Nice surprises we found on the Icon OTS last week (3/22 - 3/29)

[rjac]

The Miami Terminal (our first time out of Miami) was impressive. New, clean and organized. Upon debarkation, our luggage was easily located thanks to the LARGE numbered signs. Our check in time was 12:00 (noon) and we showed up at 10:45 am in spite of all the texts and emails saying not to show up early. We had Express Check In on our Sea Pass paperwork and just breezed through the terminal and was on the ship in about 15 minutes. more bars and places to eat/get snacks that we could handle in just 7 days! The Park Cafe on deck 8 had the delicious Kummelweck sandwiches every day. Word of caution, they no longer use the one hand hold buns. The buns are now a definite two hand grip loaded with roast beef! Elevators, remember on all of the prior Royal cruise ships that had elevators towards the bow, center and aft of the ship? That had those buttons you had to select which flow you wanted? That many times kids would push all the floor buttons so you got an extended elevator ride and eventually got to your floor? Not so on the Icon. Elevator stations at the bow and aft, no buttons to push inside the elevator. Elevators are marked A-I and there are multiple key pads at each station where you push the floor number you want and an alphabetical letter is displayed. You go to that letter and within 30 seconds your elevator arrives for everyone going to the same floor you selected. GREAT feature! Great entertainment, book as early as you can. I recommend booking the Aqua Show twice, fantastic. There is an escalator on deck 5 that takes you to deck 2 (gangway) on port days. On Embarkation day and on Day 6, the Windjammer has a Seafood Station. All the shrimp, crab legs, calamari, lobster tails (yeah, Maine lobster tails that have been steamed not boiled) you can eat. And at the back of the Windjammer they have a Gluten Free Station (very considerate). 

[Kat D]

How does one get Express check in on their sea pass? Also, how do you book the entertainment like the aqua show? Does that have to be done once I’ve boarded the ship?

4 hours ago, rjac said:

The Miami Terminal (our first time out of Miami) was impressive. New, clean and organized. Upon debarkation, our luggage was easily located thanks to the LARGE numbered signs. Our check in time was 12:00 (noon) and we showed up at 10:45 am in spite of all the texts and emails saying not to show up early. We had Express Check In on our Sea Pass paperwork and just breezed through the terminal and was on the ship in about 15 minutes. more bars and places to eat/get snacks that we could handle in just 7 days! The Park Cafe on deck 8 had the delicious Kummelweck sandwiches every day. Word of caution, they no longer use the one hand hold buns. The buns are now a definite two hand grip loaded with roast beef! Elevators, remember on all of the prior Royal cruise ships that had elevators towards the bow, center and aft of the ship? That had those buttons you had to select which flow you wanted? That many times kids would push all the floor buttons so you got an extended elevator ride and eventually got to your floor? Not so on the Icon. Elevator stations at the bow and aft, no buttons to push inside the elevator. Elevators are marked A-I and there are multiple key pads at each station where you push the floor number you want and an alphabetical letter is displayed. You go to that letter and within 30 seconds your elevator arrives for everyone going to the same floor you selected. GREAT feature! Great entertainment, book as early as you can. I recommend booking the Aqua Show twice, fantastic. There is an escalator on deck 5 that takes you to deck 2 (gangway) on port days. On Embarkation day and on Day 6, the Windjammer has a Seafood Station. All the shrimp, crab legs, calamari, lobster tails (yeah, Maine lobster tails that have been steamed not boiled) you can eat. And at the back of the Windjammer they have a Gluten Free Station (very considerate). 

 

[Pattycruise]

I was on your sailing, in fact the very first passenger to board! Icon is a beast.  The elevators were awesome, quite an adjustment. About 30 seconds before the busy times came, then it was closer to 3 minutes or so.  At one point an elevator arrived that was packed with no room to board.  A few times the elevators were getting too full to be able to board them. 
the food options were great. The park cafe being open 24 hours with great food and dessert options was a bonus as opposed to being stuck with Sorrentos and crap finger sandwiches.

 They definitely need a third specialty coffee location.  I keep asking if there were more and crew kept telling me Starbucks/not what I was trying to convey!

i had the sliding doors close on me when leaving the music hall  to the restroom and I also had an elevator door close on me.   the husband observed a woman get stuck in between the sliding doors from the music hall to the casino —stuck stuck, not just closed on her and then reopened like what happened to me, 

lots of complaints about the chair hogs, thankfully I had pinnacle access at the suite area/which is absolutely gorgeous and the lite bites they served up there were fantastic, 

empire super club was quite an experience.  Loved it, though not sure I’d do it again.

 They called all luggage tags by about 8:30-quite surprising given the numbers of people on the sailing.  

 

 

[Pattycruise]

3 hours ago, Kat D said:

How does one get Express check in on their sea pass? Also, how do you book the entertainment like the aqua show? Does that have to be done once I’ve boarded the ship?

 

Express check in is random. Ensure all your documents are loaded-passport-photos and info, otherwise it won’t happen.

 Entertainment is booked before your sailing.  Keep checking the cruise planner. I just checked my emails and I booked entertainment on January 3 for the March 22 cruise. I believe I booked on the day the entertainment opened. Be prepared to have a calendar with the itinerary and any special dining you have booked so you don’t try to book for when you have plans.  Their system should block you from doing that. 
I’ve attached a sample of what the schedule was for our sailing-mind you ours was the eastern caribbean and of course your entertainment times may vary. 
If you find you have a conflict or can’t book anything when you board the ship go immediately to the box office-I think it was set up on deck 4-and see if you can schedule.  I had to do this because they had moved something I had booked (i was notified via email before the cruise) and it left no time to go from the aqua show  to the ice show.   Simple change and I had my schedule with me so I knew exactly where to reschedule to. 

[tonyfsu21]

9 hours ago, Kat D said:

How does one get Express check in on their sea pass? Also, how do you book the entertainment like the aqua show? Does that have to be done once I’ve boarded the ship?

 

The express check in is random. Regardless, get in line no later than 10am if you want to be among the first onboard and enjoy a full day 1 vacation that you paid for. The check in times along with the follow up propaganda emails instructing you to adhere to boarding time should be ignored (at least in PE, POM and PC). 

[Kat D]

8 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

Express check in is random. Ensure all your documents are loaded-passport-photos and info, otherwise it won’t happen.

 Entertainment is booked before your sailing.  Keep checking the cruise planner. I just checked my emails and I booked entertainment on January 3 for the March 22 cruise. I believe I booked on the day the entertainment opened. Be prepared to have a calendar with the itinerary and any special dining you have booked so you don’t try to book for when you have plans.  Their system should block you from doing that. 
I’ve attached a sample of what the schedule was for our sailing-mind you ours was the eastern caribbean and of course your entertainment times may vary. 
If you find you have a conflict or can’t book anything when you board the ship go immediately to the box office-I think it was set up on deck 4-and see if you can schedule.  I had to do this because they had moved something I had booked (i was notified via email before the cruise) and it left no time to go from the aqua show  to the ice show.   Simple change and I had my schedule with me so I knew exactly where to reschedule to. 

Wow this is so helpful thank you! Haven’t been on a cruise in a few years and everything has changed. Much appreciated!

[Kat D]

2 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

The express check in is random. Regardless, get in line no later than 10am if you want to be among the first onboard and enjoy a full day 1 vacation that you paid for. The check in times along with the follow up propaganda emails instructing you to adhere to boarding time should be ignored (at least in PE, POM and PC). 

Will do. Thank you for this, it’s so helpful!

[I_Love_RCI]

12 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

I was on your sailing, in fact the very first passenger to board! Icon is a beast.  The elevators were awesome, quite an adjustment. About 30 seconds before the busy times came, then it was closer to 3 minutes or so.  At one point an elevator arrived that was packed with no room to board.  A few times the elevators were getting too full to be able to board them. 
the food options were great. The park cafe being open 24 hours with great food and dessert options was a bonus as opposed to being stuck with Sorrentos and crap finger sandwiches.

 They definitely need a third specialty coffee location.  I keep asking if there were more and crew kept telling me Starbucks/not what I was trying to convey!

i had the sliding doors close on me when leaving the music hall  to the restroom and I also had an elevator door close on me.   the husband observed a woman get stuck in between the sliding doors from the music hall to the casino —stuck stuck, not just closed on her and then reopened like what happened to me, 

lots of complaints about the chair hogs, thankfully I had pinnacle access at the suite area/which is absolutely gorgeous and the lite bites they served up there were fantastic, 

empire super club was quite an experience.  Loved it, though not sure I’d do it again.

 They called all luggage tags by about 8:30-quite surprising given the numbers of people on the sailing.  

 

 

Are you including Rye & Bean in that number? They can also make specialty coffees that don't include alcohol. 

[Pattycruise]

12 hours ago, I_Love_RCI said:

Are you including Rye & Bean in that number? They can also make specialty coffees that don't include alcohol. 

I am going to say no? I have no idea where that was or that they did that.  I asked NUMEROUS staff and “white shirts” about coffee locations.  Not one was useful-they kept saying the Pearl. Thank you-if I ever sail on icon again I’ll look for that

[I_Love_RCI]

It's in the Aquadome, starboard side. One of the easiest places to get a coffee, or a drink, as it was never busy on our sailings. 

[tonyfsu21]

On 4/4/2025 at 1:14 AM, Pattycruise said:

I am going to say no? I have no idea where that was or that they did that.  I asked NUMEROUS staff and “white shirts” about coffee locations.  Not one was useful-they kept saying the Pearl. Thank you-if I ever sail on icon again I’ll look for that

Excellent spot. 

[smokeybandit]

Anyone ever have that coffee boulevadrier? The boulevardier is my drink of choice on board.

[asquared17]

@rjac thank you for the lovely update!!

express boarding is always a treat; we got it once and were delighted and i’m so happy to hear your vacation kicked off in no time at all!!

 

also the maine lobster tails — steamed!! — sound amazing

it would be a tough sell to get some of my family on icon from the sheer size of her, but the gluten free section you called out is of interest for sure. 

thank you!!

[rjac]

On 4/7/2025 at 7:55 AM, asquared17 said:

@rjac thank you for the lovely update!!

express boarding is always a treat; we got it once and were delighted and i’m so happy to hear your vacation kicked off in no time at all!!

 

also the maine lobster tails — steamed!! — sound amazing

it would be a tough sell to get some of my family on icon from the sheer size of her, but the gluten free section you called out is of interest for sure. 

thank you!!

You're welcome! I would hope that Royal adds a gluten free section to all of their Windjammers. 

[Ampurp85]

2 hours ago, rjac said:

You're welcome! I would hope that Royal adds a gluten free section to all of their Windjammers. 

I was on three different ships in Jan; Oasis, Symphony and Indy, and they all had a GF and Vegan section. It wasn't large but it was noticeable and available all day in the WJ.