CanHardlyWait

Have deposit on next May. However, debating. Literally using "One and done" as our catch phrase. It's hard because it's an amazing ship. Aqua Dome/Overlook etc is a wow factor. It's the pool deck and handling of rules regarding children. It's non existent. More kids in the swim and tonic the past 2 hour's then adults. And they keep diving under the water and swimming around concrete barstools. Lifeguard says nothing. How a kid hasn't cracked his head open yet is beyond me. It's a bar. Nobody under 21 needs to be in it. I don't drink, so it doesn't effect me as much. Spent 10 minutes with a dIet coke and a splash of pool water. Disney Cruises is super mega strict on adult only areas. Children only too. Royal needs to draw a few lines in the sand, when it comes to the pool deck. It's a (you know what) show. Literally. LOL.

They really just plane hurt. LOL.

The no swim diapers rule doesn't seem to exist. Even though it's in writing everywhere. Lifeguards and security don't a flying fig. They spend all there time on poop hunt. Kids diving into hot tubs. Just waiting for one to break there neck. Kids who cam barley walk allowed in pools. Parents who disappear. On land a 55 plus yr old adult in a tub of hot water with a bunch of 10 year old boys is a felony. Here the parents are not even around to notice or care. Apparently unlimited drinks package makes there children safe and no longer requires their supervision.

There is no more to this story. Icon has a million times more children than any other ship. Is it not obvious to you that's why this is going on? Oh, and you are wrong. Way more kids on Icon than on any Oasis class ship ever. I'm living this. It's all happening in real time. It's like Carnival only without the class.

Exactly. It's so odd to watch. I swear someone could actually be drowning and if they haven't pooped themselves the lifeguards wouldn't notice. Royal Caribbean does not handle children as well as Disney Cruise line. Kids on there like the indoor activities so much they go home with less color than how they arrived. Here 6 yr olds are splashing around a swim up bar. Makes zero sense to allow them in a swim up bar. Royal Caribbean gave this ZERO thought.

Every second is spent searching for poop.

I was told 4 hours minimum to clean a pool and refill. Lots of scrubbing with brush/stick mops. Lots of chemicals. I watched them clean the kid pool from up over in the Hideaway Pool. After cleaning it has to sit awhile. Long process. Royal needs to implement a 5 years and younger area. And not allow the little ones in every pool. It's not working at all. Don't get me started on the swim up bar. Kids allowed, why?

Ok, Update! It was 2 pools today. The kids pool and the swim and tonic bar pool. Why they even allow kids in a pool that's a bar is beyond me. Royal Caribbean needs to rethink age policies on pools on this ship. It's really getting ridiculous. Lots of paying customers are MAD!

MDR Food was exceptionally good night one. Beef quality has improved. No tough as nails steak. Aqua show was awesome. Aqua dome at night. Nice place to just sit and relax. Very Star Trek / Star Ship kinda feel. That's 3. LOL. (It's a beautiful ship) Oh, one more major plus. Natural light from windows behind Pearl Cafe opens up the promenade. Not everything faces inward anymore.

Day 2: Kids pool at back of ship closed. LOL. (And possibly more, haven't seen them all today).

I think they lowered the standard for photos. It didn't seem to be an issue. If it was clear, white background, and they tell you the size they want 960 x 930 jpeg (can't remember off top of my head). But boy do you fly through. That and a passport and you just don't stop. We were a little winded by the time we hit the promenade. LOL.

Oh, you are new to me I see. LOL. I'll try, but it's going to hurt. LOL.

Aqua show from the handicap seats. The one's with no backs are hard and painful.

Well, day 1 and a pool has been closed for cleaning till tomorrow. It's the strangest thing. The lifeguards don't tell the kids to not dive in, jump in, splash, don't run, etc. None of it. They just walk back and forth looking for floating stool. Then every 10 minutes another lifeguard will come by and the two will walk past each other looking down left to right, right to left. Then from opposite ends when no poop is found they give each other a thumbs up. 10 minutes later, it starts all over again. Zero actual lifeguard duties. I have never seen anything like it on any other ship. A kid could dive in and break there neck in shallow water and all the lifeguards do is look for floaters. Royal Caribbean does not handle the children thing like Disney Cruise line does. Day 2 will be interesting.

Yes. They fit the size, white background, etc perfectly. A CVS passport photo covers all the bases for this kind of stuff.

God I hope not. LOL. We put in the work and effort. Used our spare passport photos. Right shape, size, etc. If we couldn't find, we were going to CVS to have new passport photos made. LOL. And we use passports. Little online effort at home can really pay off at boarding. Just need all your online check in ducks in a row. Totally worth it!

2 weeks.

Express Pass made boarding Amazing! We NEVER stopped walking. No waiting at all. Passed thousands of people. You MUST upload a photo when you do online check in. We also scanned passports. Yesterday, after answering health question, we got confetti and and our set sail passes turned purple. Congratulations you have express pass to board. The days of wait till at dock to have them take your photo are over. It puts you in an entirely different category. We literally passed 1hr 30min of people and walked right on.

Got your back jack! Icon May 4th 2024 Booked directly with Royal Caribbean on Day 1 of bookings, October 2022 (I think it was.) Booked inside GTY. At 45: days (per barcode trick) received inside plus cabin deck 10 forward. Bid minimum bid in 5 different categories. (Everyone on Facebook started reporting getting there Royal Up bids with minimum bid) At 30: days received an ocean view infinite balcony deck 10 midship for minimum bid $170 pp. Which may seem high, but we paid day 1 rate when we booked. That rate was only $1100 pp. Sadly a real steal for Icon. Between 45 days and 30 days there were many reports of Royal Up wins being sent to people in the Facebook group. Earlier bidding (pre 45 days seem to make winning bid almost a given) The ship was half empty at the 30 day mark a few weeks ago. Infinite balconies seem to be the last thing still available. They don't seem to sell well. I would do mock bookings and check availability minimum 5 times per day from at 60 days out till ship no longer showed up (about 2 weeks ago) I held out on doing Royal Up till I was able to use barcode trick to see what I was given. While very happy with GTY assignment, the amount of availability still showing at 45 days, plus the Facebook buzz about winning bids, all made us decide to splurge on some $100 to $190 pp minimum bids. Compared to stories I have researched it seems like this trip is an exception to the rule. Almost as if they were giving Royal Up bids away. I would say lack of initial interest in infinite balconies played a factor in a large portion of the guest ending up somewhere other than the cabin they started out with. Trip begins on Saturday! Wish us a Bon Voyage. Off to the airport and Miami this afternoon. Hope this info helps.

No port is guaranteed. You will have a wonderful time and won't even miss it. The real fun is always onboard. Enjoy and congratulations.

For some of us it's our only chance to swim all year long. Folks can be selfish and irresponsible. There childs needs don't come ahead of thousands of people's.

Multiple (bordering on endless) Facebook posts week after week, that at least one pool on Icon has been closed every single day of every cruise. This is due to parents allowing children who are not potty trained to go in the pools. Apparently many times it's the main large pool. Once it happens it's closed for the entire day to clean. People please don't be selfish. If your child is not potty trained, stick to splash pads. It literally takes a pool for 7000 people out of commission for the entire day. Selfish and ridiculous.

Everyone getting ready? Excited? We also have a great Facebook group going. You should check us out if you haven't.

I probably would have reported him for making the suggestion. Not a fan of people smoking in places they shouldn't. Growing up around it and had no choice or say. Well, now I do. Not in my face or space. Other than that, I'm a delight. LOL.

Good. Hope Royal Caribbean took hard and fast action. It's a shared experience. Play by the rules or be gone.