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Part 2 is online - I continue with decks 7 to 11 featuring Central Park and Surfside. steamboats

Thanks! As we´re from Germany we were still on German time 😉 - anyway we usually check when it´s sunrise and then we know when we can start taking pictures. When my stomach says it´s time for food we make a break for breakfast. With such a big ship and only 3 nights you need to start out early 😉. And we weren´t the only ones. steamboats

We had the pleasure to be invited to the Christening Cruise of the Icon of the Seas. So here´s my photo intense review (German text, but use automatic translation) - at least the first part of it. As usual I start out with a deck by deck description of the ship itself. As the Icon is such a "small" ship there will be four parts (and separate ones for the restaurants and bars/lounges). My DH hates me for making so many photos 🤣... But I returned with more than 2 K. There´s still a lot of work laying ahead of me but the first four parts are finished and there´s definitely more to come. Enjoy! steamboats

Yes, there are three colors... aft, midship, forward. Aft was blue, midship more greenish blue, I don´t know forward. But when I walked through the cabin aisle I realized the other two colors (our cabin was aft). steamboats

@Pinballs83 at least you´ve found the safe! I don´t want to know how many phone calls guest relations has to answer about "where is my safe"... steamboats

Thanks, yes it was only 3 nights onboard for us. The whole ship is absolutely amazing! A real evolution of the Oasis Class ships. Of course there are things which I don't really appreciate - like that you have to walk through Playmakers to leave the ice show. BTW it's really tricky to find the Teens 'n Club. Sort of ... Go to Absolute Zero, pass the door and turn left to the bathroom... No signage at all. The Royal Promenade is huge and the open feeling of the two decks is really nice. Ww didn't have enough time to check whether the open concept doesn't lead to a mix of all the sounds from the different venues. As for the Central Park I feel more comfy on the Oasis Class. But maybe that changes when the plants are growing a bit more. On Oasis Class there are nice little areas with benches to sit. On the Icon it's more like "hurry and walk through". A lot of nice areas in Chill Island but the pool space might get cramped with a full load of passengers. The Hideaway has almost no shade at all. Thrill Island is nice (o.k., I don't really need it). Crown's Edge is not really worth the money (whatever it is... 19, 49 or 89.99 USD). I'd love to do a full cruise to get the real feeling. But I'm pretty sure that as well AS on Oasis Class you won't feel cramped even with a full load. steamboats

That's why I said "the only inside exist" 😉. Anyway it was pretty quick leaving Absolute Zero after the show. steamboats

BTW, here´s my DH´s video about the Icon of the Seas (no need to understand the German talking ;-)) And another video about the AquaDome and parts of the show steamboats

Exactly the only inside entry is through Playmakers. The other two "exits" get you on the jogging track. steamboats

Besides getting a printed version there´s a card in the cabin with a QR code. When you scan the QR code you get the pdf file of the printed version. steamboats

There used to be one ATM (of two) on the Royal Promenade which had Euro on the Med cruises. But as you are on the TA cruise they might not have switched it. And I can´t tell you anything about the fees (I have something of 6 USD in my mind). Best thing would be to use an ATM in your first EU port (which pretty likely is Malaga). You might not need much cash anyway. steamboats

Definitely non vibrations in 14286. But there was a little noise - pretty likely from the Windjammer above us. Plus the overhang of deck 15 is not what I like. steamboats

No vibrations on deck 14 aft... steamboats

So far, there is no Escape Room... not finished yet. The sign is covered and we opened the door but nothing. steamboats

@euro cruiser having my own cruise blog I can only say it´s almost impossible to update all information. I have sort of a disclaimer on my website saying that my reviews reflect the information available by the time of my cruise. I take photos of menus, provide prices of drink packages / internet onboard. Those are all things which change quickly. I just recently got a question about drink costs in specialty restaurants of a certain cruise line. By the time I was onboard the package wasn´t valid in specialty restaurants... a couple of months later the cruise line changed the packages and now it´s also valid in specialty restaurants... The same for descriptions of self organized shore tours... Prices, time tables are a subject of changes. I haven´t been to Civi train station for a couple of years but at least I´ve read on here about the upgrades (wasn´t sure whether it was elevators or escalators). At least I saw the 6 Euro busses last year when I was in port. So for all looking for information... always check the data of the information! Things can always change. steamboats

Exactly, there's a direct shuttle bus to/from the train station for 6 Euro (one way) now. steamboats

I thought they have upgraded the station with elevators or escalators? The video is 3 years old. steamboats

I wouldn´t book a flight before 12 pm. If MSC is not offering a direct shuttle bus you can take the shuttle to the train station. There you can take the Kielius Bus which gets you directly to the airport. I´ve done both - S-Bahn plus train and the Kielius Bus. steamboats

I never had a problem getting a ticket at the ticket booth for the 8:35 am ferry. As the sea can be rough after a nightly storm or as you can have rain I wouldn´t buy the ticket in advance online (and not with that fee!) If you have chosen the other ferry line for the return trip you can buy the ticket directly after you arrive at Marina Grande. steamboats

It´s about 10 min walking (leisurely) from Anacapri center to Villa San Michele. When you walk on you automatically get to the Scala Fenicia (the Phoenician stairs). But those are leading down to Capri Marina Grande not to Capri town. I don´t know of a walkway between Anacapri and Capri town. All walkways are nicely marked. So you hardly can miss them. Sounds like a leisure day (if you take the bus between Anacapri and Capri). Walking the Phoenician stairs is not recommended to anyone having problems with their knees. And I recommend good shoes (no flip flops!). The Via Krupp from Augustus gardens down to Marina Piccola has reopened. Something I never did so far as it was always closed. When you walk to Augustus gardens you pass by the Certosa San Giacomo (Charterhouse). steamboats

I already wanted to add that KD invented river crusing... But you found it. KD announced the return but never started with regular cruises. Anyway they started with a company managing the hotel department. So although they don´t operated a ship under their brand they are back in river cruising serving as a hotel management operator. steamboats

I´ve seen those elevators on various new ships in the last view years. They do work out pretty well when you use them properly. But there are usually a lot of people entering the elevator and then being surprised that there are no buttons to push for their deck. 🤣 Sorry, but this elevator is now going to deck 9. You have to chose your deck outside on the tablet and then enter the cabin with the letter indicated on the tablet. steamboats

Keep in mind that at least this year the Amazon river was on a record low and larger cruise ships were not able to go. steamboats

For those on their way back home through Munich airport - the market is still open til Jan 7th. steamboats

Happy New Year to you! I´m not too much into fireworks... just noise and garbage... I just read that the city of Munich cleaned up 35 tons of fireworks garbage. Back to the Danube river... yes, it´s raining here too and all counties along the Danube river are on a level 2 high water alert right now. steamboats