I am sitting in the airport after disembarking from the most amazing vacation ever on the Inaugural Sailing on the Icon of the Seas and as a travel agent, I wanted to share my thoughts! It’s literally my job to compare and know the ins and outs of different destinations and after sailing over 30 cruises, I can confidently say this ship is my absolute favorite! Disclaimer- I paid full fare for my cruise 2 years ago so there is no pressure to give a glowing review that isn’t deserved….but here is the thing…. It was AMAZING and I can’t wait to tell you why you should consider the ICON OF THE SEAS for your next vacation!
1. SURFSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD
Surfside Neighborhood was built specifically for families with kids! This space packs a punch with mini waterslides, splash pads, kids pool, a tropical themed carousel, and restaurants with menus designed FOR the kids! It also has a bar attached so you can still get mommy and daddy drinks and special drinks just for the kids! There is complimentary facepainting, activities, and games each day to help your kids make those core memories with you! We did not have kids with us on this trip but we did enjoy this space so much! We even tried out the slide vs taking the stairs and we give that mode of transport a 10/10!
2. THRILL ISLAND AND CATEGORY 6 WATERPARK
Thrill Island and Category 6 Waterpark has 6 giant slides for those who meet the height requirements and splash pads beneath it for those waiting! These are legit waterpark style slides with family size tubes, super fast body mats, and floor dropping out from beneath you thrills! The best part – its included in the price of your cruise fare! There is no upcharge for waterslide access and we honestly never waited more than 10 mins for a slide. There is also a FLOWRIDER surf simulator, where you can try surfing from beginner level to pro status! People of all ages were getting lessons on how to surf- from tweens to grandparents!
3. SO MANY PLACES TO TAKE A DIP
7 pools and 9 hot tubs is awesome in itself but lets break this down. The ICON has the first swim up bar at Sea. The adults only pool in the Hideaway has amazing views of the wake, the infinity pool off the side of the ship is heated, and the kids pool at Surfside is a perfect place to splash and be a kid! The Royal Bay Pool is the largest pool at sea and offers extra seating around the sides with ankle deep water for those who don’t want to take the plunge! The best part is that the pools aren’t all in one place so people are sprinkled all over the ship! This means you don’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn and go reserve your chair and sit there all day….. no. People just move around as they wish and there always seemed to be seating available!
4. ENTERTAINMENT
Lets start with The Wizard of Oz, a full length Broadway quality show with a live orchestra, special effects and amazing sets! When Dorothy and the Wicked witch of the West went flying over my head, I was enamored! There was something EVERY NIGHT to entertain! High Diving Water Shows, Ice Skating Shows, Jugglers that I STILL cannot figure out how he did the things he did,, Comedians! This is something that sets the ICON well above other ships! That after dinner lull is not a problem here!
5. AQUADOME MARKETPLACE
The name almost makes this feel like it’s the buffet but this is in addition to the Windjammer Buffet. I could just say food as a favorite, but I expect cruise food to be good and ICON meals were scrumptious, but this is an additional new concept that we really enjoyed! A made to order Crèpe Station was my absolute favorite! Nutella and Fruit Crepes are just the best thing ever! Then there was Greek and Asian Station, Specialty Mac and Cheese and a Sandwich and Salad stand! It was almost like a mall food court because of the variety of options but so much better and the views just put it over the top! With more than 40 restaurants and bars, it is safe to say you will NEVER be hungry or thirsty on the Icon of the Seas!
6. DUELING PIANO BAR
Best. Time. EVER. We sang, we drank, we laughed. This was one of my favorite after dinner activities. The Piano Players were so fantastic and as Royal Caribbeans first dueling piano bar, I hope to see these in all of the new ships! They had us doing everything from conga lines to honoring our military and everything in-between! It was a very special experience!
Ready to Do This ?
If this all seems like a smashing idea, I would love to help you find a week that fits your schedule! We can start by you filling out this Quote Form. Icon is doing 7 day sailings currently that leave on Saturday which is my favorite day for cruises to sail! Friday night flight for Saturday embarkation and then Saturday travel day and Sunday at home to recover from vacation! I said it- I need a recovery day! I’m exhausted from all that fun!
All my Best!
Sarah
