Article by Jorge Oliver
For the first time since announcing the construction of Icon of the Seas, Royal Caribbean has shared a comprehensive look of its new ship, which also ushers in a new class for the line. And what’s apparent at first glance is that this megaship will be all about families, with onboard experiences that span multiple age groups.
This first look of the ship’s asymmetrical layout, revealed exclusively to the press at Royal Caribbean’s headquarters, shows oodles of tangled slides, bright colors across the spectrum, layer upon layer of exposed decks and an abundance of pools and water attractions. Icon is akin to a floating theme park, not unlike Royal’s Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, made no secret of Icon’s primary audience. “Our target market is family and I feel like we’ll deliver the goods. This ship is an evolution of all that we’ve built and learned from our other ships and fulfills our promise to deliver the ultimate family vacation.”
Along with revealing the look of the ship, Royal also announced that Icon of the Seas will be delivered in late 2023, pushing back its maiden voyage to January 2024. General sales open on Tuesday, October 25, while Crown & Anchor loyalty members will be granted early access to bookings on Monday, October 24.
Expected to clock in at 250,800 GT, Icon of the Seas will become the largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage, exceeding Royal’s own Wonder of the Seas. It will feature 2,805 cabins accommodating 5,610 passengers at double occupancy, slightly below Wonder of the Seas’ 5,734 passengers. Maximum capacity on Icon, however, rises to 7,600 passengers, higher than Wonder of the Seas’ cap of 6,988 passengers.
