after boarding, the captain introduced a delay resulting from a frozen gas tank, inflicting a six-hour wait. I missed each my authentic and backup connections by way of Denver and couldn’t retrieve my checked bag from the airplane.
With restricted choices, I booked a last-minute direct flight on Allegiant to Fort Lauderdale for $416.02. Although Allegiant is understood for low fares, the last-minute reserving was expensive, and I needed to journey with out my baggage.
As soon as I lastly made it to Miami, I stayed with household earlier than the inaugural cruise, so I took the Brightline prepare for $168.
The Brightline Sensible fare (the most cost effective possibility) was $59 every method; this included a carry-on and my backpack as my private merchandise. I had my 50-pound bag too, so I needed to pay $25 every solution to get that checked.
I took the Brightline again to Miami so I might keep in a lodge the evening earlier than my cruise. This was $260.73
It’s extremely inspired to get to your embarkation metropolis the day earlier than your cruise simply in case of journey delays or cancelations. Due to this, I arrived again in Miami on January 26, the day earlier than the inaugural crusing of Icon of the Seas.
Whereas there are many lodge choices in Miami, I selected Courtyard Miami Airport. This lodge is ideal for these flying out and in of the Miami Worldwide Airport due to its shut location. I selected this lodge as a result of it was the most cost effective possibility for me: $260.73. This value included my dinner, which was $17.78.
I had to make use of many rideshares all through my journey, and this totaled $405.84
Every time I needed to get someplace just like the airport, lodge, prepare station, or cruise port, I used the rideshare Lyft.
The rides that value probably the most have been those from the Orlando prepare station to my household’s home and vice versa. Every of those rides value $90, together with a tip, because it was a virtually 50-mile drive.
One other expensive journey was going from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport to Miami and vice versa. Each of those journeys value between $50 and $60, together with a tip, and have been 27 miles of driving. I nonetheless favor to fly out and in of the Fort Lauderdale airport over the Miami Worldwide Airport, though the trip is 30-40 minutes between the 2 cities.
The rides inside Miami (like from the lodge to the cruise port or the prepare station to the lodge) have been shut and solely value round $20 every method.
In whole, I spent $7,828.98 to sail on the inaugural cruise of Icon of the Seas
I knew that my journey on Icon of the Seas would value rather a lot, however I did not suppose it might be virtually $8,000!
The biggest expense was the price of the cabin at $5,180, and when costs all year long and into 2025, it seems that I bought an honest value. For instance, wanting on the similar itinerary in the identical cabin for January 2025, my Infinite Central Park cabin would value $7,360 – greater than $2,000 extra!
There have been many instances once I might’ve saved cash, like saying no to specialty eating places, Wi-Fi, or the spa remedy. However, these cruise add-ons made my journey extra pleasing.
I actually preferred a number of the free leisure onboard Icon of the Seas, together with The Wizard of Oz, the ice skating present, Starburst, and the diving present, Aqua Motion! I additionally took benefit of the numerous free eating choices, like AquaDome Market and Park Café, for many of my meals which I assumed have been scrumptious.
General, I had a blast onboard the maiden voyage of Icon of the Seas. I can now say that I used to be one of many first folks to sail on the world’s largest cruise ship! It was an expertise I’ll always remember.
