Icon of the Seas will offer more than 20 dining options including a new eight-course experience and Royal Caribbean’s first food hall at sea.
On May 25, 2023, Royal Caribbean International revealed the full lineup of dining options aboard its new ship, Icon of the Seas, coming in January 2024.
Cruisers on the new ship, which will be the first Icon Class ship and the largest in the world when launched, will enjoy a lineup of dining venues designed to cater to all types of vacationers.
Related: The 20 Biggest Cruise Ships in the World
The new announcement follows Royal Caribbean’s March 2023 reveal of Icon‘s new bars and nightlife venues.
What to expect with Icon of the Seas’ dining venues
Bring your appetite—you’ll have your pick of more than 20 new and favorite ways to dine: a combination of elevated experiences, spots for quick bites, and venues made for families with kids.
From sit-down restaurants to walk-up windows, casual to upscale, Icon of the Seas will feature options for every occasion and mood.
You’ll find new venues like the upscale Empire Supper Club, a lavish eight-course experience, AquaDome Market (Royal Caribbean’s first food hall), and the quick-service Izumi in the Park, featuring fresh sushi and more served all day long.
Along with the new flavors are a variety of returning favorite venues that Royal Caribbean fans will remember from other ships.
“The experiences had over great food are at the heart of so many shared memories that we could all use more of in our day-to-day. We’ve designed Icon of the Seas to offer every guest, no matter their tastes, age, and mood—or the occasion—a variety of ways they can easily make those moments their way every day while on vacation,” said Linken D’Souza, Royal Caribbean’s VP of Food and Beverage.
“If vacationers want to stick to their favorites, like kids and their chicken tenders, or mix it up every night and try new flavors, more than 20 experiences across Icon‘s eight neighborhoods make that possible—without compromise—more than ever,” D’Souza added.
Dining venues on Icon of the Seas
Whether you’re craving the luxury of a fine dining experience, want a place for the whole family to gather for breakfast before a shore excursion, or just need a quick bite to eat while enjoying the pool on a sea day, Icon of the Seas will have you covered with plenty of options.
Related: 33 Fun Things to Do on Cruise Sea Days
Elevated dining on Icon of the Seas
Icon will debut two brand-new upscale dining experiences for the Royal Caribbean brand: Celebration Table and Empire Supper Club.
Celebration Table will be a new 12-seat private dinner option, perfect for a special occasion (or if you just crave that VIP treatment!) Featuring the new AquaDome’s sweeping ocean views, guests at this specialty experience will have their choice of exclusive American, Italian, Asian, and seafood menus—along with the option to add on menu upgrades.
The new Empire Supper Club, located near Central Park, promises to be an extravagant night out with a taste of old New York glamour. The eight-course (!!) menu features premium American cuisine with a drink expertly recommended to accompany each dish.
Expect upscale favorites like caviar and Wagyu beef, while a three-piece band plays classy renditions of modern tunes.
Of course, Icon will also include plenty of favorite specialty dining experiences, including Central Park’s American steakhouse, Chops Grille, Hooked Seafood, Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Bar, Coastal Kitchen in the Suite Neighborhood (it’s two stories high on Icon!), and the exclusive Chef’s Table experience.
Trellis Bar will also feature a debut menu of bites on Icon—details haven’t yet been shared about the specific menu.
Quick bites on Icon of the Seas
When you don’t want to interrupt your fun for too long, quick-service restaurants are the way to go. Icon of the Seas has plenty of options, both new and familiar!
New quick bites options on Icon
- AquaDome Market: Royal Caribbean’s first food hall will feature five different stalls for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Flavors range from sweet and savory crepes at Creme de la Crepe to macaroni and cheese (with tasty toppings!) at Mac’s, to fresh pitas and bowls at Feta Mediterranean, to Asian-inspired treats like Korean beef and broccoli at GNGR, and sandwiches and salads at Toast and Garden.
- Izumi in the Park: The all-day window will debut next to the first Izumi restaurant in Central Park, serving up fresh sushi and street food to go like taiyaki ice cream
- The Pearl Café: A new stop for bites day or night, including freshly-toasted sandwiches and ready-made salads
- Basecamp: Refuel with treats like pretzel bites with cheese and crispy shrimp bao buns
- Desserted: A new milkshake bar with over-the-top shakes, including adults-only boozy options
- The Grove: Casual alfresco Mediterranean dining in the Suite Neighborhood
Returning favorites
Several favorite quick-service dining venues will return on Icon of the Seas, including Central Park’s Park Café (now open in the evening for tapas), El Loco Fresh, the grab-and-go spot for Mexican food, Sorrento’s pizza, and the most expansive Windjammer buffet ever, with a section and selection designed just for kids.
Kid- and family-friendly eats
If you’re cruising with the family, kids (and kids at heart) will have their pick of fun food options on Icon of the Seas.
New family dining venues on Icon
- Surfside Eatery: A new buffet dedicated to families with options for all ages to enjoy at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including twists on kids’ classics for the grownups.
- Pier 7: All-day brunch serving up casual California-inspired dishes like surf-and-turf tacos, smoked salmon Benedict, and shareable platters.
- Surfside Bites: A walk-up window with a menu of quick snacks like burgers, popcorn chicken, cinnamon-sugar donut holes, and more.
Returning favorites
Icon of the Seas will offer several familiar family-friendly dining venues, with options like Izumi‘s sushi and hibachi cooked by an expert chef who puts on a show, Playmakers Sports Bar & Arcade for some friendly competition and snacks, and Sprinkles for ice cream all day and night.
Included traditional dining on Icon of the Seas
With the announcement of “reimagined dining” on Icon of the Seas, seasoned Royal Caribbean cruisers might be worried about traditional included dining Icon of the Seas.
Not to worry! In the latest press release, Royal Caribbean promised an elegant three-level main dining room on the new ship.
Costs for dining aboard Icon of the Seas
Although you can absolutely dine aboard Icon of the Seas (or any of Royal Caribbean’s ships) at no additional charge, some of the specialty dining options on the ship will have a cover charge.
The cruise line hasn’t publicly released pricing for specialty dining on Icon of the Seas. However, here are the dining venues that will either assess a cover charge or have à la carte pricing:
- Celebration Table
- Empire Supper Club
- Chops Grille
- Hooked Seafood
- Trellis Bar (My own conjecture—based on my own experiences with the “small bites” concept at Vintages on other RCI ships)
- Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen and Bar
- Chef’s Table
- Izumi in the Park (My own conjecture—mainstream and even premium cruise lines rarely include sushi with your cruise fare)
- Desserted (Again, conjecture. RCI doesn’t include milkshakes)
Complimentary dining options will include the main dining room, the buffets, and most quick-service venues.
Related: What New Cruisers Don’t Know About Cruise Food and Drinks
Icon of the Seas’ debut itineraries
Starting in January 2024, Icon of the Seas will sail 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations year-round from Miami. The new ship will visit ports including Royal Caribbean’s private island destination Perfect Day at CocoCay, Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Cozumel, Mexico; and Roatan, Honduras.
Related: 12 Amazing Cruise Line Private Islands You’ll Want to Visit
Royal Caribbean has announced in a press release that more details about the first Icon Class ship will be revealed in the coming months.
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Video: a first look at Icon of the Seas’ dining options
If you’d like to see a walkthrough of the new and reimagined dining on Icon of the Seas, just click on the embedded preview video below:
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More resources for your Royal Caribbean cruise
- Royal Caribbean Casino Free Cruises – How to Get a Comped Cruise Plus Free Perks!
- How to Get Free Drinks in the Casino on Royal Caribbean – And More!
- Ultimate Guide To The Key on Royal Caribbean
Do you have a cruise booked already on Icon of the Seas or are you considering it? I’d love to hear what you think about Icon‘s dining options—what are you looking forward to trying, and are there some old faves that you’ll miss on this new ship? Let me know in the comments below!
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