Icon of the Seas
Icon class · Caribbean & Bahamas
Entering service in 2024, Icon of the Seas is the first Icon-class ship, with about 249,000 GT. It operates year-round seven-night Caribbean cruises from Miami. Water features stand out, including the huge glass dome at the bow, six waterslides, and the largest water park at sea. It is highly satisfying for families, but with capacity for 5,600 guests, popular restaurants and shows effectively require advance reservations. Its relatively new LNG-powered design divides the ship into neighborhood-based areas, clearly separating quiet zones from lively ones.
Current position (external site)View on VesselFinder (IMO 9829930)External site. Position information has not been checked by Cruise Atlas.
For travelers from Japan
A guide to public baths, Japanese food and language support, payment in yen, smoking, dress codes and power outlets, based on available official and other sources. Details may vary by itinerary and season. Check the official website for current information.
Similar facilities, such as a thermal suite
Payment in yen not accepted
Smoking in designated areas only
English text in preparation.
Official: confirmed by the cruise line or another official source / Secondary source: confirmed by other sources / Estimated: inferred by Cruise Atlas / Not stated: no information found in official sources
At a glance
What is included and what costs extra
- Meals (main restaurants)Included
- AlcoholExtra charge
- GratuitiesExtra charge
- Wi‑FiExtra charge
- Specialty diningExtra charge
- Shore excursionsExtra charge
The basic fare includes only meals such as main dining and buffet. Alcohol, Wi-Fi, tips, and specialty restaurants are charged separately or require a package purchase. Upper-tier suites such as Star Class include many of these in the price.
- Extra chargeDrinks (one beer)$8
- Extra chargeSoft drinks and water$4
- Extra chargeDrink packageAbout $89/day for the Deluxe Beverage Package, covering drinks priced at $15 or less.
- Extra chargeWi‑FiA total of about $140-$220 for 7 nights (a guide for package purchase).
- Extra chargeGratuities (automatic service charge)$18-$20.50/day (varies by stateroom category)
- Extra chargeSpa (60 minutes)$199+
- Extra chargeLaundryWashing, pressing, and dry cleaning are paid services (partially included for higher suites such as Star Class).
- Shore excursionsShore excursions cost extra depending on the port and content. Some attractions at Perfect Day at CocoCay, such as water slides, also cost extra.
Prices are shown in the onboard currency; no currency conversion is applied.
Boarding, atmosphere, and links
- Japan departures: No
- Home ports: Miami (Florida, United States; PortMiami; current home port), Galveston (Texas, United States; scheduled to begin service as a new home port in August 2027)
- Departure ports: Miami
- All ages
- Its eight-neighborhood layout makes use of one of the world's largest hulls, with a lively, active atmosphere featuring a water park and skywalk-style attractions. It is family-oriented, while also offering adults-only areas for guests aged 18 and over, including The Hideaway and Swim & Tonic.
- On Caribbean cruises from North America, both families and couples board in broad numbers. Demand for the new ship means bookings tend to fill early.
Six Wärtsilä multi-fuel engines use LNG (liquefied natural gas) as the main fuel, reducing SOx and particulate emissions to nearly zero and CO2 emissions by about 25% compared with conventional heavy fuel oil. The ship also has a waste-heat recovery system and air lubrication technology, which reduces friction using bubbles beneath the hull.
Ship character
- • Families with children in elementary school or younger
- • Travelers focused on onboard facilities
- • First-time cruisers seeking high satisfaction on short trips
- • Travelers seeking a quiet cruise
- • Travelers prioritizing port sightseeing
- • Travelers uncomfortable with crowds
Cruise stories and videos on external sites
5 linksThese are articles and videos by other publishers, not Cruise Atlas. Their content is their own and has not been reviewed by us. Links open in a new tab.
- Personal blogJapanesetomotravelife.com
tomotravelife.com · Link checked Oct 5, 2026
- Personal blogJapaneseameblo.jp
ameblo.jp · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- ArticleJapanesePR / hosted trip disclosedcruise-ism.com
cruise-ism.com · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- ArticleEnglishIcon of the Seas Review: Incredible Ship, Tough Price Tag
cruiseprism.com · Link checked Oct 4, 2026
- Personal blogEnglishWe Just Returned from the First Sailing on Icon of the Seas, the World's Largest Cruise Ship!
eatsleepcruise.com · Link checked Oct 5, 2026
English text in preparation.
Sources
- Officialroyalcaribbean.com
- Encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org
- Encyclopediaen.wikipedia.org (2)
- Officialroyalcaribbean.com (2)
- Officialroyalcaribbean.com (3)
- Officialroyalcaribbean.com (4)
- Officialroyalcaribbean.com (5)
- Officialroyalcaribbean.com (6)
- Officialroyalcaribbean.com (7)
- Secondary sourceroyalcaribbeanblog.com
- Secondary sourceroyalcaribbeanblog.com (2)
- Secondary sourceroyalcaribbeanblog.com (3)
- Secondary sourceroyalcaribbeanblog.com (4)
- Secondary sourceroyalcaribbeanblog.com (5)
- Secondary sourceroyalcaribbeanblog.com (6)
- Secondary sourceroyalcaribbeanblog.com (7)
- Secondary sourceeatsleepcruise.com
- Secondary sourceeatsleepcruise.com (2)
- Secondary sourcefreestyletravelers.com
- Secondary sourceshinecruise.com
- Secondary sourcecruisemummy.co.uk
- Secondary sourcegangwaze.com
- Secondary sourcespecialneedsatsea.com
- Secondary sourcecruiseindustrynews.com
- Secondary sourcecruisehive.com
- Secondary sourceoffshore-energy.biz
Source: Wikipedia “Icon of the Seas”, “Icon-class cruise ship” (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Cabins by category
| Cabins | Size | Occupancy and beds | Features | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Interior Stateroom The least expensive category onboard. It has no windows or balcony, but as a new Icon-class ship, it features improved wall-mounted TVs and storage. Some of the higher-category Surfside Interior cabins in the family area are slightly larger. 535 cabins / Centered on lower to mid-level decks | 15–19 m² (161–205 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed (convertible to twin beds) + sofa bed or ceiling-mounted pull-down bed; some cabins accommodate up to 4 people. | Check on the deck plan and cabin search | |
Ocean View / Panoramic Ocean View Stateroom Ocean-view cabins with windows but no balcony. The Panorama Ocean View, with a large single-pane window, is slightly more spacious than the standard type. 276 cabins / Low- to mid-level decks | 17–21 m² (183–226 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed + sofa bed. Panorama Ocean View has large windows that give a sense of openness. | WindowConnecting | Check on the deck plan and cabin search |
Ocean View Balcony Stateroom The most common category, accounting for more than half of all cabins. In addition to standard balconies of about 4.6 m², there are higher-level types with larger balconies, such as corner cabins. 1,815 cabins / Along Central Park (Deck 8) and high-deck sea-facing balconies | 19–26 m² (205–280 ft²) | 2-4 people Queen bed + sofa bed, with a private balcony. | BalconyConnecting | Check on the deck plan and cabin search |
Sky Class Junior Suite / Grand Suite The first tier of Royal Suite Class. It offers a larger living space and access to the suite-only lounge and Coastal Kitchen restaurant. Around the Suite Neighborhood on Decks 17-18 | 30–55 m² (323–592 ft²) | 2-6 people King bed + sofa bed; depending on the cabin type, a pull-down bed or bunk beds can be added. | BalconyConcierge | Check on the deck plan and cabin search |
Star Class - Royal Loft Suite / Ultimate Family Townhouse The signature 2-story Star Class maisonette suite. A dedicated concierge, the Royal Genie, arranges all reservations and requests as if traveling alongside the guests, making it the highest category. Decks 17-18; the top level of the Suite Neighborhood (near the private deck and The Grove) | 137–165 m² (1,475–1,776 ft²) | 6-8 people (Ultimate Family Townhouse accommodates up to 8) Two-level cabins with 2 to 3 bedrooms; multiple bedrooms with king, single, or bunk beds | BalconyConcierge | Check on the deck plan and cabin search |
Approximate figures from official and reliable sources. Cabins vary by ship, category, and sailing.Links generally lead to official pages; some have not been verified.
Families, adults-only areas, and practical information
- • Adventure Ocean — A free kids program that looks after children aged 3 to 12 in age groups (AO Juniors, AO Kids and others). Childcare for ages 6 to 36 months (Royal Babies & Tots) is paid.
- • Splashaway Bay — A free water park for young children, located in the Surfside neighborhood.
- • Water's Edge — An infinity pool on the family-friendly Surfside deck, directly adjacent to children's facilities such as Splashaway Bay.
- • Casino Royale — A large casino with slot machines and table games, including a poker room; guests must be aged 18 or over.
- • Swim & Tonic — The first pool with a swim-up bar in the Royal Caribbean fleet. It is located on Chill Island, an area limited to guests aged 18 and over.
- • The Hideaway — A suspended infinity pool, said to be the first at sea, in an area limited to guests aged 18 and over. A bar is also on site.
- Onboard currency
- USD
- Gratuities
- A daily service charge is added automatically to your SeaPass account. During the cruise, you can adjust the amount at Guest Services at any time.
- Payment
- Cashless onboard
- Voltage
- Supports both 110V and 220V.
- Formal nights
- About 2 on a 7-night cruise (as a guide, on day 2 and day 6). 1 on a 5-night cruise, rising to 3 to 4 on cruises of 15 nights or more.
- Medical facilities
- There is a medical center staffed 24 hours a day by doctors and nurses, with consultation fees of about $100 to $200. Charges are billed to your SeaPass account.
- Bringing items onboard
- On embarkation day only, just 1 bottle (750 ml) of wine or champagne may be brought on board (beer and spirits are not allowed). A corkage fee of $15 is required if you drink it in public areas, and on multi-night cruises you can add 1 bottle at each port call.
- Mobile and connectivity
- You can get connected in 2 ways: roaming via your mobile carrier (Cellular at Sea) and the VOOM onboard Wi-Fi service. VOOM is sold as paid packages.
Dining
A fare-included main dining restaurant. Choose between fixed seating and flexible dining times when making your reservation.
Hours: Breakfast and dinner focused (lunch availability depends on the itinerary)
A large buffet with long opening hours, making it a convenient included dining venue for families.
Hours: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner (open most of the day)
A light-meal cafe in Central Park. Salads, sandwiches, soups, and more are offered free of charge.
Hours: Morning to afternoon
A free casual dining venue in the family-focused Surfside neighborhood.
Hours: All day
A quick-service venue offering free Mexican light meals such as tacos and burritos.
Hours: Focused on lunch to afternoon
An 8-course premium dining experience recreating a 1920s New York social club. It includes a live jazz trio, requires a dress code, and is the ship's most expensive experiential restaurant.
- Oysters Rockefeller (with chorizo béarnaise)
- Wagyu ribeye steak (with fondant potatoes and morel mushrooms)
- Osetra caviar-topped langoustine braised in butter
A classic steakhouse in Central Park with indoor and outdoor seating, focused on high-quality beef dishes.
- Tomahawk steak (additional option)+$39.99
- Main lobster (additional option)+$21
- Filet mignon (included in course)
A specialty venue in Central Park offering traditional cuisine from across Italy alongside a wine bar.
- Pappardelle (radicchio cream sauce)
- Homemade lasagna
- Salmon and penne
A New England-style fresh seafood specialty restaurant in the AquaDome.
- Captain's platter (lobster tail, fish, shrimp)
- Drunken mussels (white wine garlic or marinara)
- Whole Maine lobster
A venue along Central Park where you can enjoy both live teppanyaki performances and sushi. Sushi can also be ordered à la carte.
- Spicy tuna roll$14
- Dragon Roll$16
- Teppanyaki 4-course set$64.99 (dinner) / $39.99 (lunch)
Facilities and activities
A water park said to be among the largest at sea (more than about 1,600 m²). Slides named after weather phenomena are lined up, including Frightening Bolt, Pressure Drop and Hurricane Hunter.
A paid attraction combining a skywalk, ropes course, and thrill ride. A floor-drop gimmick lets guests experience being suspended high above the sea.
A free rock-climbing wall with 5 lanes, where friends can compete against each other on time.
A free surf simulator where guests can experience surfing and bodyboarding on simulated waves.
A huge glass dome on the top level at the stern. By day it hosts a fountain show, and at night a diving and aerial (acrobatic) show that makes use of the height, making it an iconic space.
A round ice rink said to be among the largest at sea. In 45-minute sessions, guests can skate and try ice hockey, among other activities.
A main theater spanning three levels. Broadway-style shows and acrobatic acts can be watched free of charge.
A large casino with slot machines and table games, including a poker room; guests must be aged 18 or over.
A free kids program that looks after children aged 3 to 12 in age groups (AO Juniors, AO Kids and others). Childcare for ages 6 to 36 months (Royal Babies & Tots) is paid.
A free water park for young children, located in the Surfside neighborhood.
A spa with a thermal suite (heated beds, sauna, and steam room) and a beauty salon. The fitness gym is free to use.
The first pool with a swim-up bar in the Royal Caribbean fleet. It is located on Chill Island, an area limited to guests aged 18 and over.
A suspended infinity pool, said to be the first at sea, in an area limited to guests aged 18 and over. A bar is also on site.
An infinity pool on the family-friendly Surfside deck, directly adjacent to children's facilities such as Splashaway Bay.
A bar in a location with a great view. Cocktails and drinks cost extra.
A bar where guests can watch sports and play arcade games, with an atmosphere that is easy for families to enjoy.