Icon of the Seas

Who this ship suits

Icon suits families who want a week where the ship does most of the work: children under seven (Surfside is built around them), older kids and teenagers who will happily spend a sea day on waterslides, and multigenerational groups who split up by day and meet for dinner. She also works for friends who want a lively ship with a lot of choice in the evening.

She is a poor fit if the ports are the point of your trip. A seven-night loop that always includes the line's private island leaves fewer days for other destinations. She is also hard going if you dislike crowds and queues. There is an adults-only neighborhood, The Hideaway, but it is one area on a ship built for several thousand people, and the rest of the ship has a family-vacation atmosphere.

The ship itself

Icon was built in Turku, Finland. She floated out in December 2022 and took her first paying guests in January 2024. Star of the Seas (2025) and Legend of the Seas (2026) are her sisters.

At 250,800 gross tons and up to 7,600 guests, she has about 33 gross tons per guest when full. That is less space per guest than on Celebrity Xcel (about 43) or Seven Seas Grandeur (about 74), so expect the pool decks to be busy on sea days, most of all during school breaks. With 2,350 crew, there is roughly one crew member for every three guests at full occupancy.

The ship is laid out as eight neighborhoods. Five were new with this class:

• Thrill Island: the Category 6 waterpark, with six slides.
• Chill Island: four of the ship's seven pools, including a swim-up bar.
• Surfside: the neighborhood for families with children six and under.
• The Hideaway: an adults-only area with a suspended infinity pool.
• AquaDome: a glass-domed space at the top of the ship, with water-and-aerial shows in the evening.

The other three, Central Park, the Royal Promenade and the Suite Neighborhood, are developed from Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class ships.

Families and kids

For a four-year-old, Surfside is the center of the week. Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay are water-play areas, with the Water's Edge pool alongside so an adult can keep an eye on them. Families have their own cabin categories too, including the Surfside Family Suite and a three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse.

For a fourteen-year-old, the draw is Thrill Island: the Category 6 slides, plus mini golf and a climbing wall. The slides have height minimums, so check them before you promise a younger child a ride. We have not verified this ship's kids'-club age bands, so this page does not state them. Check them with Royal Caribbean before you book.

What to know before you book

• Every sailing calls at Perfect Day at CocoCay. If you have been before, one day of your week repeats.
• The ship is at its fullest during school breaks. If your dates are flexible, a sailing outside them is noticeably calmer.
• We do not yet have verified accessible-cabin counts or locations for this ship. Ask Royal Caribbean's accessibility team before you book, not after.
• Specialty dining, shows and paid activities on a ship this size are booked ahead. If something matters to your group, reserve it before you sail.