MIAMI — Royal Caribbean International has unveiled a sneak peek of its new Icon of the Seas, arriving in late 2023 and debuting in January 2024.

Bookings for the line’s first Icon Class ship open on Oct. 25, with Crown & Anchor loyalty members given special access a day earlier, on Oct. 24.

Billed as the travel industry’s “first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation,” the Icon of the Seas offers every kind ultimate family vacation, from beach retreats to resort escapes to a theme park adventure. Highlights include the largest waterpark at sea, a pool for every day of the week, and more than 40 new and returning dining, bar and nightlife options. The ship will also be Royal Caribbean’s first featuring fuel cell technology and will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest-burning marine fuel.

“With each new ship, we raise the bar in the travel industry while enhancing what our guests know and love,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Group. “From the moment they step onboard, every experience is specifically designed to give them the best vacation anywhere on land and at sea. With Icon of the Seas, we’ve taken this to a new level and made the ultimate family vacation.”

Royal Caribbean has provided a first look at eight neighbourhoods onboard, including five brand new adventures and three returning favourites. The five new neighbourhoods are as follows:

• Thrill Island: Highlights include Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea featuring six record-breaking slides, including the industry’s first open free-fall slide.
• Chill Island: Among the seven pools onboard, four are located in this three-deck retreat. These include Swim & Tonic, the line’s first swimup bar at sea; Royal Bay Pool, the largest pool at sea; Cloud 17, an adults-only retreat; and the infinity-edge Cove Pool.
• Surfside: Designed for young families with kids ages 6 and under, Surfside features the Water’s Edge pool, Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay, and is located steps from several dining options.
• The Hideaway: This neighbourhood 135 feet above the ocean combines a beach club vibe with uninterrupted ocean views. The first suspended infinity pool at sea is at the centre of it all, and is surrounded by a multi-level sun terrace with whirlpools and a dedicated bar.
• AquaDome: Perched at the top of Icon, AquaDome serves as a tranquil oasis by day with wraparound ocean views, and a vibrant hangout by night featuring restaurants, bars and the cruise line’s marquee aqua shows at AquaTheater, featuring a pool, four robotic arms and state-of-the-art projection.

The three returning signature neighbourhoods include the Royal Promenade, featuring Royal Caribbean’s first floor-to-ceiling ocean views and more than 15 restaurants, cafes, bars and lounges; Central Park, offering more ways to be dined and entertained; and the largest Suite Neighborhood featuring three decks of luxury and a multi-level suite sun deck called The Grove. More returning favourites include experiences like mini golf at Lost Dunes, rock climbing at Adrenaline Peak, and Absolute Zero, Royal Caribbean’s largest ice arena.

As for accommodations, there are 28 ways for guests to stay. There are new layouts made for families of three, four, five and more, like the Family Infinite Balcony and Surfside Family Suite, plus the three-storey Ultimate Family Townhouse, complete with its own white picket fence and mailbox. When it comes to views, among the best are the first Sunset Corner Suites and Panoramic Ocean Views in AquaDome.

Icon of the Seas will sail year-round, seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Miami. Every cruise will visit the line’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas, featuring 13 waterslides, including the tallest in North America, Coco Beach Club with its overwater cabanas, and Up, Up & Away, a helium balloon adventure. When Icon arrives, Royal Caribbean will debut the island’s adults-only oasis, Hideaway Beach, featuring an expansive pool and private cabanas with pools.

More information about Icon of the Seas will be revealed in the coming months.