If I'm going on Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships, I'll instantly change my approach to how I cruise.
Sailing on an Icon Class ship is far from an ordinary cruise experience. When I boarded Icon of the Seas for the first time last year, I couldn’t believe just how much there was to see, do, eat, and experience aboard the ship. I soon realized that if I wanted to experience it all, I had to totally change my cruising style.
Whether that meant skipping traditional dining venues or staying onboard for a port day, there were a few strategies I used to experience the ship to the fullest.
Then, when I cruised on Star of the Seas last month, I took my lessons learned from Icon to make my second Icon Class experience even better.
After two Icon Class cruises, my main takeaway is that you want to have the right approach before you board. If you expect your cruise to offer the same experience as any other Royal Caribbean ship, you’re going to be surprised.
So, after sailing on both Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, these are the 9 things I do differently whenever I’m onboard.
I skip the Main Dining Room and buffet
Food is (almost literally) around every corner on Icon Class ships. These vessels feature over 20 unique restaurants, the majority of which are included in your cruise fare.
The Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet are two classic restaurants found on every Royal Caribbean cruise ship. They’re usually a staple for me when I cruise, but I often skip these venues on Icon Class ships.
The buffet, for example, is a typical stop for cruisers on embarkation day. On Icon Class ships, however, I head to the AquaDome Market instead.
Related: AquaDome Market on Star of the Seas review
This food hall features five different stands, which serve up everything from Thai curry to arepas and brisket sandwiches. Here I can enjoy lunch with far fewer crowds and more unique options than you’ll find elsewhere onboard.
Likewise, I avoid the Main Dining Room for dinner on Icon Class ships. As an alternative, I might dine at a specialty restaurant, head back to the AquaDome Market, or grab an early dinner at El Loco Fresh.
One of my favorite dinner spots is the wine bar at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. Whereas the restaurant itself requires reservations and comes with a cover charge, the wine bar offers an à la carte menu on demand.
On my recent Star of the Seas cruise, I spent just $7 on a margherita pizza, and it was much tastier than the pizzas found at nearby Sorrento’s. Plus, I loved the ambiance of eating in the middle of the Royal Promenade. The wine bar provides a prime spot for people watching.
I’m not opposed to eating in the Main Dining Room or at the Windjammer on Icon Class ships, but I’m more likely to dine elsewhere.
I actually use the elevators
On most Royal Caribbean ships, I steer clear of the elevators.
Wait times can be long, and more often than not, it seems like the elevators stop at every single floor. So, unless I’m going up more than six or seven decks, I usually opt for the stairs instead.
On Icon Class ships, however, I always use the elevators.
The class is equipped with destination elevators, and this makes them much more efficient. With destination elevators, you select a deck number while you’re still in the elevator lobby. You’re then assigned a specific elevator number, and that elevator will bring you to your destination.
In my experience, the destination elevators on Icon Class ships are significantly quicker than regular elevators. Even on a ship with over 6,000 passengers, I rarely had to wait more than a minute for an elevator.
Once inside, it often went directly to my destination rather than stopping at every floor along the way.
I attend all of the signature shows
Production shows can be hit or miss on cruises, especially on older ships. Sometimes they lack storylines, and, after watching dozens of shows, I find they start to feel repetitive.
On new cruise ships, however, and especially on Icon Class ships, this is not the case.
While I might skip a theater show on a ship like Radiance of the Seas, I’ll never skip a signature performance on an Icon Class ship.
Related: Mastering your Icon of the Seas cruise with the best tips
Both Icon Class cruise ships feature Broadway musicals, and they are of extremely high quality. I laughed so hard during Back to the Future: The Musical on Star of the Seas that I wish I could have seen it again before I disembarked.
The ice-skating shows, too, are out-of-this-world. I thought I had seen all that an ice-skating show can offer, but the shows on Icon Class ships proved me wrong. Not only is the rink larger than that on other ships, but the digital projections transport the audience directly into the story.
Royal Caribbean puts a ton of effort into its entertainment on these ships, and it’s always well worth attending the shows.
I ride the slides at Category 6 Waterpark
Many Royal Caribbean cruise ships have waterslides, but few compare to those available on Icon Class ships.
Icon Class ships feature the Category 6 Waterpark, a dream for thrill seekers onboard a cruise ship. As the name implies, the waterpark has six slides, and they’re all totally unique.
There are two raft slides onboard: Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter. These slides accommodate up to 3 and 4 guests, respectively, at one time, and Storm Surge extends off the side of the ship for an even bigger thrill.
Then you’ll find Frightening Bolt, the tallest drop slide at sea, along with Storm Chasers, which are two side-by-side mat-racing slides.
Related: Icon of the Seas vs. Star of the Seas: Which ship should you choose?
Finally, there’s Pressure Drop, where you can plummet at a 66-degree incline for a major adrenaline boost.
When I’m onboard Icon or Star of the Seas, I make sure to slide down the waterslides at least once. Although many other Royal Caribbean ships feature waterslides, I find the slides at Category 6 more intriguing. The raft slides in particular are extremely fun, and overall, I just love the variety of slides to choose from at the waterpark.
I’m more likely to skip a port day and stay onboard
On Icon Class ships, I treat my cruise ship itself as the destination rather than the places I visit.
Generally speaking, I am a destination-focused cruiser. I always search for itineraries that take me to unique ports around the world, whether a remote island in Vanuatu or a small town in Alaska.
Icon Class ships, however, don’t visit off-the-beaten-track cruise ports. Due to their size, the ships are somewhat restricted in port options. They typically visit common ports like Nassau, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Cozumel, and St. Thomas.
Related: 7 reasons to avoid booking ships with a lot of ports
I can visit these ports on dozens of other ships, so I’m never hard-pressed to find things to do in port while sailing on an Icon Class ship.
Instead, I am likely to skip a port day and enjoy all of the amenities onboard instead (with far fewer guests onboard, might I add).
I watch the sunset from a pool
There’s nothing quite like a sunset at sea, and something I do differently on Icon Class ships is watch the sunset from one of the many pools onboard.
Icon Class ships feature seven swimming pools, and each offers a distinct atmosphere. There’s the Swim & Tonic pool for party vibes, the Water’s Edge pool for younger cruisers, and the Royal Bay pool for a more traditional pool experience.
For sunset, though, none compare to the pool found at The Hideaway, the adults-only neighborhood on Icon Class ships.
Related: Daybed review at The Hideaway on Icon of the Seas
This neighborhood features an infinity pool right at the ship’s aft, providing absolutely stellar views of the ocean. Whenever the sun sets along the aft of the ship, I make sure to put on a swimsuit and watch the scenery from the Hideaway Pool. It’s truly a sight to see.
If the sun is setting in another direction, I’ll head to either the Cove Pool or Cloud 17 Pool, as these pools jet up directly to the side of the ship.
I skip classic Royal Caribbean bars for newer venues
It’s almost unfathomable how Royal Caribbean could pack Icon Class cruise ships with so many things to do.
Not only will you find Royal Caribbean's classic bars like Schooner Bar, Boleros, and the English-style pub onboard, but you’ll also find a variety of new concepts for the line.
Whenever I cruise on Icon Class ships, I find myself skipping the classic venues in favor of Icon-specific bars and lounges.
For example, I might skip live music at the pub in favor of the jazz band at Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues. Or, instead of listening to live piano music at the Schooner Bar, I’ll opt for a show at Dueling Pianos.
There’s nothing wrong with the classic Royal Caribbean entertainment venues, but I love how many more choices are available on Icon Class ships.
I enjoy my morning coffee with a view
One thing I especially like about Icon Class cruise ships is having access to ocean views. It seems like you can see the ocean from everywhere onboard, whether from the Royal Promenade, Surfside Neighborhood, or even from Central Park.
When cruising on Icon or Star of the Seas, I always start my morning with an iced coffee. There are several spots to grab specialty coffees on Icon Class ships, including Starbucks, Pearl Café, and the Rye & Bean.
Related: Royal Caribbean coffee card review
Regardless of where I grab my coffee, I make sure to enjoy my coffee with an ocean view.
If I order from Pearl Café, I’ll relax in front of the café’s massive, five-deck-high windows. If I grab a shaken espresso from Starbucks, I’ll sip it outdoors on the Promenade Deck. Lastly, if I order my coffee from Rye & Bean, it’s hard to beat the spectacular views from the AquaDome.
When I cruise on other ships, I miss having these sweeping ocean views in every direction.
I end my evenings with freshly-made crêpes
I might start my mornings with a coffee on Icon Class ships, but I’ll always end the day with a crêpe.
One benefit of cruising on Icon Class ships is the selection of late-night food options. On most other Royal Caribbean ships, food after 9PM is limited to pizza from Sorrento’s or small snacks from Cafe Promenade.
Fortunately, Icon Class ships have a lot more choices.
The AquaDome Market is open until midnight, which means passengers can choose between savory bites like empanadas or sweet treats like a scrumptious, freshly-filled crêpe.
Crème de la Crêpe features four crêpes on their menu, but you can also customize your order to your liking.
For research purposes, I’ve tested all four crêpes, but my favorite is the hazelnut and bananas option. The gooey, chewy crêpe dough mixed with sweet hazelnut sauce and perfectly ripe bananas is unbeatable.
No matter how many other desserts I’ve had throughout the day, I never miss a nightly crêpe at the AquaDome Market.
