One of the best parts of any cruise is the food. It might not always be the finest gourmet fare, but it is generally really, really good – and there’s a lot of it, too!
And many of the bigger cruise ships give you a huge amount of choice when it comes to dining. Icon of the Seas, being the biggest cruise ship in the world, is no different.
You’ll be spoiled for choice when you dine on Icon of the Seas, and on a typical 7-night cruise you’d struggle to even fit in half of your options.
In this guide I’ll take you through everywhere you can eat on this incredible ship, including letting you know which venues are included in your fare, which cost extra and whether they’re worth it.
List of Complimentary Dining Venues on Icon of the Seas
All of these restaurants and dining venues are included in your fare. For almost everything you eat here, you won’t have to pay a penny extra.
| Restaurant | Type | Breakfast? | Lunch? | Dinner? | Snacks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AquaDome Market | Global food hall | YES | YES | YES | |
| Basecamp | Fast food | – | YES | YES | – |
| El Loco Fresh | Mexican | – | YES | YES | – |
| Main Dining Room | Sit-down dining, varied | YES | YES | YES | – |
| Park Cafe | Sandwiches and snacks | YES | YES | – | – |
| Pearl Cafe | Sandwiches and snacks | YES | YES | – | YES |
| Sorrentos | Pizza | – | YES | YES | YES |
| Sprinkles | Ice Cream | – | – | – | YES |
| Surfside Bites | Various snacks | – | – | – | YES |
| Surfside Eatery | Buffet | YES | YES | YES | – |
| Vitality Cafe | Healthy snacks | YES | YES | – | – |
| Windjammer Marketplace | Buffet | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Coastal Kitchen | Med-Fusion | YES | YES | YES | – |
| The Grove | Casual Mediterranean | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
While these restaurants are all free of charge for food, they don’t include all drinks.
Drinks are generally not included, but you may choose a drinks package which will include your beverages at these locations. There are some included drinks though, particularly in the Windjammer where a small selection is always available.
Now, let’s take a closer look at each of the included restaurants, cafes and dining venues on Icon of the Seas…
AquaDome Market
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Type: Global food hall
The AquaDome Market is a food hall with a number of food stands to enjoy. There’s Feta Mediterranean offering fresh pitas and bowls; Macs, which serves a range of mac-and-cheese dishes; Toast and Garden, offering sandwiches and salads; GNGR, which offers Asian favourites; and Creme de la Crepe, which has a range of sweet and savory crepes.
Basecamp
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- Type: Fast casual food
Basecamp is situated on Deck 16 and it serves essentially as a ‘base camp’ for a lot of the outdoor activities in that part of the ship, including the waterslide exits, the rock-climbing wall and so on.
Expect a casual walk-up bar and hatch which we can guess will serve lighter snacks, such as pretzel bites or a beef hot dog. Or you can pay a little extra for some next-level snacks, such as shrimp bao buns and waffle chicken nuggets.
El Loco Fresh
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- Type: Mexican
El Loco Fresh is a casual Mexican diner where you can enjoy a range of fresh flavours, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas and more. Select your protein (including veggie options) and then head to the fixings station to add all your preferred toppings.
It’s open for lunch and dinner and you can pull up a chair or grab yourself a snack and take it with you if you’ve got a busy day planned. There’s also the Cantina Fresca next door if you want to add a margarita to your lunch.
Main Dining Room
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Type: Varied
The Main Dining Room is where you’ll be able to enjoy sit-down dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a varied menu that changes each day.
There are formal nights, but on most evenings you’ll be fine with smart casual, and a lot of people ignore the formal dress code anyway – they aren’t super-strict. There’s always a vegetarian and vegan option here, and a selection of meals suitable for younger guests too.
Park Cafe
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Type: Sandwiches
The Park Cafe is situated in the Central Park area of the ship and it serves a selection of lighter bites such as sandwiches and soups, ideal for a picnic sitting outside among the plants.
The Royal Kummelweck roast beef sandwich is always a highlight so if you’re a meat-eater, you won’t want to miss this. There are plenty of good vegetarian options here too though.
Pearl Cafe
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, snacks
- Type: Sandwiches and sweets
The Pearl Cafe offers stunning views from its expansive windows, and is the ideal stop-off point for a lighter bite. Enjoy freshly-pressed panini sandwiches, salads, sweets and more, along with a quieter atmosphere.
Sorrentos
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Type: Pizza
The ever-popular Sorrentos will be present on Icon of the Seas, serving a range of pizzas by the slice which you can grab during the day and long into the night.
All your favourites are there, as well as some exciting flavours you might be tempted by. Sorrentos is often the go-to place for a bite to eat if you’re staying up late to enjoy the party on board.
Sprinkles
- Meals: Snacks
- Type: Ice Cream
Sprinkles is the ice cream station situated on Deck 15, close to the Cove Pool and the Royal Bay pool. Here you can grab a soft-serve ice cream whenever you’re in the mood.
There’s loads of seating in this area, so it’s a popular spot to take 5 if you want a sweet treat while soaking up the sun.
Surfside Eatery & Surfside Bites
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Type: Buffet
The Surfside Eatery is another new venue being added to Icon of the Seas, and it’s a second buffet. It’s aimed at families and will offer all kinds of popular favourites, such as fun-shaped pasta dishes with marinara and cheese sauces, pancakes and a whole lot more.
Next door is Surfside Bites, which will serve a selection of “salty and sweet” treats throughout the day, such as burgers, popcorn chicken, donut holes and more, so if you’re too busy having fun to sit down and eat then you can pick something up and get back to the activities.
Vitality Cafe
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
- Type: Healthy snacks
The Vitality Cafe is located in the Vitality Spa (which makes sense) and is a great spot for healthier snacks.
The main focus of the cafe is its smoothies and juices, but these aren’t complimentary – only the snacks served here are. But because the focus is on the drinks, the food options are limited – don’t expect a hearty meal here.
Windjammer Marketplace
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Type: Buffet
The Windjammer is the main buffet restaurant on the ship and it’s open from early morning (6.30 am) until late at night (9 pm), giving you plenty of opportunity to grab a meal or a snack.
At breakfast, expect a huge range of cereals, pastries, cooked items and sweets, while lunch and dinner have an equally-varied menu covering all dietary requirements. From pizza, pasta, meat, fries, and sweets too, you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Coastal Kitchen & The Grove
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Type: Mediterranean
The Coastal Kitchen and The Grove are exclusively for the use of suite guests and members of the Pinnacle Club on the ship. Coastal Kitchen is a returning favourite, serving fresh Mediterranean food that is beautifully prepared. Junior Suite guests are welcome for dinner only, but Pinnacle Club and higher-tier suite guests can enjoy lunch and dinner here too.
Suggested read: Guide to Suites on Icon of the Seas
The Grove is a new venue, and so far I just know that it’s a more casual venue, but again with a lean towards Mediterranean cuisine. I’ll update this as I know more.
List of Speciality Dining Venues on Icon of the Seas
As if all of the included food isn’t enough, Icon of the Seas has many more options in the form of speciality dining venues. These are all available for an extra charge.
Here’s a list of the speciality dining restaurants on Icon of the Seas….
| Restaurant | Type | Breakfast? | Lunch? | Dinner? | Snacks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celebration Table | Varied – VIP | – | – | YES | – |
| Chops Grille | Steakhouse | – | YES | YES | – |
| Desserted Milkshake Bar | Milkshakes | – | – | – | YES |
| Empire Supper Club | American | – | – | YES | – |
| Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar | Italian | – | YES | YES | – |
| Hooked Seafood | Seafood | – | YES | YES | – |
| Izumi Hibachi & Sushi | Japanese | – | YES | YES | – |
| Pier 7 | ‘Beachside’ | YES | YES | YES | – |
| Playmakers Sports Bar | Bar snacks | – | YES | YES | YES |
| Room Service | Varied | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Sprinkles | Ice cream | – | – | – | YES |
| Starbucks | Pastries | – | – | – | YES |
| Sugar Beach | Candy/sweets | – | – | – | YES |
Now, let’s take a closer look at what each of these has to offer, so that you can decide which ones are worth spending your cash or onboard credit on. I’ve also included the prices of dining at each restaurant, where that’s known.
Celebration Table
- Meals: Dinner
- Type: Varied – VIP
- Price: TBC
Celebration Table is an exclusive dining experience located in the AquaDome. It has its own personal lounge, and a dining room with a table for 12 offering fantastic views.
You can choose from a selection of prix fixe menus – American, Italian, Asian, and Seafood – all served family style alongside some fantastic cocktails. It’s a premium venue to hire but it’s worth it for those special occasions.
Chops Grille
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- Type: Steakhouse
- Price: Lunch $19, Dinner $39
Another Royal Caribbean favourite, Chops Grille is the steakhouse restaurant situated in Central Park serving a wide variety of beef, lamb, fish, pork and chicken dishes.
The lunch menu is smaller but less expensive, and a good way of trying this venue if you don’t want to pay full price, especially as dinner often books up very quickly.
Desserted Milkshake Bar
- Meals: Snacks
- Type: Loaded milkshakes
- Price: TBC
The Desserted Milkshake Bar is a debuting venue on Icon of the Seas, so I don’t know the cost yet but I do know that you’ll be able to grab some seriously hefty milkshakes absolutely loaded with toppings. This is not just a scoop of ice cream blended with milk.
Adults can also get a spiked milkshake including their favourite booze, so this isn’t just a kid-friendly venue.
Empire Supper Club
- Meals: Dinner
- Type: Premium American
- Price: TBC
The Empire Supper Club is described as a “premium speciality restaurant”, referring likely to the cuisine and also the cost. It offers an eight-course dining menu that includes dishes such as caviar and wagyu beef, with each course paired with a carefully selected beverage. The venue has a 1920s New York feel for a lively but sophisticated atmosphere.
It’s likely that, of the Icon of the Seas speciality restaurants, this will be one of the most popular. So make sure you make those reservations as quickly as you can!
Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- Type: Italian
- Price: Lunch $15, Dinner $35
Giovanni’s Italian is another returning restaurant for Royal Caribbean, serving hearty Italian fare including fresh pasta dishes alongside chicken and beef favourites and a good vegetarian menu.
The atmosphere is very warm and friendly, great for guests with families, and the food is delicious, so this is another venue that often gets booked up fast. Again, the lunch menu is reduced but for just $15 per person, it’s a good way to try the venue without spending a huge sum.
Hooked Seafood
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- Type: Seafood
- Price: Lunch $20, Dinner $43
Hooked Seafood is a fantastic casual restaurant serving – you won’t believe – seafood dishes. It is only on a handful of Royal Caribbean ships so far, but it’s always popular.
Starters include crab, shrimp cocktails, oysters and chowder, while mains vary from mussels, salmon, fish sandwiches and a selection of platters if you want to sample a lot of treats. While the adult mains are all seafood-based, there is a beef tenderloin on the kids’ menu if they aren’t keen.
Izumi Hibachi & Sushi
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- Type: Japanese
- Price: A la carte, $4-$21 per dish. Hibachi $30-35
Enjoy Royal Caribbean’s take on Japanese cuisine at Izumi, where a fantastic selection of sushi dishes are available alongside other appetizers and entrees including hot-rock cooked meats.
Opt for the hibachi and you’ll be sat around a cooking area where your chef will prepare a feast before your eyes, with a choice of meats available for your main alongside soups, salads and stir-fried vegetables. Choose two types of meat for $5 extra if you can’t pick just one.
Pier 7
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Type: ‘Beachside’ Favourites
- Price: TBC
Pier 7 is a debuting speciality restaurant in the Surfside neighbourhood. It serves food all day and offers “beachside favourites” including surf ‘n’ turf tacos and shareable platters.
They’re describing it as an all-day brunch venue, so expect a selection of lighter bites to enjoy after a hard day spent riding Icon’s waterslides.
Playmakers Sports Bar
- Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Type: Bar Food
- Price: A la carte, $3-$25
Playmakers is a sports bar that offers a selection of typical bar foods, including burgers, nachos and fries. There are a couple of sweet items too.
Expect plenty of live sports and a fun atmosphere. And if you’re up to it, you could try the 100-wing challenge – finish the lot in 45 minutes and you’ll win a t-shirt. You still have to pay though, with the challenge costing $45 to attempt.
Room Service
- Meals: Dinner
- Type: Seafood
- Price: A la carte, various
If you’re looking for a lazy morning in your stateroom or you just need a snack late at night, order on room service and enjoy a selection of lighter bites and treats, as well as drinks.
Typically it’ll take around 30-45 minutes for your room service order to arrive, so bear that in mind – you may just want to go grab something from the buffet instead if you’re really hungry.
Starbucks
- Meals: Snacks
- Type: Pastries
- Price: A la carte, various
Yes, there is a Starbucks on Icon of the Seas, as there is on many ships in the Royal Caribbean fleet. Here you can grab all your favourite coffees, as well as a selection of cakes and pastries just like you’d find in your Starbucks back home.
Everything here has an additional cost, so even if you’re on a beverage package, you can’t get a Starbucks coffee for free. But if you just can’t leave that spiced pumpkin latte behind for a week during the Halloween season, you can grab one here alongside a croissant or pain au chocolat.
Sugar Beach
- Meals: Snacks
- Type: Candy/Sweets
- Price: A la carte, various
Sugar Beach is the candy/sweet store on Icon of the Seas, packed with goodies to buy whenever you want to sate your sweet tooth.
You’ll find all kinds of goodies including hard candies, gummies, fudge and even cupcakes. You can buy what’s called a ‘grab bag’ – what we call a pick ‘n’ mix – if you want to try lots of different options.
To Conclude
Icon of the Seas is an incredible ship, with an incredible selection of restaurants. Good luck fitting in as many as you can on your cruise!
While you could absolutely have a fantastic cruise just sticking to the complimentary venues, it’s worth checking out the speciality options if you can.
Especially if you get a cruise with any included onboard credit – treating yourself to a speciality meal is one of the best ways you can spend the credit on the ship.
Read more: 15 Ways To Use Your Royal Caribbean Onboard Credit Like A Pro
Do you have a favourite place to eat on a Royal Caribbean cruise? Which of the new Icon of the Seas dining venues are you most excited about?
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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.
I originally made a reservation for lunch at Hooked but somewhere I was made to change it to dinner. So, do they serve lunch and dinner?