Accessible stateroom review on Icon of the Seas

Traveling with accessibility needs comes with its own unique challenges, but Royal Caribbean has designed their accessible staterooms on Icon of the Seas to make the experience as smooth as possible. Facebook group member Gale Snelling recently shared her firsthand experience staying in one of these thoughtfully designed rooms.

I’m posting in case someone has an upcoming trip and wants photos and information on an accessible stateroom. For us, it was a must—we needed a scooter, so an accessible room was required.

We stayed in 8656, a stateroom designed for four people on the Central Park level.

Compared to regular balcony rooms, the accessible rooms have less drawer and shelf storage. We lived out of our suitcases since there was no drawer space.

The bed is lower, and the only suitcase that fits underneath is a standard carry-on. Larger suitcases had to be placed along the wall. (Technically, they could fit under the bed when open, but since the couch was pulled out, we left them standing for easier access.) We used them as storage and went in and out of them daily.

The shower curtain reaches the floor and has magnetic clips on both sides. There is no lip, just a slight downward slope. After showering, part of the bathroom floor gets completely wet. If not contained with the provided floor towels (ask for extras!), the water can spread across the entire floor.

There are three small shelves in the bathroom, which only hold essentials. For us, that meant a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and mouthwash—there wasn’t room for much else.

On the plus side, the room is very spacious, with plenty of room to maneuver a scooter or wheelchair. We loved the extra space and happily dealt with the lack of storage.

We brought plenty of magnetic hooks, which helped us hang several items and reduce the need to dig through suitcases.

The balcony was spacious and had a flip-down section, allowing for stepless access.

All in all, we had a great experience. The location was perfect. I do wish there was a bit more drawer and shelf storage, but that’s not a dealbreaker—we’d definitely request the same room on a future trip!