Icon of the Seas Review: Is It Worth It? (The Future of Cruising Comes at a Price)

This Icon of the Seas review is based on our 2025 sailing, and from the moment we stepped onboard, it was clear this wasn’t just another cruise—it felt like stepping into the future. Royal Caribbean International has created something truly extraordinary here. But as the days went on, this experience became more complex than I expected.

Because while Icon of the Seas is easily one of the most impressive ships ever built, it also made me question whether bigger, newer, and more expensive always means better.

This also became one of the most complicated cruises I’ve ever reviewed.

Not because the ship is bad—far from it. In fact, the ship itself is incredible. The challenge is that once a cruise reaches this level of pricing, expectations change completely.

And while Icon impressed me tremendously, I also walked away realizing something important:

At current prices, I personally would not sail her again.

That may sound surprising, especially given how visually spectacular this ship is. But throughout this review, I’ll explain exactly why.

That said, this was also my birthday cruise, which made the experience even more meaningful. More importantly, it created another memorable vacation for my mom and me. Seeing her excited about the ship, enjoying the shows, and fully embracing the experience is ultimately why I continue cruising.

And Icon absolutely delivered those moments.

Quick Verdict

Overall Score: 86/100

Best For:

• Families
• First-time cruisers
• Travelers who want nonstop entertainment
• Guests who enjoy high-energy environments
• Cruisers who love cutting-edge ships

Not Ideal For:

• Travelers seeking peace and quiet
• Adults who enjoyed the Oasis-class Solarium
• Budget-conscious cruisers
• Guests sensitive to loud environments
• Those looking for a more traditional, relaxing cruise

Food Review – 9/10

The food aboard Icon of the Seas was one of the biggest surprises of the entire cruise—and easily one of the best overall dining experiences I’ve had on a Royal Caribbean ship.

The buffet, in particular, completely exceeded expectations.

On embarkation day alone, they offered lobster, crab, and premium seafood options that felt far above what I typically expect from a mainstream cruise line. It honestly reminded me more of Disney Cruise Line than Royal Caribbean.

My mom and I probably ate enough lobster that afternoon to feed an entire table.

Even more impressive, the buffet remained consistently strong throughout the cruise, with noticeable variety and rotating menus. One evening, they even served Sancocho, which genuinely caught me off guard in the best way.

Specialty dining was also excellent overall—but not without one major disappointment.

We dined at Hooked Seafood specifically expecting a high-end lobster experience. Unfortunately, the lobster roll there was underwhelming and honestly disappointing. Ironically, the complimentary lobster from the buffet was noticeably better than what we had at Hooked.

If lobster is your main goal, I would actually skip Hooked and stick with the buffet when those offerings are available.

Cabin Review – 9/10

The cabins on Icon feel modern, comfortable, and well-designed.

Our balcony cabin was very similar in size to Oasis-class cabins, which is perfectly fine because that layout already works extremely well. Storage was practical, the balcony was comfortable, and everything felt polished.

Interestingly, this became one of the cruises where I spent more time on my balcony than usual.

Not because the cabin was extraordinary—but because it became one of the only consistently quiet places onboard.

And that leads directly into my biggest issue with the ship.

Internet & Technology – 10/10

This is an area where Icon truly feels like the future of cruising.

The app worked seamlessly throughout the sailing, making reservations, checking schedules, and navigating the ship incredibly easy. It felt polished, reliable, and actually useful—something that hasn’t always been the case on other ships.

The onboard internet was also fast and consistent, with performance strong enough for streaming, browsing, and staying connected without frustration.

From a technology standpoint, this is easily one of the most advanced cruise ships at sea right now.

Pools, Hideaway & Outdoor Areas – 7/10

Visually, the outdoor areas on Icon are stunning.

The pools are beautiful, the jacuzzis are massive, and the overall design is impressive. Crowd flow is also handled surprisingly well considering how many guests are onboard.

But for me, this is where the experience started to fall apart.

The removal of the Solarium—one of my favorite features on Oasis-class ships—was a major loss.

To replace this, the adults-focused experience centers around the Hideaway Pool in the aft. While visually incredible, the atmosphere is extremely loud and high-energy, with music blasting throughout the day.

Once the DJs arrive, it becomes more of a party environment than a relaxation space.

For some cruisers, this will be perfect.

For me, it wasn’t.

I cruise partly to relax, and I struggled to find a consistently peaceful outdoor space anywhere on the ship.

Even the AquaDome, which is beautiful and calm early in the morning, often had loud rehearsals and sound testing during the day.

That lack of balance between energy and relaxation significantly impacted my overall experience.

Activities, Shows & Entertainment – 10/10

This is where Icon absolutely dominates.

The entertainment onboard is world-class, and Royal Caribbean clearly invested heavily here.

My mom absolutely loved the shows, especially the AquaDome productions and Wizard of Oz. She also enjoyed the ice shows in Absolute Zero, including Starstruck and Once Upon a Time.

She talked about them constantly throughout the cruise—and honestly, that matters more to me than anything.

These trips are something we share together, and seeing her that happy reinforces why I continue cruising.

Even if the shows aren’t always my personal focus, there’s no denying the quality is outstanding.

Bars & Lounges – 7/10

Bars and lounges are spread throughout the ship, including several integrated directly into the pool and outdoor areas.

There’s a strong variety of venues, and overall, the design and placement make it easy to grab a drink no matter where you are onboard.

Service was generally solid, but this is one area where I did notice occasional slowdowns.

There were a few moments where drink service took longer than it should have, especially considering the number of staff present. Waiting is expected on a ship this size—but at times, it felt like it could have been handled more efficiently.

Not a major issue, but noticeable.

Ship Design & Atmosphere – 8/10

From a design standpoint, Icon of the Seas is simply spectacular.

From The Pearl to the AquaDome to the massive neighborhoods, everything feels ambitious, modern, and incredibly well thought out. Despite being even larger than Oasis-class ships, it handles crowds remarkably well, and the flow of the ship is excellent.

But atmosphere is where things become more complicated.

The ship leans heavily toward a high-energy, family-focused environment. Kids are well-contained in dedicated areas, which is a huge positive—but the overall vibe of the ship rarely slows down.

For me, the absence of a true quiet space like the Solarium made a noticeable difference.

While the design is outstanding, the atmosphere felt less balanced than what I’ve experienced on Oasis-class ships.

Service – 9/10

Service throughout the ship was consistently strong.

The buffet was cleaned continuously, tables were cleared quickly, and staff were actively maintaining the space at all times.

Bar service was generally good as well, with friendly and attentive crew members across most venues.

While there were occasional delays at the bars, nothing ever felt outright negative or poorly handled.

Overall, the service met expectations for a ship at this level—and in many areas, exceeded them.

Pros and Cons

✅ Pros

• One of the most advanced cruise ships ever built
• Outstanding entertainment and shows
• Excellent buffet and strong overall dining
• Beautiful design and innovative layout
• Great for families and first-time cruisers

❌ Cons

• Extremely high pricing
• Lack of a true quiet adult retreat (no Solarium)
• Hideaway area can be overly loud
• Specialty dining (Hooked) can disappoint for seafood lovers
• Not ideal for relaxation-focused travelers

Final Verdict: Is Icon of the Seas Worth It?

Objectively, Icon of the Seas is an extraordinary cruise ship.

It delivers incredible food, cutting-edge technology, high-end entertainment, and a visually stunning onboard experience.

But value matters.

And at current pricing, that’s where things become difficult.

Personally, I still prefer the Oasis-class ships—not because they are better, but because they feel more balanced. The presence of the Solarium and the ability to escape the noise matters more than I realized.

Would I recommend Icon of the Seas?

Absolutely.

But would I sail it again at today’s prices?

Honestly… probably not.

At a lower price in the future?

That’s where the answer might change.