Royal Caribbean Blog

Would you sail on an Oasis Class ship for just 3 nights?

As a new cruiser, I’ve only taken a weekend cruise once before on the smaller Freedom of the Seas.

However, I wanted to find out if a weekend cruise was worth it on a larger ship.

In late October of 2023, Allure of the Seas started offering short cruises with 3 and 4-night sailing from Port Canaveral. She is the first Oasis Class ship to sail short cruises regularly.

Royal Caribbean designed the Oasis Class ships with an endless array of entertainment and activities, as evidenced by their large size.

Read more: All about Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class cruise ships

Allure is 1,187 feet long and 18 decks tall.

She has 2,742 staterooms, 24 guest elevators, four swimming pools, six hot tubs, a carousel, a casino, an ice rink, two rock climbing walls, a zip line, and a total of 34 bars and restaurants.

With all of these options, is 3 nights enough time to experience everything Allure has to offer? 

Here’s what it was like to take a weekend cruise on one of the largest cruise ships in the world.

Allure of the Seas became my new favorite cruise ship

Built in 2010, Allure of the Seas was set to undergo a Royal amplification project in 2020. 

The project was canceled due to the cruise industry shutdown in 2020 and Allure still has yet to undergo a refurbishment. 

There are talks that the cruise line plans to schedule amplification for early 2025, but as of now, Allure of the Seas is the only Oasis Class ship with its original design.

Because of this, she has been called the "worst" of the large Oasis Class ships. However, she still has a lot to offer.

Allure of the Seas offers a destination onboard the ship, with boundless entertainment, world-class cuisine, and adrenaline-filled activities like surfing, ziplining, and ice skating.

As a cruise enthusiast—and a big fan of the Oasis Class—I looked forward to experiencing a 3-night cruise on Allure of the Seas.

I loved my cruise, and after disembarking, I would definitely call Allure one of my favorite cruise ships.

Read more: Is a short cruise on one of the biggest cruise ships in the world a crazy idea?

Seven innovative neighborhoods make the ship feel like a small city

Are cruise ships just walkable cities?

A cruise ship feels like a navigable home for the night: your own little New York City or Chicago.

After sailing on a gargantuan ship like Allure of the Seas, I have to agree that is part of the appeal.

Allure of the Seas is home to 7 innovative neighborhoods: the Boardwalk, the Pool and Sports Zone, the Royal Promenade, Entertainment Place, the Youth Zone, Vitality Spa and Fitness, and Central Park.

I love that each neighborhood has a distinct theme, with its own ambiance. 

This also makes it less likely for you to get lost on such a large ship: you can easily remember which activity might take place where.

The neighborhoods provide an immersive, exciting environment, with an overwhelming amount of activities to choose from.

Although the short cruise didn't give us enough time to try everything, I liked that we had more options available.

With our limited amount of days onboard, it was helpful to be able to pick and choose our favorite activities.

For example, my favorite neighborhood to spend time in was Central Park.

Modeled after the well-known location in New York City, with lush greenery and a serene atmosphere, this is my favorite place to get away for a quiet moment or to peacefully enjoy live music.

At night, jazz bands and singers come and play here, while stars light the sky above you.

During the day, it really feels like you are inside a natural park—they even pipe bird sounds through speakers around you!

A great chance to try a more expensive room, like our Grand Suite

The overall price was also an appeal when it came to a shorter cruise on Allure of the Seas.

A 3 or 4-night cruise typically costs less than a 7-night cruise, ensuring that the out-the-door price is usually cheaper overall.

This was a draw, as well as a chance to splurge more than I might have on a longer cruise.

I went ahead and booked a Grand Suite, excited to try a more expensive stateroom for the first time.

Not only is the suite program better on Oasis Class ships, but it also allowed me to maximize the Crown and Anchor points I earned on the cruise.

Typically, you earn one point for every night you sail. But staying in a suite, you earn double points per night. Ultimately, I earned almost the same amount of points I would have on a longer cruise.

Read more: The Crown and Anchor perks you should use on every Royal Caribbean cruise

I loved staying in a suite—it felt like I was taking a completely different type of cruise.

It came with additional perks that made me feel in the lap of luxury. 

Having free WiFi for the length of the voyage, the in-suite coffee machine, and the Plush bathrobes were some of my favorite included perks.

I also loved exploring Allure’s suite lounge, which was located up on Deck 17. Sitting beside the Coastal Kitchen restaurant, it was an expansive, quiet lounge decorated in deep purples and blues.

Not only that, but the suite benefits also include free wine and beers from the bar, so I took advantage of a glass of white wine almost every night. It all felt very opulent. 

I did regret that we were taking a shorter cruise on a larger ship because I tried to spend my time exploring the activities onboard.

I wished that I was also able to spend time in our beautiful stateroom. 

But, again, it was a trade-off for the lower overall price.

It was enough time to try all the food and drinks onboard

Royal Caribbean makes it easy to prioritize food onboard.

I discovered that a weekend cruise is the perfect opportunity to try various food venues.

Whereas I had to scramble to try all the activities I wanted, a weekend cruise felt like just enough time to try all the meals on my bucket list.

When eating 3-4 meals a day, 3 days is just enough time to try all the venues I wanted to. We had lots of variety, while still having time to go back for seconds at the best spots.

For example, on Night 1 we ate dinner at the Main Dining Room and were served a lovely steak meal.

On Night 2, we decided to splurge at the classic specialty venue Chops Grille. 

And on Night 3, we took advantage of the suite benefits to order Main Dining Room dinner delivered straight to our room.

It was enough time to try all the food venues I wanted to—a different option for every meal. 

Allure of the Seas also had some of my favorite bars and drinks I’ve experienced on a Royal Caribbean ship.

Despite the large crowds of people, the service was speedy, and the drinks tasted amazing!

I’m used to the drinks on cruise ships being poured very lightly, tasting just a smidge watered-down. But this wasn’t the case on Allure—the drinks tasted just right.

In addition, so many of the bartenders were happy to make conversation with me or recommend drinks I might enjoy. They helped me have an awesome experience.

Due to the conflict in the Red Sea, Royal Caribbean is opting to change the third segment of the Ultimate World Cruise, and they're letting guests have a say in the new itinerary. 

Royal Caribbean Blog reader Pat Bell shared images showing the options that guests have. The first is an "Immersive Africa" itinerary that will visit numerous ports in Africa and completely nix Egypt from the schedule, whereas the second option, "Africa & Greece," is comprised of more sea days to catch up to the originally scheduled ports in Egypt and Greece. 

According to TikTok user drjennytravels, Royal Caribbean is calling the "Immersive Africa" itinerary the "scenic route," while "Africa & Greece" has been dubbed the "highway." 

(Photo by Pat Bell)

Even though the latter half of the section option is considered port-intensive, the first half would mainly be spent at sea, with five days spent in port between May 9 and June 7. 

Voting is open to those sailing on the full 9-month world cruise, as well as those booked for the segment of the world cruise sailing.

Those onboard the Ultimate World Cruise have until February 20th to submit questions. A webinar with the corporate office will be held on February 21st. After the webinar, passengers have six days to make their decisions and vote on their preferred itinerary before the winner is announced on February 27th. 

(Photo by Pat Bell)

If Immersive Africa is chosen, guests will receive 25% off the pro-rated segment 3 cruise fare in the form of a refundable onboard credit. The amount increases to 50% if Africa & Greece is the winner. 

Royal Caribbean confirmed the itinerary change and the voting option.  In a statement provided by the cruise line, a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said, "As we’ve continued to monitor what is taking place in and around the Red Sea for the safety of our guests and crew, we have made the decision to adjust plans for Serenade of the Seas’ transit through the Suez Canal this May."

"In keeping with the adventurous spirit of our guests, we are engaging them for their thoughts and preference between two alternative itineraries that will take them on an epic adventure to Africa. They will receive compensation for the adjustment, and guests who prefer to not sail on the updated itinerary will receive a full refund and support for their travel arrangements."

Immersive Africa

• May 9: Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
• May 10-13: Cruising
• May 14: Mahé (Victoria), Seychelles 
• May 15: La Digue Island, Seychelles 
• May 16: Cruising
• May 17: Antsiranana (Diego Suarez), Madagascar
• May 18: Cruising
• May 19: Port Louis, Mauritius
• May 20: Pointe Des Galets, Reunion Island
• May 21-23: Cruising
• May 24: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
• May 25: Mossel Bay, South Africa
• May 26-27: Cape Town, South Africa

• May 28: Cruising 
• May 29: Luderitz, Namibia
• May 30: Walvis Bay, Namibia
• May 31-June 1: Cruising 
• June 2: Luanda, Angola
• June 3-4: Cruising
• June 5: Takoradi, Ghana
• June 6: Abidjan, Ivory Coast
• June 7-8: Cruising
• June 9: Dakar, Senegal
• June 10-11: Cruising 
• June 12: Tenerife, Canary Islands
• June 13: Cruising
• June 14: Gibraltar, United Kingdom
• June 14-16: Cruising
• June 17: Corfu, Greece
• June 18: Bari, Italy
• June 19-20: Ravenna, Italy 

Africa & Greece

• May 9: Dubai, United Arab Emirates 
• May 10-13: Cruising
• May 14: Mahé (Victoria), Seychelles 
• May 15-20: Cruising
• May 21-22: Cape Town, South Africa
• May 23-31: Cruising
• June 1: Tenerife, Canary Islands
• June 2-6: Cruising
• June 7: Istanbul, Turkey
• June 8: Cruising
• June 9-10: Alexandria, Egypt

• June 11: Cruising
• June 12: Athens, Greece
• June 13: Mykonos, Greece
• June 14: Santorini, Greece
• June 15: Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece
• June 16: Olympia (Katakolon), Greece
• June 17: Corfu, Greece
• June 18: Bari, Italy 
• June 19-20: Ravenna, Italy

The original itinerary was set to visit Petra, Jordan

Those onboard the Ultimate World Cruise will visit one less World Wonder than they anticipated. Since it's no longer feasible to sail through the Red Sea, ports like Safaga, Egypt and Petra, Jordan will be removed from the itinerary. 

Instead, Serenade of the Seas will sail from Dubai down past the tip of South Africa and through the Western Mediterranean. 

It appears as though the ports of call after Ravenna (Venice), Italy are unchanged, with passengers still being able to visit the Colosseum in Rome in early July. 

What's going on in the Red Sea?

Recent attacks on container vessels in the Red Sea, one of the world's most important trade routes, have been ongoing for weeks. On Friday, February 16, news reports claimed that missile fire targeted yet another ship, with the vessel's captain reporting hearing an explosion off the coast of Mocha, Yemen. 

Starting in late November, Houthi militants began increasing their attacks on ships in response to the ongoing war in Israel that began when Hamas launched an assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip in October. Houthi forces claim that they're acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. 

Consequently, both the United States and the United Kingdom have launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. 

The Ultimate World Cruise hasn't been without its issues

At first, it was rough seas that resulted in flooding onboard. Then, some minor itinerary changes, including the cancellation of a couple ports. Most recently, a passenger, unfortunately, passed away. There have also been reports of guests fighting onboard and visa issues for later destinations. 

Someone online went as far as to craft a bingo card for things that could happen during the voyage. Some scenarios seem rather common/likely, such as a painful sunburn and someone returning home early (a friendly reminder that travel insurance is important, even on shorter sailings!). 

Others, however, are a little more outlandish, including a pirate takeover and mass STDs. 

Suffice to say, the Ultimate World Cruise has had its share of drama, and it's only getting started! The world cruise isn't scheduled to end until Tuesday, September 10 in Miami, Florida. 

Read more: Cruise ship passenger on the 9-month world cruise made 860 Valentine's Day cards for all the crew members

Itinerary changes, while disappointing, aren't as uncommon as you might think

In early November Royal Caribbean announced that they'd be canceling the entire 2024 Israel cruise season due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. 

While war and civil unrest are possible reasons for itineraries to be modified, unfavorable weather conditions and mechanical issues can contribute to changes in travel plans, too. 

For example, passengers visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay on February 6 were told to return to their ships around 1:00pm, as a rapidly moving storm was approaching the island. While Freedom of the Seas was able to depart, Oasis of the Seas remained docked late into the evening. 

(Photo by Tim Morrison)

Even if you're cruising outside of hurricane season, flexibility is of utmost importance, as you never know when your ship might miss a port or two. 

I’ve taken enough cruises to discover that my body is susceptible to seasickness.

When motion sickness takes over, I start struggling with nausea, dizziness, and sometimes a headache.

I’ll never forget the moment I discovered I struggled from seasickness on a cruise ship.

It was night one of my first cruise on Wonder of the Seas, and I was introducing myself to other cruisers at a Hyperlink event.

Suddenly, I started stumbling and feeling dizzy and nauseous. All my excitement about the event turned into a sickening feeling. 

Thankfully, I brought Dramamine on that cruise and felt better when I was able to head to my cabin and take a pill.

But since that moment, I’ve always had to plan ahead to make sure I won’t feel seasick.

It’s always embarrassing to have to excuse myself from a nice Main Dining Room dinner, or miss out on activities because I’m feeling too sick to get up.

Cruising is such a fun, affordable, and worthwhile form of travel that I would hate to miss out on it just because of motion sickness. 

If seasickness has you hesitating to get on a cruise ship, look no further! I went ahead and tried out the most commonly recommended seasickness hacks to find the best one.

Read more: 13 things I wish I'd done differently on my first cruise, from avoiding seasickness to eating at different venues

What is seasickness?

Those who experience motion sickness in cars, planes, or roller coasters are already familiar with the feeling of being seasick.

Seasickness is a form of motion sickness that occurs when there is a discrepancy between the motion of the ship, visual input, and the vestibular system in your inner ear. Essentially, the body’s balance mechanism becomes disoriented.

The rocking motion of the ship confuses your body’s senses into becoming imbalanced. 

This imbalance leads to a range of symptoms, from dizziness to fatigue, headaches, irritability, loss of appetite, rapid breathing, nausea, cold sweats, and even vomiting.

Not everyone is subject to motion sickness: women and children are more susceptible, and genetic markers can indicate those more likely to experience it. People who get migraines are also more likely to suffer from motion sickness.

If you’re more susceptible, you know the misery of it all too well: seasickness can turn an exciting cruise adventure into an uncomfortable ordeal.

Thankfully, cruise lines do their best to develop solutions for motion sickness.

Modern ships are designed with stabilizers on the side of the ship to help counteract the sea’s motion. This results in less turbulence felt onboard.

The newer the cruise ship, the more advanced and effective the technology tends to be.

Skilled captains also make every effort to avoid rough seas and minimize any uncomfortable sailing conditions.

These reductions, however, don’t eliminate the misery of seasickness entirely. 

Choosing the right stateroom

For my 3-Night Allure of the Seas cruise, I decided to try all the recommended hacks for seasickness.

I started out by booking a better stateroom. For this cruise, I booked a Grand Suite stateroom located towards the middle of the ship.

Grand Suites come with a large balcony space, which I knew I could use to get fresh air and watch the horizon. These hacks help reorient your body and improve nausea.

Windowless inside cabins, which I usually stay in, are cheaper but end up being confined spaces that exacerbate nausea. 

Staterooms located in the middle of the ship are also better locations if you’re prone to seasickness. Areas in the forward or back of the cruise ship are likely to feel more motion.

Experts also recommend that you stay on lower decks to avoid feeling the movement of the ship. 

My room was located on the 10th floor, just between the middle and the back of the ship. It was close enough to the middle that I didn’t feel seasick while inside the room.

Being on a larger ship also helps; the size of a big ship like Allure minimizes the feeling of motion.

My rating: ★★★☆☆

Acupuncture pressure band

For Day 1 of the cruise, I decided to try acupuncture pressure bands.

I purchased a set of SeaBand bracelets and put them on once we got onboard.

These bands are designed to target pressure points on the wrist: two plastic pieces apply direct pressure to the P6 or Nei-Kuan point on either wrist. 

Supposedly, this band stimulates your median nerve and interrupts the “I’m sick” messages your brain is sending your stomach. 

Scientific evidence on whether these bands actually work is inconclusive.

Some studies imply it works through a placebo effect, while others suggest there may be a real benefit.

Either way, many cruise fans report good results when they wear their bands for the length of the cruise.

This was my first time trying these bands, and I felt that it was hard to make them stay in exactly the right spot. 

Since they work through pressure points, it seems important that they stay on the right pressure point. But I’m not an expert at finding them, and the bands are liable to slip off the right spot.

The instructions say that the SeaBand takes 2-5 minutes to become effective. I put them on once I got onboard, and the ship set sail in the early evening, around 5 P.M.

But around 6 P.M, I started to feel very seasick during dinner. I tried applying extra pressure to the plastic studs myself, and after about an hour the feeling improved.

I’m not sure if I started out putting the bands in the wrong spot, or if I just needed that extra pressure to feel better.

To provide context, when I would get seasick without trying any remedies, I felt like I would rate my sickness feeling at 7 out of 10.

With the bands on (and with me applying some additional pressure), I felt more like a 5 out of 10.

I also made the mistake of keeping the bands on when I got in the water and was annoyed at the damp feeling they left on my wrists.

Personally, I didn’t like that the bands were something I had to keep on at all times, and they only served to lessen my dizziness, rather than eliminate it entirely.

My rating: ★★☆☆☆

Over-the-counter medicine

Personally, I’m biased towards using over-the-counter medications.

Medications have been developed over time to prevent feelings of nausea and sickness from the motion on the sea.

They’re easy to get a hold of, and you only have to take one or two pills to start feeling the positive effects.

The two most common brands, Bonine and Dramamine, work by using antihistamines to alleviate symptoms.

I prefer Dramamine, a brand with more options available. It is the older brand of the two, first introduced to the market in 1949. 

It uses dimenhydrinate, an antihistamine which has a side effect of drowsiness. 

Drowsiness could be a benefit or a disadvantage, depending on what time you prefer to take the pills. 

If you take it at night, it could help you sleep through any intense rocking of the boat. But if you have to take it at a different time of day, the pill could put you to sleep and make you miss key events on the cruise.

Personally, I’ve never experienced drowsiness from Dramamine—either due to the excitement of a cruise, or the fact that I’m a heavy coffee drinker.

They also sell non-drowsy pills, which include more ginger and make for a more natural option. However, these versions can be less effective.

Just to be safe, I took two Dramamine pills before bedtime, ensuring that they would kick in by the time I woke up on Day 2. 

The ship docked at Nassau for most of the day, but I stayed on board and wanted to be sure I wouldn’t feel seasick when we started moving again.

Sure enough, once we started moving, I didn’t feel seasick at all! I would rate my sickness at a 0/10.

My rating: ★★★★★

Natural ginger remedies

On day 3, I decided to turn to natural remedies for seasickness.

Ginger root is one of the oldest and most famous remedies for seasickness.

Whether in the form of candy, tea, or supplements, many have used it to alleviate nausea for centuries.

I decided to buy a packet of ginger gum for my cruise, and try it on Night 3. By the time I started chewing the gum, our ship had left Perfect Day at CocoCay and was sailing, full-steam ahead, back to Port Canaveral.

I honestly didn’t expect the ginger gum to help much, especially when the boat was moving so quickly.

However, it was more effective than I expected! When I was actively chewing my gum, the ginger brought the nausea down to a 2/10.

If I took a break from chewing, I still felt my seasickness stay low, maybe at a 4/10.

The only thing I didn’t like about this method was the fact that I had to consistently chew the gum to get the best effects. Whenever I wanted to eat or drink, I had to take it out of my mouth and feel just a little more seasick.

In the future, I might try some ginger candies or a tea that I could carry around with me.

My rating: ★★★★☆

The best method overall

Overall, I would rate over-the-counter medication as the best method for seasickness.

On a cruise, my main struggle has been finding a consistent method. When you struggle with seasickness, you want a remedy that you’ll be able to have on you at all times. 

Chewing gum or eating ginger, keeping SeaBands on your wrist, and looking at the horizon are great tools, but you can’t do that for the entire cruise.

Medications are the only thing that you can take once and they remain in your system the entire time. 

If you struggle with the side effects of any one medication, I would recommend trying different brands or speaking with your doctor about another suggestion.

No matter how much research you do beforehand, there will always be a few surprises once you board a cruise ship, and this was certainly the case on my recent Icon of the Seas cruise.

Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest cruise ship was at the forefront of the cruise line’s marketing ever since its official announcement in fall 2022. After over a year of writing about the new vessel, I assumed I would not have any surprises once onboard. After all, what could surprise me when I, presumably, already knew everything about the ship?

Needless to say, despite my thorough research, I still found myself encountering surprises once onboard Icon of the Seas. Most of these surprises were positive, like the variety of global cuisine available to try throughout the ship, but others were negative, such as the curious choice of color scheme in my cabin.

Here are the 5 things that surprised me on Icon of the Seas.

I thought the ship would feel huge, so I was surprised that it felt somewhat similar to the size of an Oasis Class ship

As the new biggest cruise ship in the world, I expected Icon of the Seas to feel drastically bigger than older Royal Caribbean ships.

Most of Icon of the Seas’ marketing revolved around the ship being the world’s biggest, and offering the ultimate vacation experience for families. This marketing led myself, and many other cruise fans, to picture the ship to be significantly larger than other ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.

Related: See how Royal Caribbean ships stack up by size (2024)

Yet when I saw a picture of Icon of the Seas docked next to Wonder of the Seas, an Oasis Class ship, at Perfect Day at CocoCay, I realized the two ships weren’t drastically different in size. And when I got onboard myself a few days later, I felt much less overwhelmed with the ship’s size than I initially thought I would be.

Icon of the Seas does not feel small by any means, and it does feel larger than Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class ships, but not by much. The ship never felt unmanageable, and there appeared to be more than enough distinct areas around the vessel that no particular venue ever felt too crowded.

The impressive passenger flow of the vessel from neighborhood to neighborhood and new destination elevators made getting around the ship a breeze. While I can understand some cruisers being put off by the size of Icon of the Seas, it really doesn’t feel that much different from ships like Wonder of the Seas when you’re onboard.

I was surprised by the light-colored furniture in my cabin, and I’m not sure this will hold up well over time

Although I enjoyed my comfortable balcony cabin on Icon of the Seas, I found the choice of furnishings to be… risky, to say the least.

If you’ve sailed on older cruise ships before, you’ve likely seen wear and tear on the furniture in your cruise cabin. While Royal Caribbean keeps their cabins in relatively good condition—even on the oldest ships—you may occasionally notice stains on couches, chairs, and other soft surfaces in the room.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on a cruise ship

Stains are best concealed on dark-colored furniture, so I was surprised by the light tan couch in my Icon of the Seas cabin. All it takes is one spill or mishap to stain these furnishings, instantly lowering the cabin’s condition.

At the risk of embarrassing myself, I’ll admit I accidentally spilled a small amount of chocolate mousse I brought back from Pearl Cafe on the carpet in my cabin. I panicked when I saw the splatters of brown stain all over the floor, and it took a lot of stressful scrubbing to remove the stain.

While I (fortunately) got the stain out, I can’t imagine what this carpet and furniture will look like in a few years. I generally prefer the look of lighter-colored wood and decor, but it’s probably not the smartest option for a cruise ship cabin.

I was surprised and pleased by the new global cuisine options onboard, a huge improvement from older ships

Royal Caribbean has upped its game with international cuisine options on Icon of the Seas, and I was happy to see it.

Whenever I read my coworkers’ articles about Virgin Voyages’ Korean BBQ restaurant or Norwegian Cruise Line's food hall on our sister site Cruise.Blog, I felt a sting of jealousy about these diverse dining options.

Because I usually sail on Royal Caribbean, I find myself dining at the same types of restaurants over and over again, whether Italian, Japanese, or a standard American steakhouse.

Therefore, I was surprised to see the variety of dining venues that launched on Icon of the Seas. Most notably, the new AquaDome Market is home to five varied food stalls, which offer everything from Mediterranean wraps to Chinese noodle bowls and Nutella crepes.

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

Outside of the AquaDome market were Baja fish tacos at Pier 7, curry chicken sandwiches at Pearl Cafe, and expanded to-go items at Izumi in the Park. Old favorites are found onboard, too, from the all-you-can-eat Mexican food at El Loco Fresh to hand-tossed pizzas at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen.

Whether a complimentary falafel and hummus pita for lunch or extra-cost Korean bibimbap bowl for dinner, I appreciated just how many options were available on Icon of the Seas. I’m still holding out for a Thai restaurant on Royal Caribbean (I can dream, right?), but the new options available easily satisfied my culinary cravings.

I was surprised Royal Caribbean didn't put The Mason Jar on Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas has a whopping 20+ dining venues onboard, but one restaurant I’m surprised didn’t make the cut is The Mason Jar.

The Mason Jar is one of Royal Caribbean’s newer specialty dining venues that first launched in 2022 on Wonder of the Seas. The restaurant serves dishes from around the American South, with brunch and dinner options including crab beignets, chicken and waffles, and the classic po’boy.

Related: The Mason Jar Southern food restaurant review on Wonder of the Seas

Adjacent to the restaurant is The Mason Jar Bar, which offers southern-inspired cocktails and a live band.

Currently, Wonder of the Seas is the only ship in the fleet to feature the venue. Given its popularity on that ship, I initially assumed Royal Caribbean would add it to Icon of the Seas as well.

I could easily see The Mason Jar replacing a venue like Hooked Seafood, which is found in the ship’s AquaDome neighborhood. At the same time, though, perhaps adding more live music to the ship was not necessary, given the amount of new venues like Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues and Dueling Pianos.

Nonetheless, I’m still thinking about the restaurant’s decadent red velvet pancakes I ate two years ago, and I wish this venue could have been onboard Icon of the Seas.

I was surprised by the amount of new bars and cocktails available, and the live music was spectacular

Because Icon of the Seas is the first ship in the Icon Class, I expected there to be a few new bars and lounges onboard, but I was surprised by the amount of new venues that launched on the vessel.

1400 Lobby Bar was one of my favorites on the ship, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, elegant decor, and outdoor seating. The bar’s central location in the Royal Promenade makes it a convenient hangout space, and the lack of live music at the bar means you can better hold a conversation with your travel party.

One of the bar’s signature cocktails, The Fourteen Hundred, combines Casamigos Blanco tequila, Italicus liqueur, pearl shimmer syrup, and lemon sour, and it’s topped with a citrus bubble that pops when you take your first sip.

Related: I tried the new cocktails on Icon of the Seas

Additionally, two intriguing music venues launched on the vessel: Dueling Pianos in the Royal Promenade and Lou’s Jazz n’ Blues in Central Park. Not only do these venues provide stellar musical performances, but they also come with a host of new cocktails.

Guests can listen to live jazz music while sipping on a B-Flat Negroni, which combines Hendrick’s gin, Suze liqueur, and dry vermouth. Or, for those cheering on the pianists at Dueling Pianos, they can try the signature cocktail, Snap, Crackle, Pop! This sweet beverage combines gin with lime juice, simple syrup, grenadine, and pineapple juice with a bag of Pop Rocks, making the drink literally “pop” in your mouth!

I found the new bar concepts to be a nice change of pace for Royal Caribbean, and I especially appreciated having more innovative bar concepts on the Royal Promenade. On Oasis Class ships, for instance, the robotic Bionic Bar takes up a large space in the Promenade.

While watching robotic bartenders craft a drink is interesting the first time you try it, I have never found this venue appealing for a regular hangout space. Somewhere like Dueling Pianos or the 1400 Lobby Bar, on the other hand, makes for a much more aesthetic and entertaining space.

Have you sailed on Icon of the Seas? If so, what surprised you about your time onboard? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Cruising isn’t just for the young and spry.

Cruise ships feature an experience that can be tailored to your preferences and needs.

This applies to everyone, including seniors and people who use mobility devices such as wheelchairs or scooters.

No matter your age and needs, you deserve a vacation filled with relaxation, excitement, and unforgettable memories. 

Ken Klingenberg has been cruising for the past 23 years and has no intention of stopping.

A 72-year-old retired paramedic, he originally hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

Ken won his first cruise in 1987 as part of a sales contest. That planted a seed that finally blossomed in 2001 when he and his wife sailed on their next cruise.

From then on, he has been hooked on cruising.

Since then, he has been on 41 sailings on Carnival, NCL, MVS, Celebrity, and Princess, with the majority—a total of 33—on Royal Caribbean.

Ken uses a scooter and says cruising is a great form of accessible travel.

“You get to this beautiful hotel on the water, and let the crew take you to different places while they feed and entertain you the entire time.”

He calls cruising a “godsend” for people with mobility or other issues. 

Despite the overall accessibility of cruising, there are still limitations as part of traveling with a scooter

Ken has encountered fellow passengers rudely charging elevators or walking in front of him. 

Ships also have narrow doorways or can lack ramp access to features he’s interested in.

Overly helpful people—cruisers as well as crew members—even reach out and grab the scooter or Ken himself.

With the insight from these stressful experiences, Ken has some valuable tips to make for a smoother journey.

Here’s his advice for fellow seniors who want to go on a cruise, whether or not they bring along a scooter or wheelchair. 

When it comes to choosing the right cruise line, Royal Caribbean is one of the best

Selecting the right cruise line makes all the difference in your experience.

Not all lines are created equal, and if you’re looking for a line to cruise on with a scooter or wheelchair, you’ll want to be sure the ship will be accessible. 

“One of the reasons I love cruising with Royal Caribbean is their commitment to those of us with mobility devices,” Ken says. “The other lines I have sailed have let me down to some extent.”

His issues center around the use (or lack) of ramps on ships. In his opinion, Royal Caribbean does the best at designing ships that include a lot of ramps.

Royal Caribbean also provides other great accommodations, like a chair lift in the Aqua Theater on Oasis Class ships, and a private elevator on the decks between the Seaplex and Two70 on Quantum Class ships.

Pools are harder to get to but usually have at least one with a chair lift available. However, “the issue is finding someone to operate them.”

As long as crew members are present to operate the lifts and elevators, Royal Caribbean does a great job ensuring that senior cruisers have full access onboard.

Although some areas have no access for someone in a wheelchair or scooter, Ken is usually able to access 99% of Royal Caribbean’s ships through ramps, elevators, or lifts.

Use a travel agent, especially one familiar with accessible travel

Ken advises that other seniors use travel insurance and a travel advisor for their cruises.

Buying travel insurance can help reimburse you for the cost of expensive equipment damaged while traveling, or help you provide for other necessities in the case of a delay.

Many travel insurance policies also add emergency medical reimbursement, a great reassurance for seniors worried about their health.

Using a travel agent can help take some of the stress out of cruising. Good travel agents come at no extra cost to you and can provide their expertise and knowledge to help you get the best experience possible with no extra costs.

Especially important would be finding a travel agent familiar with accessible travel, or who can put the client in touch with someone more familiar.

Ken consults with advisors from eCruisenet.com, longtime friends of his who weren’t well-versed in accessible travel at first but are becoming more in tune with it the longer they work together.

Using a small or folding scooter helps with getting through cabin doorways

What kind of cabin do you need to book if you’re bringing along a scooter or wheelchair?

The answer depends on the size of your mobility aid. 

Smaller scooters may fit through standard cabin doorways, while larger models require the extra space provided in accessible cabins.

Standard stateroom doorways span at least 23 inches wide, while accessible staterooms have wide doors at least 32 inches wide.

Since Ken doesn’t need his scooter when inside the cabin, he purchased a folding scooter so that he can stay in a non-accessible stateroom.

“To make accessible cabins available to those who really need them, I made a conscious decision to find a scooter that would help me to that end,” he says. 

Accessible cabins are few and far between on cruise ships.

For example, the new Icon of the Seas has 2,805 staterooms overall, 50 of which are accessible cabins in 10 separate categories. 

That means that just over 1.7% of the staterooms on this brand-new cruise ship are designated as accessible.

“I would love to see the cruise lines build more accessible cabins,” Ken shares.

So if you're worried about being able to get assigned to an accessible cabin, bringing a smaller or a folding scooter is a smart choice.

Select a longer cruise to try everything onboard

Ken believes that “the ship is the destination.”

He recommends that fellow seniors pick and choose what activities they’d like to do and take advantage of the many food venues.

“You do not need to do everything the ship has to offer [but] there is no reason to go hungry.”

Cruise ships are loaded with onboard activities that cater to all interests and types. You can join trivia games, watch stunning shows, gamble at the casino, sunbathe by the pool, or join live dance lessons. 

There’s something for everyone, no matter your level of activity. 

Ken says that he tells everyone to try a 5 up to 7-Night cruise for their first cruise: “The 3 and 4-Night cruises tend to be ‘party boats.’”

Since you only unpack once—and cruises often have food, activities, and entertainment included in the cost—it makes sense to try everything possible and choose a longer cruise to take full advantage of the opportunities. 

A cruise sailing has the perfect, relaxing accessible vacation for all ages, you just have to select the right cruise and activities. 

Read more: Cruising over 60? Here are the top 10 reasons you should give it a try

Driving to your cruise port is easier than flying

When Ken first started cruising, he lived in Pittsburgh and preferred to drive to Bayonne or Baltimore for cruising.

This allowed him to not have to worry about any weight limits on baggage, ensuring he could bring his scooter and all necessary items in the car. 

When getting onboard a cruise ship, there are very few weight restrictions, contrasting the strict rules for what you can carry onto a plane.

He also doesn’t have to worry about any damage to the scooter when driving. 

Unfortunately, airlines are infamous for poorly treating people’s wheelchairs or scooters, and you’d never want such an expensive item damaged!

Look closely to find enjoyable excursions on port days

Exploring new destinations is a major highlight of cruising, so how can you find accommodating tours? 

It’s not impossible, but you will have to plan ahead carefully.

The ship’s ramps allow for people with scooters or wheelchairs to exit and immediately access a local tourist area, usually full of restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops.

If you’re looking for actual excursions as well, many cruise lines do offer guided tours for seniors, such as short walking tours. 

For example, Ken enjoyed touring the White Pass Railroad in Alaska.

He also likes to rent cabanas to sit in and relax, such as on Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay.

Read more: Comparing Royal Caribbean's Private Islands: CocoCay & Labadee

“But,” he adds, “I am most happy to watch others be happy.”

Royal Caribbean isn't done building Oasis Class cruise ships.

On Thursday, its parent company announced that an order has been placed for a seventh Oasis Class ship from the Chantiers de l’Atlantique  shipyard.

Delivery of the new ship is expected in 2028.

Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty celebrated the new order in a statement, "While we eagerly anticipate the debut of Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas this summer, we’re already dreaming up her sister ship and the next installation in the brand’s extremely popular Oasis Class."

"Across our three brands, we are focused on continuously challenging ourselves to deliver the ultimate vacation experience."

This order is contingent upon financing, which is expected to be completed later this year.

The unnamed Oasis Class ship will follow Utopia of the Seas, which debuts later this summer.

Continuing the legacy

The new order is a bit of a surprise, given that it seemed like Utopia of the Seas was going to be the last in the Oasis Class.

Royal Caribbean ordered its sixth Oasis Class ship in 2019, and then with three Icon Class ships on order (and maybe a new class of ship coming too), it seemed like the Oasis Class was done.

Of course, the Oasis Class ships have been not just a game-changer in the cruise industry, but one of the primary standards that all other new cruise ships are measured against.

Ever since Oasis of the Seas debuted in 2009, these cruise ships have been the incredibly popular with the public.  Their size captures the imagination, and the experience onboard delivers great family vacations.

At an event in 2022, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley talked about how popular the Oasis Class ships have been, "When the first Oasis class ship came out 12 years ago, from the moment it sailed, it has been an absolute huge success. I mean, these these ships deliver from every single dimension."

"And the most important dimension is customer satisfaction. And the ratings that these ships get with the scale that we have is is unbelievable. People love sailing on these ships."

He believes the key to success has been a winning formula that is integral to this ship class, "It's just the breadth and depth, the neighborhoods, the ability to have for a family to come and engage and have fun across all of these different dimensions, but then come together for the evening for a great dinner, and then maybe go out and do all their different things on their own. It really is a winning formula and it's it's just it proves itself time and time again."

Royal Caribbean's future fleet

This new Oasis Class ship is far from the only new cruise ships Royal Caribbean has on order.

Utopia of the Seas enters service on July 22, 2024 and will offer short cruises, the first time an Oasis Class ship will start cruising with just weekend sailings.  It's part of a new strategy by Royal Caribbean to target first-time cruisers and families.

Read more: Royal Caribbean's plan to dominate short cruises

Then there's two more Icon Class ships coming out in the next two years. 

Star of the Seas debuts in August 2025 and will sail from Port Canaveral, Florida to destinations in the Caribbean. An unnamed third Icon Class ship will start cruising sometime in 2026.

Royal Caribbean also has not-so-secretive plans for a new class of cruise ship, which is smaller than the Oasis or Icon Class ships. 

Referred to as the Discovery Class, these ships are reportedly going to be somewhat smaller, so it can replace the aging Vision and Radiance Class ships. Details are scarce, so it's still a guessing game what to expect.  No orders have been placed for the Discovery Class ships.

Royal Caribbean has officially released 2025 and 2026 voyages from the Northeast and Long Caribbean cruises. 

You can visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean's award-winning private island in the Bahamas, Canada/New England, Bermuda, and more from cities like New York, Baltimore, and Boston on five different ships:

• Symphony of the Seas
• Odyssey of the Seas
• Vision of the Seas
• Brilliance of the Seas
• Liberty of the Seas 

If you're looking to take a port-intensive Southern Caribbean cruise, you'll want to look at sailings onboard Brilliance of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas from San Juan in November and December. 

Allure of the Seas will be returning to Galveston, Texas after a stint in Florida making longer voyages to the Caribbean following her Royal Amplification in early 2025. 

And, finally, Serenade of the Seas will spend late 2025 and early 2026 making 7- to 11-night cruises from Fort Lauderdale to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 

Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members are able to book on Royal Caribbean’s website starting today, while the official opening for the general public is Thursday, February 15. 

Ready to begin planning your next vacation? Here's a breakdown of new offerings in 2025 and 2026. 

Bayonne/New York City

Three ships will offer cruises from Cape Liberty (Bayonne), New Jersey in 2025, the largest being Symphony of the Seas. 

Symphony will sail from Cape Liberty from April to October, similar to 2024. Afterward, the ship will return to Miami. Guests have numerous different voyages to choose from, with the shortest being 7 nights and the longest 9. Examples of itineraries include: 

• 7-Night Bahamas & Perfect Day: Orlando (Port Canaveral), Florida; Nassau, Bahamas; Perfect Day at CocoCay
• 9-Night Eastern Caribbean: Labadee, Haiti; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Odyssey of the Seas will sail on cruises ranging from 7 to 14 nights in January, February, March, April, November, and December 2025. There will be 7- and 8-night sailings to The Bahamas, including Perfect Day at CocoCay, as well as longer cruises to the Southern and Eastern Caribbean. 

Odyssey will also make a single transatlantic cruise from Bayonne visiting Ponta Delgada, Azores; Málaga, Spain; Cartagena, Spain; Valencia, Spain; and Florence/Pisa (La Spezia), Italy. 

Finally, Liberty of the Seas will be the only ship to sail from Cape Liberty in 2025 to Bermuda on 4-, 5-, 6, and 9-night cruises. Like Odyssey, you can also choose to sail to the Eastern Caribbean; however, what sets Liberty of the Seas apart is her offerings to Canada and New England: 

• 9-Night Canada & New England: Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick [Overnight]; Halifax, Nova Scotia  
• 9-Night Canada & New England: Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; Sydney, Nova Scotia; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick
• 9-Night Canada & New England: Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; Sydney, Nova Scotia; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John (Bay of Fundy), New Brunswick [Overnight]

Bayonne is an exciting embarkation port because it's located just miles from New York City. Whether you want to extend your cruise with a jam-packed pre- or post-cruise stay, there are endless ways to customize your cruise vacation while also budgeting time to visit the Big Apple. 

Read more: Bahamas cruise guide

Baltimore

Since Baltimore is a much smaller port, you won't find any mega-ships like Symphony of the Seas sailing from Maryland. 

Instead, Vision of the Seas will offer a variety of different cruises to guests visiting places like Bermuda, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and the Southeast Coast of the United States that range from 5 nights to 12 nights. 

It's perfect for those who prefer a more intimate cruising experience and don't want to deal with the hassle of sailing out of Port Canaveral or Miami, two of the busiest ports in the world:

Read more: What to do in Bermuda on a cruise

Boston

If sipping on craft brews, indulging in fresh seafood, and enjoying the beautiful fall foliage of New England and Canada is more your vibe, look no further than the offerings from Boston. 

Brilliance of the Seas, a Radiance Class ship that launched in 2002, will be the only Royal Caribbean sailing from Boston in the fall of 2025. The majority of her sailings will be 7-night cruises to Canada and New England; however, there will be one unique cruise from Boston to San Juan in November. 

Prior to arriving, passengers will visit Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda; St. John's, Antigua; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands. 

San Juan

After spending the fall up north, Brilliance of the Seas will sail from San Juan in November and December 2025, as well as January, February, March, and April 2026. She'll be joined by Jewel of the Seas. 

Both vessels will primarily sail on 7-night cruises to the Southern Caribbean to ports such as Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands; Roseau, Dominica; and Bridgetown, Barbados. 

Galveston

Allure of the Seas will (finally) be undergoing her Royal Amplification in early 2025, so if you've been waiting to book a cruise on Allure, 2025/2026 is the perfect time! 

In March 2026, she'll return to Galveston for 5- and 7-night cruises to the Western Caribbean, visiting ports like Costa Maya, Mexico; Cozumel, Mexico; and Roatán, Honduras. 

Before then, however, she'll sail from Fort Lauderdale on 6- and 8-night voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. This means that if you want to take a short cruise onboard, you shouldn't push it off for long. 

Fort Lauderdale

In late 2025, you can find longer itineraries onboard Serenade of the Seas from Fort Lauderdale to exotic places in the Southern Caribbean, as well as shorter voyages to the Western Caribbean:

• 7-Night Western Caribbean: Cozumel, Mexico; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya, Mexico
• 10-Night Eastern Caribbean: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Johns, Antigua Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

The demand for Royal Caribbean cruises is higher than ever, and if you wait to book your next sailing, you will likely find limited inventory

Not only does booking early ensure that you have access to the lowest prices, but it's also smart if you're hoping to score a specific cabin. Inventory is selling out further in advance, so if you decide to wait until the last minute, you might be disappointed with your options. 

Prices seem to be increasing from week to week, meaning that if you want to lock in the lowest possible rate, your best bet is to go ahead and place the deposit on your 2025 cruise as soon as possible. 

When I went to book a sailing onboard Icon of the Seas for June 2025 in mid-January, I paid $5,125.60, including gratuities, for two in an interior room. At the time of writing roughly one month later, Royal Caribbean's website was advertising the same sailing starting at $5,716.72 before tips. While a cruise onboard Royal's newest vessel, the pricing trend is being seen on ships of all ages. 

If you happen to notice that the price has decreased before final payment, you'll be able to contact Royal Caribbean (or your travel agent) to have the new price honored on your reservation. 

Additionally, if you aren't able to commit to a sailing that far in advance, you can always place a refundable deposit, which will ensure that you don't lose any money in the event that your schedule changes before final payment is due. 

Traditionally, Valentine's Day is when you spoil your partner with flowers, chocolate, and a nice meal. One TikTok user, however, took a different approach. Rather than focusing on a loved one, she decided to make a Valentine for every Ultimate World Cruise crew member. 

Little Rat Brain (@little_rat_brain) is currently sailing onboard Serenade of the Seas for the entire duration of the world cruise. To show her appreciation for those who are working to make this voyage both memorable and possible, she crafted Valentine's Day cards for all 860 crew members on the ship. 

"Did you know that there's an incinerator tech onboard? I didn't," she states in her TikTok. 

"I have never seen him, and I am sure that many people have also never seen him. But I wanted to give him a Valentine's Day gift." 

She alluded to the idea in a previous video where she bought a seemingly absurd amount of lollipops 

On February 11, the first segment of the world cruise concluded, with some passengers disembarking in Los Angeles to make way for new guests before beginning the Ultimate Asia Pacific segment. 

While the ship was docked, Little Rat Brain made her way to Target to restock some necessities and art supplies, as well as lots (I mean lots) of lollipops. Whenever she emptied a bag, it seemed as though there couldn't possibly be more DumDums. The pile, however, kept getting larger and larger. 

TikTok users didn't let the copious bags of DumDums go unnoticed. "LRB,,, what are you going to do with many lollipops," wrote Tabby, while LL MCB commented, "You and my grandmother are gonna have to meet and talk about your DumDum addictions."

When it came to the actual construction, Little Rat Brain ended up needing to call in reinforcements

It appears as though she had been thinking of this idea for a while, as she begins the TikTok by opening a Staples box and pulling out sheets of cardstock paper with a custom design printed on them. In fact, the design is the same as the tapestry that's hung in her inside cabin! 

After taking out a sheet of paper, she began to draw hearts on the back of each, stating that she couldn't find a heart stamp. She did, however, find a stamp that says, "You make this world a beautiful place," which she uses overtop the hand-drawn heart. 

"I am continually astonished by how hardworking [and] how incredible [the crew] are," she says, "I really just wanted to give them a small token of my appreciation."

Once each card was individually cut and stamped, she taped a DumDum to every single one, explaining that she went with lollipops because they fit numerous dietary restrictions. 

At one point, she realized that the project was larger than she had thought, so she asked for help from other cruisers. Thankfully, everyone was willing to assist, and the Valentine's Day cards were delivered just in time for their crew party. 

The response has been overwhelmingly positive

While it's not uncommon for guests to leave small gifts or extra cash for their cabin steward, favorite bartender, or Main Dining Room wait staff, it is pretty rare for someone to go the lengths to ensure that everyone onboard gets something. 

With the majority of the crew away from their families on long contracts at sea, this small gesture warmed the hearts of many on social media. 

TikTok user Teriarnott832 wrote, "This is so stinking cute! I'm sure the crew was very thankful to be remembered."

"This is so thoughtful I could cry 😭 I hope someone gets YOU a valentine too !" said Cadyn. 

drjennytravels, who was one of the reinforcements Little Rat Brain recruited, remarked, "It was a pleasure to assist in this endeavor. You are soooo thoughtful ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️".

Royal Caribbean International even commented saying, "our crew deserves the world!! thank you for this 🫶". 

The second segment of the Ultimate World Cruise is underway

The Ultimate Asia Pacific segment is the longest of the four segments that comprise the entire world cruise. It will last nearly three months and visit three World Wonders — the Great Wall of China, Great Barrier Reef, and the Taj Mahal — before concluding on May 9 in Dubai. 

Even before departing from Miami, the voyage had taken social media by storm. With months having passed since the ship watched Florida disappear into the horizon, numerous individuals onboard have gained fame by posting "day in the life" videos and giving those at home an insight into what this one-of-a-kind cruise is like. 

Little Rat Brain, for instance, has over 145,000 followers, as well as 1.1 million likes. The first TikTok that was posted regarding the Ultimate World Cruise was on December 10. The slideshow depicts her pre-cruise stay in Miami leading up to embarkation, including the gala. That video alone has over 1.1 million views and 50,000 likes. 

Ready to take a cruise on Icon of the Seas, but want to know the best-kept insider secrets about this game-changing cruise ship?

Royal Caribbean has put together an incredible new ship that offers more for families to do than ever before, and it's the first in the Icon Class. There are so many choices for dining, activities, and ways to relax.

If you're like me, you want to maximize your vacation and take advantage of every tip and trick so you can have the best possible vacation. If I've learned anything from cruising a lot, it's that there are usually a handful of secrets you can rely on to get ahead of everyone else.

Read more: Guide to Icon of the Seas

I spent over a week on Icon of the Seas to track down the best tidbits to share with you. Here are the 10 hidden secrets to know before going on Icon of the Seas.

Rye and Bean is a secret place for coffee in the morning

Everyone loves a latte, cappuccino, or macchiato in the morning, but the line for it at Pearl Cafe can get pretty long.

Instead of waiting in line for your premium coffee drink (which is included in a Royal Caribbean drink package), go to the Rye and Bean in the AquaDome instead.

Rye and Bean is a coffee bar that is best known for its coffee-based cocktails. But it has an espresso machine and is open in the morning too, and can make your favorite coffee drinks without the giant line that Pearl Cafe usually gets.

In my experience, I found most people have no idea Rye and Bean is open in the morning or that it can make your coffee drink too, and the lack of a line was proof of that.

Speaking of Rye and Bean, you should make plans to go there later in the day for a cocktail too, because their espresso martinis and cocktails are top notch.

USB plugs and outlets at the bars

If you've ever gone on a cruise and lamented the lack of ways to keep your devices charged, Icon of the Seas does not contribute to that stereotype.

Many bars have USB charging plugs and even standard electric outlets available for guests to use, including Pearl Cafe, The Overlook, and Playmakers.

I've seen USB outlets at certain bars on Royal Caribbean ships before, but electric outlets too are so helpful for using laptops. Given how inviting Pearl Cafe and The Overlook are to spending many hours there, it's a great spot for conducting remote work.

Given how useful the Royal Caribbean app is onboard a ship, you might end up going through battery power faster than at home, so it's convenient to have ways to charge your devices.

Secret homage to Royal Caribbean's history

Royal Caribbean likes to include subtle nods to its past on its cruise ships, and if you look closely, you'll spot one on Icon of the Seas.

If you're a Royal Caribbean super fan, you'll want to keep an eye out for a nod to the ship's leadership located in the Royal Promenade.

There's artwork on one end of the Promenade that has a manhole cover, which can easily be overlooked. However, it lists the sewer cover company manufacturer as, "Fain, Liberty, Bayley, Kulovaara & Co."

These are the last names of Royal Caribbean's top leadership responsible for Icon of the Seas becoming a reality.

• Richard Fain is the Chairman of the Royal Caribbean Group board and was Royal Caribbean Group's CEO for much of the project's time before stepping down.
• Jason Liberty is the current President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group.
• Michael Bayley is the President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.
• Harri Kulovaara is the Executive Vice President of Maritime & Newbuilding and is responsible for leading the design and construction of its new ships. 

Color coding for the direction of where you are on the deck

Getting around a ship as big as Icon of the Seas is not easy off the bat, but Royal Caribbean color-coded the decks to make it easier.

As you walk up or down the corridors where staterooms are located, you may notice the color of the cabin nameplate changes.

A light teal indicates you are in the forward section of the ship. A darker shade of blue means you are aft, and a blend of the two means you are in the middle.

The idea is to provide a reference for where you are. Perhaps you forgot exactly the cabin number you're looking for, but the visual cue of the color may spark your memory quicker.

Trellis Bar has food

It's rare to find a bar on a Royal Caribbean ship that also serves food, but you should be aware there is a secret food menu at the Trellis Bar.

The Trellis Bar is not a new venue for Royal Caribbean. It's been the signature bar for Central Park on all of Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships, but those bars only served drinks.

On Icon of the Seas, there is a food menu too, where you can order mac & cheese poppers, steak bites, and fries. Perfect for noshing while you enjoy a few cocktails!

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen menu items at Giovanni’s Wine Bar

Speaking of food at a bar, you might be interested to know you can order food from Giovanni's Italian Kitchen while seated at the bar.

This is more than just a way to snack like you can at the Trellis Bar, it's actually a hack to get around the restaurant being booked up.

If there are no reservations left for lunch or dinner because Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen is booked up, you can go to the bar and order the same food without any reservations required.

Read more: Royal Caribbean menus: Main dining room, specialty restaurants & more

Walk to the back of the Windjammer for quieter seats

With a ship as big as Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean made the Windjammer buffet as big as possible too.

It can certainly get crowded (especially for breakfast), and seats get taken up quickly.

If you walk all the way to the back of the Windjammer, though, you will find a smaller seating area that tends to be much less crowded.

Pier 7 is free for kids

The sit-down specialty restaurant in the Surfside Neighborhood has one important difference from any other specialty restaurant.

Kids under the age of 12 are totally free, which means you only have to pay for the adults in your group (as well as any teenagers).

This makes it a far more affordable family dinner out if you don't have to worry about paying for the kids.

How to get a seat at Dueling Pianos

Dueling Pianos is one of the most popular venues on Icon of the Seas and you'll quickly notice the place gets very busy to the point every single chair is taken up.

If you'd like to have seats and a table for your group, the key is to arrive early. My advice is to show up at least 30 minutes before the scheduled performance time to get a seat. There will be people who arrive even earlier than that, especially for the earlier show times.

If there is a performance at 11pm or later, it tends to be less busy and even people that have a table will start to head out as it gets closer to midnight.

Nonetheless, grab a table a half hour before show time (or earlier) just to be safe.

Binoculars

Hidden around Icon of the Seas are binoculars you can use to check out what's around.

Royal Caribbean wanted Icon of the Seas to be more outward-facing than Oasis Class ships, and to that point, they added binoculars around the ship.

There's no cost to the binoculars. This is a fun activity for kids or adults to try to find them all and it is one of those hidden gems many guests simply overlook.

Did we miss any Icon of the Seas secrets? Share them in our comments!

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Guests sailing on upcoming Royal Caribbean cruises that visit Grand Bahama Island had their shore excursions cancelled, which comes right after news of two American passengers that were attacked there earlier this month.

Two American passengers disclosed that they were drugged and raped while visiting the Pirate's Cove Resort. Since then two people have been arrested on sexual assault charges.

"Due to a recent incident in Grand Bahama Island, we've made the decision to temporarily suspend select tours. Unfortunately, this includes your Beach Getaway and Lunch" the email to passengers reads. 

"As a result, we've issued a full refund to your original form of payment, which you should see within 14 business days. Some banking institutions may take longer."

"In the meantime, please feel free to visit My Royal Cruise or the Shore Excursions Deck once onboard to review options for your time in port." 

Amber Shearer and Dongayla Dobson, two 31-year-old mothers from Kentucky, were supposedly on the girl's trip of a lifetime. They had saved for months for a Carnival cruise from Jacksonville, Florida, and were enjoying time together on the beach when they were offered a two-for-one drink deal from a resort employee. 

According to a USA TODAY article, Nicholas Gerson, the women's Miami-based attorney, said, "They became inebriated and were both taken away and raped." Both women were unaware of the recently imposed travel warning by the U.S. Department of State and "not aware of any warnings given by Carnival." 

Two individuals, a 54- and 40-year-old man, were arrested on Sunday in relation to the attacks. 

On January 26, the U.S. Department of State issued a level 2 advisory warning in The Bahamas due to crime 

According to the country summary, the majority of the crime in The Bahamas occurs in the capital of New Providence, which is where Nassau is located, as well as Grand Bahama Island. 

"In Nassau, practice increased vigilance in the “Over the Hill” area (south of Shirley Street) where gang-on-gang violence has resulted in a high homicide rate primarily affecting the local population. Violent crime, such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults, occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas."

"Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence."

The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert a few days prior to the Department of State. They advised that all U.S. citizens should be aware that 18 murders have occurred in Nassau at all hours of the day since the beginning of 2024. 

They claim that the primary motive has been retaliatory gang violence. 

Additionally, the warning states that activities involving commercial recreational watercraft aren't consistently regulated

In November 2023, a ferry filled with passengers en route to Blue Lagoon Island off the coast of Nassau encountered rough seas and began to take on water before capsizing and killing one woman from the United States. Since the boat was near shallow waters, it didn't completely submerge. Independence of the Seas was the only Royal Caribbean ship docked on the day of the incident. 

Royal Caribbean used to offer a variety of excursions to Blue Lagoon, including beach breaks, snorkeling, and dolphin encounters. Since the accident, however, the cruise line has decided to cancel all tours through March 2024 as they continue their investigation. 

Guests with booked tours will automatically receive a full refund back to their original form of payment. Like tours in Grand Bahama Island, these refunds will be processed within 14 business days. 

How to stay safe when visiting The Bahamas (or any port of call)

Whenever you travel, it's imperative that you keep your guard up at all times. While the likelihood of a crime being committed against you is low, it's never impossible. 

When going ashore, you should aim to keep a low profile and be aware of your surroundings at all times. If you happen to be the victim of a robbery, don't physically resist it. 

It is also smart to closely monitor your drinks. If you're able to, you should watch the bartender make it, and if anything seems off, ask someone else to remake it. 

Rather than venturing off with a random tour operator that you find on the streets, consider booking a tour through Royal Caribbean. 

They work with reputable local operators to ensure that safety is at the forefront of every tour. Even then, however, you should always monitor your surroundings, as was proved during the Blue Lagoon Island incident.