Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship, and it somehow manages to feel like a small city rather than a boat. Sailing out of Miami on a Western Caribbean itinerary — Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Roatán — this was part vacation, part engineering marvel tour.
Sailing Away
Departing from Miami, the view from the top deck as the skyline shrinks behind you is the kind of moment that makes you forget about everything on land for a week.
The Ship
Icon has eight distinct “neighborhoods,” each with its own vibe. The top deck has pools, a water park, and looks down into the open-air Central Park canyon below. The Royal Promenade is the main indoor boulevard — Sorrento’s pizza, Spotlight Karaoke, shops, and people-watching at all hours.
Ports of Call
The Western Caribbean itinerary hit Cozumel, Costa Maya (Mexico), and Roatán (Honduras). Seeing Icon parked next to the much older Enchantment of the Seas at Cozumel really put the scale in perspective.
