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An engineering feat: How Royal Caribbean is adding a water park to a new cruise ship

In:
21 Mar 2023

Royal Caribbean is making significant process with Icon of the Seas' construction. 

icon-of-the-seas-top-deck

In fact, on March 15, the Meyer Turku shipyard confirmed that the first multi-fuel engine was turned on for the first time!

Building a ship this large and technically advanced, however, is sure to come with some challenges, such as designing the water slides for the Category 6 Water Park. 

"We knew we wanted water water everywhere, so we started there," said Jennifer Goswami, Director, Product Development for Royal Caribbean International, "And then we built the rest of the ship around that."

What is Category 6?

Thrill Island water park render on Icon of the Seas

Thrill Island will be a brand-new neighborhood dedicated to the most adventurous cruisers and home to the largest water park at sea: Category 6

This is not the first new neighborhood on the ship, as families can look forward to Surfside, which will make Icon of the Seas the first cruise ship in the fleet to have an area dedicated to young families.

When done, Category 6 water park will be 17,010 square feet and have six different record breaking slides, including the first family raft slides at sea: Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter. 

Guests will also find the Pressure Drop, the first open free fall slide at sea. While overlooking a 45 degree angle drop, you will have to gain the courage to push yourself over the edge!

And, of course, the Frightening Bolt, the tallest water slide at sea that will have a 46 foot drop and 360 degree loop. Your ride will begin with you inside of a capsule waiting for the trap door to release. 

Did you know, however, that when Royal Caribbean first starting discussing Icon of the Seas, there were only going to be five slides onboard?  

icon-of-the-seas-construction

"One of the interesting stories about the design of Icon of the Seas," said Kelly Gonzalez, Senior Vice President, Architectural Design, Newbuilding for Royal Caribbean Group, "is that we actually this idea of doing quite a number of water slides from the very beginning"

"We actually started with five...[and the name] Category 6 came about also with the decision of adding a sixth water slide."

Importance of collaboration

icon-of-the-seas-water-park-construction

In total, there is 62% more water surface area on Icon of the Seas than any other Royal Caribbean ship. 

Nobody wanted to compromise on the speed or height of the water slides, so the company had to bring in a lot of experts to help design the water park in a way that it would be technically sound. This meant working with designers, architects, and naval architects. 

icon-of-the-seas-construction

"Normally, a ship has maybe a couple of hundred tons or so of water in the pools," said Harri Kulovaara, Executive Vice President, Maritime & Newbuilding for Royal Caribbean Group. They are expecting Icon of the Seas to have closer to one thousand tons of water alone!

From the beginning, they knew that they had to be conscious about how much weight the water would add to the ship, as well as the funnel area in respect to wind and wind turbulence, without compromising the delivery date. 

icon-of-the-seas-top-deck-construction

"We had a weight reservation; we had a water reservation. We always have to work within certain boundaries. We make tradeoffs. We study what we think guests are going to love...," said Jay Schneider, Chief Product Innovation Officer for Royal Caribbean International.

icon-of-the-seas-top-deck-construction

"And really it was working closely with all of the partners throughout the company, including our site office, to make sure that we could push the boundary as really far as we could."

Building the water park

icon-of-the-seas-water-park

It was important that the slides be handled in a way that they could work with the main structural elements and components that were already built into the skeleton of the ship. 

Since the Category 6 water slides will be so complex and large, they are being built separately from the actual ship. Later, the slides will be barged next to the ship and transferred over to the top deck.  

Of course, Royal Caribbean knew that they were taking risks making this as complicated as they did. 

"I think that there will be so many intricacies, so many complex ways of getting everything that we want on the ship, but that is kind of the Royal Caribbean way as well, right?" said Goswami. 

icon-of-the-seas-category-6

When it is completed, there will be two towers in the open deck area that the slides will commence from, rather than just one. This design aspect allowed the team to create longer and faster slides for guests to enjoy. And more slides means more water!

There is more to the top decks than just the water park, too. It will be a three-deck high play land with different experiences to appeal to different interests. 

Launching in 2024

Icon of the Seas water park

When Icon of the Seas launches in early 2024, she will become the world's largest cruise ship, surpassing Wonder of the Seas, as well as the cruise line's first new class of ship since 2014. 

Related: 10 things Royal Caribbean got right with Wonder of the Seas

Icon of the Seas will be more than 6% bigger than Wonder of the Seas with the ability to hold up to 7,600 passengers! She will also be stand 20 decks high, measure 1,198 feet long, and weigh 250,800 gross registered tons.

Icon of the Seas' maiden voyage is not scheduled to depart until January 27, 2024 from Miami, Florida. During her first-ever trip, she will sail to Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; and Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bahamas

Hideaway aerial

Throughout 2024 and early 2025, Icon will be sailing round trip from Miami, Florida to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. 

As of March 21, 2023, the two cheapest sail dates are October 26, 2024 and November 16, 2024. Pricing for both begins at $1,271 per person based on double occupancy in an interior stateroom. Some sailings see an interior cabin start at $2,000 per person!

She will be joined by a second unnamed Icon Class ship in late 2025, as well as a third ship in 2026. Construction on the second ship began in February. 

Royal Caribbean adding “Wizard of Oz” musical to Icon of the Seas

In:
17 Mar 2023

Dorothy, the tin man, scarecrow, and cowardly lion are all headed to the high seas. 

Wizard of Oz musical poster

Based on audition information posted by Royal Caribbean Entertainment, it looks like "The Wizard of Oz" musical will be the featured production show on the next new cruise ship for Royal Caribbean, Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean has not formally announced the entertainment for Icon of the Seas, but the Royal Caribbean Entertainment clearly states it is looking for performers to audition for The Wizard of Oz on Icon of the Seas.

One posting wrote, "Principals (Featured Singers) hired for WIZARD OF OZ (3-4 performances weekly) will also perform in an original Royal Caribbean Signature Production onboard the ICON of the Seas (3-4 performances weekly). Candidates must be available and willing to travel internationally aboard our ships."

In addition to the audition information, Nick Weir, Senior Vice President of Entertainment for Royal Caribbean International, posted on Twitter an announcement that The Wizard of Oz will be the show for Icon.

It's likely the show will be performed in Icon's main theater, as opposed to different venue.

About the musical

Scene from Wizard of Oz

Royal Caribbean says the Wizard of Oz production is not the 2011 musical adaption by Andrew Lloyd Weber.

This will be the Royal Caribbean Productions version of the classic.

Coming in 2024

Icon of the Seas aerial at night concept art

Icon of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship, and first of its kind.

The first in the Icon Class will launch in January 2024, and will have a gross tonnage of 250,800, making her the largest cruise ship in the world by gross tonnage.

The ship will be homeported from Miami and offer week-long Caribbean cruises.

Royal Caribbean is looking for artists to feature their work on its newest cruise ship

In:
10 Mar 2023

Are you an aspiring artist? Royal Caribbean wants to display your work on Icon of the Seas when it launches next year.

Artist Discovery Program for Icon of the Seas

The cruise line has traditionally embraced art on its cruise ships, featuring impressive collections on each of its new ships.

Icon of the Seas is the next new cruise ship for Royal Caribbean and the cruise line has launched a new program that aims to look for up-and-coming artists from destinations the cruise line visits can vie to put their work on display.

Winners could get as much as $100,000 in commission budget if selected.

As its name suggests, Icon of the Seas was designed to be an icon – a symbol of luxury and comfort that guests can look forward to during their vacation. 

stairwell-art-symphony

Later this year, as artists in residence, the winners will work closely with the Newbuilding team behind Royal Caribbean’s renowned ships to bring their concepts to life in Turku, Finland, where Icon is under construction.

Artist Discover Program

The "Artist Discover Program" has a goal to "infuse every region’s spirit and culture into the curated art collections on board ships, in order to highlight and celebrate the very destinations and their people at the heart of Royal Caribbean’s memorable vacations."

Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley thinks the new program will not only satisfy the cruise line's love of art, but also help promote burgeoning artists, "The Artist Discovery Program is a project close to our hearts at Royal Caribbean International because the destinations we visit are family. And it’s only fitting that we begin our search for up-and-coming artists who are in the Caribbean; it’s where we got our start more than 50 years ago."

"Vacationers want to immerse themselves in the places they visit. This is a way to spotlight the beauty of the local cultures and people in the places they see and enjoy every day on their cruise, beginning with large-scale canvases on a first-of-its-kind adventure – Icon of the Seas."

How artists can enter

Artist work concept for Icon of the Seas

The program is starting off with looking for artists in the Caribbean. Local artists can send their submissions starting today and through April 4 via the program website.

To vie for a spot in the first edition of Artist Discovery Program, artists must submit the following:

  • Five samples of conceptual work: The work must be original and may not currently be published or on display.
  • A brief artist statement that helps explain their work, inspiration and other details regarding the pieces submitted.
  • A copy of their resume.

If picked, each artist will receive a grant from the cruise line, ranging from $20,000 to more than $100,000.

Artist work concept for Icon of the Seas

The Caribbean Edition of the artists picked will be commissioned to paint nine large-scale murals in three highly visible locations:

1. Embarkation Murals: embarkation area passengers first enter when walking onboard Icon of the Seas.

Pearl on the Royal Promenade

2. The Royal Promenade: Main thoroughfare on Icon of the Seas that has shopping, dining, and things happening all day long.

Suite Sun Deck render on Icon of the Seas

3. Suite Sundeck: Private VIP area for suite guests only, boasts a bar, dining area, and pool.

Each piece will invoke the vibrancy of the Caribbean, joining the collection on board that will include an array of pieces created by Caribbean artists or inspired by the region.

Icon of the Seas launches in January 2024

Artist work concept for Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas is the most highly anticipated new ship in 2024, and for good reason. Boasting an impressive gross tonnage and capacity, it's set to become the largest cruise ship in the world. 

When Icon of the Seas launches in January 2024, she will be the first ship in a new class of vessels.

Icon will sail year-round, 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean vacations from Miami. 

The new ship will have 20 decks and manned by 2,350 crew members.

Royal Caribbean's next-gen cruise ship will have the largest water park to thrill all ages

In:
24 Feb 2023

Royal Caribbean wants to draw in adrenaline junkies with Thrill Island onboard their newest class of ships. 

Icon of the Seas water park

When Icon of the Seas debuts in early 2024, she will be the largest cruise ship in the world, weighing an astonishing 250,800 gross tons with the capacity to carry nearly 10,000 passengers and crew members. She will be unlike anything anyone has ever seen before!

Onboard this new cruise ship, you will find a brand-new neighborhood dedicated to the most adventurous cruisers: Thrill Island. 

According to Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean, "It is a thrill at every single turn. No matter what your age, you can have a great time on Thrill Island."

Designing Thrill Island

Icon of the Seas water park

Emily Rodriguez, Senior Product Owner and Product Development, said that they really took into consideration the excitement that they were seeing guests display for their thrilling experiences. They knew that those were the kinds of things that they were looking for. 

The first step to building this brand-new neighborhood was to conduct research on the adventures themselves. "...We spoke to a lot of people about what they wanted to have [and] what they expected to experience," said Bayley.

It is not just about the attractions, either. Thrill Island is an immersive experience that's themed after a lost island. Details include distressed wood, a sunken boat, and even small artifacts left from prior explorers. 

Recording breaking water park

Icon of the Seas water park

At 17,010 square feet, Icon of the Seas will be home to the largest water park at sea, Category 6, where you will find six recording breaking slides, including the first family raft slides at sea: Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter. 

Groups of four can ride together and boomerang off of a lotus leaf while soaking up some incredible ocean views.

Icon of the Seas water park

There will also be Pressure Drop, the first open free fall slide at sea. While overlooking a 45 degree angle drop, you will have to gain the courage to push yourself over the edge!

Icon of the Seas water park

The boldest, however, may be the Frightening Bold. With a 46 foot drop and 360 degree loop, it will be the tallest waterslide at sea that will begin with you inside of a capsule waiting for the trap door to release. 

Icon of the Seas water park

And for those who love a little friendly competition, there are the Storm Chasers, the first duo mat-racing slides at sea. You'll be twisting and turning until the end of the 431 foot slides!

Taking on a task of this size, however, requires thoughtful planning. Kelly Gonzalez, the Senior Vice President of Architectural Design and Newbuilding said, "We wanted a lot of water; we wanted a lot of speed; we wanted a lot of height; and we really did not want to compromise of any one of those things, so we had to bring a lot of experts in to work with us in order to make sure that we could design this in a way that it was going to be technically sound."

Crown's Edge

Icon of the Seas water park

Crown's Edge is a fear-inducing adventure course that's about 49 feet tall and 44 feet wide. It is meant to test the bravest of the brave. It combines a ropes course, skywalk, and thrill ride into one jaw-dropping experience. 

Icon of the Seas water park

You will step out onto a ledge that hangs 154 feet above the ocean right by the infamous Royal Caribbean crown and anchor. The walkway will stop, and you will be left admiring the ocean views until the trap door releases, sending you on a short glide right back where you began. 

Enhancing the family vacation experience 

Icon of the Seas water park

Thrill Island was designed to ensure that the multigenerational family is able to have a great vacation together. Throughout the neighborhood, you will find plenty of seating to cheer on family and friends who are stepping up to the challenge. 

"Grandma and grandpa do not want to go down the world's tallest waterslide, but they do want to see their kids go down the world's tallest waterslide. And they want them to experience the emotion and happiness and the joy that those kids get from those experiences," said Bayley.

It is not just about the thrills themselves; it is about how the neighborhood can create memories for everyone onboard. 

Eating and drinking around Thrill Island

desserted-icon

Base Camp is the dining venue in Thrill Island that will offer complimentary options, as well as some available for an additional charge. 

"After you've experienced the most amazing water park at sea, you can head over to Base Camp and enjoy some great burgers, over-the-top sides, amazing handheld sandwiches, and kind of talk with your friends and family about what you just experiences," said Adam Bourcier, Director of Production Innovation.

There will also be Desserted, a milkshake bar offering both virgin and boozy options.  

Return of fan-favorites

Icon of the Seas water park

While Thrill Island is chalked full of brand-new experiences, the cruise line is also bringing back some fan-favorites, including the FlowRider surf simulator and rock wall. 

The rock wall onboard Icon of the Seas is named Adrenaline Peak, and it will be themed to fit into the island experience with props like twigs and tree vines. There will be five different lanes, each with a buzzer at the top!

Icon of the Seas water park

Sports fans will be relieved to know that there will still be a sports court; however, guests should expect it to be vibrant and multicolored! 

Icon of the Seas water park

And, of course, there will be a mini-golf course in Thrill Island: Lost Dunes. Royal Caribbean reimagined the course to fit into the theming of the neighborhood. While you play against family and friends, you'll feel like you are in a lost jungle. With each hole, you are one step closer to making your way out!

One of eight neighborhoods

Icon of the Seas water park

Thrill Island is one of eight neighborhood that will be found onboard Icon of the Seas. It is not the only new concept, either, as families with young children will love the brand-new Surfside Neighborhood

In fact, only three neighborhoods can be found on Oasis Class ships: Royal Promenade, Central Park, and the Suite Neighborhood (on Wonder of the Seas only). 

"[Thrill Island] is the first time Royal Caribbean International has really themed a full neighborhood around this idea of thrill, and what we're giving you with Crown's Edge and Adrenaline Peak...with Category 6 Waterpark, a FlowRider, and reimagined mini-golf course, that's just going to be incredible," said Claudia Diaz-Gonzalez, Associate Vice President of Product Development.

More about Thrill Island

Icon of the Seas aerial drone photos show construction progress recently made

In:
14 Feb 2023

Let's take a peek at the what Royal Caribbean's next new cruise ship looks like while still under construction.

Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023

Icon of the Seas is at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, where she is being assembled.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com commissioned a set of aerial drone photos to survey the progress being made for the benefit our readers.

These drone photos were taken on the morning of February 14, 2023.

Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023

Icon of the Seas will have her inaugural sailing January 2024, and the ship is already incredibly popular based on the bookings Royal Caribbean has seen so far.

"That ship literally has been the best-selling product in the history of our business," said Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley during last week's earnings call with investors.

"It's been absolutely outstanding in terms of the demand and the pricing that we're generating."

Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023

Icon is the first ship in a new class of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, and that means it introduces a host of new innovations and concepts that have resonated with consumers.

Icon of the Seas will have 26 new features never before seen on a Royal Caribbean ship, which includes 15 new water experiences.

It will have have more than 40 food and beverage concepts, with 23 of them completely new to Royal Caribbean.

Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023

The 20-deck-high vessel will feature a variety of new-to-fleet ideas, such as a water park, Vegas-style pool area, indoor AquaTheater, dedicated neighborhood for young families and so much more.

Royal Caribbean has also added new types of cabins that are designed to hold more guests.

The new ship will be 250,600 tons in size and take the title of the biggest cruise ship in the world.

Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023

The first sailing of Icon of the Seas will be a seven-night cruise from her homeport of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean on January 27, 2024.

Icon will then alternate between Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries through April 2025.

Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023

Much of the construction shows more cabins have been added since our last photo update.

Cabins are constructed elsewhere and then slid into the superstructure of the ship once the slot for them is ready.

Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023
Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023
Cabins being installed on Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas was floated out for the first time in early December 2022.

Royal Caribbean shared a timeline of events for Icon in December, and the plan is for the new ship to have her first sea trials in May 2023.

Sea trials are when a new cruise ship tests out her systems at sea in order to evaluate performance and stability.

Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023

Icon's second sea trials are scheduled for June 2023, with deliver in the second half of 2023.

Once complete, she'll be a bit longer and higher than Wonder of the Seas, which is currently the largest ship in the world.

Icon will have two more passenger decks than Wonder, and about 10 feet longer.

Icon can accommodate up to 5,610 passengers at double occupancy (7,600 passengers if you maxed out every bed).

Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023

She will also be Royal Caribbean's first ship to use liquified natural gas (LNG) and fuel cell technology. 

Icon of the Seas is the first of at least three Icon Class cruise ships.

The next one will be completed in 2025 and the third in 2026.

Icon of the Seas construction aerial photo from February 2023

Beyond the Icon Class, Royal Caribbean has no current orders for more ships, but the company hasn't ruled anything out.

Speaking with Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty in December 2022, he said there is more time to order ships than a few years ago, "The level of demand for new ships was so high that you had to order ships much further out in order to have access to those slots. So you were seeing people order ships six or seven years out."

"If you think about the Icon one's and the Icon two's, there's a little bit more breathing time for us to have to place in those orders because of that structural change pre-pandemic."

Royal Caribbean is building the best cruise ship for young families on Icon of the Seas with a new purpose-built area

In:
31 Jan 2023

Royal Caribbean wants to be the preeminent cruise line for families with young children.

Splashaway Bay and Water's Edge

Its next new cruise ship will come in at 250,800 gross tons, with the capacity to carry nearly 10,000 passengers and crew members.

When Icon of the Seas launches in early 2024, she'll be the first cruise ship in the fleet to have an area dedicated to young families.

Surfside is the name of the open air area on the back of Icon of the Seas, which is a brand new neighborhood concept.

Royal Caribbean envisions this area being a focal center for multi-generational families to enjoy time together, including kids, parents and grandparents.

Aiming for the family vacation market

Surfside neighborhood with Water's Edge pool

The cruise line has gone on record already by stating it intends to make Icon of the Seas the very best choice for a family vacation, and not just a cruise vacation either.

"Icon will be the best family vacation in the world," is what Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider said about the plans for this ship.

Surfside bars and restaurants

Royal Caribbean intends to follow up on that bold statement by creating a purpose-built neighborhood for families.

Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean International President and CEO, said that young families are already a major group that sails with the cruise line, "younger families make up quite a large significant proportion of Royal Caribbean guests, and we see that number increasing over time."

"So this is a space that's very much dedicated towards a younger family."

Surfside has something for everyone, not just kids

Surfside family

The concept is not to build the largest kiddie area on a cruise ship, but a place where kids and their parents will want to go and spend time together.

Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty pointed to consumer research that indicated family time was more than just something exclusively for kids to enjoy, "In going through the research, we knew that families wanted to stay together through the course of the day."

Surfside neighborhood with Water's Edge pool

"In order to be able to do that, we needed to make sure that there were experiences within that neighborhood to bring that to life. And also tailored to the different generations."

To that point, Royal Caribbean designed Surfside to not be a compromise while on vacation. Kids and adults could enjoy time in the space together.

Inside Surfside

A look down the Surfside neighborhood

The new area must have a connection to the water, a variety in food and beverage, and plenty to do.

Royal Caribbean came up with a vibrant design that is reminiscent of a "surfer town that evokes fun and imagination." At the same time, it has to offer a relaxing experience where you can hang out and just be close to the water.

There's pools for adults, pools for kids, restaurants and bars for kids and adults. The idea is there's enough to keep you entertained throughout the day.

Icon of the Seas aft render

To start with, there are three water experiences to choose from, with the idea that families can hang out together:

  • Splashaway Bay: Kids water slides and water features
  • Baby Bay: Water splash area for very young children
  • Water's Edge: The pool pressed up against the glass on the very back of the ship 

Royal Caribbean also wanted to bring a few popular features from the Oasis Class ships, and one of those is the carousel from the Boardwalk neighborhood.

The carousel on Icon of the Seas will be beach-themed and feature 8 new characters.

Playscape on Icon of the Seas

There's also an arcade with over 30 different games to choose from, along with the Playscape area that was first introduced on Wonder of the Seas.

Close to it all

Surfside family

Surfside was also designed to ensure that all the kid activities were close by.

Surfside has 3 entrances, including a slide from Central Park.

Adventure Ocean and the teen club are also located right near Surfside. The idea is everything is connected, so you don't have to leave the space to get to another kid-centric area.

Eating and drinking around Surfside

Pier 7

Another goal of Surfside was to make it easy for everyone to find something to eat and drink while in the neighborhood. This includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch.

Royal Caribbean says they've re-imagined the family dining experience and placed those experiences within Surfside.

Surfside Eatery

Next to Splashaway Bay and next to a deep water pool, you have Surfside Bites that's a quick grab and go.

Then there's Surfside Eatery, which is Royal Caribbean's first buffet just families.  You'll find all the family favorites from the Windjammer, but located within Surfside so you don't have to leave the neighborhood.

There's also a new specialty restaurant, Pier 7, which is described as a casual Boardwalk eatery.

Lemon Post Bar

The Lemon Post bar is also a new concept that is the first bar to feature an adult menu and a kids menu. This will serve traditional tropical cocktails, as well as mocktails.

Cabins within Surfside

SURFSIDE FAMILY VIEW BALCONY

Royal Caribbean has also come up with new stateroom options in the neighborhood that can cater to families of 3, 4, 5, and 6 people.

Read moreGuide to Icon of the Seas cabins and suites

The idea behind these new cabins is to offer spaces for parents and their kids to have to enjoy. This means staying together, but having space for kids and space for parents.

Surfside family suite

The Surfside Suite is one such cabin, which is a brand new kind of cruise ship stateroom. It has kids nook, where it can be closed off so parents can have privacy while still being able to see what the kids are doing in there.

The Family Infinite Balcony has a kids alcove with beds, TVs, and room to hang out. It also has a split bath so that families can have more flexibility.  The infinite balcony can actually double as a movie theater with its own projector.

Ultimate Family Townhouse

Then there's the Ultimate Family Townhouse, which is 3-stories and can hold up to 8 guests.

It has its own cinema, karaoke, patio, white picket fence, table tennis, and mailbox.

It has slides to move you from decks, as well as direct access to Surfside (no hallway walk required).

Ultimate Family Townhouse

How much does it cost? According to Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley, the average cost of the Ultimate Family Townhouse in 2024 is $75,000 per week.

See more about Surfside

Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas floated out in shipyard in Finland

In:
09 Dec 2022

Icon of the Seas is sitting in water for the first time.

Icon of the Seas float out December 2022

The new cruise ship is under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, and earlier today the dock where she is located was filled with water to continue to the next phase of construction.

RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com commissioned these photos of Icon of the Seas floated out to share with all of you what this process looks like.

Since these are exclusive photos, please do not redistribute these photos. Feel free to share a link to this article instead.

Icon of the Seas float out December 2022

Essentially what a float out means is when the dry dock is filled with water and it becomes a wet dock. 

Last month, Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider added the float out allows the ship to move forward so another cruise ship can be built behind it.

"It's a super exciting and super momentous occasion for a new ship, especially a new class of ship, because, this will be the first time it ever floats. And so, as you can imagine, that's a pretty big milestone," Mr. Schneider said when talking about the float out process.

More than 10,000 people in Finland and abroad have participated in the construction and design of the Icon of the Seas

Icon of the Seas float out December 2022

In addition to the transition from dry dock to wet dock, we also have a look at the construction progress being made with Icon.

Looking to the back of the ship, we can see water slide supports being installed for the Category 6 water slide.

Icon of the Seas float out December 2022
Icon of the Seas float out December 2022

We can also see more of the aft superstructure installed, along with the name of the ship beginning to be written.

Icon of the Seas float out December 2022
Icon of the Seas float out December 2022

At the front of the ship, the AquaDome is installed, and more progress is being made with cabins installed and other top deck work.

Icon of the Seas float out December 2022
Icon of the Seas float out December 2022

What's next for Icon of the Seas?

Icon of the Seas float out December 2022

The latest timeline Royal Caribbean provided for the Icon of the Seas construction has work continuing at the shipyard for a few more months.

In May or June 2023, sea trials will commence. This is when a cruise ship's navigational and technical systems are tested and it is the final part of cruise ship construction prior to delivery.

Icon of the Seas float out December 2022

Everything from the ship's propulsion, to navigation, to engines are tested before it can be ready to join the fleet.

Following the sea trials, delivery will take place sometime in the second half of 2023 and that's when the ship changes ownership from the shipyard to Royal Caribbean.

The inaugural Icon of the Seas sailing will be January 27, 2024.

Icon of the Seas render at sunset

When completed, the ship will be the world's largest cruise ship and Royal Caribbean's first ship to use liquified natural gas (LNG) and fuel cell technology. The ship is 1,188 feet long and can accommodate up to 5,610 passengers at double occupancy (7,600 passengers if you maxed out every bed).

Meyer Turku is building three Icon class ships. Icon of the Seas is the first of these, and the next one will be completed in 2025 and the third in 2026.

Royal Caribbean reveals new restaurants, bars, and activities on Icon of the Seas

In:
08 Dec 2022

Royal Caribbean announced new venues coming to Icon of the Seas when the ship launches in early 2024.

Desserted

Icon of the Seas will have more than 40 food and beverage concepts, with 23 of them completely new to Royal Caribbean.

More venues were announced today that show off new concepts coming to the ship.

Let's look at everything Royal Caribbean released:

Desserted milkshake bar

Desserted

The new Desserted will allow passengers to choose from a lineup of milkshake concoctions, including spiked options for the adults. 

Surfside Eatery

Surfside Eatery

Surfside Eatery will debut as the dedicated buffet in Surfside, the new neighborhood designed for young families.

More Royal Caribbean firsts include a spot for a quick stop between adventures, Surfside Bites, and specialty restaurant Pier 7 for beachside favorites.

Pier 7

Pier 7

Adults and kids alike can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the new Pier 7.

This is a specialty restaurant that will serve up beachside bites like mango shrimp tostadas and surf ‘n’ turf. 

Lemon Post Bar

Lemon Post Bar

The Lemon Post will debut as the bar for the whole family, with a menu of options for grownups and another for kids. 

Lost Dunes mini golf

Lost Dunes

We knew Icon of the Seas would have a mini golf course, but now we know more details behind it.

Lost Dunes is located in the Thrill Island neighborhood.

It's described as, "At Lost Dunes, the whole family can join the fun and find their way around a course of shipwrecks, plane crashes and fallen palms."

Basecamp

Basecamp

Basecamp will also be located in Thrill Island, this is a new bar concept that has a walkup window and bar.

It will be located near the Category 6 water park.

Arcade

Arcade

Royal Caribbean cruise ships all have an arcade, and the arcade in Surfside neighborhood is designed to appeal to kids and adults.

 Adventures include a variety of games at the Arcade, like retro-style favorites.

Carousel

Carousel

Little kids can enjoy a beach-themed carousel. 

More in store includes a slideable, climbable Playscape and the Splashaway Bay aquapark. 

Adrenaline Peak

Adrenaline Peak

Royal Caribbean has reimagined the rock climbing wall with Adrenaline Peak.

This one features the cruise line’s highest vantage point yet, racing lanes for friendly competition and endless ocean views.

Launching in 2024

Icon of the Seas aerial top

Icon of the Seas doesn't sail with passengers until January 2024, but has already sold extremely well.

Icon of the Seas is scheduled to be delivered in late 2023 and begin sailing in January 2024.

The first sailing of Icon of the Seas, a seven-night voyage out of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean, is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2024.

The ship will alternate between Eastern Caribbean and Western Caribbean itineraries.

22 new trademarks that are probably things to do on Icon of the Seas

In:
05 Dec 2022

Sometimes guessing at what Royal Caribbean has up its sleeves is a lot of fun, and based on what we know so far, there's a good chance we can make reasonable assumptions about other unannounced areas of Icon of the Seas.

Icon of the Seas aerial at night concept art

Before Royal Caribbean revealed the look of Icon of the Seas and shed light onto more of the ship than ever before, it registered 22 trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The words and phrases trademarked didn't mean much at the time, but since the Icon of the Seas reveal, we can see many are venues confirmed coming to Icon of the Seas.

But what about the rest?

Hideaway aerial

It stands to reason that if we for certain 12 of them are definitely meant for Icon, that the rest of the trademarks made on the same day are likely also related to Icon.

Moreover, a few of the trademarks are probably for venues that Royal Caribbean has not revealed yet, but based on hints we've gotten so far, are the names of spaces the cruise line will use.

In the interest of full disclosure, this article makes a lot of guesses as to what the venues could be for, so please don't use the information here as the gospel truth. I freely admit this could all be totally wrong.  But I think logically, if half the trademarks in the batch we know for certain are for Icon, it's likely the rest are too.

Surfside looking up

Here's a look at the 22 trademarks and what they could possibly mean!

Trademarks we know for certain are for Icon of the Seas

Let's start with the easy stuff, and that's the dozen trademarks we know for certain Royal Caribbean will be using on Icon of the Seas.

We know these trademarks are meant for Icon, because they are the names of places on the ship already confirmed by the cruise line.

Izumi Hibachi & Sushi & Izumi in the Park

Izumi pickup window

Even without this being about Icon of the Seas, Izumi is a well-known name of a popular specialty restaurant on Royal Caribbean cruise ships.

Read moreAn inside look at how Royal Caribbean's Izumi restaurant went from concept to success

The Izumi location on Icon of the Seas will be the largest Izumi ever, according to Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider.

Central Park render on Icon of the Seas

Mr. Schneider also referred to Izumi as "Izumi in the Park" when talking about the restaurant on Icon of the Seas because for the first time, Izumi will be located in the Central Park neighborhood.

1400

1400 Bar concept art

While not officially announced by Royal Caribbean, the 1400 bar has been leaked as the name of a bar guests will see when they board the ship.

Located on the Royal Promenade, this is a bar that will be right when you walk onto the ship.

The name is a reference to the hull number from the shipyard where Icon is being built. Every ship built in a shipyard gets a hull number before the ship actually gets named. Icon of the Seas' hull number was 1400.

Thrill Island

Thrill Island water park render on Icon of the Seas

Thrill Island is one of the neighborhoods on Icon of the Seas.

This will be a new water park at the top of Icon of the Seas, which has 6 waterslides to choose from.

Crown's Edge

Crown's Edge on Icon of the Seas

Crown's Edge is part skywalk, part ropes course, part thrill ride, and an all-out test of courage. At any moment, the floor could collapse and leave you dangling high over the ocean.  Height and weight restrictions will be shared at a later date.

Pearl Cafe

Pearl Cafe

Located adjacent to the Pearl, Pearl Cafe is a place to get food and drink on the Royal Promenade.

The Hideaway

Hideaway at sunset

Another new neighborhood on Icon of the Seas, The Hideaway is located on the back of the ship.

This lounge space that will feature the world's first suspended pool at sea, with great views of the ocean.

The Grove

The Grove on Icon of the Seas concept art

The Grove is an area just for suite guests that is essentially an entire lounge space, but also with an uplifted buffet restaurant.

This casual Mediterranean restaurant is located outdoors on the suite sun deck and provides a more laid-back yet still exclusive dining option for suite guests.

Royal Bay

Pool aerial on Icon of the Seas

This will be the largest pool at sea, located in the Chill Island neighborhood.

Social 020

Social 020 is the name of the teen club on Icon of the Seas.

Lost Dunes

Royal Caribbean confirmed in its original announcement this is the name of the mini golf course on Icon of the Seas.

Adrenaline Peak

Thrill Island and Surfside

This is the name of the rock climbing wall on Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean describes it as, "a high-scoring new twist on the rock climbing wall."

Trademark guesses for Icon of the Seas

Overhead concept art for Icon of the Seas

Now let's hit the other trademarks in the batch that are likely meant for Icon of the Seas.

Once again, these are my best guesses as to what they could be. Some of the trademarks I feel pretty good about what they are supposed to be, while others I truly have no idea.

AquaDome dining experiences concept art

Aqua Nook

The trademark says the Aqua Nook is, "intended to cover the category of retail store services featuring a wide variety of consumer goods of others."

Based on the name having the word "aqua" in it, I will guess it's the name of a retail shop in or near the AquaDome neighborhood.  

My first instinct was to say it would be near the pool deck, but given the use of the word "aqua" in its name and the AquaDome name, it seems like a better fit.

Lou's Jazz N' Blues

Icon of the Seas concept art

When I saw this trademark, I immediately thought of an unnamed venue Royal Caribbean shared a look at recently but did not talk about the name.

Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships have Jazz on 4 venue (except Wonder of the Seas), and the concept art for this unnamed venue certainly looks like it could be a jazz club.

Thrill park concept

Frightening Bolt

The trademark provides no hint as to what this could be, but it all but certainly has to be some kind of attraction on Icon of the Seas.

Rye & Bean

Icon of the Seas will have 23 new food and beverage concepts, and I think Rye & Bean will be one of them.

The trademark says it, "is intended to cover the categories of bar services; Restaurant services."

Surfside bars and restaurants

Desserted Milkshake Bar

Another likely bar or dining venue, the name certainly points to an idea of it being centered around indulgent drinks.

Given the pun of "desserted" sounding like deserted but with the word "dessert" in it, it sounds like you'll find plenty of yummy choices here.

6th & Main

I thought this would be another bar, but the trademark says it's a retail store.

Top deck bar on Icon

Pier 7

The trademark says it is the name of a bar or restaurant, but I have no idea even which neighborhood it might be a part of.

It certainly has a nautical name to it.

Bubbles

Probably the most difficult trademark to guess in this batch, the trademark just gives the generic description of, "intended to cover the category of cruise ship services."

The name is so generic that it doesn't provide any insight into where it could go, or what it may entail.

Point & Feather

Point and feather on deck plan

I included it in this grouping until I realized it's the name of the English Pub listed on the ship's deck plans.

Located on the Royal Promenade, I'll keep it here because I overlooked it until writing the post.

Thrill Island

Basecamp

Another bar or restaurant, my guess is this is located in Thrill Island because the overall motif for that area is themed to be a lost island.

"The idea of Thrill Island is that you'll feel like a lost island," said Mr. Schneider during a recent talk about Icon of the Seas.

"In fact, we've gone to the trouble of even like the mini golf course, which is a will be our best mini golf course ever, is themed as a lost island with a sunken sub and a crashed airplane all in the jungle."

"All the venue names have are related to a lost island. So we've got a new F and B [food and beverage] venue sitting underneath the sport court. That we haven't shared the name of yet. And it will be in that same vein."

Perhaps Basecamp is that venue.

10 new Icon of the Seas designs preview more of the cruise ship

In:
03 Dec 2022

If you're like me, you can't get enough updates on Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas.

The new ship doesn't sail with passengers until January 2024, but what we've seen so far has created a ton of intrigue among cruise fans and even people that have never cruised before.

With Icon of the Seas being the first ship in the new Icon class, there will be a lot of new concepts and venues onboard. Royal Caribbean hasn't announced them all yet. They will slowly reveal more leading up to the ship's launch, but in the meantime we have a look at a few of these areas.

Icon of the Seas will have more than 40 food and beverage concepts, with 23 of them completely new to Royal Caribbean.

Speaking of innovations, Icon of the Seas will have 26 new features never before seen on a Royal Caribbean ship, which includes 15 new water experiences.

During an immersion session with Royal Caribbean's Senior Vice President and Chief Product Innovation Officer Jay Schneider last month, more concept art was shared of places on Icon of the Seas we knew about and many more we did not.

Icon of the Seas timeline

I wanted to share a look at what these new areas look like to give you more insight into what Royal Caribbean has planned.

Izumi sushi to go

Izumi pickup window

Icon of the Seas will have the largest Izumi ever.  It will also have a new location in Central Park.

Izumi will have a "sushi to go" window, where you can order a bento box of sushi and take it elsewhere on the ship to enjoy.

Mr. Schneider was asked if the Royal Caribbean app would be used to order food from the window, and he responded there would not a need for the app, as the turnaround time should be pretty quick since the options are locked in. 

Supper Club

Supper Club concept art

In a previous session, Mr. Schneider accidentally leaked the name of the Supper Club venue.  We got a better look at what this venue looks like, although no new information.

"There will be a new dining experience. I'm not talking about it yet. This is an example of eatertainment, so really a blend of best of entertainment and best of culinary. And so we'll we'll share more on that experience in the coming months."

Mason Jar on Wonder of the Seas was first example of eatertainment.

It appears this will be located in Central Park.

New entertainment

Icon of the Seas concept art

There will be another entertainment venue coming to Central Park that hasn't been announced yet.

"We're bringing a dedicated entertainment venue to Central Park. We're not talking about what that is yet."

Mr. Scheider said adding this venue, plus the Supper Club and other restaurants, is meant to evoke, "the spirit of making an all in total inhabitable neighborhood".

Overlook

Overlook Lounge concept art

The Overlook Lounge is located in the AquaDome neighborhood, and it is in front of the AquaTheater.

The Overlook Lounge will have 160 degree views of the ocean and it's right above the ship's bridge,

Royal Caribbean designed this to be a great bar and lounge experience.

New dining experience in AquaDome

AquaDome dining experiences concept art

In addition to the Overlook Lounge, there are other dining experiences that will be added to the AquaDome.

"There's actually a couple of bars we haven't talked about yet...But there's other adjacent bar experiences."

In addition to the Hooked specialty restaurant, Mr. Schneider teased a look at a new dining experience, "We have a new dining experience that will be available in the AquaDome, and it's adjacent to the open deck. So we're pretty excited about that."

Celebration table

Celebration Table concept art

Another dining venue in the AquaDome will be Celebration Table.

Mr. Schneider described Celebration Table as, "a bit of a hybrid of chef table and celebration, as we lean into more really back to the moment of people trying to make experiences together."

"Having this space, that can be something where you could have a wedding party, or birthday party, or some amazing experience that you might want to have there, given the views that it has."

The Lemon Post bar

Lemon Post Bar concept art

Another new concept is The Lemon Post Bar, which is described as the first "mommy and me bar".

Located in the Surfside neighborhood, the idea is mom or dad can get a cocktail and their kids can get a non-alcoholic cocktail.

Crew member areas

Crew spaces concept art

Royal Caribbean has re-imagined the crew spaces on Icon of the Seas.

"It was really about giving them the same level of finishings, treatments, experiences that our guests have."

In coming up with the crew spaces, Mr. Schneider admitted the first take on crew areas was a failure, "a group of architects and with some executive input, designed a crew cabin and we brought everybody through that experience. And our crew. Hated the experience, universally hated the experience."

Crew cabin concept art

"So what we did is we pulled a series of crew aside, set them down for a couple of weeks with our architects, and they literally sketched out with the crew the cabin of the future that they wanted, not that what we would have designed in a vacuum."

"We then reran crew through that from a testing perspective and overwhelming success from what they got to see."

The Grove

The Grove on Icon of the Seas concept art

A new dining venue in the suites neighborhood is called The Grove.

Mr. Schneider said guests can expect a lounge space, with an "uplifted kind of buffet canopy style to go food."

1400 Bar

1400 Bar concept art

Opposite the Pearl, where you enter the ship, will be the 1400 Bar.

It's a bit of an homage to of the actual new building process to the hull number, because every ship built in a shipyard gets a hull number before the ship actually gets named. Icon of the Seas' hull number was 1400.

"There's a terrace seating outside of the 1400 bar, with great seating overlooking the ocean."

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