Icon of the Seas: More Space, Innovative Design for Royal Caribbean

Icon of the Seas: More Space, Innovative Design for Royal Caribbean

“We’ve over-scaled the amount of lounge space for guests on the icon of the Seas versus any other ship. That is purposeful to give more space,” said Jay Schneider, senior vice president and chief product innovation officer for Royal Caribbean international.

“You’ll find more share and more deck chairs,” he added.

The 250,800-ton ship will have a capacity for over 5,600 guests at double occupancy, becoming the largest cruise ship in the world when it debuts in Miami in January 2024, sailing week-long cruises.

Guests will first be “wowed” by a massive multi-deck pearl structure when boarding the ship, which Schneider said would provide a jaw-dropping moment.

Royal Caribbean’s neighbourhood concept will also be back, with new five areas and returning favourites, plus some tweaks.

The popular Central Park will be lusher, said Schneider, with 20 per cent more greenery.

“Guests will also be able to see the ocean for the first time,” he said. Currently, on Oasis-class ships, Central Park sits in the middle of the superstructure, without ocean views.

Central Park will also feature a dedicated entertainment venue and Izumi, the company’s sushi and hibachi restaurant will be in its biggest-ever form in Izumi on the Park. Guests can dine in and there will also be a takeout window for a bento-box-style experience.

In addition, the cruise line has worked hard on passenger flow, Schneider said, really trying to eliminate dead ends.

“There are dead ends on every cruise ship,” he continued. “We’ve tried to solve that here. The upper deck six mezzanine of the promenade is a complete 360.”

New Neighbourhoods and Features for Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

New Neighbourhoods and Features for Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's New Icon of the Seas will feature eight neighbourhoods, including five brand-new adventures and three bold, returning favourites.

The company said that each one is a destination in and of itself filled with an array of experiences, live entertainment and ways to grab a bite and a drink so that everyone can make memories their way every day.

Thrill Island – Vacationers can test their limits, scale new heights and reach top speeds at the centre of thrill. This lost island adventure is home to highlights like Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea, with six record-breaking slides: Pressure Drop and its 66-degree incline make it the industry’s first open free-fall slide; the 46-foot-tall Frightening Bolt, the tallest drop slide at sea; Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter, the first family raft slides at sea with four riders per raft; and Storm Chasers, cruising’s first mat-racing duo. Living on the edge takes a new meaning with Crown’s Edge. Part skywalk, part ropes course and part thrill ride, it culminates in a surprising, shocking moment that will see travellers swing 154 feet above the ocean.

Chill Island – Among the seven pools on board, four are in this three-deck slice of paradise. There’s a pool for every mood, each with prime ocean views: the vibrant Swim & Tonic, the line’s first swim-up bar at sea; Royal Bay Pool, the largest pool at sea; Cloud 17, an adults-only retreat; and the serene, infinity-edge Cove Pool. Plus, The Lime & Coconut returns with four locations, including Royal Caribbean’s first frozen cocktail bar.

Surfside – Introducing a neighbourhood made for young families from end to end, where adults and kids ages six and under will want to stay and play all day. Grownups can soak up the endless views at Water’s Edge pool, as they keep an eye on the kids at Splashaway Bay and Baby Bay. Only steps away are dining options, places to lounge, a bar, the signature carousel, an arcade, Adventure Ocean, and Social020 for teens.

The Hideaway – Tucked away, this neighbourhood 135 feet above the ocean combines the good vibes of beach club scenes around the world and the uninterrupted ocean views only a cruise can offer. The first suspended infinity pool at sea is at the centre of it all, and it’s surrounded by a multilevel sun terrace with whirlpools, a variety of seating and a dedicated bar.

AquaDome – Perched at the top of Icon, what’s in store is a transformational place unlike any other. In a tranquil oasis by day, guests can take in wraparound ocean views and an awe-inspiring waterfall as they enjoy a bite or drink. By night, it becomes a vibrant place great for a night out, complete with restaurants, bars and the cruise line’s marquee aqua shows at the next-level AquaTheater. The signature entertainment venue takes artistry and cutting-edge technology to new heights, with a transforming pool, four robotic arms, state-of-the-art projection and more.

In addition, a grander Royal Promenade features its first floor-to-ceiling ocean views, plus more than 15 restaurants, cafes, bars and lounges; a more lush and livelier Central Park has more ways to dine and be entertained; and the largest Suite Neighborhood is three decks of luxury, offering a multilevel suite sun deck – The Grove – that has a private pool, whirlpool and dining, and a two-story Coastal Kitchen.

More returning favourites include experiences like new takes on mini golf at Lost Dunes, rock climbing at Adrenaline Peak, and Absolute Zero, Royal Caribbean’s largest ice arena, and dining venues such as Giovanni’s Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar on the Royal Promenade and the Asian-inspired Izumi in Central Park.

The ship will feature 28 stateroom categories, the company said. There are new layouts made for families of three, four, five and more, like the Family Infinite Balcony and Surfside Family Suite – with kid's alcoves tucked away from the adults – and the three-story Ultimate Family Townhouse, complete with its own white picket fence and mailbox. When it comes to views, among the best are from the brand’s first Sunset Corner Suites and Panoramic Ocean Views in AquaDome.

Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas Set to Resume Cruise Service

After a 17-month pause, the Oasis of the Seas is back in cruise service for Royal Caribbean International.

Sailing on its first post-pandemic commercial cruise later today, the first Oasis-Class vessel is launching service from Bayonne, in the New York region.

Based in New York the first time, the vessel is now offering a series of seven-night voyages to the Bahamas.

Through the end of October, Oasis is making weekly visits to Nassau, Port Canaveral and Perfect Day at CocoCay – Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas.

Home to North America’s tallest waterslides, the popular port of call features unique attractions and saw a $250 million transformation in 2019.

After the New York program, the Oasis is repositioning to Miami for the winter season. Through December, the vessel is sailing alternate itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, including stops in Mexico, Honduras, St. Maarten and Puerto Rico.

One of the world’s largest cruise ships, the 2009-built Oasis of the Seas has a capacity for over 5,400 guests.

Built-in Finland, the vessel introduced a groundbreaking design that is highlighted by features such as Central Park, a park with real plants, surrounded by shops and restaurants. 

The vessel also has its public areas divided into seven different zones, known as neighbourhoods. Each one of them has a different appeal, with unique attractions. The BoardWalk, for instance, reproduces a seaside pier, with a carousel, carnival games, retail outlets and eateries.

The Oasis of the Seas was also the first ship to feature a dancing-waters theatre, a zip-line and a moving bar.

In 2019, the vessel underwent a $165 million refurbishment in Spain as part of the Royal Amplification program.

After a two months period in drydock, the ship emerged with new additions, such as the tallest slide at sea – Ultimate Abyss; The Perfect Storm trio of waterslides; a reimagined Caribbean pool deck; and new kids and teens spaces.

The Oasis of the Seas is the 14th Royal Caribbean ship to resume service since the COVID-19 pandemic operational pause.

The ship is also the tenth to return to service for the operator in the United States after the Freedom of the Seas became the first ship to do so in July.

With a 25-ship fleet, Royal Caribbean plans to have 21 vessels in service by the end of the year.   

Royal Caribbean’s Symphony to feature world’s tallest slide at sea

Royal Caribbean’s Symphony to feature world’s tallest slide at sea

Gallery: Symphony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean International has revealed features onboard new megaship, Symphony of the Seas.

These include the world’s tallest slide at sea, robotic bartenders and theatre shows.

The cruise line’s 25th ship, set to launch in April 2018, will claim the title of the world largest vessel when it sets sail on its inaugural season in Europe.

Royal Caribbean will put on popular Broadway production Hairspray – the cruise line’s first musical at sea – on board the 5,500-capacity Symphony.

In addition, guests will be able to enjoy the tallest slide at sea, the Ultimate Abyss (pictured), robot bartenders at the Bionic Bar and high-flying, high-diving performances at the AquaTheatre.

bionic-barroyal-caribbean

Families will be able to explore seven neighbourhoods on board, such as Central Park, which has more than 12,000 tropical plants, or the pool and sports zone, where there is a nine-deck high zip line, a beach pool and even a mini-golf course.

Symphony’s debut season will see it call at ports in Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca in Spain, Provence in France, Florence, Rome and Naples in Italy.

From November 24 2018 Symphony will make Miami her home all-year around.

Michael Bayley, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean International, said: “We set out to create a new level of holiday adventure and deliver the ultimate escape for families of all shapes and sizes.

“Symphony will introduce the most cutting-edge, customisable, and digitally-enhanced experiences in the Royal Caribbean fleet.

Fantasy and Reality Mix on Harmony of the Seas

The world’s largest cruise ship — Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas — provides guests with a perfect blend of the ordinary and extraordinary

Escape from the everyday has always been a prime goal of vacationing. Travelers on a cruise not only want to travel to other parts of the world, but they also want to travel away from ordinary living — and many will try things they wouldn’t at home.

Nobody knows that better than Royal Caribbean International. The company’s most recent ship, the 5,479-passenger Harmony of the Seas, offers travelers a safe intersection between idealized reality and wild fantasy.

Nothing could be more centered in an iconic form of reality than the awnings and sidewalk tables of dining venue Sorrento’s pizzeria or the trees and benches of the vessel’s Central Park. But guests will also find fantastical elements onboard, such as a 5-ton metallic human head sculpture by Czech artist David Cerny; a greatly expanded; robotic bartenders; bracelets that open doors; and the “stowaway piano player,” which could appear on the ship’s elevators, by the buffet and in other unexpected places. In kid-centric waterpark Splashaway Bay, sea creature double as water cannons, and in optical illusions and more transform divers, acrobats and high-flying performers. 

Guests can feel like the main character of author Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” when they dine in Wonderland restaurant, which has been expanded to two decks and offers "maddeningly delicious" menu items and magical, elegant decor. Mysterious elixirs whisper “Drink me,” dishes arrive shrouded in smoke, and the magic extends to the flavors of the unusual menu. 

Out on deck, the familiar fantasy of the carousel is paired with the much more unusual ride of the ship’s new slides, which have been transformed from slippery speed runs to full sensory experiences. The most dramatic slide, Ultimate Abyss, has a drop of 150 feet and features twin slides made of stainless steel tubes about 2.5 feet in diameter. Adventurous guests step from a glass platform onto special mats and launch themselves at 9 mph through the toothy jaws of a fish along a twisting route 10 decks down, accompanied by audio effects. 

With all of its special features, which are brand new and brought over from earlier Quantum- and Oasis-class ships, Harmony of the Seas, the world’s largest cruise ship and 25th in the Royal fleet, comes in at a cost of more than $1billion. 

Arriving in Barcelona in early June, the vessel will launch initial inaugural sailings of 34 seven-night Western Mediterranean cruises. In November, it will arrive in the U.S., settling in its homeport of Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to sail seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises.