First look at Royal’s new class of ships debuting in January 2024.
Royal Caribbean has just revealed the initial details of its Icon of the Seas, saying the ship is the travel industry’s “first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation”.
The newbuild features eight distinct neighbourhoods, with Royal Caribbean’s familiar Royal Promenade, Central Park and Suite Neighbourhood complemented by five additions: Chill Island with four of the seven onboard pools and the line’s first swim-up bar at sea; Surfside, a neighbourhood made for young families; The Hideaway, an area about 40m above the ocean featuring the first suspended infinity pool at sea; and the Aquadome, an entertainment area which features the ship’s “next-level” Aquatheater.
There’s also Thrill Island, which Royal says is the largest waterpark at sea with six huge slides along with the Crown’s Edge, an adrenaline-pumping experience described as “part skywalk, part ropes course and part thrill ride”.
Icon of the Seas will be Royal’s first ship with fuel cell technology and powered by LNG, and with shore power connections and waste heat recovery systems she will be the cruise line’s “most sustainable to date”.
The ship will have 20 decks – compared to the 18-deck Oasis-class Wonder of the Seas – with capacity at double occupancy of 5,610 passengers, and up to 7,600 when all staterooms are completely full.
The newbuild will sail year-round week-long itineraries from Miami, with each departure visiting Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas. The ship’s initial itineraries go on sale next week.
More details in tomorrow’s issue of Cruise Weekly.