Icon of the Seas isn't just for younger kids.
We spoke to a teenager who recently cruised on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, and he said the experience turned out to be an "extraordinary adventure."
Initially, Lucho worried that the ship might be too kid-centric.
However, the cruise exceeded his expectations and proved that every age group can have fun on Icon of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean has marketed Icon as the perfect vacation for young families. But with such a strong focus on families with young children, does Icon of the Seas have activities for older age groups?
Lucho most enjoyed the opportunity to build new friendships
Since Lucho was traveling with family members, he initially expected to spend the cruise with them or alone.
However, on the second night of the cruise, he attended the silent disco.
This event took place in the Music Hall, where guests were given high-quality headphones.
Each headphone had two music stations that guests could choose between, changing whenever they wanted.
"Once the party started, everyone got energetic."
At the silent disco, the atmosphere was so fun and exciting that Lucho ended up meeting many new people hailing from all over the world: Mexico, Cuba, Canada, the US, and Peru.
It was "easy to socialize and have a great time together," he said, adding that "any teenager will find this opportunity the best part of the cruise."
However, one downside for the teenagers on Icon of the Seas is the 1:00 A.M. curfew.
After 1:00 A.M., passengers under the age of 18 must return to their staterooms.
Lucho said: "My group of new friends and I found this quite annoying, as we were often having fun and then suddenly had to leave."
Read more: Royal Caribbean will introduce new family fun ambassador on Icon of the Seas
Teens can hang out in Social 020, but it has some restrictive policies
Onboard Icon of the Seas, Social 020 is the dedicated space for passengers 13-17.
The area has fun activities for teenagers to enjoy; board games, video game booths, and digital screens for playing a variety of games like memory, chess, hockey, and even drawing.
Lucho spent most of his time socializing with fellow teenagers in Social 020.
However, he found that the area had a few disappointing aspects.
It wasn't always open during the day.
"Sometimes, when we wanted to meet up there, we found it closed with a sign indicating it would reopen in a few hours."
"This inconsistency was disappointing when we wanted to hang out together," Lucho said.
The teens club also required an adult to supervise the teens at all times.
Not only that, Lucho felt that some of the rules enforced in the club were over-the-top.
For example, teens aren't allowed to take photos or videos inside, bring snacks, or move chairs around.
Although these restrictions felt like a buzzkill, they didn't stop Lucho and his friends from having a fun time onboard.
The best food venues in the fleet, with fun crew members
Lucho has sailed on four Royal Caribbean cruises over the past five years, and Icon of the Seas had the best food venues in the fleet.
He said that the impressive variety of complimentary food was what most stood out compared to other cruise ships in the fleet.
He loved the delicious crepes at the Aquadome Market, the pizza at Sorrento's, the sandwiches at Pearl Cafe, and the Mexican cuisine at El Loco Fresh.
The crew members at each venue also enhanced Lucho's experience.
They were incredibly friendly and cheerful.
Lucho especially remembers "Mr. Washy" fondly—the crew member who sang and greeted everyone at the Windjammer's entrance, reminding guests to wash their hands.
"His cheerful presence caught everyone's attention and lifted our mood."
Read more: I went on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. Here are the 7 best things I ate on the ship.
Lucho's favorite thrills were at the waterpark, but spaces became overcrowded
The amenities onboard Icon also had thrills suitable for teenagers, with Lucho's favorite being the waterpark inside Thrill Island.
This Category 6 waterpark is the largest at sea, and he visited it almost every day.
The most exciting ride was the Hurricane Hunter waterslide, which is most fun when you ride with a group of four.
However, the lines could get long, the wait sometimes stretching from 10 to 20 minutes.
Lucho also said that a downside of his cruising experience was the overcrowding onboard.
Venues like the Windjammer Buffet, pools, and hot tubs were often packed, making it hard to find a spot.
While he enjoyed the hot tubs, it was challenging to find one that wasn’t too crowded.
Nevertheless, the pool area and hot tubs provided a great way to relax—if he got lucky enough to find a not-so-crowded one.
Read more: 5 busted Icon of the Seas myths
The shows were impressive, despite some technical difficulties
Lucho made an effort to watch all the entertainment shows onboard, even watching some shows twice.
His favorite was AquaAction—he even called it "one of the best shows I've ever seen on a Royal Caribbean cruise."
AquaAction takes place in the AquaTheater, inside the Aquadome neighborhood.
It combines cutting-edge technology and fantastic music with skilled acrobats, divers, dancers, and performers for an unforgettable experience.
However, Lucho noticed a surprising amount of technical difficulties at Icon's shows.
When he saw The Wizard of Oz at the Royal Theater, the performance had to pause three times and was eventually postponed.
The Effectors: The Origin Story show also had some issues with the screens, which were malfunctioning and turning off occasionally.
However, Lucho still thought the shows were "truly extraordinary and worth watching."
Icon of the Seas proves Royal Caribbean's skill in catering to all ages
Despite a few minor drawbacks, Lucho felt that this vacation was truly the best he'd ever had.
"This experience really opened my eyes to how capable Royal Caribbean is at providing an amazing vacation for everyone," he said.
He's been able to keep in touch with his new friends through social media and feels that the 7-night cruise was the perfect escape from a daily routine.
From the delicious food to the fantastic activities and entertainment, Lucho had an unforgettable experience.
