Recorded on the Icon of the Seas group cruise, Matt reviews how Icon of the Seas holds up months after her debut
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Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas is ready to start offering cruises, and reinvent the weekend cruise.
The brand new Oasis Class ship arrived in Port Canaveral on Thursday, and Royal Caribbean Blog received an advanced look onboard to see the new ship. Work was still be dong to put some finishing touches, but the it's nearly all ready for guests to board for the first revenue sailing.
I walked around the ship, exploring the different neighborhoods and getting a sense of what's new and different on Utopia.
Enjoy this sneak peek at what you can expect on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship.
One thing I picked up on after walking around Utopia of the Seas are the differences from other Oasis Class ships. Some are major, some minor, but overall, Royal Caribbean has packed it with the best ideas, innovations, and offerings to date.
When you board the ship on the Royal Promenade, the first place you'll see is the Pesky Parrot.
On the surface, it sounds like a fun tiki bar, but when you see it in person, you'll realize it was designed to be your go-to hang out spot.
Bright neon colors, painted wood, and even a digital backdrop all combine to make this bar really pop.
In addition to the special menu found only at the Pesky Parrot, there's even an assortment of pina colada varieties that evolve the cruise classic. Try the Pesky's Peanut Butter Pina Colada.
There were two venues that really blew me away visually, Izumi and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen.
Izumi is massive, and is easily the largest in the fleet. Within this space are hibachi tables, sushi tables, and an all-new omakase table. Think of it like a Chef's Table experience, but just Japanese cuisine.
There's also a sushi take-out window, where you can drop in for a couple of rolls and take it elsewhere on the ship.
As someone that loves sushi, I can't wait to try the omakase table.
Giovanni's is also in a new location, and the design looks beautiful.
Spanning two decks, guests can dine both indoors and outdoors. The outdoor seating should be stunning, considering you're on deck 11 and overlook the Boardwalk.
I wasn't prepared for how lovely a setting it is overall, and how moving a restaurant from Central Park up to Decks 11 and 12 can have such a big impact.
Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer, recently said he thinks Utopia's pool deck will be the best in class.
There's just about every feature we've come to love on other Royal Caribbean ships on Utopia's pool deck.
A giant aquapark, wide-open pools, and multi-story Lime and Coconut Bar that "fits" better into the look of the ship.
The adults-only Solarium is enclosed, meaning better temperature controls. Sadly, the bridge wings are not on Utopia because the space was taken up by the new Solarium suites. Alas, there's still plenty of great views elsewhere.
I also loved the herd of hippos hidden in one corner of the Solarium.
There's a clear focus on dining on Utopia of the Seas, including a brand new quick service restaurant at the pool.
The Spare Tire has wraps, a sandwich, and something called "tornados". It's complimentary and very convenient for anyone that is enjoying a day at the pool.
Something else different about Utopia is the fact Royal Caribbean has re-claimed the title of longest slide at sea.
The Ultimate Abyss has been extended 43 feet, which makes it longer than the slide on MSC Cruises.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the destination elevators that are on Utopia of the Seas.
These elevators significantly cut down wait times for an elevator on Icon of the Seas, and I cannot wait to utilize them on Utopia.
It's amazing to me how Royal Caribbean can innovate each ship within a class, but Utopia does that quite well.
Chops Grille has the upgraded menu first seen on Icon of the Seas, and a refreshed look inside as well.
150 Central Park is across the way, and I think this has always been a rather underrated specialty restaurant.
Park Cafe has always been my go-to spot for a breakfast bite to eat, especially before we need to head off the ship for a shore excursion.
Central Park has the same layout as on other Oasis Class ships, but the different venues here will be the most notable change.
The casts of all the shows on Utopia of the Seas were hard at work rehearsing, so I did not get a chance to see those venues.
Utopia of the Seas will have three primary venues for shows: Aquatheater, Royal Theater, and Studio B ice rink.
Read more: Utopia of the Seas entertainment and shows
If you've sailed on Wonder of the Seas, you'll notice more similarities with Utopia of the Seas than other Oasis Class ships.
The casino on Utopia is quite large, and seems to follow the same layout as Wonder.
The Mason Jar is also on Utopia, which is my favorite bar to hang out in during the evening hours. One change they made was to add a wall behind the stage, which I think will help keep the venue cooler.
The Attic and Crown Lounge are in the same location on both ships.
Fans of karaoke will love Spotlight Karaoke, located on the Royal Promenade.
Cafe Promenade has the new complimentary drink dispensers that are easier to refill for the crew. These were first introduced on Icon of the Seas.
Like all the Royal Promenades, there is a classic car on Utopia. This one is a classic Pontiac, and it looks very neat!
I especially liked the art in each of the elevator atriums.
I walked around the sports deck on deck 16, and it's a refreshed version of the popular activities you typically find here.
You'll find a sports court, Flowrider surf simulator, zip-line and mini-golf.
Part of the appeal of any Royal Caribbean cruise is how much there is to do onboard, and Utopia will not disappoint.
One area I always see a noticeable upgrade on every new Royal Caribbean ship is in the kids programming spots.
Adventure Ocean is located on deck 14 forward, and the AO Juniors space is quite well-adorned with play areas. Seeing it now, my kids lost out on this space considering the version they had a few years ago.
The teen club was being used for another purpose on this day, but the outdoor teen deck looked like a great place and has a hot tub.
When Royal Caribbean opens its new beach club in Mexico, it looks like it will offer a full day of fun.
In March 2024, Royal Caribbean announced plans to build a beach club in Cozumel, Mexico exclusively for the use of its cruise ship passengers.
It will open sometime in 2026, and be the second beach club operated in a popular cruise port by Royal Caribbean. The first will be in Nassau, Bahamas.
When the cruise line announced Royal Beach Club Cozumel, there wasn't much detail provided. However, a new sneak peek gives us a glimpse of what Royal Caribbean is envisioning.
Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider shared new concept art in a webinar with travel agents on Wednesday.
He called this, "real fun, high level directional renders of potentially where we may go," and warned, "these are not anywhere near final."
The idea behind all of Royal Caribbean's beach clubs is to combine great views, with great access to water.
"If you think of the DNA of our beach clubs, high volume ports where we go," Mr. Schneider explained. It's designed to have, "great beach, great pool, great food, great service."
Admission into the beach club will include access to swim-up bars, pools cabanas to rent, snorkeling, kayaking, restaurants, and street markets.
Unlike the cruise line's private island in The Bahamas, it's not meant to be for every single passenger on the ship. Rather, it's an optional extra-cost choice for passengers, in addition to the other shore excursions and activities found around Cozumel.
Royal Caribbean has not yet announced where the new beach club will located in Cozumel, nor other details about what the club entails.
Other questions include pricing, and a full list of features.
With the Cozumel beach club the second in line, the primary focus of the cruise line's attention will be the opening of the Paradise Island Beach Club first. Moreover, they may look for lessons learned from the first club to tweak the Cozumel club.
Mr. Schneider also went over details of what passengers can expect when the Royal Beach Club Paradise Island opens in 2025, including a few leaked details.
He wouldn't commit to a date, and danced around the exact opening.
The beach club will offer 17 acres of beach, pools, and scenery, "The views off the north shore of Paradise Island are nothing but stunning."
There will be three pools, and the club will incorporate a zone concept for the layout: a family zone, a party zone, and a chill zone. Mr. Schneider was quick to point out those will not be the names, just directional design concepts to follow.
Every every zone has a swim up bar, "we're leaning into really great music, great drinks, great water, great views."
Mr. Schneider also included a slide that he claimed wasn't supposed to be there, that has an idea his team is working through.
"We're dreaming of possibly an ultimate family cabana," he said. The concept was to follow in the footsteps of having the Ultimate Family Suite and Ultimate Family Townhouse, which are over-the-top suites that pack in just about everything a family might want in a cruise ship cabin.
Read more: Royal Caribbean has an ultra-luxury suite that can cost over $80,000 per week
A surprising amount of cruise ship passengers bring banned items to their cruise, only to have it confiscated.
Similar to how there are certain items you cannot bring on an airplane, cruise ships prohibit a list of items for security and safety reasons.
The list of prohibited items is posted on the cruise line website, but plenty of people still arrive on every cruise with things that they're not allowed to bring.
If someone brings a banned item, Royal Caribbean will confiscate it and return it after the cruise is over. Guests can collect these banned items at a table in the cruise terminal.
On a recent cruise, I walked by the confiscated items table to see what people were bringing onboard. Not only was there a wide variety of items collected by the cruise line, but it's clear there are a handful of prohibited items a lot of people still bring on their cruise.
Not only will it be confiscated, but you're wasting your own precious luggage space by taking it with you from home. In some cases, I'm certain people spent extra money to buy it specifically for their cruise.
Before you pack for your cruise, here are 4 banned items to leave at home.
Read more: 115 item Ultimate Cruise Packing List
Without a doubt, the most commonly confiscated item I saw on the table were handheld steamers.
Getting rid of wrinkles in clothing is a top concern for anyone that has nice clothing they want to look their best during the cruise.
Unfortunately, steamers are not allowed because of the fire risk they pose. Steamers fall under the prohibited small home appliances clause of your cruise contract because they constitute a fire hazard. In fact, all cruise lines ban them, not just Royal Caribbean.
Read more: 15 things cruise lines really do not want you to bring on ships
Instead of a handheld steamer, consider packing Downy Wrinkle Release spray, which can work quite well at eliminating wrinkles. (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).
Just like the handheld steamers, irons aren't allowed either on cruise ships.
Essentially, anything with a heating element is a fire hazard. Irons left unattended could pose that risk, and since they're a home appliance, not allowed on cruise ships.
Fire on a cruise ship is arguably the number one concern because of how quickly it could potentially spread.
You should also know there are no irons provided by the cruise line in your stateroom either. There's no self-service laundry either, so if you want your clothes pressed, you'll need to have them sent out via the extra-cost service offered by Royal Caribbean.
Read more: Does Royal Caribbean have irons? How laundry works on a cruise ship
In addition to the wrinkle release spray mentioned earlier in this article, you could turn on the cabin shower to hot and steam the wrinkles away.
Older cruise ships are notorious for not having enough power outlets. Considering how many electronic devices people have these days, it's a concern for not having enough outlets.
I observed quite a few power strips on the confiscated items table, and power strips are a fire risk if they overload. It's my experience the security team can't determine which power strips have a surge protector or not, so they all get confiscated.
It seems if the power strip has an electrical outlet on it, there's a good chance it will be confiscated. Don't be fooled by an item advertised as "cruise safe" because ultimately it's at the discretion of the bag screener to make a judgement call.
What you should pack instead of a power strip is a USB hub, such as this 6 port charger. (Link contains affiliate link, which costs you nothing extra to use).
Phones, watches, and even laptops can all be charged by USB, and there's little risk of it being confiscated.
You might be tempted to bring a hot water kettle with you so that you can enjoy tea in your stateroom, but these too are not allowed.
Just like other home appliances, Royal Caribbean does not allow these.
The good news is it's unnecessary because there are good alternatives onboard.
You can get hot water anytime from Cafe Promenade, as well as on request from other dining venues.
If you stay in a suite, there's a coffee maker provided in Junior Suite and higher cabins. Royal Caribbean ships sailing from Europe actually include a safe to use hot water kettle in all cabins by default.
Could it be the end of the Buy One, Get One discount offered onboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships for the popular drink package?
Nothing has been officially announced as a matter of policy, but on two different ships this week, cruisers reported not seeing the BOGO deal offered when a drink package is purchased onboard.
Read more: Royal Caribbean drink packages prices and info
On Enchantment of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas, the flyer for buying a drink package doesn't have a BOGO offer.
Thomas Budzyn wrote on Facebook, "at least on Freedom of the Seas, there is no longer a BOGO sale for the drink package."
Another cruise on Enchantment of the Seas confirmed he was seeing the same thing on Enchantment of the Seas.
Don Goldstein reported on Icon of the Seas he was seeing the same thing, "The bar tender at Overlook on Icon told us that Royal was no longer doing drink package BOGOs purchased onboard."
The BOGO offer essentially gives a 50% discount on the cost of a drink package when buying it for two passengers. It was offered when buying a drink package onboard the ship on the first or second day of the cruise.
To be clear, the pre-cruise discount is still being offered, and this is an observation made just onboard a couple of ships by a few cruisers.
Without the discount, each drink package purchased onboard a ship would cost at least $100 per person, per day for the Deluxe Beverage Package.
Moreover, Royal Caribbean requires all adults in the same stateroom to buy the Deluxe Beverage Package if at least one adult does so. There is no such rule for the Royal Refreshment or Soda packages.
The reason the rule is in place is to prevent sharing of drink package benefits.
Whether or not Royal Caribbean has a BOGO discount on its ships, you're doing yourself a disservice by waiting to book a drink package onboard.
Royal Caribbean regularly offers a substantial discount when a drink package is purchased before the cruise begins. It's common to see 35-45% off the cost of a drink package online.
Depending on the promotion offered, you can usually get the Deluxe Beverage Package for around $60-$80 per person. It varies from sailing to sailing, but the price offered in the Royal Caribbean app or website is always cheaper than buying it onboard.
Read more: Best time to purchase a Royal Caribbean drink package
For example, on a recent Icon of the Seas sailing, the Deluxe Beverage Package was on sale for $76.99 instead of $110 per person, per day. Royal Caribbean says its 30% off savings.
You can always re-price the drink package when buying it online, all the way up to a few days before your cruise. This allows you to cancel and rebook if the price drops. Its a significant advantage for consumers.
My recommendation is to never wait to buy the drink package on the ship because of the higher price tag, and now the added risk of the BOGO discount not being available.
Whether you buy a drink package onboard or online, there are a few easy tips for getting the most out of your beverage package.
Your drink package works at more places than just bars. Besides ordering a drink at the Pub, Schooner Bar, or at the pool, you can also get drinks at specialty restaurants, the Main Dining Room and even Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee.
This not only extends the value of a drink package, but you can sample the special cocktails found at specialty restaurants. Some favorites include the Mason Jar, 150 Central Park, Jamie's Italian and Wonderland.
Ask for top shelf liquor. When you order a drink, don't just ask for the drink by name. Rather, ask for the drink by name and specify the liquor you want with it.
If you don't do this, you might end up with a generic liquor instead of something better. Higher-end spirits tend to be smoother and have a better flavor. Plus, it's included with your drink package, so don't be afraid to ask for a higher quality vodka, tequila, or rum.
Don't overlook other beverages included. While you might be focused on cocktails, beer, and wine, you should also look at the non-alcoholic beverages to get more value out of your drink package.
Premium coffees, teas, soft drinks, and bottled water are included in the Deluxe Beverage Package and Royal Refreshment package, and you should order these to make it easier to "break even" on a drink package purchase cost.
Stock up on bottled water. My favorite trick for maximizing the drink package is to get extra bottles of water.
Bottled water is super helpful to have around the ship and on shore. It's a good idea to ask for a bottle of water along with your regular drink order so that you can start stockpiling bottles in your cabin.
Having extra bottles of water provides a convenient way to stay hydrated on your cruise. Plus, you can bring bottled water with you off the cruise ship into port when on a shore excursion.
A clever solution to a traditional problem on cruise ships is coming to Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship.
Ever since Icon of the Seas launched earlier this year, it earned rave reviews for many changes, including the addition of destination elevators. And it now appears Utopia of the Seas will have the same feature.
Read more: Utopia of the Seas guide
Giant cruise ships have always had crowding issues, especially when waiting for an elevator. Royal Caribbean tested out a new alternative on Icon of the Seas and it worked quite well.
Bryan James, a musician and crew member on Utopia of the Seas, posted a video confirming the ship will indeed have the new kind of elevators.
"They just upgraded all the elevators on the ship," he said in a YouTube video he posted.
He described it as, "They make it so you don't stop on every single floor that somebody is pressing the button for."
Guests go to a panel in the elevator lobby, and then select which floor they would like to go to. The computer then assigns you a particular elevator to wait for in the lobby.
When your elevator arrives, there are no buttons to press inside. It already knows which floors it will stop at, based on an optimization for that car to get people to and from.
The result is wait times for an elevator are significantly less, and that's a big deal for cruise ship passengers. Long elevator wait times are a pain point because of how inundated they can become during the day.
On most ships, even if an elevator shows up, it could be already full of people. And even when it's full, the elevator would stop on every single floor someone has called for one.
Jennifer Goswami, Director Product Development at Royal Caribbean Group, spoke at a recent conference about how well-received destination elevators have become among guests on Icon.
"Elevators, while kind of not always the flashiest of technology, have been an absolute smash hit for Icon," Ms. Goswami stated.
"When you're waiting outside of an elevator for three, four, five minutes, we call them microwave minutes where they feel like the longest minute of your life," she said.
In April 2023, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider, introduced the concept of destination elevators at a presentation and mentioned the Oasis Class ships suffered from long elevator waits, "even with the elevators that we have on the Oasis Class, we still can struggle with lines."
Utopia of the Seas may be the first Oasis Class cruise ship with destination elevators, but the line might be considering adding it to other ships too.
Earlier this year, a team from Royal Caribbean Product Development were testing out the Icon-style elevator system on Allure of the Seas.
In April, one elevator lobby was transformed to look like a destination elevator bank from Icon of the Seas. The elevators had temporary letters above each door, to indicate what assignment a passenger would have when requesting an elevator.
Allure is scheduled for a dry dock in February 2025, so it would be an ideal candidate for the upgrade.
Ms. Goswami is correct in that elevators are far from the most interesting feature one can look forward to on a cruise ship, so here are a few more notable improvements coming to Utopia of the Seas.
The Royal Railway restaurant is a new immersive dining concept that will debut on Utopia.
Combining food, visual effects, and theming, Royal Caribbean will have a new kind of restaurant experience that makes you feel like you're in a certain part of the world or in a certain era. It's more than just "another specialty restaurant", in that it aims to make you feel part of a story.
Read more: Royal Railway restaurant preview
If you like thrills, there will be an improved Ultimate Abyss slide on Utopia.
Measuring 259 feet long, Utopia's 10-story Ultimate Abyss will be 43 feet longer than the slides on other Oasis Class ships. There are racing windows and zoom booster rollers for a "surprise" exit on the Boardwalk.
If you're in the mood for a bite to eat while at the pool, expect a new and easier way to get something.
There will be a "food truck" on Utopia's pool deck, called the Spare Tire. The menu has "handheld favorites" like pulled pork sandwiches, cheeseburger flatbreads, daily rotating desserts.
Read more: 7 new things coming to Utopia of the Seas
There will be new shows and parties on Utopia of the Seas. While she may be the sixth Oasis Class cruise ship, there's a whole new lineup of entertainment.
There will be a new show in each of Utopia's signature venues: Royal Theater, AquaTheater, and Studio B.
If you like to dance, Royal Caribbean is adding the largest silent disco in the fleet to the ship. Silent Toga! appears to be another silent disco, being described as "[a] toga party with a silent twist."
Those who prefer poolside action will appreciate the not one, not two, but four pool parties onboard, including the Sail Away Pool Party, Hey Utopia!, Senses Sunset Pool Party, and Plunge Day Pool Party, a Vegas-inspired daytime party.
Read more: Royal Caribbean reveals shows and parties for Utopia of the Seas
Utopia of the Seas will have her inaugural voyage from Port Canaveral, Florida on July 19, 2024.
Utopia will be the first new Royal Caribbean ship to debut with short cruises, instead of 7-night cruises. Her first sailing is a 3-night cruise to The Bahamas, followed by a 4-night cruise. The pattern then repeats itself indefinitely.
The goal is for this ship to dominate the weekend cruise market. The idea is by offering 3- and 4-night sailings on its newest ship (instead of older vessels), those curious about cruising are more likely to try it and get hooked on Royal Caribbean.
Read more: Royal Caribbean's master plan to offer the best weekend cruises
You have to give credit to Royal Caribbean for making Icon of the Seas worthy of every accolade attributed to it so far.
Icon of the Seas is the world's biggest cruise ship, but size alone doesn't make it necessarily the best. It's the assortment of features, tweaks, and enhancements that really make the new ship stand out from every other Royal Caribbean ship in the fleet.
I sailed on Icon of the Seas for the first time since the ship's inaugural voyage in January. I was curious to see now that it's been about six months since her launch, would the novelty have worn off and the ship live up to hype she received earlier this year.
After spending 7-nights onboard, I'm convinced Icon is not only still worthy of all the praise, but Royal Caribbean raised the bar yet again for what all other cruise ships are judged against.
It's amazing how a cruise ship that can handle over 7,000 passengers doesn't feel crowded.
When you walk around Icon of the Seas, you'll quickly start to wonder where everyone else is. Our summer sailing had plenty of kids onboard, and that meant the ship was pretty much maxed out to capacity.
Whether you were on the Royal Promenade, around the pool deck, or going to a show, crowds were few and far between. I don't want to make it seem like you have the ship to yourself, but compared to other Royal Caribbean cruise ships, crowds were largely absent.
On other ships, the Promenade is a zoo of people (especially on embarkation day). The pool deck is packed on sea days too.
On Icon, there was much more space to spread people around and it showed.
Royal Caribbean also solved crowding with its destination elevators, which more efficiently assign elevators to passengers. Waiting for an elevator on a cruise ship is a traditional pain point for guests, and Royal Caribbean referred internally to those wait times as, "microwave minutes" because it feels like the longest wait ever.
If you've cruised on other ships and then try the elevators on Icon, I think you'll find the waits pleasantly better.
Read more: Is the world's largest cruise ship crowded? Not as much as you might fear
Royal Caribbean has a well-deserved reputation for offering the best entertainment at sea, and once again, they lapped the competition with Icon.
While the shows were not totally ready for the maiden voyage, I got to experience all the shows this time around. These shows are the best collection assembled on one ship.
The Wizard of Oz production show in the Royal Theater is by far the best show on a cruise ship that didn't first begin on Broadway.
An adaptation of the beloved 1939 film, Royal Caribbean crafted a show that combines incredible visuals, a talented cast, and songs the audience knows well.
As someone who values seeing shows with a plot, it was so nice to see Wizard of Oz on Icon and enjoy Royal Caribbean's version.
The other signature shows on Icon include Aqua Action! in the AquaTheater and Starbust in Absolute Zero. While aqua shows and ice performances are not new to Royal Caribbean ships, the versions on Icon of the Seas incorporate the best tricks and lessons learned to date.
I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about the live music on Icon, because it blew me away. Musicians onboard will change every few months, but we had an all-star lineup on our sailing Jennifer Hart in the Schooner Bar and Kevin Philip in the Pub were outstanding talents that I went to see every night of the cruise.
The new Dueling Pianos bar is such a fun spot, especially if you can bring a group with you to enjoy. The two pianists feed off guest participation, and there are as much laughs as songs you know the words to.
When you sail on Icon of the Seas and see your first show, it's going to hook you to want to see the rest.
The eternal cruiser debate of if it's worth it to pay for specialty restaurants is quite different on Icon of the Seas because of the superior food options that are included in your cruise fare.
Other Royal Caribbean cruise ships tend to have a few restaurants included that certainly cover the basics, but there isn't a great deal of variety.
With Icon, many passengers remarked how they skipped paying for extra-cost restaurants because they found the included restaurants so much better than they expected.
Read more: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide
There are a few new restaurant concepts, starting with Aquadome Market. This is Royal Caribbean's first foray into a food hall, and it's a revelation. Five different food cuisines, and a few stay open well into the night offering something other than pizza.
Pearl Cafe has 24-hour grab-and-go snacks that also give you choices of snacks that include healthy and indulgent.
You have enhanced stalwarts of the included food game, such as El Loco Fresh on the pool deck and even a Windjammer buffet that serves steak and lobster.
I think the destination elevators still get the most attention from those who try Icon, but the included food quality has to be a close second.
Read more: What the Food Was Like on Icon of the Seas
After telling you how good the included food is, I feel obliged to talk about how impressive the Empire Supper Club experience is.
When Royal Caribbean announced Icon of the Seas would have a specialty restaurant that cost $200 per person, it raised a few eyebrows. But Royal Caribbean was adamant this was not going to be just another new restaurant.
Empire Supper Club is a three hour dining adventure that combines food, cocktails, and entertainment. Supper clubs are about enveloping everyone attending in a performance, and I was surprised how much I really liked it all.
The jazz music was beautiful, and every course is paired with a signature cocktail. It was fun to see what would be served next, and the service was personalized given the limited capacity of the venue. There's just one seating each night.
To put it in perspective how much I enjoyed it, I was invited by Royal Caribbean to try it without any cost the first time, and then I turned around and paid to do it again a week later.
Just like how you might do a fancy night out in a city at a well-known restaurant, I think Empire Supper Club is the sort of night out you could choose to do that you just won't find on another cruise ship.
While there are a lot of new innovations, Icon of the Seas still has the "Royal Caribbean DNA" that fans of the line will find familiar.
Early in Icon's development, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley said Icon of the Seas will feature a combination of "tradition, evolution and revolution", which means it would stay honest to the company's roots while also adding in new ideas.
Stalwart restaurants such as Sorrento's Pizza, Chops Grille, and the Windjammer buffet are all here and they are arguably the best versions of each.
You'll find Boleros, the Schooner Bar, and the Lime and Coconut, in addition to the new bars.
The Central Park neighborhood is familiar, yet more refined than the Oasis Class version.
I am certain if you asked Royal Caribbean, they would acknowledge there are things that could be better on Icon of the Seas. No cruise ship is perfect, and I certainly have my wish list of improvements.
If you're someone who usually stays in a suite, I think the Oasis Class suite offerings are still better because of they are larger and Icon's suite lounge feels very cramped.
Speaking of cabins, there seems to be less storage space than on Oasis Class ships too. As an example, the choice of baskets instead of drawers seems like a solution to a problem that never existed.
Read more: What a cabin on Icon of the Seas is like
I also think staggered performance times on the Royal Promenade isn't practical. On many nights, the live music in the Schooner Bar, Pub, or Boleros ended far too early because of noise bleed concerns. Royal Caribbean wanted a lively Royal Promenade with lots of energy, but I think it's a disservice to passengers.
The choice of Absolute Zero having one entrance and exit that flows through Playmakers Sports Bar is another head scratcher.
Whether these issues get sorted out on one of the new Icon Class ships or Icon of the Seas itself, they aren't enough to detract from Icon of the Seas being not only my favorite Royal Caribbean cruise ship, but a generational leap forward within the industry.
Tropical Storm Beryl continues to disrupt cruise ship plans, and this time it's impacting cruises from Galveston, Texas.
Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas will be delayed returning to port by one day, meaning the current sailing will be extended by one day and the next sailing shortened by a day.
Royal Caribbean Group Chief Meteorologist Craig Setzer confirmed the delay due to the arrival of Tropical Storm Beryl to the Texas area, along with the closure of the port.
"Mariner of the Seas will be delayed one day on her arrival," he posted on X/Twitter.
The 139,863 gross-ton, Voyager Class cruise ship is homeported in Galveston, Texas and departed on her current sailing July 4 on a 4-night Western Caribbean itinerary was scheduled to visit Cozumel on July 6.
Beryl reached Category 4 status and impacted many parts of the Caribbean, especially Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. It has since weakened to a Category 2 by the time it made landfall Friday on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and is now down to a tropical storm as it moved across the peninsula.
The cruise ship will remain outside of the bad weather as the tropical storm moves inland, "She will stay well south of Beryl & out of the bad weather today and Monday."
Royal Caribbean subsequently informed guests booked on Mariner of the Seas of the change in itinerary. Guests booked on the July 8th sailing will now sail on July 9th.
"Due to Tropical Storm Beryl's track through the Western Caribbean, our previous Mariner of the Seas sailing is delayed in returning to Galveston, Texas. As a result, our sailing will now take place on July 9, 2024."
"Unfortunately, this means we will not be able to visit Costa Maya, Mexico."
Royal Caribbean added they are continuing to monitor the weather, in case any changes are needed.
Royal Caribbean cruise ships always seek to avoid hurricanes and tropical storms, and in this situation where the embarkation port is impacted, there is little choice but to wait the storm out.
Royal Caribbean's changed plans are also reflected in the Port of Galveston shutting down operations.
"The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended vessel operations and is expected to close the port to vessel traffic at 4 p.m. today in advance of tropical storm conditions," said in a statement by the Port of Galveston.
The National Weather Service forecast shows Beryl moving NW at 12 mph with 60 mph sustained winds.
As of 10 a.m. Sunday, Beryl was located 195 miles south-southeast of Matagorda and it had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph.
Tropical Storm Beryl is expected to intensify to a Category 1 hurricane just before landfall near Matagorda Bay Monday morning.
The hurricane impacted the itineraries of several other cruise ships last week, including Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, and Harmony of the Seas.
Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and are ready to catch up on all the Royal Caribbean news from this week!
One cruise passenger swears she will be a Royal Caribbean fan for life, thanks to the medical attention she received onboard a cruise ship.
An emergency medical procedure meant one woman's cruise seemed like it would be lost, but Royal Caribbean waived the cancellation terms and offered her a chance to change sailings for a nominal fee.
"I’m so grateful for their kindness and compassion, fully knowing it was saw something they didn’t have to do," she wrote in her summary.
Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — What happens when a cruise is OVERBOOKED — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.
Meghan Trainor is about to add godmother to her many titles.
Royal Caribbean announced she will serve as godmother to its newest cruise ship, Utopia of the Seas.
The cruise line also announced a contest to give away to 52 winners free sailings on the July 15 departure of Utopia on the three-night cruise that will name the new ship.
The embarkation day lunch on Icon of the Seas features a wide selection of food, including filet mignon and lobster tail.
It's unusual for the buffet to offer these premium items, but Icon has been serving it up on embarkation day ever since the ship debuted in January.
As you walk into the Windjammer on embarkation day, there is a selection of freshly grilled filet mignon steaks on the first buffet line. along with lobster and shrimp.
What do you get for a suite that costs over $5,000 per night?
The Icon Loft Suite is one of the top suites on Icon of the Seas, and it comes with the best perks available onboard.
Measuring 656 square feet, with a balcony that falls anywhere between 108 and 172 square feet, there's also the Royal Genie services that come with it.
The world's biggest cruise ship has extravagant suites that come with the best benefits you'll find at sea.
Icon of the Seas has 8 neighborhoods onboard, including one just for cruise ship suites.
The Icon Loft Suite is one of the most expensive suites on the ship, and it comes with more living space than a traditional cabin. The price tag gets you Star Class benefits, which includes complimentary specialty dining, a drink package, gratuities, and the services of the Royal Genie.
It has the best benefits offered by Royal Caribbean, and we got a chance to tour the cabin. Let's take a look inside.
Located within the suite neighborhood, the Icon Loft Suite is in a part of the ship exclusive to those that booked a suite.
Being within the suite neighborhood means convenient access to the suite pool deck, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and suite lounge. Having access to these amenities is a highly sought-after perk because of the extra value they represent.
As you walk into the Icon Loft Suite, you'll quickly notice the this is unlike other cruise ship cabins.
Loft suites encompass two levels, and it has a giant floor-to-ceiling window leading to the balcony.
The look of the room is also quite opulent, with tile floors and marble furnishings.
With an occupancy of up to 4 passengers, being able to spread out is what makes this suite stand out.
There's a dining room table that can seat four people, and it's meant to be a place to enjoy meals delivered to your suite. Room service is included with this suite, and that includes being able to order food from specialty restaurants or the Main Dining Room. Guests staying in this cabin are able to have their meal served in the dining room.
Behind the table is a bar area with coffee maker, glasses, and stocked beverages. The Royal Genie ask prior to the cruise which beverages you'd like to have waiting in your cabin, and that includes alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
Moving further into the suite is the living room, with large couch. The couch opens up into a sofa bed and that's where up to two people can sleep.
Having two floors, the master bedroom is on the upper level, including the master bathroom.
Stairs lead to the upper level, where you'll find a king size bed. The bed overlooks the rest of the suite and has views to the windows, providing ocean views.
If you need privacy, a curtain can be extended by manually dragging the curtain. It provides very good darkness for sleeping in.
There are a large set of closets near the stairs.
You'll also find a vanity near the bed, with a television to the side of the bed.
There are outlets and a nightstand on both sides of the bed.
You'll really notice the extra space in this suite in the master bathroom.
The shower has two showerheads on opposite sides of the shower, with a walk-in door.
The dual sinks ensures there is ample counter space for a couple sharing this cabin.
There are many suites across Royal Caribbean's fleet, and I would characterize the balcony on the smaller side relative to the room category booked.
There's certainly enough space for people staying in this suite, but it feels smaller than I expected.
However, the ocean views provided are perfect for lounging in one of the provided loungers.
On the lower level is a second full bathroom, making it perfect for entertaining friends or sharing the cabin with others.
Having a second shower, sink, and toilet ensures the master bedroom level remains exclusive.
When you book a Star Class cabin, you'll get the services of a Royal Genie.
The genie services three cabins on Icon of the Seas, and assists with just about every need their guests might have. Dinner reservations, seats for a show, escorting on and off the ship, and even getting elevators for their guests are just some of the benefits they provide.
Think of a genie as an "easy button" for the cruise, where you don't need to pre-book things and simply inform the genie what you want to do, and they will make it happen.
If you want a suite with everything, the Icon Loft Suite is an excellent, albeit expensive choice.
You'll never got a great value out of a suite, because they're meant to be splurges that you can indulge and enjoy. Between the extra living space and the perks included with the suite, it's what someone seeking luxury accommodations would love.
The daunting price tag is going to limit who can afford to reserve it, but it's a lovely way to cruise.