A Celebration in Turku, Finland, Marks the Completion of 900 Days of
Construction and the Start of Putting the Finishing Touches on the
Ultimate Family Vacation
MIAMI, Nov. 28,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- It's official: After more than
seven years of dreaming and 900 days of design and construction by
thousands of experts, yesterday, Royal Caribbean International
welcomes the highly anticipated Icon of the Seas to
the family in a momentous celebration at the Meyer Turku
shipyard in Turku, Finland. The
world's largest cruise line hosted a ceremony on the
first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation,
where representatives signed on the dotted line just two months
before the new ship's January 2024
debut in Miami.
Marking the milestone at the celebration were more than 1,200
crew members and workers, who were joined by Royal Caribbean Group
President and CEO Jason Liberty,
Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley
and Meyer Turku CEO Tim Meyer.
"Today, we are celebrating more than a new ship; it's also the
celebration of the culmination of more than 50 years of innovation
and dreaming at Royal Caribbean to create the ultimate vacation
experience," said Jason Liberty,
president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. "Delivering Icon of
the Seas represents all that can be accomplished with strong
partnerships and a commitment to delivering memorable vacations
responsibly, and we thank Meyer Turku and an incredible village of
skilled partners for joining us on this journey. The memories
millions of families and vacationers will make on Icon will
be our greatest accomplishment yet."
The transfer of ownership, commonly known as the delivery of a
new ship, between Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku also commemorated
the series of never-before-seen feats accomplished during more than
two years of construction: from the installation of the
AquaDome, the single largest glass and steel structure to
be lifted onto a cruise ship, to engineering more water on
board than ever before across seven pools,
six record-breaking waterslides and more. Now is when
Icon will sail from Turku
to Cadiz, Spain, where the cruise
line will start to put the finishing touches on the world's best
vacation before it heads to Miami.
Starting Wednesday, Nov. 29,
adventurers can follow Icon's journey by visiting Royal
Caribbean's website.
"Welcoming Icon of the Seas to the Royal Caribbean family
is a remarkable accomplishment years in the making for thousands of
innovators, engineers, architects and designers," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal
Caribbean International. "Seven years ago, we had an ambitious idea
to create the first vacation truly made for every type of family
and adventurer; now, it's in our hands, and in this final stretch,
we'll bring it all to life for the biggest debut in our history in
January 2024."
Whether "family vacation" means getting away as a family, couple
or friends, Icon's all-encompassing lineup
features firsts and next-level favorites for everyone to make
memories their way every day across eight neighborhoods.
There are adrenaline-pumping thrills, unrivaled ways to
chill, more than 40 ways to dine and drink,
cutting-edge entertainment across the cruise line's four
signature stages – air, ice, water and theater – and more.
And with 28 different ways to stay, including the new
three-level Ultimate Family Townhouse, even the rooms are
thoughtfully designed for every type of vacationer.
The five brand-new neighborhoods and three
reimagined favorites are destinations in themselves filled with a
variety of experiences, live entertainment, restaurants and bars,
including:
- Thrill Island – The new center of thrill features
Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea, with six
record-breaking slides; Crown's Edge, part skywalk, part
ropes course and part thrill ride on which adventurers swing 154
feet above the ocean; the FlowRider simulator; the Lost
Dunes minigolf course and more. In between adrenaline
rushes, just steps away are new spots to grab laidback bites or
sweet treats: Basecamp and Desserted for
over-the-top milkshakes.
- Chill Island – Four of the seven pools on Icon
are at this three-deck slice of paradise, each with a unique vibe
and prime ocean views: the lively Swim & Tonic, the
cruise line's first swimup bar at sea; Royal Bay, the largest pool at sea; Cloud
17, an adults-only retreat; and the serene,
infinity-edge Cove Pool. With different tunes from
live bands and DJs, and poolside spots for drinks and quick, casual
food – like The Lime & Coconut and its new
frozen cocktail bar, and El Loco Fresh & Cantina Fresca – vacationers can chill day
and night.
- Surfside – Introducing
the first neighborhood made for young families. Adults and kids can
stay and play all day between ways to splash, like at the new
Water's Edge pool for grownups nearby Baby Bay and the Splashaway Bay
aquapark for kids, and new, dedicated dining options such as the
Surfside Eatery buffet, Pier 7 for all-day brunch and
the convenient Surfside Bites window. To chase down the
bites, there's The Lemon Post, a brand-new bar that features
two menus – one for adults and the other for kids.
- AquaDome – A tranquil oasis by day and vibrant hot spot
at night, the new neighborhood is filled with wraparound ocean
views, new and returning restaurants and bars, a 55-foot-tall water
curtain, and the next-level AquaTheater that debuts the
first cast of robots, skateboarders, divers and more. From
Royal Caribbean's first
foodhall, AquaDome Market, and Rye & Bean – a
new bar for lattes and coffee-infused cocktails – to the new
Overlook bar and pods, and the cruise
line's marquee aqua shows, it's a transformational experience.
- The Hideaway – Tucked away and sitting 135 feet above
the ocean is a new neighborhood that combines the good vibes of
beach club scenes around the world. The first suspended infinity
pool at sea is at the center of it all, and it has 180-degree
ocean views that make it the perfect place to watch sunsets from
the point of view only a cruise can offer as vacationers enjoy the
dedicated DJ and bar.
- Royal Promenade – The heartbeat of Icon features
more than 15 restaurants, bars and lounges, including
Dueling Pianos, Royal Caribbean's first dueling pianos bar;
the new 1400 Lobby Bar, inspired by the history of
shipbuilding, with an ocean-facing terrace that opens the
reimagined neighborhood to the outdoors for the first time; and
favorites with a twist like Giovanni's Italian Kitchen &
Wine Bar, Starbucks and more. The all-time favorite also
debuts floor-to-ceiling ocean views, an engineering feat made
possible by The Pearl, the world's largest kinetic art
sculpture.
- Central Park – Lusher and livelier than ever, the
open-air neighborhood is reimagined with more ways to dine, drink
and be entertained. Thousands of real plants line new experiences
and favorites with a twist, such as the popular Izumi, with
a new location and a walkup window; and American steakhouse
Chops Grille. Making their debut are spots like Empire
Supper Club, an extravagant experience that pairs eight
courses with wine, cocktails and music; and Lou's Jazz 'n
Blues, for live performances of soulful jazz, jazzy pop music
and more.
- Suite Neighborhood – Spanning four decks, Royal
Caribbean's most expansive Suite Neighborhood features larger
suites, the new Grove Suite Sun Deck, complete with a
private pool, whirlpool and dedicated Mediterranean dining; and a
now two-level Coastal Kitchen with views of the
AquaDome and the ocean.
Icon is also the cruise line's first ship that can
be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), a transitional fuel. The
dual-fuel engines will work alongside a lineup of energy efficiency
initiatives and industry-leading environmental programs on board,
like the first waste-to-energy plant at sea. Twenty-four percent
more energy efficient than the standards required for ships being
designed today, the cruise line's most sustainable ship yet will
mark the next step in parent company Royal Caribbean Group's
journey to introduce a net-zero cruise ship by 2035.
Every type of family and adventurer can get away on the world's
best vacation and island hop in the tropics at any time of the
year. Each 7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean
adventure from Miami features idyllic destinations across
the Caribbean and an unmatched day of thrill and and chill at Royal
Caribbean's award-winning private island, Perfect Day at
CocoCay in The Bahamas. Plus,
dialing up the perfect on Perfect Day in January 2024 is the private island's first
adults-only escape, Hideaway Beach, an all-day experience
complete with a private beach and pools, new dedicated spots for
drinks and bites, exclusive cabanas, live music and more.
More details about Icon and the
latest news are available at
www.RoyalCaribbean.com/Icon.
About Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International owned by Royal Caribbean
Group (NYSE: RCL), has been delivering innovation at sea for more
than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural
marvel that features the latest technology and guest experiences
for today's adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to
revolutionize vacations with itineraries to 240 destinations in 61
countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean's private
island destination in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the
first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has
also been voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 20 consecutive years
in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards.
Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on X
and visiting RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional
information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their
travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800)
ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.
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SOURCE Royal Caribbean International