Royal Caribbean has made two major announcements regarding new ships! 

Everyone is familiar with ribbon-cutting ceremonies but have you ever seen a steel-cutting ceremony? In Saint-Nazaire, France, Royal Caribbean recently marked the official start of construction by cutting the first piece of steel for what will be Royal Caribbean’s sixth Oasis Class cruise ship. The ceremony took place at the shipyard where it will be built. And the name of this new ship? (Drum roll please) . . . Utopia of the Seas! Delivery of the new ship, which will have approximately 2,800 cabins,  is scheduled for the end of May 2024. Royal Caribbean has not yet announced where the ship will sail from or what itineraries she will visit.

The other big news is that the new Icon of the Seas will be homeported in Miami after she arrives in the United States. This brand new ship is the first in the new Icon Class, which Royal Caribbean has been very quiet about. The Icon of the Seas will make its debut in the UK market this summer and then head across the Atlantic to Miami. The International President and CEO stated that the ship will likely have some stops in New York or Boston during the East Coast transit. The cruise line has spent five years designing the ship, and while they haven’t disclosed many details, they are promising that this will be a game-changer for the cruising industry. 

Icon of the Seas will feature a combination of “tradition, evolution and revolution,” all elements from their iconic ships. Tradition refers to fan favorites of the brand that will always be found across the fleet. Evolution refers to improving elements that cruisers love, such as entertainment venues and waterslides. And finally, revolution elements are industry firsts and promise to “wow” their customers. I can’t wait until the details are made public! The Icon Class is the first class of new vessels since Royal Caribbean launched the first of its Quantum Class ships in 2014. Stay tuned . . .