Claiming to be the “world’s best family vacation” ahead of a maiden voyage is bold. But after stepping aboard Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas in Turku, Finland, I can see grounds for the claim.  The world’s newest, biggest multibillion-dollar ship, to sail from Miami, Florida, in January 2024, has been designed with families and groups in mind. Here’s everything we loved about it.

The space

Icon of the Seas is gargantuan. Twenty decks span a dizzying   365m, which is two decks extra and 3m longer than the  previous world’s biggest ship, sibling Wonder of the Seas. Capable of carrying 7600 passengers plus 2350 crew, she’s the first ship in Royal Caribbean’s new Icon class and has a mind-blowing, record-breaking assortment of innovations and attractions.

Rooms suit every family

 A swag of new rooms have been designed to suit varying  family dynamics, with cabins capable of morphing via  interconnecting vestibules into separate spaces. Multiple cabins can be configured to sleep up to 11. The Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony at 31.12 sqm sleeps up to six, with a separate bunk room for the kids, split toilet and shower rooms and a balcony that goes from living/sleeping space to an ocean view at the press of a button.

There’s the Ultimate Family Townhouse

Got cash to splash? Check into the 165 sqm, $111,000 ($US75,000)-a-week two-bedroom, three-level suite that sleeps up to eight. With in-suite slide, movie theatre, table tennis table, dedicated karaoke and video game space, plus private whirlpool, it’s a family dream space. The suite’s Royal Genie will secure restaurant bookings and exclusive shopping opportunities, schedule your family’s entertainment program, organise tours of the ship and shore and even score private lessons on the FlowRider surf simulator.

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New neighbourhoods at sea

 The ship’s eight neighbourhoods include, for the  first time, one dedicated to families with younger  children – beach-themed Surfside. Here, shallow play splash parks will flow into Waters Edge, which is deeper. Also making a debut is Admiral Awesome, RCI’s new family fun director, who will be on hand to pop little ones on to the carousel, host the Big Shark Block Party and, at the end of the day, read bedtime stories.

There are thrills and chills

Bigger kids can merge relaxation with pushing  adrenaline to the max on decks 15-17 in two neighbourhoods.   They can bob about in 540 sqm of water in the biggest pool at sea, or hit Category 6, the world’s largest waterpark at sea – a mammoth 1580 sqm with five spine-tingling slides.

It’s high tech

 AquaDome, a glass and aluminium entertainment hub on decks 14-15,  will offer refreshments, retail and relaxation by day and by night transform into the spectacular AquaTheater. Water and light technologies entwine with aerial artists and high dives, the world’s first 17m waterfall at sea and even a simulated tornado. Meanwhile, on deck 5, The Wizard of Oz will headline in the Royal Theatre at one end of the Royal Promenade. At the opposite end you’ll find Absolute Zero, the ship’s new elliptical ice rink.

You can eat all day

Twenty new restaurants will make their debut. For families there’s  brunch all day or buffet options at Pier 7 and other Surfside Eateries. Walk-up windows offer grab-and-go convenience with Surfside Bites loaded with kid favourites. Find crepes and pizza at AquaDome Market, or hit Central Park’s Izumi’s all-day-dining window for sushi and Japanese street food.

Future cruisers

Despite her size, Icon of the Seas is RCI’s most sustainable ship so far. Powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), boasting landfill-free waste through the Green Hub program, and 93 per cent of fresh water produced on board via reverse osmosis and desalination, she sets a new benchmark for RCI’s commitment to a cleaner-energy future.

Icon of the Seas will depart in January 2024 from Miami, Florida, on year-round, seven-night cruises throughout the Caribbean including to private island resort and adventure park Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas. 

The writer was a guest of Royal Caribbean International. This story originally appeared on escape.com.au. It has been reproduced here with permission.

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