Icon of the Seas Neighbourhood Guide - International Traveller

The world’s biggest cruise ship is a floating city and like any city, has a number of different neighbourhoods to suit all guests and needs. Quentin Long reveals the many hues and moods of Icon of the Seas’ precincts.

As much thought and design has gone into the actual engineering marvels of Icon of the Seas (of which there are many) as into the guest experience. Beyond just experiences, the team had to think about people’s movements through the day and from experience to experience.

The result is the carefully considered eight neighbourhoods of Icon of the Seas, five of which are new.

AquaDome NEW
Thrill Island NEW
Chill Island NEW
The Hideaway NEW
Surfside NEW
Central Park
Royal Promenade
Suite Neighbourhood

This is one of four stories detailing all you need to know about Icon of the Seas. If you have not read our overview you may wish to start there.

AquaDome NEW

From the outside, it is the most distinct and defining feature of Icon of the Seas. A huge dome on the bow of the ship that seems to lean forward into the wind (it apparently also has some wind resistance efficiency to help increase fuel efficiency).

The interior is best seen as two distinct spaces. The Overlook at the very bow makes use of the 600 glass panels forming a sun-drenched lounge with 220-degree views. The soft sofas and lounge chairs are perfect for relaxing with a book or headphones and a podcast.

floor-to-ceiling wraparound ocean views at the Overlook in AquaDome, Icon of the Seas — The Overlook in AquaDome features floor-to-ceiling wraparound ocean views.

My favourite space though is the Overlook Pods; perched oval-shaped shells where you find round sofas and coffee tables. For the ultimate private lounging, two of the pods are elevated so the occupants are invisible to the rest of the lounge area.

The Overlook Pods are one of the best parts of Icon of The Seas — Secure an Overlook Pods for one of the best seats in the house.

There are two bars in the Overlook. Rye & Bean serves coffee or coffee with a kick – the bar specialises in all manners of Espresso martini. The Overlook Bar is standard.

The alternative space is the AquaTheater. Borrowing from the Oasis class ships the AquaTheater puts on night performances (seas permitting), telling stories through synchronised swimming, platform divers and other performers connected to wires for aerial routines all while being drenched by the tallest waterfall at sea.

the tallest waterfall at sea in Aquadome, Icon of the Seas — Marvel at the tallest waterfall at sea in the AquaTheater.

The seating is amphitheatre style and very close to the action. During the day it is meant to be a lounge area however it seems to be most used at night.

On the Port side is Hooked, the seafood specialty restaurant. ‘Specialty’ for non-cruisers means it has an additional charge.

the dining interior at Hooked, the seafood specialty restaurant, Icon of the Seas — Order fresh seafood at Hooked.

Royal Bling, a new retail outlet specialising in Royal Caribbean jewellery (yes some devotees are that devoted) is next to the entrance.

Finally the AquaDome Market on the Starboard side. It’s a food hall concept and one of my favourites for a casual lunch.

Thrill Island NEW

No prizes for guessing what this neighbourhood is all about. Home to the Category 6 waterpark, the biggest waterpark at sea plus the full-sized outdoor basketball court, putt-putt golf and Crown’s Edge zip line ropes attraction.

The six waterslides are a bunch of firsts at sea; biggest raft slide, steepest drop slide. For all the firsts they have backed it up with some serious thrills. These are quality rides.

the drop slide at Thrill Island onboard Icon of the Seas — Brave the steepest drop slide at sea on Thrill Island.

Crowns Edge does scare the pants off many (lucky you need to wear a jumpsuit). Once dressed appropriately and harnessed in you walk out off the edge of the ship to stand on a plank, yes literally walk the plank and stand 50 metres above the sea. As your heart races they drop the plank and you swing zip line-like back to the deck.

the top view of Thrill Island's slides and waterpark, Icon of the Seas — Thrill Island is home to the biggest waterpark at sea. (Image: J Graham)

There is a bar and food outlet, Basecamp which serves complimentary snacks and more substantial meals (go the shrimp bao) for a charge. And hidden around the corner Desserted, the Milkshake bar.

Chill Island NEW

Chill Island is a beast. Across three decks with nine pools and whirlpools, five bars and eateries, it does what it says on the tin – relax time.

The Royal Bay Pool (deck 15) is the largest at sea while Swim and Tonic (deck 16) is your swim-up bar with a substantial amount of submerged seating; also the first swim-up bar at sea for Royal Caribbean.

Swim & Tonic onboard Icon of the Seas — Test out the cruise line’s first swim-up bar at sea.

There are two food offerings. The casual Mexican El Loco Fresh & Cantina Fresco and then the legendary Royal Caribbean buffet Windjammers. The AquaDome Market, while not strictly part of Chill Island is right at the door.

There are three versions of The Lime and Coconut bar, one for each deck (including the aforementioned swim-up bar), and the third on deck 17 specialises in frozen cocktails.

the El Loco Fresh & Cantina Fresco on the Icon of the Seas — Dine on casual Mexican cuisine at El Loco Fresh & Cantina Fresco.

The Hideaway NEW

All you need to know is it is adults only right at the aft (back of the ship). If it helps, The Hideaway Bar is my favourite on Icon of the Seas: great music and outdoor lounges. Just be aware that at this stage it doesn’t serve food.

Adults swimming in the infinity pool onboard The Hideaway — Unwind in The Hideaway; an adults-only oasis.

It also helps to know it has an enormous suspended infinity edge pool that can fit a decent crew and has views of the wake, lounges that sit within the pool area as well as three tiers of sun loungers and a whirlpool.

But, back to the bar…

Surfside NEW

Perhaps the most talked about neighbourhood, Surfside is designed for young families, so re-school kids. The concept is both smart and good business.

Surfside Neighbourhood onboard Icon of the Seas — The Surfside neighbourhood has been designed to cater to families of all ages and stages. (Image: SWB Photo)

Smart because at that age the things kids do are very different so providing them with a designated area specifically constructed to keep the whole family entertained all day provides an intimate experience without negotiating the needs of older kids or couples. Good business because this cohort of families are the ones who are most likely to travel outside school holidays.

But Royal Caribbean has not just invested in the hardware, a new character has been brought on board to orchestrate the entertainment and fun. Admiral Awesome puts on shows, performs magic and generally directs the kids around the area.

The hardware includes a carousel, splash pool and oversized games like Connect 4 and Ten Pin Bowling.

Carousel onboard Icon of the Seas in Surfside neighbourhood — There is non-stop entertainment onboard for families.

There are extensive food offerings with the complimentary Surfside Eatery mimicking the Windjammers buffet in miniature, Surfside Bites, The Lemon Post for mocktails and cocktails and the specialty Pier 7 for all-day brunch (at sea days) and dinner.

the Surfside Eatery on the Icon of the Seas — Stop by the Surfside Eatery for a miniature buffet-style option.

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Central Park

A green leafy space at the heart of the ship, Central Park looks and feels like a city garden. Flanked by restaurants, a café and jazz club, it makes a fresh change to the typical cruise milieu of sea views or natural light-deprived interiors.

The colourful plantation shutters that adorn the windows of the surrounding accommodation fade from green to luminous red to mimic the autumnal change of season. That’s some attention to design detail.

Central Park is literally a park onboard Icon of the Seas — Central Park is a tropical oasis at sea.

Royal Promenade

While there are Royal Promenades on all Royal Caribbean ships, none are quite like this. Pursuing the design ethos of “water water everywhere" the architects and engineers figured out how to bring the sea and sunshine into what is typically an interior space.

The Pearl, a large sphere described as a ‘kinetic’ artwork opens up the centre of the promenade to the sea and natural light. This is also mirrored on the starboard side with the new 1400 Lobby Bar which deliberately opens onto the boardwalk.

cocktails at 1400 Lobby Bar, Icon of the Seas — Pop by the new 1400 Lobby Bar for a drink.

The promenade is home to a swathe of eateries, shops and bars and stretches the entire length of the ship from Absolute Zero and the main dining room in the aft to the Royal Theatre in the bow.

My pick of the Royal Promenade are Pearl Café, The Attic, Dueling Pianos and Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade.

the Pearl Cafe, Icon of the Seas — One of the best spots to eat on the Royal Promenade is at Pearl Café.

Suite Neighbourhood

Firstly, the suite neighbourhood does not have all the suites; they are found throughout the ship across all decks.

For example, the Family Surfside Suite is near Surfside for families and the Ultimate Family Townhouse (the most uber luxury family suite on the ship) is across decks 8 and 9 at the aft of the ship with private access to Surfside.

The dedicated exclusive suite guest-only precinct has its own pool, bar and two restaurants plus a sun deck.

For more on Icon of the Seas, read our extensive reviews of the food and drink onboard Icon of the Seas, staterooms and suites onboard Icon of the Seas and our overview of Icon of the Seas to really know if this is your iconic family holiday.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

A guide to the Icon of the Seas neighbourhoods