Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 #1 Share Posted May 18 This post was recognized by LauraS! "Congrats on your first "Live from..." Thanks for generously sharing your time at sea with everyone at Cruise Critic! See your post featured on our: Click: Cruise Reports page. When you return, please consider submitting it to the site for publication as well: Click: Write a Review" colesc15 was awarded the badge '"Live from...."' Hi everyone. I wasn't going to do a live trip report, and I still may not keep it very live, but, currently in the air on the way down to Miami via Delta. We board icon tomorrow and we can't wait! I'll try to keep it live as much as possible, but, new ship and all, I may lose track of updating continuously. A little about us.. My wife and I are in our 30s, no kids, and recently turned Diamond Plus this year. We make full use of Royals casino program. We cruise as much as possible. I believe we have 8 cruises booked through the casino for 2024, from. Icon, to Wonder, to Utopia b2b late August. This cruise, we're in an oceanview balcony from the casino program fully comped with I believe $500 in free play. We likely won't play much in the casino this trip just because of so much more going on to experience. Pictures and more will start tomorrow! We're so excited for this ship! We also have Empire Supper club booked for night 4. Let's go!! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FamilyCruiserUK Posted May 18 #2 Share Posted May 18 Have a great trip. Look forward to your reviews 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BecciBoo Posted May 18 #3 Share Posted May 18 I'm in! Bon Voyage ya'll! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted May 18 #4 Share Posted May 18 Have a great cruise. Post whenever it fits or plans. Even sporadic info and thoughts on this ship are fun to read. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SE fla Posted May 18 #5 Share Posted May 18 I am in as well 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 Author #6 Share Posted May 18 It's Icon day! We've stayed here at the Hyatt place miami airport east before. Close to the airport and always clean, and love using points for the room. They didn't have any king rooms left when we got here, so wife and I got our own queen beds, love it! Enjoyed their complementary hot breakfast (in Miami, rare), now hanging out in the room for a bit and heading to the ship around 10:30 or so. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 Author #7 Share Posted May 18 First impressions. Wow. I can see where all of Royals cuts are going, the windjammer on icon lol. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 Author #8 Share Posted May 18 Just doing some wondering and everything is so different compared to oasis class. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 Author #9 Share Posted May 18 The feels like temp is a little over 100 here and I thought for sure the overlook would be hot, but the ac is working great. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillyFan33579 Posted May 18 #10 Share Posted May 18 2 hours ago, colesc15 said: Just doing some wondering and everything is so different compared to oasis class. This is a big negative in my book. While overall I enjoyed Icon, not having a Solarium and Boardwalk is a major miss to me. However, I realize Icon is geared towards families with kids, not someone like me in my late 50s with adult kids. I have another cruise booked on Icon (NYE later this year), but Oasis is still my favorite RCI ship class. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 Author #11 Share Posted May 18 54 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said: This is a big negative in my book. While overall I enjoyed Icon, not having a Solarium and Boardwalk is a major miss to me. However, I realize Icon is geared towards families with kids, not someone like me in my late 50s with adult kids. I have another cruise booked on Icon (NYE later this year), but Oasis is still my favorite RCI ship class. I feel like they took a lot of what people loved on oasis and implemented it with a twist. I will say so far, icon blows oasis class out of the water. The Hideaway is to die for 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 Author #12 Share Posted May 18 I must have said to my wife at least a million times today already how lucky we are to be on this ship sailing comped through the casino. I actually got goosebumps a few times. We've been at Hideaway the last few hours enjoying the water and view with it being as hot outside as it is. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillyFan33579 Posted May 18 #13 Share Posted May 18 1 minute ago, colesc15 said: I feel like they took a lot of what people loved on oasis and implemented it with a twist. I will say so far, icon blows oasis class out of the water. The Hideaway is to die for When we were on Icon in February, we literally spent 30 minutes at The Hideway. It was way too loud there for us. You could hear noise from the water slides (I loved the water slides and rode all 6 slides multiple times), the Flowrider and the mini golf course. A few days later we thought we would try it again, but there was a DJ there and it was like a party there (nothing like the Solarium on other ships). There literally is no area to get away from kids, which makes sense because they are part of the targeted demographics for Icon. On the bright side, the 1400 Lobby Bar is probably my favorite RCI bar now. During our 7 day cruise, we spent a lot of time there every day/night. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoperDK Posted May 18 #14 Share Posted May 18 Enjoy your cruise! Can't wait to hear more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 Author #15 Share Posted May 18 1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said: When we were on Icon in February, we literally spent 30 minutes at The Hideway. It was way too loud there for us. You could hear noise from the water slides (I loved the water slides and rode all 6 slides multiple times), the Flowrider and the mini golf course. A few days later we thought we would try it again, but there was a DJ there and it was like a party there (nothing like the Solarium on other ships). There literally is no area to get away from kids, which makes sense because they are part of the targeted demographics for Icon. On the bright side, the 1400 Lobby Bar is probably my favorite RCI bar now. During our 7 day cruise, we spent a lot of time there every day/night. Understandable. I love music so this has been my vibe. We've been here all afternoon and loving the view. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted May 18 #16 Share Posted May 18 1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said: On the bright side, the 1400 Lobby Bar is probably my favorite RCI bar now. During our 7 day cruise, we spent a lot of time there every day/night. What was it that attracted you to this bar? Does Icon have a Schooner Bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhillyFan33579 Posted May 18 #17 Share Posted May 18 4 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said: What was it that attracted you to this bar? Does Icon have a Schooner Bar? Yes, there is a good size Schooner Bar on deck 6 that overlooks the Promenade. Like most RCI ships, lots of trivia games were played there during the day and a piano player played/sang at night. The 1400 Lobby Bar had a really good drink menu and the bartenders were excellent there. Reminded me a lot of the Martini Bar on Celebrity ships. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 Author #18 Share Posted May 18 40 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said: Yes, there is a good size Schooner Bar on deck 6 that overlooks the Promenade. Like most RCI ships, lots of trivia games were played there during the day and a piano player played/sang at night. The 1400 Lobby Bar had a really good drink menu and the bartenders were excellent there. Reminded me a lot of the Martini Bar on Celebrity ships. I'm excited to try all the new bars and new bar drinks. The "oh Mai gawd" today at Hideaway was delicious. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 Author #19 Share Posted May 18 Can't beat a Miami sailaway 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ocean Boy Posted May 18 #20 Share Posted May 18 1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said: The 1400 Lobby Bar had a really good drink menu and the bartenders were excellent there. Reminded me a lot of the Martini Bar on Celebrity ships. Then I would probably like this Bar since I'm a big fan of the Martini Bar on X. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 18 Author #21 Share Posted May 18 Forgot to take some pictures, but went to the casino for a bit, turned my $500of free play into like $536 of real money, then went to the windy J for dinner. I wish every windjammer in the royal fleet had the selection and quality as icon.. You can definitely tell they allow for more money into their big money maker. Food was delicious and so many good desserts. I normally skip dessert on Royal because they usually suck, not today lol. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 19 Author #22 Share Posted May 19 1400 bar time. So many good drinks 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 19 Author #23 Share Posted May 19 Not sure where the other 7000 people are but not complaining 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 19 Author #24 Share Posted May 19 Aqua show time 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare colesc15 Posted May 19 Author #25 Share Posted May 19 Wraps up our diamond plus drinks for the day. Good thing we have free prime drinks in the casino for later 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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