What happens on a RCL Blog group cruise...stays on the group cruise? (Icon of the Seas, June 29 - July 6, 2024)

And then the night of day 5 was the Quest. I have captained on the previous group cruise on Serenade and my co-captain from that cruise wanted redemption, sadly I couldn’t captain that night, was not feeling well, thankfully we had one of our junior cruisers who is now 18 fill in for me with him and redemption was earned!

Gemma the cruise director did a great job with it and it wasn’t a copy paste of previous quests: 

Ok! Finally made it to yesterday, day 6, also 4th Of July!

Breakfast pastries from Pearl Cafe:

Starbucks (sadly they are sold out of the been there mugs):

4th of July festival OG Ashley already posted about:

Pier 7 Lunch:

Lettuce Wraps:

Buddha Bowl:

Burger:

“Real” grilled cheese, been told I should tag @Ampurp85 here…

Chicken Tenders:

California Burger… I think?

Toffee Chocolate Cake:

Caramel Waffles: 

25 minutes ago, mashley1021 said:

 

(sorry the Mac and cheese was half eaten in this photo)

 

If that’s half gone I think I will need about 4 of those servings to satisfy me 

Then for Day 6 dinner we cancelled our Giovanni’s reservation, we were all a little full, I crashed my dining room table mainly to spend some time with more of the group so here was the special 4th of July meal:

Buffalo dip:

Maple Glazed Salmon:

Warm Apple Crumble:

The Effectors:

Nick Weir Credit again:

Show stop that I believe OG Ashley already detailed:

I stopped at Giovanni’s Wine Bar, here is the menu, I didn’t order anything:

Late night playmakers run:

Playmaker’s Fries:

Poke Nachos:

Late Night Pub Shenanigans with Darla, Kevin the Pub Entertainer and Jennifer the Schooner bar entertainer:

Finally caught up! In coco cay at the hideaway, will post about that later.

Sorry to hear folks haven't been feeling great. I hope everyone feels better soon.

@mashley1021 I hope you are starting to feel better. I had this happen on Harmony in 2022, the heat from Cozumel got to me and activated my allergies really bad. I was in bed most of the last two days. Also, that is a real grill cheese. Ashley remembers when I ordered one from room service and it was untoasted bread and cheese 

2 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

Also, that is a real grill cheese. Ashley remembers when I ordered one from room service and it was untoasted bread and cheese 

I also had a horrific grilled cheese off the kids menu in Coastal Kitchen on Odyssey one night when I didn’t like the menu… 3 slices of bread like a club sandwich and unmelted American cheese. I have always said this was something Royal couldn’t figure out but I guess they can when they want to.

34 minutes ago, mashley1021 said:

we cancelled our Giovanni’s reservation

You were headed for an “A” until this.

A- for a the continuing food porn even while not feeling great. Hope everyone enjoys CocoCay!

If Some like it Hot, they're lovin' PDCC today

Ship happens.

I feel the need for something frozen...

It's so hot... but the balloon is up!

It's so hot the balloon gave up.  Just kidding.  My 360 camera can really bend the perspective of things. 

It's so hot people are crowded under the bridge like fish hiding in the shadows under a dock.

Must be a water drop on my camera lens.  Or they installed a giant bubble making machine.

Crown Edge this morning. 

Since I brought formal wear on this cruise to dress my best, I decided to wear it for the Crown Edge.  They strap you into the harness pretty tightly.  The first section dips in the middle and I was on tip toes to walk across barely touching.  I felt like a baby in one of those baby jumping stands.

A video was included in the $23.99 sale price a few days before the cruise. 

Yesterday they had to close Crown Edge due to high winds on a sea day.  As they were rebooking them for today they had to cancel and re-book then manually adjust pricing.   As it takes some time I got to see what other guests going through the re-booking process paid.  $40.99 through $49.99.  Newbies.

It pays to watch for Cruise Planner sales.

You do it twice.  The first time with a camera attached to the rig and then a second time without the camera.

It's a lot of fun!

Other notes du jour.

BC, Before Crown, I wanted to snap some pool pics with the pools empty so I waited until 10am and hit the water.

The Swim and Tonic pool is definitely heated versus the Hideaway pool, which was not.  The Martini Glass shaped hot tub was definitely hot tub temperature unlike some ships that barely warm the hot tubs.

After lunch on the island I wanted to see if I could figure out how tall Indy was beside us so I ventured up the stairs to Icon's slides which were open and very lightly loaded.  The stairs are the highest you can venture.  Save the water park fees, have the kids do Icon's slides.   As near as I can tell, Indy's non-retractable stacks are a meter or two lower than Icon when Icon retracts her stacks.  

I was talking ship with a bartender I know.  He likes Icon a lot.  He said he doesn't make as much as he did on other ships but prefered Icon and hopes to come back or go to Star in the future.

This was waiting for me.

Looks like I'm going on another cruise!

57 minutes ago, twangster said:

I was talking ship with a bartender I know.  He likes Icon a lot.  He said he doesn't make as much as he did on other ships but prefered Icon and hopes to come back or go to Star in the future.

Wonder why he doesn’t make as much? 

Looks like the Grove caught onto my Popper hack to suite life.  No more poppers.

Another perspective on the height of Indy versus Icon.

While I'm here, a mid-afternoon snack.  Grilled Lamb Chops.

Still hot and humid out here, need to cool down.  This will help.

1 minute ago, LandstromCruise said:

Wonder why he doesn’t make as much? 

I suspect fewer newbie tip much.  I haven't seen a lot of singles in play, other than mine.

Just now, twangster said:

I suspect fewer newbie tip much.  I haven't seen a lot of singles in play, other than mine.

Makes sense. Possibly too more crew to split tips with lowers their % 

those chicken nugget/fingers looked extra delicious. 

Hey All!

Today was spent in Hideaway beach on Coco Cay. This was my first time in hideaway as it wasn’t open when I was last here in early January. Normally I do coco beach club here but obviously Hideaway was the popular choice for much of the group at the price point. We were in port with Independence of the Seas as @twangster already reported.

(secret sandwich components)

(I sat under the covering by the bar here most of the day, my goal was avoiding a sun burn and I succeeded)

Finally, one last picture of my towel animal collection before I started packing and had to move them all around:

Thanks all!

I wonder how good the apple empanadas are 

So now seeing the covered area, I would actually venture to Hideaway. I have at least 6 sailings booked that go there, including Indy, so I will possibly book on a good deal. 

Last CK dinner.

Mushroom Soup (same as Chops)

Lamb Shank

Dark Chocolate Brownie which paired very well with the Pinot Noir.

34 minutes ago, mashley1021 said:

Hey All!

Today was spent in Hideaway beach on Coco Cay. This was my first time in hideaway as it wasn’t open when I was last here in early January. Normally I do coco beach club here but obviously Hideaway was the popular choice for much of the group at the price point. We were in port with Independence of the Seas as @twangster already reported.

(secret sandwich components)

(I sat under the covering by the bar here most of the day, my goal was avoiding a sun burn and I succeeded)

Finally, one last picture of my towel animal collection before I started packing and had to move them all around:

Thanks all!

Now I understand the towel shortage for deck 11.  

CK hostess assures me lifeboat 16 won’t be inspected on turn around day.  Maybe I should stay?  

10 minutes ago, twangster said:

Now I understand the towel shortage for deck 11.  

lol, I am on 14, and somehow my stateroom attendant’s supervisor told him I was more involved than RC Blog than I am, I do have a day job unless Matt wants to hire me to work on his website  (I am a web developer for reference)

47 minutes ago, mashley1021 said:

lol, I am on 14, and somehow my stateroom attendant’s supervisor told him I was more involved than RC Blog than I am, I do have a day job unless Matt wants to hire me to work on his website  (I am a web developer for reference)

I feel like they are multiplying.  What’s going on in there when the lights go out? 

Aqua Action is a pretty awesome show.  The evolution of the Aqua Theater has worked well.  

All good things must come to an end.  Sailing into the sunset.  

The cruise may almost be over, but there’s time for one last visit to…

Last night blues

5:46am day 8 - waiting to debark

IYKYK

A RoyalCaribbeanBlog group cruise is always a great time.  

I came in at a slight disadvantage having never sailed Icon before.  I wanted to participate in everything Icon I could . There is so much going on Icon class that meant sometimes skipping group cruise gatherings.  That’s one of the great things about a group cruise, you can join in as much or as little as you desire.  

I also wanted to capture Icon with my good camera.   Everything I’ve posted here has been cell phone or 360 camera.  Capturing Icon trying to avoid 7,230 other guests in my pics meant staying up late or getting up early further limiting my free time.   I’ve got over 3,000 pics from my good camera to go through.   

It’s been good to see old friends again and meet a few new ones.  

I really enjoyed this cruise and if you haven’t done a group cruise I encourage you to join one in the future.

Until next time, twangster out.  

A week sure goes by fast when cruising. The group cruise looked like another huge success. 

Made it off the ship and currently sitting in the MIA admirals club waiting for my 6pm flight so figured now is as good of a time as ever to finish of my last day…

We went to Pier 7 the last night:

chicken quesadilla:

Tostadas:

Seared Ahi Tuna:

Grilled Cheese:

Fish Tacos:

Korean Chicken:

Banana Split:

After that we headed to Izumi in the park to take full advantage of our UDP, also we hadn’t made it there earlier. I forgot to take a picture of the menu but I got a fish cone, it was a messy disaster and I definitely don’t need to do that again:

then it was time for the worst photo of the cruise:

We also had some fun in the schooner and pub with the group.

this morning I had Coastal Kitchen breakfast:

Chorizo Flatbread:

Thanks again! I will post a wrap up tomorrow when hopefully I am home and feeling better and can compose better thoughts but suffice it to say 1 week is not enough on Icon.

- Ashley 

A week is hardly enough on an oasis class vessel let alone icon class I’m sure.  

20 hours ago, twangster said:

Last CK dinner.

 

Not me wondering why you had mashed potatoes and gravy with popcorn....

@mashley1021 my god that away suitcase has been THROUGH IT. but a sign of a well traveled bag!!! i love it. 

thank you for the pier 7 food pics!! so good! also that flatbread looked delicious for breakfast!!

3 hours ago, asquared17 said:

my god that away suitcase has been THROUGH IT.

Yeah, gotta love those airlines... it is actually my newer medium checked bag, my old one finally cracked and I caved and bought this limited one on black Friday one year, but Away shockingly replaced the old one for free when I reached out so I gave my parents that one to use since they only had large ones and no medium. I have been very happy with Away, although I do probably need to clean mine (yes, I fly a ton courtesy of living in AZ).

9 minutes ago, mashley1021 said:

it is actually my newer medium checked bag, my old one finally cracked and I caved and bought this limited one on black Friday one year, but Away shockingly replaced the old one for free when I reached out so I gave my parents that one to use since they only had large ones and no medium. 

YES I LOVE THEM. i’m getting the trunk to better navigate the cruise corridors before our trip in december. 

they are REALLY good about replacements; i had one of the little resting nubs on the bottom of one completely get whacked off and they sent me a brand new suitcase. i was shocked (but thrilled). 

i keep trying to get my parents to do it and abort mission to their old mismatched hillbilly luggage but so far no dice.

25 minutes ago, asquared17 said:

mismatched hillbilly luggage

Hey, we have mismatching luggage (which is just one 29” spinner from a matching a set and another was a separate purchase). Nothing hillbilly about it… although I do drink a lot of moonshine from Mason Jar.

Before the zipper pull completely ripped off, we used a black suitcase that had one green wheel since it got ripped off once and I could only find green to replace it.

Made spotting on the carousel easier though.