Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas is set to become the largest cruise ship in the world when it launches in January 2024.
The 7,600-passenger vessel will be nine feet longer and two decks taller than the fifth ship in the Oasis class, Wonder of the Seas – the world’s current largest ship – which launched in spring this year.
Thrill Island’s water park has six slides including ones which accommodate family raft slides.
Icon features eight neighbourhoods including new dedicated family space Surfside and Thrill Island where passengers can experience the “largest water park at sea”, Royal said at a media event in Miami on Tuesday.
An infinity pool suspended 130 feet above the ocean and the line’s first swim-up bar called Swim and Tonic will also be available on the ship.
Thrill Island neighbourhood on Icon of the Seas
The line revealed a new family stateroom called the Ultimate Family Townhouse will debut on Icon.
The family cabin sleeps up to eight people and has been upgraded from the Ultimate Family Suite which is available on Symphony of the Seas, Spectrum of the Seas and Wonder of the Seas.
The three-storey suite has direct access to the Surfside neighbourhood on deck seven.
A rendering of Ultimate Family Townhouse on Icon of the Seas
Royal Caribbean Group president and chief executive Jason Liberty said: “We knew that families wanted to stay together through the course of the day and in order to be able to do that we needed to make sure that there were experiences within that neighbourhood.
“What we really tried to focus on is making sure that these neighbourhoods had their own life and experiences and it tailored to different generations there.”
Passengers can access Surfside via a dry slide from Central Park. There are five dry slides including one in the Ultimate Family Townhouse and nine water slides across the ship.
The line’s first dedicated family neighbourhood is to launch on Icon
Half of the 28 stateroom categories on Icon are new, added the line, which confirmed new training on Icon of the Seas’ accommodation would become available on the line’s global training platform on Royal Caribbean University today (October 20).
It also revealed there are 15 restaurants, bars and lounges including a new jazz venue. Icon also has adult-only retreat Cloud 17.
New entertainment venue AquaDome at the front of the ship is another new neighbourhood. Royal Caribbean president Michael Bayley said it would offer “a whole series of experiences”.
The space contains food, a lounge, merchandise options, a bar and the AquaTheater.
An aerial adventure experience called Crown’s Edge will also launch on board. Passengers can hang 154 feet above as they complete the “part ropes course, part skywalk”, Royal Caribbean said.
Crown’s Edge will launch on Icon in 2024
Icon will initially operate seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruises from Miami. Ports of calls include Cozumel, Mexico; Sint Maarten; and Roatan, Honduras.
Every cruise in its inaugural season will call into the line’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. The programme goes on general sale next Tuesday (October 25), but Crown & Anchor loyalty members can book sailings from Monday (October 24).
A rendering image of the stern of Icon
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