On a constant mission to raise the bar with each new ship, Royal Caribbean has done it again. Icon of the Seas – the new world’s largest cruise ship – was christened yesterday in Miami by global football icon Lionel Messi.
Iconic footballer Lionel Messi (left) helped name Icon of the Seas in Miami. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
“They say it takes a village,” said Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty at the naming ceremony held in the ship’s dramatic AquaDome. “It took dreamers, believers, investors and the best craftsmen in the world to build this ship, and it was seven years in the making. We have created the ultimate family vacation.”
The Icon naming ceremony was a crowning moment for Royal Caribbean International President Michael Bayley and Royal Caribbean Group Chairman Richard Fain. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
The ceremony took place in Miami, the world’s busiest cruise port. And the man who christened her is a football legend who led his home country Argentina’s team to win the 2022 World Cup. Lionel Messi is also an 8-time winner of the Ballon D’Or, which annually honours the world’s best player.
Messi now plays MLS football – or soccer as it is known in North America – for Inter Miami CF. The sport isn’t as high-profile in North America as other parts of the world, but Messi’s association with the Royal Caribbean brand will have more impact in places like South America and Europe, where the cruise company seeks a stronger presence.
Icon of the Seas arrives in Miami (Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean International)
TravelPulse Canada visited Icon of the Seas last May at the Meyer Werft Turku shipyard in Finland as it entered the later stages of construction. Now we get to see – and show you – the finished product. There are many well-known Canadian travel industry figures aboard for this inaugural cruise, and we’ll get their views on what is truly an engineering and design marvel.
As a quick reminder, Icon of the Seas boasts eight distinct neighbourhoods, 28 types of accommodations – 14 of them new – more than 40 restaurants and bars, a pool for every day of the week, and 9 whirlpools. Using the latest technology Icon is also being billed as its most sustainable ship.
Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas naming ceremony takes place in Port Miami (Photo Credit: Eric Bowman)
The Icon hype has generated more positive publicity for the cruise industry than any previous vessel. Sales are brisk and at high fares. And the ship that Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley says represents “our biggest dreams come to life,” is raising all the ships in the fleet.
Royal Caribbean stock is up more than 50% since October, and well over 400% from its COVID bottom.
Topics From This Article to Explore
