Icon of the Seas will be Royal Caribbean International's first Icon-class ship when it joins the fleet in 2023. Carrying around 5,600 passengers, it will be joined by two sibling vessels; Apex of the Seas in 2025 and Joy of the Seas in 2026. All three will feature new eco-friendly propulsion systems.
To date, Royal Caribbean has not released any details about the interior of the ship and the onboard features, but passengers can expect to see some firsts for the line. Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean's President and CEO, has hinted: "We look forward to revealing more of the game-changing features our guests and crew have in store as she begins to take shape."
Under construction at Finland's Meyer Turku shipyard, Icon of the Seas and its siblings will be the first Royal Caribbean ships to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) to reduce emissions. The ship will incorporate other environmentally friendly technologies, including using shore power when in port.
Bayley added: "We made our commitment to making clean power at sea a reality, and soon the norm, when Icon-class was first announced in 2016, and we're excited to see construction underway on what will truly be a ship unlike any other."
Icon of the Seas is scheduled to enter service in fall 2023, with a debut in Southampton in the UK. Details of the maiden voyage will be announced at a later date.
Bayley has said that Icon of the Seas will homeport in Miami after it debuts in the UK.
Icon of the Seas is scheduled to debut in the UK for a short fall 2023 season. After that, it will move to Miami, Bayley said.
Icon of the Seas will be 200,000 gross tons and carry some 5,600 passengers at full capacity.