Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas

Welcome to the Icon of the Seas – the world’s largest cruise ship! With a population capacity of nearly 10,000, it’s practically a floating city. Despite having eight distinct neighborhoods aboard the ship to explore, eat, drink, and play in, it still manages to feel intimate and inviting. With so much to see, it might feel intimidating to figure out where to even begin. Here are descriptions of each neighborhood on the ship to help you decide what will make the top of your list of things to see and do onboard the Icon of the Seas.

Icon of the Seas: Chill Island is a neighborhood you don’t want to miss.

If you are in the mood to lounge, you will want to head over to Chill Island and relax in the infinity edge Cove Pool in one of the in-water loungers. You can also enjoy a cocktail at Swim & Tonic, Royal Caribbean’s first swim-up bar at sea. Or you can cool off at the ‘Lime & Coconut’ bar with one of their tasty frozen cocktails. The Chill Island neighborhood spans three levels of decks and has lots of space to kick back and relax.

Icon of the Seas: Thrill Island, is the neighborhood with all the adventure.

If you are amped up and ready for some exciting and action-packed adventures, you can make your way over to the Thrill Island neighborhood to try out one of the 6 waterslides at the world’s largest waterpark at sea! If you are up to the challenge, you can also try your hand at Crown’s Edge – a thrilling mix of a sky-high obstacle course and an exciting zip line that goes off the edge of the ship (154 feet above the ocean!) It is not for the faint of heart. That’s not all Thrill Island has to offer. Fuel up at one of the restaurant options, like Basecamp, where you can snack on some soft pretzels with cheese or even shrimp bao buns. You can also find the FlowRider surf simulator, a rock-climbing wall, a sports court, and mini golf!

Icon of the Seas: The AquaDome neighborhood is the “go-to” for entertainment and dining.

This unique dome is the largest glass (and steel) structure on the sea and is made up of over 600 glass panels. It has several bars and restaurants, such as the Overlook Lounge, where you can enjoy a cocktail inside one of the fun and futuristic pods overlooking the AquaDome neighborhood. Believe it or not, it also is home to a 55-foot waterfall (the largest waterfall at sea!) It is also where you can find the Aqua Theater, an entertainment venue where you can see impressive stunt shows like “Aqua Nation!” and “Pirates vs Mermaids.” These shows feature action-packed stunts performed by stunt artists in and alongside water features and groundbreaking technology. You won’t want to miss this.

Icon of the Seas: Hideaway in the neighborhood designed for leisure as you watch the waves pass by the neighborhood designed for leisure as you watch the waves pass by

This adults-only neighborhood is a little slice of paradise. With an infinity pool suspended over the surfside neighborhood below, you will get a bird’s eye view of all the action. It is at the aft of the ship with ocean views around you – a whopping 135 feet above the sea! There will be plenty of places to lounge like whirlpools and lounge chairs and of course. It has its own bar as well with fun drinks like the “Bae at the Beach” and the “Oh Mai Gawd.” Lots of pool parties and fun are sure to be had at the Hideaway.

Icon of the seas: If you’re looking for a family-friendly neighborhood, Surfside will be perfect for you.

Geared towards families, it features a splash pad, a pool, an arcade, a carousel, several dining options, and more. There is also a bar where you can get Mommy & me matching cocktails and mocktails. Adventure Ocean and the teen club Social020 also have entrances in the Surfside neighborhood which makes things nice and easy. Your kids will never want to leave!

Royal “Promenade” around this new and exciting neighborhood located at the heart of the ship.

With floor-to-ceiling windows, Royal Promenade boasts beautiful natural light and ocean views galore. It is home to the Pearl, an interactive art installation made of 3,000 kinetic tiles that move and change colors. You can grab a sandwich with a sweeping sea view at the Pearl Café. It is also where you can find Absolute Zero – the ice rink where you can catch some spectacular shows such as Starburst: Elemental Beauty! You can also find the Dueling Pianos bar, Karaoke bar, and many more bars and restaurants in this area.

Icon of the seas: Visit the park on a cruise? You read that correctly! Central Park is a neighborhood you’ll never forget.

It’s hard to imagine being able to stroll through a park on a cruise ship, but Royal Caribbean pulled it off! With 30,000 live plants and even some immersive bird chirping sounds, you are bound to be transported into a tropical paradise. It is also home to Izumi in the Park where you can grab some sushi and street food inspired by Japan. They also have a sweet and very photogenic ice cream treat complete with a bubble cone and rainbow sprinkles. You can’t miss the champagne window called “Bubbles”. Here you can pop by for a drink during your walk through the park. Take a visit to Lou’s Jazz ’n Blues for some tasty cocktails and live jazz music to wind down your evening.

If you are looking for more great familiy travel check out our post about Experiencing the Best with your Family on the Florida Keys

If you want royal treatment, you want access to the Suite Neighborhood.

This area is by far the most exclusive neighborhood on board – only accessible to guests staying in suites. It features many upscale amenities such as private dining at Coastal Kitchen restaurant and a casual Mediterranean restaurant called The Grove. It also features a private pool, hot tub, multi-level sundeck, and a private bar just for suite guests. You will surely feel like a VIP if you get the chance to lounge in this neighborhood.

No matter which ‘iconic’ neighborhood your adventures take you, there is truly something for everyone on the Icon of the Seas. You are bound to have a fantastic time on this ship; it may even make you want to skip the ports and stay onboard for more fun!

Schedule your FREE consultation call with me today to lock in your vacation of a lifetime aboard the Icon of the Seas. I can book your cruise and make sure you have a comprehensive list of everything you simply must experience to make your vacation truly one-of-a-kind!