A cruise with the “Icon of the Seas” is something very special and has been on our bucket list for some time, as it is currently the largest cruise ship in the world. Even before the journey begins, it is clear that you are not simply boarding a ship, but a floating world of experience. We spent a week traveling on the “7 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day” route and share our personal impressions, photos, experiences and lots of background information in this detailed travel report on the Icon of the Seas – from check-in, our cabin and the restaurants to shows, pools and activities.
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Icon of the Seas – currently the largest cruise ship in the world
The Icon of the Seas is currently (2025) the largest cruise ship in the world and sets new standards in almost every respect. With a length of around 365 meters and a gross tonnage of around 250,800 GT, she surpasses even the previous giants of the Oasis class. Up to 7,600 passengers can travel here at the same time, looked after by more than 2,300 crew members – that’s a medium-sized town and numbers that you have to imagine first 🙂
The ship was built at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland. The construction phase lasted several years, from keel laying to commissioning at the beginning of 2024. The estimated construction costs are around two billion US dollars, making the Icon of the Seas one of the most expensive passenger ships of all time.
What makes the Icon of the Seas special is not just its size, but the concept behind it. Royal Caribbean has divided the ship into various so-called Neighborhoods such as Central Park or Surfside – themed areas that each have their own atmosphere. This makes the ship feel surprisingly well laid out despite its dimensions. The Icon of the Seas is also equipped with modern technology: it is designed to run on liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is significantly lower in emissions than conventional fuels. The Icon really is a ship of superlatives!
Our route: 7 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day
We opted for the “7 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day” itinerary – a perfect mix of sea days, Caribbean destinations and an exclusive island experience in the Bahamas. The port of departure and destination was Miami, with several varied stops in between:
Day 1: Miami
Day 2: Sea day
Day 3: Costa Maya (Mexico) – starting point for Mayan ruins, nature or beach excursions
Day 4: Roatán (Honduras) – Caribbean island, popular for beaches, snorkeling and diving
Day 5: Cozumel (Mexico) – Famous diving and snorkeling spots, beautiful beaches and Mayan ruins
Day 6: Sea day
Day 7: Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas) – Royal Caribbean’s private island resort with a large water park, beach, pool and much more.
Day 8: Miami
What we really liked about the route was the alternation between port and sea days. On the days at sea, there is plenty of time to explore the ship at your leisure – which is definitely necessary on the Icon of the Seas.
The route “7 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day” with the Icon of the Seas
Port of Miami – embarkation and disembarkation
The Port of Miami is one of the most modern cruise ports in the world and is ideally prepared for mega-ships such as the Icon of the Seas. Royal Caribbean uses its own state-of-the-art terminal here, which is specially designed for large numbers of passengers. When we arrived at the port, a total of 9 other cruise ships from MSC, Norwegian, Carnival and Virgin Voyages were moored at the pier. We have never seen anything like it in this concentration.
Thanks to the advance online check-in, embarkation was surprisingly relaxed. After arriving at the terminal, we were able to drop off our suitcases straight away. The subsequent document check, security check and boarding were extremely well organized and clearly structured. Within a short time we were already on board – and the first impression on entering the Royal Promenade was simply overwhelming.
At the online check-in we were assigned a boarding time of 2 pm. But we were already at the cruise terminal at around 10 a.m. and that was no problem at all. Nobody checked the times. When we got on the ship at around 11 a.m., we first had lunch. And what we really liked: the announcement that all the cabins were ready for occupancy came at 1 pm🙂
Disembarkation at the end of the trip also went smoothly. We opted for an individual departure and left our suitcases in front of the cabin until 10 p.m. the evening before. We then had to leave the ship by 8 a.m. and were able to collect our suitcases in a large hall in the Cruise Terminal. Thanks to fixed time slots and clear processes, there were no waiting times.
We ordered an Uber XXL when we left the ship and got to Miami airport super quickly (price: USD 60.30). It took us less than 60 minutes to get from the ship to the airport.
Icon of the Seas
Deck plan – orientation on a floating city
With over 20 publicly accessible decks, the deck plan of the Icon of the Seas appears complex at first glance. In practice, the Neighborhood concept helped us enormously with orientation. Instead of one long, continuous ship, there are several experience areas, each with its own center.
After just two days, we knew where our favorite spots were. The Royal Caribbean app proved to be very helpful in finding restaurants, shows and routes quickly. Our kids really loved the elevators. There are 12 each at the front and rear of the ship. You select your destination days on a display and are then assigned an elevator by letter. Thanks to the intelligent control of the elevators, there were never any long waiting times and our kids always had a lot of fun pressing the desired floors on the displays.
Deck plan of the Icon of the Seas
Our cabin 12255 – “Infinite Balcony Central Park”
Our cabin 12255 was an Infinite Balcony cabin with a view of Central Park. This cabin is one of Royal Caribbean’s newer concepts and combines inside and balcony cabins in an innovative way. The cabin itself has around 18 square meters, plus the so-called Infinite Balcony, where the entire window front can be lowered electrically. At the touch of a button, the living area is transformed into a kind of loggia, which our kids have turned into their play corner. This extension naturally adds another 5 square meters of space to the room.
The whole furnishing of our cabin seemed to us to be of very high quality and very well thought out. There is plenty of storage space, the beds are super comfortable, the sofa can be converted into a fully-fledged additional double bed and the shower is also great with plenty of space. The view of Central Park was a real highlight for us. Instead of the open sea, the view is of a green oasis with real plants, restaurants and soft live music. This created a very pleasant atmosphere, especially in the evening.
In addition to this cabin category, there are numerous other options on the Icon of the Seas – from classic inside and outside cabins to balcony cabins, spacious suites and special family cabins. The multi-storey family suites, which are more reminiscent of a small vacation home than a ship’s cabin, are particularly spectacular.
Royal Promenade – The beating heart of the ship
The Royal Promenade is the lively center of the Icon of the Seas. It extends over several decks and is very bright and spacious thanks to its open design. There are numerous bars, cafés, stores and meeting places here. During the day, the promenade is a popular place for a coffee or a snack, while in the evening it transforms into an entertainment zone with live music, small shows and a lively atmosphere. Despite the large number of people, it rarely felt overcrowded – an advantage of the ship’s enormous surface area.
Surfside Neighborhood – family adventures included
The Surfside Neighborhood is clearly geared towards families with children. Here you will find shallow pools, water play areas, family-friendly restaurants, a carousel and climbing areas. Everything is colorful, modern and yet with a high-quality design. We were particularly impressed by how well this area is separated from the rest of the ship. Families will find their own space here, while other guests can enjoy quieter zones – a concept that works very well on the Icon of the Seas.
Central Park – An oasis of calm in the middle of the sea
Central Park is one of our absolute favorite places on board. With real plants, trees and an open sky, it creates an atmosphere that you would hardly expect on a ship.
Bars & restaurants – Culinary diversity at the highest level
In culinary terms, the Icon of the Seas leaves little to be desired. There is a large selection of included restaurants, including the Main Dining Room and various buffet and fast food restaurants, as well as numerous specialty restaurants that can be booked for an additional charge. From steakhouses and Italian cuisine to international concepts, everything is represented. There are also countless bars – from classic cocktail bars to modern lounges with sea views. The quality of the food and drinks was consistently high, both in the included and chargeable areas.
Incidentally, we went to the “Windjammer” buffet restaurant every day with our two kids, as you simply have the biggest choice there 😉
Pools – A floating water park
The Icon of the Seas is a paradise for anyone who loves water. A total of 7 different pool areas are spread across the ship, complemented by numerous whirlpools. The ship also has the largest water park at sea, Category 6, which includes several record-breaking slides. These include the first open free-fall slide at sea (Pressure Drop) as well as family and racer slides.
Entertainment, Theater & Shows
The entertainment on board is some of the best we have experienced at sea so far. Large theater productions, elaborate aqua shows, ice skating performances and live music provide variety every evening. The shows are professionally produced and are more reminiscent of Broadway or Las Vegas productions than classic cruise entertainment. Really absolutely recommendable and impressive!
Royal Theater – This classic Broadway theater seats around 1,200 people and presents elaborate musical and stage shows such as “The Wizard of Oz” in a modern production as well as music shows such as “SHOWBAND! Live. Music. Now.” with a live orchestra and spectacular effects. We were completely amazed by the fantastic laser show, for example, or when dozens of drones suddenly took off from the stage and floated through the room to the beat of the music!
AquaTheater in the AquaDome – With around 700 seats, this unique, indoor water and acrobatic theater is home to the spectacular “Aqua Action!” shows, which combine high jumpers, acrobatics, synchronized water effects and other visual highlights to create an immersive experience.
Absolute Zero – The largest ice arena at sea holds around 800 spectators and presents breathtaking ice skating shows such as “Starburst: Elemental Beauty” with top-class choreography, fast tricks and impressive lighting and projection art.
Activities & Fun
The Icon of the Seas offers a variety of activities and facilities for guests of all ages. The FlowRider® surf simulator allows you to ride the waves directly on board, while the climbing wall offers sporting challenges. For those interested in fitness, there is a modern fitness studio with equipment and courses on offer. Those seeking relaxation will find it in the spa area, which offers massages, saunas and various treatments.
Children can let off steam on the adventure course in the Surfside Neighborhood or take a few laps on the carousel. There is also a mini golf course, a running track for jogging and an ice rink for ice skaters. Overall, the ship covers a wide range of sporting, active and relaxing activities, so that there are suitable leisure options for every guest.
Shore excursions & day trips
When we went ashore, we were initially worried that there would be absolute chaos every time 8,000 guests and crew members wanted to leave the ship at the same time. But it was actually super relaxed every time. There was never a traffic jam and you could always check out or check in directly. It really is perfectly organized.
During our stops in Cota Maya, Roatan and Cozumel, we booked individual excursions. The offer directly through Royal Caribeean did not quite suit us and was of course always a little more expensive. Platforms such as GetYourGuide offer a wide range of individual offers, which we report on in detail in the following travel reports.
Is a cruise on the Icon of the Seas worthwhile?
The ship combines impressive size with sophisticated design, modern technology and an enormous variety of experiences. The shows were absolutely mega and our kids had a lot of fun everywhere. We really liked the whole ship, our cabin, the food, the staff and the itinerary. We can definitely recommend a trip on the Icon of the Seas.
This travel report is based on our own experiences on board the Icon of the Seas during a one-week cruise on the “7 Night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day” route from Miami in November 2025.
Frequently asked questions about a voyage on the Icon of the Seas
These are the most important questions we asked ourselves before booking our cruise on the “Icon of the Seas”. Perhaps our answers will help some of you with your planning 🙂
Do you have to adhere to the specified check-in time on the ship?
When we checked in online, we were able to select a time when we wanted to board the ship. This makes sense, as it prevents 8,000 guests from trying to board the ship at the same time. However, all the early times were already taken, so we could only select 2 p.m. This was actually a little too late for us, as we had to check out of our hotel at 10 a.m.
We had checked various Facebook groups beforehand and everyone assured us that the time would not be checked. And that's how it was. We were at the cruise terminal at around 10 a.m. and were able to go through document control and security checks as normal and were on the ship by 11 a.m. 🙂
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Are all cabins on the Icon of the Seas designed for families of up to 4 people?
There is a wide range of cabins to choose from, and many of them are really suitable for families of up to 4 people — but not all cabin types are designed this way as standard. Some standard cabins (e.g., simple inside or outside cabins) are often designed for 2 people, but depending on the layout, they can sometimes be used for 3 or 4 people with additional/pull-down beds.
However, most rooms are family-friendly and can accommodate 3 or 4 people, such as the Surfside Family Suite, Sunset Junior Suite, Ocean View Balcony, or the various Infinite Balcony cabins.
There are even really large cabins such as the Ultimate Family Townhouse (165 m² of living space over several levels) or the Royal Loft Suite, which can accommodate up to 6 people.
Is the sofa in the cabin large enough for adults to sleep on?
We spent a long time researching this question and found very little useful information. Based on our experience after our trip, we can say: YES, the sofa bed in our cabin on the Icon of the Seas is large enough for adults and actually quite comfortable. In terms of dimensions, the sofa bed must have been approximately 120 cm × 185 cm and was unfolded every evening by housekeeping.
Can you really go ice skating on the Icon of the Seas?
Yes – you can actually go ice skating on the Icon of the Seas! The Icon of the Seas has a real ice skating rink on board called Absolute Zero, which is considered one of the largest of its kind on a cruise ship. Use of the ice rink and skate rental is free of charge, but limited to a few times and only once per person during the cruise for a duration of 30 minutes.
Our tip: book a time slot in advance via the Royal Caribbean app. The few slots available are quickly snapped up, especially on sea days.
When purchasing a beverage package, does everyone in the cabin have to purchase the same package?
No — not everyone in the cabin has to automatically purchase a beverage package, but it depends on the type of package.
Soda or refreshments: These do not have to be booked by everyone — you can purchase them individually per guest. We chose this option.
Deluxe Beverage Package (alcoholic/all-inclusive): If one adult in the cabin purchases this package, all other adults in the same cabin must also purchase the same package.
Are there any Facebook groups for Icon of the Seas?
Yes, there are lots of different Facebook groups for Icon of the Seas where you can get lots of tips from other travelers and ask questions yourself. We can highly recommend this group, for example.
Is a cruise on the Icon of the Seas worth it?
Yes, definitely. We had been dreaming of a trip on such a modern and large ship for a long time and were absolutely not disappointed!
What didn't we like so much on board the Icon of the Seas?
There is really very little that we didn't like on board the Icon of the Seas. If anything, it's just minor details:
- Up until now, we were used to accompanying our children to the Kids Club and doing various activities with them there (crafts, painting, etc.). Although there are several Kids Clubs on the Icon of the Seas (depending on age), here you only have the option of dropping your children off and having them looked after by the staff. However, as our children don't speak English, this simply wasn't possible. That was a little disappointing. There is even an extra Kids Club for babies aged 6–36 months. But would you really leave your 6-month-old child in the hands of strangers on a ship?
- We would have liked the departure times to be a little longer in some cases. On Coco Cay in the Bahamas, “all aboard” was at 6 p.m., which was great. But on Roatan (Honduras), for example, we had to be back on the ship by 4 p.m. That doesn't really leave enough time to explore an island like that in a relaxed manner (even on a private tour).
- At the Windjammer buffet restaurant, there were several days when we had to search quite a long time to find a free table for four. You can always find something, but sometimes you have to search quite a bit.