Icon of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s first cruise ship from its brand-new Icon Class, which makes her the first new type of vessel for the cruise line in nearly a decade.
Having debuted in early 2024, Icon of the Seas is one of the largest cruise ships in the world. The brand-new vessel for Royal Caribbean clocks in at around 248,663 gross tons, making her 6% bigger than Wonder of the Seas.
At maximum capacity, the brand-new Icon of the Seas can hold nearly 10,000 passengers and crew members.
Icon of the Seas was also the first cruise ship for Royal Caribbean to be powered by LNG-fuel, meaning it relies on liquified natural gas.
The most sustainable cruise ship for Royal Caribbean features a slew of new attractions and features. Onboard, you will find everything from adrenaline-pumping thrills, a record-breaking waterpark, massive entertainment venues, dedicated family zones, and 14 new stateroom categories.
If you’re planning to sail on Icon of the Seas or thinking of booking a reservation, there are a few things you’ll want to know about Royal Caribbean’s brand-new ship.
How big is Icon of the Seas?
With a new design and size, Icon of the Seas looks nothing like other ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.
Icon of the Seas is 20 decks high and measures 1,196 feet long. At maximum capacity, Icon of the Seas will be able to accommodate around 7,600 passengers, but if you account for the crew members onboard, Icon of the Seas can carry 10,000 passengers on its sailings.
To accommodate everyone sailing on Icon of the Seas, there are 2,805 cabins onboard, including new categories that can't be found on older ships in the fleet.
Where does Icon of the Seas sail?
Icon of the Seas sails exclusively from Miami, Florida. According to Royal Caribbean's website, Icon will remain in South Florida through at least April 2027.
Icon sails round-trip itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, with each cruise featuring a stop at Royal Caribbean’s private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The Eastern Caribbean itineraries for Icon of the Seas include stops in either St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas), or St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas).
Icon of the Seas’ Western Caribbean itineraries will either feature stops in Roatan (Honduras), Costa Maya (Mexico), and Cozumel (Mexico), or Costa Maya (Mexico), Cozumel (Mexico), and Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas).
Which neighborhoods can I find on Icon of the Seas?
Similar to the design of Oasis Class ships, guests can experience multiple neighborhoods onboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship.
Icon of the Seas will feature 8 distinct neighborhoods, or zones; these themed areas help passengers easily navigate the ship by offering a mix of restaurants, shopping, bars and lounges, and attractions.
Drawing from its Oasis Class ships, Icon of the Seas will have 3 of the same neighborhoods. As such, 5 neighborhoods were brand-new to the cruise line (and added to Icon's sister ship, Star of the Seas).
Surfside
One of the new neighborhoods is the Surfside neighborhood. Surfside is a major focus when you look at Icon of the Seas, located just above the Royal Promenade on Deck 7 aft.
Surfside replaced the Boardwalk found on Oasis Class ships. However, it still feels similar; a slide is available for kids to slide directly from Deck 8 to Surfside, while stairs are available for direct access to the Adventure Ocean kids club on Deck 6. These entrances make access to both Adventure Ocean and the teen club very convenient.
Surfside is a neighborhood dedicated to young families with an appeal to kids and adults alike. While babies and kids can enjoy Surfside’s splash-pads, adults can grab a drink at The Lemon Post Bar, including “mommy and me” matching cocktails and mocktails.
Kids who use the Splashaway Bay must be fully potty trained and must have a height of at least 42” tall; however, Icon of the Seas, Baby Bay, another spot for kids to splash and play, is open to children who are still in diapers.
Adults can also enjoy the new Water’s Edge infinity pool while kids splash the day away at Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay. With slides, a dunk bucket, fountains, and water cannons, your whole family is sure to have the best day.
Surfside will also be home to a few new dining venues, including Surfside Bites, Surfside Eatery, and Pier 7, with the latter being a brand-new specialty restaurant that will serve up Californian fare all day long.
Thrill Island
Icon of the Seas will feature the biggest water park at sea, with Category 6 having six thrilling waterslides. All of the water slides onboard Icon are complimentary.
Guests on Icon of the Seas can even test their limits at Category 6 with the first open free-fall slide at sea, named Pressure Drop. Other slides include the tallest drop slide at sea, two mat-racing slides, and even family raft slides that can accommodate up to four riders.
Here are the 6 slides that you can expect to find in Thrill Island:
1. Storm Surge: the first suspended family raft slide at sea.
2. Hurricane Hunter: the first family raft at sea
3. Storm-Chaser (2): the longest mat racing slides at sea
4. Pressure Drop: the first open freewill slide at sea
5. Frightening Bolt: the tallest drop slide at sea
Each slide has its own height requirements, ranging from a minimum height of 42” for Storm-Chaser to 55” for Pressure Drop and Frightening Bolt. Most of the slides have a maximum weight restriction of 265 pounds.
Thrill Island will also feature the brand-new, exhilarating Crown’s Edge. This onboard thrill is unlike anything seen at sea before. Part skywalk, part ropes course, and part thrill ride, Crown’s Edge will surely test your courage as you walk to the trap door and soar over the open ocean.
Of course, guests can also find Royal Caribbean signature thrills like the FlowRider surf simulator, as well as Adrenaline Peak — the ultimate rock-climbing expedition. Thrill Island also features a sports court and a reimagined mini-golf course that the whole family will love.
Once you’ve finished the water slides, you can grab a bite to eat or a drink at Desserted — a brand-new restaurant for Royal Caribbean serving over-the-top milkshakes (boozy ones too!).
If you are not craving a sweet treat, head over to Basecamp, which will be located in the heart of Thrill Island. Here, you will find food windows with complimentary options, like tater tots, hot dogs, and warm pretzels.
Chill Island
If Thrill Island isn’t your cup of tea, fear not. Icon of the Seas features a brand-new neighborhood that Royal Caribbean claims has the largest pool deck at sea, named the Royal Bay Pool.
A quieter, more serene place can be found in the infinity pool, named Cove Pool, which features in-water loungers.
Chill Island will be Icon of the Seas’ main pool deck area, housing four of the ship’s seven pools. This new neighborhood will span across the three decks and even features Royal Caribbean’s first-ever swim-up bar named Swim and Tonic. Not only that, but the swim-up bar is adult-only!
Of course, you can find multiple hot tubs scattered around Chill Island. The pools are positioned on the edge of Icon’s deck, giving guests unbeatable views of the sea.
Cabanas are available for rent in Chill Island, but you can also expect to find plenty of space to relax. With nearby bars and food stations, including The Lime & Coconut Bar and El Loco Fresh Mexican, you will not want to leave Chill Island!
Central Park
If you’ve sailed on an Oasis Class ship, you’re already familiar with Royal Caribbean’s Central Park. In this neighborhood, you will find real greenery with thousands of real plants, along with live music and dining spots.
For the first time, Izumi Hibachi and Sushi is located in Central Park. Plus, there are more Teppanyaki tables than on any other Royal Caribbean ship.
Nearby, guests will find Izumi in the Park, a grab-and-go venue that has signature rolls, nigiri, and Japanese sweet treats, all of which will be served in a portable box to take with you to continue the fun elsewhere.
There's also another new dining venue in Central Park: Empire Supper Club. Each night, diners can choose from one of two seatings, 6:00pm and 8:30pm, to try the premium American eight-course menu. It costs $200 per person, though!
Royal Promenade
The Royal Promenade has been a Royal Caribbean staple for many years; the first Royal Promenade debuted on Voyager Class ships and continued with Freedom and Oasis Class ships.
Within the Royal Promenade on Icon of the Seas, you’ll find plenty of Royal Caribbean staples like Sorrento’s, Starbucks, the Karaoke Bar, and the Point and Feather pub.
An exciting addition to the Royal Promenade is The Pearl. This new iconic indoor sphere functions as an artistic stairway for entrance into the Royal Promenade with its dazzling interior.
The Royal Promenade will be home to Pearl Cafe, which is the ship's new coffee house. It is open 24 hours per day!
The Royal Promenade will also have the largest ice arena at sea, called Absolute Zero, which will house the ice shows that Royal Caribbean has been known for, as well as free skating sessions for guests.
Suite neighborhood
The final neighborhood onboard the brand-new Icon of the Seas, the suite neighborhood, spans across decks 16 to 19.
The new suite neighborhood will be the largest restricted-access area for suite guests, which is very similar to Norwegian’s The Haven.
Coastal Kitchen is an exclusive restaurant just for suite guests, which will be found in this new neighborhood.
Another new dining option, the Grove, offers a more casual, al fresco experience exclusively for suite guests with Mediterranean-inspired tapas.
Icon of the Seas dining options
No cruise is complete without tons of dining options, and Icon of the Seas does not disappoint. Onboard, there are over 40 different ways to eat, drink, and be entertained.
Surfside Eatery
Starting off is the Surfside Eatery, a family-friendly buffet venue located inside the Surfside Neighborhood. This eatery will serve up kid-friendly cuisine, which is very convenient for parents who do not want to make the trip all the way to the Windjammer buffet.
Surfside Bites
Similarly, Surfside Bites will be located in the Surfside neighborhood with a menu of beachside grab-and-go bites. This quick service venue serves things like fries, mac and cheese, chocolate chip cookies, popcorn chicken, and cinnamon sugar donut holes.
Pier 7
Pier 7 will also be located in Surfside. It is the first family-oriented specialty restaurant and will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here, you will find casual California cuisine, with options like mango lime tostadas, a smoked salmon benedict, and fluffy buttermilk pancakes.
Izumi Hibachi and Sushi
Izumi is a fan-favorite on Royal ships! Since it will be located in Central Park, guests will be able to eat their favorite sushi al fresco for the first time. Plus, with six Teppanyaki tables, more people can enjoy the fun dining experience than ever before.
Izumi in the Park
For those short on time or not wanting a large meal, Izumi in the Park offers quick grab-and-go sushi options, as well as Japanese sweet treats. You will not need to worry about making a reservation for this!
Empire Supper Club
Also in Central Park is the Empire Supper Club. This restaurant serves an eight-course premium American meal twice each evening, once at 6:00pm and then again at 8:30pm. In addition to beverage pairings, each course is paired with a song played by a live band, making it an immersive experience. It costs $200 per person.
Park Café
Park Café, known for its bagel bar and famous roast beef sandwich, is located in Central Park and serves breakfast and lunch.
Hooked Seafood
If you are a fan of seafood, you will appreciate Hooked Seafood, which serves up delicious New England-style seafood, such as Maryland crab cakes, Maine Lobster rolls, and other raw bar favorites. On Icon of the Seas, it is located near the AquaDome. If you're lucky, you can sit "outside" and watch the Aqua show while eating dinner!
Celebration Table
Located inside Hooked Seafood is Celebration Table, an elevated Chef's Table experience for up to 12 guests. The fully rentable private dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows that offer some of the best views on the ship.
The menu is prix fixe, meaning that everyone will enjoy the same offerings, family style. You can, however, choose from four different menus: Italian, Asian, American, and Seafood. There's an option to personalize and upgrade the selections, too.
Chops Grill
Chops Grill is not new to the Royal Caribbean brand. On Icon, however, the specialty steakhouse is a little different than on other ships, as it has a butcher's display!
Guests choose their own cut of meat (for an extra charge). Afterwards, they can watch the chefs cook their selected cut through the open window.
Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar is not new, either. The Italian restaurant that serves up Old World classics is, however, located in the Royal Promenade.
AquaDome Market
Another brand-new venture is the AquaDome Marketplace, the cruise line's first food hall! Here, you will find five different stations that serve up different cuisines:
Crème de la Crepe - sweet and savory crepes
GNGR - Asian fare
Toast and Garden - lighter options like salads and sandwiches
Feta Mediterranean - pitas and Mediterranean bowls
Mac's - mac and cheese with a twist
The AquaDome Market will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks.
Sorrento's
Royal Caribbean's famous pizza parlor is also on Icon of the Seas, with a twist. In addition to their regular pies, each day they will feature a new specialty pizza. You can order draft beer, too.
Pearl Café
Royal Caribbean replaced Cafe Promenade with the Pearl Café. This new 24-hour venue serves complimentary bites, including sandwiches, ready-made salads, coffee, and more.
El Loco Fresh
Craving Mexican? Head up to the Cove Pool in Chill Island. You will find the popular grab-and-go Mexican joint, which will be open from 11:00am to 7:00pm.
Windjammer
Like Chops Grill, Windjammer can be found on every Royal Caribbean ship. She's larger than ever before on Icon, and you can find enough variety to satisfy any palate, as well as two bars.
Basecamp
While enjoying everything that Thrill Island has to offer, you may not want to take the time to wander far for something to eat. Enter Basecamp, the casual, complimentary eatery that keeps you in the middle of the action.
There is also a bar that serves storm-inspired drinks.
Main Dining Room
The redesigned, elegant three-story Main Dining Room is a staple. Each night, a new menu will take guests on a culinary journey around the world over the course of their cruise.
Coastal Kitchen
Coastal Kitchen is available only to suite guests, with Sea Class passengers only being able to dine here for dinner based on availability. The two-story venue looks directly into the AquaDome, offering a unique dining experience that is unlike any other on the ship.
The Grove
Finally, Star and Sky suite guests can eat at The Grove, a casual buffet that offers Mediterranean cuisine.
Bars and nightlife
In Central Park, guests will find Lou's Jazz 'n Blues and a walk-up champagne bar called Bubbles, while the Royal Promenade is home to Dueling Pianos. Here, two pianists take song requests to entertain guests in the battle of the best, or the battle of "the baby grands."
There is also a brand-new coffee bar in the AquaDome called Rye & Bean. Do you want an espresso cocktail? What about a classic cup of coffee? This is the best place to go and get your caffeine kick while being mesmerized by the jaw-dropping ocean views.
Also in the AquaDome are the Overlook and Overlook Pods, the first-of-their-kind elevated nooks at sea. It is a great place to meet up with friends, get comfortable, and look out at the ocean from the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Have you ever wanted to indulge in a boozy milkshake while at sea? Well, now you can at Desserted! Of course, they also have non-alcoholic options, too.
1400 Lobby Bar opens the Royal Promenade to the sea with an ocean-facing terrace. Grab a drink developed by Tony Abou-Ganim, a world-renowned mixologist, in this venue that was inspired by the history of shipbuilding.
In traditional Royal Caribbean fashion, there's an English-style pub onboard. On Icon, it is dubbed Point & Feather. Loyal fans will notice that it has a new design compared to pubs on other ships. Here, you can listen to live music, play a game of darts, and sip on a newly discovered brew!
In Surfside, you will find The Lemon Post, a bar that has two menus: one for adults and another for children.
Other fan-favorites returned, too, including Boleros, Schooner Bar, Trellis Bar, the two-story Music Hall, The Attic, Playmakers, and Spotlight Karaoke.
Cabins and suites onboard Icon of the Seas
Icon of the Seas has an astonishing 28 different ship cabin categories onboard that guests can choose from.
The vast majority of staterooms, 82% of rooms, can accommodate 3 or more guests. More than 70% of staterooms on Icon of the Seas have a balcony, which is a common trend among new cruise ships.
There are 179 suites, 1,800 balcony staterooms, 276 ocean view staterooms, and 535 interior staterooms on Icon of the Seas.
New staterooms on Icon of the Seas
Guests on Icon of the Seas can find 14 new categories; these range from family options to standard rooms and new suites.
The Family infinite Oceanview Balcony can accommodate up to 6 people in each room with an alcove bunk-bed. Kids will also love that they have their own TV that doesn’t need to be shared with their parents.
This new balcony stateroom features a split design, in which the stateroom’s shower and sink are located on its own side while the toilet and additional sink are located on the other side.
The Surfside Family View Cabins are also new, located in the new Surfside neighborhood on the ship’s aft. Although these staterooms can only accommodate 4 people, they offer accessibility and convenience to Surfside.
Perhaps the most iconic (and expensive) cabin onboard is the Ultimate Family Townhouse, which is the biggest and most impressive suite that you can find anywhere at sea.
This three-level townhouse has a multi-level, in-suite slide, two private balconies, and even a private entrance to Surfside — all of this complete with a white picket fence and mailbox.
It’ll cost you a cool penny to stay in this Ultimate Family Townhouse, though.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG)
Icon of the Seas was one of the first of three ships to be powered by LNG, or liquefied natural gas. Traditional vessels are powered by diesel, while LNG-powered engines are more energy-efficient, which reduces fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
This will boost the energy efficiencies and reduce Icon of the Seas’ carbon footprint as Royal Caribbean continues its mission to become more sustainable. Icon of the Seas is about 35% more fuel-efficient than regular fuel.
Additionally, Icon is the most sustainable ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. It also features state-of-the-art applications, such as shore-power connections.
How much does Icon of the Seas cost?
Icon of the Seas costs a pretty penny, even as we approach the ship's second birthday.
According to Royal Caribbean's website, the cheapest sailing on Icon of the Seas starts at $1,119 per person for the Nov. 29, 2025, sailing.
However, prices are much higher during peak travel season. For instance, a weeklong cruise in July 2026 starts at $2,209 per person for a windowless inside cabin.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising, and adventure. She's sailed on 50+ cruises and visited more than 60 countries. Hubers even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
She has contributed her travel and cruise expertise to numerous publications, including Business Insider, US News & World Report, and Travel Lemming. Hubers earned her MBA in Data Analytics and works as a senior strategy analyst.
