Make it Ultimate
By Sarah Etinas

Make it Ultimate
By Sarah Etinas

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas® and Star of the Seas® offer the ultimate family vacation.

Take family fun to a whole new level on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships. The sparkling new Icon of the Seas® and soon-to-be-debuted Star of the Seas® are decked out with more features than you could ever dream up. Record-breaking waterslides, next-level dining options, captivating evening performances, and incredible ports of call are all just the beginning.

Get the whole gang together for some larger-than-life onboard adventures. Start with the six record-breaking waterslides at the Category 6 Waterpark – from the 46-foot-tall Frightening Bolt drop slide to the family-sized Hurricane Hunter raft ride. Or stay dry and still get your thrills at Adrenaline Peak, a kid-friendly rock-climbing adventure with ranging levels of difficulty. And if you’re really hoping to test your courage, look no further than the Crown’s Edge. Part skywalk, part ropes course, part thrill ride, this daring adventure dangles cruises off the side of the ship!

Get the whole gang together for some larger-than-life onboard adventures. Start with the six record-breaking waterslides at the Category 6 Waterpark – from the 46-foot-tall Frightening Bolt drop slide to the family-sized Hurricane Hunter raft ride. Or stay dry and still get your thrills at Adrenaline Peak, a kid-friendly rock-climbing adventure with ranging levels of difficulty. And if you’re really hoping to test your courage, look no further than the Crown’s Edge. Part skywalk, part ropes course, part thrill ride, this daring adventure dangles cruises off the side of the ship!
When you’re ready to take a break from the action, explore the ships’ more peaceful amenities. With seven different pools onboard, you can pool hop through all of them – or until you find one that matches your family’s level of energy. Pair your refreshing swims with equally refreshing cocktails from the swim-up bar Swim & Tonic, or escape from the kids for a bit at The Hideaway. (Don’t worry – your little ones can still have a supervised blast at the nursery or one of the many kids’ clubs!)


When you’re ready to take a break from the action, explore the ships’ more peaceful amenities. With seven different pools onboard, you can pool hop through all of them – or until you find one that matches your family’s level of energy. Pair your refreshing swims with equally refreshing cocktails from the swim-up bar Swim & Tonic, or escape from the kids for a bit at The Hideaway. (Don’t worry – your little ones can still have a supervised blast at the nursery or one of the many kids’ clubs!)

While you’re sure to have unforgettable days between the watersliding and rock climbing, you can also make memories over meals while aboard Icon of the Seas® and Star of the Seas®. With both vessels boasting over 40 restaurants and bars, you’ll have your pick of steaks or seafood, burgers or sushi, tacos or tartare.

While you’re sure to have unforgettable days between the watersliding and rock climbing, you can also make memories over meals while aboard Icon of the Seas® and Star of the Seas®. With both vessels boasting over 40 restaurants and bars, you’ll have your pick of steaks or seafood, burgers or sushi, tacos or tartare.
It’s clear that Royal Caribbean raises the bar in every regard – and that includes the evening entertainment options. Broadway-style shows, comedy performances, and masterful musicians are just the beginning. This pair of ships also has two new venues made with one-of-a-kind performances in mind. In Absolute Zero, the largest ice-skating arena at sea, watch talented ice skaters slide, glide, and story tell. And in the waterfall-filled Aquadome, stunt performers and acrobats bring tales to life with their superhuman maneuvers.


It’s clear that Royal Caribbean raises the bar in every regard – and that includes the evening entertainment options. Broadway-style shows, comedy performances, and masterful musicians are just the beginning. This pair of ships also has two new venues made with one-of-a-kind performances in mind. In Absolute Zero, the largest ice-skating arena at sea, watch talented ice skaters slide, glide, and story tell. And in the waterfall-filled Aquadome, stunt performers and acrobats bring tales to life with their superhuman maneuvers.

With all the thrills and chills, plates and performances, you might be tempted to spend all day, every day enjoying everything your Royal Caribbean ship has to offer. But even with all of the onboard fun, you’ll still want to venture out and explore the bucket list-worthy ports of call. Visit ancient Mayan pyramids in Cozumel, Mexico; learn all about the rum-making process at Casa Bacardí in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and snorkel with sea turtles in Charlotte Amelia, St. Thomas. Royal Caribbean even has its own private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, for a jam-packed day of beaches, pools, waterslides, hot air balloon rides, and ziplines.

With all the thrills and chills, plates and performances, you might be tempted to spend all day, every day enjoying everything your Royal Caribbean ship has to offer. But even with all of the onboard fun, you’ll still want to venture out and explore the bucket list-worthy ports of call. Visit ancient Mayan pyramids in Cozumel, Mexico; learn all about the rum-making process at Casa Bacardí in San Juan, Puerto Rico; and snorkel with sea turtles in Charlotte Amelia, St. Thomas. Royal Caribbean even has its own private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, for a jam-packed day of beaches, pools, waterslides, hot air balloon rides, and ziplines.
The Ultimate Family Vacation
This is your most memorable week ever.

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I took my first trip to Disney when I was six and haven't stopped traveling since. I fell in love with It’s a Small World. How great was it to visit numerous countries on a joyous boat ride! Since then, I've traveled to 50+ countries on six continents. In 2017, I traveled around the world and visited 23 countries – I spent more than a month in Italy and England and also enjoyed time in Israel, Japan, France and Morocco. While I spent a lot of time traveling solo, I also enjoyed time with my family and friends. Seeing their joy discovering new places helped me discover the joy that comes from planning a magical trip. From then, I decided to turn my passion into a profession.
Some of my favorite places to go include Italy, London, Paris, New York City, Boston, The Grand Canyon, The Galapagos Islands, Israel and Japan.
Combining more than 15 years' experience in travel planning with the real-world experience of visiting 50+ countries, traveling around the world and taking the top c ...