The world's largest cruise ship is ready to welcome passengers.
Royal Caribbean International's much-talked-about Icon of the Seas will set sail on her maiden voyage this weekend, beginning a cruise to the Caribbean. But the ship itself is a destination.
This ship has plenty of attractions for the whole family. The first product in the new Icon class, it created a buzz even before it left the shipyard, generating record bookings for the brand and garnering attention online.
“We designed a ship that squarely addresses what consumers want, especially families and multigenerational consumers,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, the line's parent company. “I did,” he told USA TODAY during a preview cruise. Weekend icon.
Where will Icon of the Seas sail?
The ship will sail a seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itinerary from Miami, Florida. Each cruise visits Perfect Day at CocoCay, the line's private island in the Bahamas. The island also has a new adults-only area, Hideaway Beach.
Icon's maiden voyage on Saturday will also include visits to Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the island of St. Thomas.
How big is Icon of the Seas?
Icon is 20 decks high, approximately 1,200 feet long, and has a gross tonnage of 250,800 tons. The ship can accommodate 5,610 people in two-person capacity.
What activities does the icon have?
Icon is divided into eight different regions, five of which are new regions, each with its own unique offering.
The aptly named Thrill Island features a Category 6 water park, which the line bills as the largest water park at sea, and Crowns, where you can walk 44 feet above the ocean alongside the brand's giant logo. There is an edge. Other options include the FlowRider surfing simulator, mini-golf, and rock climbing.
Meanwhile, the three-story Chill Island features four of the iconic seven pools and ample loungers perfect for soaking up the sun (or lounging in the shade).
A towering pink flamingo statue stands at the entrance to Surfside, the line's first neighborhood designed for young families. Parents can relax by the Water's Edge pool while keeping an eye on the kids in Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay. There's also an arcade and a merry-go-round (with figurines chosen by the children in consultation). If your legs are tired, you can also take a slide down from another district, Central Park, one deck above.
In contrast, the Hideaway on Deck 15, like the similarly named CocoCay area, is a child-free zone. Passengers 18 and older can take in the views from the suspended infinity pool at the stern or relax in the Jacuzzi while listening to a DJ-driven soundtrack. Remixes of Taylor Swift's “Love Story” and Dua Lipa's “Don't Start Now” both appeared on the preview cruise.
“It's like city planning,” Liberty says. “How do you create the perfect city that accommodates different generations and demographics?”
The Aqua Theater in the impressive new Aquadome, an enclosed steel and glass structure at the front of the ship, hosts the Aqua Action!: Range of Emotion show, which combines high diving, aerial dancing, skateboarding and more. Masu. Other shows include The Wizard of Oz at the Royal Theater and Starburst: Elemental Beauty at Absolute Zero Ice Arena.
What does the food taste like?
There are more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges on board, approximately half of which are new to the ship. These include Aquadome His Market, the line's first food hall offering Mediterranean cuisine, sweet and savory crepes, and more. Sushi and street food walk-up window Izumi in the Park. Empire Supper Club is his 38-seat venue featuring multi-course meals, cocktail pairings, and live jazz music.
Guests will find new cocktails and mocktails throughout the ship, making their debut in locations such as the 1400 Lobby Bar on the ship's Royal Promenade. Rye & Bean serves coffee and coffee-infused cocktails. And Swim & Tonic is the line's first swim-up bar at sea.
Icon also features familiar eateries such as Windjammer Buffet, steakhouse Chops Grill, and sit-down Izumi, the predecessor to Izumi in the Park.
What stood out to you on the plane?
Upon arrival at PortMiami, the scale of the Icon became immediately apparent, reflected in its many spacious interiors.
The elevator banks felt spacious even by land standards, and the ship's Royal Promenade offered views of the sea through floor-to-ceiling windows. Helping to expand the space, The Pearl acts as part of the support structure and part of the artwork lined with thousands of dynamic tiles.
At one point, I momentarily forgot I was on a cruise ship as I left Loose Jazz and Blues and entered the open-air Central Park, which has more than 30,500 plants and walking trails.
How much does Icon of the Seas cost?
Amid growing demand, Icon has commanded higher fares for its debut, with prices varying based on sailing date, stateroom category and other factors. A seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise departing Sept. 7 currently starts at $2,989 per person based on double occupancy in an interior stateroom, according to the company's website.
The fare includes most meals and drinks such as lemonade and iced tea.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
