Recently I had the opportunity to sail on Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Icon of the Seas.  From stateroom categories to thrilling shows, family-friendly neighborhoods, and delightful dining, the ship is a treasure trove of experiences.

First up is the stateroom categories.  One of the newest categories Royal Caribbean has to offer is the Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony Rooms that can fit up to 6 guests.  This is huge for larger families, you will have 2 bunk beds in their own space, a king bed and a sleeper sofa, and even a split bathroom, which is perfect for larger families especially. One of my favorite parts of this room (which is also offered in many other stateroom categories) on Icon of the Seas is the infinite balcony.  The extended balcony area effectively enlarges the interior of your room, and the wall switch allows you to regulate the extent to which you want the balcony open. This feature proves ideal for breezy days when you desire the soothing sound of waves without experiencing the full force of the wind. Additionally, it adds extra space indoors, giving you more room to spread out, which you can always use.

Next, let’s talk about the shows. The minute the lights dim in the Royal Theater, you will know you’re not in Kansas anymore.  The Broadway sensation, Wizard of Oz, presented by Icon of the Seas, is bound to leave you feeling like you were transported to the Emerald City with a mix of up to date technology and black and white films like the original film to this show.  Figure skating fans and science fans will appreciate Starburst: Elemental Beauty, a captivating blend of ice skating and scientific elements synchronized with songs.  Aqua Action promises an edge-of-your-seat experience with surprises at every turn, from high dives to synchronized swimming.  These onboard shows promise an unforgettable journey through entertainment excellence.

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Moving onto the Neighborhoods. Icon of the Seas features 8 neighborhoods across 20 decks, including a brand new neighborhood called Surfside.  This neighborhood is perfect for younger kids up to 6 years old.  There is a carousel, play area, splash pad (one for babies and one for ages 1-6), dining options, ice cream, an arcade, a candy shop, and quick access to the kids clubs.  For older kids, the Thrill Island Neighborhood offers the Category 6 waterpark, boasting six record-breaking slides, and the daring Crown’s Edge. 

Finally, let’s talk about dining.  We were able to enjoy tastes of the specialty restaurants on board the ship on our first day.  Due to my food allergies, I was not able to taste any of these offerings, but the overwhelming favorite amongst others I was with were from the newest speciality dining for kids in the Surfside Neighborhood, Pier 7. Speaking of allergies, they were handled very well.  I had one chef I spoke to in Windjammers for every breakfast, another one for every lunch and then I always spoke to the head server at night about my dinner options.   Keeping the same chef for each meal in Windjammers ensured they knew how to cook for me and that it would be safe.  Windjammers Cafe always had great options for every meal and their very own dancing sandwiches reminding you to wash your hands as you came in (yes, the team members were dressed as sandwiches)!  They even had a gluten free section of the buffet, away from the other food so it won’t be cross contaminated.  If you have questions or prefer to get fresh food from the back, ask a head server and they will help you. Personally, my favorite spot for a midday snack was El Loco Fresh for chips and salsa.    

While we only had 3 nights to explore the ship, I’m not sure you could see and do it all in 7 nights either!  Surprisingly, the ship’s grandeur doesn’t overwhelm; instead, it reveals hidden gems around every corner. I could easily see Icon of the Seas becoming a favorite and look forward to sailing on it again in the future.