RCL - ICON

04/18/25 - 04/26/25

DAY 1

Day 1 - Welcome to our next adventure aboard the world's largest cruise ship! We kicked off our trip early, catching a 5:30 AM Uber to Boston Logan Airport for our 7:20 AM direct flight to sunny Miami. After checking into the lovely Intercontinental Hotel in downtown Miami, we relaxed at the hotel’s pool deck and enjoyed a delicious lunch, poolside. Later, we strolled to Bayfront Park, a marina filled with local shops, restaurants, and bars. We found a lively Cuban restaurant for dinner and a refreshing Mojito, complete with live music and a beautiful waterfront view. We wrapped up our day with a quick ride on the Metro Mover to grab some snacks and water for tomorrow's cruise. With the very early start, everyone was ready for bed after this fun-filled day!

DAY 2

Day 2 - After a relaxing breakfast at our hotel, we hopped into an Uber and made our way to the bustling Port of Miami, where we were excited to board the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. Securing an early check-in through the RCL App allowed us to skip the lines and step onto the ship before 10:30 AM, even earlier than our scheduled time of 11:30 AM. With 18 floors, six water slides, and seven pools, the Icon can comfortably house nearly 10,000 people (including about 3,000 staff). After a few hours by the pool & slides, we spent some time exploring the ship and then settled in for a memorable evening filled with dinner and the breathtaking Aqua Action show! The show, held in the Icon's signature Aquadome located at the very front of the ship, featured high divers, synchronized swimmers, and acrobats. It was an amazing start!

DAY 3

Day 3 - Casita Day!!! Today we reserved one of the six private cabanas on the Icon's pool deck. Each "Casita" was complete with a shaded cabana as well as a sunny spot with comfy couches, chairs, and an ice cooler. Big Mike was in charge of heading to the pool bar early to secure our perfect cabana choice (Casita 3), making the experience even more fun. Once confirmed, we headed to the ship's own Easter Mass as today was Easter! After Mass, we began soaking up the sun, sipping refreshing drinks, and indulging in snacks in the Casita. Later in the day, we picked up a fun crew scavenger hunt, where you asked the crew to sign a summary sheet of where they were from, including over 50 countries; little Mike loved it. We wrapped up the day with a delightful dinner in the main dining room and were treated to the amazing Starburst ice show on the ship's ice rink!

DAY 4

Day 4 - Today, we scheduled a "Behind the Waves" tour aboard the ship! We gathered at 9:30 AM for an insightful tour of the ship's dining, recycling, laundry facilities, and processes, culminating in an exclusive meet & greet on the bridge with one of the captain's top crew members. The technology was really fascinating and the facts and figures of the ship were truly staggering. We learned that every week, the ship loads over 150,000 fresh eggs, along with thousands of pounds of meats and seafood to cater to nearly 10,000 guests. They prepare for an entire extra week onboard, in case the ship is unable to return to Miami. After the tour, we tried our luck at high-stakes BINGO and took a break on the pool deck before wrapping up the day with a delightful dinner at Chops, the ship's modern and very delicious steakhouse.

DAY 5

Day 5 - Today, we woke up docked in the beautiful island country of St. Kitts & Nevis. A new one for us! After breakfast, we exited the ship for the first time! We had planned an excursion which included a fun tour of the sister island of Nevis, along with a beachfront Caribbean lunch and some relaxing beach time! After a short open boat ride to Nevis, our tour guide took us through many of the island's highlights, including the birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, a hot springs resort, and a few 17th-century churches. Around 12:30, we stopped for our delicious lunch and a few hours to swim in the beautiful Caribbean Sea. After returning to the ship, we ended the night with a Carribean-themed dinner in the main dining room. St Kitts & Nevis were beautiful islands that we hope to return to one day!

DAY 6

Day 6 - Our next stop was the scenic island of St. Thomas. Today, we were a bit more adventurous and only planned an inner island transfer to St. John with the cruise line. Similar to yesterday, we boarded an open-air smaller boat to the beautiful island of St. John where we did a 45-minute roundtrip hike through the hillside for some amazing views, photos, and a mid-way stop at the beautiful Honeymoon Beach. After some time relaxing at the beach, we returned to our port area for a casual waterfront lunch before returning to the ship. Once on board, we also did a little shopping in the ship's signature shop for some new cruise gear! We ended the night at Playmakers, the onboard sports bar, where we watched a round of the Boston Celtics NBA playoffs.

DAY 7

Day 7 - Today we were back at sea, heading to RCL's private island. After a few early mornings, we went alarm-free and slept in a bit. Today was very casual, spending a little extra time at meals, taking in some pool and balcony time, and participating in a few activities. It was also time to return the crew member scavenger hunt, which we picked up on day 2. Tons of kids did it and little Michael came in 5th place for the largest amount of signatures and earned a few RCL branded prizes. Then, the two Mike's took on the challenge of the Icon's "Crown's Edge", a walk-the-plank type experience where you eventually swing off the plank over 154 feet over the side of the ship! It was crazy! We ended the day with a nice Italian dinner, just the happy couple, at another specialty restaurant, Giovannis! Little Michael grabbed his favorite pizza from Sorrentos and took some relaxing time in the room.

DAY 8

Day 8 - Our last full day on the Icon of the Seas has arrived. It was an amazing week. Today, we were at CocoCay, an island full of water slides, pools, restaurants, bars, and beaches. And we did it all. We started early with the slides as they get crowded after around 10:30 AM. CocoCay houses the tallest waterslide in North America, which we had to try first! It was a bit scary but fun! Midday, we switched to the pool area for some time in one of the pools along with a great casual lunch. Around 4:30 PM, it was the final "All Aboard" for a quick shower, dinner, and a performance of the Icon's signature show, The Wizard of Oz. Arrive early for some great seats! Our fabulous cruise had come to an end, as we woke up back in the Port of Miami! Until next time everyone, hint, hint... :)