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Day 4: ** SEA DAY ** (CONT.) We walked some more after Playmaker’s and made our way back to the 1400 Lobby bar again! Another funny art piece just outside the bar… Working that drink package! We both started with a Blueberry Mojito… … and more of the signature 1400 cocktail! Just caught it as my bubble burst… LOL! We relaxed for a bit (probably with the help of those two drinks ) and then headed back to the cabin to get ready for Chef’s Table! We really enjoyed the location of Chef’s Table on Icon! It’s a new area tucked away into the back of Hooked dedicated to Chef’s Table and Celebration Table. Our waiter/sommelier explained that Chef’s Table is the early seating and Celebration Table is the later seating in that area. I guess I overdressed as I was the only one with a suit! Last time (on Odyssey in private room in back of Chops Grille) everyone was wearing suits/tuxes/dresses/gowns! Maybe the Hooked vibe is why formal attire was not necessary this time on Icon? One wall of the area is full glass overlooking the ocean. Our waiter/sommelier was Ljubo. He sat the ladies facing the windows so they could see the ocean and sunset. He said the men already have a beautiful view and had us sit across the table. It’s the typical Chef’s Table five-course plus dessert menu: Our waiter/sommelier Ljubo would introduce each course and explain the wine pairing selected. Our Chef this evening was Dana… The monkey bread served in 150 CP is presented first… Course 1: Scallop Capaccio… Course 2: Smoked Tomato Soup. Very nice presentation… Course 3: Maine Lobster Salad… Ljubo providing education on the wine pairing, etc… Course 4: Roasted Branzino… delicious, flaky, tender, and flavorful fish. We were reminded before the experience began that they can make substitutes if you do not like fish, etc. I’m very picky, but the skin comes off easily. Course 5: Grilled Filet Mignon… delicious as usual! We also celebrated a birthday in our group, as well as, our anniversary… … and for the “real” dessert, originating from Wonderland… The World! The pastry chef, “Joan”, came out to present the dessert. When they pour that warm sauce, it slowly melts the chocolate shell revealing the goodness inside! Dessert is paired with a Salted Caramel Expresso Martini… also delicious! Our chef (Dana), pastry chef (Joan), and Waiter/sommelier (Ljubo)… Amazing experience once again. So highly recommended if you have not tried it yet! You always start off a little quiet since you generally do not know each other, but after a glass or two of wine everyone gets to know each other! OK, time to hit the sack! Getting up early tomorrow for PDCC and Hideaway Beach! Goodnight everyone!

That meeting with Rover made up for it!

We agree for sure! They also served the nice lobster and seafood spread on embarkation day (we had skipped for Chops Grille). Also, tonight many reported (and posted pics on FB) that the WJ had lobster tails as well! I couldn’t tell if they were Caribbean or Maine… probably the Caribbean lobster.

Sea day continues... I went to guest services and it was a hoot.I was confused about B2B turnaround day as my last B2B I stayed in the same room. The process on the sheet makes it seem like we need to put luggage out by 9am. But we just leave everything in the room and head to the Star lounge at 9am. Anyhow the hoot was this person who thought everything was included and contesting their $2700 bill. My brother thought it was hilarious when the guest services rep, said sir didn't you sign every receipt???? And the guy said I assumed it was cuz they want to be tipped...... I watched only 10min of once upon a time. The 7pm showing had a batch of screaming tiny humans that were distracting. I will catch it on a later sailing. So I had a couple of tropical daiquiris at the casino bar and chatted with a vintage who won icon in November on a high point certificate. Then we headed to dinner. I have been spoiled by MTD. It's always open and if I show up earlier, I still can be sat. But traditional opens exactly at 8:30. I have to say tonight's menu and dinner was the best of the bunch. My mother was so happy with all her food and didn't complain. The jumbo coconut shrimp was actually big. They were also hot and delicious . I could cut my jerked pork chop with my fork. My brother said the jerk chicken was juicy and flavorful. The pineapple cake was dry, maybe because its sugar free. But we had to wait for dessert because the dancing was happening.......not a fan. We tipped our waiters and they hugged us goodbye. I didn't tell them we were B2B because I'm going to the diamond concierge and asking for MTD on the next leg. I should also mention that the head waiter did magic for us each night. It was adorable. They also loved that my brother had 2-3 baskets of bread and the same number of entrees each night. I spent no vouchers. But I got waters and cokes to tide me over on embarkation day.

The weather looks great and you are right. The views are stunning .

The kids complaint I am not understanding. I've only sailed on Oasis class during the month of June and have done that about six times. I don't recall seeing so many complaints about kids. Now for those complaining about kids on Icon, what were your recent experiences on the Oasis class and was it during a similar month for a proper comparison? How many more kids are sailing on Icon vs. Oasis class? Because Icon doesn't even sail at full capacity yet I thought. So wouldn't Oasis have more children by default? What ages are we defining as kids? I've never seen an issue with kids that's worthy of commenting about. Maybe I don't pay enough attention to people. I do know the ships I've been on has always had a lot of kids because Oasis class is catered to families. The only reason I can think kids behavior could be crazier on Icon vs. Oasis class would be due to new families cruising for the first time. There has to be a much larger percentage of new cruisers going on Icon. The problem still lies with the parents. A lot of the poop incidents I've read here and elsewhere has been with adults, which how as an adult are we pooping on ourselves is a bit wild. I am definitely going to sail on Icon just because I have a family with little ones, but it's making me rethink encouraging my first time Royal Caribbean cruisers to join us.

Okay thanks, i'll have to look at the izumi menu

It was an absolutely stunner of a day in Haines/Skagway. I’ll let the photos speak for themselves. Now we have two cruising days before docking back in Vancouver. Tomorrow Tracy Arm and (hopefully) glacier, then back down the inside passage.

I wasn’t able to get it on my last few cruises. Said the bars don’t have it

We're currently onboard Icon. The Royal gift shop is small but the selection isn't too bad, IMHO. I'll try to remember to take some pics before Saturday and post them here!

You hit a trifecta with those meet ups, who cares about Capt Hottie now?! Also Super Mario with his 11k point milestone.... I am barely above double digits.

OMG, Thomas the train and Sheriff Andy! Thanks your post made my night!!

ROVER

Ok, I’m trying to be open minded on what might be the worst possible route they could go on what’s been marketed as The Ultimate Weekend. Hey let’s go party and then dress to the nines to go eat at this one place that costs 3 or 4x everywhere else on the boat. That menu better be amazing and not a high end Taste of Royal (looking right at you Chefs Table). They have a chance with me on the following conditions: they actually try with the menu/drink pairing, no dang jackets (I decided against it for CT so I’m not going to willingly wear it on Thomas the Train. Last and the only non-negotiable one is this western theme better not be Wild West. If I see one Sheriff Andy I’m out.

and lord, i am grateful for your mother’s shenanigans. save yourself!!!!!!!

On Icon you get that double lobster night with the Taste of Icon menu. It is on night two and replaces the "French Night" but for lobster lovers, it is a really nice upgrade. We thought the MDR was tasty on Icon, nothing spectacular but good.

That doesn't mean it's bad. It's just not the glitzy and high profile stuff you'd see on the newer ships.

Day 4: Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico… NOPE! Cancelled since winds/waves prevented us from safely docking today! *** SEA DAY NOW! *** We ate breakfast again in the Windjammer and headed back to our cabin to change quickly so we could stake a claim at the Hideaway pool. We arrived before the pool was open (9:00 AM opening) and selected a couple of cushioned “mats” at the perimeter of the infinity pool. We stayed for the entire morning as it never got crowded! Another photo dump! Some pics are when we first arrived. The more crowded pics are from when we left a little before noon. Icon has a series of figures taking photographs (like the astronauts on Wonder) all over the ship. I think we’ve found at least 4 or 5 so far… This one freaked me out when we first realized it was not a real woman! We had explored the Hideaway late one evening after the pool was closed and saw the statue thinking it was a woman just taking a photo (“she” was in dim light). A few minutes later I looked over and she had not moved… that’s when we looked closely and finally figured it out! Partial pano pic… I’m assuming this is the drop slide. You know it’s coming because when the floor opens up under the person, you hear a loud thump… A couple of shots taken a little before noon… starting to pick up! Another small pano pic… While we were still at the Hideaway, the company we booked the excursion directly through (Native Choice) e-mailed us to confirm our tour refund was in process. Nice quick turnaround! We’ll have to check out that tour (Chacchoben and Bacalar Lagoon) the next time we have Costa Maya on our itinerary! We changed and headed to Playmaker’s for lunch… not a fan of the location. In summary, no windows or opening to the outside (think in the SeaPlex on Odyssey or Boardwalk on Oasis class) and a strange entrance to Absolute Zero (skating rink). More on that genius idea later. Christine had he favorite Truffle Burger and I had the Playmaker’s Classic Burger… no Campfire Cookie this time as we did not want to ruin our appetite for dinner! So, as we were finishing our lunch, Christine see’s that someone “triggered” our FB cruise group’s “Rover Alert”! She bolts from Playmaker’s to catch up with Rover in Central Park leaving me to wait for the check. Not very nice… LOL! We did it (at least she did it )! This cruise we were very fortunate to meet Chris Wong and Rover! No Capt. “Hottie” (Capt. Henrik) to Christine’s dismay, BUT a bonus meeting with Super Mario!!! I’ll be back later!

Not at all comforting to first time cruisers….

It's the gold and brown standard!

Hello K, We will be staying at the Hotel Bisanzio in Ravenna the day before we board the Explorer on July 13th. Has many good reviews on trip advisor and a few have indicated the hotel will arrange transportation from the hotel to the port for you if you put a request in a day or two before. Someone here mentioned the Royal shuttle to the port, here's a link that will explain in detail how that works: How to get from Venice to Ravenna cruise port with the shuttle (and vice versa) | Royal Caribbean Blog. Hope you have a safe trip and a fun adventure! rjac

I actually didn’t like it very much for a while & with my wife’s pickiness & sailing ships that had cook to order pasta/wok stations in the WJ, we kinda stopped going for a while. Ironically, it’s recently that I’ve found it better and my wife is OK with a handful of the menus… when so many people are posting about the decline in food.

I'm proud of myself. I didn't play in the casino today because it wouldn't count. I did however people watch and the casino continues to be a shenanigans-magnet. I watched, but not really, people change into their evening attire. I have no idea why they couldn't leave but...... Then there was this group of swinger's who kept rubbing butts for luck......it seem to have been working with all the hooting and hollering . Last shenanigans was the couple with their hands in each other's pants. It's a possibility that I missed so much more because of my mother's distracting ways. I plan to catch once upon a time and then do MDR dinner. My mother is excited for the grilled tiger shrmp. After hearing her express this 17times between yesterday and today. I had to remind her she has this entree going on 7x. She thought...............tiger shrmp meant the shrimp was butterflied.......as if she had never had shrimp that way before. So having the shrimp look different was what had her super excited. I really hated to burst her bubble.

Guess I’m getting double dessert on Italian night. I like the chocolate hazelnut cake (more like molten lava cake) but I’m sure I’ll like that too.

What a shame; one of my favorite places to snorkel. Still a great port of call even considering the tender.