Royal Caribbean International has revealed sports icon Lionel Messi is the official Icon of Icon of the Seas.
The most decorated fútbol player in history will welcome the new ship at an exclusive naming celebration in Miami.
Royal Caribbean said that Messi has helped usher in a “new era of fútbol in the U.S.” when he joined Royal Caribbean partner and new Leagues Cup champion Inter Miami CF.
The cruise line said that Icon has also marked record-breaking moments with the single largest booking day and highest volume booking week in its 53-year history.
Lionel Messi, Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of Icon said: “I’m thrilled and honored to join the Royal Caribbean family to celebrate the arrival of the game-changing Icon of the Seas.
“Icon is beyond anything else that’s out there for family vacations, with incredible never-before-seen features, all designed for making memories together.”
Messi’s new role follows the recent announcement of Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF’s unprecedented partnership in which the cruise line is the Club’s Main Partner and Official Vacation Partner.
Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF will also celebrate the arrival of Icon with the next phase of the partnership – details which will be revealed at a later date.
Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International, said:
“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,”
“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.”
As part of a longstanding maritime tradition, Messi will take part in the iconic naming celebration for Icon in January 2024 in Miami.
The Icon of Icon will have the honour of bestowing safekeeping onto the new ship, its crew and the millions of families who will create memories of a lifetime on board in the years to come.
Icon of the Seas will feature eight neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is a destination in itself filled with a variety of experiences, live entertainment, restaurants, bars and more.
Each 7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean adventure from Miami is all about island hopping, featuring idyllic locales across the Caribbean plus Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.
More details about Icon and the latest news are available at www.RoyalCaribbean.com/Icon.
Travel agents can go to My Club Royal or click here for more news on Royal Caribbean on Travel Pursuit UK.
