By Amanda Mesa | Published on August 16, 2023
When it comes to planning the best family vacation, lots of options probably come to mind as you're researching the best deals. Take it from a seasoned travel expert — nothing compares to the convenience and versatility of choosing a cruise for your next group getaway, especially when you opt for a ship designed with families in mind. So just what is the best cruise for families? When it launches, you'll find the best-of-the-best cruise for families offered onboard Icon of the Seas℠.
Making its debut in 2024, this extraordinary ship checks all the boxes for an epic multi-generational escape. Not only will this bold new cruise ship offer a long list of opportunities to bond with your loved ones, it will also deliver world-class dining, top-notch entertainment and a wide range of amenities for toddlers, tweens and young adults. Moreover, the ship will offer a variety of connecting staterooms, multi-bedroom suites and in-room comforts to accommodate families of all sizes and configurations. Here are just some of the many reasons why the first Icon Class ship is poised to deliver the best family vacation in the world.
If you're still wondering how to plan your best family vacation ever, this next bit of news should help. Icon of the Seas℠ will have an entire neighborhood designed specifically for families. It's called Surfside℠ , and it'll be loaded with plenty of things for kids, their parents and even grandparents. Little ones will be able to soak up hours of fun at the neighborhood's interactive PlayscapeSM or Splashaway Bay℠ , an aquapark created exclusively for tots and tweens with dynamic water cannons, mini waterslides and a huge bucket that tips over to drench them when they least expect it.
Once you and the family have worked up an appetite from hopping between adventures onboard, you'll have your pick of casual restaurants to choose from, many of which — including Surfside Eatery℠ — are just steps away from some of the neighborhood's top attractions. Also on my radar of must-try family restaurants is Pier 7℠ , which will specialize in California casual cuisine, such as surf and turf tacos and mango shrimp tostadas. And at Surfside Bites℠ , you'll find plenty of fast-casual sweet and salty snacks. Feeling parched? Make sure you hit up the modern take on a poolside lemonade stand, The Lemon Post℠ , where you'll find talented bartenders slinging yummy grown-up cocktails as well as beverages for all ages.
Any parent who has ever tried to plan a stress-free family getaway understands the value of choosing the right room configuration. Icon of the Seas℠ will offer plenty of options when it comes to staterooms. When booking a cruise on Icon of the Seas℠, you'll be able to choose from a diverse array of stateroom categories designed for families and groups of all sizes — including connecting rooms with expansive balconies and suites with multiple bedrooms built to maximize family comfort. Soak up captivating vistas from a spacious Family Infinite Ocean View Balcony stateroom or unwind close to top attractions in a Surfside Family Suite.
Want to go all the way during your next vacay? Splurge on the first-ever Ultimate Family Townhouse — a sprawling, three-level retreat with three full bathrooms, a dining room and kitchenette, an in-suite slide, a karaoke station, a private movie theater and a patio just steps away from the fun-filled Surfside℠ neighborhood. The townhouse will even have its own private balcony whirlpool. It will sleep eight guests comfortably, too, so — depending on the size of your immediate family — you may even have room to invite some members of your extended family, whether that's grandparents or beloved cousins.
Another thing I love about choosing cruises for my family vacations is that there's something to look forward to every evening, whether you're cruising with tots, young adults or kids of any age in between. Icon of the Seas℠ will be the first ship in the fleet to introduce the AquaDome℠, a two-level lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows that may just make it the most immersive scene at sea. This engineering marvel will be home to a towering waterfall that plunges into a dive pool, where world-class performers will dazzle guests with aerial stunts and synchronized swimming. AquaDome℠ is also where you'll find Rye and Bean℠ , a coffee bar by day and a great place to nab an espresso martini at night, and The Overlook Pods℠, private nooks set in an indoor garden setting.
Another standout is Absolute Zero℠, poised to be the world's largest ice arena at sea and home to ice shows you won't soon forget. And, finally, grown-ups can look forward to more than 15 venues featuring live music and dancing, DJ-driven parties, top-notch drinks and more — from battling baby grands at Dueling Pianos℠ to soulful performances at Lou's Jazz 'n Blues℠ and hilarious stand-up comedy at The Attic. Looking to dial up date night while grandma or grandpa give you a break and watch the kids? Parents who have been set loose from the responsibilities of corralling their little ones for a few precious hours can belly up to the Trellis Bar for handcrafted cocktails and sophisticated apps or raise a pint and reconnect over a game of darts at Point & Feather℠, the ship's charming English pub.