This text initially appeared on Business Insider.
Introverts, look away: Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship, set sail on January 27, marking a brand new period within the mega-cruise-ship growth.
The beginning of Icon’s service has been a very long time coming for the cruise model and followers of huge ships. Royal Caribbean and Finland’s Meyer Turku shipyard started setting up the behemoth vessel in 2021. A 12 months later, the cruise line noticed its largest reserving day as reservations opened for the Icon of the Seas in October 2022.
Since then, Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean Worldwide’s president and CEO, has been touting the brand new ship as “the best-selling product within the historical past of our enterprise.” And for good purpose: From its colossal dimension to its 40+ eating places and bars, Icon overshadows virtually all of its predecessors.
I joined the ship’s complimentary, three-night preview crusing on January 20. Check out what it is like on the $2 billion floating resort designed to accommodate as much as 9,950 folks (2,350 crew and seven,600 company).
Let’s begin with the basic fan favourite: the swimming pools.
The Icon of the Seas has seven swimming pools, together with one which royal Caribbean says is the most important at sea. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
4 of the ship’s seven swimming holes are positioned on Icon’s model of a conventional pool deck, Chill Island. It is the place vacationers can float round a 5,800-square-foot pool and one other smaller one with a swim-up bar.
However Chill Island is not Icon’s crème de la crème.
Thrill Island has outside actions like a surf simulator. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
With wild outside facilities like a water park, lounging by the pool fell low on my to-do listing.
As a substitute, it is Thrill Island – the go-to for all issues, properly, thrilling.
Crown’s Edge is just not for vacationers with a worry of heights. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
Whereas there, company can step right into a harness to traverse one of many ship’s most adrenaline-pumping actions: Crown’s Edge. Anticipate to dangle 154 toes above the ocean when the ground unexpectedly drops from beneath your toes.
Not excited about spending just a few milliseconds questioning for those who’re about to plunge to your dying?
This course places a cheerfully nautical spin on mini-golf. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
Icon of the Seas’ amenities additionally contains the extra peaceable mini-golf course, sports activities courtroom, mountaineering wall, and surf simulator, all positioned just a few toes subsequent to (and beneath) Crown’s Edge’s elevated course.
The neighboring six-slide water park is the place company will discover the right combine of pleasure and enjoyable – with out sweaty palms.
The water park has six slides, together with what its operator is looking the tallest at sea. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
The over 17,000-square-foot mecca of screaming kids (and adults) features a 46-foot-tall drop slide and what Royal Caribbean says is the primary household raft slide on a cruise ship.
The slides’ water was heated throughout my chilly day at sea.
Two of the water slides require a minimum of two riders at a time. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
However study from my mistake: You may in all probability guzzle your physique weight in heat water for those who try and scream throughout the drops.
If it is not evident but, the Icon of the Seas was designed to focus on households — a lot in order that a whole part of the ship is devoted to kids youthful than six.
The Surfside neighborhood options an arcade, a water playground, and an all-day brunch spot the place kids eat free of charge. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
Surfside, positioned about 10 decks beneath Thrill and Chill Island, is the place youthful vacationers can romp across the water playground, spin across the eclectic carousel, and spend their dad and mom’ cash on the arcade.
An enormous pink flamingo statue grounds this quaint neighborhood, whereas the limitless delicate serve and churro stands maintain households with a candy tooth coming again.
Facilities just like the arcade are pay-to-play. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
The youngest sailors may wind down with Surfside’s bedtime story readings.
Like me, vacationers with out children might rapidly study to keep away from these areas.
Royal Caribbean says the Icon of the Seas is the primary cruise ship to have a suspended infinity pool. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
Thankfully, sections like Hideaway and its suspended infinity pool are kid-free. So is Cloud 17, one other pool, and the night-time comedy present.
Central Park, a centerpiece on lots of Royal Caribbean’s mega ships, is not adult-only.
Central Park is 5 decks tall and has 4 partitions lined with reside vegetation. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
Nonetheless, considerably fewer kids frolic round this open-air vacation spot than the remainder of the ship.
This neighborhood has no loud actions, slides, or big flamingos.
Eating venues like Central Park’s Park Cafe are complimentary. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
As a substitute, it is a quiet and contemplative area embellished with over 30,550 reside vegetation, luxurious shops, eating places, and bars.
Central Park additionally has a reside jazz membership.
Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues is considered one of a number of reside music venues. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
However in comparison with the remainder of the ship’s leisure line-up, Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues probably is not among the many most coveted present venues.
Good luck snagging a seat on the AquaTheater for a exhibiting of the favored “Aqua Motion!”
Leisure on the Icon of the Seas features a nighttime present at its water-based theater. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
This show of divers, nine-foot-tall robotic arms, synchronized swimmers, and skate boarders replaces the standard (ahem, cringe) cruise song-and-dance present.
No ice skaters are on this efficiency, although — they’re busy with the ship’s different ice skating present.
However for those who’re keen on a wonderful musical second, the first (dry) theater additionally does a savory rendition of “The Wizard of Oz.”
“The Wizard of Oz” is accompanied by a 16-piece reside orchestra. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
Preserve your expectations inside purpose: Toto is half puppeteer, half puppet-dog. Each are equally expressive.
After a full day of actions and reveals, hungry company have 21 eating places at their disposal.
Hooked Seafood is considered one of a number of specialty eating places on the brand new ship. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
Nonetheless, solely about half of Icon of the Seas’ restaurants are complimentary. This contains the buffet, Central Park’s café, and the five-venue meals corridor.
Be ready to drag out your pockets for sushi, lobster, steak, and rabbit.
Specialty meals embody uncooked oysters, lobster tails, and sashimi. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
The costliest eating venue, Empire Supper Membership, prices over $200 per particular person. Thankfully, you may drink the ache of this worth away: A cocktail pairing is included.
Icon provides loads of different booze and cruise alternatives with 20 on-board bars.
The Central Park neighborhood is house to a small Champagne bar, Bubbles. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
Nearly each part of the ship presents alternatives to drink.
At night time, the Royal Promenade and its strip of seven watering holes — together with karaoke and dueling piano bars — additionally turns into a do-it-yourself bar crawl.
AquaTheater’s neighboring Rye and Bean provides a tea and coffee-powered aptitude to cocktails, whereas Surfside’s Lemon Publish flexes a lemonade stand-inspired drink menu.
One of many Lime and Coconut bars now features a frozen cocktail menu. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
Should you select to booze it up, the 1,198-foot-long, 250,800-gross-ton giant cruise ship probably will not be the reason for your seasick (hangover) signs — I, the self-proclaimed Queen of Movement Illness, barely felt it transfer throughout my three-night crusing.
I steadily retreated to my stateroom to take a break from the overwhelming ship.
My ocean-view balcony cabin had 50 sq. toes of personal outside area. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
However satirically, even eager about the variety of cabins can really feel overbearing. Icon’s 2,805 floating lodge rooms comprise 28 cabin classes, together with a number of new for Royal Caribbean.
However even the most cost effective windowless inside cabin will be expensive.
The Pearl has about 3,600 transferring tiles. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider by way of BI
Throughout its first 12 months in service, the enormous vessel will function year-round seven-night sailings from Miami to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Royal Caribbean’s non-public island Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Icon’s least expensive 2024 sailing presently begins at virtually $2,590 per particular person.
At about $370 per particular person per day, crusing on Royal Caribbean’s new product prices as a lot as some premium cruise strains.
The Icon of the Seas is now working year-round seven-night cruises from Miami. Brittany Chang/Enterprise Insider
However let’s not overlook this worth additionally contains admission to a water park, nightly reveals, half of the eating choices, and the exhaustion that can inevitably include being overwhelmed by the enormous floating resort.
