In late 2009, Royal Caribbean unveiled the Oasis of the Seas, a ship that not only surpassed the next largest in size by more than 60,000 tons, but also ushered in a new way of designing mega-ships, with a huge beam to accommodate open-air atriums in the center.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 68 – March 2024
During these 14 years, only MSC Cruises came remotely close to that size and design with the MSC World Europa. Last January, fourteen years later, Royal Caribbean unveiled the Icon of the Seas to the world, a 250,800 gross tonnage ship that, while it may bear some resemblance to the Oasis class, is a completely new design.
Some of the company's iconic facilities, such as the Aquatheater, remain, but it goes from being exposed to the elements in the lower stern area to being sheltered under an impressive glass dome at the top of the bow.
Also remaining are the Royal Promenade, which gains sea views and natural light, and Central Park, with more plants than ever and new dining and leisure options.
It is Royal Caribbean International's first Liquefied Natural Gas ship
All of this, along with the quantity and quality of leisure and entertainment facilities such as water slides, a surf pool, a zip line circuit, a climbing wall, and more, raised enormous expectations during its construction, which have resulted in a huge demand for tickets, so the Icon of the Seas is practically completely sold out for 2024.
The Icon of the Seas is organized around the following neighborhoods:
The upper Chill Island pool area.
The central area of the upper decks is Chill Island, a neighborhood designed for relaxation. It features one of the largest pools on a cruise ship, the Royal Bay Pool, complemented by others in different areas and levels. The Cove Pool overlooks the port side, as does the Cloud 17 pool, the quieter area on the starboard side of deck 17. But if you want to relax with music and a lively atmosphere, Swim & Tonic, with its swim-up bar, is the best option.
The gastronomy and leisure options are unparalleled
Three "The Lime & Coconut" bars, located on different decks but in the same area, serve drinks in this zone. For food, there's the Windjammer buffet and the semi-outdoor Mexican cantina, El Loco Fresh. There's another small buffet, Aquadome Market, at the bow, but it should be considered part of the Aquadome facilities.
The upper area of slides and other attractions, Thrill Island,
occupies the rear of the upper decks and undoubtedly offers intense thrills for all tastes. There are water slides and dry slides, individual slides and slides where up to four people can descend on one float. A true Category 6 water park.
An exciting new attraction is Crown's Edge, a devilishly fun experience that involves walking (with a safety harness) on platforms until you reach the top of the ship on deck 16, 47 meters above the sea. There, a wider platform awaits, where you stand and it suddenly opens, dropping you into the void for a tenth of a second until the harness catches you and you complete the rest of the circuit on a zip line.
There's also a climbing wall, Adrenaline Peak, a sports court, and a mini-golf course. Basecamp, meanwhile, is a casual eatery located below the sports court, offering quick bites, but at an extra cost.
Although it may have some similarities to the Oasis class, it is a completely new design
The Hideaway, an adults-only aft pool area,
is one of the most anticipated new features on the Icon of the Seas. This area boasts a suspended infinity pool high above the stern. The Hideaway has quickly become a favorite spot for hedonists. With music always playing, it features a stunning multi-level sundeck overlooking the aft pool, and a well-stocked cocktail bar on the other side.
The upper
decks are completed by the AquaDome glass dome at the bow. It is an impressive structure due to its size, and its lifting and placement in the shipyard was a true engineering feat.
The most surprising thing about AquaDome isn't that it houses the AquaTheatre with its tiered seating, pool, robotic arms, and diving boards for world-class shows, but rather that the remaining space has been transformed into one of the most spectacular panoramic lounges on board a cruise ship. The Overlook receives abundant natural light through its glass walls and can be enjoyed in its many relaxation areas, including elevated "mushroom" or "cup"-like structures, where you can find an exclusive space to escape.
All systems are the most advanced in terms of sustainability
The open-air area in the center of the ship, Central Park
, boasts more plants than ever before—over 30,550—and several new additions to its leisure and dining offerings. Furthermore, thanks to the spherical structure The Pearl on the Royal Promenade, it offers, for the first time, views of the sea through a glass wall.
In Central Park, you'll find the familiar Park Café deli, a great spot for a leisurely breakfast, and two restaurants that charge extra: Chops Grille (steakhouse) and Izumi (sushi and teppanyaki). New this year is Izumi in the Park, a takeaway sushi service.
For a quiet drink in this area, there's the Trellis Bar or the small counter at Bubbles if you're looking for champagne, and Lou's Jazz'n Blues, a live music venue opposite the luxury jewelry and watch shops, is now open in the area.
Inside, another new feature is Empire Supper Club, an exclusive restaurant with an 8-course tasting menu for about $200 per person.
The outdoor area for children and families at the stern Surfside
Surfside is the open space at the stern of the Icon that in the Oasis series would be occupied by Boardwalk, but on this occasion it is dedicated to families with young children.
Of course, there was the traditional carousel, the candy store, the video game arcade and several dining options, topped off at the stern by the Splashaway Bay children's water park and several children's pools with views of the ship's wake.
One particularly interesting feature here is Surfside Eatery, a free buffet dedicated entirely to families with young children, serving the foods they typically enjoy. It's complemented by Surfside Bites, an outdoor counter serving small snacks, and Pier 7, a pay-per-view restaurant for adults seeking a more sophisticated meal, where children eat free.
The Surfside area connects via stairs directly to the Adventure Ocean kids' clubs, which are located just below.
The Royal Promenade
is the spectacular interior walkway found on most of Royal Caribbean's larger ships (Voyager class, Freedom class, Oasis class, and now Icon class). On the Icon, it's even more spectacular thanks to the addition of "The Pearl," a sphere pierced by a staircase connecting deck 5 to deck 6. This structure actually serves as a key structural element, allowing for a large window that floods the new Pearl Café and the entire promenade with light.
At the head of the Royal Promenade, as usual, we have the Royal Theatre, where you can see a renewed and fascinating version of "Alice in Wonderland" with incredible technological special effects and many humorous twists.
At the stern, going down some stairs, we find Absolute Zero, the ice rink that also hosts top-level performances starring Olympic skaters and tightrope walkers.
The Royal Promenade is full of classic favorites among the company's customers, such as Sorrento's, the complimentary pizzeria open late; Boleros, the music bar with Latin music that changes every night; Spotlight Karaoke, perhaps larger than ever; and Schonner Bar, with its elegant, nautical-inspired decor. These have been joined by new additions like 1400 Lobby Bar, with its large glass walls and outdoor terrace overlooking the Icon boarding area, and Point & Feather, an English pub-style bar.
In entertainment, the most interesting new feature is Dueling Pianos, where two pianists compete with pop classics with the help and interaction of the audience in very fun sessions.
The Royal Promenade also provides access to the lower level of the large, 3-deck main restaurant, the Dining Room.
The Royal Promenade is the first place you see when you enter the ship, either because you access it directly when using boarding gangways in ports, or because you go up some escalators that take you from the boarding gates at the dockside of the ship, thus avoiding the elevators in the area becoming congested when everyone returns from an excursion.
The private suite area Suite Neighborhood
Following the market trend, Royal Caribbean inaugurated its first neighborhood exclusively for suite passengers on the Wonder of the Seas, and in view of its success, they have expanded the concept on the Icon of the Seas.
Occupying the area immediately in front of the AquaDome, Suite Neighborhood consists of an outdoor area with jacuzzis, a pool, a bar and a small buffet called The Grove, plus the two-story Coastal Kitchen restaurant, which overlooks the AquaTheatre.
Other areas
I don't want to leave out some fabulous facilities that are not found in these neighborhoods, such as Music Hall, a great rock concert hall that would be the envy of many urban venues dedicated to the same thing.
Located between the enormous casino on deck 4 and the theater, it is one of the main spaces for evenings out.
We have not mentioned either the gym, very spacious and located right at the bow, on deck 5, which on this occasion is far from the spa, which is located on decks 12 and 14.
With the Aquadome, the most difficult feat has been achieved: putting an aquatic theater under a glass dome
Sustainability:
The Icon of the Seas is the first Royal Caribbean ship powered by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), the cleanest transition fuel currently available on a large scale. The company has set a goal of achieving net-zero emissions ships by 2035 and is investing in all energy-efficient technologies to reach this objective.
Thus, the Icon of the Seas features engine waste heat recovery systems for use in other systems, an advanced waste treatment plant and greywater treatment plant, and a bubble hull lubrication system that reduces friction.
In addition, the ship produces 93% of its freshwater needs on its own, using a reverse osmosis desalination plant.
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