Royal Caribbean details nightlife options on massive Icon of the Seas
The new class of ship that’s larger than the five Oasis-class vessels currently sailing will bring the line’s first dueling piano bar on board as well as a new jazz and blues club and champagne bar among more than 40 entertainment venues overall.
Richard Tribou | Orlando Sentinel
The biggest cruise ship in the world is going to be serving up a few new drinks at a few new venues on board as Royal Caribbean released details on some of the bars coming to Icon of the Seas when it debuts out of Miami in January.
The new class of ship that’s larger than the five Oasis-class vessels currently sailing will bring the line’s first dueling piano bar on board as well as a new jazz and blues club and champagne bar among more than 40 entertainment venues overall.
The most iconic feature of Icon of the Seas is the glass-enclosed AquaDome, a new neighborhood that will have its own elevated, unique lounge called The Overlook featuring Overlook Pods, standalone seating nooks for more intimate groups. The lounge will offer prime viewing for the nighttime AquaTheater shows that are the central entertainment in the space.
The AquaDome is also home to a new coffee concept called the Rye & Bean, which will also offer coffee-infused cocktails, and offer views of the AquaTheater show as well.
Don’t worry, there will be a Starbucks elsewhere on the ship.
The open-air Central Park neighborhood located in the middle of the ship will be home to some new venues as well including walk-up champagne bar Bubbles and Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues that features live performances with both indoor and outdoor seating.
Central Park will once again feature a version of the Trellis Bar, the largest yet in the fleet, and first to offer small bites on the menu.
Other returning venues on board include the Schooner Bar, Boleros, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade, The Attic comedy club, Spotlight Karaoke and Music Hall that features house tribute bands.
The Royal Promenade will have its own English pub still, this one called Point & Feather with a new open layout and addition of games and tournaments for darts.
The promenade will also be home to nearby Dueling Pianos, a first for the cruise line with two battling baby grands with pianists taking song requests.
Also new to the Royal Promenade will be the 1400 Lobby Bar, the first place to grab a drink once boarding the ship.
Inspired by the history of shipbuilding, the venue features drinks developed by mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, and will be the first time a Royal Promenade venue ventures out into outdoor space as it features an ocean-facing terrace.
“We’ve set out to introduce a new kind of vacation in every sense and taken a blank slate to create an unparalleled blend of ways vacationers can celebrate and make memories whatever their mood, vibe and style,” said Linken D’Souza, vice president, food and beverage for Royal Caribbean International in a press release.
The 20-deck, 250,800-gross-ton, 1,198-foot-long cruise ship remains under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. The most recent Oasis-class ship Wonder of the Seas is the current world’s largest ship record holder at 235,600 gross tons and 1,188-foot-length.
Icon of the Seas will actually have less passenger capacity based on double occupancy — 5,610 compared with Wonder’s 5,734, but the size of the rooms among 28 categories gives Icon a maximum capacity of 7,600, which exceeds Wonder’s 7,084.
It’s due for delivery to the cruise line before the end of the year, but won’t sail with paying customers until it begins seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean voyages from PortMiami on Jan. 28, 2024.
It’s the first of three announced ships in the Icon class with the next two set to be delivered in 2025 and 2026.
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