What's new on Royal Caribbean in 2024 and beyond
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Get ready for all new adventures with Royal Caribbean Cruises.
Royal Caribbean offers something for everyone, with over 300 destinations on six continents, two private destinations and more than 3,000 shore excursions. Their award-winning fleet of ships, and the launch of the new Icon Class, promise you’ll find everything you need on board a Royal Caribbean Cruise. Whether you enjoy thrilling onboard activities and water parks, quality shows or are looking for innovative restaurants, Royal Caribbean has you covered. Plus, there are all new ships, itineraries, and private destinations for you to explore soon.
Ready to find out more? We spoke to a Royal Caribbean expert, and here is everything new with Royal Caribbean.
What new ships can we look forward to?
In 2024, we’re launching two ships in the first six months. For the first time in 10 years, Royal Caribbean is launching a new ship class. It took ten years to design and perfect the ship to be exactly what our guests tell us what they want. We listened to the feedback, which is where Icon Class comes from.
The new Icon Of The Seas launches, January 2024. What's new on it?
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We maxed out the water we could fit on the ship. There are seven pools onboard Icon Of The Seas, including the largest pool ever on the ship, and all of them face the ocean. For example, at the back of the ship in our Hideaway Beach neighbourhood, an amazing infinity pool gives you the best views. The seven pools are spaced out on five different decks, so you will never feel the pool is full or busy.
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But the water fun doesn’t stop there. Thrill Island has the largest waterpark at sea, with six record-breaking waterslides.
The Surfside neighbourhood is dedicated to young families with three amazing ways to splash. Our Splashaway Bay aqua park has a water’s edge pool for mom, dad, grandma, grandpa and the rest of the family. And there is the adult-only pool, Cloud 17, that also has a hot tub with a bar.
Or, if you’re brave enough, you can step out over the side of the ship on Crowns’ Edge; it will be like walking the plank, but as you’re walking along the platform, it’ll give away, and you’ll fly back around the side of the ship to safety.
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The famous Aqua Theatre (available on Oasis class ships) will be relocated inside the AquaDome, meaning guests won't have to worry about inclement weather. Icon Of The Seas' AquaDome is the largest structure on a ship in the world. It features a five-story tall waterfall!
Where will Icon Of The Seas sail to?
It will have Eastern or Western Caribbean sailings, with the Western Caribbean visiting one extra port. So, depending on what port you’d like to go to, we have you covered on Icon Of The Seas.
A lot of the time, you’re going to see Eastern and Western alternating so that you can go ahead and take 14 days and visit all different ports. And every single sailing will visit a perfect day at CocoCay. Which means you could visit twice.
What are the staterooms like on Icon Of The Seas?
Icon Of The Seas is great because over 80% of the staterooms are triples, quads or higher. So, they are perfect for travelling with your family.
The ship offers new staterooms, including our spacious infinite ocean-view balcony staterooms that fit up to six guests. Or there is the Royal Loft Suite, a multi-level loft with a Royal Genie, who is like a butler and will do anything for you. They are in high demand and can sleep up to six guests.
But if you want the ultimate room, it’s the three-story high-family townhouse. There is only one of these, and it fits up to eight guests. It has a real U.S. mailbox address, karaoke, a cinema room, a private entrance to the Surfside neighbourhood, and more.
When does Star Of The Seas launch?
Utopia Of The Seas will be followed by the Star Of The Seas, which will debut in the summer of 2025. It is the second Icon Class ship, and it is going to be an absolute marvel.
What will dining be like on Icon Class ships?
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While Oasis Class ships have over 30 bars and restaurants, the Icon Of The Seas and Star Of The Seas will have over 40 bars and restaurants, and at least 10 of those are complimentary.
There will be plenty of choices regarding specialty and a la carte. It will have everything from Starbucks to Hooked Seafood and more. There will be almost ten brand-new restaurants on the Icon Of The Sea.
When does Utopia Of The Seas launch?
In July of next year, we will launch our sixth Oasis class ship, Utopia Of The Seas. The ship will bring bigger ways to splash, dine and party. The largest cruise ship in the world, Icon Of The Seas, will eclipse Utopia Of The Seas by just a couple of feet.
One of the main features is the new immersive train dining experience. It’s a really cool new concept; our Crown and Anchor members voted they wanted something different. So you’ll go into the bar, which will be the train station and grab your drink, then you’ll sit down at the restaurant, and you will feel like you are on a train that is moving, and the scenery will move past you. It is going to be such a great experience.
It is the first Oasis class ship that is coming straight into service at Port Canaveral just outside of Orlando featuring three and four-day cruises. Every single sailing will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay. So, imagine a cruise to CocoCay, the Royal Beach Club – it is a great option for those families and guests who are coming to Florida to visit Universal Studios or Disney World and want to add a couple of days to try a cruise. It is great because the ship is only 45 minutes from Orlando, and an amazing new experience.
What is the Ultimate World cruise?
If you’re retired, or you have a year, you can join us on the ultimate world cruise. We are going to be doing it like no one else, in fact it’s 100 days longer than our closest competitor. It’s 274 nights and the cruise will visit seven continents, 60 countries, 150 destinations, and 11 world wonders!
If you can’t get away for the entire trip, we will cut up the amazing world cruise into 17 sailings ranging from nine to 28 nights in addition to segments that are 60 nights. So, if you want to do something very special on one of our incredible small ships. One great choice is the 12-night ultimate China, Japan, and South Korea. The trip is kicking off starting in December 2023, running all the way through until next September.
The Royal Beach Club in Bahamas is opening in 2025. What will it be like?
We’re opening the Royal Beach Club in Nassau, our first ever on Paradise Island. If you’ve ever been to Nassau, there are 17 acres of land right across from where the ships dock. There is a lighthouse at one end and Atlantis Resort at the other; we bought that parcel of land in partnership with the Bahamas Government. It will be an amazing destination by the summer of 2025.
The Royal Beach Club will feature amazing beaches, pools, live music from local Bahamian artisans, amazing Bahamian food and much more exclusive to Royal Caribbean guests.
Is anything new coming to Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay?
Our amazing new Hideaway Beach is coming in January.
Book an appointment with a CAA Travel Consultant to start planning your Royal Caribbean cruise. With your CAA Member Benefits, you'll receive sparkling wine, a welcome fruit basket in your stateroom upon arrival, a complimentary print or digital photograph, and up to $100 onboard spending per stateroom on select itineraries.
