Icon of the Seas Deck 2: Gangways, Port Days and Getting Off the Ship
Deck 2 on Icon of the Seas is the lowest guest deck, and it’s all gangways and elevator landings. You’ll likely pass through it on port days, but in Miami most guests board on Deck 5.
Written by Favorite Grampy (Manny Oliverez), Favorite Grampy Travels · Last Updated: October 18, 2026
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What Is on Deck 2 of Icon of the Seas?
Deck 2 on Icon of the Seas is a working deck, not a place to spend your day. Royal Caribbean’s plan shows no staterooms, restaurants, bars or shops here, just gangway areas, the forward and aft elevators and stairs, and an escalator up to Deck 4.
It’s the lowest deck guests use, and you’ll most likely see it on port days, when many guests leave the ship through a Deck 2 gangway. Deck 2 is one of 18 decks in our Icon of the Seas deck plans guide.
Deck 2 Key Facts at a Glance
| Deck 2 Detail | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Staterooms | None |
| Restaurants, bars and shops | None |
| What’s here | Six gangway areas (a pair forward, a pair in the middle and a pair aft), the forward and aft elevators and stairs, and an escalator up to Deck 4 |
| Boarding day in Miami | Most guests board on Deck 5, by The Pearl and the 1400 Lobby Bar, not on Deck 2 |
| The escalator | Links Decks 2, 4 and 5 on the starboard side, and skips Deck 3 |
| Deck above | Deck 3: staterooms, the Medical Center, Music Hall and the bottom level of the Dining Room |
| Deck below | None for guests |
Icon of the Seas Deck 2 Deck Plan
Read the Deck 2 plan from front to back. Royal Caribbean labels six areas “Port Gangway.” Two sit beside the forward elevators, two sit in the middle of the ship on either side of a crosswalk, and two sit beside the aft elevators. In the middle, on the starboard side, is the escalator up to Deck 4. The rest of the deck is not open to guests.
When You’ll Use Deck 2
On many port days, you’ll walk off Icon of the Seas through a Deck 2 gangway. Guest reviews describe the escalator from the Royal Promenade taking guests down to the casino and the gangway on port days. The open gangway can change from port to port, so follow the crew’s signs and the Royal app that morning.
Boarding day is different. In Miami, most guests step aboard on Deck 5, right into the Royal Promenade by The Pearl and the 1400 Lobby Bar. Icon is set to move to Galveston, Texas, in August 2027, and Royal Caribbean hasn’t said which deck guests will board on there.
Getting Off the Ship With a Wheelchair or Scooter
Royal Caribbean offers boarding and departure help for guests who use wheelchairs or have trouble getting around, and it asks guests to request it about 30 days before sailing. A few things to know before port day:
- Crew can push, not lift: staff will push wheelchairs on and off the ship over the gangway, but they aren’t allowed to lift guests.
- There can be a wait: Royal Caribbean says there may be a wait for help at busy times.
- Conditions matter: a steep gangway, the weather, or tide and sea conditions can keep guests who use mobility devices from getting on or off the ship that day.
Getting From the Royal Promenade to the Gangway
The fastest way down on a port day is the escalator. Start on Deck 5 by the 1400 Lobby Bar, ride down to Deck 4 by Casino Royale, then ride down again to the gangway on Deck 2. The escalator doesn’t stop on Deck 3, so if your room is on Deck 3, take the elevators or the stairs instead.
What’s Above and Below Deck 2
- Above, Deck 3: the lowest deck with staterooms, plus the Medical Center up front, the lower level of Music Hall and the bottom level of the Dining Room at the back.
- Below: nothing for guests. Deck 2 is the bottom of the guest decks.
Is Deck 2 Worth Knowing About?
Yes, but only as a way on and off the ship. There’s nothing to book on Deck 2 and no reason to linger. What helps families is knowing the route: escalator from the Promenade for most guests, elevators for strollers and wheelchairs.
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 2
- Up to the Royal Promenade (Deck 5): take the escalator up through Deck 4 to Guest Services, The Pearl and the 1400 Lobby Bar.
- Up to Deck 3: use the elevators or stairs, since the escalator skips this deck.
- Up to Surfside (Deck 7): take the aft elevators to the splash pad and carousel.
- Up to the pools (Deck 15): ride the elevators up to Chill Island and the AquaDome.
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 2
What is on Deck 2 of Icon of the Seas?
Deck 2 on Icon of the Seas has no staterooms, restaurants, bars or shops. Royal Caribbean’s deck plan shows six gangway areas, a pair forward, a pair in the middle and a pair aft, plus the forward and aft elevators and stairs and an escalator up to Deck 4. The rest of the deck is not open to guests. What that means for your family: you’ll pass through Deck 2 on port days, but you won’t spend time there, so there’s nothing on this deck to plan around.
Do you board Icon of the Seas on Deck 2?
No, most guests board Icon of the Seas on Deck 5 in Miami, stepping straight into the Royal Promenade by The Pearl and the 1400 Lobby Bar. Deck 2 is where many guests get off and back on during port days. Icon is set to move to Galveston, Texas, in August 2027, and Royal Caribbean hasn’t said which deck guests will board on there. Here’s what I tell families: on boarding day, agree to meet at The Pearl if anyone gets separated.
How do you get off Icon of the Seas on a port day?
On many port days, guests leave Icon of the Seas through a gangway on Deck 2. From the Royal Promenade on Deck 5, the escalator by the 1400 Lobby Bar runs down to Deck 4 and then to the Deck 2 gangway. The open gangway can change from port to port, so follow crew signs and the Royal app. In fact, the elevators are the better choice with a stroller or wheelchair, since both banks open right beside gangways on Deck 2, if that gangway is the one open that day.
Does the escalator on Icon of the Seas stop on Deck 3?
No, the escalator on Icon of the Seas links Decks 2, 4 and 5 and skips Deck 3. Royal Caribbean’s plans show it on the starboard side, running from the Royal Promenade on Deck 5 to Casino Royale on Deck 4 and down to the gangway on Deck 2. If your stateroom is on Deck 3, take the elevators or stairs instead. The simple test I use: escalator for the gangway, elevators for everything else on the lower decks.
Can you use a wheelchair or scooter on the gangway on Icon of the Seas?
Yes for wheelchairs: Royal Caribbean offers boarding and departure help for guests in wheelchairs on Icon of the Seas, and it asks guests to request it about 30 days before sailing. Crew will push wheelchairs over the gangway but can’t lift guests, and there may be a wait at busy times. A steep gangway, the weather, or tide and sea conditions can keep guests with mobility devices on board that day. The truth is, a little planning with your advisor makes port days much smoother.
What is the lowest deck with staterooms on Icon of the Seas?
Deck 3 is the lowest deck with staterooms on Icon of the Seas. Deck 2 has none, only gangways, elevators and an escalator. Deck 3 has 143 rooms, mostly Ocean View rooms with a window, plus a block of interior rooms in the middle of the ship. It’s also home to the Medical Center, the lower level of Music Hall and the bottom level of the Dining Room. In other words, if you want the lowest stateroom on the ship, look at Deck 3.
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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.