Icon of the Seas Restaurants: Complete Dining Guide & Reviews

Icon of the Seas features over 40 dining venues including 15 complimentary and 25+ specialty restaurants. Highlights include Empire Supper Club (fine dining), AquaDome Market (food hall), Windjammer (buffet), and neighborhood-specific options. Specialty dining ranges from $15-200 per person. Dining packages available for $89-135 per person per night covering multiple specialty restaurants.

We planned to eat at the buffet every meal to save money. By day two, my foodie daughter had talked us into trying AquaDome Market’s Korean BBQ bowls. By day four, we’d booked three specialty restaurants. Some vacation splurges are absolutely worth the credit card bill.

Want to know everything about the world’s largest cruise ship? Our complete Icon of the Seas Guide covers it all.

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The Smart Strategy: Understanding Icon’s Dining Layout

Icon of the Seas breaks the traditional cruise ship dining mold by organizing restaurants into themed neighborhoods. This isn’t just marketing fluff – it actually affects your dining experience and budget. The ship’s eight neighborhoods each have distinct dining personalities, and knowing this can save you both time and money.

The Central Park neighborhood houses most of the upscale specialty restaurants, while Coney Island keeps things casual and fun. The Icon of the Seas AquaDome features the ship’s most innovative dining concepts, and Icon of the Seas Central Park offers intimate dining under the stars.

Complimentary Dining: Your Free Foundation

Let’s start with what you don’t have to pay extra for – and trust me, it’s impressive enough to keep you well-fed the entire cruise.

The Main Players

• Windjammer Marketplace – The largest buffet at sea, open nearly 20 hours daily
• Main Dining Room – Three-story venue with rotating menus
• AquaDome Market – Food hall concept with 11 different stations
• Promenade Café – Coffee, pastries, and light bites
• Park Café – Casual dining in Central Park
• El Loco Fresh – Mexican street food
• The Puzzle Break Café – Gaming venue with snacks

Insider’s Secret: AquaDome Market Strategy

Here’s what Royal Caribbean won’t tell you upfront: AquaDome Market operates on a hybrid model. While technically complimentary, some stations charge extra for premium ingredients. The Korean BBQ bowls? Free with basic protein, but you’ll pay $8-12 for wagyu beef. The ramen station works similarly – basic broth is included, but premium add-ons cost extra.

Pro tip: Visit AquaDome Market during off-peak hours (2-4 PM) when staff are more generous with portions and premium ingredients sometimes get mixed in with standard offerings.

Specialty Restaurants: Where Your Money Goes

Now we enter the realm where your cruise fare doesn’t cover the tab. With 25+ specialty restaurants, Icon offers more paid dining options than some small cities.

The Heavy Hitters Worth Every Penny

Empire Supper Club stands alone as Icon’s crown jewel. This isn’t just dinner – it’s theater. The service borders on telepathic, and the seven-course tasting menu changes seasonally. Book this on embarkation day or risk disappointment.

Chops Grille consistently delivers perfectly cooked steaks in an atmosphere that manages to feel intimate despite the ship’s massive size. The lobster mac and cheese alone justifies the cover charge.

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The Overrated (But Still Decent) Options

Wonderland gets all the social media attention with its whimsical Alice in Wonderland theme, but the $95+ price tag doesn’t match the food quality. It’s Instagram-worthy but not necessarily taste-bud worthy.

Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen serves perfectly acceptable Italian food that’s indistinguishable from what you’d find at a decent chain restaurant on land. For the money, you’re better off at Park Café’s pizza station.

Dining Packages: Crunching the Numbers

Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas dining packages range from $89-135 per person per night, but the math gets tricky.

When Packages Make Sense

• You plan to eat at specialty restaurants more than twice
• You’re drawn to the higher-priced venues
• You like having options without calculating each meal
• You’re cruising during peak season when à la carte prices inflate

When to Skip the Package

• You’re happy with complimentary options most nights
• You prefer choosing restaurants based on mood
• You’re traveling with picky eaters or young children
• You want to try just one or two specialty venues

Here’s an insider calculation: if you eat at three specialty restaurants during a seven-night cruise, you’ll likely break even on the mid-tier package. Four or more meals, and you’re saving money.

Neighborhood Dining Strategies

Central Park: The Upscale Quarter

Central Park houses Icon’s most romantic dining options. The retractable roof means weather can affect your experience – something Royal Caribbean doesn’t advertise. On rough sea days, they often close the roof, changing the entire ambiance.

Coney Island: Comfort Food Central

This neighborhood embraces guilty pleasures. The hot dog stands use Nathan’s Famous brand (a detail that matters to New Yorkers), and the prices are surprisingly reasonable for cruise standards.

The Hideaway: Adult-Only Dining

The ship’s adult-only area features two restaurants that stay busy because of limited seating. Make reservations immediately after boarding.

Beverage Programs and Pairing

Don’t overlook how Icon of the Seas drink packages affect your dining strategy. Many specialty restaurants offer wine pairings that aren’t covered by standard beverage packages, adding $30-50 per person to your meal cost.

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Booking Strategy: Timing Is Everything

Royal Caribbean opens specialty dining reservations 14 days before sailing for suite guests, 7 days for Crown & Anchor Society members, and 4 days for everyone else. But here’s the kicker: some restaurants hold back tables for walk-ins each day.

The Walk-In Game

Empire Supper Club almost never has walk-in availability. Chops Grille sometimes does after 9 PM. Giovanni’s frequently has same-day availability because it’s the largest specialty venue.

Modification Tricks

Once onboard, you can modify reservations through the app, but cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance to avoid charges. The system doesn’t always make this clear.

Special Dietary Needs

Icon handles dietary restrictions better than most cruise ships, but you’ll need to be proactive. The ship’s executive chef personally oversees kosher, halal, and severe allergy accommodations, but requires 30 days advance notice.

Vegetarians and vegans will find options at every complimentary venue, though specialty restaurants vary wildly in their plant-based offerings. Wonderland ironically has some of the best vegan options on the ship.

Money-Saving Insider Tips

• Lunch vs. Dinner Pricing: Several specialty restaurants charge 30-40% less for lunch portions of similar dishes
• Happy Hour Specials: Some venues offer discounted appetizers during slow periods
• Package Sharing: Dining packages are technically non-transferable, but enforcement is inconsistent
• Room Service Strategy: Complimentary room service includes more options than the menu suggests – ask your steward

What Nobody Tells You About Service

Icon’s dining staff comes from 70+ countries, creating interesting fusion influences in how dishes are prepared and presented. The Filipino staff particularly excel at accommodating modifications, while the Italian contingent takes pasta seriously – maybe too seriously for picky kids.

Tipping culture varies by restaurant type. Specialty venues automatically add 18% gratuity, but exceptional service warrants additional cash tips. The main dining room staff relies more heavily on the standard cruise gratuities, so be generous if they go above and beyond.

Common Questions and FAQ

Can I make dining reservations before my cruise?

Yes, specialty dining reservations open 14 days before sailing for suite guests, 7 days for Crown & Anchor Society members, and 4 days for all other guests. Complimentary restaurants don’t require reservations except for the main dining room’s “My Time Dining” option.

What happens if I have a dining package but want to cancel a reservation?

Cancellations must be made at least 24 hours in advance to avoid charges, even with a dining package. Late cancellations or no-shows result in the full menu price being charged to your cabin, separate from your package.

Are there any completely free late-night dining options?

Yes, Windjammer stays open until 2 AM with a limited menu, and room service offers complimentary options 24/7. Park Café also serves grab-and-go items until midnight. The Promenade Café offers pastries and coffee around the clock.

Can I split entrées or share dishes in specialty restaurants?

Most specialty restaurants allow sharing, but some charge a “sharing fee” of $10-15 per shared entrée. Empire Supper Club prohibits sharing due to their tasting menu format. Always ask your server about the policy when ordering.

Do dining packages work at grab-and-go venues like El Loco Fresh?

No, dining packages only cover sit-down specialty restaurants. However, most grab-and-go venues in the neighborhoods are complimentary anyway. The packages don’t include room service premium items or in-cabin mini-bar purchases either.

What’s the dress code for specialty restaurants?

Most specialty venues require “smart casual” attire – no shorts, flip-flops, or tank tops. Empire Supper Club and Chops Grille prefer formal attire but don’t strictly enforce it. Coney Island venues are more relaxed and accept resort casual wear.