TPG’s Erica Silverstein accepted a free journey from Royal Caribbean to sail its latest ship, Icon of the Seas. The opinions expressed beneath are fully hers and weren’t topic to evaluation by the road.
The cruising world has been breathlessly awaiting the debut of Icon of the Seas, which formally joins the Royal Caribbean fleet Saturday. This week, I skilled the megaship — the newest to carry the title of “world’s largest” — on a three-night preview cruise.
Three days just isn’t loads of time to expertise the whole lot on board a 7,600-passenger, 250,800-ton ship, particularly not when our sea day was chilly and windy and the pool decks had been a ghost city. However my 9-year-old daughter and I did our greatest to check out as many kid-, adult- and family-focused actions and points of interest as doable to see if Royal Caribbean actually has created the final word household trip with no compromises, as its workforce likes to say.
Icon of the Seas was not crusing wherever close to most capability, with 4,500 company on board (and solely 300 of these youngsters), so I can not touch upon how crowded the ship will really feel or how lengthy queues might be when the ship sails full. Additionally, not the entire reveals and actions had been working, so I did not have the whole Icon expertise.
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Listed below are my first impressions after three days aboard Icon of the Seas.
It is surprisingly straightforward to get round
The primary time I went on considered one of Royal Caribbean’s humongous ships, I used to be frightened that I might be misplaced or that it might take perpetually for me to be taught my method across the ship. However the cruise line invented the neighborhood idea and designed its megaships to make them simpler to navigate than you’d assume.
Icon of the Seas follows the identical mildew. The Royal Promenade on decks 5 and 6 is the central public area, flanked by the eating room and the theater. Its higher stage results in Deck 7’s family-focused Surfside, which leads as much as leafy Central Park. (And for those who do not wish to hit Surfside, you will get straight from The Royal Promenade to Central Park by way of stairs by the Pearl Cafe.)
Chill Island (the principle pool and sunbathing space), Thrill Island (water park and different lively pursuits) and The Hideaway (adults-only pool and solar deck) all movement into one another and The AquaDome (the glass dome on the entrance of the ship housing the AquaTheater). There are a couple of lifeless ends, and The Hideaway is purposefully tucked away behind Thrill Island, accessible solely from the deck above.
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The trickiest a part of navigating the ship is remembering which technique to flip towards your cabin if you step out of the large elevator lobbies. I by no means acquired that proper in three days; fortunately, indicators will direct you the place it’s essential go.
Associated: Sneak preview of Icon of the Seas: Photographs of Royal Caribbean’s latest ship
Reveals will impress
Royal Caribbean is understood for its revolutionary high-tech large-scale reveals — within the theater, within the water and on the ice. The leisure on Icon of the Seas stays true to model and doesn’t fail to impress.
“Starburst” is the ice skating present within the newly designed round Studio B rink. It is themed across the parts (carbon, helium, and so on.) and intersperses group, solo and pair skating numbers with next-level juggling by a personality dubbed “The Starman.”
The costumes are artistic and enjoyable (together with glow-in-the-dark and light-up outfits), and using lighting and video on the partitions and the ice units a spacey scene. I am no determine skating knowledgeable, however it appeared that the spherical ice stage made it simpler for the skaters to make use of the complete area to stand up pace to do jumps and methods, and I used to be impressed with the lifts, spins and jumps executed within the area.
The AquaTheater reveals weren’t prepared for prime time on our crusing as a result of the theater has solely been absolutely operational for every week. We caught a preview of some of the numbers, and the choreography of acrobats, divers, dancers and robots was mesmerizing.
The marquee foremost stage present on Icon of the Seas is “The Wizard of Oz,” and also you should not dismiss it. Royal Caribbean has discovered a technique to modernize the present, and the spectacular particular results, together with set items flying above the viewers, will captivate cruisers of all ages.
Icon of the Seas has Royal Caribbean’s finest Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenades on Royal Caribbean ships have all the time been in comparison with purchasing malls. The lengthy corridors lined with retailers, eating places and bars undergo from an absence of pure mild, even when the ceilings are many decks excessive. However the cruise line acquired it proper on Icon.
By ditching the promenade-facing cabins for multideck-high glass partitions, the Promenade feels lighter on Icon than on another Royal Caribbean ship. One other win is that the higher stage is now a whole circle, so you possibly can stroll from the ahead to the aft elevator banks and again with out working into lifeless ends. There’s even a stairwell up into Central Park. The entire space feels extra inviting and extra simply navigable.
The Royal Promenade’s beautiful centerpiece is The Pearl, a spherical construction turned artwork piece with 3,600 kinetic tiles and coloured lighting. Climb its heart stairway to the Pearl Cafe; its window-facing cozy seating and engaging cafe snacks make it a well-liked sea-day hangout. The hip 1400 Bar, with its craft cocktails and central indoor-outdoor location, and Dueling Pianos Bar had been occurring scorching spots on my crusing.
Fan favorites like Starbucks, Boleros (Latin music and dancing), Sorrento’s (pizza all day and night time) and a British-style pub (right here referred to as the Level & Feather) return. You may be stunned to seek out that you simply’re spending extra time on the Royal Promenade on Icon of the Seas than you’ve got on different Royal Caribbean ships.
Associated: Why the world’s largest cruise ship will not be as crowded as you worry
New eating venues are successful
The eating on Icon of the Seas is a mixture of returning favorites and new ideas. We had been fairly happy with the brand new choices.
A favourite is AquaDome Market, a five-venue meals corridor serving crepes, macaroni and cheese, Asian, Mediterranean, and sandwiches and salads. My Mediterranean bowl topped with falafel and veggies was a wholesome counterpart to my indulgent Nutella-banana crepe. I loved a bowl of tofu stir-fry, noodles and a veggie egg roll as properly. I discovered the mac ‘n’ cheese uninteresting.
The Pearl Cafe is an elevated tackle Cafe Promenade on different ships. Each the roasted apple and the pulled hen sandwiches I attempted had been pleasant, however the Oreo cupcake was dry and disappointing. Know that the sandwiches are heated up, which takes a second, so be ready to attend. You may also assist your self to chilly grab-and-go sandwiches and salads.
Surfside Bites had all my daughter’s favorites — pizza, popcorn hen, burgers and scorching canine — however I used to be in a position to get a chunk of barbecue hen and a few candy potato wedges subsequent door on the Surfside Eatery buffet. (Nonetheless, there was no inexperienced salad, which might have been a pleasant choice for health-conscious mother and father.) We loved breakfast there, as properly; it has a smaller choice than the Windjammer Market however has sufficient choices for youths and adults alike.
My fish tacos and Korean hen at Pier 7 — Surfside’s informal, family-oriented specialty eating venue — had been unbelievable and probably my favourite meal of the three-night cruise. My daughter loved her steak tacos, after she pushed apart all of the beans, and the molten chocolate cake dessert was so good it may need dethroned Carnival’s as finest at sea. I might have appreciated to see a greater youngsters menu there or at the very least kid-size parts.
Basecamp is annoyingly extra-fee because it’s consolation meals, however the chicken-waffle bites I had had been enjoyable and engaging. In the event you dig Wisconsin-style cheese curds and shrimp bao buns, you may be prepared to pay up, or you will get a scorching canine, heat pretzel and tater tots free of charge.
Do not waste your cash on Desserted across the nook. The epic milkshakes topped with brownies and mini-pinatas are meant for social media, however the precise style is disappointing.
The most well liked ticket would be the Empire Supper Membership, provided that the venue seats fewer than 40 company and the worth tag is $200 per particular person. Evidently, we had been unable to expertise it, however the venue seems to be intimate and funky.
Thrill Island is extra excessive than I anticipated
My household loves waterslides and had a blast at a latest Nice Wolf Lodge go to and on earlier cruises with Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line. My daughter and I had excessive hopes for Icon’s Class 6, the biggest water park at sea. It did not ship for us.
Why? Many of the rides had been just too excessive for a 9-year-old and her mother. Our favorites had been the 2 household raft slides, the place two to 4 riders slide collectively in spherical rafts. They had been quick and dizzying however not overwhelming — the right waterslides. However you possibly can’t experience by your self.
Of the others, one was a 90-degree drop, with no twists or turns. Which means it is over in a couple of seconds, and you do not actually need to experience it once more. My daughter, who beloved the drop slide at Nice Wolf Lodge, didn’t just like the one on Icon; she mentioned it was too brief, an excessive amount of water went up her nostril, and she or he bonked her head by leaning it again.
The ultimate two slides are face-first toboggan-style mat slides, they usually’re so quick that you simply get a face filled with water as you careen backward and forward down the slide. I went so quick that, as my raft banked a flip too excessive, I tumbled off and hit my head.
There was no fundamental lie-on-your-back thrilling-but-not-extreme slide for tamer riders like among the ones my daughter rode on Marvel of the Seas. The water park is clearly aimed extra at teenagers and adults, and I used to be dissatisfied there wasn’t at the very least one choice for a youthful child who’s outgrown the Splashaway Bay splash park at Surfside however not fairly prepared for 90-degree drops.
Reverse the water park is Royal Caribbean’s new Crown’s Edge ropes course. It is also not for the faint of coronary heart because the monitor takes you over the sting of the ship, the place the wind actually picks up. I will not spoil the top of the experience, however you’ll gasp in shock. That thrill was extra my fashion, however it will not be for those who’re afraid of open heights.
Observe that the course takes maybe a minute to finish, which is tremendous brief in comparison with the longer programs on traces like Norwegian Cruise Line and Carnival. There’s additionally loads of prep time, as you need to don a jumpsuit along with the harness and security tools. The cruise line appears to nonetheless be determining pricing for the attraction, and it is unclear if you are able to do the course a number of occasions in a row with out disrobing and getting again in line.
For more-accessible thrills, attempt the Misplaced Dunes minigolf course or the mountaineering wall.
Cabins really feel fashionable, with some good new classes
The usual cabins on Icon of the Seas felt extra fashionable and upscale than related rooms on Marvel of the Seas, which debuted solely two years earlier. Gentle wooden furnishings are accented with darkish blues that lean towards slate, moderately than nautical hues, and the rooms are welcoming, moderately than mass-market cruise fundamental.
I applaud the self-importance areas, with their giant lighted mirrors, deep drawers for storing clothes and a mixture of charging retailers: 120-volt, USB and USB-C (the primary time I’ve seen the latter on a cruise ship, although I am advised different new ships like Carnival Jubilee have them, as properly). Further USB retailers are situated by the mattress and subsequent to a shelf, and one other plug outlet is on the alternative facet of the mattress.
I used to be happy to seek out hidden storage behind a full-length mirror and a few slim cabinets tucked right into a recessed wall space. The bogs neatly add a small bench within the bathe, loads of shelving and a drawer for storage.
The road has additionally added some good new cabin classes for its goal markets. Extra cabins than ever can sleep greater than two folks. They embody Surfside Household Suites, every of which includes a separate windowed sunroom with a loveseat that doubles as a child mattress. Household Infinite Ocean View Balcony Cabins supply a foremost sleeping space and a enjoyable bunk mattress nook for youths, in addition to a cut up toilet (one room with sink and bathroom, one other with sink and bathe).
Inside Plus rooms have extra-large closets for individuals who wish to squeeze a number of folks into the most affordable lodging, and Sundown Suites place beds to face the ocean views, so that you get up to views of the ocean.
… However they miss the mark in a couple of areas
Not each cabin on board is a real winner, and plenty of are a combined bag. I had a couple of points with my cabin, partly as a result of it was Central Park-facing, partly as a result of it was an infinite veranda and partly due to the brand new design.
I’ve lengthy been inquisitive about Royal Caribbean’s inward-facing cabins. The fact is which you could see straight into different folks’s rooms, both out of your cabin or from Central Park.
If you wish to preserve that attractive floor-to-ceiling glass wall unshaded, you surrender privateness. Which meant that each night, we closed the shades and principally created an inside cabin state of affairs the place it was pitch darkish with no pure mild, and I had no thought what time it was. Additionally, sounds from the brand new Central Park jazz membership and the DJ on the pool deck carried into the room. Presumably, Surfside-facing cabins have related challenges.
The Infinite Balcony was additionally hit-and-miss. On the one hand, I do not sometimes use a balcony a lot once I cruise, and I beloved the additional cabin area. (I had a sitting space to dump my stuff and a sitting space to really sit!)
However, you actually do not wish to open the window portion of the outer wall as a result of it lets within the warmth (or would on a hotter voyage — our crusing was moderately chilly) and much more noise from exterior. Plus, your conversations would perform into Central Park — once more with the dearth of privateness. It isn’t clear if the curtains you possibly can pull to separate the principle a part of the room from the windowside sitting space would assist with local weather management.
I choose the ocean-facing Infinite Balcony cabins to the interior-facing rooms, however you’d nonetheless have local weather management points contained in the cabin as a result of the balcony just isn’t exterior to the remainder of the room.
Lastly, the brand new design appeared to get some issues proper and a few issues mistaken. I beloved the variety of USB ports within the cabin, however I might have appreciated greater than two common 110-volt retailers, or each common and USB retailers on both sides of the mattress.
I beloved the practical drawers however disliked the 4 wire baskets within the wardrobe space that weren’t on tracks and had been clunky to drag out and push again in as they’d fall off their storage cabinets. The 2 closest to the wall had been additionally tough to entry as a result of there’s not a lot room between the sofa and the wardrobe.
Our cabin had greater than sufficient storage for a mother and child on a three-night cruise, however I might wager that greater than two folks sharing a cabin on a weeklong crusing would possibly battle to unpack all of their clothes. It is unclear how helpful all of the small, slim cabinets within the room would truly be.
Lastly, whereas I admire the brand new toilet design with a bigger bathe that features a bench, the bogs are tight and haven’t got loads of ground area.
The ship caters properly to younger youngsters and youths
Surfside accomplishes Royal Caribbean’s mission of catering to households with youngsters ages 6 and youthful. It has accessible eating venues, enjoyable play areas (comparable to a toddler pool, splash park, imaginative carousel and play construction) and programming geared to younger youngsters. Mothers, preserve an eye fixed out for Admiral Superior, an Australian hottie in a brightly coloured uniform who will entertain youngsters with bedtime tales and card methods.
Within the coming weeks, Icon of the Seas may also add shorter kid-themed ice skating and AquaTheater reveals scheduled for earlier hours than the longer night reveals in the identical areas. Households can nonetheless benefit from the spectacles of those occasions with out making an attempt restricted consideration spans or pushing again bedtime.
The youth workforce has additionally give you revolutionary methods to captivate teenagers, making the Social 020 teen membership (hidden between Playmakers Sports activities Bar and the Studio B ice rink) extra of a touchpoint than a full-time hangout and focusing as an alternative on cool takeovers of grownup areas like Hideaway Bay and Izumi. They’re going to even be lured out with teen-only laser tag, unique water park time and VIP seating for sure present occasions.
Nonetheless, youngsters within the center aren’t served as properly by the ship. If Thrill Island is simply too excessive and Surfside too younger, youngsters in that 9-to-11 vary will should be content material with swimming swimming pools, pingpong, minigolf and the mountaineering wall. My daughter truly most popular the number of Marvel of the Seas, the place she may simply hop from splash park to approachable waterslides to the swimming pools, multi function handy location.
The Journey Ocean play area is giant, with sections targeted on video and digital video games, science experiments, craft tasks and lively pursuits. In case your youngsters are prepared to ditch their mother and father (mine wasn’t), it guarantees selection for all ages.
Backside line
Icon of the Seas is a showstopper. Royal Caribbean combined information and suggestions on its present fleet with a healthy dose of creativity and innovation to create wonderful areas on board. Will the road’s self-contained neighborhoods and assorted programming preserve company transferring across the ship with out overcrowding anyone area? Will you be capable to do the whole lot you need on board on a weeklong crusing? Solely time will inform.
The ship is not good for everybody; my daughter, for one, remains to be staunchly voting for Marvel of the Seas as her favourite Royal Caribbean ship. However everybody can discover one thing to love on board, whether or not it is the beautiful reveals, the fun rides, the ocean-facing swimming pools, the artistic craft cocktails or the eating selection.
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