You'll need to be at least 18 years old now to go to one of the pools on the world's biggest cruise ship.
Guests sailing on Icon of the Seas spotted a change as of this week's sailing that the Swim & Tonic bar is now for adults only.
Situated in the Chill Island neighborhood, Royal Caribbean claims it's the largest swim‑up bar at sea.
Initially, Swim & Tonic was open to guests of all ages. Families with kids were free to splash in the shallow water and hang near the action.
An exclusive photo provided to Royal Caribbean Blog shows a sign posted at the entrance to the pool indicates all passengers going into the pool must be at least 18 in order to access it, which is the same rule as its other adults-only spaces.
Up until now, the Swim & Tonic pool was open to guests of all ages.
A change to maintain the vibe of the pool
Royal Caribbean did not offer any comment or explanation for the change, but it makes sense a pool that is all about offering an integrated bar experience would be for only adults.
Among the different pools you'll find on Icon, Swim & Tonic is designed to offer a swim-up bar, rather than a lounging option.
There is a bar on one end of the pool, along with in-pool tables to place your beverages.
Surrounding the pool are in-water loungers.
The experience seemed to be inspired by Oasis Lagoon and The Hideaway at Perfect Day at CocoCay, which both have swim-up bars and are quite popular.
Every Royal Caribbean ship has an adults-only pool area, with the Icon Class ships having The Hideaway at the very back of the ship.
Initially, the Cloud 17 pool was going to be adults-only, but the cruise line made a last-minute change right before the launch of Icon of the Seas in early 2024.
Families with younger children will need to use the other pools on board, including:
- The family-friendly Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay (in Surfside neighborhood)
- The Cove Pool, an infinity-style option
- Royal Bay Pool, one of the largest at sea
- Cloud 17
In short: there are still plenty of options. But Swim & Tonic is now off-limits to the under-18 crowd.
Response to a problem cruisers brought up
It's possible this policy shift to make Swim & Tonic adults-only is a response to guest feedback.
During a Q&A event with travel agents aboard a preview cruise on Utopia of the Seas, one travel agent specifically brought up kids being an issue at the Swim & Tonic bar.
The travel agent said, "Icon is fantastic, but (at) the swim-up bar, there’s kids splashing into your drinks."
Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, responded that the cruise line hears passengers' concerns and will look into it.
He also said they'd consider a revisit of curfew rules and bar policies, in general.
Why the Swim & Tonic pool is a must-do
The Swim & Tonic pool was one of the many innovations first introduced with Icon of the Seas.
The idea is simple: combine a pool with a bar that serves frozen cocktails and a fun atmosphere.
The space features:
- A spacious bar with submerged barstools
- A surrounding plunge pool with upbeat music and tropical theming
- Dozens of loungers around the deck area
- Access to nearby Chill Bar and Lime & Coconut for overflow service
