Each new Royal Caribbean () - ship pushes the limits set by the previous one. The brand new Wonder of the Seas takes the company's Oasis-class ships to places they have never visited.
Wonder of the Seas, which is internationally the largest ship, combines with the neighborhoods used on Oasis-class ships. Wonder adds a suite neighborhood, which gives Royal Caribbean a new twist to offer its higher-end passengers.
The new ship also has a much-improved adults-only Solarium, a bar on the pool deck that cantilevers over the ocean, and a new Mason Jar southern restaurant and bar concept.
A few improvements in room design have been made, with prevalent USB ports (something not found on older ships) and space more effectively used to maximize storage.
Wonder of the Seas is no longer revolutionary, but these details together make the ship a significant advance over previous Oasis-class ships.
Now, alongside the next Oasis-class ship, Royal Caribbean has begun work on the Icon of the Seas, the first ship in the new Icon class.
At a recent news conference, the company maintains the details of Icon of the Seas above the vest. However, President Michael Bayley provided some key information.
Royal Caribbean, Image Source
What We Know So Far About Icon of the Seas
Icon of the Seas will be the first of a new class of ship in 2025 and 2026, according to Royal Caribbean. The original ship in the class is currently being built by Meyer Turku, a Finnish shipyard, and it is expected to arrive by 2023.
After a ceremonial celebration of its keel-laying ceremony, the company pronounced the following in a news release:
TheStreet Recommands:
Icon will begin sail next year with the most recent innovations and signature features Royal Caribbean's teams have imagined and reimagined in bold, new ways, including a shift toward cleaner energy. The first of three Royal Caribbean ships will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), the cleanest fossil fuel currently available. Combining LNG with a line of the cruise line's proven applications, such as shore power connection and waste heat recovery systems that repurpose excess energy to assist power the ship's operations, I
LNG has become the focus of what Royal Caribbean has shared about the new vessel.
In his remarks at the keel-laying ceremony, Bayley hints at what's to come with Icon of the Seas.
We started imagining the Icon of the Seas five years ago, and now the next phase of this iconic adventure is beginning, said a leader. We continue to build the following lineup of firsts and favorites that will set a new standard for vacations in the fall 2023.
Details on the Icon of the Seas at Royal Caribbean
During a news conference in Miami on April 25, Bayley didn't say much there. According to reports.
"The Icon of the Seas will be sailing in the Caribbean," he said. "Additional deployment details will be disclosed at a later date, with itineraries coming into sale 12 to 18 months before the ship's first cruise."
Customers and cruise buddies are told more than you might think about the Icon of the Seas being shipped from the United States. It provides details on how the ship will be designed.
Wonder of the Seas was established with the intention of being deployed in China. It has a number of design features, including a second casino area ostensibly for high rollers (but not being used that way) suited to the market.
Now that the company has decided from which ports Icon of the Seas will be sailing, at least for its initial sailings, the new vessel can be built with finishes aimed at American customers.
When it comes to a cruise ship, it's important to note that the vessel serves as a temporary home for passengers. So, the little things matter.
The following are a few examples of how to keep up the pace.
