ICON of the Seas (best, vacations, price, average)

[Mike from back east]

ICON of the SEAS is the world's largest cruise ship, so far.

Here's an article in today's NY Times, with lots of pix and video clips. Most still pix on NY Times are expandable to full-screen.

This gift link will get you past the paywall and in to see the article.

Excerpt:

For months, the 250,800-ton ship, which can carry nearly 8,000 people, has been making headlines — including some that have criticized its size and potential to damage the environment. But the passengers who plunked down $1,800 to $100,000 and boarded the ship at Port Miami in Florida on Jan. 27, said nothing could have prepared them for the vessel’s sheer scale.

I would be overwhelmed by a ship that large, but it would be fun just the same.

[Lillie767]

The last ship on which I cruised had 200 passengers. Perfect.

I may be enticed for a slightly larger ship, but I can say unequivocally, never would I sail on these behemoths. Capacity is 7600 passengers and several thousand staff.

It was built for families and that alone is a reason not to sail on it.

I'm sure there are people who enjoy this type of vessel, but actually, no one I know would even consider it.

Different markets for different people.

[elchevere]

I passed the docked ship on the MacArthur Causeway on my way to Miami Beach. That ship is HUGE.

[Lizap]

Can’t imagine being on this ship. Too large for us. The new Celebrity ships are very nice, about as large as we want to go on..

[mathjak107]

i get sick on them all

[jlawrence01]

Personally, I would NOT cruise with Icon of the Seas just simply because it is overpriced for what you get.

I know that from my experience, Royal Caribbean has at best very average food options unless you go to a specialty restaurant and at best, average service. I also know that I am not interested in a lot of the outdoor activities that they are promoting.

My last cruise on Liberty of the Seas did not have outdoor movies as their screen was NOT working and their Broadway style shows were not present due to the staff being off the ship.



The other day, I was looking to the "Sears Catalog" of cruising - Vacationstogo.com

Here is the comparison that I made:

Icon of the Seas - December 7, 2024 - 7 night Caribbean out of Miami
$2,825 for an inside cabin out of Miami
https://www.vacationstogo.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=27947

Windstar Star Pride - December 7, 2024 - 7 night Caribbean out of San Juan
$2,199 for a Suite ending in Puerto Rico
https://www.vacationstogo.com/fastdeal.cfm?deal=43841

350 passengers

Windstar does NOT believe in sea days so you will have six port days on a seven day cruise going to smaller ports that the larger ships cannot get into.


I look at it this way. You are paying 30% more to go on a megaship where you will be very crowded with 7000+ other people or you can go on a boutique yacht with 312 other passengers and get outstanding service and get menus developed by the James Beard Foundation.


To me, at this point, Icon of the Seas does not make a lot of sense as a vacation option.

[mathjak107]

Originally Posted by Lizap

Can’t imagine being on this ship. Too large for us. The new Celebrity ships are very nice, about as large as we want to go on..

we took the empress of the seas to cuba years ago .

it was a smaller ship.

a bit disappointed in the ship because it was smaller and didn’t have much to do

[tmtex]

I wouldnt want to cruise on it

[Jezer]

My idea of hell. My days of cruising on large ships is over. I've done a few. The largest was around 3,300 passengers, and that was big enough.

[heavymind]

What a monstrosity of human arrogance. Looks like a modern day Titanic just waiting to happen, and good riddance to that!