Icon of the Seas Deck 18: The Grove Suite Sun Deck and Loft Suites
Deck 18 on Icon of the Seas is for Sky Class and Star Class suite guests: The Grove Suite Sun Deck with a pool, a whirlpool and The Grove restaurant, plus the upstairs bedrooms of the eight loft suites.
Written by Favorite Grampy (Manny Oliverez), Favorite Grampy Travels · Last Updated: October 18, 2026
Royal Caribbean’s Award-Winning Fleet
Awards from the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards.
What Is on Deck 18 of Icon of the Seas?
Deck 18 on Icon of the Seas is a small deck near the front of the ship, and it’s only for Sky Class and Star Class suite guests. The open part of the deck is The Grove Suite Sun Deck, with a pool, a whirlpool, loungers, swinging daybeds and The Grove, a casual Mediterranean restaurant with a bar. At the back of the deck, by the elevators, are the upstairs levels of the ship’s eight loft suites.
The sun deck continues one flight up on Deck 19. Deck 18 is one of 18 decks in our Icon of the Seas deck plans guide.
Deck 18 Key Facts at a Glance
| Deck 18 Detail | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Who can use it | Sky Class and Star Class suite guests only |
| What’s here | A pool, a whirlpool, loungers and swinging daybeds, The Grove restaurant and its bar, restrooms and four elevators |
| Loft suites | The upstairs levels of the seven Icon Loft Suites and the Royal Loft Suite, which keep their Deck 17 numbers (17016 to 17022 and 17038 to 17044) |
| Rooms numbered in the 18000s | None |
| Kids | Welcome with a qualifying suite. It isn’t an adults-only area |
| Deck above | Deck 19: the upper level of the sun deck, reached by outdoor stairs |
| Deck below | Deck 17: suites, the upper level of Coastal Kitchen and Cloud 17 |
Icon of the Seas Deck 18 Deck Plan
Read the Deck 18 plan from front to back. The patterned area at the very front isn’t labeled on Royal Caribbean’s plan. Behind it is the open sun deck, with the pool on one side, the whirlpool on the other and The Grove and its bar in the middle. At the back are the restrooms, the four elevators and the upstairs levels of the loft suites, four on each side. Outdoor stairs on each side, at the back of the sun deck, go up to Deck 19.
Who Can Use The Grove Suite Sun Deck?
The Grove and the sun deck are for Sky Class and Star Class suite guests. Royal Caribbean lists the sun deck as a Sky Class and Star Class perk, so it isn’t open to anyone else on board. On Icon, that includes:
- Star Class: the Icon Loft Suites, the Royal Loft Suite and the Ultimate Family Townhouse.
- Sky Class: the Panoramic, Sky Junior, Grand and Owner’s Suites on Decks 16 and 17, the Sunset Corner Suites, the Sunset Suites, the Infinite Grand Suites on Deck 9 and, for sailings from May 2, 2026, the Sunset Junior Suites.
Most sources list the Junior Suites on Decks 9 to 11 as Sea Class, which doesn’t include the sun deck, but a few list the Deck 10 and 11 ones as Sky Junior Suites, so we confirm the class for your exact room. For sailings on or after May 2, 2026, Royal Caribbean also moved the Surfside Family Suites to Sea Class, so they no longer include The Grove or the sun deck.
The Grove
The Grove is a casual, outdoor spot for Mediterranean bites by the pool, and the food is included for eligible suites. Drinks at the sun deck bar cost extra unless your suite includes a beverage package, as Star Class suites do. Royal Caribbean doesn’t publish hours, so check the Royal app on board. For full meals, these suites dine at Coastal Kitchen on Decks 16 and 17.
Loft Suite Upper Levels on Deck 18
All eight loft suites on Icon are two stories: the living space is on Deck 17 and the upstairs is on Deck 18. The upstairs keeps the Deck 17 room number, so there are no rooms numbered in the 18000s.
- Icon Loft Suites: 17016, 17018, 17020, 17038, 17040, 17042 and 17044. Each sleeps 4, with the main bedroom and bathroom upstairs.
- Accessible loft: 17018 is the only accessible loft suite on the ship.
- Royal Loft Suite: 17022, the only one on the ship, sleeps 6. It’s the one room up here that fits a big three-generation group.
Every loft has stairs inside the suite, which is worth planning around for toddlers and tired knees. Only 17018 also has an elevator between its two levels, guest reviews report.
Getting Up to Deck 19
The sun deck has a second level on Deck 19, with more open space for sunning. There’s no elevator to Deck 19; the only way up is the outdoor stairs. The four elevators stop here on Deck 18, so grandparents who’d rather skip the stairs can stay by the pool.
What Isn’t on Deck 18
- Crown’s Edge and the waterslide entrances are on Deck 16.
- Coastal Kitchen, the suite restaurant, is on Decks 16 and 17.
- The Lime and Coconut bars are on Decks 15, 16 and 17, with the main pools on Deck 15.
Is Deck 18 a Good Deck for Families?
Yes, if your family is staying in a Sky or Star Class suite. The Grove Suite Sun Deck gives you a suite-only pool, an included lunch spot and the elevators close by. Everyone else on board won’t have access, and the loft suites up here come with stairs.
Ready to Plan Your Icon of the Seas Cruise?
Icon of the Seas has been sailing from Miami since January 2024, with a Category 6 waterpark, Surfside for the little ones and eight neighborhoods to explore in one week. Tell us your dates and who’s coming, and a Favorite Grampy Travels cruise advisor will find the stateroom and sailing that fit your family.
How to Get Around From Deck 18
- Down to Coastal Kitchen and Cloud 17 (Deck 17): one flight down.
- Down to Thrill Island (Deck 16): the waterslides, Crown’s Edge and mini golf at the back of the ship.
- Down to the pools (Deck 15): Chill Island and the AquaDome.
- Down to Surfside (Deck 7): ride the elevators down, then head aft to Surfside’s splash pad and carousel.
Icon of the Seas Ship Facts
| Fact | Icon of the Seas |
|---|---|
| Deck numbers | 2 through 20, with no Deck 13 |
| Neighborhoods | 8 |
| Guests (double occupancy) | 5,610 |
| Crew | About 2,350 |
| Pools | 7 |
| Waterslides | 6, in the Category 6 waterpark |
| Length | 1,198 feet |
| Home port | Miami, Florida, with a planned move to Galveston, Texas, in August 2027 |
Until its move to Galveston in August 2027, Icon of the Seas sails seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises round trip from Miami. Every one of those Miami sailings stops at Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas. For the bigger picture, read our Icon of the Seas ship overview and our Royal Caribbean page, or see how our cruise vacation planning works.
Explore Other Icon of the Seas Decks
Frequently Asked Questions About Icon of the Seas Deck 18
What is on Deck 18 of Icon of the Seas?
Deck 18 on Icon of the Seas is The Grove Suite Sun Deck, with a pool, a whirlpool, loungers, swinging daybeds and The Grove, a casual Mediterranean restaurant with a bar. The upstairs levels of the ship’s eight loft suites are here too, by the elevators. It’s only for Sky Class and Star Class suite guests. What that means for your family: if you’re in a qualifying suite, Deck 18 is your own pool deck away from the busier pools on Deck 15.
Who can use The Grove on Icon of the Seas?
The Grove and the suite sun deck on Icon of the Seas are for Sky Class and Star Class suite guests only. That includes the loft suites, the Ultimate Family Townhouse, the Panoramic, Sky Junior, Grand, Owner’s and Infinite Grand Suites, and the Sunset suites at the back of the ship. Surfside Family Suites are Sea Class and don’t include it. Most sources list the Junior Suites as Sea Class too, though a few list the Deck 10 and 11 ones as Sky Junior Suites, so we confirm the class for your exact room. Here’s what I tell families: always ask which suite class a room is in before you compare prices.
Can kids use The Grove Suite Sun Deck on Icon of the Seas?
Yes, kids staying in a Sky Class or Star Class suite on Icon of the Seas can use The Grove Suite Sun Deck; it isn’t an adults-only area. Royal Caribbean’s rule still applies that children in diapers or not fully toilet-trained can’t use the pool or whirlpool. They’re limited to the baby splash areas, which on Icon are in Surfside on Deck 7. In fact, a suite family can split the day: little ones at Surfside, older kids up at the sun deck pool.
Did Surfside Family Suites lose The Grove on Icon of the Seas?
Yes. For sailings on or after May 2, 2026, Royal Caribbean moved the Surfside Family Suites on Icon of the Seas from Sky Class to Sea Class. Sea Class doesn’t include The Grove or the suite sun deck on Deck 18, and those suites also lost the Suite Lounge, the concierge and breakfast and lunch at Coastal Kitchen. They keep dinner at Coastal Kitchen, based on availability. The truth is, a Surfside Family Suite is still a great family room; it just isn’t a sun-deck suite anymore.
What is The Grove restaurant on Icon of the Seas?
The Grove on Icon of the Seas is a casual, outdoor restaurant on the Deck 18 suite sun deck, serving Mediterranean bites by the pool. Food is included for Sky Class and Star Class suite guests, and drinks at the sun deck bar cost extra unless your suite includes a beverage package. Royal Caribbean doesn’t publish its hours, so check the Royal app. The simple test I use: The Grove is for an easy lunch in your swimsuit; Coastal Kitchen is for sit-down meals.
Which suites have an upstairs level on Deck 18 of Icon of the Seas?
On Icon of the Seas, the upstairs levels of all eight loft suites are on Deck 18: the seven Icon Loft Suites, 17016 to 17020 and 17038 to 17044, and the Royal Loft Suite, 17022. They keep their Deck 17 numbers. The Royal Loft sleeps 6 and each Icon Loft sleeps 4. Suite 17018 is the only accessible loft, and guest reviews report it also has an elevator inside. The other lofts have stairs only, so think about little legs and tired knees.
Cruising on Icon of the Seas?
Tell us who’s coming, and we’ll find the right stateroom for your family.
Let Us Help You Pick Your Icon Suite
Thinking about a suite with The Grove for your family? We’ll compare the suite classes with you, room by room.
Tell us who’s coming and when you’d like to sail. A Favorite Grampy Travels cruise advisor will reach out to set up your complimentary 15-minute consultation.
About this guide. Favorite Grampy Travels is an independent travel agency. This page is our own work, not published or endorsed by Royal Caribbean. Deck plans and photos are Royal Caribbean’s; Icon of the Seas, Perfect Day at CocoCay and venue names are trademarks of Royal Caribbean International. Layouts, room categories, venues, prices, what’s included, age and height rules, perks and itineraries can change without notice and vary by sailing. Royal Caribbean’s website, the Royal app and your cruise documents are the final word. Confirm the details that matter to your family with your advisor before you book. Accessible stateroom details come from Royal Caribbean’s deck plans; for current accessibility needs, talk to your advisor or Royal Caribbean’s Access Department.