Icon of the Seas Generating ‘Exceptional Demand’

Posted on 7 May, 2023 by Spacejunkie2

When the new Icon of the Seas debuts in 2024 for Royal Caribbean International, she will become the world’s biggest ship and is already breaking sales records.

“Despite being on sale for only five months, Icon is significantly more booked for her inaugural season at materially higher rates than any other Royal Caribbean ship launch,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, speaking on the company’s first-quarter earnings call.

“The Icon will join the fleet later this year and debut in the Caribbean in January 2024, with itineraries including Perfect Day at CocoCay and its new expansion, Hideaway Beach.”

Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, added: “Icon is literally the best-performing new product launch we’ve ever had in the history of our business, and we’re delighted with volume and rate, and that really is a full 2024 product … it’s really driving a huge amount of demand and a great rate.”

Following the Icon, the company has another Oasis-class ship coming in 2024, the Utopia of the Seas, plus two more Icon-class vessels, set to debut in 2025 and 2026, respectively.

Cruise occupancy levels and pricing are set to come under pressure

Posted on 6 April, 2023 by Spacejunkie2

MSC Virtuosa Entering Southampton photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr-Virtuosa Images)

Cruise occupancy levels and pricing are set to come under pressure in the coming years as supply outpaces demand, according to new data.

The prediction comes from Tourism Economics’ new Cruise Intelligence Platform (Cruise-IP), which found cruise lines will face “critical choices” in regional capacity deployment, with risks of over-supply in some markets.

Cruise operating capacity is on pace to exceed 2019 levels by 16% in 2024 and supply growth is anticipated to slow in 2025, but capacity should grow by roughly one-quarter in the medium term.

Recent booking activity indicates “robust” demand with a record pace of new bookings, Tourism Economics said, with pent-up demand for cruising along with substantial remaining household savings buoying demand.

“We have monitored, analysed and forecasted travel activity for more than 20 years,” said Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics.

“With the launch of Cruise-IP, we have deepened this coverage with the most detailed and comprehensive datasets available, covering the entire cruise ship fleet across more than 2,500 cruise destinations.”

Royal Caribbean Cuts Steel for Second Icon Ship

Posted on 16 February, 2023 by Spacejunkie2

Royal Caribbean International has marked the initial milestone – the first cut of steel – for the second ship in the Icon Class.

In celebration of the next in the lineup, a steel-cutting ceremony was held at Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland.

The soon-to-be-named ship will set sail in 2025, following the debut of Icon of the Seas in January 2024, according to a press release.

The Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku teams dedicated to building the second Icon Class ship were in attendance at the traditional ceremony.

The major milestone represents the official start of production, beginning a series of key moments in the design and construction that spans months and involves thousands of innovators across design, naval engineering, architecture and more.