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World's largest cruise ship to have 2 new family-focused 'neighborhoods,' including bars and water slides

Dec. 20, 2022
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3 min read
ROYAL CARIBBEAN
World's largest cruise ship to have 2 new family-focused 'neighborhoods,' including bars and water slides
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Family-friendly bars, new eateries and redesigned attractions are just some of the offerings that will be part of two new neighborhoods on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas — the first vessel in the line's Icon class and the next "world's largest cruise ship."

The vessel, which debuts in January 2024, will take Royal Caribbean's Oasis-class neighborhood concept to another level by rearranging the location of some popular venues and adding new ones, many of which will be family-focused.

A slew of bars, restaurants and fun areas will be the hallmarks of two of the new neighborhoods, Surfside and Thrill Island.

Surfside, which replaces the Oasis-class Boardwalk, will be designed for young families. It will be home to Surfside Eatery, the line's first family-centric buffet; Pier 7, an extra-fee restaurant that serves up beachy seafood fare; Lemon Post, a bar that caters to both adults and children with menus for both; and the Surfside Carousel, a redesigned version of the original Oasis-class carousels. (Oddly, despite the neighborhood's name, the vessel's FlowRider surf simulator will not be located there.)

Upper-deck Thrill Island is set to feature Basecamp, where families can enjoy Icon of the Seas' water slides at the Category 6 water park, the Crown's Edge ropes course, or a bite or drink at the accompanying walk-up window and bar; the Lost Dunes mini-golf course, where families will have to dodge sunken ships and plane wrecks to score the perfect hole in one; and Desserted, a milkshake shop that also has spiked options for adults.

When it begins sailing, 20-deck 7,600-passenger Icon of the Seas will officially become the biggest cruise ship in the world, taking the title from its current holder, sister ship Wonder of the Seas.

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Some of the notable differences between Icon of the Seas and most of its predecessors is that it will have eight neighborhoods (instead of six), five of which will be new to the ship. (Three Oasis-class favorites — the Suite Neighborhood, Royal Promenade and Central Park — will be returning.) Others include the AquaDome, and indoor version of the line's popular AquaTheater; Chill Island, with a swim-up bar and the largest pool at sea; and The Hideaway, the ship's take on an adults-only beach club.

It also will be focused more heavily on families, which means that it has a larger number of cabins designed to hold more than two people.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Featured image by ROYAL CARIBBEAN
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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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • 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.