What We Loved and Hated About Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

[@chriscarley]

My takeaway is that, while there are more extra-charge options onboard, there are also more included options. In the end, the ratio between the two seems the same as Oasis-class, with just more of both. I can’t really complain.

[@luisgregorich1500]

Great content, looks like a beautiful ship, and we would like to try it someday, but it's a little too expensive and they seem to nickel and dime you, we just booked a Uniworld river cruise right before Christmas 2025 on the Danube river for the same price as a balcony room for 2 on Icon, and everything is included, alcohol, wi-fi, tips all excursions at every port, better food, better service and only 160 people on board!

[@Eatsleepcruise1]

Sounds like you got a great deal on that river cruise. Have you done one of those cruises before?

[@luisgregorich1500]

@@Eatsleepcruise1 This is our first, we did our research, Uniworld seems to have the best ratings

[@sharondalynnewton7562]

Great review. I booked star of the seas through a TA first day booking became available. I’m paying similar to what you paid for icon, same accommodations. Once the hype wears down, the prices will too. Thanks for letting me know in advance about the up charges. Some KZbinrs are saying it’s worth it even with all the up charges. Only time will tell.

[@Eatsleepcruise1]

Glad the review was helpful. What other cruise ships have you been on?

[@sharondalynnewton7562]

@@Eatsleepcruise1I’ve been on carnival a dozen times, Disney and Royal Caribbean independence of the seas. I’ve got celebrity booked for next week and Hal for August.

[@JoshRachael]

Thanks for sharing your views. We agree on most things but a couple we don't agree on would be the infinite balcony and dueling pianos. We really liked having the extra space in the room that comes with the infinite balcony plus it was oddly comforting not feeling so close to our neighbors as can happen while on the balcony at the same time with the walls that don't extend floor to ceiling and potential weirdos peeking around the corner. Seems this is a pretty split topic though The Dueling Pianos we felt were great but the venue is wayyyyy too small for that. We never got a seat because the times that we went there would be people holding seats very early or would stay over from the early session and not leave so they would stay for the early and late sessions. We ended up having to stand outside, and eventually just left the times that we tried to go. We even tried to get in during the parade but it seems everyone designated one person to hold down all the tables and bar spots while the rest of the ship was watching the parade. Putting this in the Music Hall area would have been much better in our opinion.

[@Eatsleepcruise1]

Yes, dueling pianos is the biggest pain point on Icon. When did you sail?

[@michaelsd284]

Great review. We've been RC cruisers for years, but the increased focus on up-charges is souring our loyalty,. Personally we prefer things closer to all-inclusive pricing so we can simply relax and enjoy our vacation. With the rising cruise costs, We're changing our focus to booking more trips on less expensive/older ships and adding in some land-only traveling. Good luck RC, but we think your heading in the same direction as the commercial real estate market. Maybe we will catch you on the way down.

[@Eatsleepcruise1]

Thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed the review. When is the next cruise?

[@TheLuftie]

So agree with you they overchage their prices for this ship !!!! 4000 euro as a single for a dark inside room ????? NO WAY

[@Eatsleepcruise1]

It is a great ship. But, there are much better deals for mega ships right now.

[@niuhuskieguy]

@@Eatsleepcruise1 Going on Sun Princess late next year in a Cabana Mini Suite. Just priced an Icon of the Seas cruise for around the same time, and it ended up being more expensive for an inside room than our Cabana Mini Suite. We even have the Princess Premier package added and Icon is still more expensive.

[@phrewilly8556]

Great new ship class but the prices are absolutely absurd! We cruised in a suite on the Celebrity Ascent over Christmas for nearly the same price!

[@Eatsleepcruise1]

That is crazy.

[@307living3]

I felt the same way about Basecamp

[@Eatsleepcruise1]

When did you sail on Icon?

[@Tomec86]

Won't lie, I'd love to go on Icon (or the upcoming Star of the Seas) however that price.... Well let's just say that on similar dates/itinerary for my upcoming cruise on Wonder of the Seas the Oceanview Balcony on Icon is MORE EXPENSIVE than a Jr Suite on Wonder. Let that sink in a minute and consider that Wonder of the Seas is still plenty new (just about 2 years since maiden voyage) and is the second largest cruise ship in the world.

[@Eatsleepcruise1]

That is true.

[@stevecagle2317]

Any guesses on what names RC will assign future "giga - ships?" Eventually they're going to run out of synonyms for "enormous." Will they give up and resort to "Just Another Big F-ing Ship of the Seas?" Thanks for the heads up on so many ships and cruise lines to help me find a line that better matches what I'm looking for. Great Job!

[@Eatsleepcruise1]

Glad our videos are helpful. What ship are you sailing on next?

[@margaretatter4743]

As long as people will pay those prices. They will not charge. Altomatly will increase.

[@darrylthompson3159]

THANKS

[@chadwright1200]

can anyone that knows how tall you need to be to do the slides i have smaller kids. thank you

[@DerekVuong7799]

Man, this is a horrible trend they went from offering unlimited lobster tails for free to charging for waffles. I don't get why people would pay for waffle if they could get it at the breakfast buffet. Also, waffles are cheap, it makes no sense to charge for it.

[@Eatsleepcruise1]

Yes, even RCI is now nickel and diming.

[@Frizzlefrail]

They need a no kid boat.

[@Jonusbiker]

My guy just sounds cheap. Oh no a 7 dollar burger lmao and the day beds are and have always been an on charge so that’s not new. Long story short. Icon isn’t for the cheap people.