In January 2024, daughter Jill and I spent 10 days in southern Florida and the Bahamas—a fabulous escape on land and by sea. Click HERE to read a short introduction.
This story, the first in a series, is a tour of the Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world. It was spectacular!
This story, the first in a series, is a tour of the Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world. It was spectacular!
Icon of the Seas alongside the much smaller Vision of the Seas
Aboard the Icon of the Seas (January 23-26, 2024) Jill and I were among the first guests—a curated list that included journalists, influencers, and travel agents—on the $2 billion Icon of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship. This was the second ‘Naming & Preview Event’—a three-day roundtrip cruise from Miami that included a day of fun in the sun at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s ‘award-winning’ private island, and a day at sea.
I read about the Icon—the first Royal Caribbean ship powered by liquefied natural gas and fuel cell technology—in the weeks before our cruise. Floating resort. Largest waterpark at sea. Neighborhoods that appeal to all generations. Marvel of engineering. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Marketing hype, I thought...especially when it came to Royal Caribbean, which said:
I read about the Icon—the first Royal Caribbean ship powered by liquefied natural gas and fuel cell technology—in the weeks before our cruise. Floating resort. Largest waterpark at sea. Neighborhoods that appeal to all generations. Marvel of engineering. Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Marketing hype, I thought...especially when it came to Royal Caribbean, which said:
EVERYTHING BUT THE EXPECTED
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Technology and artistry merge on the new Icon of the Seas, inspiring awe on a grand scale. Get swept away by innovation to a whole new dimension of awesome. Because icons don’t just steal the show—they change the way you see it forever.
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Guess what? The buzz was real, and I WAS ‘swept away’ by everything I saw and experienced!
The Icon, ‘imagined from scratch,’ was completed in 2023—Jill traveled to Turku, Finland last year to tour the ship as it was being built—and made its maiden voyage in January 2024. It was the first of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class megaships, with three more on order.
This story is a might longer than most I’ve written, and includes a few more photos than usual, because the Icon was BIG and there was much about it and my experiences on board that I’d like to share with you.
I’ll start with a ‘tale of the tape,’ using the Vision of the Seas—the Royal Caribbean cruise ship we docked alongside of in Perfect Day at CocoCay—as the comparative ship:
The Icon, ‘imagined from scratch,’ was completed in 2023—Jill traveled to Turku, Finland last year to tour the ship as it was being built—and made its maiden voyage in January 2024. It was the first of Royal Caribbean’s Icon Class megaships, with three more on order.
This story is a might longer than most I’ve written, and includes a few more photos than usual, because the Icon was BIG and there was much about it and my experiences on board that I’d like to share with you.
I’ll start with a ‘tale of the tape,’ using the Vision of the Seas—the Royal Caribbean cruise ship we docked alongside of in Perfect Day at CocoCay—as the comparative ship:
Icon Vision
Gross Tons 250,800 78,340
Length 1,198 915
Width 213 106
Decks 20 12
Guestrooms 2,805 1,024
Passenger Capacity (full) 7,600 2,514
Crew Capacity 2,350 742
Gross Tons 250,800 78,340
Length 1,198 915
Width 213 106
Decks 20 12
Guestrooms 2,805 1,024
Passenger Capacity (full) 7,600 2,514
Crew Capacity 2,350 742
Big ship, right? Right!
Here are more noteworthy stats: The Icon has 40 dining venues and bars, eight themed neighborhoods, seven pools, six water slides, and three theaters.
Yowza!
Jill and I were assigned a 30-minute boarding slot midafternoon between two and two thirty, but by late morning we were eager to begin our adventure.
“Dad, let’s head over early. I’m sure they’ll let us board.”
And that was what we did.
We arrived at Terminal A in PortMiami—the 200,000 square foot homeport for Royal Caribbean’s largest ships—at noon.
We WERE able to board early, and the onboarding process was seamless—10 to 15 minutes with only three touch points from start to finish. Kudos to Royal Caribbean!
As I recall, we rode two escalators—one in the terminal, one on the ship— to reach the lower level of the Royal Promenade, located on Deck 5.
Here are more noteworthy stats: The Icon has 40 dining venues and bars, eight themed neighborhoods, seven pools, six water slides, and three theaters.
Yowza!
Jill and I were assigned a 30-minute boarding slot midafternoon between two and two thirty, but by late morning we were eager to begin our adventure.
“Dad, let’s head over early. I’m sure they’ll let us board.”
And that was what we did.
We arrived at Terminal A in PortMiami—the 200,000 square foot homeport for Royal Caribbean’s largest ships—at noon.
We WERE able to board early, and the onboarding process was seamless—10 to 15 minutes with only three touch points from start to finish. Kudos to Royal Caribbean!
As I recall, we rode two escalators—one in the terminal, one on the ship— to reach the lower level of the Royal Promenade, located on Deck 5.
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At the heart of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is one of its signature neighborhoods, The Royal Promenade, a hub of activity that has evolved with more space, light, and options.
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~ Matt Hochberg, Royal Caribbean Blog
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It’s hard to appreciate from a couple of photos, but the scale of the Royal Promenade—an eye-popping 362 feet in length (the same length as a football field including both endzones!) and two decks in height, with floor-to-ceiling ocean views—was startling, astonishing, incredible, and overwhelming. In other words, the Royal Promenade was jaw dropping, in the most positive sense of these superlatives.
As I took in the sights, I felt like a kid in a candy store…and not just because the multi-colored lighting that bathed the surfaces reminded me of slices of jelly candies.
(You know what I’m talking about, right?!)
“Jill, it looks like there’s something here for everyone,” I said with a bit of awe in my voice.
“There is, and we’ll explore it all,” she replied, “but first, let’s drop our carry-on bags in our cabin.”
“You lead the way.”
Before I show you our stateroom, let me tell you about the elevators.
As I took in the sights, I felt like a kid in a candy store…and not just because the multi-colored lighting that bathed the surfaces reminded me of slices of jelly candies.
(You know what I’m talking about, right?!)
“Jill, it looks like there’s something here for everyone,” I said with a bit of awe in my voice.
“There is, and we’ll explore it all,” she replied, “but first, let’s drop our carry-on bags in our cabin.”
“You lead the way.”
Before I show you our stateroom, let me tell you about the elevators.
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When Jill returned from her trip to the shipyard in Finland last year, she told me that the Icon would have destination elevators, instead of traditional elevators.
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“There will be touchscreens near each bank of elevators that will display deck numbers. When you touch the deck number you want, the panel will direct you to one of the lettered elevators. Enter that elevator when the doors open, and it will whisk you to the deck you chose, with maybe one or two stops enroute.”
What a great concept, I thought at the time. No more locals, which always seemed to annoy most cruise ship guests—Moi included.
After I touched the number 14 (for the deck our stateroom was on), we were directed to elevator C. Within a minute, the doors opened, we got on, the doors closed, and…guess what? We rode nonstop to Deck 14.
This process worked as it was conceived!
Our balcony stateroom (#14578—Deck 14, cabin 578), located forward on the starboard side, had an ocean view. I point this out—‘ocean view’— because there were balcony staterooms that faced Central Park, a themed neighborhood in the center of the ship.
Our stateroom was spacious—204 square feet PLUS a 50-square-foot balcony—with a contemporary-style couch and desk, plenty of storage and lighting, and a full-size step-in shower. And, like the rest of the Icon, our stateroom was brand spanking new.
After I touched the number 14 (for the deck our stateroom was on), we were directed to elevator C. Within a minute, the doors opened, we got on, the doors closed, and…guess what? We rode nonstop to Deck 14.
This process worked as it was conceived!
Our balcony stateroom (#14578—Deck 14, cabin 578), located forward on the starboard side, had an ocean view. I point this out—‘ocean view’— because there were balcony staterooms that faced Central Park, a themed neighborhood in the center of the ship.
Our stateroom was spacious—204 square feet PLUS a 50-square-foot balcony—with a contemporary-style couch and desk, plenty of storage and lighting, and a full-size step-in shower. And, like the rest of the Icon, our stateroom was brand spanking new.
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The bed was configured as a queen—not the right sleeping arrangement for Jill and me. Jill called Housekeeping, and within the hour they converted the queen bed into two twin beds.
As an aside, the Icon has 28 stateroom categories—something for everyone’s budget—and the most luxurious is the ‘Ultimate Family Townhouse.’ This suite has three levels, two bedrooms, and almost 1,800 square feet. I don’t know about you, but at $80,000 per week this suite is NOT within my budget!
I had a light breakfast that morning—a yogurt parfait—so I said to Jill, “Can we grab a bite to eat before we begin exploring the ship?”
“Sure—but I think Windjammer is our only option.”
“I was hoping you’d say that!” I replied.
You see, Windjammer Marketplace is my kind of dining—a casual, self-serve, buffet-style eatery for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Truth be told, I ate all my meals in Windjammer on this cruise—never in the dining room nor any of the many specialty restaurants—as I liked the convenience of selecting from a wide choice of cold and hot foods that were, for the most part, tasty and delicious. Jill, on the other hand, tried all three dining options, as she was ‘on assignment’ and needed to do so for the articles she would write.
On our way to Windjammer—it was up one deck from our stateroom, so we took the stairs—Jill texted Aly to ask her to join us. Aly, from New York, is a journalist Jill worked with for the past couple of years but never met in person...until this cruise.
As an aside, the Icon has 28 stateroom categories—something for everyone’s budget—and the most luxurious is the ‘Ultimate Family Townhouse.’ This suite has three levels, two bedrooms, and almost 1,800 square feet. I don’t know about you, but at $80,000 per week this suite is NOT within my budget!
I had a light breakfast that morning—a yogurt parfait—so I said to Jill, “Can we grab a bite to eat before we begin exploring the ship?”
“Sure—but I think Windjammer is our only option.”
“I was hoping you’d say that!” I replied.
You see, Windjammer Marketplace is my kind of dining—a casual, self-serve, buffet-style eatery for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Truth be told, I ate all my meals in Windjammer on this cruise—never in the dining room nor any of the many specialty restaurants—as I liked the convenience of selecting from a wide choice of cold and hot foods that were, for the most part, tasty and delicious. Jill, on the other hand, tried all three dining options, as she was ‘on assignment’ and needed to do so for the articles she would write.
On our way to Windjammer—it was up one deck from our stateroom, so we took the stairs—Jill texted Aly to ask her to join us. Aly, from New York, is a journalist Jill worked with for the past couple of years but never met in person...until this cruise.
From right to left: Aly, Jill, and me
There were two identical sides to Windjammer, separated by the open-air space above Central Park (which you can see in the photo above), with eight to ten food stations on each side—Asian, Seafood, Carvery, Hot Dogs & Burgers, Off the Grill, Desserts, and others—plus a drink station and a full-service bar.
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I’m not a fussy eater—at least, I don’t think I am—but I did take my time to peruse the selections at each station to make sure I made the right choices for my first meal on the Icon.
I chose wisely.
For my first course, I had a mixed salad, several large prawns, and a lobster tail. And for my main course…well, I just couldn’t decide between two entrees, so I had both: a grilled lamb chop AND salmon fillet.
“Don’t forget to eat your vegetables, Howard,” I heard my mother say, so I added a generous serving of steamed veggies.
Every bite was delicious!
“Dad, aren’t you going to have dessert?” Jill asked as we finished our entrees.
“My, oh, my—I’m too full to consider even one of those delectable-looking sweets!” I replied with a wink.
For the record, I added (at least) one dessert to every lunch and dinner for the remainder of our cruise.
“Ready to explore?” I asked Jill.
She was…and off we went.
Royal Promenade
It was time to check out the Royal Promenade, with its curving design and (what Royal Caribbean called) a ‘seamless connectivity’ from one venue to the next.
Jill and I strolled from one end of Deck 5 to the other…and then we did the same on Deck 6.
There were 15 restaurants, bars, and lounges, including Giovanni’s, a specialty restaurant Jill dined at on the last night of our cruise; Sorrento’s, where Jill, Aly, and I had pizza and wine late one afternoon; Spotlight Karaoke (I never tried it and likely never will!); Dueling Pianos; and Schooner Bar, where I listened to a soulful singer-pianist perform one evening after dinner. There were also several retail shops, a Starbucks, and a handful of playful sculptures.
I chose wisely.
For my first course, I had a mixed salad, several large prawns, and a lobster tail. And for my main course…well, I just couldn’t decide between two entrees, so I had both: a grilled lamb chop AND salmon fillet.
“Don’t forget to eat your vegetables, Howard,” I heard my mother say, so I added a generous serving of steamed veggies.
Every bite was delicious!
“Dad, aren’t you going to have dessert?” Jill asked as we finished our entrees.
“My, oh, my—I’m too full to consider even one of those delectable-looking sweets!” I replied with a wink.
For the record, I added (at least) one dessert to every lunch and dinner for the remainder of our cruise.
“Ready to explore?” I asked Jill.
She was…and off we went.
Royal Promenade
It was time to check out the Royal Promenade, with its curving design and (what Royal Caribbean called) a ‘seamless connectivity’ from one venue to the next.
Jill and I strolled from one end of Deck 5 to the other…and then we did the same on Deck 6.
There were 15 restaurants, bars, and lounges, including Giovanni’s, a specialty restaurant Jill dined at on the last night of our cruise; Sorrento’s, where Jill, Aly, and I had pizza and wine late one afternoon; Spotlight Karaoke (I never tried it and likely never will!); Dueling Pianos; and Schooner Bar, where I listened to a soulful singer-pianist perform one evening after dinner. There were also several retail shops, a Starbucks, and a handful of playful sculptures.
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The layout and décor varied from venue to venue, and each was inviting. And while I would have loved to have visited them all, there was too little time to do so on a three-day cruise—especially since there were places in other neighborhoods I wanted to experience. Still, from the handful of venues I visited—Sorrento’s, Schooner Bar, Point & Feather, and a couple others—I learned first-hand that each had a unique and appealing vibe.
The Pearl
The Pearl
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When Royal Caribbean first contacted us, we were very excited, and we thought they were a little nuts, to be honest. They asked us to design something that was a lot more ambitious than anything we’ve done in the past.
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~ Mattias Gunneras, Co-Founder of Breakfast, a New York studio
‘known for their digitally controlled kinetic sculptures' |
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“Jill, look at that,” I said as I pointed to a globe-like structure that stood midship on the Royal Promenade.
“That’s The Pearl,” she replied. “It’s a multi-sensory experience—motion, color, and sound. When I toured the shipyard in Helsinki last year, I learned it took more than two years to design and build.” It was no wonder, as The Pearl was made up of 3,000 kinetic tiles combined with LED lights and music. As Gunneras said, it was an ambitious design. |
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Everybody is going to interact and experience The Pearl in their own way. It’s beautiful; it’s artistic; it’s incredibly creative; it’s spatially so large that once you experience it, you can’t get your head around it.
~ Michael Baley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean |
The Pearl, which measured 46 by 50 feet, was recognized as the world’s largest kinetic art sculpture. It was stunning!
“Where to next?” I asked Jill.
“Let’s go surfing,” she answered with a wry smile.
Surfside
“Where to next?” I asked Jill.
“Let’s go surfing,” she answered with a wry smile.
Surfside
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Surfside, another of the themed neighborhoods, caters to kids. Well, mostly kids, as I spotted a 70-something kid-at-heart on the carousel! Yep…that’s an octopus he rode on.
(In hindsight, I wished I had channeled my inner child, too, and taken a spin on the carousel…on the pink flamingo!) |
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Located on Deck 7, it is part playground, part waterpark, and part food court (but there’s no surfing).
Royal Caribbean called it a ‘stay and play all day neighborhood,’ which, IMHO, helped define the Icon as a vacation destination in and of itself.
(Truly, I believe this was Royal Caribbean’s intent from the get-go. How else would one explain the need for 40 dining venues and bars, eight themed neighborhoods, seven pools, six water slides, and three theaters on one ship? Three days or a week on the Icon, without having to leave the ship, WOULD BE a fabulous vacation for many. Brilliant!)
Royal Caribbean called it a ‘stay and play all day neighborhood,’ which, IMHO, helped define the Icon as a vacation destination in and of itself.
(Truly, I believe this was Royal Caribbean’s intent from the get-go. How else would one explain the need for 40 dining venues and bars, eight themed neighborhoods, seven pools, six water slides, and three theaters on one ship? Three days or a week on the Icon, without having to leave the ship, WOULD BE a fabulous vacation for many. Brilliant!)
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“Jill, look how vivid the colors are—bold and bright! They add a touch of excitement to Surfside, I think.”
She nodded in agreement.
She nodded in agreement.
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And then we went from Surfside to poolside.
The Pools
The Pools
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The Icon has seven pools, and three were located on Decks 15 and 16—our next destination.
Inexplicably, the only pool photo I have—I snapped almost 300 pics on board the Icon—was Royal Bay. Sheesh! |
On Deck 15, I ‘discovered’ what would be my favorite bar, The Lime & Coconut, and a cozy place to chill.
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“Let’s have a drink,” I said to Jill.
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I don’t recall what Jill ordered, but Franklin, a bartender at The Lime & Coconut, mixed a ‘Painkiller’ for me—Pusser's Navy rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, coconut syrup, and a dash of nutmeg. It was reee-freshing!
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And here was a first, at least in my cruising experience—each pool was manned by a lifeguard. I stopped these two for a photo op…and to ask the all-important question.
“Have you had to save anyone yet?”
They smiled and gave me a thumbs up.
Was that a ‘yes,’ I wondered. Nah—couldn’t be.
By the way, every member of the crew I encountered on our three-day cruise—and I mean ‘every’—was cordial, polite, and respectful.
Jill and I glimpsed Central Park, located on Deck 8. We also spotted staterooms with a view of the park—some with balconies, others without. Check out the colors on the shutters!
“Have you had to save anyone yet?”
They smiled and gave me a thumbs up.
Was that a ‘yes,’ I wondered. Nah—couldn’t be.
By the way, every member of the crew I encountered on our three-day cruise—and I mean ‘every’—was cordial, polite, and respectful.
Jill and I glimpsed Central Park, located on Deck 8. We also spotted staterooms with a view of the park—some with balconies, others without. Check out the colors on the shutters!
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“Let’s have a closer look at the park,” I said to Jill.
“Do you mind if we use the elevator, rather than take a swan dive?” she chortled.
I think my sense of humor has rubbed off on her!
Central Park
Before we boarded the Icon, Jill and I completed a three-day cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship that accommodated up to 5,500 guests with double occupancy (and 6,800 in total). THAT was an interesting cruise, which you’ll read about in a future story.
“Do you mind if we use the elevator, rather than take a swan dive?” she chortled.
I think my sense of humor has rubbed off on her!
Central Park
Before we boarded the Icon, Jill and I completed a three-day cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship that accommodated up to 5,500 guests with double occupancy (and 6,800 in total). THAT was an interesting cruise, which you’ll read about in a future story.
The Allure had a Central Park, too…and I really enjoyed the time I spent there.
When I mentioned this to Jill, as we made our way to Central Park, she said, “If you liked the one on the Allure, you’ll LOVE this one because it's bigger.”
How much bigger could it be, I wondered.
As if Jill read my mind, she continued, “When I toured the shipyard, I learned this park would have more than 100 plant species and over 33,000 plants tended by a staff of horticulturalists.”
It appeared to have that many plants and more. And, the park was home to two specialty restaurants, a café, two bars, one lounge, and a high-end watch shop.
Aah-mazing!
When I mentioned this to Jill, as we made our way to Central Park, she said, “If you liked the one on the Allure, you’ll LOVE this one because it's bigger.”
How much bigger could it be, I wondered.
As if Jill read my mind, she continued, “When I toured the shipyard, I learned this park would have more than 100 plant species and over 33,000 plants tended by a staff of horticulturalists.”
It appeared to have that many plants and more. And, the park was home to two specialty restaurants, a café, two bars, one lounge, and a high-end watch shop.
Aah-mazing!
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I came back to Central Park time and again throughout our cruise, as this neighborhood was a ‘happy place’ for me. The plants, the buzz, the vivid colors, the serpentine-shaped path that meandered through the park—all these details and more put a big smile on my face!
After we left Central Park, Jill went in one direction, and I went in another.
Interlude
No, it’s not the name of a venue. Rather, it’s a pause in our tour of the Icon so I can share an event with you.
After we left Central Park, Jill went in one direction, and I went in another.
Interlude
No, it’s not the name of a venue. Rather, it’s a pause in our tour of the Icon so I can share an event with you.
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There was never an opportunity to snap an iconic photo of the ship, so here is a keepsake photo that Royal Caribbean gave to all journalists, influencers, and travel agents, and which Jill gave to me.
No doubt you noticed the smaller writing in the lower right-hand corner. If not, it reads:
NAMING CEREMONY
JAUARY 23, 2024 |
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Earlier I mentioned that our three-day cruise was a ‘Naming & Preview Event.’ And so, there was a naming ceremony, followed by a cocktail hour, early evening that first day. Jill invited me to join her, but I politely declined—too many people vying for too little space, IMHO.
Later that evening, she told me I missed seeing the ‘official Icon of the Seas,’ the famous soccer player Lionel Messi, who took part in the naming ceremony.
“I’m thrilled and honored to join the Royal Caribbean family to celebrate the arrival of the game-changing Icon of the Seas,’ Messi said.
(“Howard, how do you know he said this if you didn’t go to the name ceremony?” I heard someone ask.
Fair question.
Answer: I read about the naming ceremony when I got home.)
Had I known Messi would be there, I just might have braved the crowd and cramped quarters to see and hear him!
“So, Howard, what did you do while Jill was busy with media events?”
Thank you for asking.
I started with dinner at Windjammer, and it was a big one.
Later that evening, she told me I missed seeing the ‘official Icon of the Seas,’ the famous soccer player Lionel Messi, who took part in the naming ceremony.
“I’m thrilled and honored to join the Royal Caribbean family to celebrate the arrival of the game-changing Icon of the Seas,’ Messi said.
(“Howard, how do you know he said this if you didn’t go to the name ceremony?” I heard someone ask.
Fair question.
Answer: I read about the naming ceremony when I got home.)
Had I known Messi would be there, I just might have braved the crowd and cramped quarters to see and hear him!
“So, Howard, what did you do while Jill was busy with media events?”
Thank you for asking.
I started with dinner at Windjammer, and it was a big one.
Poblano soup. Salad. Marinated zucchini. Fried polenta. Marinated asparagus. Green & red tomatoes with Parmesan cheese. Fried chicken. Boston creme pie. Key lime pie. Peanut butter bar. Decaf coffee.
Lest you think I overindulged in sweets, I had one bite of each dessert to determine the best. The winner? Hands down, it was the key lime pie…which I finished.
That was a fun dinner!
Lest you think I overindulged in sweets, I had one bite of each dessert to determine the best. The winner? Hands down, it was the key lime pie…which I finished.
That was a fun dinner!
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And way too many calories, so I strolled Decks 15 and 16 to burn a few. Weatherwise, it was a beautiful evening.
As you can see, with the ship lit up, things looked different at night than they did during the day. 
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I used the stairs (more exercise) to reach Royal Promenade, where I went 'Zero Proof' (no alcohol) at Point & Feather with a Citrus Tonic—lemon juice, Q elderflower tonic, and sparkling grapefruit juice. There I listen to a musician pluck his guitar and sing songs from the 60s and 70s. It was my kind of music!
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Five or six songs into the set, I checked my watch. 9:30. Time to meet up with Jill.
Royal Theater
Royal Theater
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If you’re a fan of full-scale productions on Broadway and the West End or live music and comedy in hot spots like Las Vegas, Icon has it all for every mood and style.
~ Nick Weir, Senior Vice President of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean
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Jill and I had arranged to meet at the Royal Theater—the multi-tiered main theater that offered nightly entertainment—for a late night (10PM) performance by the ‘Crazy Juggler,’ AKA Pete Matthews.’
The blurb from Royal Caribbean said that Matthews is “Widely recognized as the UK's Premier Comedy Juggler, with a career spanning three decades. When Royal Caribbean launches a new ship, they always call Pete!”
Lofty praise, I mused as I took my seat.
But Matthews lived up to this billing. Jill and I laughed at his comic routine and oohed and aahed at his juggling prowess.
And that was the end of our first day on the Icon.
But I have a few more sharables from the next two days…
Back to the Royal Theater
The blurb from Royal Caribbean said that Matthews is “Widely recognized as the UK's Premier Comedy Juggler, with a career spanning three decades. When Royal Caribbean launches a new ship, they always call Pete!”
Lofty praise, I mused as I took my seat.
But Matthews lived up to this billing. Jill and I laughed at his comic routine and oohed and aahed at his juggling prowess.
And that was the end of our first day on the Icon.
But I have a few more sharables from the next two days…
Back to the Royal Theater
Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.
The Royal Theater was a great venue to watch Matthews’ performance—the seats were roomy and comfortable, the acoustics were great, and the theater, even though large, felt intimate—but this venue was even better for the Icon’s featured production show, The Wizard of Oz, which was staged on the second night of our cruise.
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This ‘first at-sea’ production of the Wizard of Oz—a 90-minute show—pretty much followed the story line of the 1939 classic movie. And the performance wasn’t limited to the stage, as characters—including those scary monkeys—soared high above the audience. The original score was performed by a 16-piece orchestra.
I wasn’t supposed to take pics—copyright protection, I believe—but I noticed others were, so I snapped a few, too. |
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JILL AND I LOVED THIS SHOW FROM START TO FINISH!
And we greatly admired the performance by Toto’s 'handler'—a puppeteer who replicated Toto’s every move, including Toto falling asleep in the poppy field scene. At the end of the show, when the cast took their bows, it seemed the puppeteer received the loudest ovation.
I’ve cruised more than 30 times with a handful of cruise lines over the past 29 years, and without a doubt this was the best show I’ve seen on a ship.
Thrill Island
I’ve cruised more than 30 times with a handful of cruise lines over the past 29 years, and without a doubt this was the best show I’ve seen on a ship.
Thrill Island
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There’s a place you won’t find on any map, where the most adrenaline-amping adventures converge. Face the wrath of the largest waterpark at sea. And find the courage to conquer the Crown’s Edge, a test of bravery like nothing you’ve ever dared.
~ Royal Caribbean
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And there was more, including Lost Dunes, a nine-hole mini golf course, and FlowRider, a surf simulator.
Here’s the best part: IT'S FREE!
Here’s the best part: IT'S FREE!
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But guess what? All I had was a look-see on our day at sea.
Here’s my excuse… Our three-night cruise included two full days. We spent the first day on CocoCay, where I had fun in the sun on Chill Island. And on the second day I chose a good book and a comfortable deck chair for some R&R over the thrills in Thrill Island. I know…not a great excuse...but it’s the only one I have, and I’m sticking to it. |
Thrill Island—another of the ship’s themed neighborhoods—encompassed the back half of Deck 16. I visited Thrill Island twice that day, in the afternoon and at night. I LOVED the way it was lit at night, and I could only imagine what it looked like from above.
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The waterpark, called Category 6, had six waterslides, each named for an extreme weather event:
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Just a guess, but I bet each slide was a heart-pumping experience! |
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FlowRider was a 40-foot-long surf simulator suited for all skill levels. To simulate the surfing experience, water was forced up, at the back end of the simulator, at 25MPH.
Riders laid or knelt on a boogie board or stood on a surfboard—one rider at a time. |
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I tried boogie boarding once, in Hawaii back in 1999. Never got the hang of it...and I had no reason to believe, 25 years later, I’d have better luck. So, I was content to watch this fellow, who I believe was an instructor, ride his boogie board on his belly and knees. He fell once or twice, but far fewer times than I would have!
Had Jill been with me, she would have challenged me to a round of mini golf—FOR SURE—because she’s as competitive as me. And I’ll tell you another thing; neither of us would have offered the other a ‘gimme.’
But she wasn’t there, so I walked the course to get a closer look at the shipwreck, crashed plane, pine trees, and more. Cute!
Had Jill been with me, she would have challenged me to a round of mini golf—FOR SURE—because she’s as competitive as me. And I’ll tell you another thing; neither of us would have offered the other a ‘gimme.’
But she wasn’t there, so I walked the course to get a closer look at the shipwreck, crashed plane, pine trees, and more. Cute!
The Wrap-Up
Does anyone doubt I had a great time on board the Icon?
I didn’t think so.
As I mentioned earlier, three days were too short of a time to see everything the Icon offered. Still, I saw a lot…and I was blown away in every way possible, including the service, which was impeccable.
For some, the Icon may be ‘too big, too many people.’ I will admit to thinking just that ahead of our cruise. And while I’m not sure I will sail on such a large ship again (but one never know what the future has in store), I can honestly say I had a grand experience I will never forget!
Does anyone doubt I had a great time on board the Icon?
I didn’t think so.
As I mentioned earlier, three days were too short of a time to see everything the Icon offered. Still, I saw a lot…and I was blown away in every way possible, including the service, which was impeccable.
For some, the Icon may be ‘too big, too many people.’ I will admit to thinking just that ahead of our cruise. And while I’m not sure I will sail on such a large ship again (but one never know what the future has in store), I can honestly say I had a grand experience I will never forget!