There are plenty of ways to spend extra money on Royal Caribbean‘s Icon of the Seas, and during my 7-night cruise, I tried quite a few of them! Between specialty restaurants, a spa treatment, excursions, and a poolside daybed rental, my vacation spending added up quickly.
I wanted to experience some of the ship’s unique offerings, but I also decided to treat myself. After all, a massage and a day lounging by the pool sounded like great ways to spend a cruise vacation!
I also found plenty to enjoy without spending another dime. Most of my meals were at included restaurants, and some of my favorite evenings were spent watching the ship’s shows. By the end of the week, I had a much better idea of which extras actually added value to my vacation.
Some of these splurges made my trip more enjoyable. However, others weren’t quite what I had pictured and left me thinking about how I would spend my money differently next time.
Here’s what I thought of my purchases and which ones I would book again. These are the prices I paid during my sailing, so prices for your cruise may differ.
Crown’s Edge was thrilling, but definitely not worth $90
Crown’s Edge was one of the most unusual experiences I tried on Icon of the Seas. The attraction takes you across a series of suspended platforms and over the side of the ship before a platform drops beneath your feet, sending you on a short zip line ride back onboard.
Stepping out over the ocean definitely got my adrenaline pumping! However, the course was much shorter than I expected. Once you take away the time spent getting into your gear and going through the safety instructions, the actual experience is over pretty quickly.
For $90 per person, I think it was a rip-off. I’m glad I tried it, but the thrill didn’t last long enough to justify the price, especially with so many included activities to enjoy onboard. I would only do Crown’s Edge again if it were complimentary, or cost around $15. Otherwise, this is one splurge I would absolutely skip on my next cruise!
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen was well worth it with my loyalty discount
One of my favorite purchases was also one of the least expensive! On the first night of the cruise, I had dinner at Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen. Since I am a Diamond Plus cruiser, I was able to use my buy-one-get-one specialty dining offer. My meal came to $37.44, and I thought it was well worth it!
There are plenty of included dining options on Icon of the Seas, so a specialty restaurant isn’t something you need to book to have a good meal. However, I enjoyed having a sit-down dinner at Giovanni’s as a change of pace.
Of course, my loyalty discount helped make this an easier purchase to justify. If I were paying full price, I would have to consider the cost more carefully. At the price I paid, this was a meal I would happily book again!
I would choose a traditional balcony over an infinite veranda next time
My Spacious Infinite Central Park View Balcony cabin was the largest expense of the trip. It cost $5,179.62 for two people, including prepaid gratuities.
I booked a midship cabin on deck 10 as soon as reservations became available. One of the main reasons I chose this category was that I wanted to try an infinite veranda, which was new to Royal Caribbean on Icon of the Seas.
Rather than having a traditional balcony where you step outside, the cabin had a window that could be lowered to let in fresh air.
I liked being able to open and close it, but after trying it for a week, I realized that I much prefer an actual balcony. Getting fresh air through the window just wasn’t the same as walking outside and sitting in a separate outdoor space.
I’m glad I experienced this type of cabin, but it wouldn’t be my first choice for another sailing. For such a large purchase, I would rather put my money toward a cabin with the balcony setup I know I enjoy.
I didn’t spend anything extra at CocoCay, and I didn’t feel like I was missing out
After splurging on several extras onboard Icon of the Seas, I was happy to save money while visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay.
I’ve tried Royal Beach Club and Hideaway Beach before, which cost extra, but I didn’t feel the need to book another paid experience for this visit. There was already so much included to enjoy, from the beaches and pools to the food at the Snack Shacks. I also love Oasis Lagoon with the swim-up bar and poolside
You can spend time on the beach with plenty of complimentary chairs and umbrellas to use or hang out by the pool without paying anything extra. After all the money I had already spent onboard, that was exactly what I wanted!
The paid experiences can be fun, but I didn’t need one to have a great day at CocoCay. This was one stop where I was perfectly happy without an upgrade.
Empire Supper Club was worth it for a special night out
At $200, dinner at Empire Supper Club was my most expensive meal of the cruise. But with multiple courses, cocktails, live music, and attentive service, I thought it was worth the splurge!
The restaurant has a New York theme inspired by the 1920s and 1930s. Dim lighting and a live jazz trio made it feel like a special evening, although the music was occasionally louder than I would have preferred. Little touches, like replacing napkins when someone stepped away and escorting me to the restroom, added to the experience.
Dinner started with Moët & Chandon champagne and pillow-soft spicy pecan bread with honey. My favorite dishes included the creamy saffron risotto, steak, and chocolate beehive dessert. There were also extra bites between courses and a final chocolate tree with cotton candy. By then, I was so full I could barely eat more!
Not every cocktail was my favorite, but having them included helped justify the price. The final drink was my favorite—a creamy cocktail that paired perfectly with the chocolate desserts.
I wouldn’t book this on every cruise, but for a special night with family or friends, I thought it was worthwhile. Just remember to pack for the occasion: men were required to wear a jacket during my visit.
My daybed at The Hideaway was a waste of money without shade
Another experience I wanted to try was renting an in-pool daybed at The Hideaway. This cost $350 before the cruise for an all-day rental during our sea day. The daybed could accommodate up to four people and came with a bottle of champagne, four water bottles, and towels.
There were a few things I really liked about it. The ocean views were beautiful, and having my own spot was convenient when the pool got crowded. I didn’t have to look for an empty chair, and there was plenty of room to stretch out.
But the biggest problem was the lack of shade. By early afternoon, I was so hot that I wanted to go back to my cabin and sit in the air conditioning. Taking a dip in the pool helped, but I still wished I had somewhere shaded to relax.
I also learned that I couldn’t eat on the daybed because it was in the pool. When I brought over a hot dog and tater tots from Basecamp, a lifeguard told me I needed to eat elsewhere.
For an expensive all-day rental, those two limitations were disappointing. I couldn’t comfortably stay in the sun all day, and I had to leave my spot when I wanted lunch.
I returned later to watch the sunset, which was beautiful, and used the daybed for about six hours altogether. However, I was alone for most of that time, so I wasn’t getting the same value as a group sharing the cost.
It could make more sense for four friends who want a reserved spot in The Hideaway’s lively pool scene. For me, the convenience didn’t make up for the lack of shade and food restrictions. I absolutely wouldn’t pay $350 to do it again on my own!
My massage wasn’t worth the uncomfortable sales pitch
After attending the Ladies Pamper Party, I decided to treat myself to a massage at the Vitality Spa. I received $50 off a Swedish massage that was originally $210, along with some additional mini treatments. As a Diamond Plus cruiser, I also received a complimentary add-on treatment, so I chose a foot exfoliation.
The total came to $188.80, including the service charge. Even with the discount and extra treatment, I didn’t think it was worth the money. Although the treatment was fine, I really didn’t like the sales pitch after the treatment, and it made me a little uncomfortable.
I wanted to relax, but instead, I felt like I had to keep turning down additional purchases. This really took away from the experience I was paying for. A massage is already a splurge, and I don’t want to spend that time feeling pressured to spend even more. Next time, I would skip the spa treatment or consider a thermal spa pass that I could use throughout the cruise.
The Wi-Fi was worth it, although I wish I had purchased it earlier
Before the cruise, I purchased Wi-Fi for one device. It cost $23.99 per day, or $167.93 for seven days. This wasn’t the most exciting thing I bought, but it was something I used throughout the trip. I had no problems streaming videos or posting on social media, and I thought the connection was quick.
When you pay that much to stay connected, you want the internet to work well. During my sailing, it did! My main regret was not purchasing it further in advance, as I probably could have gotten a better deal if I had booked earlier.
If you enjoy putting your phone away for the week, this is an expense you could skip. For me, being able to stay connected made it worthwhile.
My St. John excursion was beautiful, but I wanted more time at the beach
While docked in St. Thomas, I booked the “St. John On Your Own” excursion so I could visit Trunk Bay. The excursion cost $50 and covered the ferry between St. Thomas and St. John. Once we arrived, I paid $20 for a roundtrip taxi ride, including a tip, $5 for beach admission, and $10 for a beach chair.
Altogether, the outing cost $85. Trunk Bay was stunning, and the water was a perfect temperature. I loved being able to spend part of the day there!
The problem was how little time we actually had at the beach. Our ship was docked in St. Thomas from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. After meeting for the excursion, taking the ferry, finding a taxi, and allowing enough time for the return trip, we had only about an hour and a half at Trunk Bay.
I enjoyed the visit, but I wish we could have stayed longer. Before booking this excursion again, I would look closely at the port schedule. With a longer stop, I would be much more interested in returning to spend more time. With the same short visit, I would reconsider spending so much of the morning getting to and from the beach.
Many of my favorite experiences didn’t cost extra onboard Icon of the Seas
Even though I made several onboard purchases, I didn’t need those extras to stay entertained or eat delicious food. Some of my favorite experiences were already included in the cruise fare!
I loved watching The Wizard of Oz and the ice skating show Starburst. The diving show Aqua Action! was another highlight. Most of my meals were at included venues like AquaDome Market, Pearl Café, and Park Café – all of my food was delicious.
There are also plenty of included activities to keep you busy. For example, Category 6 is the largest waterpark at sea with six waterslides that don’t cost extra to ride. Similarly, the FlowRider surf simulator, rock climbing wall, mini golf, and ice skating are included as well!
This is why I wouldn’t feel the need to spend $90 on Crown’s Edge again. It was thrilling to step out over the ocean, but the experience was over so quickly. You can enjoy plenty of excitement on Icon of the Seas without paying extra for such a short attraction.
Families with younger children have even more included options in Surfside. Kids can splash around at Splashaway Bay while little ones enjoy the smaller water features at Baby Bay. The neighborhood also has a carousel and a climbing play area that don’t cost extra to use.
If you would rather spend the afternoon relaxing, you can head to one of the pools. My daybed at The Hideaway was expensive, but I could have enjoyed the same infinity pool without paying for a reserved spot.
Next time, I would be more selective about my splurges
I had a blast on Icon of the Seas and enjoyed trying so many different experiences. But after seeing what each one offered, there are a few I would happily book again and others I would skip.
Dinner at Giovanni’s was well worth it with my loyalty discount. Empire Supper Club also made for a memorable evening that I would consider repeating for a special occasion. I couldn’t say the same for the massage or daybed, and Crown’s Edge would need to cost much less for me to try it again.
Some of my favorite moments didn’t involve an extra purchase at all. Between the included shows and delicious meals onboard, I already had plenty to enjoy. Similarly, I don’t think you need to spend anything extra at CocoCay if your cruise fare was already expensive.
Next time I would choose a few splurges I’m really excited about and enjoy more of what’s already included. I certainly wouldn’t need to book as many extras to have another wonderful week on Icon of the Seas!
