What it's like to sail on the world's largest cruise ship, the Icon Of The Seas

The cruise ship is currently the world’s largest. — Royal Caribbean International

At the busy Port of Miami, Florida in the United States, one cruise ship towers above the rest – Royal Caribbean’s latest mega vessel, Icon Of The Seas.

Defying conventions in the realm of cruise ships, the Icon measures 365m long, and is currently the world’s largest cruise ship (about 3m longer than the previous title holder, Harmony Of The Seas).

The ship is five times the size of the Titanic, and its construction cost was close to US$2bil (RM9.47bil). It was designed to accommodate up to 9,950 individuals, or 7,600 guests and 2,350 crew members.

After years of hype, the Icon finally made its maiden voyage from Miami on Jan 27; we had the chance to get a preview of the ship shortly before that.

Upon arriving at the Port of Miami, what immediately caught my attention was the complex yet colourful waterslides situated at the top of the 20-deck-tall Icon. Other cruise ships in the port paled in comparison next to this colossal ship.

I was greeted by a porter who took my luggage and showed me the direction of the terminal. In about 10 minutes, I boarded the cruise ship after the officials checked my passport and digital boarding pass.

As I entered the Icon, a giant kinetic art installation known as The Pearl welcomed me at the Royal Promenade, located on Deck 3.

The Pearl – measuring at 13.7m tall, with a diameter of 16m – functions as a structure designed to allow more natural light to enter the ship. Understandably, there was always a crowd of people in the area, all waiting to take snapshots of the design.

The sphere-like installation is located in between two fully connected docks that housed a range of restaurants, bars and lounges.

The Pearl has nearly 3,000 computer-driven kinetic tiles which are meant to simulate natural phenomenons such as rolling waves, shooting stars and even gentle breezes.

Where to go

The Icon is split into eight sections that are known as “neighbourhoods”. They are: Aquadome, Central Park, Chill Island, Royal Promenade, Surfside, Suite Neighbourhood, The Hideaway and Thrill Island.

All the neighbourhoods can be accessed using the Icon’s “destination elevators”, one of the many unique features of the ship. Instead of choosing your deck or destination inside an elevator, passengers are required to make a selection on a small screen outside. Where you wish to go determines which elevator will be “sent” to you.

My room was located about 20 minutes from the elevator bay on my deck but I didn’t mind the long walk at all. Besides, I had a beautiful ocean view room that came with a balcony and a sunbathing chair. The closet was very spacious, and there were some shelves near the TV. There was a writing desk too for passengers who needed to perhaps do some work ... but when you’re sailing on a cruise ship like this one, it can be very hard to do or even think about work!

There are a total of 28 categories of staterooms available on board the Icon, ranging from suites, balcony, ocean view and interior.

The most expensive stateroom is the Ultimate Family Townhouse, a three-floor suite that sleeps six people and comes with an indoor slide and trampoline, a cinema space, a karaoke room, a private patio, two balconies and other amenities.

Despite being priced upwards of US$80,000 (RM378,800) a week, the suite is already sold out for the entire sailing roster of 2024.

After freshening up, I decided to tour the eight neighbourhoods. Home to all the action and adventure on board is Thrill Island, which is where you can find the world’s largest water park at sea. There are six large water slides here, and I tried a few of them, one of which was the Pressure Drop. This is said to be the first free-fall slide at sea and being on it was like getting shot of adrenaline.

Another feature on Thrill Island is Crown’s Edge, that’s kind of like a skywalk but with an obstacle course and zipline mixed in. Basically, a participant gets strapped in and attached to a railing, before having to step onto the skywalk, located about 16m above the surface of the sea. As you move along the walkway, some thrilling surprises will take place ...

Those who suffer from a fear of heights can probably give this a miss and instead check out Thrill Island’s other offerings, which includes a miniature golf course, a jogging track, a sports court that’s meant for playing basketball, volleyball and other “large ball” activities, and fitness centre. There’s also a FlowRider surf simulator here.

Passengers with young children can head to the Surfside neighbourhood, a dedicated family space where adults can chill out and relax, while still keeping an eye on their kids.

The Hideaway is an adults-only section on the Icon Of The Seas with an infinity pool at the sea.

Poolside snacks such as hot dogs and churros are available for order here.

At the three-deck neighbourhood Chill Island, you can find four of the seven pools that the Icon has (the Royal Bay is said to be the largest pool at sea). There are also nine whirlpools located across the area, as well as the Cove Pool (an infinity pool), and the Swim & Tonic, Royal Caribbean’s first swim-up bar at sea.

Actually, there were several other bars scattered across Chill Island; I would recommend getting a drinks package so that you can enjoy an unlimited supply of freshly-made cocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages.

Meanwhile, The Hideaway at Deck 15 is an adults-only section that features the first suspended infinity pool at sea. Here, you get a lively beach club-like atmosphere with DJs spinning their music, and a bar for thirsty folks. There are also plenty of lounge chairs and benches strategically placed in the area.

If you are craving for an espresso martini, head over to Rye & Bean, located inside the Aquadome. The espresso martini is topped with house-made non-dairy cold foam and two coffee beans – this was definitely one of the best versions of the cocktail I have ever had.

The Aquadome is a 363-tonne dome with 673 glass and 712 aluminium panels, featuring a 17m-high waterfall that runs during the day.

One of the highlights of the Aquadome is the theatre where there are acrobatic water shows for passengers to enjoy in the evening.

Dining and entertainment

The Icon boasts plenty of dining options ranging from Italian, Mediterranean, Mexican, Asian and fusion cuisines. There are over 40 restaurants, bars, cafes and lounges on the ship.

Among the highlights for me was the buffet at the Windjammer, which served grilled lobsters, fillet mignon steaks, scallops, mussels, grilled salmon and halibut, and more. The food was delicious and fresh, and passengers are certainly spoilt for choice here.

I also had some freshly made burritos and tacos at El Loco Fresh – do try their margaritas. I checked out some Mediterranean and Asian meals at the Aquadome market, too.

If you do not wish to join the buffet, you can head over to the Main Dining Room which serves a variety of cuisines that you can order ala carte.

For those wanting a more premium dining experience, it is available at an additional cost at restaurants such as Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, Playmakers Sports Bar and Hooked Seafood.

At Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen, diners can expect a hearty and nostalgic Italian meal served by an experienced waiter who will give you some recommendations based on your taste buds.

Those who wish to have some grilled meats or seafood can satisfy their taste buds at Izumi In The Park, which is located at the Central Park, a large open space housing various restaurants and bars.

Once you’ve had your fill, check out some of the special shows that are available on the Icon, ranging from live music, musicals, and even adult stand-up comedy shows. You would need to pre-book your seats for most of the shows, and you can do this via the Royal Caribbean app.

At The Duelling Pianos bar, you can find two red grand pianos placed facing each other. Each day, two pianists will either be playing them together, or “duelling” one another with fantastic renditions of mostly modern compositions.

The Jazz Bar and Music hall in the meantime is where you go if you’re into classic rock tunes. There’s a very good cover band here that plays every night, belting out tunes such as Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd, AC/DC’s Highway To Hell and Bon Jovi’s Livin’ On A Prayer.

If you’re into musicals, be sure to catch the Icon’s featured show, The Wizard Of Oz. This particular version isn’t just a rehash of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams’ Broadway musical, but rather an adaptation that’s unique to the ship. It’s definitely a must-watch here, especially for families.

The Hideaway Beach in Perfect Day At CocoCay is an adults-only section on the exclusive island in the Bahamas, owned by Royal Caribbean. — TARRANCE TAN/The Star

The Bahamas

Part of the Icon’s sailing itinerary includes a stop at Perfect Day At CocoCay, an exclusive private island in the Bahamas owned by Royal Caribbean.

I was fortunate to have my balcony view facing CocoCay when the ship docked at 7am, just in time to catch some sunlight beaming into the island.

Greeting passengers on the island was a stunt-plane doing some aerobatics such as barrel rolls, loops and even stall turns, much to everyone’s amusement.

One of the highlights at CocoCay is the Hideaway Beach that was launched in January. It is an adults-only section (18 years old and above) that requires an additional fee to get into.

After grabbing my towels at the ship, I proceeded to the Hide-away Beach via a tram ride.

The DJs there were playing some cool tunes even though it was only 10am, and freshly-made cocktails were already being served to guests too.

It is indeed always five o’clock somewhere in the world.

There were also seven spots dotted around the beach for folks to get more drinks and food like burgers, mozzarella sticks and deep-fried shrimp. Food and beverages are complimentary, and are available throughout the day.

Though the weather was sunny, it was breezy and windy, making it the perfect time to be at the beach. The water was so crystal clear that I could see my toes as I waded into the sea.

If you’re looking to have a bit of privacy on the Hideaway, you can rent a luxury cabana.

Meanwhile, besides the Hideaway, you can also check out the Thrill Waterpark. It is a must-visit for those with kids, and adults who are young-at-heart.

It has the tallest waterslide in North America called the Daredevil’s Peak (41m), and is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Going up the steps to reach the peak of the slide wasn’t easy for me, and I nearly gave up. What made it worse was that I actually have a fear of heights!

However, I managed to push through and once I slid my way down, I got such an exciting adrenaline rush.

The scariest slide – for me, at least – is the Screeching Serpent, a 15-m high, fully vertical “speed” slide. When I went on this ride, I momentarily felt like I was free falling. I was screaming my lungs out and had to take a break from going on any more slides after that!

Later, I headed to South Beach, where a floating bar was located. It was an eye-opening experience having to swim to get your cocktail ...

There are no overnight options available on CocoCay and the Icon leaves the island in the evening.

Royal Caribbean’s newest vessel is more than just a cruise ship – it’s a self-contained world brimming with possibilities. From its diverse neighbourhoods and gourmet dining, to its thrilling waterpark and vibrant entertainment, the Icon offers an unforgettable escape for families, adventure-seekers, and everyone in between.

If you’re looking to temporarily trade your city life for an action-packed vacation filled with endless activities and unforgettable memories, look no further than the Icon. This magnificent vessel is sure to leave you and your loved ones wanting more.