Royal’s new Icon set to wow for all

OFFERING a beach retreat, resort escape and theme park adventure, Royal Caribbean says its new Icon of the Seas will offer guests “the best of every vacation” when it debuts in early 2024 (CW breaking news).

The newbuild marks Royal’s first new class since the debut of Quantum of the Seas in 2014, with Icon slightly larger and higher than the Oasis class which was first deployed in 2008.

Icon of the Seas is 20 decks tall, with 5,610 lower berths and a full capacity of 7,600 passengers.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said “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, every experience is specifically designed to give them the best vacation anywhere on land and at sea,” he said.

“With Icon of the Seas, we’ve taken this to a new level and made the ultimate family vacation,” Liberty added.

The largest waterpark at sea is complemented by a resort-style beach club, along with Royal Caribbean favourites such as an ice rink, scores of restaurants, a three-deck Suite Neighbourhood and 28 different stateroom types, including new layouts made for families of three, four and more.

The three-storey Ultimate Family Townhouse is even equipped with its own white picket fence and mailbox, and the ship offers rock climbing, the first suspended infinity pool at sea and Crown’s Edge, which sees cruisers adventure 50m over the ocean.

There are eight distinct neighbourhoods, including the new Thrill Island, Chill Island, Surfside, Hideaway and the AquaDome, with Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley saying, “Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of delivering memorable experiences”.

The ship will launch in late 2023, with the first revenue cruises scheduled for early 2024 and sales of its year-round 7-day Caribbean voyages opening to the general public next Tue 25 Oct.

More on the cover page of today’s Cruise Weekly.