After Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas became the world's biggest cruise ship, she's earned a lot of praise and accolades, and they're all well-deserved.

I've sailed on Icon for three full cruises so far, along with a few shorter sailings leading up to her debut. Each time I've stepped onboard I've rediscovered why this ship is now my absolute favorite ship in the fleet.

You don't need to go on a big and new ship in order to have a great vacation, but Icon makes it so darn easy.

I've been sailing on Royal Caribbean's newest ships for years, and each one brought a little something different to one up the previous.  However, Icon takes a leap forward from the fleet and it's apparent quite quickly when you get onboard.

Innovations that go beyond any other ship

I can sum up Icon of the Seas in two words: truly innovative.

That phrase gets tossed around a lot, but Royal Caribbean set out to build the ultimate cruise ship and threw out everything they knew about ships prior to it.

They called it a "white paper cruise ship design", which means they started with a blank canvas to come up with the things its guests wanted, while improving on things that have already been a success.

If you've been on any other cruise ship, the improvements made to Icon soon stand out.  Some are massive and others subtle, but they all contribute to a better guest experience. 

If you haven't been on a cruise ship before, then Icon will feel more natural and not as jarring as a cruise can be for newbies.

What you can expect going on Icon of the Seas is a smooth process each step of the way, and it's a lot of the fixes and improvements made to Icon that make this ship so guest friendly.

You won't be bored with so many things to do on this ship

I'm amazed how much there is to do on a ship like Icon, and it's part of why I love going on it.

One of the most common reasons people use to avoid going on a cruise ship is they are afraid they'll be bored.  I don't see how that's possible on this ship.

Being the biggest cruise ship in the world, it can handle up to 7,600 passengers if every bed was sold out.  The standard double occupancy rate is 5,610 passengers.  Regardless of how many people are on this ship, good luck finding a crowd because the distribution of people is phenomenal.

It's so easy to be drawn to one area of the ship because of how many different activities and venues exist.  It's a boon for first time cruisers who I think will be astonished by the variety.

The highlight of this ship is what you can see as you drive up to the ship: the pool deck.

Icon was designed with a "water, water everywhere" approach.  You can see the water from so many places and be in the water too.

There are seven pools, including a suspended infinity pool just for adults.  There are many other pools for kids and families to enjoy together, and each has its own theme.  By offering more pools, it spreads people around and avoids the common cruise ship trope of a crowded and bustling pool.

Then there's the waterpark at the back of Icon, which has six slides.  Most cruise ships have maybe two or three slides, but Royal Caribbean pushed the limit with enough to have a true waterpark.

There's also a surf simulator, mini-golf course, rope/swing challenge, rock wall, and sports court.  There's enough to happening in the Thrill Island area that you probably could spend an entire day here without trying it all.

The ship has three theaters onboard, with unique shows in each venue: an indoor AquaTheater, traditional stage theater, and an ice skating rink.

On top of all of that, there's an entire section dedicated to young families.

If you have a kid under the age of 7, Surfside is going to be the best thing you never knew you needed on a family vacation.

This entire area was designed with young kids in mind, and the tone is set when there's a slide for them to go down into it, right next to the stairs.

Inside Surfside is a carousel, arcade, three different restaurants that serve kid-friendly food, a bar to sit at with your kids, and a giant aqua park.

What Royal Caribbean has done with Surfside is double down on what families want: lots for the young kids to do along with their parents. 

When my kids were growing up, more dedicated programming for them was sort of a new concept that was being explored by Royal Caribbean. But kids today have arguably the best in class offerings for this age group to ensure they will love it, without making their parents have to run around the ship between activities.

It's easy to find your way around the ship

I know you might be worried that the ship is a maze, but it couldn't be easier to get from point A to point B.

The ship is split up into 8 neighborhoods, which is an idea borrowed from the Oasis Class ships. Think of it like themed lands around the ship, where the look of the area instantly tells you where you are.

• AquaDome: An indoor space and theater capped by a large dome, offering immersive entertainment and dining experiences (Deck 15).
• Central Park: Open air park with real trees, shrubs, and flowers that has a variety of restaurants, shops, and bars (Deck 8).
• Thrill Island: All things fun and exciting, with a water park, mini-golf, sports court, and many more activities (Deck 16)
• Chill Island: Most of the pools, whirlpools, and bars for time spent enjoying being in or around the water (Decks 15, 16 & 17)
• Royal Promenade: Two deck high entertainment "street" that has restaurants, bars, and is home to The Pearl (Deck 5 & 6)
• The Hideaway: Adults only enclave for passengers at least 18 years old, with a suspended infinity pool, whirlpools, and a variety of seating options (Deck 16).
• Suite Neighborhood: Reserved area of the ship exclusively for guests booked in a suite.  There's two dedicated restaurants, bar, and sun deck (Deck 16, 17, & 18).
• Surfside: A family-friendly neighborhood with a kids' splash zone, arcade, carousel, and family-friendly restaurants (Deck 6).

The benefit of the neighborhoods is it makes it easy to guess what sort of activities or dining choices might be there.

Many dining choices, but a lot of restaurants cost extra

Royal Caribbean includes an astonishing amount of places you can eat on Icon of the Seas, with more than 40 different dining spots and bars to choose from.

There's a choice of places included in your cruise fare, and others that cost extra. You certainly won't go hungry limiting yourself to just the included spots, but it's quite tempting to pay more for the other ones.

While I indulge in the specialty restaurants, I have to admit the included food offered is superb and better than most other Royal Caribbean ships.

The Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet are staples of any ship to provide most meals, but my favorite places to eat at no cost are the Aquadome Market and Pearl Cafe. Both are new concepts introduced for Icon and really up the free food game.

I also really like El Loco Fresh. It's quick service Mexican food and you can customize your food with a generous toppings bar. Following guest feedback, Basecamp was changed to be completely complimentary and it adds a convenient choice when you're feeling peckish around the waterpark.

If you're willing to spend more, there are a lot of great specialty dining options too.  Some are familiar favorites, such as Chops Grille or Giovanni's Italian Kitchen. Others are new ideas, like the three-hour $200 per person Empire Supper Club experience.

My favorite extra cost restaurants are Izumi, Giovanni's, and Empire Supper Club. Each offers a different experience, cuisine, and truly stands out with excellent food.

Anyone booked in a suite should be trying the food at Coastal Kitchen because it's feels like a specialty restaurant but without the price tag.

It's available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day for guests in a Grand Suite or above (Dinner only for Junior Suite guests).

My favorite cruise ship because it's better than every other ship

Why should you choose Icon of the Seas over any other Royal Caribbean ship? Because it's just that much better at everything it does.

I'm a fan of big cruise ships, and I've found the other ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet fantastic. The difference is Icon builds on all of them and solves a lot of issues that traditionally would have been pain points.

It's clear this ship has a two-pronged approach to its design: deliver amazing experiences and make everything easier than ever before.

The way crowds are managed on Icon is astounding to me because they are so well spread out.  

Unless there's a dance party, the Royal Promenade is rarely crowded at all.  On other ships, it feels like Times Square more often than not.

The pool deck has so much seating spread around the three decks that it's probably the best approach yet at solving the chair hog problem. Plus, I think having so many different pools helps too.

The best innovation on the ship is the use of destination elevators, where you tell the system which floor you want to go to, and are subsequently assigned an elevator.  It's incredibly efficient and faster than regular elevators.

Of course, the calling card of any Royal Caribbean ship is how good the entertainment is around the ship.  There are must-see shows at each venue, and I think the Wizard of Oz show is Broadway quality.

In short, Icon makes taking a cruise as easy as possible for new and veteran cruiser alike because of the the innovations this ship has.

What I loved to do on Icon of the Seas

The included restaurants are so good

Royal Caribbean invested a lot of time and effort to come up with dining options included in your cruise fare that you'll want to eat at a lot.

The addition of Aquadome Market has been incredible, as it adds a restaurant that provides a true alternative to the Main Dining Room and Windjammer.  It's fast, efficient, and the food is really good.

Pearl Cafe is an upgraded Cafe Promenade, and also has some amazing seating to go with it. 

Don't overlook the included food in Surfside, because it's vastly underrated.   Both Surfside Bites and Surfside Eatery have so many good family-friendly options. 

It may be labeled as for kids, but I am certain there are plenty of adults who would love to eat there too because of how good the food is.

I would never want to hang out in Cafe Promenade after finishing my coffee, but the Pearl Cafe space is beautiful. It's easily one of those popular places to hang out on the ship. Plus, the grab-and-go food options are really good.

Of course, the food in the Main Dining Room and Windjammer are both really good, and I appreciate how large the Windjammer is on Icon so that there's lots of seating and food selections.

Royal Caribbean also added Basecamp as a convenient option near the waterslides, and it's entire menu now comes at no extra cost.

The elevators are amazing

One pain point solved on Icon are the cruise ship elevators.

Instead of traditional elevators, destination elevators replace them and along with the extra cars added to handle the capacity, it works so much better.

The beauty of these elevators is you rarely wait more than a few seconds for one to arrive.

They're far more efficient in how they assign cars to each floor, and it gets you moving faster to where you want to go.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how well the elevators work as soon as you get onboard.

Wizard of Oz is the best show you never knew you wanted to see

While not a true musical, I'm very impressed by Royal Caribbean's Wizard of Oz show.

It's included in your fare, the production value is off the charts. From the set, to the costumes, to the special effects, this is no musical medley. It's on par with any stage show you might see in a city (and have to pay extra to see).

While I loved the movie as much as anyone, I was leery of the show being worth it. Any concerns I had were quickly unwarranted.

One factor that elevates this show is the imaginative use of aerial stunts, such as when Dorothy is in her bed in the tornado scene and flies over the audience.

I think even casual theater fans will like this performance.

Empire Supper Club is unlike any other restaurant

At $200 per person, I wasn't sure if the Empire Supper Club would be worth it to justify the cost and time involved.  Luckily, it totally is.

This is a curated meal experience with cocktails paired to each course, and a jazz band playing songs to match up with it all.

I especially love that Royal Caribbean made the space intimate without forcing everyone to sit with each other, like at Chef's Table. There's no awkward conversations to worry about here.

Plus, it has amazing food too. The Chilean Sea Bass was extraordinary, as were a few of the appetizers.

The food is high quality, and I thought it was simply unlike any other dining experience I've been to on a cruise ship. It's not "just another" specialty restaurant.

The ship feels so uncrowded

Up until I sailed on Icon of the Seas, I assumed all cruise ships were going to be crowded and there was nothing I could do about it.

By creating wide open spaces onboard, implementing better elevators, and redesigning venues, the ship almost feels strange being so uncrowded.

It's remarkable how uncrowded the ship has felt, especially where I usually expect to find a lot of people, such as the pool deck or Royal Promenade.

This was true on our spring break sailing that had 7,300 passengers onboard and I think you'll quickly notice it too when you board.

What I hated about Icon of the Seas

Adults only area has no shade

I like that Royal Caribbean came up with a new concept for the adults only area, but it's incredibly hot there with little shade.

The Hideaway is a great spot overall, and it has a pool party vibe.  I just wish there was more shade to enjoy.

Both the pool and loungers nearby are all directly in the sun, and the only shade is near the bar or underneath some metal "palm trees" close to the hot tubs.

During most months of the year, it gets very hot, very quickly.

Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen layout is too close together

I wish there was more space allocated for both the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen so it didn't feel so smushed together.

It's not uncommon for both spaces to share the same overall room, but it feels quite cramped on Icon.

When the suite lounge is busy during happy hour in the evening, the conversations there can easily bleed into Coastal Kitchen (and vice versa). Some of the tables are pretty much right near each other.

Basket storage is questionable

Icon of the Seas has many innovations, but one I'd rethink was the choice of baskets instead of drawers.

The issue I have with the baskets is I don't want any clothes on display. Plus, they're more cumbersome than useful.

Because the baskets are fairly small, all you can really put in there are probably undergarments, and that's the last thing I want visible.

On top of that, it's clear there's overall less storage space in any of the rooms compared to the Oasis Class ships. 

Usually there's more storage space than we can use on new Royal Caribbean ships, but Icon feels like it's missing a few drawers here and there.

Who should book Icon of the Seas

I think Icon of the Seas is probably the best family cruise ship I've ever sailed on because of how much it offers for everyone, not just kids.

The ship leans heavily towards the multi-gen group, where parents, kids, and their grandparents can truly enjoy a vacation together and find different things each would enjoy.

This ship has the very best that Royal Caribbean, and the cruise industry, can offer. It's like going on the newest airliner or freshest hotel concept. There's something to be said about going on the latest and greatest.

Royal Caribbean wants this ship to be the perfect first ship for anyone, and it's well-suited for someone new to cruising.

The kids areas, including the kids club, are truly impressive. In fact, I think Royal Caribbean's kids club is overlooked, but the staff is so good at not only supervising them, but keeping them engaged with events, games, and activities.

For me, I love the sheer variety of activities offered. The casino is enormous, there are great shows, fantastic bars with live entertainment, and some of the best restaurants we could hope for on a cruise ship.

Itineraries and pricing

Icon of the Seas is sailing from Miami, offering 7-night cruises to both the eastern and western Caribbean. Each cruise includes a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay.

These weeklong cruises are the right amount of time to enjoy everything there is to do onboard.  You probably won't be able to do everything in one sailing, but should be able to knock out the major must-dos.

Plus, the variety of islands you visit is lovely, each with great beaches, food, and fun activities.

Prices for a 7-night Icon of the Seas cruise from Miami start at $1497 per person for an interior cabin, based on double occupancy. 

Cruise prices will depend on when you want to sail, as certain months are cheaper than others.  Nonetheless, you won't find cheap bargain basement prices for an Icon of the Seas cruise.

Being a new ship means you'll pay premium pricing to go on it.

Royal Caribbean recently enhanced its steakhouse menu with a selection of premium cuts that include a 32oz super steak.

The tomahawk steak is one of six new cuts you can find at Chops Grille on Royal Caribbean's newer cruise ships.

I was sailing on Icon of the Seas, the world's biggest cruise ship, and a number of readers recommended I give the Tomahawk a try.

"Large and tender bone-in ribeye," is how it's described on the Iconic Cuts menu and comes with a cost of $39.99 on top of the restaurant cover charge, which is $70 if purchased onboard.

Could a steak really be worth paying that much, especially with the surcharge?

As big as it gets

When you walk into Chops Grille on Icon of the Seas, there's a large display of various cuts of steak ready to be cooked.

The tomahawk is prominently displayed at the top, and it's indeed a very large cut of meat. This doubles as both enticement and a challenge, because steaks of this size are going to either attract or repulse someone from ordering it.

The Chops menu has a variety of steaks included in your cover charge, including the all-time favorite filet mignon.

I don't consider myself a "steak guy", meaning my palate is not developed enough to the point that I can truly appreciate the differences in cuts of steak. 

If I'm ordering a steak, I almost always go with filet mignon.  Not only is it soft and tender with little to no fat, but it costs the most in many cases when I'm ordering steak on land.  So why not go for it?

I believe the allure of ribeye (and other big cuts of steak) is the added flavor you get with it.  

In fact, the tomahawk is cooked bone-in, which means it costs more and should come with more flavor.

For those keeping score at home, I ordered the tomahawk steak and had it prepared to "medium" temperature.  The waiter said this was the chef's recommendation, so I went with it.

Royal Caribbean executive loves this steak too

When I was on Icon of the Seas for the launch of the ship, a few different executives talked up the Iconic Cuts options as being must-try.

Sean Treacy is Royal Caribbean International's Senior Vice President, Hotel Operations, and he specifically told me his favorite dish on Icon of the Seas is the tomahawk steak.

In fact,  Chef Travis Kamiyama (creator of Izumi restaurants) also chose an Iconic Cut, opting for the Waygu Beef as a favorite of his.

Cooked and served ready to eat

After ordering the food, our waiter informed me it would take about 20-30 minutes extra to cook the tomahawk steak.  Not a problem, but a steak that large needs extra cooking time.

As I waited for it to be served, I was worried about how much effort would be needed to cut it up and remove the fat. It's part of why I almost always order filet mignon usually.

Luckily, that's not a problem because the chef carves it up for you prior to being served.

Our waiter brought over my steak along with the filet mignon that my wife ordered.  The size comparison is difficult to ignore.

The steak was cut up into strips, making quite easy to quickly start eating.

There's a good cross-section of the steak to try, from ends, to the middle, and you could find "juicier" areas.

One thing I noticed off the bat was the seasoning that came on top of it, adding a bit of flavor.

I skipped the steak sauce, as I'm of the opinion a steak should stand out on its own flavor rather than a sauce. But I might be alone on that island.

I sampled different parts of it, because I knew there was no way I was going to finish the whole thing.  

Eating this steak reminded me of the Toby Keith song, "As Good as I Once Was" because if I was 20 years younger, I'd have devoured this steak without any issue. Today, I'm in it for the enjoyment of the flavors.

A very good upcharge

In sampling the steak, I definitely preferred the sides of the steak because it added more flavor to it.

In fact, I ate more of the steak than I thought I would. However, it's still a huge serving, and that doesn't take into account the wonderful side dishes Chops is known for, along with the appetizers that come out earlier.

I'm not sure I changed my mind on the tomahawk being this amazing, must-order every time choice.  It tasted very good, but it was a lot of food and more importantly, I don't know how much I appreciated this cut over the filet.

If you're a connoisseur of steaks, eat at a lot of steakhouses on land, I think this is the cut for you.

With apologies to the "steak bros" out there, but I'll probably stick with the filet mignon that comes on the regular Chops menu.  It serves my needs quite nicely, and I can save some money too.

Adrian Ortega drives a taxi in Cozumel, Mexico and he's seen tourists do just about everything you could imagine, including plenty of mistakes.

Royal Caribbean cruises regularly visit Cozumel, Mexico on so many of their sailings, and with the cruise line poised to open a beach club there soon, even more tourists will be going there.

Cozumel is one of the more well-established Caribbean cruise ports you can visit. It has so many things you could do, and Mr. Ortega shared with me the things tourists should and should not do while they visit.

While having so many choices of what you can do is a good problem to have, it's easy to choose the wrong kind of experience leading to disappointment.

Here's what he recommends anyone visiting Cozumel on a cruise ship should do for a great visit.

Don't rent a scooter

When I asked Adrian what mistakes he sees tourists making, he didn't hesitate to immediately call out renting a scooter as a major potential problem.

As a taxi driver, he drives all around the island of Cozumel, and those scooter rentals have lead to a lot of tragedies.

The issue is a lot of people don't know how to drive them properly, and it leads to many accidents.

He's seen lots of scooters going down the wrong direction on a street, which is not only illegal, but causes accidents.

These accidents cause not only damage to the scooter, but injuries to the tourists involved.  Road rash and more severe injuries are common with these vehicles.

Skip the first tour opportunity you see

Another mistake he sees tourists making are overpaying for tours around the island.

"If they want a tour, maybe don't take the first one, because normally the first one inside the cruise ship, is the highest price," he explained.

There are shore excursions offered by Royal Caribbean that take guests around the island and that will cost a premium to go through the cruise line.

He estimates if a tour offered on the ship or in the port area costs $200 for 3 or 4 hours, that same tour could be had by an independent guide for around $100-130.

How to find reputable tour guides in Cozumel

Adrian's advice of going with a local guide is a good suggestion, but I'm sure many reading this would want to know how to find a good tour guide.

When you walk around Cozumel, there are many drivers offering tours of Cozumel.  It can be daunting to know who to pick.

Adrian's recommendation is to look for a few important details in any driver:

• Make sure the taxi has a taxi license plate or a printed license inside the cab to be a taxi guide
• Make sure the guide can speak English well

"It's going to be uh sure a boring tour because nobody can speak each other," he explained why it's important to work with someone that speaks English well.

If you'd like to contact Adrian, his phone number is +52 987 564 5430. We make no promises or guarantee about Adrian or his work, but you can contact him at your own risk.

His favorite beaches in Cozumel

Which beaches would Adrian recommend to someone spending the day in Cozumel?

He really likes the beaches on the western side of the island because of how sandy their beaches are. They don't have pools or other facilities, but he likes to go for the serenity it has.

"In my opinion, I prefer go there because it's more private for you. You only pay what you eat, what you drink, and you can stay at the beach the whole day."

However, if you want more facilities with your beach day, he prefers Paradise Beach, "Paradise Beach I think is the best beach club in the island."

He also really likes Playa Palancar Beach Club, or Chankanaab.

Where not to go in Cozumel

I asked which places he hears from tourists they didn't like, and he stressed it's important to go to a beach that has the amenities you care about.

He used Skyreef Beach Club as an example because it's great if you want to snorkel, but a bad choice for a sandy beach day because of how rocky it is.

Don't eat at the restaurants near the port

Cozumel has a lot of restaurants, but the ones near the port are usually overpriced.

He says the restaurants downtown are going to be less expensive.  The more you're willing to venture into town, the better the prices.

One issue with eating off the beaten path is going to be the language barrier. He said there's probably less English being spoken there, but as long as you have the basic phrases, you should be fine.

Eat at the better restaurants in town

I asked Adrian for his favorite restaurants in Cozumel.

Adrian's top choices are:

• La Monina
• Casa Mission
• La Mission
• La Choza

Piggybacking on his earlier advice of getting a guide for the day, drivers should know which restaurants are the best and help you with navigating any language barriers that exist there.

"In my opinion, take a tour guide for the whole day. It's going to be a little more expensive, but they know the recommendations of which places are the best go to go and everything."

Try the seafood

Mexican cuisine can be quite varied, so I asked Adrian what food is the best when in Cozumel.

"Seafood," he replied quickly.

Cozumel has a large fishing operation, and the best restaurants source fresh fish in their restaurants.

He's a fan of the fresh caught octopus or sea snails as two foods worth trying while in Cozumel.

Using your cell phone on a cruise ship is a big mistake because of costly roaming fees, but there's a new trend looking to reverse it.

Two of the largest wireless carriers in the United States have announced new plans that cover cruise ships and provide coverage in a similar way to being on land.

Day passes have become very popular for consumers, as they offer an instant option to call, text, or use data in a foreign country without crazy high roaming fees later.

Traditionally cruise ships have not been covered under such plans, and consumers who have used their phone on a cruise have come home to bills in the thousands of dollars.

This year we've seen two new approaches to how you can use your phone at sea without incurring those kind of issues.

It's an interesting new offer that could change how you stay connected on a cruise vacation.

International Day Pass from AT&T

AT&T rolled out a brand new option to cover cruise ships on March 16, with its International Day Pass that covers up to 400 ships, in addition to the 210+ land destinations and select airlines it already covers.

If you try to use your phone at sea, it will cost you $20 per device for 24 hours.

If you happen to be using it on land and on your ship on the same day, then it's $20 per device for 24 hours.

There is no additional line discount, all lines are charged $20/day.

This allows you to use your phone like you would at home.

You can sign up before you leave for this day pass, or if you try to use your phone on the ship, you'll automatically get it added once you try to use your phone at sea.

Cruise Daily Pass from Verizon

Verizon has a $20 per day offer as well, known as Cruise Daily Pass.

It offers unlimited data, talk and text.  The data component is 0.5GB of high speed data, and then unlimited data at 3G speeds for the remainder of the session.

If you disembark the ship during a Cruise Daily Pass session, you’ll pay applicable rates for the country you’re visiting.

Text “CRUISE” to 4004 before or at the start of your cruise to add a daily pass to your line. 

Making it easier to stay connected

Whether someone accidentally leaves their phone on during their cruise or purposefully wants to be able to use their phone on a cruise like they would at home, there are a lot of people on any cruise that would want phone coverage on a cruise ship.

Phone and texting at sea has largely been available for years, albeit at a higher cost.

WiFi calling has made it much cheaper and easier to use, but getting WiFi calling set up is cumbersome for those unfamiliar with the deep settings on their phone.

If you want to briefly use your phone for a few emails, calls or texts, buying a ship WiFi package is overkill and costly.

The flexible alternative: Royal Caribbean's Voom

In lieu of a wireless carrier's plan, you could get an internet package on your Royal Caribbean ship and use that on your phone.

Thanks to WiFi calling features, you will still be able to call or text during your cruise. In my experience, some automated text messages sometimes don't come through when using WiFi calling, but it generally works just fine.

The real advantage of Royal Caribbean's internet packages are the data speeds.

Because Royal Caribbean uses Starlink internet, the data speeds can be just as fast as being at home. It's unlimited data during your cruise, and you can use the internet interchangeably between devices and share access, which is something a wireless day pass won't offer.

I cannot comment on the speeds offered by either AT&T or Verizon, but Voom speeds are quite fast because of the Starlink technology.

The top two reasons people book a Royal Caribbean cruise are the food and destinations, and I can see why the food is such a draw.

I've been cruising on Royal Caribbean for two decades and I've been on almost 100 sailings so far, which means I've sampled quite a lot of food along the way.

If you think cruise food is limited to buffet trays of mediocre food, you'd be so wrong. Royal Caribbean has been upping its food game for years, even focusing massive effort to upgrade its complimentary pizza.

I've always thought Royal Caribbean's food ranges between "good" and "very good", with a few dishes truly standing out as excellent. I wanted to highlight those terrific dishes so you don't miss out on them.

I came up with 7 foods I've eaten on Royal Caribbean I think everyone should order, including one from its private island in The Bahamas.

Gyros at AquaDome Market

I came up with this list as I cruised on Icon of the Seas and went back to the AquaDome for my upteenth Mediterranean sandwich.

The AquaDome Market is a new food hall concept, and it's been a home run since the new ship launched last year.

I bet a lot of people would point to the crepes as a must-order, but I love the falafel even more.

Available at the Feta stand, it's complimentary and you can customize it anyway you like it.

It's probably easier to eat as a bowl than a sandwich because Royal Caribbean's pita bread is more like a base than a pocket. But I still order the sandwich because I like the texture of the bread brings.

It's light, made fresh on the spot, and doesn't make me feel guilty about eating it.

Beef tenderloin at 150 Central Park

Ever since I tried 150 Central Park many years ago, I've been drawn to its beef tenderloin entree.

150 Central Park is a modern American restaurant that's available only on the Oasis Class ships in the fleet. You'll find a lobster dish, steak, chicken, fish, and more. It has a cover charge to dine here.

I think it's a very strong menu overall, but the must-try option here is the beef tenderloin for two people.

You can order it for yourself, or even cut down the portion for a single person. There's no judgement when you order it from the waiter.

I prefer the steak at 150 Central Park over other restaurants that have a filet mignon, such as Chops Grille or Giovanni's.  I think its flavor stands out just a bit more.

French onion soup from Main Dining Room

I'm going on a limb to say the French onion soup served multiple times a cruise in any Royal Caribbean Main Dining Room is the best version of the soup I've ever had.

There's something about Royal Caribbean's version and their ratio of bread, to cheese, to onions.  Plus, I think their broth is the right amount of salt and flavor to it.

You can also get the same soup at Coastal Kitchen, and I've been known to go up to Coastal Kitchen to get a to-go soup before they close up for the night.

It's the very definition of a comfort food and it always satisfies. I could eat just the broth everyday, it's that good.

Seven cheese pizza from Giovanni's

I can't name seven cheeses, but Royal Caribbean put them in its pizza at its signature Italian specialty restaurant and it's so good.

I shouldn't be surprised how good it is, given the pizza is the creation of the amazing pizza chef Renato Viola. I was hooked the first time I tried it on Odyssey of the Seas, and it's been a must-order ever since.

All Royal Caribbean ships have pizza at Sorrento's or Park Cafe, but the quality of the pizza at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen is about five levels ahead of that.

It has a thin crust, light sauce, and the perfect amount of cheese. The slices are so thin, it's easy to eat half the pizza by yourself.

When Royal Caribbean was working on crafting the menu for this restaurant, they spent weeks agonizing over the menu.  As an example, they tried to pick out the perfect San Marzano sauce.  The sauce has no added sugar, and relies on a simple recipe of San Marzano tomatoes, water and herbs.

There are a few other pizzas on the menu as well, and each has its place. I've tried almost all of them at this point, but the seven cheese pizza stands out as my favorite.

Miso broiled cod from Izumi Omakase

Available exclusively on Utopia of the Seas, there's a chef driven Japanese meal you can try and it goes well beyond sushi.

The miso broiled cod was my favorite of the eight courses we were served, and that surprised me given how much I love sushi.

In the roku course is when you get a petite serving of this fish, and it blew me away with how flavorful it was.

This was an extremely tender piece of fish that had a miso glaze on it, and it was my favorite flavor of the evening.

It was the kind of food that I wanted the recipe for so I could make it at home because I didn't want to go months before having it again.

While I also really liked the wagyu beef and the sakura carpaccio, none were as impressive as the cod.

Fried cheesecake from 150 Central Park

I'm going back to 150 Central Park for dessert, because they might have the best dessert on any Royal Caribbean restaurant.

The fried cheesecake is exactly what it sounds like, a piece of cheesecake fried and served to you. You'll get two of these fried balls served to you, but you won't want to share it.

Each one is a rich, creamy cheesecake covered with a crunchy, powdered sugar-coated shell and doused with fresh whipped cream and caramel sauce.

There's an argument that anything fried is going to taste pretty good, I think these are next level tasty.

Mozzarella sticks from the Snack Shack

If your ship makes a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay, you need to make a trip to the Snack Shack to try the mozzarella sticks.

Similar to other items on the list, the recipe for this specific version of the food truly stands out.  Royal Caribbean serves mozzarella sticks on its ships, but they don't compare to the CocoCay one at all.

I think it's the breading that makes them so very good. And then when you dip them in the marinara sauce, it always delivers on being the ultimate comfort food.

There's no shortage of beach shore excursions on a Caribbean cruise, but an opportunity to spend it a beachside villa sounded remarkably fun.

While sailing on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, our ship spent the day in Roatan, Honduras. 

Through the cruise line, there are a variety of tours that will take you to Turquoise Bay Dive & Beach Resort.  It is rated 4.6 stars on Google, and is situated along a white sand stretch of sand.  Looked to me like a great option for a beach day.

Truly the thing that sold me on this tour was the fact we'd get our own villa. I've done beach cabanas, but never a true villa and it sounded like a fun way to spend the day.  I value having space, shade, and good service to go with it.

The cost was $1,258.99 and it includes up to six people.  The cost is fixed, so it doesn't matter how many people you have with you. That cost also includes food, drink, and transportation.

My concern about this tour was like any cruise line beach excursion that we'd go to an oversold and super busy beach that didn't deliver on the relaxing vibe advertised.

Royal Caribbean provided roundtrip transportation, taking us to the beach. It's about a 40 minute ride, but the large van we were in was very well air conditioned.

Upon arrival, we were escorted to our villa at the far end of the beach.

Turquoise Bay has many of these villas, which are set back from the ocean and face the water.  It provides the right mix of views and privacy.

There are also over the water bungalows, beach beds, and a few other upgraded options you could book.  Ultimately I chose the villa because it seemed like there was the most space.

Each villa has sliding doors (both screen and glass) that lead into the main room. 

There's two couches, a television, mini-fridge, and even your own private bathroom. There's no air conditioning, but it does have a ceiling fan.

Outside the villa is a dining table and chairs.  There's also a few beach loungers in front of the villa.

There's a dedicated server that will get you food and drink delivered to your villa.

I thought the drink menu was varied enough to suit most needs. It covers the basics you need for day drinking at the beach, along with plenty of non-alcoholic beverages too.

The lunch menu is small, but it has lobster, steak, and shrimp.  

I wish it had a bit more variety of food, especially more non-shellfish choices.  But we found enough to be able to eat, and my kids are pretty darn picky.

Our server was attentive and brought us a fruit platter upon arrival, and kept checking on us.  She even had churros for dessert brought as a surprise.

The great thing about this room was how much space there was, along with privacy.  You could really seclude yourself from the rest of the beach crowd.

The walk to the ocean was a mere few steps, making it easy to get back and forth.

As for the beach itself, it was a beautiful set up and any concerns I had of it being crowded was quickly forgotten.

The beach is quite large, and they spread people around quite nicely.  We had just a few people in the ocean near us, so there was no issue with overcrowding.

I was equally satisfied with the level of service. I never felt like I "lost" my server, and they checked in quite regularly.

Of course, this was not a cheap shore excursion.  Paying $1200 for a villa rental is not inexpensive, but I really felt like it was worth the cost given the quality of the space, and service provided.

The reason to book this villa is if you have a group and want premium seating with lots of privacy and service to go with it.

Without a doubt you can have a great time at Turquoise Bay with just beach chairs and beer in hand, but everyone has different tastes.

Given the villa has sliding glass doors and is totally enclosed, I wish they'd add air conditioning to the units. I think that would really elevate the experience and justify the cost even more.

Anyone looking for a beautiful beach to enjoy in Roatan will enjoy Turquoise Bay, and if you want a VIP type day, the premium villa is a great choice.

Royal Caribbean is making so much good progress on its next new cruise ship, that it's once again bumping up the first sailing.

Star of the Seas will debut in August 2025, but will now have her first sailing August 20.

"We have an updated timeline for the arrival of Star of the Seas at Port Canaveral," Royal Caribbean said in an email to guests booked on the first sailings. "Building such a large and incredible ship is no easy feat, but lucky for us, there are times when we get to embark on our new ship ahead of schedule, and that time is now!"

The plan was for Star of the Seas to debut with a pair of 4-night "showcase cruises" before the official maiden 7-night cruise on August 31, 2025.

Those 4-night cruises will still take place, along with an extra showcase 3-Night Perfect Day Cruise on August 20, 2025.

According to Royal Caribbean, the three showcase sailings will take place before the August 31 sailing.

It's been an interesting game of changing first sailings for Star, which pushed back its inaugural voyage in February 2024, but has since moved up the first sailing two times now.

The initial Star of the Seas inaugural was scheduled for August 17th, 2025, and with this new sailing being added, the ship is even closer to getting back to that original timeline.

Anyone that was booked on the showcase sailings received an email on Tuesday to inform them of the new sailing, and to get first dibs on booking rooms on the new cruises.

Choice to change

If you're booked on either of the 4-night showcase sailings, Royal Caribbean is giving you the choice of staying on them, moving to the new 3-night sailing, or going on all of them.,

As you may have booked your Star of the Seas sailing to be first onboard and may have moved to one of our other two showcase sailing options or both, you’ll now have the opportunity to book the new showcase sailing OR to move your existing booking(s) to the first 3-Night Perfect Day Cruise as of today!

You could also do nothing and remain on either August 23rd or August 27th sailing.

If you want to move up your sailing, Royal Caribbean will make it as easy as possible.

Suite guests will have their same suites held for them as a courtesy, first come, first served. Guests in the Interior, Oceanview, and Balcony staterooms will have like-for-like staterooms available to choose from.

Royal Caribbean will transfer your current booking to the new sail date you choose, in the exact same suite or like-for-like stateroom currently booked – at the current prevailing rate.

The cruise fare rate will be adjusted to the current prevailing rate, and if there’s an overpayment on the booking, you’ll be refunded for the difference.

You can expect to receive any refunds, current taxes, fees, and any pre-paid gratuities, tours, and amenities to your original form of payment within 14 business days, though some banking institutions may take longer.

You have until next week to decide

If you want to move reservations, you need to act quickly.

Royal Caribbean is giving everyone about a week and a half to contact the line to make the change. Change requests must be made no later than March 25, 2025.

If you do not make a change by March 25, 2025, anyone booked on the showcase sailings will remain booked on that sailing, and you can still choose to add the new 3-night Star of Seas showcase sailings based on availability.

A brand new Icon Class ship coming this summer

The second in the Icon Class, Star of the Seas is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland and has high expectations to follow-up on the success of Icon of the Seas.

Star will share similar dimensions with Icon of the Seas, coming in at approximately 250,800 gross tons. It is expected to accommodate around 5,610 passengers at double occupancy and up to 7,600 at maximum capacity. When factoring in crew members, the total number of people onboard could reach an impressive 10,000.

Once the showcase sailings are complete. the new ship will offer 7-night Caribbean cruises from its homeport in Port Canaveral. Its strategic placement directly competes with the mega theme park market in nearby Orlando, positioning itself as a top-tier vacation alternative.

Designed as a floating family resort, the ship aims to rival—if not surpass—the experience of a theme park vacation. "Icon will be the best family vacation in the world," said Jay Schneider, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer.

The ship will feature an entire area dedicated to families, a massive water park, thrilling attractions, multiple live shows, and more pools than any previous ship. With an abundance of entertainment and experiences, it's shaping up to redefine family cruising.

Royal Caribbean added many new things it's never had on its cruise ships, including a dueling piano bar.

I'm someone that is very loyal to its English pub because I prefer bar songs that are typical of the '80s and '90s, but it's not exactly a place I can enjoy with my kids.

Children are allowed in any Royal Caribbean bar, but my kids simply don't care for this sort of music.  Plus, depending on the guitarist, it can be very un-interactive.

With Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean added a brand new concept that they never had on a ship before with Dueling Pianos.

It's located on the Royal Promenade, and I wanted to give it a few tries to see what it's all about.

How dueling pianos work

The idea is pretty easy to figure out. There are two pianists performing, and each plays off each other.

Unlike the Schooner Bar or pub where you yell out requests, guests fill out small slips of paper with their song request.

The song request has your name, song you're requesting, and any special occasion.

It's a way to let them know any significance of a song or why you're requesting it. It feeds into the schtick of the show.

It's a very interactive show, the each pianist taking turns playing to the bar.  Each side of the bar is divided up into one section for each player, and it's a bit of competition.

Another major difference from other cruise bars is the fact guests get called up a lot.

Someone might be needed to explain a dance, start a conga line, or perform a function like yelling out unofficial lyrics to a song.

Introverts might not love hearing this, but if you sit far enough back, the chances being picked on are quite slim.

Tipping gets your song heard first

Depending on your perspective, the role tips play is either a great idea or not.

The pianists give preference to anyone that tips with their song request. The more you tip, the better chance your song gets played.

Most tips are about $5-10 per request.  If you move up to $20 or more, you're going to get their attention real fast.

A $50 or $100 tip is essentially like a turbo option, where you could literally stop them mid-song with a request. 

The benefit of this system is if you have money to throw around, you can quickly get your songs played. But of course, the "pay to play" system puts other requests towards the back of the queue.

To be fair, the pianists do a great job of balancing paid and free requests. They're not only talented players, but they can read the room quite well.

I love how interactive the shows become

One thing that drew me back to Dueling Pianos was how fun the pianists made the whole show.

On our cruise, we had Sarah Angel and Roel, and they had a great relationship trying to one up each other.

Being a family cruise line, they also welcomed the kids into it all too.

Unofficially, they keep it PG-13 until 11pm.  The jokes are tamer and the music more varied.

After 11, they turn it more adult-focused with "dirty" drink cheersing and songs that might involve profanity.

Like any bar, it's going to be more adult focused than not, but I do appreciate it's inviting to all passengers.

It's really hard to get a seat most shows

If there's proof how popular Dueling Pianos is, it's in the fact seats go very, very quickly.

If you don't show up to the bar at least 30 minutes before the performance begins, you probably aren't getting a seat.

On this cruise, I knew to show up early, but this isn't the bar to walk by and stop in for a couple songs.  

Unlike the pub or Schooner Bar, not only does it make sense to plan around the show times, but it helps to be there at the start of the performance so you get in on the schtick and jokes.

Each show is unique, and the pianists play off the audience's energy.

I've added Dueling Pianos to my must-do list

If I'm sailing on Icon of the Seas (or the upcoming Star of the Seas), there's a good chance I'll be at Dueling Pianos in the evening.

While I still prefer the pub as my go-to spot, Dueling Pianos is a fun experience for groups. I'd love to go here with friends and grab a table for us all to enjoy the show.

There's a good mix of energy, talent, and showmanship that goes into this concept, and I'm glad Royal Caribbean has added it to the mix.

It's going to be easier to skip the crowds with a new shore excursion option from Royal Caribbean.

Royal Caribbean is now offering skip-the-line shore excursions with its Royal Signature Excursion options.

In addition to traditional shore excursions, there are a handful of shore excursions in the Caribbean, Alaska and Europe that come with additional amenities.

These tours could include small group sizes, premium transportation, or elevated food options.

The idea is to not only offer great tours, but add a premium level to them for those that value paying more to enjoy a first class experience.

"From dipping their toes into cliffside hot springs in Santorini to sipping crisp champagne as their catamaran glides through crystal clear Caribbean waters — this is where unforgettable begins," is how Royal Caribbean describes the new offering.

Sights and benefits

In any cruise port a ship visits, there's always a bit of shopping guests do between cruise line excursions and things they can do on their own.

Royal Signature Excursions are a new batch of premium choices that cover three key areas: cultural sights, authentic experiences, and all-star benefits.

These tours seek to immerse you in local culture and are work with third-party operators who know the places, the people, the language and the culture.

The way they intend to make it stand out even more is to offer elite touches such as premium transportation, skip-the-line privileges, insightful local guides, intimate small group sizes, gracious service and more.

You can book these elevated tours now

Here's a list of all the Royal Signature Excursions to try:

Caribbean

• PHILIPSBURG, ST. MAARTEN
  • Orient Beach, Prosecco & Gourmet Lunch
  • Small Group Brewery & Distillery Tasting Tour with Bites
  • St. Maarten Small Group Island Exploration with Lunch
  • Small Group Open Bar Carnival Immersion & Plane Spotting
  • Small Group Johnny Cake Baking Experience & Guavaberry Sips
  • Anguilla and Meads Bay Beach Day: Bubbly & Lunch
  • Catamaran Sail with Champagne Plus Beach Break & Lunch
  • Small Group America’s Cup Sailing Regatta
  • Small Group Foodie Tour: Flavors of St. Maarten
• BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS & NEVIS
  • Taste of St. Kitts: Wine Sampling, Local Treats & Beach
  • St. Kitts: Power Catamaran, Snorkeling & Unlimited Drinks
  • Ultimate Twin Island Catamaran Sail & Sip with Lunch (Nevis & St. Kitts)
• CHARLOTTE AMALIE, ST. THOMAS
  • St. John Beach Escape: Trunk Bay with Snorkeling
  • Ultimate St. John: Kayak & Snorkel
  • St. John by Sea: Catamaran, Champagne & Snorkel
  • Cas Cay Small Group Adventure: Kayak, Hike & Snorkel
  • Flavors of St. Thomas: Small Group Tasting Tour

Alaska

• JUNEAU, ALASKA
  • Small Group Taku Glacier Lodge by Seaplane & 5 Glaciers with Lunch
  • Small Group Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Ride & Dog Sledding
  • Small Group Helicopter Tour to Juneau Icefield
  • Small Group Kayaking Tour & Alaska Wildlife Whale Watching
  • Small Group Tour of Norris Glacier by Floatplane, Paddle & Hike
  • Small Group Whale Watching on Luxury Yacht
  • Taste of Alaska: Orca Point Lodge, Wildlife Quest & Meal
• ICY STRAIT POINT, ALASKA
  • Epic Whale Watching & Seafood Sampling
  • Ultimate Adventure: Small Group Whale Watching & ZipRider
• SITKA, ALASKA
  • Wildlife & Otter Spotting with Alaskan Canapés
  • Wildlife Expedition Cruise, Homestead Adventure & Treats

Europe

• FLORENCE/PISA (LA SPEZIA), ITALY
  • Truffle Hunting and Tuscan Farmhouse Lunch
  • Architectural Wonder: Pisa Guided Tour & Leaning Tower Climb
  • 3 Town Tour: Paradise Gulf by Land & Sea with Lunch
  • History of Florence: Accademia Gallery, Piazza del Duomo & Lunch
  • Explore Cinque Terre: Three Villages & Italian Lunch
  • Cinque Terre Vineyard: Wine Tasting & Scenic Coastline Drive
  • Small Group Adventure: Cinque Terre Villages & Motorboat Tour with Lunch
  • Gulf of La Spezia by Land & Sea: Portovenere and Lerici Small Group
• NAPLES, ITALY
  • Small Group Pasta Making: Sorrento & Gragnano with Lunch
  • Small Group Day Trip to Pompeii, Positano & Sorrento with Lunch
• ROME (CIVITAVECCHIA), ITALY
  • Rome by Tuk Tuk: Small Group Sightseeing Tour
• MYKONOS, GREECE
  • Farmhouse Wine Tasting & Mykonos Walking Tour
  • Day in Delos: Small Group Tour & Mosaic Workshop with Lunch
  • Small Group Mosaic-Making: Expert Handcrafting Workshop
  • Small Group: Luxe Catamaran Day Trip, Greek Lunch & Aegean Swim
• SANTORINI, GREECE
  • Santorini Catamaran & Swim: Small Group Tour & Lunch
  • Santorini Catamaran & Swim: Red Beach and Hot Springs with Lunch
  • Santorini Small Group Kayaking & Seaside Picnic
  • Thirassia Winery Tasting & Blue-Domed Santorini
  • Unforgettable Wine Tour: Stunning Santorini Views, Tasting & Fira
  • Chill & Savor: Perivolos Beach & Gourmet Lunch

How much do these tours cost?

If all of this sounds wonderful, you can expect premium pricing to go with it.

An upcoming sailing on Oasis of the Seas that visits St. Maarten in October had these prices.  This is to give you an example of ballpark prices:

• Small Group Foodie Tour: Flavors of St. Maarten: $148 (originally $199) per guest
• Small Group America's Cup Sailing Regatta: $103.99 (originally $139) per guest
• Catamaran Sail With Champagne plus Beach Break & Lunch: $125.99 (originally $169) per guest
• Anguilla and Meads Bay Beach Day: Bubbly & Lunch: $433.99 (originally $579) per guest
• St. Maarten Small Group Island Exploration with Lunch: $193.99 (originally $259) per guest
• Small Group Brewery & Distillery Tasting Tour with Bites: $148.99 (originally $199) per guest
• Small Group Open Bar Carnival Immersion & Plane Spotting: $73.99 (originally $99) per guest
• Small Group Johnny Cake Baking Experience & Guavaberry Sips: $95.99 (originally $129) per guest

The discounted prices is a reflection of a pre-cruise sale available at the time of this article's publishing.  It's likely the original price is the onboard price you could expect.

The tours do not list exactly how many people constitute a small group.

How to book a Royal Signature Excursion

You can book any of these tours from the Royal Caribbean Cruise Planner website or the Royal Caribbean app.

There's no difference in booking these tours compared to any other one, with the added filter you can use to find them.

This was a busy week with Royal Caribbean news, and we have a summary of all of the news from this week to make certain you did not miss any of it.

After nearly failing a health inspection, Royal Caribbean made a lot of changes on one of its ships.

Symphony of the Seas scored one point above "unsatisfactory" in a recent CDC inspection, which has raised a few eyebrows.

As a result, sweeping changes were made to address the problems.

Royal Caribbean News

• Alaska Senator pushing to suspend law requiring cruise ships visit Canada
• Royal Caribbean is bringing back a luggage perk its customers loved
• 7 changes to make how you cruise once you hit Diamond status
• 8 tips I swear by to make crowded sea days better
• 5 things you're missing from Royal Caribbean's suite lounge
• How different cabins on Utopia of the Seas compare
• The rules for adding people to your Royal Caribbean cruise
• Try these 9 tricks for better sleep on a cruise ship

New RCB Video: 3 Cruise Excursions to NEVER Book & 3 to BOOK!

Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise! This week, we are sharing our latest video — 3 Cruise Excursions to NEVER Book & 3 to BOOK! — and don’t forget to subscribe to our channel.

I tried the adults-only beach at CocoCay, but it wasn't worth the cost

Allie bought passes to Hideaway Beach, paying $86.50 each her and her husband to try it out.

While the area was uncrowded, she thought the price was too high for what she was charged.

If timed during a good sale, it could be a great value.  But she thinks it cost her too much.

New ban in Caribbean port is surprising a lot of cruise passengers

Roatan made a new rule the prohibits a popular shore excursion activity.

New regulations have been added to cut down on the “over manipulation of wildlife," including, "carrying and holding animals for exhibition and taking photographs."

This has an impact on shore excursions where guests can interact with monkeys, sloths, and other animals.

The entree worth ordering, according to Reddit

There's all sorts of great food on any Royal Caribbean ship, but the internet thinks one particular dish is the best choice.

Indian food is available at both the Main Dining Room and Windjammer buffet everyday, and it's the top recommendation among various Reddit threads about which foods are best to order.

"The Indian food on the ship was their best food they had!"

Royal Caribbean tries to fix port problem with free bus offer

Traffic has become a real problem in Miami at its cruise terminals, so Royal Caribbean is trying to fix it.

Passengers on upcoming cruises are getting offers from the cruise line for a free bus ride to the airport, even if they already paid for one.

Heavier traffic around the cruise terminal is prompting Royal Caribbean to offer this in an effort to reduce congestion.