cr2000

Why anyone would pay that is beyond me. You could rent a 9 bedroom private beach front luxury villa in the Cayman Islands for half that... I guess some people don't get out much.

No doubt the majority of Icon cruises will resemble something of a Disney cruise with lots and lots of kids, certianly not a couples retreat or honeymoon vacation! They didn't build that water park for adults. 🙂

There are a number of things I don't like on Icon, the suite space is perhaps the biggest miss, and I think in time reviews will bear out that opinion. I've also noted a number of other things I think RC got wrong as well, but also plenty that looks fantastic. I don't plan to hang out in Surfside, but I happen to think they nailed it for kids. The infinity pool in proximity to the kids park and eating venues is very thoughtful and the entire space looks whimsical and fun, that's one place where they nailed the color scheme and design, exactly in tune with the target audience. I should haven't to stay or use a particular area to have an opinion. Let's wait until reviews start getting posted of actual paying customers, then we'll know how people feel. Remember the influencers get free vacations for being complimentary, and do so on your dime and mine. Enjoy your cruise!

Looks like Matt just posted an update on the Suite Neighborhood with some positive spin. Coincidence? In fairness it's a huge space, which is a plus, looks to be ample seating. But the whole thing looks uninspiring, sterile, - hardily luxurious/exclusive. Perhaps it's the furniture, colors, textiles... something just isn't right. It almost looks like it was furnished with pieces from Target or Homegoods. Major step down from Wonder of the Seas imo. The outside bar also seems meh, and on the smaller side. The pool, what on earth were they thinking?! It's sized for about 8-10 adults tops. Also the additional pictures of the suite lounge confirm it's nothing separate/exclusive just a waiting area for Coastal Kitchen with a bar - the even have a makeshift privacy divider to separate the area, what? And not even a single ocean view from anywhere in the entire space?! They should've had the designer that did 1400 Lobby Bar (now that's beautiful) handle the suite deck design and furnishings. Someone ought to be fired for the mess up on deck 17/18, the whole thing looks like an afterthought, which is a shame for suite guests who are probably paying crazy $$. If I had a suite booked on a future sailing, I'd cancel it for sure. Why pay a premium to have access to space that isn't nearly as nice/luxurious as the rest of the ship.

Coincidence? Or did Royal put Matt on the case to get some pictures posted with postive PR spin? https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2024/01/15/icon-of-the-seas-suite-neighborhood In fairness it's a huge space, which is a plus, looks to be ample seating. But the whole thing looks uninspiring, sterile, - hardily luxurious/exclusive. Perhaps it's the furniture, colors, textiles... something just isn't right. It almost looks like it was furnished with pieces from Target or Homegoods. Major step down from Wonder of the Seas imo. The outside bar also seems meh, and on the smaller side. The pool, what on earth were they thinking?! It's sized for about 8-10 adults tops. Also the additional pictures of the suite lounge confirm it's nothing separate/exclusive just a waiting area for Coastal Kitchen with a bar - the even have a makeshift privacy divider to separate the area, what? And not even a single ocean view from anywhere in the entire space?! They should've had the designer that did 1400 Lobby Bar (now that's beautiful) handle the suite deck design and furnishings. Someone ought to be fired for the mess up on deck 17/18, the whole thing looks like an afterthought, which is a shame for suite guests who are probably paying crazy $$. If I had a suite booked on a future sailing, I'd cancel it for sure. Why pay a premium to have access to space that isn't nearly as nice/luxurious as the rest of the ship.

I think a lot of people try to justify what they spent and can't look objectively. They will sing Icon's praises regardless perhaps to soothe their wallet, I do think it's fair to be critical where appropriate. I think they really screwed up the suite neighborhood and I think the reviews will reflect that in the next few weeks (and pricing will plummet accordingly). The overall ship deck space looks very problematic, when they are at or near capacity. They messed up with the adults only situation, how's that fair to people who booked with an understanding of having a quiet relaxing area on the ship? The beverage package excludes milk shakes (they priced the drinks at the ice cream place just outside the $14 limit). Then they market basecamp as the place for kids to fuel up after the water slides, but up-charge for burgers and sandwiches? Of course they appear to have done things right as well, the rooms look great, they added some nice family suite concepts, the waterpark looks absolutely incredible and sure to be a big hit with kids. The venues along the promenade seem well thoughout too. I really like the Pearl Cafe and layout in that area, looks beautiful. Net-net, I don't think it'll be worth the premium they are trying to collect over sailing on Wonder.

The suite area is an absolute disaster given the premium they are charging. No view outside (actually looks very closed in) - the "lounge" is a glorified waiting area in Coastal Kitchen (interesting the lounge isn't even listed on the deck plans, almost like they forgot about it), the color/furnishings look about as cheap as you get both inside Coastal Kitchen and out on the sundeck. The "pool" isn't much bigger than a small jacuzzi. Have you noticed RC has been limiting photography up on that deck the past couple days? They know they've got a problem. Kinda late to change the furnishings, they could probably reconfigure the lounge space a bit. One way to address the abysmal suite deck pool would be to claim Cloud17 as the suite sky/star class pool (it's already doored access at the aft end). That would at least give suite guests an actual premium pool, but given the screw up with Hideaway they already have customers fuming. Pictures speak volumes, look at the space on Wonder (below), then go look at the limited pictures coming out of Icon. Wonder (below) looks like a premium experience, Icon looks like they ran out of budget and creativity by the time they hit the suite deck.

Agree, I think there's a lot of disappointments on this ship compared to how it was portrayed in the renderings. We're already booked and will make the best of it. On multiple fronts they have issues, the adult only situation in Cloud17 was a royal (no pun intended) screw up. Lots of guests were promised a quiet secluded area and that was taken away from them. There's questions about overcrowding given how much of the deckspace is covered by stuff (furniture, decorations, etc.). Items people thought were included (basecamp) is not - you have to pay extra for a chicken sandwich by the pool, really? The main dining room looks like it's something out of a ship from 20 years ago with the color pallet (cranberry and mauve, seriously?). Meanwhile the suite area doesn't have a lounge (it's and afterthought inside coastal kitchen) with no views, and the suite pool deck has a small bath tub for it's pool, not sure why suite guests would pay a premium for that experience (compared to what's offered on Wonder). In time Royal may have to make some changes on this ship as reviews come out and bookings fall off, time will tell.

Indeed, also (and I think RC/Jason will never say it publicly), this change and the proximity of Cloud 17 to the suites on 16/17 gives suite guests/families an additional (semi-exclusive) pool. This helps address the shameful size pool/bathtub they put up on the suite deck - frankly a huge miss on the part of RC.

I think if you're traveling outside of Holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas), school vacation weeks (Feb/April) or over the summer (May-August), you'll be fine. Otherwise, the way the ship is designed and marketed makes it very much a family oriented cruise (lots and lots of kids - think Disney), which is not ideal to couples or honeymoon travelers. I know it's unpopular to say, but when the majority of kids on the cruise equals or exceeds the number of adults (i.e. mostly families) couple/singles travelers are going to be hard pressed to have any "adult-only" rules enforced. Just have to roll with it...

Looks like the switch is official: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/royal-caribbean-icon-of-the-seas-news

There's video around of the chief information officer noting the change that cloud 17 will no longer be adults only, that has shifted to hideaway. And logically that makes more sense, as the suite area on 17 is just outside cloud 17. No doubt you'll have kids in that area as they make their way back to their room from the sports court. Regardless, the vast majority of travelers on Icon will be families - school vacation weeks and summer time, so enforcement of adults only areas is simply not going to happen. Icon was never designed for couples/single travelers, it's a family cruise ship (hence the largest waterpark at sea). If you're expecting a relaxing adult only experience, you've selected the wrong RC ship imo.

The reality is that here will NOT be an adult only pool on Icon, who's going to enforce that? The ship was designed with families and kids in mind, if you're traveling as a couple during any period when school is out, you're going to be out numbered with kids. Families are going to want to be together on the ship, that means kids stopping in and out of whatever pool their parents might be using.

The suite deck and Coastal Kitchen lounge look uninspiring compared to Wonder of the Seas. It really looks like RC cut corners both in furnishings along with the venue size and layout. Take for instance the lounge, it's like an afterthought - a sitting area attached to the bar with no ocean views, even the furniture looks cheap. The suite sundeck has a very small pool (compared to in water loungers on Wonder) again with cheap looking furniture. The only argument you might make is that the proximity of the suites to Swim and Tonic and Cloud 17, would suggest that RC assumes suite guests will claim these spaces as their own "suite space" before the rest of the guests on the ship make their way up to those decks, and therefore put little effort into a dedicated suite space. The Coastal Kitchen itself looks pretty decent, almost like a mini-main dining room, I guess if you time it right you can catch the aqua dome show while having dinner. Maybe I'm missing something, but I wouldn't pay the premium for a suite, least not on Icon. Very disappointing how they cut so many corners here.

Anyone traveling without Sky or Star class on the first few sailings are going to have a real issue accessing amenities, shows, dining, venues, etc. Way too many people competing for two few resources, this cancellation of The Key is RC acknowledging that they are over committed. Maybe look into upgrading to a suite or reschedule your cruise to a later date? Wouldn't surprise me if RC has a wave of customers rescheduling after the first reviews come out. Sort of a shame they didn't limit bookings for the first couple months to ensure a positive customer experience and build some momentum.

Does anyone know if the Grand Suite has a curtain/separator between the King sleeping area and the sofabed/sitting area? It looks like there is one in the Infinite Grand Suite, but I can't tell if that's also the case for the Grand Suite. Thanks.

Is it me, or does the suite deck on Icon appear small? The pool up there looks even smaller (more like a kiddie pool). Anyone seen it in person that can comment? Seems like a real miss by Icon designers.