Curious as to how Icon of the Seas – the world’s largest cruise ship – measures up? Jack Carter reveals all as Royal Caribbean’s ambitious new vessel sets sail

When Icon of the Seas sailed into PortMiami for the first time on 10 January, the residents of the Magic City couldn’t help but take notice. It was first thing in the morning and Royal Caribbean had decided to announce its arrival with fireboat salutes, banner planes and an onshore welcome party at the nearby Pérez Art Museum.

“We were unapologetic,” says Michael Bayley, CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “We had $100k worth of speakers on board. We woke Miami up.”

Indeed, there’s nothing apologetic about Icon of the Seas. The inaugural ship in the line’s new Icon series boasts 2,805 staterooms, 15 entertainment areas and 20 distinct restaurant concepts, not to mention a glut of extravagant features like the first suspended infinity pool at sea.

Naturally, a ship of this size will have customers questioning if this is the right cruise for them.  Will teenagers enjoy it? How do all those passengers move around? Does the ship actually have a golden retriever on board called Rover? Read on, as we answer all that and more.

Is there room for large families on board?

Absolutely. In fact, around 80 per cent of the rooms on Icon of the Seas can host up to five guests, which is more than double the amount on other Royal Caribbean ships.

According to vice president EMEA for Royal Caribbean, Ben Bouldin, families have never had a better or more varied choice of accommodation. “This ship has so many categories to choose from, you can find something that suits you,” he says.

A total of 1,815 balcony cabins, 535 interior cabins, 276 ocean-view rooms and 179 suites are spread across the ship’s 18 passenger decks, a portion of which can be joined together. Larger rooms like the Surfside Family Suite and the Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony offer bunkbeds and sofa beds, while split bathrooms and generous storage space ensure things don’t get too cramped.

Travellers who are looking for something extra special, however, needn’t look further than the Ultimate Family Townhouse.

The three-storey suite is the largest accommodation on board, with space to sleep up to eight guests, so even gran can come along.

There’s a mini cinema room, a musical staircase and a private entrance to the ship’s family neighbourhood, Surfside. Guests will have to move fast, though: it’s already fully booked for 2024.

Won’t it feel overcrowded?

Royal Caribbean expects to have as many as 7,600 passengers on board during peak season, so ensuring guests can flow seamlessly from one end of the ship to the other was of major importance to the line. One particular area of focus was the construction of the ship’s smart lift system.

Royal Caribbean took inspiration from Manhattan skyscrapers during the design phase, even going as far as building a mock elevator lobby in a warehouse so they could test it properly before construction began.

Each floor has a total of 24 express elevators – 12 at the front and 12 at the back – which guests are intuitively directed to upon entering their floor into built-in iPad-sized screens. Each lift is pre-programmed before they step inside the elevator, with those going to similar areas of the ship grouped together.

Anyone going from the Main Dining Room on floor three can make it in time for sunset on the top deck without needing to stop half a dozen times on the way up.

The response from agents and guests has been overwhelmingly positive, with wait times for lifts significantly reduced compared to other large ships.

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Watch: How to spend an evening onboard Icon of the Seas

Is it just for families?

While there are plenty of ways to treat the tribe on board, rest assured those travelling without children will be well sated. The new Chill Island neighbourhood, for example, is primed for guests who want to relax by the pool with a G&T or mix with other like-minded travellers in one of the cantilevered whirlpools.

A plethora of bars serving drinks and pool snacks throughout the day include Swim & Tonic, the line’s first swim-up bar at sea, and Lime & Coconut, situated in the new adults-only hangout Cloud 17.

Then there’s The Hideaway, a beach club concept with a multi-level sun deck and infinity pool suspended 135ft above the ocean. Royal Caribbean is so excited by The Hideaway concept it’s extended it to Perfect Day at CocoCay. With swim-up bars, a vast lagoon-style beach and back-to-back DJ sets, imagine Ibiza in the Bahamas and you’ve got the picture.

Is a ship this size good for the planet?

This is Royal Caribbean’s first ship to be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG), a transitional fuel that’s been endorsed by the cruise industry for its ability to cut greenhouse gas emissions. However, the jury is still out on LNG, with environmentalists saying that more research needs to be done to track its long-term impact on the environment.

It’s not the only measure being taken to reduce Icon of the Seas’ carbon footprint, however. For example, the ship includes the first waste-to-energy system at sea.

“There’s a system onboard called a microwave assisted paralysis (MAP) machine, which allows us to convert waste directly into useable energy via steam,” says Royal Caribbean’s vice president – head of ESG, Nick Rose. “There are multiple things that go into making this ship more efficient.”

Royal Caribbean states that Icon is its most eco-friendly ship to date, coming in at 24 per cent more energy efficient than required standards for today’s large vessels.

Icon of the Seas facts

• 7.6k passengers
• 2.8k staterooms
• 50 musicians and comedians on board
• 6 record-breaking water slides

What are some of the new attractions on board?

Returning Royal Caribbean passengers will have plenty of exclusive features to enjoy, including a giddy array of new night-time hangouts. Dueling Pianos, for example, sees two pianists go head-to-head in a nightly battle of the baby grands, with sing-alongs and crowd banter complementing the bar’s line-up of inventive cocktails (we recommend the Snap, Crackle and Pop).

The Overlook, with its iridescent lighting and futuristic foliage is a great spot for a sunset tipple thanks to the enormous wraparound windows overlooking the nose of the ship. And if you wondered if the rumours about the line’s first chief dog officer were true, Rover and her chief of staff Allison will be on board and reporting for duty.

Selling tips

Assure guests who are concerned about overcrowding by telling them that Icon of the Seas’ wide-open thoroughfares and smart lift system have all but eliminated overcrowding and choke points.

The wide variety of accommodation on board means that everyone from couples on a romantic getaway to large, multi‑generational families will be able to find a stateroom to suit them.

Guests who enjoy chilling by the pool will love the fact that Icon of the Seas has 62 per cent more water surface on board than any other Royal Caribbean ship.