Icon of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean’s first cruise ship from it’s brand-new Icon class, which makes her the first new type of vessel for the cruise line in nearly a decade.
Debuting in early 2024, Icon of the Seas will take the new title of largest cruise ship in the world. Once complete, the brand-new vessel for Royal Caribbean will clock in at 250,800 gross tons, making her 6% bigger than Wonder of the Seas, which is currently the biggest cruise ship in the world.
At maximum capacity, the brand-new Icon of the Seas will be able to hold nearly 10,000 passengers and crew members.
Icon of the Seas will be 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 will feature a slew of new onboard 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. It truly is the penultimate family vacation.
Although Royal Caribbean was once tight-lipped about Icon of the Seas, which created quite the hype around its new class of ships, the cruise line has started to unveil details of this revolutionary cruise ship.
While we don’t know all of the final details about this iconic cruise ship, Royal Caribbean has revealed exciting details about Icon of the Seas’ cabins, neighborhoods, entertainment venues, dining, suites, pricing, and more.
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 will Icon of the Seas be?
Since Icon of the Seas will be the first ship in the Icon-class of cruise ships, everything about her will be brand-new to both Royal Caribbean and the cruise industry. With a new design and size, Icon of the Seas will look nothing like other ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.
Royal Caribbean revealed that Icon of the Seas will be 20 decks high and measure right around 1,200 feet long. At maximum capacity, Icon of the Seas will be able to accommodate around 7,600 passengers. If you account for the crew members onboard, Icon of the Seas will have around 10,000 passengers onboard its sailings.
To accommodate everyone sailing on Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean revealed that its brand-new ship will have 2,805 cabins onboard. While Wonder of the Seas will be smaller than the new vessel, she will actually have more cabins with 2,867 staterooms and suites onboard.
Where will Icon of the Seas be sailing?
Icon of the Seas is heading to Miami, Florida in January 2024. Royal Caribbean announced that the brand-new ship will be home-ported in Miami at least through April 2025. The cruise line has yet to announce where Icon of the Seas will head after April 2025.
Once Icon of the Seas begins her inaugural season, she will be sailing round-trip itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Each itinerary features at stop at Royal Caribbean’s private island, 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).
The maiden voyage for Icon of the Seas is slotted for January 2024; of course, this timeline could shift based on current supply chain trends to unexpected delays in the shipyard.
When will Icon of the Seas be delivered?
Royal Caribbean expects Icon of the Seas to be delivered to the cruise line in late November or early December 2023. When a ship is delivered, the cruise line officially takes ownership of its new vessel after the construction is complete and sea trials were successful.
Icon of the Seas was originally scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2022, but the Covid-19 pandemic caused unexpected delays in the shipyard. With supply chain issues, Royal Caribbean announced their delay of Icon’s construction in 2022.
The first paying passengers are scheduled to sail on Icon of the Seas starting on January 27, 2024.
Which neighborhoods can I find on Icon of the Seas?
Get ready to see all you’ll be able to experience on the brand-new Icon of the Seas!
Similar to the design of Oasis-class ships, guests will be able to experience multiple neighborhoods onboard Royal Caribbean’s newest ship.
Icon of the Seas will feature 8 distinct neighborhoods, or zones, onboard Icon of the Seas; 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; that means 5 neighborhoods will be brand-new to the cruise line.
Surfside
One of the new neighbors, and perhaps the most exciting, is the Surfside neighborhood. Surfside will be a major focus when you look at Icon of the Seas, located just above the Royal Promenade on Deck 7 aft.
Taking place of the Boardwalk on Oasis-class ships, 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 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 least 42” tall; however, Icon of the Seas, Baby Bay, another spot for kids to splash and play, is open to children that 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, 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.
Waters Edge hours of operation are slotted for 8:00 am - 7:00 pm.
Thrill Island
Icon of the Seas will feature the biggest water park at sea with Category 6 with six thrilling waterslides.
All of the waterslides onboard Icon of the Seas 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 it’s 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.
Category 6 will operate daily from 9 AM - 10 PM.
Thrill Island will also feature the brand-new, exhilarating Crown’s Edge. This onboard thrill is unlike anything seen at sea before. Part skywalk, park ropes course and part thrill ride, Crown’s Edge will surely test your courage as you walk across the Royal Caribbean logo.
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 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, as well as some premium selections that can be purchase á la carte-- think crispy shrimp bao buns!
Chill Island
If Thrill Island isn’t your cup of tea, fear not. Icon of the Seas will feature a brand-new neighborhood that Royal Caribbean claims will be the best 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 spans across the three decks and feature Royal Caribbean’s first ever swim-up bar - named Swim and Tonic.
Royal Caribbean also unveiled that Chill island will also feature the largest pool at sea. Additionally, Icon of the Seas will have an adults-only pool and an infinity pool called Cloud 17.
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 trend in Chill Island, but you can also expect to find plenty of space to relax. With nearby bars and food stations, including 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 will be located in Central Park. Plus, there will be more Teppanyaki tables than on any other Royal Caribbean ship.
Nearby, guests will find Izumi in the Park, a grab-and-go venue that will have 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 will also be 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.
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 Point and Feather pub.
An exciting - and mysterious - 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 it’s dazzling interior.
The Royal Promenade will be home to Pearl Cafe, which has been described as a new coffeehouse and bar-lounge. It will be open 24-hours per day!
The Royal Promenade will also have the largest ice arena at sea called Absolute Zero, which will presumably house the ice shows that Royal Caribbean has been known for.
Suite neighborhood
The final neighborhood onboard the brand-new Icon of the Seas, the suite neighborhood will span across decks 16 to 19.
Royal Caribbean has stated that there will be a mix of many of the ship’s top suites in this neighborhood, along with exclusive lounges and outdoor areas that are only accessible for suites - or some of Royal Caribbean’s most loyal cruisers.
The new suite neighborhood will be the largest restricted-access area for suite guests, which is very similar to Norwegian’s The Haven.
Coastal Kitchens is an exclusive restaurant just for suite guests, which will be found in this new neighborhood.
Another new dining option, the Grove, will be available for Star and Sky class suite passengers.
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 will be over 40 different ways to eat, drink, and be entertained. Royal Caribbean announced that Icon of the Seas will feature a combination of new and returning eateries onboard.
Surfside Eatery
Starting off is the brand-new 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.
At night, it will transition into a hybrid buffet/traditional sit-down venue.
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 will be open from 11:00am to 5:00pm and serve things like burgers, fries, mac and cheese, chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon sugar donut holes, and soft serve!
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 from mango lime tostadas, a smoked salmon benedict, and fluffy buttermilk pancakes.
Izumi Hibachi and Sushi
Izumi is a fan-favorite that will be returning! 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 will be able to 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 will offer 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 will serve 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.
Park Café
Park Café, known for their bagel bar and roast beef sandwich, will be located in Central Park and serve breakfast, lunch, as well as tapas in the evening from 5:30pm to 10:00pm.
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 will be located directly underneath the AquaDome.
Celebration Table
Located inside of Hooked Seafood is Celebration Table, an elevated Chef's Table experience for up to 12 guests. The fully rentable private dining room will have floor-to-ceiling windows that offer some of the best views on the ship.
In terms of the menu, it will be prix fixe. This means that everyone will enjoy the same offerings family style. You can, however, choose from four different menus: Italian, Asian, American, and Seafood. There will be 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 will be a little different than on other ships, as it will have a butcher's display!
This will let guests choose their own cut of meat. 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 will, however, be located in the Royal Promenade. This is the first time that the cruise line is placing a specialty restaurant here!
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 cuisine:
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, and dinner, with breakfast beginning at 7:00am for early risers!
Sorrento's
The infamous pizza parlor is making a return on Icon of the Seas, with a twist. In addition to their regular pies, each day they will feature a new specialty pizza. It will be different every day of your cruise! Plus, you will be able to order draft beer, too.
Pearl Café
Royal Caribbean is replacing Cafe Promenade with Pearl Café. This new 24-hour venue will serve 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. On Icon, however, she will be larger than ever before! Inside, you will 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.
While most options are complimentary, you can elect to pay for some premium selections á la carte. There will also be 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 be featured that 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 will look directly into the AquaDome, offering for 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 will be home to Dueling Pianos. Here, two pianists will take song requests to entertain guests in the battle of the best, or battle of "the baby grands."
There will also be 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 caffiene kick while being mesmerized by the jaw-dropping ocean views.
Also in the AquaDome will be 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 will open the Royal Promenade to the sea with an ocean-facing terrance. 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 will be a pub onboard. On Icon of the Seas, it is dubbed Point & Feather. Loyal fans will notice that is 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. You will find color changing drinks and unique souvenir cups here!
Other fan-favorites will be returning, 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 will feature an astonishing 28 different ship cabins onboard that guests can choose from. Royal Caribbean has announced that Icon of the Seas will provide the most spacious rooms designed by the cruise line.
Since Icon of the Seas will be introducing new categories of cabins, views and new neighborhoods, there’s a lot of excitement about what guests will encounter.
The vast majority of staterooms - 82% of rooms - will be able to accommodate 3 or more guests. More than 70% of staterooms on Icon of the Seas will have a balcony, which is a common trend among new cruise ships.
Onboard Icon of the Seas, you’ll find 179 suites, 1,800 balcony staterooms, 276 ocean view staterooms and 535 interior staterooms.
New staterooms available
For the first time, Royal Caribbean has announced the introduction of new kinds of cruise cabins with the launch of its brand-new ship.
Guests on Icon of the Seas will be able to enjoy 14 new categories; these range from family options to standard rooms and new suites. With Icon of the Seas, families onboard will find new cabins that have additional space for accessibility within each category, location and amenities.
The Family infinite Oceanview Balcony will be able to 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. This allows two people to have access to sinks in the morning.
Another new cabin will be the Surfside Family View Cabins located in the new Surfside neighborhood on the ship’s aft. Although these staterooms can only accommodate 4 people, the accessibility and convenience to Surfside.
Finally, Royal Caribbean unveiled the Ultimate Family Townhouse, which is sure to be the biggest and most impressive suite that you can find anywhere at sea. This three-level townhouse is insanely impressive with the 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; The CEO and President of Royal Caribbean International said the average cost of the townhome in 2024 will be around $75,000 per week.
Liquefied natural gas (LNG)
Royal Caribbean announced that Icon of the Seas will be the first of three ships to be powered by LNG - or liquefied natural gas.
Icon of the Seas will be the most sustainable ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, the vessel will also feature other state-of-the-art applications, such as shore-power connections.
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 going to be 35% more fuel efficient than regular fuel and the ship’s design also makes
The LNG fuel tank on Icon of the Seas will be 307 tons and 90 feet long.
Pricing for Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s newest ship won’t come cheap for those looking to sail onboard the new Icon of the Seas, especially during its maiden voyage.
Icon of the Seas released staterooms to book on January 5th - and the lowest price for an Icon of the Seas sailing was around $1,000 per person for a double occupancy, inside cabin. The cheapest balconies start around $1,500 per person.
Of course, holiday sailings are the most expensive itineraries on Icon of the Seas, in which the same inside cabin is selling for $1,780 and balconies are going for $2,649.
If you're interested in booking a reservation on the brand-new Icon of the Seas, we recommend booking soon, as demand has been very popular. Royal Caribbean is expected to unveil further details about Icon of the Seas in the coming months prior to the ship's launch.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on nearly 30 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
