This spring break I sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas on the 7 Night Eastern Caribbean and Perfect Day at Coco Cay itinerary. Although it’s the largest cruise ship in the world, with 20 floors and 8 neighborhoods, it was definitely manageable. I felt like I was able to conquer it all during our weeklong cruise.
Here’s a list of the thrills, chills and snacks that I loved on-board the largest ship to ever sail:
Thrill Island Waterpark
The neighborhood Thrill Island lives up to its name, by housing 6 insane waterslides on the top deck of the ship. It features the likes of “Frightening Bolt,” “Hurricane Hunter,” and “Storm Chasers.” The names alone should give you an idea of what to expect. The Frightening Bolt has the highest drop slide on a sailing ship. I went down 5 of the 6 slides, some more than once. The lines weren’t too bad, even with 7,000 passengers on board.
It didn’t feel like the designers of this waterpark cut any corners, but instead managed the opposite. I was really impressed by how large these slides were despite the limited surface area they had to work with. Perhaps the best part is that passengers don’t have to pay extra to enjoy Thrill Island. The waterpark is included in your cruise fare.
My Snack Suggestion on Deck 16:
After working up on appetite at the waterpark, head over to Basecamp. The free snacks are tasty – like tater tots and warm pretzels with cheese sauce. If you want to splurge, I also recommend the Crispy Shrimp Bao Buns ($8) and the Wisconsin Cheese Curds ($3).
Experiencing Crown’s Edge
Out of the dozens of ships owned by Royal Caribbean, only the Icon of the Seas offers Crown’s Edge. It’s described as “a fear-inducing challenge that’s part skywalk, part ropes course, and part thrill ride.” It dangles riders over the teal water 150+ feet below.
Before heading out, you watch a clever safety video, while getting suited up in a bright jumpsuit and helmet. Although we only paid once, we were able to experience Crown’s Edge a second time at no extra charge. Our helmets were outfitted with cameras and we were provided a video of the experience that we could download for free to show our friends.
I’ll never forget the feeling of standing on the release platform and having it drop from under me. I knew what to expect the second time around, yet I still screamed out of excitement.Â
[ Related: Crown’s Edge on Icon of the Seas: A Teen’s POV ]
My Snack Suggestion near Crown’s Edge:
After going over the edge, go over-the-top with a crazy milkshake from Desserted on Deck 16. Choose from the Chocolate Castaway, the Strawberry Shipwreck, the Miny Mariner, and more. The Stranded Burro shake is garnished with a small piñata. The milkshakes start at $14 each.
Iconic Nightlife
The nightlife vibe aboard the ship was very exciting, and you could catch me doing something different every night of my cruise.
The ship had 020, a teen space filled with gaming consoles, digital games, foosball tables, and more. Although this space was really nice, I spent most of my evenings on deck 5. I joined the evening sessions of teen karaoke each night. You don’t even want to know how many Shirley Temples I ordered from the bar! There were also themed dance parties; pirate, 70s disco, or others that took place in this area.
Speaking of dancing, have you ever been to a silent disco party? That’s when everyone wears headphones and dances together, but to their own music. It’s one of my favorite things to do with my family and something we did on-board the Icon of the Seas.
There were plenty of evening shows to enjoy, too. My personal favorites were Aqua Action!, The Wizard of Oz, and Starburst: Elemental Beauty. Aqua Action! was a series of different performances all conducted in and around water. It features divers and synchronized swimmers, as well as skateboarders and gymnasts. It’s wild. Several of the performers were Olympians. The Wizard of Oz was a modern-spin on the classic story of Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion. The performance included lots of engaging tactics like bubbles, snow drawn from the ceiling, and actors “flying.” Starburst: Elemental Beauty combined celestial-themed science with figuring skating inside Absolute Zero, the largest ice skating rink at sea. All of these shows are complimentary for cruise passengers, and unique to the Icon of the Seas.
My Snack Suggestion for Late Nights:
Sorrento’s on Deck 5 serves pizza by the slice late into the night. The line might seem long, but it moves fast. They’ll even make specialty pizzas for people with allergies. My mom liked the gluten free pepperoni pizza.
[ Related: What to Expect on Your First Royal Caribbean Cruise ]
Plenty of Places to Chill
The activities previously mentioned were very stimulating, but there were also calmer things to do aboard the Icon of the Seas. One of my favorite places to visit in the evenings was Lou’s, a jazz bar located in the Central Park neighborhood. I loved drinking mocktails outside. Feeling the breeze from the ocean, while listening to jazz, was the perfect combination of relaxation.
My Snack Suggestion in Central Park:
Go for the bubble cone ice cream at Izumi. Mine had toppings like strawberry, matcha and mochi. It was so good! You can also order sushi and other small bites from the walk-up window next to the restaurant. Most items cost around $10.
Thrill Island got chaotic with families scrambling to claim pool chairs during the sea days, and that’s why I was relieved that my mom rented a cabana, known as casitas on the Icon of the Seas. For a few hundred dollars families can rent one for the day. It was a splurge for sure, but the cabanas are huge! There was a shaded, and open area, with plenty of places for the whole family to spread out. The casitas are located on the top deck, and have fantastic sunset views.
My Snack Suggestion on Deck 15:
Just below the castitas, you’ll find the Aquadome Market. It feels like a hip food hall, with a bunch of international food choices. My personal favorite was Creme de La Crepe, a build-your-own crepe stand. I also loved MAC, a mac-n-cheese stand where you could add fun ingredients to jazz up your mac. Another good choice is GNGR, an asian-style kiosk. The Aquadom Market was a great place to enjoy a yummy snack at no extra charge.
[ Related: What It’s Like Sailing Celebrity Cruises with Kids ]
Perfect Day at CocoCay
Shifting away from the ship, Coco Cay (Royal Caribbean’s private island) was the perfect place to chill out. There are plenty of places to relax. My favorite was laying face-down on the beach chairs with the sun on my back. Overheated? Not a problem; the ocean was mere feet away. I spent hours floating in the water, basking in its beauty.
If you want to do something more adventurous at Coco Cay, you’re in luck. There’s a waterpark here. Thill Waterpark has 14 slides and a massive wave pool. It’s easy to spend all day in this area.
I was signed up to zipline at CocoCay. The course takes you over the water park and pool. Unfortunately ziplining was canceled that day due to wind. Other adventure sports include parasailing, hot air balloon rides, snorkeling and scuba diving. Just a heads up, the waterpark and adventure activities do cost extra, and may require advance booking.
My Snack Suggestion for CocoCay:
There are three Snack Shacks at Coco Cay. It has the perfect complimentary snacks for a day of sun and fun – mozzarella sticks, fries, burgers, funnel cakes, and more. I highly recommend the Shack Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
My Overall Opinion of Icon of the Seas
This particular cruise was perfect for my family based on the activities alone. It had a great mix of thrill seeking activities as well as plenty of downtime to relax. On the world’s largest cruise ship, there’s definitely something for everyone, especially for teenagers like me.
[ Related: A Teen’s Favorite Things about Small Ship Cruises ]
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