My Favorite Amenities on Royal Caribbean Icon of the Seas Cruise Ship

Table Of Content

• Costa Smeralda (Costa Cruises)
• Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)
• World's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, begins its maiden voyage after christening from Lionel Messi
• Celebrity Beyond Brings High Design and Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop Onboard
• Viking Mars and Viking Neptune Continue Viking Oceans' Expansion
• More Royal Caribbean
• The adult-only suspended infinity pool

Princess Cruises has been adding to its fleet fast, and the next of its Royal Class ships -- the 3,660-passenger Discovery Princess -- has a March 2022 debut date. It's the latest ship to debut with the line's Medallion technology built right in, which allows passengers to do everything from check into the ship to open their cabin door to buy things in designated shops in some ports. There's a reason Royal Caribbean's new mega-cruise ship is only operating seven-night sailings. This felt as groundbreaking as the first time I dared to address an American in his native tongue, as a child on a bus in Queens (“On my foot you are standing, Mister”).

Costa Smeralda (Costa Cruises)

Instead, there's The Hideaway, which was designed to have a Las Vegas pool party vibe and features the first suspended infinity pool at sea, an expansive bar area, day beds, whirlpools, and lounge chairs. Spanning nearly 1,200 feet, the cruise ship has 20 decks, which makes the Icon of the Seas the world's largest cruise ship. Four of the ship's seven pools will be found in the three-deck Chill Island pool area, with plenty of ocean views from the watery play spaces.

Icon of the Seas (Royal Caribbean)

A weeklong Caribbean cruise costs about $3,500 for two people in an average stateroom. For those seeking more luxury, the Ultimate Family Townhouse – a three-story suite complete with touchscreen tables and a slide – can go for up to $100,000 per trip. The Royal Loft, aimed at high-rolling adults, offers two bedrooms, a private hot tub, and a spacious balcony starting at $40,000. One of the most anticipated on-board amenities will be the largest waterpark at sea.

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]

World's largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, begins its maiden voyage after christening from Lionel Messi

With progress on Icon of the Seas moving along, Royal Caribbean has already started building another large “icon class” ship. The cruise line expects that unnamed vessel to launch in 2025, per a statement. Costa Smeralda is the cruise line’s first-ever cruise ship powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).

Throughout the ship, lounge amidst modern Italian décor and impressive contemporary art. This 5,632-passenger ship set sail in the Caribbean last fall with the promise to bring its all-ages North American and international guests closer to the sea via more outdoor space, including six pools. While the kids play in the pirate-themed water park, walk the long promenade that wraps around the 1,100-foot ship, meant to feel like a stroll through a seaside town. Its New York-inspired design includes a 9 1/2-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty in the casino, as well as a three-story Times Square, an entertainment and shopping area, with a 28-foot-high projection of the Manhattan skyline.

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. MIAMI (AP) — The world’s largest cruise ship — the size of almost four city blocks — is set to begin its maiden voyage Saturday as it leaves from the Port of Miami. It's a city at sea, accommodating up to 7,600 passengers in 2,805 staterooms and nearly 10,000 people, including the crew. The ship offers different experiences that include seven pools — one is the largest on any ship — the world's first onboard water park with six water slides, theaters, a casino and over 40 dining and drinking spots. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas became the new world’s largest cruise ship when she was delivered to the cruise line in November 2023, at a massive 250,800 gross tons and a length of 1,198 feet.

Crew members from every part of the global South, as well as a few Balkans, are shepherding us along while pressing flutes of champagne into our hands. 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.

More Royal Caribbean

But as high as my status may be, there are those on board who have much higher status still, and I will soon learn to bow before them. This is the first world-class vessel from the fast-growing MSC Cruises and was built at the popular Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France. Since her delivery in October 2022, she has been the largest MSC cruise ship ever.

'Biggest, baddest ship on the planet': World's largest cruise ship stokes environmental concerns - CNBC

'Biggest, baddest ship on the planet': World's largest cruise ship stokes environmental concerns.

Posted: Mon, 29 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

River cruising in the United States has become more popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people look for sailings that are closer to home. American Cruise Lines, which owns its own shipyard in Maryland, has turned down other boat-building work so it can concentrate on cruise ships. American Symphony will debut on the Mississippi River in summer 2022 and American Serenade will launch at the end of 2022. As an immigrant, I feel duty-bound to complete the tasks I am paid for, which means reaching out and trying to understand my fellow cruisers. So I put on a normal James Perse T-shirt and headed for one of the bars on the Royal Promenade—the Schooner Bar, it was called, if memory serves correctly.

It'll also boast a staggering 24 Zodiac boats for waterborne exploring and landings in remote areas — enough to get every passenger off the ship at the same time (something that isn't always the case with expedition ships). And it'll be home to 26 expedition guides including scientists, historians and naturalists who will lecture regularly on board and lead guided tours on land. Like the earlier Oasis Class ships, Wonder of the Seas will offer multiple main pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and even a zip line.

In addition, MSC World Europa will have six pools and 14 hot tubs, making it one of the most pool-covered ships at sea. The watery offerings will include an Aquapark with multiple waterslides that will integrate virtual reality technology. Among the most notable newcomers will be Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, the biggest cruise ship ever built (and by big, we're talking about a ship that can hold nearly 7,000 passengers). Originally set to debut in 2021, it's now scheduled to begin sailing in March.

Since the start, it's been our aim to provide the latest cruise news covering all the major cruise lines. We make sure cruisers are fully prepared for their cruise vacation with tips on ships and ports.Millions of travelers rely on Cruise Hive in the United States, Europe, Australia, and around the world. The ship will sail weeklong Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, and each will visit Royal Caribbean's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, with its multiple beaches and Thrill Waterpark, home to 13 waterslides. Bookings open Monday for Royal Caribbean's past guests and Tuesday to the public. MSC World Europa also will have 13 dining venues, including the new-for-the-line Chef's Garden Kitchen (an outlet focused on microgreens) and La Pescaderia, a traditional seafood grill with alfresco seating.

Royal Caribbean would not share the current median salary for its crew members, but I am certain that it amounts to a fraction of the cost of a Royal Bling gold-plated, zirconia-studded chalice. Pinnacles, it is explained to me over translucent cantaloupe, have sailed with Royal Caribbean for 700 ungodly nights. Pandemic Pinnacles took advantage of the two-for-one accrual rate of Pinnacle points during the pandemic, when sailing on a cruise ship was even more ill-advised, to catapult themselves into Pinnacle status. I put on my meatball T-shirt and head for one of the dining rooms to get a late lunch. In the elevator, I stick out my chest for all to read the funny legend upon it, but soon I realize that despite its burnished tricolor letters, no one takes note. Despite my attempts at bridge building, the very sight of me (small, ethnic, without a cap bearing the name of a football team) elicits no reaction from other passengers.

Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. Growing up, she had the privilege of traveling frequently with her family and fell in love with cruising after sailing on the Oasis of the Seas her freshman year of high school. She wanted to pursue a career that highlighted her passion for travel and strengths as a writer. There's no shortage of both complimentary and specialty dining options for guests to enjoy onboard Icon.