cr2000

That doesn't solve it though as you basically eliminate a whole bunch of potential customers with lots of cash who might otherwise book a suite for their family. NCL and Royal have figured out a way to allow suite guests to share private pool/lounge areas with their entire family regardless of age.

And I think that is a BIG issue. With Park 19 this ship is geared towards families, to deny and separate those families paying a large premium in a signature suite is going to be problematic imo. They have to figure this out.

You'd be happier on Holland America or Virgin. The cruise industry is changing towards a more family focused demographic, they are just following the demand (and money).

A lot of time here spent discussing adult only spaces and access to chairs in The Sanctuary, but on a more practical level, on a Mediterranean cruise, isn't the focus really on exploring the historic ports of call? I could see perhaps in the Carribean spending more time lounging by a pool, but if I'm cruising the Mediterranean (where the Sun Princess is now), I'm viewing the ship as nothing more than a place to sleep, eat and maybe enjoy some evening entertainment and breakfast the following morning. Typically the number of sea days is limited.

Agreed. I don't see young kids having any interest in The Sanctuary, but I could foresee the scenario where mom and dad are relaxing in The Sanctuary while their teenager(s) are off doing an activity with a couple friends. Then at some point they want to meet back up and that teenager would like to stop back and talk with mom or dad but is precluded from entering the Sanctuary under the current rules. I think a lot of people that travel with families and pay a premium for a suite will be disappointed that they can't use this amenity because their children aren't allowed to enter that area even just to check in and say hi.

Well, they might be able to change some rules about how The Sanctuary works, but the location of it and proximity to the playground will be the same in 2025. Could end up being a moot point if they change the rules and simply repurpose The Sanctuary to a dedicated Signature suite area and allow children into it.

What's coming through with the design of this ship is that Princess clearly designed it with families in mind assuming a changing demographic in the cruise industry. Typically Princess has catered more towards older couples traveling without kids, that's doesn't seem to be the target demographic with Sun Princess. I actually think in time they'll be forced to open The Sanctuary up to children as more and more families book Signature suites and expect to use the amenities of The Sanctuary with their families.

How have the crowds been around the Lido pools on sea days?

Thanks for confirming. I'm sure that makes some people happy and others not, but it helps clarify for me what type of room to book. You've been so informative across these threads, I certainly hope Princess somehow recognizes the time you've taken from your own vacation to help all future travelers.

Good point, would suggest that in the design/planning of this ship Princess was thinking about a more family type demographic in travelers and therefore maybe that carries over and reshapes their plans around The Sanctuary and Sundeck areas? Hopefully someone from Princess is reading these forums and taking notes of all the marketing collateral that needs to be updated.

Very true, but for the same reason you like those loungers in The Sanctuary, I suspect grandparents and parents do as well, and if kids can now be booked in suites, and suite guests have access to The Sanctuary/Signature Sun Deck, then it's reasonable to expect kids will be allowed in their as well. Particularly since families will have paid that privilege cost for all members in the suite. You'd think Princess would spell all this out on their website for us.

That would be great, I can't find anything official on Princess.com either way. But given all the full suites allow kids to be booked, perhaps they've made a change for multi-generational families who travel together, to also spent time together with parents/grandparents in The Sanctuary. The industry is changing with more and more cruiselines/ships catering to family travelers. Let us know what you find out.

So full Suite guests get access to The Sanctuary and Signature Sun Deck for free. Children are allowed to be in full suites, so do we then assume those same children/families in those full suites have access to both The Sanctuary and Signature Sun Deck? And by extension the only children that would be excluded would be those who's parents attempt to buy a day pass, where a day pass could not be sold to a child? I would love clarification on this as it would determine if I spend the extra money to book a full suite. Btw, Princess ought to put you on the payroll (or a least comp you a free cruise), you've offered more informative information than their entire marketing and sales department!

Interesting, on the deck plan it says some mini-suite rooms will accommodate 3 and 4 people I wonder how they do that?

Does anyone happen to know if the sofa's in the mini-suites open up into a double bed? Or is it a single bed?

Thanks so much for all your informational posts and pictures, a huge help to anyone considering this ship. Wondering if you could comment on how well it handles any ocean choppiness, have you found it to be similar to other cruises or more stable given the size and design? Looking at the wave forecasts against the plotted course it does look like it's sailed through some 8/9ft swells over the past day or so, curious on your thoughts.

Do you happen to know, or might you be able to ask someone staying in a Cabana Mini-Suite on Deck 9, whether there is a curtian separator between the bed and sofa? The renderings for the cabana mini-suites don't appear to show one, which seems odd given it's a mini-suite. Thanks!

Adventure Ocean is a disaster on Icon. During the day it's empty (kids are in the pools, jacuzzis and slides), at night they are overwhelmed with kids so much so, that many families felt it wasn't worth it and took their kids to many of the night time venues - which of course didn't sit well with many of the non-kid couples that were out for an adult evening only to be surrounded by kids in the late night hours.

I wouldn't post either. I'm saying if you want to get a sense of crowd levels, look at youtube videos that people post of Icon over the coming months. Dueling Piano's, MO5AIC, Earl Turner, Comedian's, Cruise Director Mike, all commented on the volume of kids cruising on Icon. We travel as a family, so kids don't bother me - it's a family cruise. It's the couples traveling on this forum that seem upset by it.

I don't think anyone responsible here is going to be posting random pictures of other peoples kids, but just go look for videos on youtube over the coming months and you'll get a sense of the amount of kids. Let's put it this way, even the entertainers on board - comedy staff, shows, dueling pianos, cruise director, all commented in some form or another how many kids appear to be onboard the ship. It was even noticeable to them in evening entertainment venues.

Consider that 10, 11, or 12 year olds (that are responsible) doesn't need to have a parent following them around all day. They meet up with friends and build some maturity and independency in a relatively safe environment during the day. What seems to be coming through with this thread is a lot of sour grapes from couples without kids who booked Icon. Let me be clear YOU WILL BE SURROUNDED BY KIDS - lots of them, if you don't like that cancel your cruise. For example, all the jacuzzi's were PACKED with kids. They thought nothing of piling into a Jacuzzi (and using it as a pool) that already had a few adults relaxing in it. Yes you can go hang out in the Hideway, but you best like very loud thumping music all day long. It's more like South Beach, than a Hideaway. Or go sit in the Casino. Lol.

It's a family cruise line, singles or couples without kids ARE NOT the target demographic. Royal does not care about your experience as the majority of income derived from sailings is from family passengers. You just have to accept it and move on, don't complain about it.

Get over it. Icon of the Seas is designed for families (which means LOTS AND LOTS of Kids). You don't like it? Cancel your cruise and go Virgin or Celebrity. There is nothing to "fix" here, childless travelers are not the target customer and have no standing to complain.

How does the show seating work for sky, star, pinnacle members members? Do they even make a reservation or just show up and displace non-status members from their seats?

Those seats looks terrible and uncomfortable - almost like punishment chairs for Star Class - lol, Although not surprising, the furnishing in general from the suite deck, to the suites, coastal kitchen, and down to the theater here all look like RC made serious attempts at reducing costs compared to Wonder of the Seas. Hopefully the Genie can wave a wand and reserve an actual theater seat in the center section.