I Thought I’d Never Go On A Cruise – Now I’m Dying For My Next One

I have to be honest – I’ve never had much interest in cruise ships.

In my brain they were categorised somewhere on the ‘old age’ shelf, filed under ‘retirement’ and ‘boredom’, and cross sectioned with ‘imaginary lotto winnings’.

But when I was offered the opportunity to actually get on a cruise ship with Royal Caribbean, I dusted off my notions about it and afforded the idea some thought.

Why is it that cruises are considered to be exclusively for the wealthy elderly? Doesn’t it sound like something I might enjoy? And most importantly, why the hell not?

Of course, as with most things you swear off and then randomly give a go, it turned out to be one of the best trips of my life.

So here I am, about to dive into the week I spent on not just any cruise, but the biggest one to ever set sail. And with this, I have one heartfelt message I’m eager to impart; you should go on a cruise!

Our journey began in Miami, where the cruise sets sail from. It’s the largest cruise ship to hit the ocean, appropriately named The Icon of The Seas.

I brought my partner who had also never been on a cruise with me, so we were equally unsure of what to expect.

The schedule told us we would set off on Monday, sail all day Tuesday, then land at Royal’s private island in the Bahamas on Wednesday. You’re back sailing Thursday, and land home on Friday.

It’s somewhat of a whirlwind, and let me tell you – nothing can prepare you for what a mega cruise really feels like until you’re on it.

It’s essentially like being on a mini planet; you’ve got entire neighbourhoods with different vibes to suit how you’re feeling each day; shops to pick up suncream, snacks and luxury items; restaurants with varying cuisines; a host of activities and shows to enjoy, and a literal water park.

Yep, a water park – the largest one to ever be at sea, in fact.

All of this while you float under the sun in the vast ocean. It’s humbling, really, to see what technology can do in the name of leisure!

On the first morning, when we pulled up to the port, we were taken aback by how seamless everything is – Royal Caribbean is clearly a well oiled machine. Someone takes your luggage, another guides you through security, and before you know it you’re aboard the spectacle.

Our room was compact but beautiful, though really we spent very little time there as we wanted to soak up the whole experience; no small feat when you’re only on board for three full days.

Every where you look is a feast for the senses. The boat itself is decked out in vibrant colours and has dozens of levels which are home to areas designed for different needs.

There’s a ‘street’ of luxury restaurants, like Lou’s Jazz bar which has whiskey cocktails and the dulcet tones of a jazz band while you sip, and an upscale sushi spot that made our mouths water.

Another area has a young family focus – playgrounds, ice cream and interactive elements like drums! There’s chill spots all across the cruise designed for adults to be able to sit back and relax with little ones always in sight; you can see how it’s been engineered to strike a balance between safety and serenity.

We were particularly concerned with the upper decks, which have hundreds of sun loungers arranged in tasteful nooks around the swimming pools, bars, and views of the open sea.

When we’d exhausted ourselves on the seven water slides (more than once!), we sipped mimosas and read our books with a stretch of blue in front of us. If we had wanted, we could have rock climbed, played a football match, gone in the wave machine or visited the spa, but honestly nothing compared to just taking in the extraordinary scene around us.

After dinner in the divine seafood restaurant Hooked (we both got the surf and turf, because when in Rome) we decided to check out some of the entertainment available.

We had a ball observing the antics of those who partook in the karaoke, and then settled in for a science themed ice skating show that can only be described as mind blowing.

Sunburnt and senses overloaded, we landed in bed to wake up in the Bahamas the next day.

The island may have been the highlight of the trip for us; it was like stepping into a postcard. There’s an enormous waterpark, which we once again exhausted, before heading for the hideaway beach.

There, we enjoyed unlimited cocktails and taking intermittent dips in the cool turquoise sea and the toasty infinity pool.

I swung in the hammock while eating coconut shrimp and sipping a refillable lemonade, contemplating whether I might hide under one of the big umbrellas and let the cruise sail away without me.

The rest of our trip was spent in this similar fashion; moseying around in a warm, beautiful haze. We listened to live music while we swam, watched a hilarious comedy show, ate our fill of delicious meals, and consistently found ourselves looking out over the water in awe.

Each night we flopped on the bed with pure satisfaction at the day that had gone and the day ahead, revelling in the bliss of being totally detached from the outside world.

I hate to say the word oasis – it’s as cliché as they come. But if you’re looking for a getaway that will mingle everything you need in terms of peace, adventure and entertainment; Royal Caribbean  offers a legitimate oasis that will sweep you off your feet.

Whod’ve thought it – I’m a total cruise convert!

See more from our experience on the STELLAR TikTok:

@stellarmagazine Team STELLAR takes Icon Of The Seas!🛳️✨ Read more about our experience on the worlds biggest cruise ship yet at stellar.ie #cruiseship #cruisetok #iconoftheseas #royalcaribbean #CapCut ♬ Unwritten – Natasha Bedingfield

*This writer was invited on this trip in exchange for an honest review at the end.

Prices start from €2594 – see tickets here

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• royal caribbean