You've probably heard lots about Icon of the Seas by now, but what makes the ship so highly celebrated?

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship this month on a 7-night Western Caribbean sailing.

I wanted to see exactly why this ship has been so hyped over the past few months, and if all the praise is deserved.

Initially, I expected the ship to feel like a bigger version of an Oasis-Class ship, with tons of amenities and huge crowds.

Other than knowing about the ship's size and focus on providing a fun experience for younger families, I didn't know what to expect.

But by the end of the sailing, I think I was just as impressed as everyone else. Icon of the Seas felt more like a mix between an Oasis-Class and a Quantum-Class ship.

Yes, she's big, but the vessel has more to offer than just size.

From the moment you step on board, it's evident that Royal Caribbean wanted to improve upon previous problems while creating an entirely new class of ship.

Read more: 14 improvements Royal Caribbean developed just for Icon of the Seas

What justifies all the hype around this ship is that the improvements and new ideas are well-designed, well-executed, and extremely celebrated throughout your time onboard.

The size makes you feel like you're not on a cruise ship at all

Of course, Icon's size cannot be overlooked.

Since the vessel debuted, I've seen graphics and photos of how large the ship is. However, it's hard to comprehend once you're onboard.

Especially with the wide-open public spaces, it hardly feels like you're on a cruise ship.

Icon of the Seas feels more like a small city.

Part of her novelty is that you can almost forget you're floating in the ocean (until you glance outside, that is).

I think Royal Caribbean wanted to lean into this aspect because, at the beginning of the cruise, they announced that there wouldn't be any daily event announcements or updates from the captain.

Without a direct connection to the bridge, the ship felt less like a cruise ship and more like a theme park.

I won't say that everyone will enjoy this aspect, but it made for a unique and interesting experience that you can't get anywhere else.

Read more: First look Inside the World's Biggest Cruise Marvel, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

The ship's design is the perfect mix of elegant and fun

When I first walked up the gangway, and onto deck 5, I was immediately struck by the bright colors and cheerful style of decoration.

This is most evident in Surfside neighborhood, an area focused on families with young kids that pops with neon colors and bright pinks and blues.

However, all areas around the cruise ships are filled with these vibrant colors.

I even mentioned it to our stateroom attendant, and she agreed.

"It's so cheerful!"

However, the playful colors were combined with elegant designs onboard.

For example, art pieces were in every corner of the ship.

The Pearl brought a smooth, graceful atmosphere to the Royal Promenade.

The entire design of the ship, from decorations to layout to art pieces, perfectly mixed the vibe of young and old, fun and elegant.

Read more: I took the inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest ship. It was a giant party, but not everything was totally ready

Extra space, stairs, and seating helped move crowds along

The biggest difference I noticed from other large Royal Caribbean ships I've sailed on was the lack of crowds.

Of course, you could still tell there were a large amount of people onboard. But the ship's layout ensured that no one would ever be squished into one place, and we never ran into any traffic jams.

I noticed that high-traffic areas, like the Royal Promenade and the Windjammer, were built a little wider than usual, helping to create space for a large amount of people.

There was also a ton of seating everywhere on the ship, so everyone found a place to sit and rest.

I also really liked the large amount of central staircases onboard, such as in the Royal Promenade, going up to Central Park, or down to Surfside neighborhood.

Lastly, the destination elevators helped to alleviate crowds as well.

These all helped to ease foot traffic and calm crowds.

The ship was intentionally celebrated

Excitement is contagious, and I think that's another part of why Icon has been so heavily hyped.

Even though it's been a few months since the ship's inaugural sailing, crew members and cruisers were still extremely excited about being onboard.

Wherever we went, staff welcomed us, saying: "Have an Iconic cruise!"

My cruise embarked the day after Royal Caribbean's partnership with Hard Rock Casinos was announced, so we were greeted at the port with live music, dancers, and free T-shirts!

Throughout the cruise, I saw everyone wearing their "Hard Rock 'n' Royal" T-shirts. A common uniform is a great way to build camaraderie, so this move also added to the energy onboard.

Not only that but on night one, the ship's cruise director, Gemma Hugo, made a speech to everyone gathered on the Royal Promenade for the balloon drop.

She made everyone solemnly swear to have fun and eat tons of food while onboard.

Such intentionality and care lends itself to an infectious air of excitement.

A focus on families with young children creates a playful atmosphere

Even as someone who doesn't have kids, I could tell that Icon of the Seas was the perfect ship for families with young children.

A lot of fun areas focused on families with young kids, like the Surfside neighborhood, water slides, and even a playground on deck 15.

Icon of the Seas provides an awesome family experience, and I could tell when I was onboard.

Kids were included in tons of events onboard, like silent discos or being allowed to compete in trivia games.

One night in the Main Dining Room, I saw a waiter bring two kids a lobster folded out of dinner napkins! They were overjoyed.

I loved how much kids were included in the fun onboard—it lent a vibrant, playful atmosphere to the cruise.

Seeing babies dance at the silent parties and children sing at "finish the lyric" challenges genuinely warmed my heart.

If you were put off by the high cost of a signature attraction on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, you might want to check the price again.

It seems like Royal Caribbean runs promotions and sales all the time, and we've noticed prices vary for many extra-cost add-ons.

The Crown's Edge is one of the new features on Icon that was developed specifically for the ship, and prices seem to have plummeted for it.

Read more: Guide to Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean originally priced it at $89.99 per guest, but the cost came down almost immediately once the ship began to sail. 

This week, we're seeing the price at just $23.99 per guest on many upcoming Icon of the Seas sailings, which is a 73% discount from the original price. According to the Cruise Planner website, the normal price is now $49.00 before any additional discounts.

Keep in mind prices can change at any time, and the price can vary from sailing to sailing. Moreover, sales come and go and that leads to price fluctuations.

On Facebook, many felt the new price made a lot more sense.

After the new price was posted, Cyndi Hopper wrote, "Much more reasonable price."

Megan Dowling added, "That’s a great price! You get to go twice and get a video and pictures which is also nice! Worth it."

Michael Iversen noted he didn't try it on the inaugural voyage of Icon because of the price tag, "I didn’t go because of the price when I was on the January 27 sailing."

What is Crown's Edge?

Crown's Edge is a combination of skywalk, ropes course, and thrill attraction.  

Tethered guests walk along an elevated track that goes around the ship's Crown and Anchor logo. Here’s the catch: you’re walking off the side of the ship with nothing but the ocean below you.

The walkway drops for the second part of the ride, and you suddenly find yourself swinging 154 feet above the ocean back to safety.

The cruise line says the ride experience is approximately 90 seconds and may vary by rider. The full experience will be approximately 15 minutes long, which includes time for gearing up.

In order to try the Crown's Edge, you need to be at least 6 years old, weigh at least 44 pounds, and be 49 inches tall.

You cannot be taller than 83 inches and weigh no more than 297 pounds.

A video of the experience is included with the cost.

Pushback on prices

The significantly lower price signals the original price may have been too high.

Right before the inaugural sailing of Icon of the Seas, travel agents had the opportunity to ask Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley questions, and the high cost came up.

At $89 for a 90 second ride, the argument was $1 per second seemed excessive.

Mr. Bayley said Royal Caribbean uses price to control demand in some cases, "sometimes pricing is to manage just the sheer volume of expectations."

He went on to say that ultimately, the cruise line would react to feedback from passengers, "as we go through the next several weeks, we'll get a lot of feedback from our revenue customers. They are going to tell us that this works or that doesn't."

How to take advantage of the lower price

You can check the price of the Crown's Edge for any upcoming Icon of the Seas or Star of the Seas cruise by visiting Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner site.

Log into your account and select the sailing you have booked. 

Once there, the Crown's Edge is listed under Onboard Activities.

If you had booked it already, you can cancel your original purchase and then re-purchase it under the new price.  Look for Order History in your profile to access that.

There's no cancellation penalty for cancelling a Cruise Planner purchase.  If you used onboard credit, it will be refunded immediately.

I spent seven nights on Icon of the Seas and noticed cruisers making some avoidable mistakes.

Icon is Royal Caribbean's newest ship and exemplifies the cruise line's effort to go above and beyond and solve problems on previous ships.

Because of that, the ship is full of innovations and designs, and it can be hard to get used to.

On my cruise, I witnessed people making silly mistakes—and I made a few myself!

Read more: 14 improvements Royal Caribbean developed just for Icon of the Seas

Whether you're a veteran cruiser or new to this type of travel, Icon requires some new adjustments.

To make the most of your experience on the largest cruise ship in the world, here are some mistakes you can learn from.

Take this as a guide to what not to do when you get onboard.

Mistakes I saw other people make

Getting into any elevator

Icon of the Seas debuted a new elevator system for Royal Caribbean.

Instead of pressing an up or down arrow, and choosing your floor once you enter the elevator, you select your specific destination on tablets outside the elevators.

The tablet then tells you which elevator to wait at (a letter from A-L) and when the elevator arrives, it takes you directly to your deck.

I witnessed a couple of people still adjusting to this elevator system.

Once, I saw a lady walk right onto an elevator without choosing her destination floor. 

I’m not sure if she knew which direction the elevator was going, but I knew she would be stuck with no way to choose her floor from the inside.

She mostly likely had to get out at the next stop, select her destination on a tablet outside, and then enter the indicated elevator.

Not wearing shoes in public

This seems like common sense, but some guests can get carried away with the air of casual relaxation on a cruise ship.

It’s easy to go in between the pool and lunch, or the hot tub and your afternoon snack.

When you go from the pool deck to a dining area, however, it’s important to wear a cover-up over your swimsuit and make sure that you have shoes on.

I was entering the Windjammer for lunch when I saw the Washy-washy crew member turn away a young boy.

“I can’t let you in without shoes on,” he said.

I turned around and, sure enough, the boy was barefoot.

He had to walk away and find shoes before he was allowed to enter the dining venue.

Leaving children unattended 

Icon of the Seas provides an awesome family experience, and I could tell when I was onboard.

Even though I don’t have children, I noticed a lot of fun areas focused on families with young kids, like the Surfside neighborhood, water slides, and even a playground on deck 15.

However, not every area is intended for children, and parents should still be mindful of where their children are and what they are doing.

I was in the gym when I saw a child wander into and start playing with the free weights. With no parents in sight, he started jumping on the machines and grabbing random weights.

I was worried that he might fall or drop something and hurt himself!

I’m not sure where his guardians were—maybe they had no idea their son had slipped away—but they should have been mindful of where he was.

The gym does not permit any children under 12, and guests under 16 are supposed to be accompanied by an adult.

While the families with young children lent a vibrant and playful atmosphere to the cruise, I didn’t think it was safe to leave kids unattended around the cruise ship.

Not bringing a water bottle

My travel buddy said they most regretted not packing a water bottle on this cruise.

It would have been helpful to carry drinks from the dining venues back to our stateroom, or out of the ship when we left on excursions.

I always pack a large Hydroflask water bottle on my cruises, and it helps me stay hydrated.

If you don't pack a water bottle, you'll have to resort to carrying cups of water around or paying extra for plastic water bottles.

Mistakes I made

Purchasing a shore excursion without looking for a better price

Before my cruise, I went onto Royal Caribbean's Cruise Planner. 

I decided to buy the cheaper shore excursions that I saw offered there on the website.

Since I love birds, I was excited to see an aviary tour on Costa Maya, Mexico, offered for $59 per person. I bought it without a second thought.

When we arrived at the tour, the guide walked us just a few steps into the port and guided us into the aviary.

At the aviary itself, I saw that tickets were being sold for only $14 per person.

My heart dropped with regret.

If I had just waited until we got to the port and walked up to the aviary myself, I could have saved $45!

Read more: 8 things I love about Icon of the Seas (and 3 I didn't)

Forgetting to pack sunglasses

It's not easy to remember to pack everything you need—especially for longer cruises—but I wish I'd made more of an effort.

I forgot to pack sunglasses on my cruise and realized my mistake as soon as I got onboard.

Whether I was sitting at the pool, walking around the deck, or even sitting inside a sunny area, I found myself squeezing my eyes shut to protect myself from the sun.

Even though I knew the cost would be high, I gave in and started to peruse the shops onboard, looking for any pair of sunglasses at all.

A saleslady asked my budget and I told her I would pay up to $50 for them, thinking that already it was a steep price to pay for the $10 pairs I had left behind.

However, she let me know they didn't have anything in my price range and proceeded to show me sunglasses ranging from $119-$150.

I was so frustrated that I walked out of the store, and had to wait until we stopped at a port to buy some new, cost-effective sunglasses.

Packing isn't always easy, but this mistake was a further reminder of what I already knew: if you leave anything behind, it won't be worth it to buy onboard.

Last week, I went on a 7-night cruise on Icon of the Seas, which is the world's largest cruise ship.

To get the cheapest possible price, I booked an interior stateroom through the guarantee cabin process.

The total cost came out to $2897 (including pre-paid gratuities), which was divided out for two people over seven nights. That breaks down to $207 a night, per person.

Icon of the Seas is the world's current largest cruise ship, standing at a whopping 20 total decks and weighing 248,663 gross tons. 

Read more: Should I book a guarantee stateroom on a cruise?

She has 2,805 staterooms, and mine was assigned a few weeks before the cruise.

I received an Interior Plus category room, which is described on Royal Caribbean's website as having "a deluxe closet and dressing area."

"There's no such thing as overpacking in these staterooms," the deck plans read.

The website indicated the room measures 157 sq. ft. in total, but I was excited to see how it felt in person and as a home for the next seven days.

Because I opted for a guarantee cabin instead of picking a specific cabin, I assumed the leftover cabin choices would result in a less desirable location.

I received stateroom 10411, which is located far forward on deck 10.

Although this was close to the forward elevators, the deck was so crowded with staterooms that it was difficult to get orientated for the first couple of days.

We kept getting lost on the way to the stateroom, confused by the winding halls and multiple elevators.

Although I didn’t suffer too much seasickness from being so far forward, I did find that the room location was extremely noisy.

Sometimes we would hear stomping feet from above, or loud bangs coming through the walls.

It was so loud that I woke up in the middle of the night multiple times, thinking that someone was knocking on the stateroom door.

But the pitch black darkness you can only get in an inside stateroom and comfortable beds made it easy to fall back asleep.

When I first opened the stateroom door, I was shocked at how tiny living space was.

It narrowly fit the two stateroom beds and single armchair with a footrest.

This room was decorated with cute tropical paintings. Everything looked clean and bright, with warm lighting that spoke to how upgraded the room was.

With the two beds split apart, each one had a small shelf with a lamp on top. They were comfortable and clean beds, with large, fluffy pillows. 

The beds were what I expected, but I did feel like the blankets were lighter and more comfortable than on older Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

Read more: 5 busted Icon of the Seas myths

The stateroom’s television faced the beds.

When I was preparing for my cruise, I eagerly looked forward to the possibility of casting from my phone to the smart TV. 

Casting allows you to send movies and shows to the TV with your phone, projecting them onto the wider screen, but it is only available on Royal Caribbean’s newer ships, such as Wonder of the Seas.

Since Icon is the cruise line’s newest ship, I fully expected the TV to also have casting abilities.

However, it did not, limiting us to watching the 25 free channels, which included sports, news, kids' shows, and Royal Caribbean information.

Beside the television there was a touchscreen temperature control unit. This modernized unit could adjust the temperature of the air conditioning, as well as change light settings.

With a touch of the finger, we could choose between four adjustable moods: morning, evening, movie, and sleep.

I enjoyed playing around with these settings and appreciated the fact that it saved me the trouble of going around to adjust each lamp and light switch individually.

Just in between the television and the main stateroom door, I found the door to the bathroom.

If I had been disappointed by the stateroom’s size, the bathroom made up for it.

It was wide, with a long sink and ample shelves.

Three shelves sat below the sink, and three shelves sat to the upper left.

There was also a deep drawer to the left of the sink and above the trash can, which I didn’t even need to use because the space had so many storage options.

Opposite the sink sat the toilet and a series of shelves going all the way down the wall.

Even with two people traveling for seven nights, we did not get close to filling up all the shelving space in this bathroom.

The best upgrade to this cabin—one that a comedian onboard even mentioned during his set—was the increased size of the shower.

I’m used to tiny, tube-like showers on Royal Caribbean ships, that have a tunnel so small that opening the door takes up all the space.

This shower was about twice the size of the typical showers I’ve been used to, and it even had a seat to the left. 

There was enough space in the shower to move around, bend over, and even sit down.

Although the water pressure was a little low, the water got hot quickly and made for an enjoyable shower.

As I walked back and further into the room, I saw the reason for the main room’s smaller size.

Typically most inside staterooms have one large area with the beds, chairs, closet, and desk/vanity combination.

However, in this Icon stateroom, the sleeping area and the closet and vanity area were divided into two separate spaces.

Past the bed on the far wall, I walked into a doorway.

This deluxe dressing area stored the room’s combination desk/vanity, a long desk with a ring light surrounding the oval mirror.

Below the desk, there was a drawer for storage and a beanbag chair to sit on.

This style of chair is another new aspect of Icon of the Seas. I thought that they were plenty comfortable, but I missed having a chair with a back on it so I could throw towels or jackets on top.

To the right of the vanity, I found the tall closet. One of my favorite aspects of the room was how this closet brought together almost all the storage elements into one space.

Read more: I took the inaugural cruise on Royal Caribbean's newest ship. It was a giant party, but not everything was totally ready

The first compartment was a tall hanging area, perfect for long clothes like dresses or suits. The second compartment also had hangers for shorter clothes like jackets.

At the bottom of the closet, there was a small safe on top of a wide shelf space.

Below that, two black metal baskets were set inside shelves, and to the right, I found the small cooler.

It helped to have one space to store all my clothes, items, and food.

However, the baskets were a confusing addition to the room. 

They didn’t seem to fit well in the shelves: they were heavy and slid harshly over the wood below. They didn’t slide as easily as a drawer, and I had to pull them all the way out if I wanted to get an item out of the basket.

In the end, I placed the basket on the larger shelf space above and used the shelves below to fold and stack my clothes.

The safe was small—barely the size of a book—so I was only able to fit my passport inside. All other valuables had to go unprotected.

The cooler, however, kept drinks, milk, and sandwiches just cold enough.

At the end of this small vanity room was a full-length mirror, the perfect complement to the classy lighting in this clothing area.

I loved this one area to get dressed and ready in, but recognized that it made the stateroom feel smaller overall, by becoming divided into two areas instead of one large one.

The stateroom also had more charger options than typical Royal Caribbean ships. Usually, the only chargers are located above the stateroom’s desk. 

But on Icon, I found charging ports at the desk, below the TV, inside the bathroom, and on the left bedside table.

Although the cabin was small, I was happy overall with the comfort, convenience, and organization of the stateroom.

If necessity is the mother of invention, Icon of the Seas has a lot of children.

Royal Caribbean designed Icon as a "white paper cruise ship", which means it was build from start with no pre-conceived notions or basis on other ships.

In developing the ship, new ideas for Icon required changes and improvements to Royal Caribbean's standard operating procedure on other ships. As a result, a number of innovations and improvements came out of the process.

The ship's cutting-edge advances were heralded by Heather Bishop, VP, Digital Product at Royal Caribbean Group, and Jennifer Goswami, Director Product Development at Royal Caribbean Group. Both spoke at Seatrade Global conference in Miami earlier this week.

In recounting what makes Icon different, we counted 14 different improvements Royal Caribbean came up with just for Icon of the Seas.

Chat with Guest Services in the app

Making it easier for passengers is an overarching goal with these improvements, starting with giving guests a way to bypass the Guest Service line.

Within the Royal Caribbean app, guests can chat directly with Guest Services.

Before you get an officer, you'll first interact with an AI Bot, that can help answer the common questions guests want to know, like "What can my SeaPass do?" and "How do I access Wi-Fi?".

The "Human in the Loop"  features adds the ability to connect you to an actual agent, without having to physically visit Guest Services. 

Read more: Royal Caribbean's clever idea using AI to get help on the world's largest cruise ship

No photo kiosks

You'll notice there are no photo kiosks on Icon of the Seas, because everything is handled within the Royal Caribbean app.

Traditionally, there was a photo area to go and view all the photos you took with the ship's photographers.  That area has been repurposed for something else, and instead, you can view photos within the Royal Caribbean app.

"We were analyzing where there were points in the vacation where guests kind of had to stop what they were doing," Ms. Bishop explained. "One of those is typically towards the end of the sailing, as they've accumulated photos, they would have to go down to the kiosk. And so there was a large crowd of people at the kiosk towards the end of the vacation."

Moreover, the team felt most people wanted their photos on their phone to be able to easily share with friends and family. By removing the kiosks and making it digital, you could eliminate lines and get people what they ultimately want.

Another traditional kiosk that's been removed are the shore excursion kiosks.

Taking away that space allows for a larger Royal Promenade, which is one of the nice ancillary benefits many guests note with Icon.

Destination elevators

One of the most noticeable improvements is how efficient the elevators are on Icon of the Seas, thanks to the destination elevators.

"Elevators, while kind of not always the flashiest of technology, have been an absolute smash hit for Icon," Ms. Goswami stated.

"When you're waiting outside of an elevator for three, four, five minutes, we call them microwave minutes where they feel like the longest minute of your life," she said.

Instead of pressing a button to wait for an elevator, guests push a button for which floor they want to go to and are assigned an elevator.

The change improves upon a problem that has plagued all cruise ships, and Royal Caribbean knew they couldn't go with traditional elevators on a ship planned to be even larger than the Oasis Class ships.

Read more: Icon of the Seas vs other Royal Caribbean cruise ships

Aquadome

Royal Caribbean sought to create a neighborhood on Icon that "evolves throughout the day", and the Aquadome is the result they came up with.

Encompassing more than 33,000 square meters and extending from Deck 14 to 20, the AquaDome neighborhood is truly one-of-a-kind. 

"We wanted to have one space that feels completely different at 9 a.m. versus 9 p.m.," Ms. Goswami explained.

"When you walk into the Aquadome during the day, you hear the waterfall we have. All of our technology is actually off intentionally because we really want it to be a quiet space."

"As the day transitions, we really turn it on. It comes to life. It feels like a different space."

Overhead is the dome itself, and it weighs 367 tons and is comprised of 12 different modules that are made of steel, glass, and aluminum panels.

Though projection mapping isn’t new, they’ve enhanced it during Aquatheather shows.

"We've added so much more flexibility to create our entertainment programs within the Aquadome, because it's now an enclosed space."

Stateroom attendant app

One focus on Icon was providing crew members with products to help them be more efficient and provide better service.

A new stateroom attendant app replaces the pads of paper they would traditionally carry around to track their progress between cabins. 

"Now we have an application for them that they can use to keep track of what rooms have been cleaned, and they get an alert if our guests have requested an item for their stateroom," Ms. Bishop said.

Guests can scan a QR code in their stateroom to indicate if they need additional towels, if there's an issue with the plumbing in their room, and that will send an alert to the stateroom attendant app, and they'll be able to provide service right away. This avoids having guests trying to flag down their stateroom attendant, or trying to find a phone to contact somebody.

Express boarding

Royal Caribbean has been working on making the embarkation process as easy as possible, and Icon of the Seas offers an express boarding option.

If you complete all the pre-embarkation check-in steps via the Royal Caribbean app, you'll get an enhanced SetSail Pass that gets you through the check-in process even faster.

Read more: Royal Caribbean check-in process

To qualify for it, you need to do the following within the Royal Caribbean app (not the website):

• Scan your passport (don't manually enter it)
• Take a selfie photo
• Enter all the personal information, including a credit card
• Complete the health questionnaire

Then when you at the terminal ,you can go through our express boarding lanes.

Port agents with iPads

Speaking of a faster embarkation process, the port agents within the cruise terminal are now given iPads to help speed up the boarding process.

With up to 7600 guests coming through the terminal on embarkation day, the last thing Royal Caribbean wanted was people going up to a counter and forming lines.

These iPads can be used to view guest information, make updates, and get them checked-in.

"It also gives us the flexibility to move around and move the flow of guests around in the terminal," Ms. Bishop said.

Read more: 30 cruise ship embarkation day do’s and don’ts

Apple Pay

Something else new in the app is the ability to use Apple Pay and the ability to store up to four credit cards in a wallet.

"If you're laying in bed at night, like most of us probably do, thumbing through on your phone, dreaming about your vacation, now you don't have to get up to go find your credit card if you want to book a shore excursion or buy a beverage package, it's all right there in a couple of taps and really easy to do."

Virtual queues

Eliminating lines was something Royal Caribbean was targeting on Icon, and another area of improvement is for lines at NextCruise.

"Oftentimes, that area gets busy towards the end of the sailing, and so Jennifer's team looked at, how do we create this amazing, amazing lounge space for our company?"

The fix was to create a virtual queue, so if it does get busy (especially at the end of a sailing), the team working there can put guests into a virtual queue.

"You can relax comfortably in the chair with your drink and wait for your name to appear at the top of the board until you're until it's your turn."

"For you" section in the app

Something else you might notice within the Royal Caribbean app is a new button labeled "For You", and it makes personalized recommendations for things like shore excursions, beverage packages, onboard activities, etc.

It does things like suggest a beverage package if you haven't purchased one, or create shore excursion recommendations.

In addition, there are better push notifications in the app on Icon.

"If you're getting close to your vacation, we offer great deals, great cruise, and we don't want you to miss out on that. So we're doing a lot of personalization around our push notifications as well."

Leveraging AI

Artificial intelligence isn't new to Royal Caribbean, but it's being used more on Icon of the Seas.

"We've been using AI for things like food waste to make sure that we are doing modeling to make sure that we have enough food to keep our guests full and happy, but also reducing waste and not over, over ordering food," Ms. Bishop said.

Read more: How 6,000 Meals a Day Are Made on the World's Largest Cruise Ship

"We also use AI and generative AI now in our customer self-service... in order to provide the most efficient service for our guests, we want to get them the quickest answer as possible."

In short, it helps get guests answers to basic questions like hours of operation, or schedule of events.

Digitalized departure

The app on Icon of the Seas also helps make getting off the ship on the final morning easier.

Guests can make a departure time request within the app, and then they will see when it's their turn to depart the ship in the app.

Read more: 8 reasons to get off your ship as early as possible on disembarkation day

A better pool experience

Not everything new on Icon has to do with technology. One focal point for this ship was to provide more connectivity to the ocean.

In the planning process, Ms. Goswami's team discovered in their research passengers felt cruise ships didn't provide much of a way to enjoy the ocean, "One of the most fundamental things that I think caught everybody off guard was that guests, while they're on the ocean, don't feel connected to the ocean."

"So you will see that now, even from the Royal Promenade all the way up, you can see the water."

In addition, the team made another change compared to what you might find on the Oasis Class ships. Icon has a centralized hub for the pools.

"We also pushed our pools outward so that you can see the water while being in the water, but also creating different kinds of experiences."

"We do have one large pool when you want a party. We have smaller pools when you don't feel like a party. We've created different experiences that you can have across seven days."

A true crew neighborhood

Another important innovation for Icon was giving crew members a better experience.

Royal Caribbean centralized what crew members need while working and living onboard Icon, "They don't need to leave and go all the way aft for an experience. Everything that they have, their cafe, the food, the bars, they're all forward," Ms. Goswami described.

Royal Caribbean worked with crew members to better understand their needs and come up with what would benefit them.

Read more: Photos show the secret crew-only areas on Icon of the Seas

Have you ever wanted to take a peek into crew cabins onboard the world's largest cruise ship?

Chris Wong, an Assistant Casino host onboard Icon of the Seas, gave a tour of his cabin on his YouTube channel. The video, which is titled "Seriously, The SMALLEST Crew Cabin EVER!" was posted on March 16 and has garnered over 64,000 views. 

This isn't the first time that he's provided insight into exclusive crew areas, either. In early March, he posted a video tour of crew-only areas, including their Windjammer equipped with portholes, fitness center, gaming lounge, nightclub, bars, barber shop, and more. 

The video received many positive reactions, with comments praising the work Royal Caribbean has done to provide their crew with comfortable and enjoyable spaces. 

Read more: Photos show the secret crew-only areas on Icon of the Seas

@juanitafurtado8805 wrote, "Royal definitely took it to the next level with these crew areas. Happy crew means happy guests. A special shout out to the crew bar, every bit as nice as any guest bar. Outstanding!"

"Thanks for a visit to the crew neighborhood. It is great to see Royal upping their game in caring for their tireless crew members," commented @billbruff9613.

"While cruise guests are continuing to pay increasingly higher prices, it is nice to see some of that money being well invested in crew amenities and not just pocketed as more profits. Thanks Chris."

One thing the video didn't cover, however, was the crew cabins, which are traditionally much more compact than guest staterooms. Within the first minute of the tour, he acknowledges the size, claiming that it's probably the smallest cabin he's ever had while working on a cruise ship. 

"At the same time, this is also one of the modern, and almost nicest, cabins that I've stayed in," Wong says. 

Let's take a look at his single crew cabin onboard Icon of the Seas. 

The cabin was designed to feature more storage space. In fact, he says that there's so much he can't fully utilize all of it!

"I don't really have too [many] personal belongings," he admits, "I think it's probably a bit more of a struggle [to fit everything] if you are a female...and you naturally just have a lot of things."

A neat feature of the wardrobe is the slide-out rack, which makes it easy for Wong to pursue his clothes. 

The other half of the closet is comprised of built-in shelves, where Wong stores things like spare toilet paper, snacks, video equipment, and more. 

Read more: Photo tour of a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

The wardrobe is also home to Wong's desk, which he can pull out whenever he wants to use it. Otherwise, it can remain tucked away to increase floor space. 

It's large enough to comfortably fit his MacBook, iPad, work phone, and AirPods without feeling too cluttered. He doesn't even have to store them elsewhere, either, as they squeeze into the wardrobe when he wants the desk retracted. There are two built-in outlets, too. One is a standard American socket, whereas the other is European. 

The fold-up chair for the desk is hung near the door to the cabin. When the chair isn't being used, Wong likes to hang it underneath the coat hooks to maximize the amount of available floor space. 

The bottom cabinet of the closet is where the mini-fridge resides. The two additional shelves are home to Wong's socks and undergarments. 

Just like in the guest cabins, Wong can store stuff underneath his bed, too, such as his suitcase and shoes. "As you can see, there's still quite a bit of space in the back that I haven't even utilized," he says. 

There's even more storage directly underneath his bed. The sliding doors open up to reveal folded clothing. He has quite a bit of unused space, so he could have certainly packed more if he wanted to! 

While he doesn't show viewers the contents behind the other door, he says it's where he keeps his dirty laundry and other miscellaneous items, such as plastic bags. 

The bed is raised to accommodate all of the built-in storage that's underneath

"For me, being 5'10", [it's a] very, very comfortable length," he says after he demonstrates how he hops into bed. 

He flips the camera around to reveal a large flat-screen television, which he believes is larger than the one he had while working onboard Symphony of the Seas. 

Royal Caribbean provides basic options like the cruise map and other line-specific channels, as well as plenty of movies to keep the crew entertained while resting. 

There's a small reading light affixed to the wall that features a USB port, allowing Wong to charge devices from the comfort of his bed. The light can be adjusted, too, so he can rotate it to his liking. 

And, of course, even more storage! There's a small cabinet attached to the ceiling next to the air conditioning unit. While he doesn't actively store anything there, it's pretty deep, and he thinks it could be a neat place to keep a PlayStation. 

Next to the television, there are a few open shelves that he doesn't use, either. One is occupied by the cabin's telephone, whereas the shelf above it is where he stores the remote for the TV. 

The cabin's sink is right next to the entrance 

Since it's tucked into the corner of the room, there's no real vanity space. Instead, there's a medicine cabinet above it, which is where Wong stores his toiletries. 

Though it looks like he doesn't utilize all of the space, he says that the overall storage is pretty minimal: "You can fit too many things inside of the medicine cabinet...which is why I like to keep a lot of my personal belongs that I need in the old wash bag." 

The singular shelf underneath the sink is where Wong opts to keep some cleaning supplies, including Lysol wipes, sponges, and bleach spray. 

Read more: I stayed in a 200-square-foot room on the world's largest cruise ship

While Wong has his own stateroom onboard Icon of the Seas, he does share the bathroom, which consists of the toilet, shower, and some extra storage that isn't used

"A lot [of viewers] may think this is small, but if you're going to have a shower on an Emirates plane, this is certainly probably bigger than that I imagine, or a very similar size," Wong remarks. 

While it doesn't feature the glass doors that are a staple in guest cabins, there are two racks inside the shower for toiletries. 

It's also tall enough for Wong, who is close to 6" tall, to comfortably stand. His head doesn't appear to be too close to the adjustable showerhead. 

"Could you see yourself living in here?" he asks as he concludes the video. 

"This is definitely the smallest crew cabin I have ever stayed in throughout my entire career," he says.

"At the same time, one of the nicest crew cabins I've ever stayed in...I do feel at home." 

If you’re planning to sail on Icon of the Seas, you might be wondering if there are certain cabins to avoid booking. After all, you’re spending hard-earned time and money to take a cruise vacation!

Icon of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s biggest ship, and the biggest in the world. Measuring 250,800 gross tons, Icon of the Seas can hold up to 7,600 guests at maximum capacity. The ship is nearly 1,200 feet long and towers 20 decks above the sea. This massive cruise ship is so big that Royal Caribbean split it into eight distinct neighborhoods for guests to explore, relax, dine, and more.

There are 2,805 staterooms onboard Icon of the Seas for guests to book, meaning you have many options for securing your cabin. This ship has 28 different types of cabins, including infinite balconies, which are new to Royal Caribbean International. 

Icon of the Seas has:

• 179 suites divided among 13 suite categories (eight are new to the cruise line)
• 1,815 balcony cabins divided among eight categories (four are new to the cruise line)
• 276 oceanview cabins divided into two categories
• 535 interior cabins divided among five categories (two are new to the cruise line)

While Icon of the Seas has the most modern cabins in all of Royal Caribbean’s fleet, there are definitely cabins onboard you’ll want to avoid booking. Not every cabin is the same, even within the same category!

Some of these cabins are in poor locations on the ship, making them prone to noise, while others are simply not worth your money. A little research can go a long way when it comes to booking your cabin on this new ship.

Here are the cabins we recommend you avoid booking on Icon of the Seas. 

1. Below Chill Island

Icon of the Seas has seven pools, nine whirlpools, and six waterslides spread out between multiple decks. Many of these pools, as well as tons of lounge chairs, are found on decks 15-17 in a neighborhood called Chill Island. 

Although having a cabin close to Chill Island might seem like a good idea, being directly below the pool deck can be noisy.

You will hear the crew members shuffling chairs around the pool deck very early in the morning. In addition, the crew stack the pool deck chairs at the end of each day. Therefore, this area can be very noisy in the early morning and late at night. The cabins directly under the pool deck can be found on deck 14.

Cabins to avoid:

• 14164 - 14286
• 14564 - 14686

2. Below The Hideaway and Windjammer

Since there is no adults-only Solarium onboard Icon of the Seas, The Hideaway has been designated as the new adult hangout spot. This neighborhood features plush daybeds, its own aft-facing bar, and an infinity pool overlooking the ship’s wake.

The location of The Hideaway is perfect for adults looking to enjoy their sea day. However, the adults-only pool is quite noisy. In my experience, I found that during sea days, a DJ would play upbeat music throughout most of the day. The Hideaway turned into a big party when the music was blasting!

I would avoid booking any cabins at the aft of the ship on deck 14 since these are located below The Hideaway. Additionally, these aft cabins are directly under the Windjammer. While this won’t keep you up late into the evening, you can expect heavy foot traffic and noise coming from the buffet in the early morning.

Cabins to avoid: 

• 14288 - 14350
• 14352 - 14362
• 14688 - 14750
• 14752 - 14762

Read more: I tried the $350 in-pool daybed rental on Icon of the Seas. It was pricey, but you get a prime spot

3. Near the AquaDome

One of the most exciting additions to Icon of the Seas is a new neighborhood called the AquaDome. This versatile space is home to dazzling entertainment and high-diving aqua shows. While the entertainment is fantastic, you will likely find noise from the productions that carry from the venue.

There are forward cabins on decks 12 and 14 that you might want to avoid if you don’t want to hear the thumping bass from the music playing in the AquaDome. Luckily, the shows are only performed a handful of times so you wouldn’t have noise for the entire duration of your cruise. But, you might find music playing here during rehearsals too.

Cabins to avoid: 

• Deck 12: 12134 - 12162 and 12530 - 12562
• Deck 14: 14538 - 14562 and 14138 - 14162

4. Surfside balconies

One of Royal Caribbean’s newest neighborhoods is Surfside, located on deck seven. This is designed to be the go-to spot for families with small children where kids can play all day and adults can relax with a drink in hand.

Surfside has Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay, which is essentially a small waterpark for children, and adults can swim in the nearby Water’s Edge Pool. This area is undoubtedly noisy during the day while families are having fun (aka squeals and laughter).

There are oceanview balconies on deck seven that face the ocean, although their proximity to Surfside is sure to be noisier than the sound of the sea. These cabins are also above Adventure Ocean and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade - two noisy venues.

Surfside features inward-facing balconies that overlook the neighborhood. Unless you have kids, you might want to avoid booking a balcony in Surfside, especially on the lower decks between decks nine, ten, and eleven. You will likely hear noise from the pool area, even if you have an oceanview balcony facing the sea.

Cabins to avoid:

• Deck 7: 7280 - 7346 and 7680 - 7746
• Deck 9: 9293 - 9347 and 9693 - 9747 
• Deck 10: 10293 - 10347 and 10693 - 10747 
• Deck 11: 11293 - 11347 and 11693 - 11747

5. Obstructed Central Park balconies

Located on deck eight is Central Park on Icon of the Seas. This neighborhood is filled with real greenery with an open-air concept. There are bars and restaurants that line Central Park, including Park Café, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, Lou’s Jazz N’ Blues, Chops Grille, retail stores, and more.

Balconies in Central Park are generally good choices for balconies because this area is busy without being too noisy. However, if there is a parade in the Royal Promenade or a pool party on the top deck, this area can get noisy.

During the inaugural sailing on Icon of the Seas, I actually stayed in cabin 10225 on deck 10. This stateroom was classified as a Spacious Infinite Central Park View Balcony. While I appreciated trying out an infinite balcony, I was disappointed to see how obstructed my cabin was.

Because my cabin was located right above The Pearl, my view was partially obstructed. My cabin was not labeled as obstructed online. I would argue that this should be considered an obstructed cabin, so I would encourage potential cruisers to avoid booking these cabins on deck 10.

Cabins to avoid:

• 10219 - 10235

Read more: I stayed in a 200-square-foot room on the world's largest cruise ship, where there's a new kind of balcony. Here's what it's like inside.

6. Surfside and Central Park interiors

Although Surfside and Central Park are lined with balconies facing inward, you can also book interior cabins that provide a view of the neighborhoods. These cabins are classified as Surfside Family Interiors on deck eight and Central Park Interiors on deck nine.

If you’re going to book an interior cabin, there are probably better locations onboard to consider. These interior view cabins are located in two busy areas onboard Icon of the Seas. While the natural light might be a positive, these cabins will likely be noisy. In addition, most of the cabins have blocked views, such as the ones located directly above Park Café in Central Park and the ones above Surfside Bites in Surfside.

Cabins to avoid:

• Deck 8: 8321 - 8347 and 8721 - 8747
• Deck 9: 9181 - 9201, 9241 - 9257, 9287 - 9599, and 9623 - 9657

7. Outside of Music Hall

Most guests prefer to avoid cabins on the lowest decks of a cruise ship because many activities and venues are located on the higher decks. Oftentimes, however, cabins on lower decks can be cheaper than ones on higher decks.

Icon of the Seas has some lower-deck areas you’ll definitely want to avoid if you’re a light sleeper. One of these venues is the Music Hall, which spans across decks three and four.

Music Hall is home to various late-night parties with live music playing throughout the evening. There are cabins located directly outside of Music Hall, which is sure to be noisy. If you plan to stay up late, this might not be an issue. However, light sleepers or those who want to head to bed early won’t appreciate the music blasting from here.

Cabins to avoid: 

• Deck 3: 3180 - 3200
• Deck 4: 4180 - 4200 and 4577 - 4591

8. Too far forward

If you’re someone who is prone to motion sickness, it’s important to choose a cabin centrally located where you won’t feel the ship moving too much. Although Icon of the Seas has the latest and greatest technology for stabilization, you can still encounter rough waves.

As a rule of thumb, the cabins located at the front of a cruise ship will have the most motion. You’ll be able to feel the ship sway up and down during rough weather if you’re at the front of the ship.

Because of this, it’s best to avoid cabins at the very front of the ship. This is not to say that everyone will feel sick in these forward cabins. However, those who are prone to seasickness should prioritize cabins located midship.

Many of the new infinite cabins onboard Icon of the Seas are located midship, so you could consider this type of cabin if you want to feel less motion. And a bonus: these cabins are 25% bigger than regular cabins!

Read more: Photo tour of a balcony cabin on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. It has more power outlets than I've seen on any ship

9. Near the elevators

The elevators can often be a source of noise on a cruise ship, especially as people come and go. Cabins that are located near the elevator are generally busy spots with heavy foot traffic as well. Some cruisers have found that booking a cabin too close to the elevators cultivates a noisy environment.

One thing to note is that Icon of the Seas has destination elevators located in a rotunda-style design.

Those who are light sleepers will want to reconsider booking a cabin too close to the elevators on Icon of the Seas. Even if you can book a cabin that is located just a few doors down from the elevators will cut down on the noise you hear while cruising!

Royal Caribbean has made big headlines with its newest and largest cruise ship in the world, but not everything you may have heard is necessarily true.

Icon of the Seas has garnered a lot of attention for a lot of good reasons. It's not only big, but delivers new experiences and reimagines concepts borrowed from existing ships. Icon has generated buzz and some people have started to come up with ways to summarize the ship, but are they fair representations of what you can expect?

Read more: All about Icon of the Seas

I wanted to debunk some of the common Icon of the Seas myths I've read so far, and share why they may not be entirely true.

Icon of the Seas is only for kids

Royal Caribbean may have designed Icon of the Seas to be its most family-friendly cruise ship to date, but it's far from a floating elementary school at sea.

This myth is rooted in Royal Caribbean's extremely effective marketing of the new ship. The cruise line wants to compete more directly with Florida land vacations that attract families, especially families with young children.

They turned an entire neighborhood into a kids space, added a waterpark to its top deck, and designed more cabins for parents and their children to fit into than ever before.

While those are indeed wonderful changes specifically for people taking a cruise with kids, there's still plenty for adults to do, including those without any kids.

Just like other Royal Caribbean cruise ships, there's an adults-only space onboard.  Located in the Hideaway neighborhood, you'll find a new take on the adults enclave. 

Then there's all the bars and lounges that lean more adult, such as the Music Hall, Schooner Bar, Pub, and Playmakers. Plus, there's new bar concepts that you'll only find on the Icon Class ships. Dueling Pianos is a new bar that brings an experience never offered before. Rye and Bean is another new bar that offers coffee-infused cocktails that is great for a pick-me-up.

The new jazz club in Central Park brings a throwback to Harlem jazz clubs, and it's the perfect spot for live music, a cocktail, and a good time.

The casino on Icon is massive, and the layout has been greatly improved as well.

Of course, adults will enjoy many venues that kids like too. After all, a space doesn't have to be exclusively for adults for adults to be able to enjoy it. 

Don't forget the new adults-only expansion at Perfect Day at CocoCay.  Hideaway Beach is an extra cost section of the private island where you wont find any children.

The idea it's "just for kids" is overlooking quite a lot of things to do to keep adults entertained too.

You have to book specialty dining for good food

While Royal Caribbean ships have added lots of extra cost restaurants over the years, Icon of the Seas has some really good choices included with your cruise fare.

First and foremost, don't overlook the Aquadome Market as one of the cruise line's best new dining concepts in a long time.

Aquadome Market is a food hall, where you can go to any booth and order a freshly made dish. Each booth caters to a specific cuisine, and you'll find Asian, Greek, salads, and more to consider.

You'll also notice a greater emphasis on grab-and-go choices on Icon of the Seas, especially at Pearl Cafe.

Pearl Cafe is a replacement and upgrade to Cafe Promenade, where there are all sorts of breakfast items, snacks, and compliments to a morning cup of coffee.

In the Surfside neighborhood, there are two restaurants included in your cruise fare, and while they may be in the "kids area", it has some great comfort food many adults will love as well.

Surfside Eatery is a buffet that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's a smorgasbord of chicken nuggets, quesadillas, hot dogs, pizza, and more. 

If you happen to be in a suite, there's two restaurants just for you, instead of the usual one. You'll find sit-down meals at Coastal Kitchen and casual buffet choices at The Grove.

Read more: I ate at every new restaurant on Icon of the Seas and here's how I would rank them

And then of course you have the stalwarts of the included cruise dining game: Main Dining Room, Windjammer buffet, Sorrento's Pizza and Park Cafe.

While there are indeed lots of compelling extra-cost restaurants, you can easily stick to the dining included with your cruise fare and not miss out on great eating.

The ship is too big and overwhelming

Icon of the Seas was designed to capture the public's imagination, and if you've never cruised before, a ship of this size may seem overwhelming.

There's no denying Icon is big, but don't let its size fool you. Royal Caribbean is no stranger to building big ships, and they recognize the importance of ensuring it's manageable and easy to navigate.

The ship is divided up into neighborhoods, which means sections of the ship have a distinct theme and look to them. The idea is that without studying a deck map, you can visually differentiate areas and that makes it easier to remember how to get around the ship.

As soon as you walk around Icon of the Seas, I think you'll find it easier than you think to get around the ship without feeling lost.

One welcome change Royal Caribbean made was to make spaces more open. The Royal Promenade in particular is wider than on other ships, and there's more windows too.

Ever since the age of the megaship dawned in the 90s, the public has been in awe of how big cruise ships are and wonder how difficult it will be to find their way around the ship.

The reality is a cruise is what you make of it, and you can choose to do a lot or nothing at all. Plus, the ships tend to be more manageable than you might think simply by looking at photos of them.

Icon is too expensive and unaffordable

Like all myths, there's a bit of truth to the assumption that Icon of the Seas is expensive. After all, it's a brand new cruise ship and new ships always command a higher price tag.

While Icon of the Seas is not going to offer bargain basement fares, there are deals out there if you're flexible and can plan ahead.

Looking at cruise prices for Icon, there are significantly lower prices for select sailings in 2025 and 2026.  If you want to get on Icon without paying top dollar, you want to book your cruise now.

At the time of writing this article, I found lower prices for upcoming dates in the next two years. Here are examples of some starting prices:

• January 10, 2025: $1723 per person
• May 10, 2025: $2146 per person
• May 24, 2025: $2046 per person
• August 16, 2025: $2254 per person
• September 6, 2025: $1983 per person
• September 27, 2025: $2,057 per person
• October 18, 2025: $1964 per person
• November 15, 2025: $1859 per person

There's even lower prices for a number of winter and spring cruises in 2026.

What's affordable or a deal will vary from person to person, but the high prices you may be seeing for Icon of the Seas this summer can be avoided if you're willing to book well in advance and can sail during certain times of the year.  That isn't to say there's going to be bottom of the barrel prices, just that there are lower prices out there.

Speaking of lower prices, it's always worth working with a good travel agent because sometimes they have agency specific group rates that can be even lower than what you see on the Royal Caribbean website.

You can play with the ship's family dog

There is indeed a dog that lives on Icon of the Seas, and she's as cute as she looks. But I wouldn't make belly rub plans quite yet.

Rover is the name of the golden retriever that is the official "family dog" on Icon. She's less than a year old, and super cute and there is a chance you might see her around the ship.

Read more: I take care of a dog on the world's largest cruise ship

If you're like my kids, your first reaction was "I can't wait to meet Rover", but the reality is it's more likely you'll go the entire cruise without seeing Rover than not.

With up to 7,600 passengers at maximum capacity, there's a lot of other people who wouldn't mind playing with Rover.  And while Rover is probably used to being on a ship now, she is understandably not going to be at the center of attention to avoid overwhelming her.

Plus, Royal Caribbean wants to ensure Rover gets to live her best life. There's plenty of time for naps and quiet time.

So while you might be able to spot Rover onboard, don't make any firm plans to interact with her in the same way you might plan to meet a theme park character.

The two newest ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet are Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas. Both ships make an excellent vacation choice, but how do they compare to one another?

The most obvious difference between these two ships is that they belong to two different ship classes. All Royal Caribbean cruise ships belong to one of seven classes of ships, each of which has a varied layout and diverse onboard offerings.

Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Icon Class, whereas Wonder of the Seas is the sixth Oasis Class ship. While the two ships share many similarities, including water slides, an ice-skating rink, and modern accommodations, there are quite a few ways in which the vessels differ from one another.

Let’s take a look at Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas to see how these ships compare.

Ship Size

Icon of the Seas is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. She took the record away from Wonder of the Seas, who had held the title for around two years. Icon of the Seas is not drastically larger than Oasis Class ships, but the extra space onboard provides even more room for activities and amenities.

Here’s how these two vessels size up:

Dining & Bars

Food is an integral part to any cruise vacation, and rest assured, you won’t go hungry on either vessel. Both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas have over a dozen dining venues—both complimentary and specialty.

While the two ships share several restaurants, including the Main Dining Room and Sorrento’s Pizza, they each offer different options, too.

Here are the restaurants found on Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas:

Many of the dining venues found on both ships are tried and true favorites, such as Chops Grille and Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. Others, however, offer unique dining experiences, like the whimsical-themed Wonderland on Wonder of the Seas or food hall concept at Icon's AquaDome Market.

Icon of the Seas saw the addition of over a dozen new dining venues, including Celebration Table, a private dining experience available to book for special occasions with friends and family.

Related: Icon of the Seas restaurant and dining guide

Needless to say, whether or not you plan to dine at only complimentary restaurants or splurge on specialty dining, you’ll find more than enough food to try on either ship.

Additionally, Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas have no shortage of bars and lounges. From sipping a cocktail on the pool deck to enjoying a glass of wine before a show, it’s convenient to find a drink anywhere onboard.

Here are the bar and lounge venues found on Icon and Wonder of the Seas:

Pool Deck

The upper decks of both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are filled with pool spaces and onboard thrills, along with a selection of dining and bar venues. You can’t go wrong with spending a day on the pool deck on either ship, but there are a few differences between the two to be aware of.

First, Icon of the Seas’ pool deck is three decks high, and it features four pools, including the largest pool at sea, the Royal Bay pool, along with Swim & Tonic, the first swim-up bar at sea. In addition, there are two infinity pools—Cloud 17 and The Cove pool—which provide unmatched views of the ocean.

Wonder of the Seas has three main pools along with Splashaway Bay, an aqua park for kids, but you will not find infinity pools or a swim-up bar on the ship.

Related: 6 things to know before you book Wonder of the Seas

One of the major differences between Icon and Wonder is the adults-only pool area. On Wonder of the Seas is a traditional adults-only Solarium, which is fully enclosed, climate-controlled, and located in the front of the ship.

Icon of the Seas does not have a Solarium. Instead, you’ll find The Hideaway, an adults-only pool neighborhood inspired by Las Vegas pool parties.

While the area is fully outdoors and lacks shade, it is, undoubtedly, a trendy spot to hangout.

As far as activities, both ships have water slides, a sports court, and mini golf course on the upper decks. Wonder of the Seas, however, only has three water slides, whereas Icon of the Seas has six slides at the Category 6 Waterpark, which is complimentary to all guests.

Icon of the Seas also features Crown’s Edge, an obstacle course and zip line attraction, whereas Wonder of the Seas has the Ultimate Abyss, a dry-slide reaching speeds of nine miles per hour.

Regardless of which ship you choose, either will provide ample opportunities to enjoy some time in the sun.

Central Park

One of the most popular neighborhoods on Wonder of the Seas and Icon of the Seas is Central Park, an open-air park in the middle of the vessels. With lush greenery, shops, restaurants, and bars, it’s no surprise this area is a hit with guests onboard.

However, there are a few key differences between Central Park on the two ships.

Both ships have several specialty restaurants within the park, with Wonder of the Seas offering steaks at Chops Grille, upscale cuisine at 150 Central Park, and Italian delights at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar.

Icon of the Seas also has Chops Grille in Central Park, but Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is found in the Royal Promenade instead. In its place is Izumi in the Park, the first-ever Izumi Sushi and Hibachi location in Central Park.

Not only does Izumi in the Park feature indoor seating for both sushi and teppanyaki, but the restaurant also offers a walk-up window where guests can purchase grab-and-go sushi, gyoza, and other Japanese favorites.

Related: Izumi in the Park review on Icon of the Seas

And while guests won’t find the fan-favorite 150 Central Park on Icon of the Seas, they can enjoy an 8-course meal at the nearby Empire Supper Club instead, which includes live jazz music.

In terms of bars, guests will love the new Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues venue on Icon of the Seas, which offers live soul and jazz tunes each evening in a classy setting. Wonder of the Seas does not have a jazz bar; instead, guests will find Giovanni’s Wine Bar in its place. While this bar does not feature live music, musicians may occasionally perform in the park during the evening.

Trellis Bar, another bar within the park, also differs between the two ships. The bar has far more seating on Icon of the Seas compared to Wonder of the Seas, and it also has its own food menu, although these dishes come with an extra cost.

Despite these differences, the overall ambiance of Central Park on either ship remains similar. The park provides a quiet escape away from the hustle and bustle elsewhere onboard, whether you're enjoying a relaxed lunch at Park Cafe or simply taking a stroll through the trees.

Surfside vs The Boardwalk

In addition to Central Park, you’ll find another open-air neighborhood at the aft of both Icon and Wonder of the Seas. This area is referred to as the Surfside neighborhood on Icon of the Seas and The Boardwalk on Wonder of the Seas.

While these neighborhoods may look similar at first glance, they could not be more different from one another. Both neighborhoods are family-focused, but Icon of the Seas takes this focus up a notch.

On Wonder of the Seas, The Boardwalk caters to all ages. Sure, kids will love the neighborhood’s carousel, arcade, rock climbing wall, Johnny Rockets location, and candy store, but adults will appreciate Playmakers Sports Bar and the AquaTheater entertainment venue.

On Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean wanted to make Surfside the ultimate destination for families, rather than just a place for families to stop by throughout the day.

Related: Icon of the Seas Surfside neighborhood: What to expect

New kid-friendly complimentary dining venues were added—Surfside Eatery and Surfside Bites—along with the new specialty restaurant Pier 7, where kids under 12 eat for free. Additionally, the neighborhood features Splashaway Bay and an aft-facing infinity pool, along with The Lemon Post, a new bar with mommy-and-me cocktails and mocktails.

Not only that, but Surfside is located just above Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean kids programming center, which helps keep most family-focused areas in one place.

Royal Promenade

The Royal Promenade is the hub of any Royal Caribbean ship. It has dozens of areas to explore, from restaurants to retail stores, lounges, and cafes. It’s an area most guests frequent every day of the cruise. While Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas both have a Royal Promenade, there are a few differences between the two.

Icon’s Royal Promenade is more expansive than Wonder’s, as it fully wraps around two decks. On Wonder of the Seas, guests can only walk the entire length of the promenade on one deck. This leads to more congestion as passengers go from Point A to Point B onboard.

Another difference is The Pearl. It’s hard to miss the massive, shining structure—known as The Pearl—upon boarding Icon of the Seas. The Pearl is at the forefront of the ship’s Royal Promenade, functioning not only as a structural component of the ship, but also to provide that "WOW!" factor.

Near The Pearl is Pearl Café, Icon’s coffee shop, which is a major upgrade from Cafe Promenade found on Wonder of the Seas. Pearl Café features a greater variety of snack options compared to the latter, and it also offers specialty coffee beverages and beautiful ocean views from the cafe’s 36-foot high windows.

Related: 8 things I love about Icon of the Seas (and 3 I didn't)

Both Royal Promenades feature popular bars including an English-style pub, Boleros Latin bar, and karaoke venue. Icon of the Seas has even more bars, though, including the new Dueling Pianos Bar, where guests can watch live pianists, and the 1400 Lobby Bar.

Ocean views are more accessible in Icon of the Seas’ Royal Promenade as well. The neighborhood has a large amount of windows, whereas there are no ocean views from the area on Wonder.

Either ship’s Royal Promenade is sure to be a dynamic place to spend your evenings while cruising, whether you’re listening to live acoustic music at the pub, shopping for a new souvenir, or people-watching from one of the Promenade’s many seating areas.

Entertainment

Even though all Royal Caribbean ships offer impressive entertainment options, production shows on the fleet’s newest ships go above and beyond the rest. Both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas offer spectacular entertainment choices—here are the differences to note.

Perhaps the most major entertainment difference between the two ships is the AquaTheater. Oasis Class ships, including Wonder of the Seas, are known for their outdoor AquaTheater, where guests can witness unique performances combining high diving, synchronized swimming, and acrobats paired with high-energy music.

On Icon of the Seas, the AquaTheater was moved indoors to the AquaDome, a multi-deck high dome placed atop the vessel. The AquaDome is also home to The Overlook, an indoor lounge with breathtaking ocean views, along with several dining venues and bars. At the forefront of the neighborhood, though, is the performance venue.

Both ships also have an ice-skating rink, with Absolute Zero found on Icon of the Seas and Studio B on Wonder of the Seas. Guests can enjoy performances from professional figure skaters on either ship, although the circular rink on Icon of the Seas is larger than the rectangular rink on Wonder of the Seas.

Another major difference is in the Royal Theater, as Icon of the Seas features a 90-minute Broadway production, The Wizard of Oz, while Wonder of the Seas does not. In lieu of a Broadway show, passengers on Wonder of the Seas can enjoy The Effectors II, a Royal Caribbean original production, along with Voices, an a capella group.

Aside from signature production shows, each ship boasts a wide array of other entertainment options, including comedy shows, game shows, and live bands.

These are the signature production shows on Wonder and Icon of the Seas:

Cabins

There are 28 categories of cabins to book on Icon of the Seas, ranging from the most basic interior cabin to lavish suites.

All things considered, the standard cabins on Icon of the Seas are similar to those on Wonder of the Seas. Every cabin includes a king-sized bed, private bathroom, chair or couch, desk/vanity, television, and storage space in closets and drawers.

Nonetheless, there are a few differences to note between the two ships.

First, Icon of the Seas has more cabins that can accommodate more than two guests. 82% of cabins on Icon of the Seas can accommodate three or more guests, which is ideal for such a family-focused ship.

This is why, while Wonder of the Seas technically has more cabins onboard, Icon of the Seas can accommodate more passengers at full capacity.

Secondly, there are more sub-categories of rooms within each category. Not only can you book an interior cabin on Icon, for instance, but you can book a Spacious Interior cabin, too, which offers a slightly different layout with additional storage space.

Likewise, infinite balcony cabins launched on the ship, which differ from a traditional balcony in that the balcony is part of your overall living space instead of a separate outdoor area. The goal of these balconies is to provide additional living space to guests while still having access to a private outdoor veranda.

For a deeper look into cabins onboard, check out the following cabin tours:

• Room tour: Icon of the Seas balcony cabin
• Room tour: Icon of the Seas Central Park infinite balcony cabin
• Room tour: Wonder of the Seas interior cabin

As another plus, Royal Caribbean introduced destination elevators with Icon of the Seas. These “smart” elevators get passengers to their destination more quickly. To use the elevators, guests press a button indicating the deck of their destination while they are still in the elevator lobby.

Passengers are then assigned an elevator with other passengers traveling to that deck, which is much more efficient than having several elevators stop at every floor.

Suite Experience

Both Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are wonderful ship options for those booking a suite on Royal Caribbean. Not only does each vessel boast an array of suite categories, but both ships have a dedicated Suite Neighborhood exclusive to suite guests.

Everything from basic Junior Suites to multi-story, luxurious cabins are found on either ship. In total, there are 174 suites on Wonder of the Seas and 179 suites on Icon of the Seas. Icon of the Seas features more suite categories than Wonder, with include suites such as the Sunset Junior Suite and Icon Loft Suite.

Related: Guide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

The suite neighborhood on either ship has a pool, Coastal Kitchen restaurant, and Suite Lounge. Guests should note that Wonder of the Seas has a much larger Suite Lounge, though, and that Icon of the Seas has The Grove, a Mediterranean grab-and-go dining venue that is not found on Wonder.

Suite guests on both ships will enjoy the amenities of Royal Caribbean’s Royal Suite Class, which is broken into three tiers: Sea, Sky, and Star Class. Each tier comes with its own host of benefits, with the most exclusive Star Class offering benefits such as complimentary specialty dining and the services of a Royal Genie.

Bottom Line

Icon of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas are, without a doubt, the cream of the crop in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. Either vessel provides the best of the best that Royal Caribbean has to offer, including the newest restaurants, most modern staterooms, and state-of-the-art entertainment.

There is no wrong choice when deciding between the two ships for your cruise vacation; it all comes down to preference. Comparing the two ships’ entertainment offerings, dining venues, cabin categories, and, of course, price, will help you decide which to pick for your vacation.

It also helps to watch a ship tour of each vessel, which are found on our YouTube channel:

• Wonder of the Seas Full Cruise Ship Tour
• Icon of the Seas Full Cruise Ship Tour

From one-of-a-kind experiences to the first-ever Chief Dog Officer, Icon of the Seas is truly unlike any other ship at sea. This distinction extends to its crew area as well. 

While you can book a behind-the-scenes tour to view areas such as the Bridge and galley, they won't take you into the majority of crew-only areas. 

For the first time ever, Royal Caribbean designed a dedicated neighborhood for crew members that includes a private gaming lounge, multiple bars, and even a Windjammer with porthole windows and televisions. 

Chris Wong, an Assistant Casino Host onboard Icon, recently took to YouTube to give viewers a look inside of their living areas. He begins the video by saying, "Welcome to Icon of the Seas, the newest, the biggest, and best cruise ship in the world." 

While some areas are confidential, let's dive into Wong's tour of the crew neighborhood on Icon. 

The Crew Windjammer is impressive

The first area he shows in his video is the Crew Windjammer on Deck 2. That's right— crew members have their own mess hall, and yes, they have a handwashing station, too! 

On the day of filming, it was the crew appreciation dinner, so the spread was more expansive than it usually is. The Windjammer was also decorated with banners, balloons, and even an ice sculpture of the infamous Crown & Anchor logo. 

Like the standard guest Windjammer, there are different stations available to the crew, including "Off the Grill," "Fresh from the Garden," "International Flavors," and "Pasta."

"On this side, I can see steak, chicken, [and] a whole bunch of other meats. Look at this, [I] see all sorts of rice and bread rolls, cold meats, hot meats, cheese platters...can you believe this is all for the crew?" Wong says. 

Moreover, there's complimentary coffee, juice, and tea available to crew members.

He explains that this is where he eats breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day; however, since this day of filming was crew appreciation night, he notes that dinner isn't always as exciting. Additionally, he says that it's rare he sees it as busy as it was. 

The seating area is bright and colorful, with multi-color chairs and light that floods in from the porthole windows. That's actually a first, as all other crew Windjammers in the fleet don't have any natural light or ocean views. 

On the back walls are a couple televisions, so the crew can watch the latest sporting match or other program while dining. 

Unlike the guest Windjammer, they are responsible for cleaning up their own dishes, rather than leaving them to be collected by someone else. 

Read more: 7 most important crew members to meet on your cruise ship

Wong leaves the Windjammer and heads into the Java Cafe

He describes it as a "chill-out area," that features tons of seating, television screens, and board games, as well as a coffee bar where they can purchase cold beverages like soda or specialty beverages. 

"You will never get anything like this on another Royal Caribbean class of ship; this is only on Icon Class," Wong remarks. 

Inside of the Java Cafe is the crew shop; however, on the day of filming, it was already closed. 

Thankfully, Wong's able to press his camera up against the storefront gate to show viewers a decent look at what's inside, which includes snacks, toiletries, and other essentials. "I do like buying instant noodles and chips," he says. 

There are also pool and ping-pong tables for the crew to enjoy, which are located right outside of the Crew Gaming Lounge in the back of the Java Cafe. 

Nearby are the machines that they use to recharge their SeaPass cards, as well as an ATM. 

Read more: A look at the secret crew-only areas on the world's biggest cruise ship

The Crew Gaming Lounge is a paradise for crew members who enjoy playing video games

The guidelines posted on the exterior of the door indicate that food and drinks shouldn't be brought inside, and they're to sanitize controllers before and after every use. Moreover, when the gaming room is full, they are to limit their time inside to 30 minutes. 

Inside the Gaming Lounge are numerous televisions and consoles, including Xboxs and PlayStations. 

Wong admits that he hasn't spent too much time here yet; however, after his reaction to seeing Grand Theft Auto, I presume he might make more of an effort to venture to the Gaming Lounge every so often. 

"Honestly, there's so much in this [crew neighborhood], I forget what's here sometimes," Wong confesses

After walking back through the Java Lounge, he pans to the Crew Barber Shop. 

There are two barber chairs onboard Icon of the Seas. While it's not too large, Wong says that it's a nice little space. It allows the crew to stay on top of their grooming during their contracts. 

Read more: Photos show the cabin a dog lives in on the world's largest cruise ship

The Crew Nightclub and Karaoke Lounge can be found on Deck 3

The Crew Nightclub & Karaoke Lounge features a small dance floor, as well as a bar where they can purchase beverages. According to Wong, it's not as loud or hectic as the main crew bar, which is located on Deck 7. 

It's amazing to think about all of these spaces hidden beneath the guest areas. While you're watching an AquaTheater show or hanging out at the Dueling Pianos, crew members are having their own night out at their dedicated club. 

Directly across from the Crew Nightclub is the Training Center

Essentially like a large conference room, this is where all crew are required to go to complete various trainings, especially when they begin their contracts. 

"[I've] had many, many hours spent in here learning all the things that we need," says Wong. 

Those wanting to look like an Icon (i.e., strive to meet their fitness goals) will have to venture down to Deck 1

When comparing Icon's crew gym to other ships that he's worked on, Wong claims that he likes the look of Icon's: "It's very visually pleasing."

While there's a nice variety of machines, he does add that the free weights section is pretty limited. He does, however, have access to the guest gym, though, this isn't the case for all crew members onboard. 

The main crew bar on Icon of the Seas is reminiscent of an English-style pub and has forward-facing windows, allowing plenty of light to fill the space during the day

Deck 7 is home to many amenities for guests, including the brand-new Surfside Neighborhood, as well as the upper level of the Royal Promenade. Did you know, however, that it's also where the primary crew bar is? 

Passengers won't be able to access this venue, as it's only accessible through crew-only corridors that are hidden from the public. 

According to Wong, this is where a lot of the crew like to go get a drink after work in the evenings. 

The bar is connected to the Crew Patio, which features a smoking area. 

After walking through the smoking area, you'll find an exclusive outdoor deck for the crew that's located near the helipad, or as Wong calls it, the "winch pad," as helicopters aren't able to actually land on Icon. 

While slightly limited, the available seating seems to be the perfect place to relax outdoors during time off, especially if it's during sunset or when sailing into port. Fun fact: this area is where the champagne was smashed during Icon's naming ceremony! 

Wong ends the video by asking, "What do you think? Is this pretty cool or not?" He says it is by far the best crew area he's ever seen on any ship that he's worked on, and he enjoys spending time around the various exclusive venues.