Table Of Content
During the drydocking in Cadiz Spain (Dec 5-23, 2023), the Central Park received 10,000+ live plants. The drydocking was also for final adjustments and technical works, including on the boxcoolers (heat exchangers) and sea chests (recesses in the hull), as well as repairs to the propulsion system (an ABB Azipod). In late-December 2021, to Meyer Turku were towed/barged by 4x tugboats the first pre-assembled in Poland (at Gdansk Shipyard) hull blocks, with weights tons. Their assembly/the ship's physical construction officially started with the keel-laying ceremony held on April 5, 2022.
RCI-Royal Caribbean cancels Star OTS ship's maiden voyage due to postponed delivery
Like Playscape, a place for kids to slide, climb and play. There's also the cruise ship's beach-themed carousel, which doubles as a great photo opp. Plenty of family-friendly cruise ships have waterslides, but few have six — or even one that requires a multi-person raft. There are also many familiar restaurants, bars, accommodations and entertainment options on offer on both Icon-class and Oasis-class ships. As well as a huge amount of water fountains, splash pools and slides, there are also dedicated casual family eateries, bars and easy access to the kids' club, just one deck below. Those neighborhoods aside, Icon-class ships in Royal Caribbean's fleet are likely to take their cues from first-in-class Icon of the Seas.
Decks and Cabins
As a ship made for families, Icon of the Seas primarily attracts cruisers traveling with children – 82% of the cabins can hold three guests or more. Most passengers will be from North America, but given that the ship sails from Miami – a destination known for international tourism – it won’t be uncommon for Icon of the Seas to attract global passengers. The Windjammer Marketplace is a win; the company has managed to create a buffet with excellent options (including those for people with allergies) and an efficient layout that moves people through effectively. Specialty dining is also a highlight – our tip here is to buy a dining package so you can sample a few for-fee restaurants in addition to the included options.
More about Icon of the Seas
"Panoramic Ocean View" cabins and suites are in the AquaDome Neighborhood and all are with floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows. Initially, the ICON ship design was announced with passenger capacity ~5200 and GT tonnage ~200K. Technology and artistry merge on the new Icon of the Seas℠, inspiring awe on a grand scale. From performances that push the bounds of bravery to mixology magic against a background of wraparound ocean views – icons don’t just steal the show, they change the way you see it forever.
The units are LNG-powered (by liquified natural gas), employ fuel cell technology, and are classified by DNV GL (Hovik Norway-headquartered international ship registrar and classification society). The MoU ceremony was attended by Michael Bayley (RCI's President and CEO), Jan Meyer (Meyer Turku's CEO) and Harri Kulovaara (Finnish naval architect, RCCL's Maritime and Newbulding's Executive Vice President). RCI's ICON ships have a 4-deck Crew Neighborhood (housing 2350 people) featuring redesigned (new/patented) crew cabins with an L-shaped bed layout. The Music Hall (dance lounge/disco nightclub introduced on QUANTUM-class RCI boats) is a 2-level venue (decks 3-4) and provides live music entertainment (band performances daily and DJs in the evenings). The 3-deck Suite Neighborhood houses all the top-tier staterooms.
ICON OF THE SEAS
Guests can ride any and all of the slides as many times as they like for free. Royal Theater is the main show lounge spreading over 3 floors (forward on decks 3-4-5). The venue doubles as a cinema and also hosts daily scheduled activities (like trivia games, bingo, enrichment lectures) while in the evenings are presented Broadway-style, grand-scale music, dance and show productions, as well as aerial acrobatic performances. The theater presents nightly 2 grand shows - early (at 8 pm) and late (at 10 pm) to match the assigned dining room sittings. Both are full-length production shows with professional performances (singing, dancing, acting, live band music) by the ship's resident entertainment staff.
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WATCH: World's largest cruise ship 'Icon of the Seas' pulls into PortMiami - WPLG Local 10
WATCH: World's largest cruise ship 'Icon of the Seas' pulls into PortMiami.
Posted: Wed, 10 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Deck 15 is home to AquaDome, one of Icon of the Seas’ new neighborhoods that’s housed within a 363-ton glass dome. The centerpiece is the AquaTheater, where the vertigo-inducing Aqua Show takes place. But other venues -- like Hooked Seafood, Celebration Table, AquaDome Marketplace and the weirdly cool Overlook Pods hangout areas – also bring AquaDome to life. With 20 decks (18 of them accessible to guests), Icon of the Seas can seem vast and overwhelming. While you’ll have no problem clocking thousands of steps a day, the layout of the decks is smart and convenient, allowing for easy access between adjacent neighborhoods. Since Icon of the Seas is the biggest ship to ever set sail, you won't run out of things to do.
Hence, this publication was faced with the shocking prospect of paying nearly $19,000 to procure for this solitary passenger an entire suite—not including drinking expenses—all for the privilege of bringing you this article. But the suite in question doesn’t even have a view of the ocean! Positioned above the Wheelhouse, this is an AquaTheater (redesigned concept but) similar to OASIS- and QUANTUM ships' Solarium. The glass roof structure/dome weighs 367 tons and is comprised of 12 modules made of different materials (glass, steel, aluminum panels). On June 15, 2022, RCG signed with Eagle LNG Partners LLC (Eagle LNG) a contract for providing LNG (liquefied natural gas) and bunkering services to RCI liners, the first of which is Icon OTS. The gas supply is sourced from Eagle LNG's facilities in JAXPORT-Jacksonville Florida, shipped throughout the Caribbean and bunkered by Eagle LNG-owned newbuild vessels.
Revealing all the Best Things to do on Icon of the Seas.
In preparation for sailing, I have “priced in,” as they say on Wall Street, the possibility that I may come from a somewhat different monde than many of the other cruisers. Without falling into stereotypes or preconceptions, I prepare myself for a friendly outspokenness on the part of my fellow seafarers that may not comply with modern DEI standards. I believe in meeting people halfway, and so the day before flying down to Miami, I visited what remains of Little Italy to purchase a popular T-shirt that reads DADDY’S LITTLE MEATBALL across the breast in the colors of the Italian flag.
Each ICON-class ship has 23 galleys/kitchens (serving 27 dining venues) and 425 chefs. Most food/beverage supplies are sourced from the homeport, the rest are locally sourced (in call ports). The stored supplies are enough for 3 consecutive voyages (21 days). The Sun Deck (positioned midship) is on two levels and fitted with a large swimming pool surrounded by a sunbathing area. A series of columns (midship-aft) support the waterslides and the Ropes Course (costs US$90 per person).
A day or two before I got off the ship, I decided to make use of my balcony, which I had avoided because I thought the view would only depress me further. This entire time, I had been living in the ship’s Disneyland, Surfside, the neighborhood full of screaming toddlers consuming milkshakes and candy. And as I leaned out over my balcony, I beheld a slight vista of the sea and surf that I thought I had been missing. The sea was frothy and infinite and blue-green beneath the span of a seagull’s wing. And though it had been trod hard by the world’s largest cruise ship, it remained.
By a humming Starbucks, I drink as many of these as I can and prepare to find my cabin. I show my blue Suite Sky SeaPass Card (more on this later, much more) to a smiling woman from the Philippines, and she tells me to go “aft.” Which is where, now? As someone who has rarely sailed on a vessel grander than the Staten Island Ferry, I am confused.
Called "Admiral Awesome", the professional employee hosts different family-themed events. The 2-level Fitness Center (decks 5-6) consists of a Gymnasium (complimentary, with Life Fitness equipment for cardio/resistance training), Aerobics Studio (for classes), and private training rooms. The Gym has modern bodybuilding and training exercise equipment (free weights, weight machines, treadmills, steppers, ellipticals, stationary bikes, Kinesis wall).
The ship is currently scheduled to operate alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries (7-day roundtrips from Miami), all visiting CocoCay Bahamas. The voyages' call ports include Philipsburg (St. Maarten), Basseterre (St Kitts), Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas, US Virgin Islands), Coxen Hole (Isla Roatan, Honduras), Mexico's Cozumel and Costa Maya. Traditionally for RCI, Icon OTS has the Royal Escape Room that provides adventure gaming experiences (team-building exercises). Gaming at the Royal Escape Room involves a group of players who must solve a series of puzzles by using clues, hints and group strategy. The team is given a set time limit to solve the secret plot hidden within the room. Near Aquatheater's entrance is Royal Bling (Retail Shop) selling Royal Caribbean-logoed/RCI-branded merchandise (keepsakes/jewelry rings, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, etc).
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