A guide to the Icon of the Seas neighbourhoods
09 July 2024
8 mins Read
The world’s biggest cruise ship is a floating city and like any city, has a number of different neighbourhoods to suit all guests and needs. Quentin Long reveals the many hues and moods of Icon of the Seas’ precincts.
As much thought and design has gone into the actual engineering marvels of Icon of the Seas (of which there are many) as into the guest experience. Beyond just experiences, the team had to think about people’s movements through the day and from experience to experience.
The result is the carefully considered eight neighbourhoods of Icon of the Seas, five of which are new.
AquaDome NEW
Thrill Island NEW
Chill Island NEW
The Hideaway NEW
Surfside NEW
Central Park
Royal Promenade
Suite Neighbourhood
This is one of four stories detailing all you need to know about Icon of the Seas. If you have not read our overview you may wish to start there.
AquaDome NEW
From the outside, it is the most distinct and defining feature of Icon of the Seas. A huge dome on the bow of the ship that seems to lean forward into the wind (it apparently also has some wind resistance efficiency to help increase fuel efficiency).
The interior is best seen as two distinct spaces. The Overlook at the very bow makes use of the 600 glass panels forming a sun-drenched lounge with 220-degree views. The soft sofas and lounge chairs are perfect for relaxing with a book or headphones and a podcast.
The Overlook in AquaDome features floor-to-ceiling wraparound ocean views.
My favourite space though is the Overlook Pods; perched oval-shaped shells where you find round sofas and coffee tables. For the ultimate private lounging, two of the pods are elevated so the occupants are invisible to the rest of the lounge area.
Secure an Overlook Pods for one of the best seats in the house.
There are two bars in the Overlook. Rye & Bean serves coffee or coffee with a kick – the bar specialises in all manners of Espresso martini. The Overlook Bar is standard.
The alternative space is the AquaTheater. Borrowing from the Oasis class ships the AquaTheater puts on night performances (seas permitting), telling stories through synchronised swimming, platform divers and other performers connected to wires for aerial routines all while being drenched by the tallest waterfall at sea.
Marvel at the tallest waterfall at sea in the AquaTheater.
The seating is amphitheatre style and very close to the action. During the day it is meant to be a lounge area however it seems to be most used at night.
On the Port side is Hooked, the seafood specialty restaurant. ‘Specialty’ for non-cruisers means it has an additional charge.
Order fresh seafood at Hooked.
Royal Bling, a new retail outlet specialising in Royal Caribbean jewellery (yes some devotees are that devoted) is next to the entrance.
Finally the AquaDome Market on the Starboard side. It’s a food hall concept and one of my favourites for a casual lunch.
Thrill Island NEW
No prizes for guessing what this neighbourhood is all about. Home to the Category 6 waterpark, the biggest waterpark at sea plus the full-sized outdoor basketball court, putt-putt golf and Crown’s Edge zip line ropes attraction.
The six waterslides are a bunch of firsts at sea; biggest raft slide, steepest drop slide. For all the firsts they have backed it up with some serious thrills. These are quality rides.
Brave the steepest drop slide at sea on Thrill Island.
Crowns Edge does scare the pants off many (lucky you need to wear a jumpsuit). Once dressed appropriately and harnessed in you walk out off the edge of the ship to stand on a plank, yes literally walk the plank and stand 50 metres above the sea. As your heart races they drop the plank and you swing zip line-like back to the deck.
Thrill Island is home to the biggest waterpark at sea. (Image: J Graham)
There is a bar and food outlet, Basecamp which serves complimentary snacks and more substantial meals (go the shrimp bao) for a charge. And hidden around the corner Desserted, the Milkshake bar.
Chill Island NEW
Chill Island is a beast. Across three decks with nine pools and whirlpools, five bars and eateries, it does what it says on the tin – relax time.
The Royal Bay Pool (deck 15) is the largest at sea while Swim and Tonic (deck 16) is your swim-up bar with a substantial amount of submerged seating; also the first swim-up bar at sea for Royal Caribbean.
Test out the cruise line’s first swim-up bar at sea.
There are two food offerings. The casual Mexican El Loco Fresh & Cantina Fresco and then the legendary Royal Caribbean buffet Windjammers. The AquaDome Market, while not strictly part of Chill Island is right at the door.
There are three versions of The Lime and Coconut bar, one for each deck (including the aforementioned swim-up bar), and the third on deck 17 specialises in frozen cocktails.
Dine on casual Mexican cuisine at El Loco Fresh & Cantina Fresco.
The Hideaway NEW
All you need to know is it is adults only right at the aft (back of the ship). If it helps, The Hideaway Bar is my favourite on Icon of the Seas: great music and outdoor lounges. Just be aware that at this stage it doesn’t serve food.
Unwind in The Hideaway; an adults-only oasis.
It also helps to know it has an enormous suspended infinity edge pool that can fit a decent crew and has views of the wake, lounges that sit within the pool area as well as three tiers of sun loungers and a whirlpool.
But, back to the bar…
Surfside NEW
Perhaps the most talked about neighbourhood, Surfside is designed for young families, so re-school kids. The concept is both smart and good business.
The Surfside neighbourhood has been designed to cater to families of all ages and stages. (Image: SWB Photo)
Smart because at that age the things kids do are very different so providing them with a designated area specifically constructed to keep the whole family entertained all day provides an intimate experience without negotiating the needs of older kids or couples. Good business because this cohort of families are the ones who are most likely to travel outside school holidays.
But Royal Caribbean has not just invested in the hardware, a new character has been brought on board to orchestrate the entertainment and fun. Admiral Awesome puts on shows, performs magic and generally directs the kids around the area.
The hardware includes a carousel, splash pool and oversized games like Connect 4 and Ten Pin Bowling.
There is non-stop entertainment onboard for families.
There are extensive food offerings with the complimentary Surfside Eatery mimicking the Windjammers buffet in miniature, Surfside Bites, The Lemon Post for mocktails and cocktails and the specialty Pier 7 for all-day brunch (at sea days) and dinner.
Stop by the Surfside Eatery for a miniature buffet-style option.
Central Park
A green leafy space at the heart of the ship, Central Park looks and feels like a city garden. Flanked by restaurants, a café and jazz club, it makes a fresh change to the typical cruise milieu of sea views or natural light-deprived interiors.
The colourful plantation shutters that adorn the windows of the surrounding accommodation fade from green to luminous red to mimic the autumnal change of season. That’s some attention to design detail.
Central Park is a tropical oasis at sea.
Royal Promenade
While there are Royal Promenades on all Royal Caribbean ships, none are quite like this. Pursuing the design ethos of “water water everywhere” the architects and engineers figured out how to bring the sea and sunshine into what is typically an interior space.
The Royal Promenade is a shopping and dining mecca.
The Pearl, a large sphere described as a ‘kinetic’ artwork opens up the centre of the promenade to the sea and natural light. This is also mirrored on the starboard side with the new 1400 Lobby Bar which deliberately opens onto the boardwalk.
Pop by the new 1400 Lobby Bar for a drink.
The promenade is home to a swathe of eateries, shops and bars and stretches the entire length of the ship from Absolute Zero and the main dining room in the aft to the Royal Theatre in the bow.
My pick of the Royal Promenade are Pearl Café, The Attic, Dueling Pianos and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade.
One of the best spots to eat on the Royal Promenade is at Pearl Café.
Suite Neighbourhood
Firstly, the suite neighbourhood does not have all the suites; they are found throughout the ship across all decks.
For example, the Family Surfside Suite is near Surfside for families and the Ultimate Family Townhouse (the most uber luxury family suite on the ship) is across decks 8 and 9 at the aft of the ship with private access to Surfside.
The dedicated exclusive suite guest-only precinct has its own pool, bar and two restaurants plus a sun deck.
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