Icon of the Seas Deck 20: The Top of the Category 6 Waterslides
Deck 20 on Icon of the Seas is the very top of the Category 6 waterpark, where all six waterslides begin. There are no rooms, seats or bars up here, just the slide starts at the top of the tower stairs.
Written by Favorite Grampy (Manny Oliverez), Favorite Grampy Travels · Last Updated: October 18, 2026
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What Is on Deck 20 of Icon of the Seas?
Deck 20 on Icon of the Seas is the very top of Category 6, which Royal Caribbean calls the largest waterpark at sea. All six waterslides start up here, at the back of the ship. Royal Caribbean’s plan shows nothing else on Deck 20: no staterooms, no seating, no bar and no elevator.
You get here on foot, climbing the slide tower stairs from Deck 16, and you ride back down to Deck 16. Deck 20 is one of 18 decks in our Icon of the Seas deck plans guide.
Deck 20 Key Facts at a Glance
| Deck 20 Detail | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| What’s here | The starts of the six Category 6 waterslides, and nothing else |
| How to get up | Two staircase entrances on Deck 16 at Thrill Island. There is no elevator |
| The slides | Frightening Bolt, Pressure Drop, Storm Chasers (two side-by-side slides), Hurricane Hunter and Storm Surge |
| Cost | Included in your cruise fare |
| Height rules | Posted at the slides. Royal Caribbean doesn’t list them on its website |
| Staterooms, seating and bars | None |
| Where you finish | The slide runouts on Deck 16 |
Icon of the Seas Deck 20 Deck Plan
Royal Caribbean’s Deck 20 plan has no labels, just the slides. You can see two landing areas at the top of two slide towers, with the colored slide tubes twisting away from each one. Royal Caribbean’s Deck 16 plan shows two “Staircase entrance to slides” labels where you start the climb.
The Six Category 6 Waterslides
- Frightening Bolt: Royal Caribbean calls it the tallest drop slide at sea, with a 46-foot drop, a trap-door start and a 360-degree loop.
- Pressure Drop: the first open free-fall slide at sea, at a 66-degree angle.
- Storm Chasers: two side-by-side mat-racing slides, 431 feet each, made for racing each other.
- Hurricane Hunter: a family raft slide, 425 feet long.
- Storm Surge: a suspended family raft slide, 395 feet long.
All six are included in your fare, and Royal Caribbean says lifeguards are on duty at its pools and waterslides when they’re open. In August 2025, Royal Caribbean closed Frightening Bolt for the rest of that sailing after an acrylic panel broke during a ride, the line said in a statement at the time. Check the Royal app for which slides are open on your sailing.
Height Rules and Who Can Ride
Height and weight limits are posted at the slides, and Royal Caribbean doesn’t list them on its website. Riders are weighed before they go, EatSleepCruise reports. EatSleepCruise also reports about 48 inches for the raft and mat slides and 52 inches for Frightening Bolt and Pressure Drop, but other sites list different numbers.
Children who aren’t fully toilet-trained can’t ride. Royal Caribbean keeps kids in diapers to the baby splash areas, which on Icon are in Surfside on Deck 7.
Best Slides for Grandparents and Grandkids Together
- Hurricane Hunter and Storm Surge: the family raft slides. Reported raft limits are 2 to 4 riders, depending on the slide and total weight, so a grandparent can ride with a grandchild.
- Storm Chasers: two slides side by side, made for a grandparent-versus-grandkid race.
- Frightening Bolt and Pressure Drop: the big thrills, best for teens and brave grown-ups.
What Isn’t on Deck 20
Crown’s Edge, the extra-cost ropes course ride, is on Deck 16, not up here. So are the slide entrances and exits, Lost Dunes mini golf and the FlowRider. Deck 20 has no seating or bar, so there’s no place to wait at the top for anyone who isn’t riding.
Is Deck 20 Worth the Climb?
Yes, for kids who meet the height rules and grown-ups who don’t mind the stairs. Category 6 is included, and the raft slides are a rare chance for grandparents and grandkids to ride together. For little ones and anyone who can’t climb, Surfside and the pools on Deck 15 are the better pick.
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 20
- Back down to Deck 16: ride a slide, or walk back down the tower stairs, to Thrill Island.
- To Crown’s Edge and mini golf (Deck 16): Crown’s Edge is just forward of the aft elevators, and Lost Dunes mini golf is on the port side of Thrill Island, next to one of the staircase entrances to the slides.
- Down to the pools (Deck 15): Chill Island and the AquaDome.
- Down to Surfside (Deck 7): ride the aft elevators to the splash pad for the littlest swimmers.
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 20
What is on Deck 20 of Icon of the Seas?
Deck 20 on Icon of the Seas is the very top of Category 6, the waterpark Royal Caribbean calls the largest at sea. All six waterslides start up here, at the back of the ship. Royal Caribbean’s plan shows nothing else on Deck 20: no staterooms, seating, bar or elevator. You climb the slide tower stairs from Deck 16 and ride back down. What that means for your family: Deck 20 is a destination for slide riders, not a place to hang out.
How do you get to the top of the waterslides on Icon of the Seas?
You reach the top of the Category 6 waterslides on Icon of the Seas by climbing stairs from Deck 16. There are two staircase entrances at Thrill Island and no elevator. The climb is four decks up to the slide starts on Deck 20, and riders head back down by slide to the runouts on Deck 16. Here’s what I tell grandparents: if the stairs are too much, watch from the slide runouts on Deck 16, where everyone finishes their ride with a splash.
What is the tallest slide on Icon of the Seas?
Frightening Bolt is the tallest slide on Icon of the Seas, and Royal Caribbean calls it the tallest drop slide at sea. It starts on Deck 20 with a trap-door drop of 46 feet and a 360-degree loop. Royal Caribbean closed it for the rest of a sailing in August 2025 after an acrylic panel broke during a ride, the line said in a statement at the time, so check the Royal app for its status on your sailing. The truth is, it’s a big thrill best saved for teens and brave grown-ups.
Can grandparents ride the waterslides with grandkids on Icon of the Seas?
Yes, grandparents can ride two Category 6 waterslides on Icon of the Seas with their grandkids. Hurricane Hunter and Storm Surge are family raft slides, with reported limits of 2 to 4 riders depending on the slide and total weight. Storm Chasers is two side-by-side mat racers, so you can race each other to the bottom. All six slides are included in your fare. In fact, a grandparent-versus-grandkid race is one of the best memories on board.
How tall do you have to be for the Category 6 waterslides on Icon of the Seas?
Height and weight limits for the Category 6 slides on Icon of the Seas are posted at the slides, and Royal Caribbean doesn’t list them on its website. EatSleepCruise reports about 48 inches for the raft and mat slides and 52 inches for Frightening Bolt and Pressure Drop, but other sites list different numbers, and riders are weighed. Children must be fully toilet-trained. The simple test I use: measure at home, then trust the posted sign on board.
Do the waterslides cost extra on Icon of the Seas?
No, all six Category 6 waterslides on Icon of the Seas are included in your cruise fare. That covers Frightening Bolt, Pressure Drop, the two Storm Chasers mat racers, Hurricane Hunter and Storm Surge. Crown’s Edge, the ropes course ride on Deck 16, does cost extra, as do FlowRider lessons. Mini golf and the climbing wall are included. We help families decide whether Crown’s Edge is worth adding before they sail, so the budget holds no surprises.
Cruising on Icon of the Seas?
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Let Us Help You Plan Your Icon Cruise
Wondering whether your grandkids are ready for Category 6? We’ll walk through the waterpark and the deck plans with you.
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.