The world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, recently marked its first anniversary. After a year of sailing in the Caribbean, which features of this spectacular ship are pleasing passengers the most?
The AquaDome, an aquatic entertainment venue enclosed by a big
glass dome, has proven to be a favorite. During the day, it’s a place to relax
and take in the views; at night, it’s a shimmering showplace for cascading fountains,
high dives and aerial acrobatics. Royal Caribbean is planning to have an Aqua
Dome on all of its Icon Class ships (more are in development, with the Star
of the Seas scheduled to launch this year).
The Pearl, a walk-through kinetic sculpture, is second only
to the AquaDome in passengers’ hearts. Lined with thousands of kinetic tiles
that can capture human movement to create energy, the Pearl simulates natural sensations
like rolling waves, gentle breezes and shooting stars. In addition to beauty
and enjoyment, the Pearl provides the structural support that made it possible for
the Icon’s designers to place more ocean-facing windows along the Royal
Promenade.
Passengers also appreciate one of the Icon’s practical
innovations – destination elevators. Instead of just pushing an “up” or “down”
button, passengers who need an elevator use a touch screen to select the floor
they’re going to. This enables the system to efficiently assign elevators to
specific trips, which reduces waiting time (important on such a big ship).
The Icon is the first Royal Caribbean ship with
infinite balconies, which can transition from indoor to outdoor space. In
balcony mode, the top half of an exterior glass wall slides open to let the
breeze in; the touch of a button closes it up to make the area, furnished with
two comfortable chairs, part of the cabin’s interior. According to Jennifer
Goswami, director of product development for Royal Caribbean, many passengers
who were unsure about the infinite balcony say they now prefer it to a
traditional balcony.
Finally, the most lovable new feature on the Icon is Rover,
a friendly Golden Retriever who lives on board and ensures that all the passengers
she meets feel welcome. Rover is such a hit with passengers and crew that all
Icon Class ships are slated to have their own “chief dog officers.”
To find out how to sail on Icon of the Seas and enjoy
all these popular features – and many more – talk with Anita, your professional travel
advisor.
Find us on
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AtthetaTravel
