Royal Caribbean has made waves in the cruise industry in recent years by creating some of the biggest ships at sea, first with the Oasis Class, and now with Icon Class. Since the debut of their first Icon Class ship, Icon of the Seas, in January, the comparisons between the two classes have only increased, with Royal fans curious of the differences between the ships.
Because both classes have some of the largest ships in the world, and sport similar venues and neighborhoods such as the beloved Central Park, putting these two classes back-to-back is only natural. And speaking of the back, the aft of the ships are truly what stands these classes apart from each other, and where we can see an obvious change from Oasis to Icon Class.
The Boardwalk Neighborhood – Oasis Class
The Boardwalk Neighborhood was built at the aft of the Oasis Class ships, and was designed to be reminiscent of an old fashioned, beach boardwalk fair…think Coney Island or Santa Monica pier. At the center of everything is the famous Royal Caribbean carousel, a fan favorite with the Royal kids! At the end of the boardwalk on each ship is the bottom of the Ultimate Abyss slide- the tallest dry slide at sea!
Just past the slide exit is the famous AquaTheater- an open-air theater overlooking the aft, where guests can enjoy incredible dancing, diving, and acrobatic performances, all revolving around water.
The “boardwalk” itself is lined with shops and eateries, which vary slightly from ship to ship:
OASIS OF THE SEAS
- Boardwalk Doghouse – a hot dog stand
- Sugar Beach – a candy & ice cream shop
- Retail
- Jonny Rockets – a retro diner
- Playmakers – a sports bar & arcade
ALLURE OF THE SEAS
- Boardwalk Doghouse – a hot dog stand
- Candy Beach – a candy shop
- Retail
- Johnny Rockets – a retro diner
- Sabor – a modern Mexican eatery
- Sabor Bar
- Arcade
- Cups & Scoops – ice cream shop
- Boardwalk Doughnuts – doughnut shop
HARMONY OF THE SEAS
- Boardwalk Doghouse – a hot dog stand
- Arcade
- Retail
- Johnny Rockets – a retro diner
- Sabor – a modern Mexican eatery
- Sabor Bar
- Starbucks
SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS
- Boardwalk Doghouse – a hot dog stand
- Sugar Beach – a candy & ice cream shop
- Retail
- Johnny Rockets – a retro diner
- Playmakers – a sports bar & arcade
WONDER OF THE SEAS
- Boardwalk Doghouse – a hot dog stand
- Sugar Beach – a candy & ice cream shop
- Retail
- Johnny Rockets – a retro diner
- Playmakers – a sports bar & arcade
UTOPIA OF THE SEAS
- Boardwalk Doghouse – a hot dog stand
- Sugar beach – a candy & ice cream shop
- Retail
- Johnny Rockets – a retro diner
- Playmakers – a sports bar & arcade
Surfside Family Neighborhood – Icon Class
For the Icon Class, the Boardwalk and aft AquaTheater were scraped to make way for a brand new, family-oriented space- the Surfside Family Neighborhood. Surfside is all about family fun, and was built with the kiddos in mind. The only similarity between the Boardwalk and Surfside is the carousel in the very center.
Surrounding the carousel are several eateries, shops, activity spaces, and just a few steps below on Deck 6 is Adventure Ocean- securing Surfside at the top space onboard for kids! At the very aft, where you would find the AquaTheater on the Oasis Class (AquaTheater is in the crown on Icon Class ships), is Splashaway Bay, and the Waters Edge Pool- a great way for the kids to stay cool in hotter regions like the Caribbean.
ICON & STAR OF THE SEAS
- Surfside Eatery – a casual buffet spot
- Surfside Bites – a quick grab-and-go buffet
- Sprinkles – soft serve ice cream
- The Lemon Post – bar with cocktail & mocktail menus
- Splashaway Bay – kids splash pad
- Waters Edge Pool
- Pier 7 – all-day brunch spot
- Playscape – playground area
- Sugar Beach – candy & ice cream shop
- Arcade
- Retail
Booking Your Cruise
While these venues could not be more different from each other, they both have a lively atmosphere that is meant to entertain and promote fun while onboard. Now that you are ready to experience the Boardwalk or Surfside for yourself, reach out to the experts at Harr Travel.
We know the spaces inside and out, and have an amazing relationship with Royal Caribbean. Our advisors will craft the cruise vacation of a lifetime for you, your friends, family, or group at an exceptional rate, and give you the Harr Travel signature service every step of the way.
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