Cruise

Royal Caribbean’s newest ship makes Miami debut

Royal Caribbean International’s highly anticipated Icon of the Seas arrived in Miami for the first time on Jan. 22.

The first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation was welcomed with fanfare by air, land and sea, ahead of its official debut on Jan. 27.

Local residents and Royal Caribbean fans, executives and employees were on hand as the first to see Miami’s newest resident.

Icon arrived to PortMiami in style, with celebratory fireboat salutes, banner planes in flight and a community celebration at Pérez Art Museum to mark the new vacation’s first appearance of many to come in the Magic City. Icon will continue making its final preparations in Miami ahead of an iconic naming celebration and first cruise.

What to expect from Icon

In store on Icon is an all-encompassing lineup of experiences that combines the best of every vacation – from the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure – making the first-of-its-kind adventure the way to get away for every type of family and vacationer.

Across eight neighborhoods are favourites for everyone day and night, including adrenaline-pumping thrills like six record-breaking waterslides at Category 6 and the Crown’s Edge experience at 154 feet above the ocean, and seven pools including the first suspended infinity pool at sea.

The game-changing experiences also include a stay-all-day neighbourhood designed for families with young kids, more than 40 restaurants, bars and lounges; deck-defying entertainment across air, ice, water and theatre and more.

Starting Jan. 27, vacationers can get away on Icon and island hop in the tropics at any time of the year. Each seven-night Eastern or Western Caribbean adventure from Miami features idyllic destinations in the Caribbean and an unmatched day of thrill and chill at Royal Caribbean’s 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 escape, Hideaway Beach, an all-day experience complete with a private beach and pools, new dedicated spots for drinks and bites, exclusive cabanas, live music and more.

For more details about Icon, including vacations now open to book, vacationers can visit Royal Caribbean’s website. Travelers can also follow the story behind creating the new vacation by watching the “Making an Icon” web series here.