The Most Decorated Fútbol Player in History
Will Welcome the World's Best Family Vacation at an Exclusive
Celebration in January 2024
MIAMI, Dec. 13,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- An iconic kickoff is set to mark
the start of a new era of vacations when Royal Caribbean
International's revolutionary Icon of the Seas debuts
January 2024. The world's
largest cruise line has revealed sports icon Lionel Messi is the official Icon of
Icon of the Seas. As the Icon of
the first-of-its-kind combination of every vacation, the most
decorated fútbol player in history will welcome the new ship at an
exclusive naming celebration in Miami.
Widely regarded as the greatest of all
time, Messi has and continues to set a long list of
records throughout his career that includes winning the
prestigious Ballon d'Or award eight times and being
named TIME's 2023 Athlete of the Year for ushering in a new
era of fútbol in the U.S. when he joined Royal Caribbean partner
and new Leagues Cup champion Inter Miami CF. In its own right,
Icon has also marked record-breaking moments. The highly
anticipated vacation's reveal in October
2022 spurred the single largest booking day and
highest volume booking week in the cruise line's then
53-year history, confirming vacationers are looking for a getaway
that combines the best of every type of vacation – from the beach
retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure – now
more than ever. With six record-setting waterslides,
seven pools, the first neighborhood designed for young
families, more than 40 ways to dine, drink and be
entertained, and more, Icon is where every type of
family and adventurer can make memories together and on their own
without compromise.
"I'm thrilled and honored to join the Royal Caribbean family to
celebrate the arrival of the game-changing Icon of the
Seas," said Lionel Messi, Royal
Caribbean International's Icon of Icon. "Icon is
beyond anything else that's out there for family vacations, with
incredible never-before-seen features, all designed for making
memories together."
Messi's new role follows the recent announcement of Royal
Caribbean and Inter Miami CF's unprecedented partnership in which
the cruise line is the Club's Main Partner and Official Vacation
Partner. United in the sense of leadership, passion and
delivering unforgettable moments to fans and vacationers, Royal
Caribbean and Inter Miami CF will also celebrate the arrival of
Icon with the next phase of the partnership – details which
will be revealed at a later date.
"Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50
years of delivering memorable vacations, and it's set to live up to
its name in more ways than one when it changes the vacation
industry in January 2024," said
Michael Bayley, president and CEO,
Royal Caribbean International. "It's that ability to make such a
widespread impact and change the status quo that the Icon of
Icon must personify, and Lionel
Messi has proven to be the perfect example of that for years
in the world of sports and most recently in introducing a new era
of excitement and passion for fútbol in Miami and the U.S."
As part of a longstanding maritime tradition, Messi will take
part in the iconic naming celebration for Icon in
January 2024 in Miami. The Icon of Icon will
have the honor of bestowing safekeeping onto the new ship, its crew
and the millions of families who will create memories of a lifetime
on board in the years to come.
Whether "family vacation" means getting away as a family, couple
or friends, everyone can make memories their way every day
with Icon's all-encompassing lineup of firsts and next-level
favorites across eight neighborhoods. Each neighborhood
is a destination in itself filled with a variety of experiences,
live entertainment, restaurants, bars and more.
Rounding out the world's best vacation are the sun-soaked
destinations vacationers can visit year-round while on Icon.
Each 7-night Eastern or Western
Caribbean adventure from Miami is all about island hopping,
featuring idyllic locales across the Caribbean – like Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Charlotte Amalie, St.
Thomas – and an unmatched day of thrill 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 oasis, Hideaway Beach, an all-day experience
complete with a private beach, pools, 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