Is Icon of the Seas Worth It for Families? Our Honest Review

We booked a seven-night sailing on Icon of the Seas from Miami with our two-year-old, looking for a family vacation. Icon seemed to offer the right balance: enough activities to keep the days full, spaces that we could genuinely enjoy, and very little planning required once we were onboard.

That was largely what we found.

The ship was enormous but rarely felt crowded. It was new, polished and easy to explore, with beautiful spaces like Central Park and the AquaDome, plenty of water activities, good entertainment and food that was reliable. More than anything, Icon worked because the cruise seemed to plan itself.

Before we could enjoy any of that, though, we came very close to missing the ship entirely.

The Flight Mistake We Will Not Make Again

We flew from Toronto to Miami on the morning the cruise departed.

Then we missed our original flight.

The Air Canada customer service representative, Jaspreet, who helped us was incredible. She had missed a cruise herself before, so she immediately understood why we were panicking and made it her mission to get us onto the next available flight.

We boarded the replacement flight and thought the problem was solved. Then we sat on the tarmac for nearly two hours as air traffic control staffing shortages during the U.S. government shutdown disrupted flights.

By then, we were convinced we were going to miss the cruise. We were trying to figure out the ship’s actual departure deadline, but it was surprisingly difficult to find a clear final boarding time in the app. We knew when the ship was scheduled to leave, but not how late we could realistically arrive.

We eventually made it to Miami, rushed to the terminal and boarded in time.

Then, after all of that, the ship did not leave until much later.

We were relieved, but the whole experience taught us a lesson we already knew: fly in the day before.

We were told that if we missed the ship, it might have been possible to fly to the next port and join the cruise there, but that would have meant additional costs, more uncertainty and potentially losing part of the trip.

The Ship Felt Like a Destination

Once we were onboard, the stress disappeared quickly.

Icon of the Seas was still relatively new when we sailed, and that was noticeable. The ship felt bright, clean and modern, with public spaces that seemed thoughtfully designed rather than added over time. It did not feel like an older ship with a few new restaurants and updated furniture. Everything felt intentional.

Our ocean-view cabin worked well for the three of us. We did not need a large suite, but having a window made the room feel more open, especially during naps and slower mornings. With a toddler, the room becomes more than somewhere to sleep. It is where someone naps, snacks, changes clothes, calms down and sometimes watches the world go by when the rest of the ship becomes too much. The cabin gave us enough of a home base without making us feel like we were missing out by spending time there.

The ship itself often felt like an enormous, polished mall at sea. In many ways, it was what made the ship so easy with Pierce. We did not need to organize every part of the day. We could wander, stop for food, watch something, sit somewhere quiet or keep walking until he fell asleep in the stroller.

The funny thing is that for a ship that felt so much like a mall, I expected more shops. There were stores onboard, but not as many as I imagined for a ship of this size. Shopping was not the reason we booked the cruise, but I still expected more variety.

There were long walkways, different neighbourhoods, restaurants, entertainment venues and new spaces appearing around each corner. We could leave our cabin without a plan and simply walk until we found something to do.

Icon is huge, but the different neighbourhoods helped spread people out. There were busy periods around the elevators, shows and dining times, but we did not spend the week feeling surrounded by crowds.

The Spaces We Kept Returning To

Central Park and the AquaDome were the two areas that stood out most. Central Park felt calm and grown-up, especially in the evening. The plants, outdoor setting and surrounding restaurants made it feel more like a courtyard than a section of a cruise ship. It was not a children’s area, and that was part of why we liked it.

One of the things I appreciate about family travel is finding places that work with children without being designed entirely around them. Pierce could be with us, but Carl and I could still enjoy the space for what it was.

The AquaDome had a completely different atmosphere. It was dramatic, modern and open, with large ocean views and a feeling that was hard to compare with anywhere else on the ship.

These spaces made Icon feel more layered. It was not just pools, waterslides and children’s areas. There were places that felt beautiful simply to walk through.

Icon Is Very Water Focused

There is no avoiding the fact that Icon of the Seas is built around water activities.

There are pools, slides, splash areas and the FlowRider surf simulator. Carl loved the FlowRider, and the line was reasonable enough that he could actually enjoy it without giving up half the day.

For families with older children who love water, the ship would be easy to enjoy.

For families with babies and toddlers, there is an important limitation.

Children who are not fully toilet trained cannot use the regular pools or most water areas while wearing swim diapers.

Pierce was two, so his options were limited to the designated toddler-friendly water area. We were glad that space existed, but it is still something parents need to understand before booking.

The ship’s marketing places a lot of emphasis on its pools and water attractions. It would be easy to assume a toddler could participate in most of them, only to discover onboard that they cannot.

It did not ruin the experience for us because there were enough other things to do. Still, it changes how much value a family may get from the ship, especially if the water attractions are the main reason for booking.

The Entertainment Was Good, and That Was Enough

Icon has an ice-skating rink, theatre productions, aquatic shows and activities happening throughout the day.

The shows were okay but the ‘wow’ factor felt forced. They tried to tell a story that just wasn’t there and missed the mark. I would not say any one performance defined the trip, but that was not really the point.

The value was being able to finish dinner, walk to a show and return to the room without organizing transportation, packing a separate bag or planning an entire evening.

The entertainment was one more thing already taken care of for us. That became a theme of the cruise. Nothing required much effort. We could do a lot or very little, and either way the day still felt full.

Our Honest Opinion of the Food

The food was consistently good, but rarely memorable. We did not have bad meals. There was enough variety, and it was easy to find something that worked for everyone.

However, living in Toronto probably makes us harder to impress. We’re exposed to so many authentic cuisines at home that cruise versions of those foods may not stand out in the same way. A dish can be perfectly good without being better than what we can find within a short drive from home.

The food was not a highlight, but it was never a problem either.

What we appreciated most was the convenience. We did not have to research restaurants every day, make our way across a city or wonder whether a place would work with a toddler.

There was always somewhere nearby to eat, which made the cruise easier even when the meal itself was fairly average.

St. Maarten Was Our Favourite Stop

Of the ports we visited, St. Maarten was our favourite. The beach was beautiful, and the water was better than what we experienced later at CocoCay. It was also extremely busy.

It was not the peaceful Caribbean beach day someone might picture before the trip. There were people, chairs and activity everywhere, and with a toddler, crowded beaches require more attention.

Even so, it was the stop we enjoyed most. It felt more like the beach experience we had hoped for, even if it was not quiet.

For families planning a similar cruise, I would spend some time researching beaches before arriving. The most convenient option is not always the best one, and a slightly longer drive may be worthwhile if you want fewer crowds.

CocoCay Felt Like More of the Ship

Perfect Day at CocoCay felt like another enormous water park. That will be exactly what some families want. It is easy, convenient and filled with activities. You can leave the ship and continue the same style of vacation without arranging much yourself.

For us, it felt more like an extension of Icon than a completely different destination. After several days on a ship centred around water attractions, we were ready for something more natural. The water where we visited was also murkier than what we had seen in St. Maarten. CocoCay was not bad. It simply was not our favourite.

Families with older children who want another full day of water activities may love it. We preferred the beach experience in St. Maarten.

Why We Sometimes Book Through Costco Travel

We sometimes book cruises through Costco Travel because the overall value can be better than booking directly. Depending on the sailing, Costco may include a Shop Card or other benefits that reduce the effective cost of the trip.

The important part is comparing the complete booking rather than looking only at the advertised fare. We compare the cabin category, cancellation terms, deposit rules, included benefits and final price. We also keep in mind that Costco becomes the travel agent, which may mean going through Costco rather than Royal Caribbean if changes are needed before the cruise.

The Shop Card is useful for us because we already shop at Costco. It is less valuable for someone who would not normally spend that money there.

It is not automatically the best option every time, but it is worth checking before booking directly.

One More Stop in Miami

Our flight home was later in the day, so after leaving the ship, we went back to the teamLab installation at Superblue Miami. It was a surprisingly good post-cruise activity with Pierce.

Because it was not busy, he had plenty of space to move, run and interact with the installations. We did not have to keep asking him to stand still or stay out of the way. It gave us something enjoyable to do instead of spending hours at the airport, and it made the final day still feel like part of the trip.

For families with a late flight, I would consider planning one simple activity after the cruise. The key is keeping it easy and leaving plenty of time for luggage, transportation and the airport.

Why Icon Worked for Us

Icon of the Seas worked because it removed most of the planning from the vacation. We did not need to build an itinerary around Pierce or spend our evenings deciding what to do the next day.

The cruise planned itself.

There was always somewhere to walk, something to watch or food nearby. Carl could try the FlowRider. We could visit Central Park and the AquaDome. Pierce had space to move around, and when he needed a break, we returned to the cabin. It felt like a real vacation for all three of us.

The strength of Icon was how easily everything worked together.

Would We Book Icon of the Seas Again?

Yes, we would book Icon again.

We would also try other ships because we like experiencing something new, but Icon showed us how easy a cruise can feel with a young child. The ship was large without feeling crowded. It felt new, modern and thoughtfully designed. There was always something to do, but we never felt pressured to do everything.

It is a good choice for families who want a vacation that feels full without having to plan every detail. That may be the clearest way to describe the value of Icon of the Seas. It was not one incredible meal, one unforgettable show or one perfect beach day. It was the ability to relax, knowing the next part of the day would take care of itself.

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