Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

Royal Caribbean's 'Icon of the Seas' Completes First Sea Trials, Sets Sail Towards 2024 Debut Icon of the Seas is said to be "the first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation."

By Madeline Garfinkle Edited by Jessica Thomas

Key Takeaways

  • Royal Caribbean International's new cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has successfully completed its initial round of sea trials.
  • The next step is a second round of sea trials later in the year before the ship's debut in Miami in January 2024.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean's new cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, has completed its initial round of sea trials and set sail on the open water for the first time, the cruise line announced in June.

After four days of preliminary testing with over 2,000 specialists, the ship returned to the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland for further construction.

Before the ship's debut in Miami in January 2024, Icon of the Seas will go through a second round of sea trials later this year, Royal Caribbean said in the release.

Original story below:

Royal Caribbean International had the single largest booking day in its 53-year history this week after reservations opened for the cruise line's new ship, Icon of the Seas.

Royal Caribbean first unveiled the new ship on October 20 as "the first-of-its-kind combination of the best of every vacation," with the versatility to appease every vacationer, family member and "adventurer."

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

"The enthusiasm and excitement for Icon are undeniable in more ways than one," Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, said in a statement. "The incredible response we have received from our loyal guests, vacationers new to cruising, crew members and travel partners continues to come in, and this is just the beginning. We can't wait to share more of what Icon has in store in the coming months."

Icon of the Seas has been five years in the making and encompasses "firsts and reimagined favorites." The ship has eight "neighborhoods" ranging from "Thrill Island" to "Chill Island," and offers 28 different room categories.

Icon is set to sail year-round, with seven eastern and western Caribbean vacations departing from Miami and set to debut in January 2024.

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean

Related: A Luxury Cruise Ship Will Allow Residents to Permanently Live At Sea. See Inside Its 237-Square-Foot Studios Selling for $1 Million.

Madeline Garfinkle

News Writer

Madeline Garfinkle is a News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. She is a graduate from Syracuse University, and received an MFA from Columbia University. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business News

'Not Yet Fully Autonomous': Tesla's Optimus Robots Stole the Show — But Were They Actually Controlled By Humans?

Musk said the $20,000 to $30,000 robot could perform household tasks like mowing lawns and putting away groceries.

Starting a Business

She Started a Business With $300 After Getting Laid Off. It Made $300,000 in Year 1 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Company.

Bobbie Racette wanted to revamp the virtual assistance space — and provide job opportunities for underrepresented communities at the same time.

Business News

Whole Foods Was Accused of 'Shrinkflation' After Changing Its Berry Chantilly Cake Slices. Here's Why the Company Reversed Course.

After changing the recipe and size of its beloved cake slices, social media users were outraged. Now, Whole Foods is bringing the original back to cases this week.

Thought Leaders

The Human Side of Wealth — 5 Insights I Learned from Ron Diamond

Ahead of Entrepreneur's workshop with Ron Diamond, learn how he balances legacy with humility, learns from failure, and builds trust-based relationships to redefine wealth through purpose-driven Family Offices.

Leadership

He Raced at 330 MPH Before Taking Over the Family Business — Here's What Being in the Driver's Seat Taught Him About Leadership

Morgan Lucas, former professional drag racer, talks about getting behind the wheel of Lucas Oil as its new CEO.