The countdown has begun to the world’s largest cruise ship sailing on her inaugural cruise. In just over three months on January 27, 2024, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas will set sail from her homeport of Miami, Florida.
Anyone who receives email notifications from Royal Caribbean received the following email on Thursday, October 19, 2023:
“In just 100 days, The World’s Best Family Vacation debuts. This is everything you’ve ever loved about every vacation, all rolled into one. It’s full throttle thrills for the whole crew. An all you-can-swim buffet of pools. And with over 40 ways to dine and drink, this is anything but been there, tried that. Leave ‘are we there yet?’ in your wake — the countdown to the all-new Icon of the Seas is on.”
This is Royal Caribbean’s first ship in its new Icon Class of ships. She weighs 250,800 gross tons, is almost 1200 feet long and can carry up to 7,600 passengers and 2,300 crew members.
The design and amenities of the ship is like no other. She features the Aquadome, Thrill Island—the largest waterpark at sea, eight different neighborhoods which includes Surfside—a new neighborhood dedicated to families with small children.
Not only is there Thrill Island with six slides, but Icon of the Seas also features seven different swimming pools one of which has a swim up bar—a new concept for Royal Caribbean. Guests will find “40 ways to dine and drink” with at least half of those being places to eat.
When she debuts on January 27, 2024, Icon of the Seas will sail an Eastern & Perfect Day itinerary visiting St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay before returning to PortMiami. She will then offer alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries which all include the cruise line’s private island—Perfect Day at CocoCay.
Royal Caribbean opened bookings for Icon of the Seas over a year before her debut and thousands of cruisers are now eagerly awaiting her arrival and their iconic vacation.