🚢7 Days on Icon of the Seas With Kids

Our 7-night Caribbean cruise on the Icon of the Seas was one of the biggest adventures we’ve done as a family. Between themed nights, kid activities, port stops, and way too much food, there was always something happening. Here’s how it unfolded for us, day by day.

Day 1: Miami Departure & Sea Day

We checked in for our 11am embarkation slot and before we knew it, we were stepping onto the Icon of the Seas for the very first time. The kids couldn’t believe the size of the ship. Surfside, the promenade, the pools, it felt endless.

We spent the afternoon exploring and by dinner time we were all wiped, so we kept it simple with the buffet before crashing into bed. With so much ahead of us, we wanted to start the week rested.

Day 2: Sea Day

Our first full sea day gave us the chance to properly slow down and enjoy the ship. The kids spent hours splashing in Surfside while we alternated between relaxing and wandering around.

In the afternoon we dressed up for the Wizard of Oz show, which completely captivated the kids. Afterwards we headed to the main dining hall for dinner and, honestly, it was one of those nights where everything just flowed.

Day 3: Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico

This was such an unexpectedly fun day. Just outside the port we hired a golf cart from a local. We thought it would be a quick novelty, but it turned into the highlight of the stop. We zipped around the island, checking out beach clubs, and the kids had an absolute blast.

We made it back onboard in time for our Hooked Seafood dinner reservation, and ended the night with ice cream and carousel rides. The perfect kind of family night.

Day 4: Roatán, Honduras

By this point we were all pretty tired, and the heat didn’t help. We only wandered as far as the port before deciding the kids just wanted to swim. So we headed back to the ship.

The grandparents kindly offered to watch the kids, so we snuck away to the adults-only pool and bar for a couple of hours, such a treat in the middle of the cruise. We all regrouped for dinner in the main dining hall and then went straight to the silent disco. The whole family dancing around in headphones was hilarious. We finished off with a carousel ride before heading to bed.

Day 5: Cozumel, Mexico

Cozumel ended up being another favourite. We hired a jeep right outside the port and spent the day exploring. Eventually we settled into a beach club with an inflatable playground on the water. Our oldest daughter and her dad spent hours climbing, sliding, and splashing while the rest of us chilled out.

Honestly, we could’ve easily stayed longer, there’s so much more to Cozumel than you first realise. That night we joined in White Night, dressed in white for dinner in the main dining hall. It felt like such a fun celebration after a big day.

Day 6: Sea Day

After three port days in a row, this sea day was exactly what we needed. The kids started the morning with cupcake decorating, which was messy and fun in equal parts. Around midday we headed to the ice skating show, Once Upon A Time: The King’s Royal Ball. The kids were glued to the performance, it was honestly magical.

We spent the rest of the afternoon swimming and wandering before our dinner at Chops Grille. The food was incredible, and the early seating worked perfectly with the kids. That night we went to the Aqua Action show, which completely blew us away.

Day 7: Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

This was one of my favourite days. Because we didn’t disembark until midday, the ship was practically empty all morning. We had the water slides, pools, and splash zones to ourselves, which felt like such a win.

When we finally got off, we had lunch on the island (included with the dining package), swam in the ocean, and wandered around a bit. Since the kids are still young, we skipped the extra-cost waterparks and honestly didn’t feel like we missed out. Having that quieter, stress-free time was perfect.

Dinner was casual at the Windjammer buffet, which worked well after such a full day.

Day 8: Return to Miami

Disembarkation was smooth, especially since we’d pre-tagged our luggage and had it picked up the night before. We had one last breakfast on the ship before saying goodbye and heading back to Miami Airport. From there it was onto our flight to New York City, where we connected with our long-haul overnight flight back to Auckland. It was bittersweet leaving, but we were full of memories (and very ready for some rest!).

Reflections on Cruising With Kids

What we loved most was the quality family time. The kids were entertained from morning to night, with activities, shows, and play zones that meant there was always something to do. We never had to worry about filling the day, the ship did that for us.

And honestly, one of the biggest wins was the food. Not having to think about meals was such a game-changer. Every single meal was catered for, with endless options, and the kids always found something they actually ate and enjoyed. That’s usually the hardest part of holidays with little ones, finding trustworthy food that suits them without having to trek out of the city or stress about it. On the cruise, that was all taken care of.

Would we do another cruise? 110% yes. It was by far our favourite part of the holiday with our kids. Seamless, fun, and easy in ways that most family trips just aren’t. Commercialised? Sure. But for us, that was part of the excitement, everything we needed was right there, and it worked.