24 ICON OF THE SEAS
Continued from page 23... worry; Chill island’s four pools are aimed towards adults and older families, with the whirlpools scattered throughout the deck displaying an 16+ policy of use. You will also find the new ‘Swim and Tonic’ swim-up bar located on this deck plus, all adult-only areas of the ship have increased its restrictions from 16 to 18 years old and up, meaning all adult-only havens are just that! Not to mention the fact the kids will be too busy riding the wave at the surf simulator, getting their share of thrills in thrill island, or splashing away in
www.nitravelnews.com
Splashaway bay on lower decks. Chill island has been thought out throughly with families in mind due to the close proximity to thrill island, and the multitude of food and drink options located close-by. In fact, thrill island is within the same deck, but at the opposite end of the ship so no excited screams are heard above the dj set or live performances at Chill Island. As mentioned, food options in this area are vast and can cater for all users; Find the popular frozen cocktail bar, The Lime & Coconut’ nearby the multitude of pools; So much so, it is connected to the Swim and Tonic bar (no need to worry about losing your space within the pool!). For food, the Mexican-style El Loco Fresh & Cantina Fresca are serving up hot food on-the- go with pre-prepared burritos, empanadas, tacos and a full loaded nacho bar. Sit alfresco-style, chill on the built in netted sun-beds, fully equipped with obnoxiously big soft furnishings, or get back to the sun loungers by the pool- the choice is yours! Here you can also pick up your favourite cocktail, soft drink or simple alcoholic beverage for whichever style of dining you choose. The cruiser favourite sprinkles, is located on this deck close to the pools with your ice-cream fix ready at hand. As per usual, this sugar fix is included in all guest packages and helps to keep kids, and adults alike, cool and sweet-craving satisfied. Not only is it found on this deck, but Sprinkles can be seen throughout the ship, including Surfside. Maybe you are after a quick bite to eat, or an easy lunch? No need to worry about dressing to impress- The well-recognised Windjammer is located to the back of El Loco Fresh, where guests can pick up their lunchtime favourites, accompanied with a side of panoramic ocean views. At the opposite end of the deck, find the brand now Aquadome Market. Situated on the upper deck of the Aquadome, but with access from Chill Island, find your street-food favourites; From Asian inspired noodle and rice dishes, to tastes of the Med, this market-style eatery is perfect for those looking for tasty, quick and satisfying dishes. Of course, it would not be complete without a burger stand selling… burgers! Plus, fries, salad and hotdogs for the ultimate Barbecue cure. A personal favourite addition to this area is the crepe station. Choose from a variety of four different fillings, or make up your own- its entirety up to you! Icon’s friendly staff are onsite to whip up the perfect crepe to ensure a sweet desert that’s good enough to eat, after all, its hard work doing ‘nothing’ all day! As this is a ship tailored to children of all ages (even the kids in their 30’s…), let’s talk kid zones. Of course, it is hard not to mention the vast neighbourhood that is Thrill Island. Located to the rear of the ship and protruding from the skyline whilst on lower decks, Thrill Island is the one-stop-shop of the adrenaline junkies out here. Claiming to be the largest waterpark at sea with an impressive repertoire of 6 waterslide,
this
record-breaking neighbourhood is one not to miss. Find slides for all with group slides, single slides and race slides all included in the ‘Category 6’ waterpark, dotted with additional seating and storage units in convenient areas to watch those brave enough dare to take on the water. Of course, waterslides are not for everyone but not to fret; The Crown’s Edge is a brand new concept for cruising and takes ‘walking the plank’ to a whole other meaning. The famous Royal Caribbean Crown logo is situated on both sides of the ship only this time, all is not that it seams. Dawn your jumpsuit and safety cord and see the ship from a brand new angle- from high above! Those brave enough can hop high above the sea below from the side of the ship before dangling and gliding back onboard with an overhanging biplane- a first for cruising. Back on (semi) dry land, let that competitive edge run wild with a spot of mini- golf at the Lost Dune, or race against others in the adrenaline park rock climbing wall. Of course, all this thrill-seeking adventure stirs up an appetite; Check out Base camp for your quick-fix of taco , burgers and light bites. Looking for something sweet, a short walk across the deck will have your mouth drooling at the door of Desserted; The ship’s very own ‘freak’ shake milkshake bar. This is milkshakes but not has you know it! It’s not all thrills and spills over on Icon because
Royal Caribbean understand the importance of independence and alone time for kids, especially
February 2024
teenagers. This is why Icon has introduced a ‘speakeasy’ style hideaway for teenage kids ranging from 13 to 17. 020 Social is hidden away from the noise of the ship and can be found through a hidden entrance at the AbsoluteZero ice rink. This exclusive space has been described as a hidden hideout, fully equip with playstation, Nintendo switch and xbox cosy areas, where guests can play alone, as a couple or in a group- However they so wish. The juke box is constantly playing the most up-to-date hit , whilst the movie area has every film to cover all moods. Taking onboard the importance of how teenagers want to spend their time is important and this social space allows for interactions with like-minded individuals, if wanted. For the younger crowd, the award-winning adventure ocean youth programme returns to see, welcoming
children from just 6 months old until 12 years old. Again, Royal have kept families in mind with Adventure Ocean situated next to Surfside, and within a two minute walk form 020social; This makes it easy for parents to have a worry-free holiday as they can chill out in the Playmakers sportswear, located between both the 020social and Adventure Ocean hub. Adventure Ocean returns with its dedicated day and night programmes, with a Workshop space to create all things new, the Hangout which is a mini version of 020Social for the older kid, and AO babies. A highlighted feature which has been upgraded on Icon of the Seas is the AO Theatre; children can hang out here and watch dedicated shows and performances all within their very own kids-friendly
theatre.As mentioned both of these areas directly lead to Surfside for
there ultimate daytime activity, eateries and song and dance shows for kids. Possibly
the most impressive new neighbourhood within Icon is Surfside; This
ROYAL CARIBBEAN AND LIONEL MESSI CELEBRATE ICON OF THE SEAS, A NEW ERA OF VACATIONS
Less than a week shy of Royal Caribbean Inter-
national’s 55th anniversary, the world’s largest cruise line and world-renowned sports icon Li- onel Messi – The Icon of Icon – officially debuted the all-new Icon of the Seas at a standout nam- ing celebration in Miami. The first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation was the star of the show, as the most decorated fút- bol player in history bestowed safekeeping onto the world’s best family vacation, the dedicated crew and the millions of families who will make memories on board for years to come. “Family is everything to me, and it was excit- ing to take part in welcoming what is the world’s best family vacation to Miami,” said Lionel Mes- si, Royal Caribbean’s Icon of Icon. “Everything I’ve seen on Icon of the Seas is next level. There are experiences for the whole family to make memories that they’ll remember forever.” The milestone moment seven years in the making, hosted by four-time Emmy award-win- ning host Mario Lopez, was held in the Aqua- Dome neighborhood – an engineering and experiential feat in itself that represents the record-setting lineup of experiences in store on Icon. Ringing in the new era of vacations was
Royal Caribbean executives, crew, employees, fans and partners, including Meyer Turku ship- yard and Inter Miami CF. “Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of dreaming, innovating and living our mission – to deliver the world’s best vacation experiences responsibly. She is the ul- timate multigenerational family vacation, forev- er changing the status quo in family travel and fulfilling vacation dreams for all ages on board,” said Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Liberty. “With Lionel Messi presiding over the ship’s naming, we are thrilled and honored to have someone iconic for delivering memories for millions of fútbol fans around the world and who values making iconic memories with his family even more.” Messi, the only eight-time Ballon d’Or
award-winner and TIME’s 2023 Athlete of the Year, inaugurated the highly anticipated vaca- tion with a bottle breaking fit for an icon that has set records in its own right. When first revealed in October 2022, Icon spurred the single largest booking day and the highest volume booking week in the cruise line’s then 53-year history. The Icon of Icon was also joined on stage by Pres- ident and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group Jason Liberty, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International Michael Bayley and Icon’s captain, Henrik Loy. “We did it! After seven years of pursuing the bold vision to create a one-of-a-kind vacation for every type of family and adventurer, Icon of the Seas has become a reality,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean Internation- al. “Officially naming Icon marks more than the introduction of a new ship; it is the start of a new era of vacations, and we’re excited to see tens of millions of families and friends make their mark with memories they create together and on their own adventures without compromise.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65
