OfTheSeasCruiser

My thoughts above. Also, trademark filings are often indicators. Someone else spotted a Lou's sign in Central Park, and Royal has trademarked "Lou's Jazz N' Blues". So that is something new. Other trademark filings include "6th & Main" and "Bubbles". Those could be the two unnamed areas in the Promenade that I mentioned above, for example.

I just counted 13 available cabins on deck 12 when I went to make a booking just now. Not sure why you’re not seeing them.

"Icon is going to spell the end of Royal Caribbean!" 😉 The Cruise Line Reports Reservations Reached a New Single-day All-time High in its 53-year History: https://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/press-release/1621/record-breaking-bookings-for-a-record-breaking-ship-royal-caribbeans-icon-of-the-seas-sets-new-record/

Ship: Allure wins Ports: Allure wins. CocoCay > Labadee Will you be staying a night prior? If so, Miami > Port Canaveral I've done a couple of 4 night cruises and although they are short, we've enjoyed them. You just can't go expecting it to feel like a week-long vacation.

True, but there’s also a Disney Wonder and that didn’t stop Royal. The only line I don’t think they’ll copy is Celebrity since Royal and Celebrity are owned by RCG. Just my opinion.

Doubt they would use Apex of the Seas because of the Celebrity Apex. I like Legend of Seas. Fits with the Icon idea and honors a former ship.

Just sharing my opinion. I guess if you’re in one of the cliques it could be fun, but it’s small, quiet, and definitely not my vibe. Enjoy the lounge though (while it lasts).

This is the trend. They could eliminate the DL and I wouldn't even notice the difference. One visit and I won't be back.

Proportional to their size, I would say Voyager, Freedom, Oasis, and now Icon Class have the most/best open deck space. These ships were designed for warm weather Caribbean cruising. Quantum and Radiance Classes are definitely more "cold-weather focused" and have less open pool space. They do have enclosed areas, however. Odyssey is kind of a mix because they modified the original Q Class design to be more outdoor focused.

Don’t forget about how much hate the Quantum Class received when it first debuted!

I think you are putting too much stock in what you read on Cruise Critic. Kind of like how Twitter ≠ real life.

Well if you ask me, their market research has shown that the infinite verandas are popular to a point, but are not popular enough to justify using the concept in place of all the balcony cabins. Therefore, they've gone with a combination on Icon.

They already have Allure set up for 3/4 night cruises from Port Canaveral in 2023/24.

Agree. And yet everyone complained about the Quantum Class when it debuted. Royal can't win.

I really just don't understand the shock at the Icon reveal. It has been abundantly clear since ~2016 when they put 3 huge waterslides on the aft end of Liberty OTS that this was the direction Royal was heading, particularly with the pool deck and waterslides. And it's really not all that different than the direction they established in 1999 with the launch of the Voyager Class. The "wow" has definitely been turned up in recent years, but it all comes back to the same idea that they are a family friendly cruise line. Did the original rock wall receive this much hate? Am I in love with the bright colors and huge waterpark? No, and that's coming from a designer. But I absolutely expected this and it fits the brand. Do some of you not think Royal's designers know what they're doing? I promise you their teams have done enough market research to figure out what is and isn't successful. Take the Lime and Coconut for example. They added the first one to Navigator in 2019, then Oasis, then Odyssey and Wonder, and now they've amped it up on Icon. They didn't do that just for the heck of it. Am I surprised the Diamond Lounge is so small? Nope. Checking out any recent ship renovation would've told you this. Or observing the number of hands that go up on a generic Caribbean cruise when the CD asks who is a first time cruiser. Luckily, there are plenty of other ships for those not interested in Icon. I might even prefer Oasis or Quantum Class, but I'm definitely not against going on Icon. I wouldn't use half of the new features, but there's plenty of other reasons I like Royal.

Ok, so do we have official confirmation of when the inaugural cruise is? I read January 28th, but that doesn't line up with this. But this is also showing December 2023 sailings even though Royal is saying a January 2024 debut.

There are also 3 small unnamed restaurant spaces just aft of the rock wall on deck 16.

The Grove is the suite sun deck. Coastal Kitchen is two levels according to the deck plans I am looking at:

I am going to assume the unnamed restaurants/bars are going to be new concepts. That means the following restaurants typically found on Royal's newer ships won't be onboard, unless they weren't included on the plans for some reason: Wonderland - I'll be surprised if this isn't included. Has been a staple on the newer ships. Could go in the unnamed restaurant space on deck 8 just forward of the forward elevator bank maybe. Solarium Bistro - May very well go near the AquaDome in the unnamed restaurant space, but wouldn't be surprised to see a new concept here 150 Central Park - There doesn't appear to be any unnamed restaurants in Central Park other than the venue just forward of the forward elevator bank. I will be disappointed to see this concept go Johnny Rockets - I wouldn't be surprised if this concept is eliminated based on recent ship renovations, but there are 2/3 small unnamed restaurants aft on deck 16 by the rock wall that could be possible locations for an Express option Mason Jar - Seemed like a popular idea on Wonder. Maybe it'll go in one of unnamed restaurants aft on deck 16 by the rock wall

In the AquaTheater...These appear to be the robotic arms Nick Weir was teasing on Twitter.

I'm curious why they are saying 2024 when everything else suggests an October 2023 arrival.

It’s on deck 17

?????

Royal’s professional designers have had 5 years to think through these concepts. Why don’t we all wait and see the rest of the reveal before judgement…

I just don’t understand why they would send the one Quantum Class ship designed for warm weather to a cold weather homeport.