The official debut of Icon of the Seas is later this month, and all eyes are on her as she makes her way to PortMiami. She has departed Ponce, Puerto Rico and is scheduled to arrive in Miami tomorrow morning, Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
Icon of the Seas is expected around 7am eastern time on Wednesday morning and Michael Bayley, President & CEO of Royal Caribbean International wants cruise fans in the area to join the party.
“Wednesday morning we have a huge celebration planned for all of our shoreside teams and guests and loyalists are also welcome to see this historic occasion,” said Bayley. “Let’s wake up the whole city with our excitement for the Icon of Vacations’ arrival home.”
Everyone is invited to the official welcome event being held at the Perez Art Museum in downtown Miami. Bayley said there will be games, breakfast bites, live music and giveaways every 15 minutes.
But, no cruise ship would be what it is without its crew, and Royal Caribbean International made sure to celebrate the iconic crew making Icon of the Seas possible. On Monday, the vessel visited Perfect Day at CocoCay, the cruise line’s private island, to throw a party for its cruise members to rest and enjoy. Crew members were also the first to experience Hideaway Beach, the new adults-only expansion at CocoCay.
Of the crew party, Bayley said, “This break is so well-deserved as they’ve been working hard to put the finishing details on Icon, making sure the ship is just right for our first guests. I am so grateful for this startup crew and the years of expertise and passion they bring to the World’s Best Family Vacation.”
Today, Tuesday, January 9, 2024, the crew is spending a day at sea for “crew recovery” and to sit through what is expected to be stormy weather in South Florida. After her welcome party on Wednesday, Icon of the Seas will begin a series of shakedown cruises in final preparation for her maiden voyage on January 27, 2024. That voyage will be a 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, St. Thomas and St. Kitts & Nevis.