The long-awaited Icon of the Seas made an enormous splash when it was introduced, and for a lot of, many causes. It surpassed an array of milestones within the cruising business.
Nevertheless, in relation to foodie vacationers and their reactions, they centered in on one key element: The ship presents greater than 20 eating choices, together with a number of brand-new eating places showing on a Royal Caribbean ship for the very first time.
Now, Royal Caribbean Worldwide was actually by no means shabby within the eating division (particularly not when in comparison with different cruise strains), so when the model mentioned it was going greater and higher than ever earlier than, cruisers acquired excited.
Should you’re amongst these vacationers watering on the mouth for a style of all that Icon of the Seas presents — and even for those who’re not, and also you simply are planning an Icon of the Seas cruise and wish to know what you’ll be able to anticipate to eat throughout your journey — now we have you lined.
Right here’s every little thing you want to know in regards to the many Icon of the Seas eating places.
Icon of the Seas Complimentary Eating places
There’s no have to spend a lavish amount of cash as a way to safe an gratifying eating expertise aboard Icon of the Seas. Because of the ship’s many complimentary eating places, new venues and menu upgrades, you’ll be able to dine in excessive model with out spending an additional penny.
In complete, Icon of the Seas has 15 complimentary eating places, together with some venues for helpful fast bites. Which means, technically, you possibly can go on a five-day cruise and eat three meals per day, and nonetheless not eat on the identical restaurant twice — and, sure, all with out spending any additional out of your journey finances. Now, that’s a terrific deal that we will get behind.
AquaDome Market
Model-new to Royal Caribbean, AquaDome Market is the Royal Caribbean’s first meals corridor. As such, the new spot combines a variety of counter-order eateries into one location, for straightforward informal eating, it doesn’t matter what you’re within the temper for. Should you and your touring companions simply can’t agree on the place to eat, that is the place you go.
The meals corridor options 5 totally different stalls with walkup home windows, serving 5 distinct sorts of road meals: crepes, Asian fare, macaroni and cheese, Mediterranean dishes, and sandwiches and salads. Every counter presents restricted choices, although. The Creme de la Crepe counter solely presents three savory crepes and three candy crepes.
On the Asian counter, you construct a bowl, primarily, topping rice or noodles along with your selection of protein and veggies; the idea is similar on the Feta Mediterranean counter, however with recent pitas. The macaroni and cheese counter presents 5 mac n’ cheese bowls, and the sandwich and salad spot presents simply 4 sandwiches and three facet salads.
- Price: Free
- Location: The AquaDome
Basecamp
Younger households will love this selection. Basecamp has a really family-friendly vibe to it, with the colourful chairs and tables and nautical theme. The menu is fairly kid-friendly as effectively.
Suppose choices like scorching canines and pretzels. There are just a few menu gadgets that include additional charges, like rooster nuggets and burgers, so hold that in thoughts earlier than you head over. There’s a bar within the restaurant, too.
- Price: Free
- Location: Chill and Thrill Island
Coastal Kitchen
The Coastal Kitchen restaurant is positioned inside Royal Caribbean’s Suite Neighborhood, so whereas it’s free, it’s solely open to these with entry to the Suite Neighborhood, aka cruisers staying in suites. Costal Kitchen serves a Mediterranean-inspired menu close to the suite solar deck.
- Price: Free (with Exceptions)
- Location: The Suite Neighborhood
The Crown Lounge
The Crown Lounge is primarily thought-about a bar, but it surely does additionally serve gentle bites. It’s solely open to Royal Caribbean Diamond, Diamond Plus, and Pinnacle Membership members as a part of the cruise strains’s Crown and Anchor Society Loyalty program, however for these cruisers, the lounge’s snacks and drinks are free.
- Price: Free (with Exceptions)
- Location: Royal Promenade
Cantina Fresca and El Loco Contemporary
These quick-bite eateries supply normal Mexican-American eats, resembling made-to-order tacos, quesadillas, and burritos. You’ll discover each venues proper subsequent to one another, and they’re possibility for visitors taking a break from all of the open deck thrills.
- Price: Free
- Location: Chill and Thrill Island, Deck 15
The Grove
Like Coastal Kitchen, The Grove is one other restaurant that’s complimentary — however solely open to suite visitors. The Grove is extra informal than Coastal Kitchen, and presents al fresco eating, but it surely nonetheless contains a Mediterranean menu.
- Price: Free (with Exceptions)
- Location: The Suite Neighborhood
Major Eating Room
The foremost eating room is your house to go for the quintessential cruise ship eating expertise. Suppose three-course menus, each single evening, and an upscale really feel that comes freed from cost. (In reality, you’ll discover that some particular nights within the foremost eating room are “formal” nights, whereby visitors may gown up a bit of greater than they in any other case would.)
Every evening within the foremost eating room is totally different, however you’ll at all times get your selection of an appetizer, foremost course and dessert. Usually, the menu choices are different sufficient that there’s somebody for everybody to like on the menu, with premium American delicacies taking heart stage.
Price Studying: Icon of the Seas vs Titanic: A Big Comparability
Typically, nevertheless, the menus are themed round a special delicacies; for instance, there’s French evening, Italian evening, and so forth. Nonetheless, even with the themes, there’s sufficient selection for many choosy eaters (you’ll be able to nearly at all times discover a steak and a Caesar salad on the menu).
- Price: Free
- Location: Deck 4
Park Cafe
The informal Park Café is your solely complimentary possibility within the Central Park neighborhood, but it surely’s in no way a lackluster one. Sit down for informal bites like sandwiches and salads.
- Price: Free
- Location: Central Park
Pearl Cafe
This glossy and trendy restaurant located on the Royal Promenade is primarily complimentary, although you’ll be able to improve and buy just a few gadgets (like specialty coffees) that do include a small price.
This café isn’t essentially the place you may go to sit down and linger awhile. As an alternative, it presents gentle bites and snacks which can be packaged so that you can tackle the go as you discover the ship. Suppose sandwiches and ready-made salads.
- Price: Free
- Location: Royal Promenade
Sorrento’s
An extended-time Royal Caribbean favourite, Sorrento’s presents pizza in any respect hours of the day, making it standard with the kiddos, in addition to these on the lookout for one thing to absorb all these cruise ship libations at a late hour.
- Price: Free
- Location: Royal Promenade
Sprinkles
What goes higher with a day by the pool than an ice cream cone? Not a lot. That’s why this ice cream spot is located proper subsequent to all of Icon of the Seas’ cool water options.
- Price: Free
- Location: Chill Island and Thrill Island
Surfside Bites
Befitting the Surfside neighborhood on the ship, Surfside Bites is shiny and pleasant, with an order window the place you’ll be able to request a restricted variety of menu gadgets which can be what you’d get at any water park or theme park. Suppose fries, cheeseburgers, pizzas, popcorn rooster and rooster fingers.
- Price: Free
- Location: Surfside
Surfside Eatery
For, effectively, ever, Royal Caribbean cruisers had one buffet possibility: Windjammer Market. That may imply, for cruisers who completely love the cruise ship buffet expertise, the restaurant might get a bit of crowded and, wherever you have been on the ship, you’d need to haul your self to at least one central spot for all of your meals.
No extra is that this the case! With Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has launched a second buffet. Surfside Eatery offers a secondary buffet outpost within the energetic Surfside neighborhood of the ship.
- Price: Free
- Location: Deck 7 Aft Starboard, Surfside
Vitality Café
Because the title suggests, Vitality Café is your house for healthful choices. Count on granola and fruit, alongside just a few upgraded menu gadgets accessible for a small price, like smoothies and recent juices.
- Price: Free
- Location: The AquaDome
Windjammer Buffet
Should you’ve ever cruised with Royal Caribbean earlier than, you realize Windjammer Market. That is the road’s traditional cruise ship buffet. Don’t anticipate something fancy, however do anticipate to pile your plate excessive with a variety of delicious choices, thrice a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Price: Free
- Location: Chill and Thrill Island
Icon of the Seas Specialty Eating places
Whereas sure, there are fairly just a few complimentary eating places that you would be able to dine at, on Icon of the Seas, with out dipping into your pockets, for those who’re on the lookout for one thing particular — say a date evening expertise at sea, or a celebratory meal — or simply wish to splurge a bit, you might have much more choices.
Icon of the Seas’ specialty eating places vary from the opulent and over-the-top (see the brand new Empire Supper Membership), to straightforward and anticipated (see Chops Grille). They vary from high-end to informal, and canopy a variety of cuisines. From caviar to cheeseburgers, wagyu beef to pretzel bites, you’ll find it. Right here’s what you’ll be able to anticipate.
Celebration Desk
Celebration Desk isn’t actually a restaurant per se. As an alternative, it’s a novel eating house within the AquaDome that provides a high-end setting, nice meals and a non-public expertise, for teams and particular events. Count on VIP therapy on this 12-seat house. (This takes the place of the ship’s older Chef’s Desk.)
- Price: $999 per group of as much as 12
- Location: The AquaDome
Chops Grille
Chops Grille is the signature Royal Caribbean steakhouse and it matches that eating class completely. The inside is harking back to a big-city steakhouse with all of the darkish wooden and leather-based seating you’d anticipate. The menu focuses on decadent beef choices and sides, resembling filets, ribeyes, New York strips, rack of lamb and Maine lobster, plus creamed spinach, jumbo asparagus and truffled French fries.
Do be aware that this menu just isn’t a la carte and, as an alternative, you pay a per-person price that comes with one appetizer (per individual), one soup or salad, one entrée and shareable sides. A children menu can be accessible.
- Price: $55.99 per individual (for dinner; the per-person price is barely decrease for lunch)
- Location: Central Park
Desserted
This ice cream parlor, with a twist, particularly focuses on milkshakes. Combine and match toppings and substances to craft your good deal with at this new milkshake bar (and, sure, booze is on faucet for the adults).
Location: Chill and Thrill Islands
Empire Supper Membership
One of the extremely anticipated new eating places to debut on Icon of the Seas, the Empire Supper Membership is beautiful from head to toe.
The decadent Twenties-inspired eatery boasts an exquisite eating room with a number of jewel tones, a glowing chandelier overhead and velvet seating, with a stay music stage at one far finish of the room for the swanky three-piece band. You’ll positively pay for all this decadence, although. The adults-only Supper Membership serves an expensive prix fixe eight-course expertise solely.
- Price: $200
- Location: Central Park
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
This restaurant has grow to be a staple on Royal Caribbean ships, because the model’s requisite Italian eatery. Don’t anticipate something super-fancy right here, by way of ambiance, however you’ll be able to anticipate Italian classics. Suppose carbonara, gnocchi, pasta Bolognese, risotto, osso buco and extra.
- Price: $49.99 per individual (for dinner; the per-person price is barely decrease for lunch)
- Location: Royal Promenade
Hooked Seafood
With lovely ocean views courtesy of the lengthy wall of home windows to at least one facet of this restaurant, Hooked Seafood is your house to each eat from the ocean and watch it.
The seafood menus embrace a variety of starters resembling soft-shell crab, shrimp cocktail, ceviche and chowder, whereas the entrees are your typical lobster roll, mussels, salmon and fried fish platters. Just about all of your primary seafood favorites may be discovered right here.
- Price: $54.99 per individual (for dinner; the per-person price is barely decrease for lunch)
- Location: The AquaDome
Izumi Hibachi &Sushi
An extended-standing establishment on Royal Caribbean ships, Izumi Hibachi & Sushi, presents the traditional hibachi expertise. Should you’re not up for hibachi, you may also, because the title suggests, dine on recent sushi. Should you’re going with the hibachi meal, you’ll pay a flat price primarily based on whether or not or not you need one meat or two meats in your meal.
- Price: Beginning at $30 per individual
- Location: Central Park, Deck 8 Midship Portside
Izumi within the Park
A brand-new Royal Caribbean providing among the many Icon of the Seas eating places, Izumi within the Park is an order window the place you’ll be able to request sushi and Taiyaki ice cream in bubble cones to go. The menu is easy, candy and to the purpose. You possibly can order varied sushi choices, which are available in two rolls to an order, alongside your selection of an edamame or seaweed salad.
Just a few scorching choices are additionally accessible. The bubble cones are available in tempting flavors like rainbow mochi and matcha, with vanilla ice cream topped by matcha mud, a strawberry swirl, and rainbow mochi.
- Price: Beneath $10
- Location: Central Park
Pier 7
Whereas Pier 7 isn’t a complimentary restaurant, it does supply complimentary eating for youngsters. Adults can discover fairly cheap costs, too. That is your house to go for all-day brunch, together with classics, but in addition just a few seaside-inspired bites, resembling surf and turf tacos and mango lime shrimp tostadas.
- Price: Beneath $20
- Location: Surfside
Playmakers Sports activities Bar and Arcade
Playmakers has lengthy been Royal Caribbean’s sports activities bar possibility, and the identical is the case in relation to the Icon of the Seas eating places. Count on all of your staple sports activities bar fare right here: burgers, wings, fries, nachos, and so forth.
- Price: Beneath $30
- Location: Surfside
Starbucks
It won’t appear like your neighborhood Starbucks, but it surely actually tastes prefer it. Get all of your favourite Starbucks traditional caffeinated drinks at this outpost from the well-known model.
You possibly can even order the vacation and seasonal favorites that you simply’d anticipate at any Starbucks location. Along with drinks, the outpost additionally presents Starbucks’ meals and even merchandise. It truly is like somebody took your neighborhood Starbucks and plopped it proper in the course of a cruise ship.
- Price: Beneath $10
- Location: Royal Promenade, Deck 5/6 Midship
How Many Eating places Does Icon of the Seas Have?
In complete, Icon of the Seas boasts a whopping 26 free and specialty eating places, not together with any of the bars and lounges which may supply gentle bites along with their beer, wine and cocktails (just like the Trellis Bar). There actually is one thing for everybody on this ship, irrespective of for those who’re a foodie or simply need some scrumptious gas to your cruising adventures.
Remaining Ideas
It’s clear: For foodies who need a spectacular cruising expertise, Icon of the Seas delivers with its 20-plus eating places and plethora of new venues. Should you’re prepared to spend only a bit extra in your cruise, you’ll be able to attempt all of them, however even for those who don’t pay to dine at a single specialty restaurant, you’ll nonetheless possible discover that you’ve greater than sufficient complimentary eating places to fill a complete cruise’s price of meals.
Learn Additionally: Icon of the Seas Cabins and Suites Information
Didn’t handle to attain a spot on this largest cruise ship on this planet when it set sail from Miami to the western Caribbean in January 2024? Should you take into account your self a fan of cruising, in addition to a foodie traveler, there’s no excuse to not make tracks for this ship as quickly as you presumably can.
Whereas, sure, Icon of the Seas is a lot extra than simply eating, with its leisure venues and spectacular suites and staterooms, the vary and high quality of this ship’s eating program can’t be neglected.
