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Video: TPG's exclusive look at Icon of the Seas under construction will blow your mind

June 16, 2023
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4 min read
GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Video: TPG's exclusive look at Icon of the Seas under construction will blow your mind
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Royal Caribbean fans, get ready to be wowed.

TPG's video team got exclusive access in May to Royal Caribbean's much-awaited, still-under-construction Icon of the Seas — and, well ... you just need to watch the video they posted from the visit to see why we think you're going to be floored. You can find it on TPG's YouTube Channel and in this story.

As our video producer Marc Ramos saw during two days of rambling around the vessel with Royal Caribbean guides, the ship's marquee features are even more amazing in person than in the artist's drawings that the line has been circulating.

The ship's record-size water park area, in particular, is a site to behold — even in its current, unfinished state. As you'll see in the video, one of Royal Caribbean's construction leads took Marc walking into the interior of one of the (record-for-a-cruise-ship) six slides in the area to show him the hand-painted, ultraviolet light-lit murals that line its interiors. They were stunning.

Just think how big those slides are, given that Marc could walk inside the tubes with a hard hat on and all his camera gear, to boot!

At 250,800 gross tons, Icon of the Seas will be the biggest cruise ship in the world when it debuts in 2024. But it's not just its giant size — about 6% bigger than the next biggest cruise ship — that is exciting cruise fans.

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The 20-deck-high vessel will boast some of the most innovative features ever conceived for a cruise ship, starting with the massive water park (there's never been one so big) and a giant glass dome that covers an entire entertainment and living zone at the front of the ship.

The latter feature is the sort of thing that's hard to get your head around until you see it in person — or on a video. It's like a more fun version of that glass-enclosed structure in Arizona that eight science-y types lived in for two years in the 1990s.

I accompanied Marc for part of his ship tour in May (as did our short-form video lead Colby Kirkpatrick —stay tuned for more videos of the ship on social media sites from him), and I kept thinking to myself, "When the dystopian end of the world arrives, the one you see in the movies where the air outside is no longer safe to breathe, this dome will be the place to be."

Watch the video, and you'll see what I mean.

As I wrote after the visit to the ship last month, there's never been anything like what you're going to see on Icon of the Seas.

You can read more about Icon of the Seas at TPG's growing array of guides to the ship and Royal Caribbean:

Icon of the Seas will debut in January 2024, operating seven-night sailings to the Caribbean out of Miami.

Featured image by GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.