Known for pushing the boundaries of cruising, Royal Caribbean has revealed long-awaited details of its brand-new mega-ship, Icon of the Seas, due to make its grand debut in January 2024.
The first in the new Icon Class, the new ship will carry a whopping 7,600 passengers and 2,450 crew and have 40 bars, restaurants, lounges, nightlife venues, and an adult-only retreat scattered across 18 passenger decks.
With each new ship, we raise the bar in the travel industry while enhancing what our guests know and love. From the moment they step on board, each experience is specifically designed to give them the best vacation anywhere on land and sea.
With Icon of the Seas, we’ve taken this to a new level and created the ultimate family vacation.
Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group
There will be 28 cabin categories to choose from onboard Icon of the Seas, 14 of which will be brand-new cabin categories, including staterooms which can accommodate three, four or five people.
Accommodations such as the Family Infinite Balcony, Surfside Family Suite, and three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse have their own alcoves designed just for kids.
Elsewhere on board, Icon on the Seas will have eight “neighbourhoods” which will host the largest waterpark at sea, slides, swim-up bars, infinity pools and more.
Of the eight neighbourhoods, five, Thrill Island, Chill Island, Surfside, The Hideaway and The AquaDome, are new for the Icon of the Seas. Thrill Island will host thrills and spills with the largest waterpark at sea, the first open free-fall slide, 46-foot tall Frightening Bolt and the tallest drop slide at sea, as well as family raft slides.
Chill Island will be home to four pools, which will have swim-up bars, an adults-only haven, an infinity-edge pool and the cruise line’s first frozen cocktail bar.
Surfside will be a favourite for young families, with lots of smaller pools for babies and toddlers, a carousel, an arcade and a social area for teens.
The Hideaway will be the first suspended infinity pool at sea perched 135 feet above the ocean, with a multilevel sun terrace and whirlpools.
The AquaDome will be home to entertainment like no other. By day, the neighbourhood is a tranquil oasis offering ocean views and light bites. By night, dazzling shows will be performed in the cutting-edge AquaTheater. In the new theatre, four robotic arms, a transforming pool and projectors will bring performances to life.
This huge new ship will also be Royal Caribbean’s first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest-burning marine fuel.
Alongside shore power connection and waste heat recovery systems, Icon of the Seas will be the cruise line’s most sustainable to date.
Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of delivering memorable experiences and our next bold commitment to those who love to vacation.
Now more than ever, families and friends are prioritizing experiences where they can get together and enjoy their adventures together or on their own.
We set out to create a vacation that would make all of that possible in one place for thrill seekers, enthusiasts of relaxation and everything in between, without compromise. This first-of-its-kind combination makes Icon the future of family vacations, and that future is here.
Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International
Icon of the Seas will sail year-round, 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations departing from Miami.
On these itineraries, passengers can expect to visit Caribbean gems including Cozumel, Mexico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and Roatan, Honduras.
Bookings open for Icon of the Seas on 25 October 2022. Members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society can book from 24 October 2022.
