You have to give credit where credit is due, and Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas has deserved all the accolades it has received so far.
Ocean Idol The 2017 Royal Caribbean Cruises is the largest cruise ship in the world, but size alone doesn’t necessarily make it the best. What really makes this new ship stand out from the rest of the ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet are its various features, tweaks, and enhancements.
Last week, I boarded the Idol of the Seas for the first time since the ship’s maiden voyage in January, and I was curious to see whether, six months on from its launch, the novelty had worn off and whether the ship would be as popular as it had been earlier this year.
read more: I took the maiden voyage of Royal Caribbean’s newest ship
After spending 7 nights on board, I am convinced that Icon not only still deserves all the praise it gets, but that Royal Caribbean has once again raised the standard by which other cruise lines are judged.
Crowd Management Second to None
Surprisingly, a ship that can hold more than 7,000 passengers doesn’t feel crowded.
As you walk around the Idol of the Seas you quickly start to wonder where everyone else is. We had a lot of kids on board on our summer cruise which meant the ship was almost full.
Whether you are Royal MileThe crowds were minimal, whether it was around the pool deck, or going to a show. I don’t want you to feel like the entire ship is yours, but compared to other Royal Caribbean cruises, the crowds were almost non-existent.
On other ships, the promenade was like a sea of people (especially on embarkation days). On sea days, the pool deck was packed.
On Icon, there’s more room for people to spread out, and that’s also evident.
Royal Caribbean has also addressed crowding with destination elevators, which can more efficiently distribute elevators to passengers. Waiting for elevators on cruise ships is a traditional pain point for guests, and Royal Caribbean internally refers to these wait times as “Microwave minutes“Because this feels like the longest wait ever.
If you’ve been on other ships and then try the elevator on Icon, I think you’ll find the wait much more pleasant.
read more: Is the world’s largest cruise ship crowded? Not as crowded as you fear
Shows You’ll Want to Watch Again
Royal Caribbean has a reputation for providing the best entertainment at sea, and once again they have outshined Icon.
Although the show wasn’t quite ready for its maiden voyage, I still got to experience All Programs This time, the best collections are all gathered on one ship.
The Wizard of Oz at the Royal Theatre is by far the best show on the cruise ship other than Broadway.
Royal Caribbean’s adaptation of the beloved 1939 film combines incredible visuals, a talented cast and familiar songs.
As someone who enjoys watching shows with a plot, it was great to watch The Wizard of Oz on Icon and enjoy the Royal Caribbean version.
Other signature shows on Icon include Aqua Action! at the AquaTheater and Starbust at Absolute Zero. While water and ice shows are not new to Royal Caribbean, the shows on Icon of the Seas incorporate the best techniques and lessons learned to date.
I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the live music on Icon as it blew my mind. The musicians on board change every few months but we had an all star line up on the sailboat, Jennifer Hart in the sailboat bar and Kevin Philip in the pub were both exceptional and talented singers and I went to see them perform every night.
The new Dueling Pianos bar is a lot of fun, especially if you can bring a group. The two pianists keep the guests entertained and you get as many songs as laughs.
When you cruise aboard the Idol of the Seas and see the first show, you can’t help but want to see the rest.
The best food in the fleet
The ever-present debate on cruise ships is whether it’s worth the expense to eat at specialty restaurants, but the situation on Idol of the Seas is different because of its Food options included in cruise fares.
Other Royal Caribbean ships tend to have a few restaurants that offer basic food but not a lot of variety.
Many passengers said that with Icon, they didn’t have to pay the extra fee because they found the included restaurants to be much better than they expected.
read more: Icon of the Seas Restaurant and Dining Guide
There are several new restaurants here, starting with Aquadome Market. This is Royal Caribbean’s first foray into a food hall, and it’s a revelation. There are five different cuisines, some open late into the night, and offering other fare besides pizza.
Pearl Cafe offers 24-hour grab-and-go snacks and also provides you with healthy and delicious snack options.
You’ve beefed up the mainstays of the included food game, like El Loco Fresh on the pool deck, and even Windjammer buffet serving steak and lobster.
read more: How’s the food on the Ocean Idol?
I think the destination lift still commands the most attention from those who have tried Icon, but the quality of the food contained within has to come in a close second.
$200 worth of fine dining
After telling you how good the included food is, I feel the need to talk about the impressive Empire Supper Club Experience is it.
When Royal Caribbean announced that the Icon of the Seas would Specialty restaurants with a charge of $200 per personwhich has raised some eyebrows. But Royal Caribbean insists this won’t be just another new restaurant.
Empire Supper Club is a three-hour culinary adventure that combines food, cocktails and entertainment. Supper Club is an immersion show for all attendees and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
The jazz music was fantastic and each course was paired with a signature cocktail. It was interesting to see what dish would come next and the service was very personal considering the limited capacity of the venue. Only one seating per night.
To illustrate how much I liked it, I was first invited by Royal Caribbean to try it for free, and then I paid to try it again a week later.
Just like you might enjoy a night out at a well-known restaurant in a city, I think the Empire Supper Club is the kind of nighttime activity you can choose that you won’t find on other cruise ships.
Idols retain fans’ favorites
Despite all the new innovations, Icon of the Seas retains the “Royal Caribbean DNA” familiar to Royal Caribbean cruise fans.
Early in Icon’s development, Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said Icon of the Seas would be a blend of “tradition, evolution and revolution,” meaning it would stay true to the company’s roots while incorporating new ideas.
There are famous restaurants such as Sorrento’s Pizza, Chops Grille and Windjammer buffet here, which can be said to be the best among all the restaurants.
In addition to the new bar, you’ll find Boleros, Schooner Bar and Lime and Coconut Bar.
The Central Park neighborhood is familiar, but more sophisticated than the Oasis-level neighborhoods.
There is always room for improvement
I’m sure if you ask Royal Caribbean, they would admit there is room for improvement on Icon of the Seas. No cruise ship is perfect and I certainly have a wish list for improvements.
If you normally stay in suites, I think the Oasis Class suites are still a better choice as they are larger and the Icon’s suite lounge feels very cramped.
Speaking of cabins, storage space also seems to be less than on the Oasis-class ships. For example, the choice of baskets instead of drawers seems to be a solution to a problem that never existed.
read more: What the cabins on Icon of the Seas look like
I also think staggered show times on the Royal Mile are not practical. Many nights, live music at the Schooner Bar, Pub or Boleros ends too early due to noise concerns. Royal Caribbean wants a vibrant Royal MileBut I think it’s bad for passengers.
Absolute Zero chose to have only one entrance and exit, and that was through Playmakers Sports Bar, which was another confusing place.
Whether or not these issues are addressed on the new Icon-class ships or on Icon of the Seas itself, Icon of the Seas is not only my favorite Royal Caribbean ship, but also a generational leap forward in the industry.
