Wasn’t that a reduced capacity sailing? Wouldn’t that be why it didn’t seem crowded on the world’s biggest ship? I am waiting to see the reports on a full capacity sailing.
I have heard 2024 is not the year for prices going down - particularly on the big, popular ships. Check out Emma Cruises...she seems to know a great deal about the industry.
I hope the prices on the Oasis class ships come down, they give me everything I need on a ship. Not sure I need or want what this ship offers. Thanks for the video.
Just returned from our sail on Icon and it was AMAZING. We didn't even touch some of the awesome eateries because there was just so much to choose from! Loved the variety and loved The Pearl and the smart late night snacks you could find there. We had a room that looked out the front over the bow and it was great. It provided plenty of exercise as we traveled from the front of the ship to the back of the ship several times a day. We put in 12,000 - 15,000 steps a day without visiting the workout center. The staff were all very accomodating and friendly. The shows worth watching. The food worth eating. The drinks worth drinking. It never felt crowded with approx. 8000 onboard. LOVED and can not wait to do it again.
People seem to have latched onto the talking point that the ship doesn't feel crowded. You're talking c-19 restart occupancy now. 77-80% The ships didn't feel crowded back then. The real test outside of the talking point will be when they are at 100% PLUS capacity It still may seem uncrowded then. But there is NO WAY to make that claim now
I thought this was a test cruise that was at half capacity. Full capacity, holiday time, and school out with many children running around would feel a lot more different.
The entertainment venues are to small and open concept does not work, i worked as a full time dj for over 10 years it is going to become the ships Achilles heal
Hi Matt, I was on the maiden sailing too, agree with most of your comments, for me what really caught my attention was the chairs, cushions etc, how clean will these be in 6 months and many passengers later? I hope RC keep up their standard.
The price will keep me away unfortunately. Just came off the Explorer of the Seas and after 3 Oasis class sailings we were surprised at how much we enjoyed that ship. Everyone we spoke to loved the ship. Very happy crew, great entertainment especially the pub guitarist. I do miss the storage we have on Princess…have not found better on any other cruise line and we sail inside cabins only so we can cruise more often.
Matt, do this trip and video again in Mid-Summer when all the kids are out of school and the ship is at full capacity! This video kinda sounds like you are trying to sell it for Royal Caribbean with all the “feels so uncrowded” stuff.
Yea but Matt is not the only RUclipsr to say it didn't feel crowded. I watched another channel, and they said the same thing. And those folks are not Loyal to Royal. I'm just saying. Maybe you just book it and report back 😊.
I look forward to seeing some footage in June. I’d like to see how crowded the Hideaway is. Other vloggers reporting it is crammed already and I’m afraid when school is out and more families are sailing, more adults will want to be there too, as I do. Another vlogger complaint is how LOUD the music is in the Hideaway. Is this true? Is it a place like the Solarium where one can go and relax on a lounger and get some sun while reading a book or more of a nonstop party?
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog Because we sailed when ships were 80% covid capacity and we sailed the same ships last summer. Night and day. That not crowded talking point needs to be tabled or have an asterisk until it's at 100% plus if the reporting is accurate
You hit each point spot on. I agree the space helps break up the crowds. Even with more people there is more than enough room. The baskets in the room look nice but they also squeak when you pull them out. Room isn’t as functional without draws but still a really nice space.
In terms of the suite lounge, I wonder if they found that not as many suite guests actually use the lounge portion? I mean, especially with so many places to be on Icon, I imagine they expect less lounging by suite guests and more people visiting for CK
Matt, great video!! Thanks for reviewing this ship as soon as you could! To all of the people saying that this video is misleading. This inaugural cruise had a whopping 5300-5500 passengers based off of what Matt said. Therefore this ship was pretty full when Matt filmed this video. It just wasn't at capacity with 3rd and 4th passengers in each cabin which by the way are usually children. If you'd like to see the ship with 3rd and 4th passengers bringing it to max capacity, please wait for a video to be released when children are out of school. Then you will get the video you're looking for.
@@VandelayIndustriesLLC I’ve heard so many different numbers. But Matt said when he was on the ship when he asked he was told figures of over 5,000 each time. And yes I agree, passengers will be grumpy! After all this is a ship catered towards families!Hahahaha
We couldn't agree more about the suite lounge. I think they just need to rethink the layout a little and take a page from the Oasis ships. Maybe make the bar side of the suite lounge and the other half along with the top floor the Coastal Kitchen. But overall the ship is incredible! The destination elevators are a complete game changer but you nailed by saying spreading out the pools makes an incredible difference. The ship has so many great things! Can't wait to sail on her again!
Seems like they're already having problems with overcrowding for the shows at less than full capacity (as reported by others). The Aquatheater is "bigger" but looks like less seating. Wonder if this will be addressed in the future..
They’ve always had problems for shows on all of the ships. Every cruise I’ve been on if you don’t reserve a place a month ahead you can barely make it to the biggest venues
@@Naomi-xu4hq I don't disagree but at less than full capacity and tons of people are forced to stand.. seems like they didnt plan on that. Oasis class ships the aquatheater is relatively OK in size
Thanks for the video. Quick question regarding the elevators. I noticed there is a handicap button on the screen. Do you know what that does exactly? One of our biggest issues on big ships has been getting an elevator empty enough for my wife’s power wheelchair so I am curious if that button is related to this.
I’m on the ship right now 9:30 PM. Everything is closed. Surfside shut down nowhere to get food. Windjammer is shut down nowhere to get food again 9 PM on a Thursday night. Nothing is open. A few bars are open on the promenade that’s it. Everything else again is closed.
Hi Matt! I was just on the Inaugural sailing and was very impressed with this ship. I do agree with you about the lack of drawers in the staterooms. My husband and I had an interior balcony stateroom, in the Surfside neighborhood, on Deck 14. Absolutely love the new layout of the bathroom and did like the closets with ample room and plenty of hangers. Unfortunately, the lack of drawers did make it harder to store intimate items. I used packing cubes to help keep those items more organized in the few shallow drawers that were offered and the baskets below the closets. Love your videos.
1:44 Second sea day on Day 3 of second sailing was packed all over deck 16 and 17. There were no lounge chairs in the sun to be found without a towel on them at around 1 PM (most were empty, just reserved). Windjammer always felt packed for breakfast. The elevators were often overcrowded along with the pools and whirlpools. I was surprised such a big ship could feel so packed.
Hey, Matt! Just returned from Harmony of the Seas and despite being a modern ship the power switch of bathroom light is still outside! Have they fixed that on Icon? Best regards!
It was under crowded cause it was sailing with 4900 passengers compared to around 6500-7000 on most sailings. But that being said, the oasis class ships were great with crowd control since the ship was so massive
So, it's really only slightly bigger than the last " biggest ship in the world " the Oasis which is now a distant memory. I'll tell you what RCL haves, a GREAT marketing department. Anyway, I can't WAIT to get back on Princess next month where nobody is walking around filming video reviews and reading Apps. I'm on vacation. Keep that S*** away from me
I’m not buying the “doesn’t feel crowded” I’m going to wait for more reviews when they have full bookings. You mentioned that it’s not a full cruise and adding a couple thousand more guests can and will make a HUGE difference.
Patagonian toothfish. The name "Chilean seabass" was invented by a fish wholesaler named Lee Lantz in 1977. He was looking for a name to make it attractive to the American market. Well I hope they will pay the crew more.
If Boleros was dead across the promenade, it would make sense for them not to have the noise bleed, but its upstairs. To me its like, "fine its upstairs, but I'm on this deck" where activity on the same deck divides one's attention more easily-whatever the thing may be
Very interesting! Such a beautiful ship but I am a little sour about them charging for some of the bites. It should be complimentary. LOVE the destination elevators! I experienced those once on Carnival Panorama. Unfortunately Carnival abandoned them with the XL class. Big mistake!
@@Cruises8 wait time wasn’t too long, but that could be because we went a few months after cruising restarted in Nov 2021. Just curious when did you go on panorama?
I'm wondering the same. The prices will probably keep it from ever being sold out. In a way that's good. Not the prices lol, but the prices could be working in favor of the crowds.
This cruise was not that expensive if you booked when they first opened the reservations. Our balcony room for our sailing in November is currently $5500 MORE than what we're paying. I imagine a lot of people aren't paying the current rate if they booked early. Going forward I can't imagine these prices will stay this high. That would be crazy.
We haven't noticed any crowding at the shows, other then the Aqua show but it's always been popular. We've seen several other shows and they were not crowded. After the ice show was a little of a pain, having to walk through Playmakers to get out. That was a poor design. We really love the Icon, it's just a step above.
Funny I thought the same thing when I saw the baskets - I loved the drawers on WOS. Matt this is awesome we are 50 days away from our IOS sailing and this is a great video filled with suggestions! Thank you as always for all of your content!! If I ever meet you I will FAN GIRL out!! 😄
TFS, I've heard my cruise in MAY is already sold out so we will see what a full ship looks like.. I can't wait, I do believe since the ship is so big so many things to do that it wont be as crowded all the time..Surfside & Water slides yes!! Matt, what is the Celebration Table about, my daughters birthday is on our cruise is it worth it????
Great video.And particularly think the under crowd is for the prices.Almost $ 3k for person.Not everybody can afford it. Hopefully next year be cheaper than this one
Glad to hear about no chair shortage at the pools even at 1 PM. Lets see if this holds at 100% capacity. I hope RC and Icon can eliminated chair-hogs. I played this section back several times and did not see many empty chairs littered with people belongings like past cruises. Great video as usual and look forward to our WOS cruise this spring. We decided to wait for Star being we live in Central Florida.
Ok, the elevator thing is awesome. I REALLY appreciate that as a Logistics officer with a Lean Six Sigma background. I also say this as someone who never takes the elevator and takes the stairs all day every day. Gotta earn that food!
So they've turned the cruising experience into going to a shopping mall. Take your money and actually visit a destination instead of a floating mall that curates fun.
MSC Seashore had destination elevators and it was a cinch to get from one deck to the next. That ship also has 20 decks. Glad to see RCCL added destination elevators to Icon. I just got of the Allure of the Seas with the old school elevators and there was always a wait except early in the morning. I am not a fan of the wire baskets for storage but I really like all the USB ports and outlets in the room.
why soo much money for the food, when a family has paid over $2,000 or more for a week,........humans, all they think about is money fuck money, a life is more important, and people need to get over themselfs, fuck money!
2 billion US dollars to build this crazy size ship. The largest ship ever constructed. Titanic cost $7 million to build which would amount to about $400 million today. This ship is 5 TIMES the cost of Titanic adjusted for inflation. Wow!!
12:08 leave your personal undergarments in a packing cube. Put the whole packing cube in the basket. Stays neat, tidy, and private. Problem hopefully solved there.
Also … and this may not seem big … at its widest point Icon looks to be about 8 feet wider according to the specs I found online. That may not seem like much but it definitely sheds light on how the bathrooms I’ve seen on video, both here and other channels, look bigger. Even the clip we have all seen of Wonder and Icon side by side at Coco Kay … Icon looks wider.
This is something all cruise ships need to strive for. The showers on a lot of ships are awfully small and the bathrooms def needed a little more room at a minimum. This is def. something they got right. Hope they tweak the next two ships in this class. Sounds like they got a lot right but I think they def need to make venues larger...maybe space out the music venues a little more and fix that cut through the sports bar - not a smart design.
I think weight might be a contributing factor for the baskets, a basket is far less weight then a drawer, then multiply that by how many on the ship. But I don’t know if that’s the reason. I personally would like drawers as well Matt.
To be honest, I don't think it's the weight. I've noticed way less drawers in newer (non 5 star) hotels. I am wondering if it has more to do with people leaving stuff behind in drawers...with baskets it far less likely someone doesn't see something. Hampton Inn's and the like have gotten rid of bed size drawers in some of the rooms...they put a second shelf to stick your phones, or whatever. Hard to miss seeing stuff, so no drawers to clean out...less calls about less items...no mailing stuff back to people (in the case of the hotel). It may be cheaper design (because drawers have moving parts and baskets can nest when shipping) and additionally may weigh less...but I don't think it is about the weight...although who knows.
I really hope they bring one of the Icon class ships to Australia soon. I REALLY want to try the ship but flying all the way to America for a cruise is so expensive :(
The design of this ship seems great for families with young kids but it all seems kind of exhausting to look at. Constant curvy lines, random decrative piece, inconsistent color schemes. It's kinda too overstimulating for a fun AND relaxing vacation.
Loved the destination dispatch elevators also. Wish there was more storage in the cabins. I stacked the baskets and put all four under my bed and used the cubbies as usual. However really obvious that there was less storage in these rooms. I had an infinite oceanview balcony. I saw you on the ship but did not want to bother you - but nice kinda meeting you. Haha.
I had to cancel in pool bed because of how crowed the pool is. I feel like I will be lying inside the crowd and not going to have any view. So no for me.
Reduced capacity cruise will screw your perception of space and distance and you got complimented food and drinks . I think it is so much more costly than you suggest thanks
With everything the Icon has to offer ?? My heart just SUNK seeing soooooo many people on this amazing ( and EXPENSIVE ) cruise glued to their phones 😢🤷
Security warning: never use a USB outlet you do not own. USB plugs have chips that can be hacked and loaded with viruses. Exception: if you’re using a power-only cable.
To be fair, it's not $400 for just dinner. It's a supper club, and while I am no expert on supper clubs, that's roughly what this sort of thing goes for on land.
I love the tour of the ship. I like how all of the shots were taken to depict the look and feel of the ship. With that said, I feel like this is a sponsored video. While the ship is amazing and I would definitely sail on Icon, there seems to be a few misses about how many "extra pay" restaurants and. venues there are. And that the cost is out of this world. Those that sail first, received promotions and discounts to market the ship. But overall, I think it is an amazing ship, nothing is perfect, but definitely the best ship I've seen that would suit me and my husband to date. We've sailed serval times on several cruise lines. Thanks again for the video!
I'm so glad I just switched from clear to solid colored packing cubes!!! I don't want anyone seeing my undies... and I'm sure nobody wants to see them as well! 🤣 Really good warning Matt. If going on Icon, get solid colored packing cubes!
For me I'm sorry to say that you speak too fast and it lacks charisma. It would have to be something out of this world for me to trade my normal holiday for a "Cruise" again. I'm 63 and felt that it wasn't for me as it smacked of people playing one upmanship, and bragging about their last cruise. Which sadly bores me endlessly. The only escape was docking and getting off the boat. Which is not enough reason to part with my hard earned money. Food, I'm sure is impeccable and so it should be. Here's a question do they provide a "Sensory Room" for those with "Autism" or for those who suffer from anxiety and stress. As cabin space can feel like a whole new prison. Which takes some adjusting to especially if you have a big bedroom at home. It's immaterial after awhile how many passengers are onboard as you are not at the maximum load for the numbers of passengers it can take. So in many respects you are enjoying the best of it. The question that remains is will the service be as good as it is now, or will it slip when its fully boarded. For me, with last years climate change, I suffered at sea side resort due to the actual heat was in the low 30 degrees Celsius which made wish I had stayed at home. Other cruise ships are being currently battered by storms at sea. I hope that you will not experience the same. If anything "Cruise Companies" will be once again hardest hit this year because of the "El Nino" and I hope I am wrong. The world we live in is changing drastically. So please wear your sun block and stay safe. Will check in on you all in a couple of days time.
Wasn’t that a reduced capacity sailing? Wouldn’t that be why it didn’t seem crowded on the world’s biggest ship? I am waiting to see the reports on a full capacity sailing.
From what I heard, it's only at half
💯
I think they’ve capped it for the first few months of sailing
I was told by a crew member, it’s at 75-80%. It doesn’t feel crowded at all, even in the elevators.
Yes, and all the kids are still in school! Wait until Spring Break and the summer and let’s see just how crowded it feels.
Icon is growing on me. At first I hated it and now I'm at the point I'm looking to book it...once the price floats down a bit (hopefully)
I have heard 2024 is not the year for prices going down - particularly on the big, popular ships. Check out Emma Cruises...she seems to know a great deal about the industry.
I booked this week on American Discount Cruises for Jan 2025. Around 3K for ocean view balcony, same price directly through Royal was 9K!!!
Dont book these cruises unless you have millions
destination elevators were long overdue. Big office buildings have had this for years. Great add.
We had them on the Seaside class (Seashore) with MSC, it's a real bonus. Really eases things.
As long as people know that it is counting occupancy per entry on the pad
Carnival has had them ever since the vista class
I was on oasis last week and was thinking how they need destination elevators
They just need to add pictures of the different neighborhoods on the destination panel like on the Oasis. Not just a list of numbers.
I hope the prices on the Oasis class ships come down, they give me everything I need on a ship. Not sure I need or want what this ship offers. Thanks for the video.
Just returned from our sail on Icon and it was AMAZING. We didn't even touch some of the awesome eateries because there was just so much to choose from! Loved the variety and loved The Pearl and the smart late night snacks you could find there. We had a room that looked out the front over the bow and it was great. It provided plenty of exercise as we traveled from the front of the ship to the back of the ship several times a day. We put in 12,000 - 15,000 steps a day without visiting the workout center. The staff were all very accomodating and friendly. The shows worth watching. The food worth eating. The drinks worth drinking. It never felt crowded with approx. 8000 onboard. LOVED and can not wait to do it again.
Question... Was there a night club on board?
People seem to have latched onto the talking point that the ship doesn't feel crowded. You're talking c-19 restart occupancy now. 77-80%
The ships didn't feel crowded back then. The real test outside of the talking point will be when they are at 100% PLUS capacity
It still may seem uncrowded then. But there is NO WAY to make that claim now
I would take the baskets out and set aside. I use packing cubes. They would fit nicely in the spot!
We'll see how the crowding is when she's sailing at full capacity. I hope the prices come down though. It's out of our budget 😢
I thought this was a test cruise that was at half capacity. Full capacity, holiday time, and school out with many children running around would feel a lot more different.
I purposefully waited for the revenue sailing, not the test cruise, to make this video
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlogthat was still at like 80% I heard
It’ll probably come down once the next icon class ship comes out. There’s still a lot of people wanting to get on the worlds largest cruise ship hype
The entertainment venues are to small and open concept does not work, i worked as a full time dj for over 10 years it is going to become the ships Achilles heal
wish he had about 4 less cups of coffee before makign this
slow down dud...
the auqa dome seating should have seats with back support vs bench/bleacher seating theme.
Hi Matt, I was on the maiden sailing too, agree with most of your comments, for me what really caught my attention was the chairs, cushions etc, how clean will these be in 6 months and many passengers later? I hope RC keep up their standard.
The price will keep me away unfortunately. Just came off the Explorer of the Seas and after 3 Oasis class sailings we were surprised at how much we enjoyed that ship. Everyone we spoke to loved the ship. Very happy crew, great entertainment especially the pub guitarist. I do miss the storage we have on Princess…have not found better on any other cruise line and we sail inside cabins only so we can cruise more often.
Matt, do this trip and video again in Mid-Summer when all the kids are out of school and the ship is at full capacity! This video kinda sounds like you are trying to sell it for Royal Caribbean with all the “feels so uncrowded” stuff.
Yea but Matt is not the only RUclipsr to say it didn't feel crowded. I watched another channel, and they said the same thing. And those folks are not Loyal to Royal. I'm just saying. Maybe you just book it and report back 😊.
We are doing icon in June. Not sure why it’s hard to believe the ship is indeed well optimized 🤷♂️
I look forward to seeing some footage in June. I’d like to see how crowded the Hideaway is. Other vloggers reporting it is crammed already and I’m afraid when school is out and more families are sailing, more adults will want to be there too, as I do. Another vlogger complaint is how LOUD the music is in the Hideaway. Is this true? Is it a place like the Solarium where one can go and relax on a lounger and get some sun while reading a book or more of a nonstop party?
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog
Because we sailed when ships were 80% covid capacity and we sailed the same ships last summer. Night and day. That not crowded talking point needs to be tabled or have an asterisk until it's at 100% plus if the reporting is accurate
I'm sorry Chilean sea bass killed me! Looks like Royal really spared no expense 😉
Person of culture
You hit each point spot on. I agree the space helps break up the crowds. Even with more people there is more than enough room. The baskets in the room look nice but they also squeak when you pull them out. Room isn’t as functional without draws but still a really nice space.
In terms of the suite lounge, I wonder if they found that not as many suite guests actually use the lounge portion? I mean, especially with so many places to be on Icon, I imagine they expect less lounging by suite guests and more people visiting for CK
Was disappointed we can't use Diamond status drinks for milkshakes at Desserted.
Bunch of cry babies in the comments today huh.
Great video Matt
Nothing but a paid commercial for RC.
@a.leehilliard4716 why are you here ?
I'm sure I would have fun...that being said the decor looks like something out of an Austin Powers movie!
And for $200/person you can even eat the "mutated, ill-tempered seabass"!
Matt, great video!! Thanks for reviewing this ship as soon as you could!
To all of the people saying that this video is misleading. This inaugural cruise had a whopping 5300-5500 passengers based off of what Matt said. Therefore this ship was pretty full when Matt filmed this video. It just wasn't at capacity with 3rd and 4th passengers in each cabin which by the way are usually children. If you'd like to see the ship with 3rd and 4th passengers bringing it to max capacity, please wait for a video to be released when children are out of school. Then you will get the video you're looking for.
60% capacity is the cap I heard. I think there will def be some grumpy passengers when it's maxed out.
@@VandelayIndustriesLLC I’ve heard so many different numbers. But Matt said when he was on the ship when he asked he was told figures of over 5,000 each time. And yes I agree, passengers will be grumpy! After all this is a ship catered towards families!Hahahaha
We couldn't agree more about the suite lounge. I think they just need to rethink the layout a little and take a page from the Oasis ships. Maybe make the bar side of the suite lounge and the other half along with the top floor the Coastal Kitchen. But overall the ship is incredible! The destination elevators are a complete game changer but you nailed by saying spreading out the pools makes an incredible difference. The ship has so many great things! Can't wait to sail on her again!
Seems like they're already having problems with overcrowding for the shows at less than full capacity (as reported by others). The Aquatheater is "bigger" but looks like less seating. Wonder if this will be addressed in the future..
They’ve always had problems for shows on all of the ships. Every cruise I’ve been on if you don’t reserve a place a month ahead you can barely make it to the biggest venues
@@Naomi-xu4hq I don't disagree but at less than full capacity and tons of people are forced to stand.. seems like they didnt plan on that. Oasis class ships the aquatheater is relatively OK in size
I sail both Carnival and RC and do prefer RC but they really need to stop with the adding costly dining. Carnival does a better job of included food.
We are all booked for March 30th. Our first-ever cruise. A surprise for my 9-year-old grandson. Thank you for sharing. ❤❤❤
How did it go? Did you enjoy the cruise and are you now hooked into crusing? I hope your grandson enjoyed it 😀 👍🏾 🛳
For room storage , use packing cubes and take away the baskets and place them at bottom of the closet temporarily for dirty clothes
Packing cubes? Can I post a pic please I can’t get a visual? Tia
@@ab2396 there is a really you tuber Life well cruised , she is good blogger and she loves packing cubes
First time on a Royal Caribbean cruise the end of this month. Hoping this ship is going to impress us. Can’t wait to see it.
Thanks for the video. Quick question regarding the elevators. I noticed there is a handicap button on the screen. Do you know what that does exactly?
One of our biggest issues on big ships has been getting an elevator empty enough for my wife’s power wheelchair so I am curious if that button is related to this.
I’m on the ship right now 9:30 PM. Everything is closed. Surfside shut down nowhere to get food. Windjammer is shut down nowhere to get food again 9 PM on a Thursday night. Nothing is open. A few bars are open on the promenade that’s it. Everything else again is closed.
I thought the Pearl Cafe was 24 hours and the pizza is open til very late.??
@@kimkelly4586 I don't know what was going on but they were not open.
One thing RC seems to fail at is having food open later. Because people on vacation just simply eat later so closing stuff down at 8 is such a blunder
Matt, concerning the baskets, You can use a towel to drape if front of them or take a decorative pillow case
Good point!
freebee cruise for influencers doesn't count, not a real review. plenty of deck chairs? LOL
Hi Matt! I was just on the Inaugural sailing and was very impressed with this ship. I do agree with you about the lack of drawers in the staterooms. My husband and I had an interior balcony stateroom, in the Surfside neighborhood, on Deck 14. Absolutely love the new layout of the bathroom and did like the closets with ample room and plenty of hangers. Unfortunately, the lack of drawers did make it harder to store intimate items. I used packing cubes to help keep those items more organized in the few shallow drawers that were offered and the baskets below the closets. Love your videos.
All of these "venues" seem to be for "groups"/ couples...... I travel SOLO, and could never envision me being there....
Iam waiting for the prices to come down, its unaffordable for us to book our tickets right now, although we’re really looking forward to this ship
1:44 Second sea day on Day 3 of second sailing was packed all over deck 16 and 17. There were no lounge chairs in the sun to be found without a towel on them at around 1 PM (most were empty, just reserved). Windjammer always felt packed for breakfast. The elevators were often overcrowded along with the pools and whirlpools. I was surprised such a big ship could feel so packed.
I'm waiting to see what it looks like for summer sailings. Right now it looks like a dream
to walk around with hardly any lines or people.
Hey, Matt! Just returned from Harmony of the Seas and despite being a modern ship the power switch of bathroom light is still outside! Have they fixed that on Icon? Best regards!
It was under crowded cause it was sailing with 4900 passengers compared to around 6500-7000 on most sailings. But that being said, the oasis class ships were great with crowd control since the ship was so massive
So, it's really only slightly bigger than the last " biggest ship in the world " the Oasis which is now a distant memory. I'll tell you what RCL haves, a GREAT marketing department. Anyway, I can't WAIT to get back on Princess next month where nobody is walking around filming video reviews and reading Apps. I'm on vacation. Keep that S*** away from me
PLEASE DO A VIDEO ABOUT COASTAL KITCHEN / THE GROVE. There’s no content on RUclips about them really
Overcrowded, overrated, overpriced, overhyped
Yeah, as Yogi Berra would say, it's so crowded no one goes there anymore. 😂
Just what the sheep want.
I’m not buying the “doesn’t feel crowded” I’m going to wait for more reviews when they have full bookings. You mentioned that it’s not a full cruise and adding a couple thousand more guests can and will make a HUGE difference.
Hey Matt, what would you say is the deepest pool on the ship? Being 6.5, It's always good to find one to get a decent swim if it's ever empty.
Patagonian toothfish. The name "Chilean seabass" was invented by a fish wholesaler named Lee Lantz in 1977. He was looking for a name to make it attractive to the American market. Well I hope they will pay the crew more.
They forgot to mention its wild caught and gluten free🙃
If Boleros was dead across the promenade, it would make sense for them not to have the noise bleed, but its upstairs. To me its like, "fine its upstairs, but I'm on this deck" where activity on the same deck divides one's attention more easily-whatever the thing may be
Very interesting! Such a beautiful ship but I am a little sour about them charging for some of the bites. It should be complimentary. LOVE the destination elevators! I experienced those once on Carnival Panorama. Unfortunately Carnival abandoned them with the XL class. Big mistake!
I didn’t like them on panorama took way to long that ship isn’t even that good! I was excited they rolled back on Mardi Gras
I meant that big not that good. sorry love you panorama💙
@@Cruises8 wait time wasn’t too long, but that could be because we went a few months after cruising restarted in Nov 2021. Just curious when did you go on panorama?
Congratulations on 300K subscribers Matt! Great work gets rewarded. Cheers!
Thanks a ton!
I wonder how much of the appearance of less crowds is due to the pricing of the cruise itself.
I'm wondering the same. The prices will probably keep it from ever being sold out. In a way that's good. Not the prices lol, but the prices could be working in favor of the crowds.
This cruise was not that expensive if you booked when they first opened the reservations. Our balcony room for our sailing in November is currently $5500 MORE than what we're paying. I imagine a lot of people aren't paying the current rate if they booked early. Going forward I can't imagine these prices will stay this high. That would be crazy.
We haven't noticed any crowding at the shows, other then the Aqua show but it's always been popular. We've seen several other shows and they were not crowded. After the ice show was a little of a pain, having to walk through Playmakers to get out. That was a poor design. We really love the Icon, it's just a step above.
Sounds like they prioritized public spaces over exclusive luxury areas. This is a plus in my books. Decor is stunning and creative.
Funny I thought the same thing when I saw the baskets - I loved the drawers on WOS. Matt this is awesome we are 50 days away from our IOS sailing and this is a great video filled with suggestions! Thank you as always for all of your content!! If I ever meet you I will FAN GIRL out!! 😄
TFS, I've heard my cruise in MAY is already sold out so we will see what a full ship looks like.. I can't wait, I do believe since the ship is so big so many things to do that it wont be as crowded all the time..Surfside & Water slides yes!!
Matt, what is the Celebration Table about, my daughters birthday is on our cruise is it worth it????
Celebration table is good if you have a big group and want something private for a celebration. It might be overkill for what you want.
It can hold 3000 more passengers. See how you feel when it’s full.
Great video.And particularly think the under crowd is for the prices.Almost $ 3k for person.Not everybody can afford it. Hopefully next year be cheaper than this one
Glad to hear about no chair shortage at the pools even at 1 PM. Lets see if this holds at 100% capacity. I hope RC and Icon can eliminated chair-hogs. I played this section back several times and did not see many empty chairs littered with people belongings like past cruises. Great video as usual and look forward to our WOS cruise this spring. We decided to wait for Star being we live in Central Florida.
Ok, the elevator thing is awesome. I REALLY appreciate that as a Logistics officer with a Lean Six Sigma background. I also say this as someone who never takes the elevator and takes the stairs all day every day. Gotta earn that food!
I cancelled. Looks like a shopping mall. I’ve learned that oasis class ships are the limit for me.
If you think icon looks like a shopping mall but oasis doesn’t, I’m not sure I see your line of thinking
I plan to put undergarments in the actual drawers. No big deal.
Are you the highest royal Caribbean rank?
I am a Pinnacle Club member, yes
So they've turned the cruising experience into going to a shopping mall. Take your money and actually visit a destination instead of a floating mall that curates fun.
MSC Seashore had destination elevators and it was a cinch to get from one deck to the next. That ship also has 20 decks. Glad to see RCCL added destination elevators to Icon. I just got of the Allure of the Seas with the old school elevators and there was always a wait except early in the morning. I am not a fan of the wire baskets for storage but I really like all the USB ports and outlets in the room.
why soo much money for the food, when a family has paid over $2,000 or more for a week,........humans, all they think about is money fuck money, a life is more important, and people need to get over themselfs, fuck money!
WHY NO JONNY ROCKETS
2 billion US dollars to build this crazy size ship. The largest ship ever constructed. Titanic cost $7 million to build which would amount to about $400 million today. This ship is 5 TIMES the cost of Titanic adjusted for inflation. Wow!!
12:08 leave your personal undergarments in a packing cube. Put the whole packing cube in the basket. Stays neat, tidy, and private. Problem hopefully solved there.
Also … and this may not seem big … at its widest point Icon looks to be about 8 feet wider according to the specs I found online. That may not seem like much but it definitely sheds light on how the bathrooms I’ve seen on video, both here and other channels, look bigger. Even the clip we have all seen of Wonder and Icon side by side at Coco Kay … Icon looks wider.
This is something all cruise ships need to strive for. The showers on a lot of ships are awfully small and the bathrooms def needed a little more room at a minimum. This is def. something they got right. Hope they tweak the next two ships in this class. Sounds like they got a lot right but I think they def need to make venues larger...maybe space out the music venues a little more and fix that cut through the sports bar - not a smart design.
I think weight might be a contributing factor for the baskets, a basket is far less weight then a drawer, then multiply that by how many on the ship.
But I don’t know if that’s the reason. I personally would like drawers as well Matt.
To be honest, I don't think it's the weight. I've noticed way less drawers in newer (non 5 star) hotels. I am wondering if it has more to do with people leaving stuff behind in drawers...with baskets it far less likely someone doesn't see something. Hampton Inn's and the like have gotten rid of bed size drawers in some of the rooms...they put a second shelf to stick your phones, or whatever. Hard to miss seeing stuff, so no drawers to clean out...less calls about less items...no mailing stuff back to people (in the case of the hotel). It may be cheaper design (because drawers have moving parts and baskets can nest when shipping) and additionally may weigh less...but I don't think it is about the weight...although who knows.
Is there do main dining room??
7000 people walking around with selfie sticks is a nonstarter for me. Hard pass.
Isn't it like 2000 dollars plus and they make you pay for extras ?
I really hope they bring one of the Icon class ships to Australia soon. I REALLY want to try the ship but flying all the way to America for a cruise is so expensive :(
The design of this ship seems great for families with young kids but it all seems kind of exhausting to look at. Constant curvy lines, random decrative piece, inconsistent color schemes. It's kinda too overstimulating for a fun AND relaxing vacation.
Those venues are way too small imo. Also be curious to see how many people can be seated at the included restaurants vs those that add an upcharge...
This is based on a specialty cruising with limited passengers.. So this is very misleading
Wrong. Its based on the first revenue sailing that I’m on
Loved the destination dispatch elevators also. Wish there was more storage in the cabins. I stacked the baskets and put all four under my bed and used the cubbies as usual. However really obvious that there was less storage in these rooms. I had an infinite oceanview balcony. I saw you on the ship but did not want to bother you - but nice kinda meeting you. Haha.
i predict nobody wil book this cruise 18 months from now
Going on Nov 30 hopefully not crowded. I love it not crowded. Why would u like too much crowd anyways ?
@ 11:28 2words, packing cubes, keep stuff in packing cubes. 😆😆
I had to cancel in pool bed because of how crowed the pool is. I feel like I will be lying inside the crowd and not going to have any view. So no for me.
Reduced capacity cruise will screw your perception of space and distance and you got complimented food and drinks . I think it is so much more costly than you suggest thanks
So much towards "Food"... I really don't eat that much lol. Very little. Food doesn't really mean all that much to me.
maybe in 5 years for me. Way too expensive.
No storage baskets, please!
I just looked at the cost of an interior cabin on Star of the Seas for 2025. I doubt I’ll ever be able to afford this class of ship.
Why is dueling piano bar over karaoke bar? Cacophony for sitting at sorrentos
With everything the Icon has to offer ?? My heart just SUNK seeing soooooo many people on this amazing ( and EXPENSIVE ) cruise glued to their phones 😢🤷
Way too big Doesn’t even look like a cruise ship
Royal Caribbean really outdid themselves, did they?
Security warning: never use a USB outlet you do not own. USB plugs have chips that can be hacked and loaded with viruses.
Exception: if you’re using a power-only cable.
What about having to exit the ice skating show through playmakers. That is really weird and playmakers gets way too busy.
Totally agree that’s not great
Icon looking great so far, to a scorned cruiser your videos are making me rethink my choices.
Truly, it’s a very impressive ship
Sorry, but 400 dollars for dinner on top of cruise fare is not splurging a little bit. It's more than I've ever paid for dinner in town.
Absolutely absurd amount
To be fair, it's not $400 for just dinner. It's a supper club, and while I am no expert on supper clubs, that's roughly what this sort of thing goes for on land.
I love the tour of the ship. I like how all of the shots were taken to depict the look and feel of the ship. With that said, I feel like this is a sponsored video. While the ship is amazing and I would definitely sail on Icon, there seems to be a few misses about how many "extra pay" restaurants and. venues there are. And that the cost is out of this world. Those that sail first, received promotions and discounts to market the ship. But overall, I think it is an amazing ship, nothing is perfect, but definitely the best ship I've seen that would suit me and my husband to date. We've sailed serval times on several cruise lines. Thanks again for the video!
To be fair, there are lots of extra cost restaurants on all of Royal Caribbeans ships, not just icon.
Go on it again when it's fully booked.
We are on the 2nd sailing! 😊
Same!
I'm so glad I just switched from clear to solid colored packing cubes!!! I don't want anyone seeing my undies... and I'm sure nobody wants to see them as well! 🤣 Really good warning Matt. If going on Icon, get solid colored packing cubes!
I like clear!! I can arrange so there’s no problem.
Thank you for your excellent review of the Icon.
I really enjoyed your photos accompanying the video . 👍
When we going to get a Cruise Compass for Eastern Caribbean?
Thanks Matt. Great to hear your own, personal Pros and Cons.
Also - congrats in advance for hitting 300k. Almost there 👍👍
Thanks a ton!
0:15 *Are those fake green plastic trees there to create shade for the sun beds?*
For me I'm sorry to say that you speak too fast and it lacks charisma.
It would have to be something out of this world for me to trade my normal holiday for a "Cruise" again. I'm 63 and felt that it wasn't for me as it smacked of people playing one upmanship, and bragging about their last cruise. Which sadly bores me endlessly. The only escape was docking and getting off the boat. Which is not enough reason to part with my hard earned money.
Food, I'm sure is impeccable and so it should be.
Here's a question do they provide a "Sensory Room" for those with "Autism" or for those who suffer from anxiety and stress. As cabin space can feel like a whole new prison. Which takes some adjusting to especially if you have a big bedroom at home. It's immaterial after awhile how many passengers are onboard as you are not at the maximum load for the numbers of passengers it can take. So in many respects you are enjoying the best of it. The question that remains is will the service be as good as it is now, or will it slip when its fully boarded.
For me, with last years climate change, I suffered at sea side resort due to the actual heat was in the low 30 degrees Celsius which made wish I had stayed at home. Other cruise ships are being currently battered by storms at sea. I hope that you will not experience the same. If anything "Cruise Companies" will be once again hardest hit this year because of the "El Nino" and I hope I am wrong. The world we live in is changing drastically.
So please wear your sun block and stay safe. Will check in on you all in a couple of days time.