Royal Caribbean passengers that were visiting its private island on Tuesday had to leave earlier than expected.
Photo by Tim Morrison
CocoCay is a private island in The Bahamas that is operated by Royal Caribbean exclusively for its guests. Celebrity Cruises will begin visiting the island as well later this year.
Rain storms passing through the tropics are quite common, but the wind in this case appeared to be the issue as photos posted by passengers show waves crashing against the pier and rocks.
Oasis of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas were visiting the island for the day when an announcement was made for guests to return to the ship.
Photo by Katie Eisterhold
According to posts on social media, a rapidly moving storm was approaching the island and that caused the cruise line to make the decision to cut their day short.
It appears the announcements were made around 1:00pm over the island's speaker system to return to the ship.
The Bahamas Department of Meteorology indicated a deep low-pressure system is moving northeastwards across the Northwest Bahamas while dragging a cold front. They're expecting continued bouts of unsettled weather, consisting of heavy to severe thunderstorms with strong gusty winds, heavy downpours.
Bahamas forecasters are predicting the low to gradually strengthen and the pressure gradient behind it will tighten to produce increasing winds up to gale force through Wednesday.
The Bahamas Department of Meteorology added the potential for seas to rise as high as 16 to 20 feet offshore, along Atlantic exposures on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Tami Golden wrote on Facebook, "It was announced over a public address system to please return the ship."
Photo by Sheri Lynn Monroe
Katie John added, "they were going to call everyone back to the ship via speakers on the island and close everything down due to wind and deteriorating weather."
"Glad they did, because not too long after they got everyone back, the waves were crashing over the pier, and the wind increased to 35mph."
Jessica Aguiar Oliveira said that guests that had booked anything extra would be refunded their costs due to the day being cut short.
Photo by Natasha at Mad Hatter Adventures
Many guests were understanding of the change in plans, "Royal Caribbean staff was amazing and it was so organized to get everyone back to the ship safely," wrote a Facebook user named Natasha.
"Sometimes weather happens and we can’t do anything about it. All 10 of us ladies are safe and we are departing shortly to head on a sea day a little early! "
Based on social media, it appears Freedom of the Seas was able to undock and leave while Oasis of the Seas remained docked.
Photo by Missy Billingsley
Missy Billingsley wrote that Oasis of the Seas acted as a wind blocker for the relatively smaller Freedom of the Seas, "The captain literally told us that we were going to be the block for the Freedom to get outta here."
Photo by Beci Mahnken
Other Royal Caribbean ships have been re-routed already to avoid the path of the storm. Allure of the Seas is cancelling a scheduled visit to Nassau, Bahamas on Wednesday and will instead remain at sea.
Winter weather in the Caribbean
January and February are about as far from hurricane season as you can get, but that doesn't mean bad weather doesn't occur.
This time of the year is usually associated with a lack of precipitation, as winter is the dry season for the tropics. However, cold fronts can still bring with storms with them.
Part of the rationale for building a pier at CocoCay was to prevent high winds from cancelling port stops. Having a dock makes it easier for cruise ships to visit a port of call, as opposed to tendering.
The very first cruise on Icon of the Seas is in the books, and going on a maiden voyage of a new ship is unlike other sailings.
Royal Caribbean treats its inaugural cruises like a big party. You'll notice things that stand out from pretty much any other sailing. This is because a new ship is a really big deal.
As a company, so many resources have been dedicated for years to make the new ship a reality and the culmination of those efforts is welcoming passengers onboard. Plus, it's an excuse to celebrate.
I've sailed on a few inaugural voyages so far, but Icon's stood out in a few ways. If you're considering trying an inaugural sailing in the future, here's what Royal Caribbean did on Icon.
Champagne when you board
One thing Royal Caribbean does on any inaugural sailing is roll out the red carpet and welcome passengers on the ship.
On any sailing, there will be crew members that will meet you at the embarkation point to say hello and welcome you onboard, but on Icon, there's champagne too.
Crew members offered complimentary glasses of champagne as you entered. Free alcohol on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is not something that comes regularly, so it's a sign that this is indeed a different kind of cruise.
Swag
Photo by Rich Triplett
Another way Royal Caribbean celebrates a new sailing is by giving its passengers free gifts.
Each night of the inaugural sailing, there was something given away for free. These gifts were left in passengers' staterooms by their cabin attendant, so there's nothing extra anyone needs to do.
On Icon, we received, hats, bags, water bottles, lanyards, rubber ducks, and even a bartender set.
Photo by PG Cruiser
The idea is this is a big celebration where party favors are a way to remember the occasion.
The gifts given on an inaugural cruise will vary, but there's usually at least a few gifts given to guests.
Lots of executives
Photo by Nick Weir
If you look around, you shouldn't be surprised to find Royal Caribbean's top executives onboard too.
Executives are there primarily to ensure everything is going as planned. With any new ship, getting everything running exactly as it should be is not a simple task, especially on the first in a class.
Executives observe, provide guidance, and even step in to assist to keep everything flowing.
In addition to a support role, executives are there to revel in the experience and interact with guests. They want feedback to evaluate how well things are running.
I saw executives from the Food & Beverage, Entertainment, and Product Development teams around Icon in a variety of roles.
As an example, Royal Caribbean Senior Vice President of Entertainment Nick Weir was present at every single production show I saw to observe, take notes, and celebrate his team's progress.
Incomplete shows
It's not unusual that every single activity is ready on day one, and that was the case on Icon of the Seas as well.
There was a sign for the escape room, but I don't believe that's ready at all.
Only one show in the Aquatheater was running, and that show wasn't quite 100% complete yet.
Mr. Weir posted on Twitter it will take about a year to get it all right, "FYI we will tinker and tweak and add and subtract for the next twelve months before we consider the show full and finalized. A long and enjoyable process that we openly share with our guests. "
The Wizard of Oz was ready, but it did encounter some technical glitches. One performance on the first night had to be completely cancelled after about 15 minutes and delayed until day six of the sailing.
Shows not being completely ready was also something that happened on the Wonder of the Seas inaugural voyage.
If you go on a maiden sailing, be prepared for not every show to be totally ready for that voyage, but they will be ready as the weeks progress.
Best crew members in the fleet
One of the best aspects of going on an inaugural sailing are the crew members, because Royal Caribbean hand picks the best of the best to go on any new ship.
New ships aren't quite the well-oiled machine that existing ships are, and as a result, procedures and plans need to be worked out. To do that, they need experienced crew members who have demonstrated results under pressure.
I've noticed there's a certain subset of crew members that relish a brand new cruise ship and love jumping in to assist with the start up of a new ship. I think they regard it as a kind of challenge.
If you cruise Royal Caribbean a lot, you may recognize a few familiar faces from other ships.
This isn't limited to just the crew that serve you either. Icon had Royal Caribbean's A-list comedians perform all week (instead of just a couple days), along with their best Pub, Schooner Bar, and Dueling Piano players.
Bringing in top crew members sets the ship up for success.
Upgraded buffet on embarkation day
A new cruise ship has plenty of new things to check out, but don't overlook the buffet on embarkation day.
Upon boarding Icon of the Seas on embarkation day, there was one of the best spreads of food I'd ever seen in a buffet.
Filet mignon, lobster tail, tuna tartare, and crab legs were just some of the choices available and with no limit either.
It's a good reminder of how this first cruise is a big deal.
Fireworks and celebrations
Speaking of a big deal, nothing says "we're here to celebrate" quite like fireworks.
Upon departure from Miami, Icon of the Seas enjoyed a fireworks display off the ship's starboard side.
In every port of call Icon visited, foreign dignitaries from that country came onboard Icon to welcome the ship. For these countries, Royal Caribbean selecting their nation to host a ship with as much as notoriety as Icon of the Seas is a badge of honor.
Is going on an inaugural cruise worth it?
I once described a new ship's inaugural sailing as a combination of "Woodstock and Prom", and I stand by that description.
It's a giant party, reunion, and celebration rolled into one. There's as much enjoyment of the cruise itself as being able to say, "I was there!" to someone back home.
There can be hiccups, and some aspects of the cruise planning process take much longer than they normally do. But after years of anticipation, being among the first to walk onboard and experience it all is a pretty neat feeling.
It may not be for someone who wants the ship to be running like clockwork, but if you're flexible, an inaugural voyage can be a real treat.
Ready for a no kids allowed beach day? Royal Caribbean has one entire area on its private island for adults only!
This adults-only beach is called Hideaway Beach, and it's located on Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. If your Royal Caribbean cruise ship visits the island, you have the choice to book a pass here, but everyone needs to be at least 18 years old to enter.
This is more than just a section of beach without kids. It has impressive offerings in a rather large area that includes a heated pool too.
Here's what to expect if you try Hideaway Beach, and if it's worth the cost.
Hideaway Beach overview
It's a short walk or tram ride to Hideaway Beach, and you can see it from your where your cruise ship docks.
The walk is a mere five minutes, but I'd recommend taking the complimentary tram that departs near the waterpark.
Hideaway Beach has a limited capacity of around 1,800 guests and it's made up of three areas:
Beach
Infinity pool
Cabanas
One thing that you will notice upon entering is how large the area is. The beach is cove shaped and runs the width of the entire section. It's certainly among the largest beaches you'll find at Royal Caribbean's private island.
There are chairs and umbrellas throughout the beach, and if you venture to the far end of the beach, there are even in-water palapas, hammocks, and swings.
The pool area includes a swim-up bar with DJ that plays party music throughout the day. Royal Caribbean wants this area to be fun and lively, and you'll find the party atmosphere in the pool throughout the day.
One key difference between the pool at Hideaway compared to Oasis Lagoon is this pool is heated.
There are day beds in the pool, which are available to whoever claims them first.
Admission to Hideaway Beach includes:
Access to the beach and pool
Complimentary in-water hammocks, resort-style loungers, and umbrellas
Food from Hideaway Hut and Slice of Paradise
There are two types of cabanas you can rent for the day, which includes admission for up to six guests. The Hideaway cabanas are located closer to the pool, while the Hideout cabanas are more of a VIP cabana with private pool.
Hideout cabanas cost more, but offer more exclusivity.
How much does a pass to Hideaway Beach cost?
Royal Caribbean uses variable pricing for admission, but you could pay as much as $99 per person if you wait to buy it onboard your cruise.
The good news is you will almost certainly pay less if you pre-purchase a pass before your cruise begins on the Royal Caribbean website or app. Without a doubt, you should pre-purchase admission to lock in a better price and guard against passes selling out.
Prices for a cabana will vary just as much, but here is a general ballpark of pricing:
Hideaway cabana: $899 - $1,699
Hideout cabana: $1,899 - $2,699
To purchase a day pass or cabana, you can do so via Royal Caribbean's website before the cruise. While you could but it onboard the ship, the price will almost certainly be higher and there's a good chance it will sell out before the cruise even begins.
Remember that you can cancel and rebook prior to your cruise if the price drops.
Dining and food at Hideaway Beach
Admission to Hideaway Beach includes food at two complimentary restaurants.
Hideaway Hut is essentially a plussed version of the Snack Shack found elsewhere on CocoCay. Royal Caribbean took the base menu there, and added more options to provide added value.
In addition to the favorites from the Snack Shack, you'll find coconut shrimp basket, fish sandwich, and ceviche.
The other restaurant you can dine at is Slice of Paradise, which offers pizza and empanadas.
While there's pizza on your cruise ship, there's no pizza elsewhere on the island, so this is a new option.
There are a few varieties of pizza to try, and it's available by the slice. Fresh made empanadas are also available.
The food in Hideaway is very tasty and also very quick. I think the idea is being in Hideaway means enjoying a fun day in the beach and pool, and Royal Caribbean wants to enable guests to be able to get something to eat and return to the fun quicker.
If you have a cabana booked, food can be delivered to your cabana from the same restaurants you can walk to in Hideaway. Every cabana has a cabana attendant that visits your cabana regularly to bring food or drink you might want.
The food is included, but drinks cost extra. If you have a Royal Caribbean drink package, your benefits work in Hideaway Beach and you'll be able to enjoy those benefits in the cabana too. Ditto for Diamond Drink vouchers.
Hideout cabanas can also enjoy bottle service.
Is Hideaway Beach worth it?
Hideaway Beach is much more than just another beach on Perfect Day at CocoCay that caters to just adults. It encapsulates arguably the best island experience to date.
At its heart, Hideaway Beach is about picking a place just for adults. While Royal Caribbean cruise ships are family-friendly ships, getting a break from the kids might be a nice change of pace for a segment of the population. I think there's other people that would prefer the amenities offered at Hideaway Beach regardless of the fact there's kids or not.
In spending the day at Hideaway Beach, it's clear that Royal Caribbean has cherry picked the best things from around Perfect Day and incorporated them into Hideaway. It has the infinity pool from Coco Beach Club, the DJ and swim-up bar from Oasis Lagoon, the Snack Shack, and of course a beautiful cove.
Speaking of the DJ, there's a lot of music in the Hideaway. You can expect a live band performing at On The Rocks bar, DJ music at the pool, and piped in music around the beach. If you're looking for a quiet beach day, the Coco Beach Club might be a better fit for you.
If a cabana is in your budget, they are a wonderful way to enhance your day. The added service, reserved seating, and shade provided is a nice upgrade.
The upgraded food choices is also a nice touch. While you wont confuse the food here to the Coco Beach Club, you're also paying significantly less.
As a parent of school-aged kids, an adults-only area was never high on my wish list. But I have to admit the amenities in Hideaway Beach are so compelling, I'm contemplating how I can take my wife and leave the kids with someone else because the experience is so fun.
I love the heated pool, swim-up bar, and beautiful beach cove. There's less seaweed at Hideaway than at other beaches too.
If there's one thing I don't care for that much, it's the DJ and the loud party music that is played throughout the day. Based on how many people were in the pool and dancing along to the music, I recognize this is a "me problem" and I'm probably in the minority. Nonetheless, I had a great time because of the upgraded nature of this area.
If you can book admission for under $50 per person, I think Hideaway Beach is worth booking. Royal Caribbean has hit a home run with combining some of their best ideas in one area. The fact it's adults-only is secondary, that's how good the area feels.
Royal Caribbean Group reported its fourth quarter 2023 earnings, along with a rosy outlook for the year to come.
The company took in $3.3 billion in total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2023, with a Net Income was $0.3 billion. For the year, Royal Caribbean Group had Net Income of $1.7 billion in 2023 following up on 2022 when Net Income was a $2.2 billion loss.
The earnings are better than expected thanks to a lot of last-minute bookings, strong demand overall, and higher cruise fare prices.
Just as importantly. the company is more excited for 2024 as it sees the potential for massive earnings.
A great 2023
Looking back at 2023, this was the bounce back year that Royal Caribbean needed.
About 7.6 million passengers sailed across Royal Caribbean Group's brands in 2023, compared to 5.5 million in 2022 and 6.5 million in 2019.
It was profitable enough to pay off approximately $4 billion of debt in 2023 while refinancing other debts to better position itself for the coming years.
On average, ships sailed at 105% capacity in the fourth quarter of 2023. Occupancy in the fourth quarter was higher than that of the same period in 2022.
A big year in 2024 is expected
So far, bookings in wave season are off to a "record start". This references the start of the year when interest in new cruise ship bookings are at its highest. They call it wave season because the momentum from the first few months of the year carries the company for the rest of the year as a wave would carry someone to shore.
Royal Caribbean had the five best booking weeks of the company's history since the third quarter earnings call, including the first three weeks of this year.
"As a result, the company is now in a record booked position in both rate and volume," the company said in a press release.
As has been the case for the past few years, a combination of increased demand and customers spending more on cruise ship add-ons is fueling this optimistic outlook.
"Consumer spending onboard and pre-cruise purchases continue to exceed prior years driven by greater participation at higher prices, indicating quality and healthy future demand."
Cruise fare prices and occupancy rates are both listed as higher in 2024 than in all prior years.
The company also pointed to exceptional positivity towards Icon of the Seas and Hideaway Beach expansion as two shining examples of the cruise market favoring this sort of demand.
Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty issued a statement describing his view of why 2024 will shape up as a big year, "Demand for our brands continues to outpace broader travel as a result of consumer spend further shifting toward experiences and the exceptional value proposition of our products."
"We have exciting new vacation experiences in 2024, including the game changing Icon of the Seas, and have entered the year in a record booked position at significantly higher prices, further positioning us for a strong 2024."
Royal Caribbean has outdone itself with Icon of the Seas, thanks to new innovations, changes, and a few tweaks.
Overall, I've enjoyed sailing on the new biggest cruise ship in the world because the ship has so many aspects that really stand out as being important. Subtle changes, such as the pool deck being broken up so it doesn't feel like just another cruise ship pool deck, to adding stairs, escalators, and shortcuts, have really had an effect on the enjoyment factor.
Like any Royal Caribbean ship, I can't help but compare and contrast it to other ships, and I've found a number of things I enjoy and some others I wish they would change.
Being the first ship in the Icon Class, it's impressive how much Royal Caribbean got right out of the gate with this ship. The line spent a great deal of time mocking up venues at their headquarters and utilizing virtual reality to better understand the flow and feel for venues that have never existed. The result has been fantastic.
I thought about my time on Icon of the Seas and what I've enjoyed about the ship and what truly stands out.
Icon feels uncrowded
From the day we boarded Icon of the Seas, it became clear crowds have not been an issue and it almost feels weird how uncrowded the ship is.
I'm not saying Icon feels like a private yacht or that there aren't any lines, but it has been remarkable how uncrowded the ship has felt. It's been especially true in places where I usually expect to find a lot of people, such as the pool deck or Royal Promenade.
On a sea day, I went to try to find a crowd. The Hideaway and Swim & Tonic bar is where I found the largest crowds, but even that was fairly manageable.
In many cases, other guests mentioned how empty the ship felt.
To be fair, the first sailing is not at maximum capacity, but there are about 5,500 passengers along with 2,300 crew members onboard. That's not a small number of humans on one ship.
I think the reason Icon feels so uncrowded so far is because of how much there is to do that draws people away.
There are three different theaters, an entire waterpark, live music, 40 bars and restaurants, seven pools, and a variety of other activities.
Plus, you have better flow of guests onboard with stairs, escalators, and shortcuts. It all adds up to help keep passengers moving and the ship really feels emptier than I would have ever expected.
Really good complimentary restaurants
Royal Caribbean has introduced a lot of specialty restaurants over the last few years, but darn if the food included with your cruise fare isn't really good too.
Besides the Main Dining Room, Sorrento's Pizza, and Windjammer, there are a few other new venues included in your cruise fare that are drawing me back time and time again.
Aquadome Market is a new food hall concept and it's a home run. So much variety, and so good food. I could eat the Greek gyros every day.
The Surfside neighborhood has three new restaurants, two of which are included. Surfside Bites and Surfside Eatery might be targeted at kids, but who doesn't love chicken tenders, hot dogs, and quesadillas?
Basecamp has a majority of extra-cost items, but I'd be remiss if I didn't stop for a complimentary basket of pretzel bites every time I walk by.
And then there's Pearl Cafe, which is a revamped version of Cafe Promenade. It has grab-and-go snacks available 24 hours a day, new drink dispensers, and a beautiful lounge space. It's one of the most popular spots to hang out on Icon.
Wide open spaces
Perhaps contributing to the feel that Icon of the Seas is uncrowded are the expanded and open venues.
The Royal Promenade stretches from side to side of the ship and it feels so nice having a space that doesn't remind me of a shopping mall.
How did they do this? They removed the Promenade facing cabins to add more space in this neighborhood.
Chill Island is the de-facto pool deck, but Royal Caribbean has spread out the pools and added so many chairs in the shade and sun that you can roll up to the pool at lunch on a sea day and still get a chair.
By opening up these decks, it really feels like you have more space to spread out.
Empire Supper Club
I wasn't sure if I would like Royal Caribbean's most expensive specialty restaurant, but I ended up loving it.
Empire Supper Club is a new dining experience, and the only comparison I can draw is to Chef's Table. Chef's Table had three flaws that kept me from ever loving it: you have to sit with strangers, it's paired with a lot of wine, and the food was always a little too frou-frou for my taste.
Empire Supper Club addresses all three of those problems, and includes amazing entertainment.
It's an intimate dining experience to be sure, but you are seated at your own table, so you don't have to worry about awkward conversations with strangers at the onset of the meal.
Instead of wine pairs, each course is paired with cocktails and I think there's a more universal appeal to cocktails. I certainly liked it better.
As for the food, the entrees are fantastic (try the Chilean Sea Bass) and I found each of the appetizers really tasty as well. Given the pacing, I think there's plenty to eat and it's all very good.
Yes, it's $200 per person to eat at Empire Supper Club, so it's not cheap. But I do think it's worth trying as a way to celebrate being on vacation and splurging a little bit.
More outlets than ever
You won't have to go very far to find a power outlet on Icon.
There are more electrical and USB outlets on Icon of the Seas than I've ever seen on another Royal Caribbean cruise ship. This is so helpful to ensure you can keep your devices charged no matter where you are.
Staterooms have always been where you could find dedicated power, and for the first time, there are likely more power and USB outlets than you can possibly use. For families, this is a really big deal as you don't have to play the game of which device can you disconnect so someone else can get a turn.
In the cabin, there are outlets on both sides of the bed, as well as by the vanity. Depending on which room type you have, there are also outlets near the television, storage areas and more.
Around the ship, there are lots of outlets in public venues and that means you can enjoy spending time in these places, rather than having to go back to your room to power up.
In Pearl Cafe and the Overlook, there are outlets at almost every chair. At bars and restaurants, you'll find them too.
Destination elevators
I never thought a new kind of elevator could have such a profound effect on crowds and waiting, but it's been a real win with the destination elevators on Icon.
Instead of traditional elevators, you go to a panel and indicate which floor you'd like to go to and are directed to a particular elevator.
Once in that elevator, there are no buttons to push and the car goes directly to the floors that have been programmed for you.
It may not seem like it would have that big of a difference, but the time spent waiting for an elevator on Icon has been substantially reduced. Even when there are big crowds, such as when a show lets out, the destination elevators more efficiently get people where they need go with less waiting.
Royal Caribbean changed to destination elevators because the cruise line knew waiting for an elevator was a problem on Oasis Class ships. Since Icon was going to have more passengers, they needed a better way to move up 7,500 passengers seamlessly.
The result has been a tremendously faster experience, and I think you'll be equally surprised how well the elevators work on Icon.
Surfside restaurants
There are many new bars, restaurants, and lounges on Icon, but I think the least-heralded ones are in Surfside because the area has been written off as "just for kids."
However, I really think you would be remiss if you didn't stop for the food in Surfside, regardless of if you have children or not with you.
There are two complimentary restaurants, as well as an a la carte restaurant.
Surfside Eatery is a buffet, and while it is intended for kids, there's a lot of good food here. Plenty of adults are picky eaters, but more importantly, plenty of adults like quesadillas, hot dogs, and fruit.
If you're really in a rush, try the popcorn chicken from Surfside Bites next door.
And the real sleeper hit of Icon of the Seas is Pier 7, which is a new specialty restaurant.
Pier 7 offers brunch and dinner, and the menu is meant to appeal to parents and kids. Essentially, there should be something for all palates here.
The menu consists of an all-day brunch, tacos, poke bowls, and more. It's priced a la carte, so you pay for you what you order. If you have the Ultimate Dining Package, you get $20 per person, per day to eat here.
Cruise ship food can get repetitive, so I appreciate that Pier 7 has more variety to consider and it's somewhere else you could go for a meal. Plus, I think having all-day brunch is going to be a popular choice for those who like to sleep in but still want breakfast.
Wizard of Oz
Photo by Woofie Al
Royal Caribbean has a well-deserved reputation for having the best entertainment at sea, and The Wizard of Oz show might be its best show yet.
As the signature show on Icon of the Seas, Oz has been highly anticipated and the show matches up nicely.
The production value is off the charts. From the set, to the costumes, to the special effects, this is no musical medley. It's on par with any stage show you might see in a city (and have to pay extra to see).
While I was disappointed all of the shows weren't available to see on the inaugural cruise, Wizard of Oz alone makes up for it all with its high quality.
Things I didn't like about Icon of the Seas
Nothing in this world is perfect, and I found a few aspects of Icon of the Seas that I think could be improved.
Staggering of Royal Promenade entertainment
One goal Royal Caribbean has had with the Royal Promenade was to make the area have much more energy, so they opened up the venues more so that you can experience a taste of what's happening inside as you walk by.
Nearly all of the venues (except The Attic) are fully open, so music can be heard from all over the Royal Promenade, making it more enticing for passengers to want to experience it all.
I love this change, but I'm not sure the timing has been well thought out.
The issue is they want certain musical acts to be playing when others aren't, and the result is it seems like you have less time to enjoy them all.
As an example, the guitarist in the pub regularly stops performing around 10:45pm so that Boleros (located across the Promenade and above) can perform. The guitarist in the pub starts earlier, but between shows and dinner, there's wasted time as I have found the pub gets busiest on other ships between 10pm and midnight.
Noise bleed is inevitably going to happen, but I don't think the entertainment needs to grind to a halt during prime time.
Suite lounge feels cramped
The suite lounge on Icon is a shared space with Coastal Kitchen, but unlike the Oasis Class ships that do the same thing, this area feels far more constricted.
As you enter the Suite Neighborhood, you'll find the suite concierge and the suite lounge hugging the left side of the area, with Coastal Kitchen taking up much of the space.
I found there just isn't a lot of seating, and what seating is there is very close together. This is especially true of the tables in Coastal Kitchen. The nice thing about Coastal Kitchen is that it encompasses two floors.
Baskets instead of drawers
This last thing I don't love is purely aesthetic, but I noticed in many standard cabins, baskets have essentially replaced a few drawers.
The problem I have with baskets is the contents are visible to someone outside the room. The baskets are too small to put larger garments in them (such as pants), so I think smaller clothing will inevitably be put in them, such as undergarments.
Regardless of what you put in them, if you have friends come to your room to hang out, the clothing is visible and that bothers me. Maybe that's just me.
Speaking of storage, there is sufficient room to put your clothes and belongings away, but it feels like there is less space than on Wonder of the Seas. I think the change is a result of removing the storage that used to be around the bed frame on other ships.
As I said, there is enough space to put belongings away, but it feels like there is less than you might otherwise have on an Oasis Class ship.
I've spent over a week on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas and it's an impressive cruise ship, but there are some important things you'll want to do to maximize it all.
Royal Caribbean calls Icon of the Seas a "white paper ship", because it was designed from scratch to incorporate the line's best ideas. Suffice to say, I've heard so many great things from other passengers on how impressed they are. Destination elevators, an expansive pool deck neighborhood, more for the kids than ever, and new entertainment venues are just some of the early wins.
I got to thinking how could someone going on Icon truly get the most out of their vacation. I thought about the ways anyone could save time, money, and their sanity, by embracing a few easy tips to have a better cruise.
Icon is a giant ship, but don't let its size overwhelm you. There's easy ways to make it all work.
Get to know the neighborhoods
Understanding the layout of Icon of the Seas is probably the first thing you should figure out.
Icon borrows the neighborhood concept from the Oasis Class cruise ships, but it's far from a copy-and-paste job. The layout is notably different, and you may find yourself early on trying to figure out which area has which venue.
At the risk of making a shameless plug, we put together a walkthrough video tour that you can watch to easily get a sense of where everything is before the cruise begins. While deck maps are also available, I think they are not as intuitive to understanding layout and flow.
Once you get on Icon of the Seas, be sure to walk around a lot on the first day so you can get your bearings.
One thing you'll notice is how inviting each neighborhood is, and how you might be drawn in immediately to one area and realize you haven't made it to a different neighborhood yet. Royal Caribbean wanted the ship to offer something for everyone, and I found I would wander into one area and hang out there longer than I anticipated.
You may find yourself drawn into an a lounge, pool, or activity and spend more time there than you anticipated because it's just that endearing.
You can use the Royal Caribbean app for much more on Icon
Royal Caribbean has introduced new app features first just for Icon of the Seas, so be sure to take advantage of them (so be sure to download the app before the cruise).
In addition to the repertoire of useful functionality, the Royal Caribbean app has new features that you can now use:
Express Boarding
Guests who check-in ahead of time and scan their documents get to go through the “Express Boarding” and breeze through the cruise terminal in minutes
Faster WiFi access
Once shipboard, guests can connect directly to WiFi and their Internet plans through the app (rather than going into their phone settings or dealing with a captive portal).
AI Help
Guests can now get help from a chatbot or chat with a Guest Services agent through the Royal Caribbean app.
The Guest Services team now has a Virtual Queueing system to schedule and manage guest visits.
Dinner reservations
Guests receive push notifications when their tables are ready for main dining, helping reduce the pre-dinner crowds.
Easier photo purchases
And guests can view and purchase photos directly through the app, instead of having to visit and crowd around kiosks.
Pre-book your shows whenever possible
Royal Caribbean allows guests to book tickets to their shows in the weeks leading up to their cruise and this is not just a good idea, it's a must-do.
The hottest ticket on Icon of the Seas are the top shows: Aqua Action, Wizard of Oz, and Starburst. Even the comedy shows are tough to book too.
Theoretically, Royal Caribbean puts its tickets to book 30 days before the cruise from the Cruise Planner website. For at least the first few sailings, the cruise line has needed more time to get its reservations open.
Regardless of when they're available, book shows to ensure you get in easily.
There will also be tickets made available on the ship. There's a box office you can visit to get reservations on embarkation day, so that's a good back-up option.
Arrive very early for standby shows
Photo by Beci Mahnken
If you don't get a ticket, don't fret, you can still likely get in the show but you'll need to be an early bird.
There is a standby line for each show, and the key is to get in the standby line early. I would recommend getting in line at least 30-45 minutes before the listed start time to be able to be among the first to enter the theater once they admit standby line guests in.
Even if you have a ticket, I'd still recommend getting to the show early. Seating is limited in many venues, especially the AquaTheater. Remember, your ticket assures you of a seat, but not necessarily the best seat. So arrive early.
Don't overlook the great included food options
It's so tempting to book specialty restaurants, but the restaurants included with your fare are not bad at all on Icon.
Pearl Cafe has replaced Cafe Promenade, and it offers grab-and-go snacks 24 hours a day. It's a significant upgrade in terms of food quality and selection.
Perhaps the best complimentary restaurant to come out of Royal Caribbean in at least a decade is the Aquadome Market.
This is Royal Caribbean's first food hall, and it is really good. You have the choice of Greek, mac and cheese, crepes, Asian, or salads. It's all freshly made, and it's the kind of food you'll want to go back again to get more.
Surfside might be the new neighborhood for young families, but don't skip the restaurants here. There's two included restaurants that serve up a lot of comfort food: Surfside Bites and Surfside Eatery.
Whether you want to keep your laptop, iPhone, or any electronic device powered up, it's easier on Icon.
There are so many more outlets in public venues than ever before. On older ships, it's a miracle if you can find a single electric plug to use around the ship because ships were not designed with USB or 120V outlets in mind.
Around Icon, there are lots of outlets you can use. As more people work remotely from cruise ships (thank you Starlink internet), there's more of a need to have power. Plus, sometimes you just want to keep your phone going because you used a lot of battery already listening to music.
Pearl Cafe in particular has a ton of outlets, as does the Overlook in the Aquadome. Most bars have plugs as well that you can use.
Book your cruise early for the best price
If Icon of the Seas sounds like a fantastic cruise ship to sail on, you will want to book it as early as possible.
Cruise prices are dynamic, but as rooms get booked up, inventory drops and prices go up. Demand for Icon of the Seas is so strong right now that you cannot expect a price drop.
Your best strategy for getting a good price on Icon is to book early, like right now. The earlier you book, you can lock in the price.
The cruise industry is experiencing unparalleled demand, and you'll see that in the prices. Icon is a premium ship with premium pricing, so booking early is your best plan (rather than waiting for a last-minute deal).
We asked thirteen chefs and food-obsessed executives to debate the most memorable plates on Royal Caribbean's newest ship.
There are dozens of restaurants and bars on Icon of the Seas to try, so how how do you sift through every single one and choose the most essential dishes?
I struggled with trying to sample everything on my short Icon of the Seas preview sailing that the cruise line invited me on in the days before the new ship's maiden voyage.
It occurred to me that it would make sense to go straight to the source and ask some of the chefs, senior staff, and executives for their picks. Some of them had been on Icon for nearly a month, and had gone through preparing the venues for paying customers. As a result, they tried a lot of the food.
I was surprised by the breadth of answers I got. I was initially worried about repetition in answers, but it turned out there are a number of great picks among the list I compiled.
Here's a list of the top dishes and drinks straight from the top of Royal Caribbean.
1. Chilean Sea Bass at Empire Supper Club
Three different people picked the Chilean Sea Bass as their favorite dish, and that caught my attention when I went to eat there.
Empire Supper Club is a brand new concept for Royal Caribbean. The line has never done an intimate dining experience that incorporated entertainment, cuisine, and formality like this, and the finished product is quite impressive.
Among the three entrees you can choose from, the Chilean Sea Bass stands out for how much flavor it has and how tender it is. It's a cliche to say food melts, but this one really does.
Izumi Master Chef Travis Kamiyama, Royal Caribbean International Chief Marketing Officer Kara Wallace, and Royal Caribbean International Senior Director of Fleet Restaurant Operations Dominique Gamba all chose this as their favorite food on Icon of the Seas.
To the best of my knowledge, Royal Caribbean has never served Chilean Sea Bass before at another venue, but it turned out to be a great choice. You can also try the steak or rabbit at Empire Supper Club, but given how highly recommended the Sea Bass is, it's difficult to pass up.
2. Gyros at Aquadome Market
Aquadome Market is another brand new dining concept on Icon of the Seas, and it's Royal Caribbean's first foray into a food hall. And it's complimentary!
I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the Aquadome Market when the cruise line was testing out a bare bones concept at its Innovation Lab in Miami. Even in that form, I was impressed by the food ideas the culinary team came up with.
Paul Fortin, Senior Director of Culinary Operations (and a chef), picked the gyros from the Feta station, as did Thierry Houlbert, Senior Traveling Corporate Pastry Chef.
It's easy to see why the gyros are a great choice. They're freshly made when you order them, it uses fresh ingredients, and it's a satisfying street food dish.
Feta offers pork or chicken gyro meat, as well as falafel. And since it's in the food hall, you can also grab mac and cheese, crepes, and a salad at one of the other stations too.
3. Giant meatball at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen
Royal Caribbean brought back Giovanni's Italian Kitchen to Icon of the Seas, which is the line's preeminent Italian specialty restaurant.
Among the dishes you'll find at Giovanni's, is an aptly named appetizer, the Giant Meatball.
It's doused in Parmesan cheese, surrounded by marinara sauce, stuffed with spinach, and it was the dish that Director, Entertainment & Guest Activities at Royal Caribbean International, Ken Rush picked out immediately.
Like so many dishes at Giovanni's, the meatball is a comfort food and classic dish.
4. Amuse-bouche at Empire Supper Club
Another entry from Empire Supper Club is actually something you won't find listed on the menu.
This new restaurant boasts eight courses, including a very tasty start to the meal.
Royal Caribbean International Assistant Vice President of Guest Experience, Aurora Yera-Rodriguez, chose the amuse-bouche (pronounced ahmooz-boosh).
This is a French term that comes from the combined words amuser (to amuse), and bouche (mouth), and it's a tiny bagel topped with cheese and caviar.
5. Pepperoni pizza at Sorrento's
When I asked Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley his favorite food on Icon of the Seas, I don't think I would have predicted pizza would have been his choice.
Sorrento's is the well-known pizza chain on most of Royal Caribbean's cruise ships. Pizza might not be the most impressive food on Icon, but darn if it's not a good eat everytime you have it.
Mr. Bayley (AKA Bada-Bling Bayley) picked the pepperoni pizza specifically, noting it was something he always eats on any cruise.
6. Korean Fried Chicken at Pier 7
Royal Caribbean Vice President Food & Beverage, Linken D'Souza, is responsible for all the dining venues on Icon of the Seas. In fact, he lead all the dining initiatives around the fleet, so he has had his hand in pretty much every aspect of eating on Icon of the Seas.
Mr. D'Souza picked a restaurant from the new family-friendly neighborhood of Surfside.
Pier 7 is the first family-oriented specialty restaurant that is free for kids, and only the adults pay for it.
Mr. D'Souza chose the Korean Fried Chicken as his top dish, and he's become quite the connoisseur of fried chicken during his tenure at Royal Caribbean. You'll find a fried chicken dish at the Mason Jar and Portside BBQ, both of which are new venues that he lead the creation of on other ships.
7. Goat cheese salad at Chops Grille
Chops Grille is on every single Royal Caribbean cruise ship, and its menu is among the most well-known. That might be why Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty picked something from its menu.
His choice was the Goat Cheese salad appetizer, which features a bed of greens topped with a large fried piece of goat cheese.
The crispy goat cheese salad is served with green apples, candied walnuts, cranberries, and balsamic dressing.
It's creamy and delicious, with a tang from the balsamic dressing and sour green apples.
Mr. Liberty also gave an honorable mention to the Penne alla Puttanseca with Salmon from Giovanni's Italian Kitchen as another of his favorite foods on Icon of the Seas.
8. Raviolo at Empire Supper Club
Yet another pick from Empire Supper Club is from Heather Hust Rivera, Royal Caribbean Group Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer.
She chose the Raviolo, which is served towards the beginning of the meal.
Paired with the Staten Island Spritz, the Raviolo is a pasta with a soft egg yolk inside, surrounded by a lovely sauce.
A raviolo is a single, large piece that is served as its own dish, and our team ranked it at the very top of the Empire Supper Club's menu.
9. Tomahawk steak at Chops Grille
On Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean introduced a new sub menu to the Chops Grille menu that offers higher quality cuts of meat to enjoy.
There's waygu beef, Porterhouse, and a Tomahawk steak (among other choices). The extra cost these steaks have serve up the sort of steaks you'd find at a high-end land restaurant.
Sean Treacy is Royal Caribbean International's Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations, and he chose the tomahawk steak specifically.
I tried it out too, and it's a giant cut of meat. It's 32oz and can easily be shared with someone given its size.
What makes a tomahawk steak taste so good is the fat mixes with the elements released from the large bone. The rich flavor is why so many people prefer it.
Speaking of the Iconic cuts, Chef Travis Kamiyama also chose the Waygu Beef from this menu as a favorite of his.
10. Jazzy sass from Lou's Jazz 'n Blues
When I asked Ed Eiswirth for his top recommendation from Icon of the Seas, he went with the cocktail he loves the most.
He went with the Jazzy Sass from the new jazz club, Lou's Jazz 'n Blues.
I've known Mr. Eiswirth for a few years, so I know how much he loves his bourbons and this new cocktail stands out as something unconventional, yet tasty.
His team wanted to come up with drink ideas that went beyond the stereotypical drinks most people associate with a cruise ship. While there's nothing wrong with a pina colada or margarita, they sought to find something else to give passengers an opportunity to discover a new favorite.
Happy weekend! We hope you are enjoying a wonderful and relaxing weekend and managing to stay warm. Now it is time to sit back with a cuppa tea or java, and check out the latest in Royal Caribbean cruise news.
Hideaway Beach includes a beach, infinity pool, new restaurants and more. Plus, it's an enclave for adults who want a break from the family activities elsewhere on the island.
Before you buy a pass, here's what to expect and what you should know.
I designed 13 new bar menus for Icon of the Seas
Icon of the Seas has 13 new bar concepts, and that meant coming up with cocktails to offer in each one.
One of the primary goals of creating new bar menus was offering something more than just the typical cruise ship beverage, and the result was 100 new cocktails (65 with alcohol).
Is the world's largest cruise ship crowded? Not as much as you might fear
There's going to be a lot of people on any of its sailings, but Royal Caribbean has designed the ship to offer more activities and ways to keep people moving to mitigate crowding.
While the new ship won't feel like a private yacht by any means, it's also unlikely you will feel packed in as much as you might otherwise believe.
It doesn't look like Royal Caribbean will offer all-inclusive prices for a cruise anytime soon.
Royal Caribbean cruise fares typically offer a modular approach to pricing, where the base fare gets you on the cruise with a certain subset of included amenities. Everything else costs extra, including shore excursions, most drinks, gratuities, and more.
Other cruise lines have recently made a shift to include more in their cruise fare, such as Celebrity Cruises which includes a basic drink package and internet package with its All Included fare.
A travel agent sailing on a preview sailing of Icon of the Seas asked Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley if his cruise line would make a similar move, and Mr. Bayley balked at the suggestion.
Half of passengers don't want a drink package
It doesn't seem like Mr. Bayley sees a need to include a drink package as part of the cruise fare.
Celebrity's drink package is similar to Royal Caribbean's deluxe beverage package in the sense it includes many extra cost drinks, such as beers, cocktails, sodas, and more.
"We've learned that unbundling is much easier and better for the guest. It also gets the price point in front of the customer, especially for families. And remember family is our is our real core target market."
Royal Caribbean's commitment to being a family cruise line above all else is self-evident with the launch of Icon of the Seas, which it considers the best alternative to a family land vacation to a place like Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Icon of the Seas features more for families to than any other ship before, and not just kids. It's designed for every member of the family.
The ship has eight neighborhoods offering an entire waterpark onboard, FlowRider surf simulator, mini-golf, and rock climbing.
Chill Island has seven different pools, with plenty of chairs nearby to enjoy the sun or shade.
Surfside is an entire area of the ship designed for young families. Parents can enjoy the Water's Edge pool at the back of the ship, while their kids enjoy Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay. Surfside also has three restaurants, an arcade, carousel, and lots of things to climb.
Unbundling offers choices
Mr. Bayley's comments focused on how much customers prefer having the discretion to add-on certain extra charges, rather than paying more up-front for a cruise fare.
"When you unbundle everything, it gives people choice and it pushes the pricing closer to their budget, which is a really important thing for families," he continued.
"We feel like the pricing strategy that we have on the bundling, unbundling is the right path to go."
Mr. Bayley's comments echo what travel agents have been told before. In 2020, Royal Caribbean Director of Revenue Strategy, Brittany Briggs, had a similar response when her team was asked during a webinar about all-inclusive pricing.
"We're a multigenerational cruise line with a lot of family sailing with us, so we do want to continue to be a family brand. I don't think this direction is a good fit for us," Ms. Briggs said.
"At this time we're not considering changing our pricing structure as we are truly focusing our on board experience for all of our guests."
Star Class is the exception
Mr. Bayley was quick to point out that if you move to Star Class cabins, you'll get as close to all-inclusive as Royal Caribbean can get.
"Around 10% of our total inventory, it falls into the suite category overall. So I think we're in the right place."
Is Crown's Edge too expensive?
Speaking of things that cost extra on a Royal Caribbean cruise, Mr. Bayley also took time to address concerns that the Crown's Edge experience is too pricey.
Crown's Edge is part skywalk, part ropes course, part thrill ride, and an all-out test of courage. It's a ropes course-style attraction that goes around the ship's Crown and Anchor logo.
Mr. Bayley pushed back on calls for a lower price because of everything involved to make it happen, "when you experience that and you see what's involved in it, there's multiple staff interactions. There's a huge amount of safety involved in it. There's a video that records your whole experience that you then receive on your phone. There's a lot that comes with the experience."
He also added that pricing helps control demand in many cases for limited opportunity experiences, "sometimes pricing is to manage just the sheer volume of expectations."
When it comes to pricing, Mr. Bayley believes a higher price is acceptable if the product matches it, "we've also learned is that if you have a genuine quality product that ticks the box and delivers the goods to the customer, you'd be surprised at how the customer is willing to pay the price for that product."
"For example, with the overwater cabanas in Coco Cay. If you've experienced the overwater cabanas, it is literally like going to heaven for the day."
"It's not cheap, but people have the most remarkable experience and they're willing to pay for that... We feel like we're on the right track."
Ultimately, he is waiting for feedback from passengers on a revenue sailing, "as we go through the next several weeks, we'll get a lot of feedback from our revenue customers. They are going to tell us that this works or that doesn't."
Royal Caribbean Blog is an unofficial fan blog written for other fans of Royal Caribbean International. The Royal Caribbean Blog is not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International
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