Even if you haven't had the opportunity to cruise onboard the world's largest cruise ship, you've likely seen photos of the cabins and public venues. Glimpses into crew-only areas, however, are more difficult to come by.
Thankfully, some crew members have taken to social media to give curious passengers a look into their accommodations. While many passengers will enjoy large rooms outfitted with infinite verandas and other amenities, crew cabins tend to be much smaller. The majority don't even have a window!
From shared cabins with new innovative L-shaped beds to single rooms with connecting bathrooms, here's a peek at some of the crew cabins onboard Icon of the Seas.
Single crew cabin on Icon of the Seas
Chris Wong, an Assistant Casino host onboard Icon of the Seas, posted a tour of his stateroom on his YouTube channel. In the weeks following its publication, it has received over 82,000 views.
While he claims it's one of the smallest crew cabins he's ever stayed in, he also thinks it is one of the most modern. Throughout the video, the theme of storage space is consistently brought up. From the closet with a slide-out rack to built-in cabinets underneath the bed, he says that there's so much storage he can't fully utilize it all.
The closet is also home to Wong's deck, which stays tucked away when he isn't using it to increase floor space.
Moreover, rather than keeping the chair out at all times, he hangs the foldable chair on the wall whenever the desk, which is large enough to fit his iPad, work phone, AirPods, and MacBook, is retracted.
At 5'10", he claims that the bed is a comfortable length. After demonstrating how he hops into bed, he flips the camera around to show viewers the large flat-screen television and some additional storage.
The cabin's AC unit, which is above the television, is next to another cabinet that Wong believes would be a great place to store a gaming system if you brought one onboard.
There are a few shelves beside the television, too.
Read more: Day in a life of a cruise ship crew member
Though Wong doesn't have to share his cabin with another crew member, he doesn't have a private bathroom. Instead, it's similar to a Jack and Jill-style bathroom.
While both crew members have private sinks in their cabins, they share a toilet and shower, as well as some extra cubicles for storage. The bathroom is accessible via both of their staterooms, too.
Inside the bathroom, Wong shows a shower that features a curtain, rather than the glass doors that have become standard in Royal Caribbean guest cabins.
Couples crew cabin on Icon of the Seas
Raphael, another crew member who works in the casino, shared his cabin in a two-part series on his TikTok, @marinocrew. He shares the stateroom with his partner, who is also a crew member onboard Icon.
Upon entering the cabin in part one, one of the most notable features is the large bed. "The bed is amazing for a couple," Raphael says, "It's our first time to get this kind of room, and it feels like home to us."
There's also a pullman bed, which he says can be used for visitors. Rather than let that wall space go to waste, there are two posters visible when the bed isn't in use.
Part two of the series showcases the cabin's vanity, as well as the ensuite bathroom. Unlike Wong's single cabin, the desk area doesn't retract into the closet. However, the same foldable chair is present, which can be stored on a rack near the stateroom's door.
There's a large shelf above the desk, which is home to tons of cosmetics and products. Raphael claims that there's additional room available if necessary since everything isn't packed in as tightly as it could be.
Above the shelf are two generously sized cabinets, which is where the couple keeps a lot of their snacks.
Read more: Cruise ship crew quarters: what are the areas onboard a cruise ship like for crew only?
With the outlet options beside the bed being fairly limited to one European and one American plug, Raphael opted to bring a power strip.
This is a good hack for increasing the number of charging options in your cabin, especially if you're sailing on an older ship; however, make sure that you purchase one that's surge-free!
They store their shoes and four suitcases underneath the bed. He appreciates that they didn't have to make room for them in the cabin.
Raphael estimates that that closet is 50% larger than some of the other ones he has seen during previous contracts. In addition to the closet space, there are numerous drawers throughout the cabin, as well as some hooks on the wall near the entrance.
When it comes to the bathroom, since this cabin was designed for a couple, they don't have to worry about sharing it with others. Whereas Wong's bathroom was designed with a sink in the cabin, the layout is more akin to traditional guest rooms, though much smaller.
"It's not that big and not that small. It's just perfect for one person," Raphael says.
Newly designed crew cabin for two on Icon of the Seas
Part of Icon of the Seas' design process entailed sending out surveys to crew members to ask them what they wanted to see onboard Icon. Some key takeaways from the survey revealed that the crew wanted more privacy and storage in their cabins.
A video posted by TikTok user @ericafromamerica shared what the newly designed cabins look like. "The spaces are so much more functional and have so much more storage," she says, "...overall, [they] have more privacy than just the bunk beds."
The cabin's layout is similar to Raphael's, with one large desk area and a private ensuite bathroom. However, the new L-shaped beds feature privacy curtains that help create a cozy nook for each crew member. Plus, the stairs double as storage, so no space is wasted.
The cabins aren't the only crew-only areas onboard to receive significant updates
Onboard Icon of the Seas, crew members can enjoy a dedicated neighborhood that's not accessible to guests. Amenities include a private gaming lounge, multiple bars, fitness center, and even a barbershop.
The crew Windjammer might be the most impressive yet with different stations offering various foods, including "Off the Grill," "Fresh from the Garden," "International Flavors," and "Pasta." Additionally, for the first time ever, there are porthole windows, allowing crew members to observe the passing views, as well as natural light, while dining.
Java Cafe is what Wong describes as a "chill-out area." It features lots of comfortable seating, TVs, pool and ping-pong tables, board games, and even a coffee bar.
The cafe leads to the gaming lounge, which is a separate room that features Xboxs and PlayStations for crew to enjoy. There's also a dedicated barber shop, nightclub, karaoke lounge, training center, English-style pub, and private outdoor deck.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer.
