Icon of the Seas: Ultimate cabin guide

With 1,815 balcony cabins, 276 ocean-view rooms, 179 suites and 535 interior cabins residing within Icon of the Seas' city-like interior, it’s easy to understand the ship's new benchmark status for cruise-going exploits.

Looking to book a cruise on the new mega liner, but bombarded with information overload regarding which cabin to book? Here’s a quick rundown on what awaits you – with all the faff removed.

The first thing worth noting about Royal Caribbean’s new flagship is the scale. Roughly five-times larger than RMS Titanic, stretching 1200 feet in length and weighing in at 250,800 tonnes, Icon is no mere cruise liner. There are more bedrooms here than in most towns.

Icon of the Seas is certainly poetry in motion, and each moment brings a heightened sense of exhilarating occasion. We’ve unmistakably entered a new and exciting chapter for the cruise industry, both in terms of size and revolution – but especially when it comes to accommodation.

Royal Caribbean’s efforts with Icon of the Seas have undoubtedly beckoned a fresh era for ship-based innovation, and that’s hugely apparent when examining the ship’s cabins.

Around 80 per cent of the rooms on Icon can host up to five guests, which is more than double the amount on other Royal Caribbean sister ships, making it easier for multi-generational families to stay in the same accommodation.

Icon of the Seas offers 2,805 staterooms in total, with over 28 grades to choose from – including Panoramic Ocean View, Infinite Balcony and the cosseted Ultimate Family Townhouse.

More than 80 per cent of cabins can accommodate three or more people (emphasising the focus on group travel), with 70 per cent providing balcony access, and 50 wheelchair-accessible cabins set aside for those who require them.

Accessibility has been designed into the ship’s core, providing 22 elevators that interconnect the main decks, positioned in the forward and aft atriums.

What’s the largest cabin room onboard Icon of the Seas?

The Ultimate Family Townhouse is the largest room on board, coming in at 1,772 sqft over three floors, and the second room in the ship’s Star Tier category.

At a cost of US$75,000 (£59,000) per week, it can sleep eight guests, boasts two private balconies, comes with its own mini cinema and karaoke room and a multi-level slide that connects so you can skip the stairs. It even has its own exclusive entrance to Icon’s Surfside, the first neighbourhood in the Royal Caribbean portfolio designed exclusively for young families.

Those looking for something a little more modest, however, can opt for Ocean View Balcony and Central Park View Balcony category rooms. Each comes with soft double beds, plasma screen TVs and ample storage space, while sliding glass doors offer direct access to a private terrace equipped with reclining chairs and private views.

For the first time ever on a Royal Caribbean ship, guests staying in premium rooms will find a variety of luxury amenities and experiences exclusive to them over in the Suite Neighbourhood.

Here, suite-only guests can soak up rays on the two-story Grove Suite Sun Deck, take a dip in the private pool and hot tub, or enjoy upscale cuisine at one of two restaurants – all VIP only.

What cabin categories are there?

A bit like looking through the menu in a swanky restaurant (the Empire Supper Club is a good place to start), Icon of the Seas boasts of 28 different categories to choose from. Of those cabin categories, 14 are new for RCI-grade accommodations – offering larger rooms designed for families and groups.

These include:

• Inside Plus
• Panoramic Ocean View (redesigned/both cabins and suites)
• Infinite Balcony
• Family Infinite Balcony
• Surfside Family Suite
• Sky Junior Suite
• Sunset Suite
• Sunset Corner Suite,
• Icon Loft Suite, and
• Ultimate Family Townhouse

What does each cabin include?

All cabins aboard Icon of the Seas include two twin beds (which can be converted to a Royal King-size double bed) and an en-suite bathroom (toilet, shower, vanity sink, bath/shower products and hairdryer) as standard, alongside generous closet and drawer space.

Each cabin has a sitting area, populated by a mirrored desk, a couch/sofa-bed, smart HDTV – providing on-demand movies, internet access and infotainment system, a direct-dial telephone, minibar, electronic safe box and closet-kept lifejackets.

Each room also comes with USB charging points, mood lighting, individual air-conditioning and European and US/UK electrical outlets. 24-hour room service is available for all those midnight cravings, too.

Never again will you have to cruise without access to perfectly-fired burgers or an all-night fry-up. Healthier options are also available *ahem*.

As we now exist in a greener world, you don’t need to worry about the environmental damage caused by each cabin’s air-conditioning, either. The system features a computer-monitored climate control that switches down to save energy when the cabin is not occupied – judged by the scanning of SeaPass cards when disembarking the cruise liner to enjoy shore excursions or venture into the dining areas.

Balcony staterooms all showcase a floor-ceiling sliding glass door, opening into a private veranda, whereas ‘Panoramic Ocean View’ suites can be found in the swish AquaDome Neighbourhood, supplying floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall windows.

All cabins on Icon of the Seas will have several amenities designed to enhance the experience with technology and AI.

The Royal Caribbean app boasts a digital key feature, which allows you to open your cabin door with your phone instead of the SeaPass card. You can also control the television with the app, as well as the cabin mood lighting and temperature.

What about balcony and terrace cabins?

‘Infinite Balcony’ and ‘French Balcony’ cabins offer all the standard amenities previously mentioned, but with an added bout of class – featuring a drop-down panoramic wall enclosing the private terrace.

It’s a brilliant piece of design, allowing these cabins aboard Icon of the Seas to convert and include the veranda as an indoor space at the touch of a button – something that was first seen on Celebrity Cruises' Edge-class ships.

The ’Family Infinite Balcony’ comes with Icon’s trademark Infinite Balcony (as the suite category name alludes to), accommodating up to six people with a separate children’s bedroom (featuring bunk beds) and split bathrooms.

Any ‘Surfside Family Suite’ (found in the Surfside Neighbourhood) can accommodate four people, provides a separate kids bedroom that can also be converted in a lounge, and all occupants receive Royal Suite Class perks. More on that later.

For something utterly decadent, why not try a ‘Sunset Corner Suite’? These fleet-first cabins resemble aft-facing stateroom elegance but with large-wraparound terraces for quiet enjoyment of the seascape.

The three-deck neighbourhood

All the top-tier staterooms onboard Icon of the Seas can be found in the 3-deck Suite neighbourhood, allowing access to an exclusive two-level sundeck and an expanded two-deck Coastal Kitchen – which remains private to all suite-carrying passes.

Opted for a Star Class or Sky Class suite? Congratulations, you gain access to a larger (and much more exclusive) sundeck with its own swimming pool and outdoor Jacuzzi, alongside a casual restaurant – The Grove – serving traditional and speciality cuisine from the Mediterranean.

Suites in this neighbourhood are clustered into categories (high to low grade):

• Family Townhouse
• Royal Loft
• Icon Loft
• Owner's
• Infinite Grand
• Grand, Sunset Corner
• Surfside Family
• Sunset
• Junior
• Panoramic (with windows)

Icon of the Seas’ also showcases an Icon-class four-deck neighbourhood that houses 2350 crew members, featuring redesigned crew cabins, all with double occupancy and TV, storage space, writing desks, electric and USB sockets and privacy curtains.

Royal Genie Service: Suite cabin perks

Staterooms in Star Class enjoy the added perk of Royal Genie Service, exclusive access to the Suite Lounge, Suite Sun Deck, Coastal Kitchen Restaurant, Grove Restaurant and complimentary amenities – such as free internet access, gratuities, the Deluxe Beverage Package, restocked cabin minibar, Refreshment Package and laundry pressing service.

You can also reserve seats through your Royal Genie in selected venues and enjoy priority entrance to activities aboard the cruise ship.

Staterooms in Sky Class include a concierge service, access to the Coastal Kitchen, Grove restaurant, Suite Lounge, Suite Sun Deck), complimentary Internet and priority embarkation/debarkation/dining reservations.

Sea Class staterooms passengers can enjoy dining at Coastal Kitchen, while all three classes come with a Lavazza coffee machine in each suite.

Full cabin guide

Family Infinite Balcony

• View: Ocean view
• Occupancy: 6
• Room size: 285 sqft
• Convertible balcony size: 50 sqft
• Bedrooms: 1.5
• Number of cabins: 7

Connecting ocean view balcony

• View: Ocean view
• Occupancy: 4
• Room size: 204 sqft
• Balcony size: 50 sqft
• Bedrooms: 1

Icon Balcony

• View: Ocean view
• Room size: 204 sqft
• Balcony size: 50 sqft
• Bedrooms: 1
• Number of cabins: 738

Panoramic Ocean View

• View: Ocean view
• Occupancy: 3
• Room size: 258 sqft
• Bedrooms: 1
• Number of cabins: 12

Central Park Infinite Balcony

• View: Central Park View
• Occupancy: 4
• Room size: 200 sqft
• Balcony size: 50 sqft
• Bedrooms: 1
• Number of cabins: 196

Central Park View Balcony

• View: Central Park view
• Room size: 196 sqft
• Balcony size: 50 sqft
• Bedrooms: 1
• Number of cabins: 42