Icon of the Seas is the first ship in Royal Caribbean’s new Icon class
It comes a week after the 7,600-passenger vessel was unveiled in Miami, the ship’s soon-to-be homeport, where it will sail a range of eastern and western Caribbean itineraries.
“The enthusiasm and excitement for Icon are undeniable in more ways than one,” said Michael Bayley, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean International.
“The incredible response we have received from our loyal guests, vacationers new to cruising, crew members and travel partners continues to come in, and this is just the beginning.”
The new ship features a range of firsts for the brand across eight “neighbourhoods”, giving it the line’s “biggest-ever” focus on families.
The icon will sail year-round on seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami. Each cruise will visit the line’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, and a mix of destinations such as Cozumel, Mexico; Philipsburg, Saint Maarten; and Basseterre, Saint Kitts.
Icon of the Seas will have Royal Caribbean International’s “biggest-ever focus” on families, as the line looks to increase its share of the new-to-cruise market.
Icon launches in January 2024, and across the 28 stateroom categories, more than 80% of rooms sleep more than two people. The ship will feature the new Surfside neighbourhood, which is dedicated to families with young children. This is a key target audience for the line, which already carries between 200 and 600 children under six years old on each cruise.
Speaking in Miami to unveil the design of the ship, the line’s president and chief executive Michael Bayley said: “On Icon our focus on family is probably the highest level it’s ever been. We’re going more and more towards delivering phenomenal vacations to families.”
Bayley said the new-to-cruise market was a “sweet spot” for Royal Caribbean, and that in 2019 the line carried more than one million people on their first cruise. He said offering short taster cruises is key, as clients then graduate to seven-night sailings.
From October 2023 Allure of the Seas will offer three- and four-day cruises from Port Canaveral. He added: “We think that once we get that message out to young families [about the facilities onboard], we’ll see a lot more new-to-cruise coming onboard Icon.”
Bayley said the brand’s family demographic is “vast from a marketing perspective”, adding: “Everyone is in a family, so we want to make sure that families have a fantastic vacation with Royal Caribbean. On Icon, whether you’re a grumpy old man or an innocent young kid, everyone can do their own thing and be super happy all day.”
The icon will offer the three-storey Ultimate Family Townhouse, which has access to the new family-focused Surfside neighbourhood
He acknowledged that while school-age children were at school for the majority of the year, families with pre-schoolers can holiday throughout the year. “That market is quite powerful. A young family is a big market, and we think it’s an under-served market and we think that Icon, especially with Surfside, is going to really deliver on that.”
He stressed that the ship caters for multigenerational families, highlighting the new neighbourhoods and features, including adults-only areas and the largest waterpark at sea.
The Royal Caribbean team in Miami has spent more than one million working hours on the design process for Icon, in addition to time spent by external experts. It worked with 10 futurists to understand what consumers of the future would expect from holidays.
Bayley said: “Icon is the culmination of everything we’ve learnt in more than 50 years. We push the boundaries of what’s possible and what’s expected. This is the work of thousands of industry experts from around the world.”
New family cabins include the 285-square-foot Family Infinite Balcony, which sleeps six and borrows the Infinite Balcony concept from sister line Celebrity Cruises. It includes a bunk bed alcove for children at the rear of the cabin, with a secret den, a separate space for adults and a 50-square-foot balcony.
The new Surfside neighbourhood houses the Ultimate Family Townhouse, which takes the brand’s existing Ultimate Family Suite concept and spreads it across three storeys, with 1,772-square-foot of internal space, alongside two balconies. Sleeping eight, it includes a slide, Lego wall, video games, movie theatre, karaoke and backyard that leads straight into Surfside.
The Family Infinite Balcony stateroom includes an area for children at the rear
Royal Caribbean’s New Icon of the Seas will feature eight neighbourhoods, including five brand-new adventures and three bold, returning favourites.
The company said that each one is a destination in and of itself filled with an array of experiences, live entertainment and ways to grab a bite and a drink so that everyone can make memories their way every day.
Thrill Island – Vacationers can test their limits, scale new heights and reach top speeds at the centre of thrill. This lost island adventure is home to highlights like Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea, with six record-breaking slides: Pressure Drop and its 66-degree incline make it the industry’s first open free-fall slide; the 46-foot-tall Frightening Bolt, the tallest drop slide at sea; Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter, the first family raft slides at sea with four riders per raft; and Storm Chasers, cruising’s first mat-racing duo. Living on the edge takes a new meaning with Crown’s Edge. Part skywalk, part ropes course and part thrill ride, it culminates in a surprising, shocking moment that will see travellers swing 154 feet above the ocean.
Chill Island – Among the seven pools on board, four are in this three-deck slice of paradise. There’s a pool for every mood, each with prime ocean views: the vibrant Swim & Tonic, the line’s first swim-up bar at sea; Royal Bay Pool, the largest pool at sea; Cloud 17, an adults-only retreat; and the serene, infinity-edge Cove Pool. Plus, The Lime & Coconut returns with four locations, including Royal Caribbean’s first frozen cocktail bar.
Surfside – Introducing a neighbourhood made for young families from end to end, where adults and kids ages six and under will want to stay and play all day. Grownups can soak up the endless views at Water’s Edge pool, as they keep an eye on the kids at Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay. Only steps away are dining options, places to lounge, a bar, the signature carousel, an arcade, Adventure Ocean, and Social020 for teens.
The Hideaway – Tucked away, this neighbourhood 135 feet above the ocean combines the good vibes of beach club scenes around the world and the uninterrupted ocean views only a cruise can offer. The first suspended infinity pool at sea is at the centre of it all, and it’s surrounded by a multilevel sun terrace with whirlpools, a variety of seating and a dedicated bar.
AquaDome – Perched at the top of Icon, what’s in store is a transformational place unlike any other. In a tranquil oasis by day, guests can take in wraparound ocean views and an awe-inspiring waterfall as they enjoy a bite or drink. By night, it becomes a vibrant place great for a night out, complete with restaurants, bars and the cruise line’s marquee aqua shows at the next-level AquaTheater. The signature entertainment venue takes artistry and cutting-edge technology to new heights, with a transforming pool, four robotic arms, state-of-the-art projection and more.
In addition, a grander Royal Promenade features its first floor-to-ceiling ocean views, plus more than 15 restaurants, cafes, bars and lounges; a more lush and livelier Central Park has more ways to dine and be entertained; and the largest Suite Neighborhood is three decks of luxury, offering a multilevel suite sun deck – The Grove – that has a private pool, whirlpool and dining, and a two-story Coastal Kitchen.
More returning favourites include experiences like new takes on mini golf at Lost Dunes, rock climbing at Adrenaline Peak, and Absolute Zero, Royal Caribbean’s largest ice arena, and dining venues such as Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar on the Royal Promenade and the Asian-inspired Izumi in Central Park.
The ship will feature 28 stateroom categories, the company said. There are new layouts made for families of three, four, five and more, like the Family Infinite Balcony and Surfside Family Suite – with kid’s alcoves tucked away from the adults – and the three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse, complete with its own white picket fence and mailbox. When it comes to views, among the best are from the brand’s first Sunset Corner Suites and Panoramic Ocean Views in AquaDome.
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