In an iconic move, Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas has chosen icon Lionel Messi to be its official icon. (And yes, we did all that on purpose.)
It should come as no surprise, as this ship has made it its business to break records left and right, much as Messi himself has taken the sports world by storm since he first stepped on a soccer field, the latest of which was being named “Athlete of the Year” by TIME when he joined the new Leagues Cup champion Inter Miami CF; Royal Caribbean International is the Club’s Main Partner and Official Vacation Club. More to come on that, so stay tuned.
“Icon of the Seas is the culmination of more than 50 years of delivering memorable vacations, and it’s set to live up to its name in more ways than one when it changes the vacation industry in January 2024,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, in a press statement. “It’s that ability to make such a widespread impact and change the status quo that the Icon of Icon must personify, and Lionel Messi has proven to be the perfect example of that for years in the world of sports and most recently in introducing a new era of excitement and passion for fútbol in Miami and the U.S.”
Messi and Royal Caribbean: Over the Top
As befits his new status, Messi will be a part of the naming celebration for Icon that will take part in Miami in January 2024. The new Icon will, in true maritime tradition, bestow safekeeping onto the new ship, its crew and the millions of guests who will sail onboard.
Like Messi, Icon of the Seas is over-the-top with accomplishments, with six record-setting waterslides, seven pools, the first neighborhood designed specifically for young families, 40+ dining, drink and entertainment outlets and much more. Speaking of neighborhoods, this massive ship has eight, and each is a destination unto itself, with its own live entertainment venues, bars, restaurants, experiences and more.
Royal Caribbean International’s latest will be headed to the Caribbean year-round with 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; plus an entire day at the company’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. Come January, this retreat will open its first adults-only hotspot, Hideaway Beach.
For more information, royalcaribbean.com/icon-of-the-seas.
