Icon Captain Henrik shares the top things to do on the new ship

Think about a getaway that mixes the most effective of each trip. Assume: seashore getaway, resort getaway, theme park journey, and extra—multi functional journey. Enters Seas icon. For the primary time, adults and youngsters alike, in addition to all types of vacationers – whether or not you favor thrills or leisure – could have methods to make reminiscences collectively and on their very own phrases.

And with a brand new ship comes a brand new captain: meet Captain Henrik Lowe. Born and raised in Bergen, Norway, this captain has had a style of life at sea for so long as he can.

“Bergen is a well-liked vacationer vacation spot and can also be a gateway to the Norwegian fjords,” he mentioned. “I had all the time been fascinated by ships and determined to grow to be a sailor. I began as an apprentice and rose by way of the ranks on many alternative ships all around the world.”

Henrik joined Royal Caribbean over 25 years in the past in 1997. Whereas he could appear to have seen all of it and completed all of it, he is about to embark on the journey of a lifetime when he takes the wheel and units course for the Caribbean from Miami in January 2024.

Earlier than crusing subsequent 12 months, Captain Henrik shared the primary and favourite issues he is wanting ahead to attempting iconplus tips about the place to start out if you’re becoming a member of him and the crew on board:

“Seas icon It is a complete new class of ship with many new options and improvements,” Henrik mentioned. “I work arduous to be taught the whole lot.” Nonetheless, he is aggravated by the problem: “I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and on the prime, I assumed, ‘If I can do With that, I can do something.”

In actual fact, Captain Henrik was visiting icon Whereas below building on the Meyer Turku shipyard in Turku, Finland. He has been working with the crew on the bottom to see that inspections, coaching, testing and preparation for key moments within the building course of run easily. One such main upcoming second is the ocean trials. That is when the ship, icon On this case, it is pushed to its limits in a sequence of efficiency assessments involving engines, navigation programs, propulsion, and extra.

Icon consists of eight distinct neighborhoods, akin to The Hideaway and Thrill Island. Each is dwelling to an array of eating places, bars, leisure, and actions.

Credit score: Royal Caribbean

When Henrik says he works arduous to be taught all of it, he means never-before-seen experiences, reimagining favorites and new options like liquefied pure fuel (aka LNG, the cleanest marine gas but) on board.

There’s a lot to cowl between new adventures and engineering adventures. The perfect half is that no matter your journey fashion and character, you have received methods to take advantage of your trip because of eight distinct neighborhoods. And by neighborhoods, we’re speaking about locations in their very own proper that every function your selection of eating places, enjoyable actions, bars, buying, and extra.

Discover a pool for each temper and day of the week at Icon, together with the most important pool at sea and the primary infinity pool suspended at sea.

Credit score: Royal Caribbean

Are you a thrill seeker? Look no additional than adventures like six record-breaking water slides, mountain climbing and the FlowRider browsing simulator to get began. Or in case you really feel like enjoyable once more, there is a slice of heaven for you throughout seven swimming pools – that is one for every single day of the week – together with the most important pool within the sea and the last word seashore membership expertise with the primary infinity pool suspended in a cruise ship at The hideaway.

From Thrill Island to Chill Island to the primary neighborhood designed for younger households from begin to end (extra on that later), the number of neighborhoods in icon It matches many flavors in additional than 40 meals and beverage venues. This consists of 15 bars and leisure venues the place you’ll be able to have your greatest day ever and your greatest evening ever too.

A next-level AquaTheater and 55-foot waterfall sits within the middle of the primary AquaDome, a transformative neighborhood situated on the prime of the brand new ship.

Credit score: Royal Caribbean

“I’m honored and joyful to be a crew captain Seas iconHenrik mentioned, including that he’s very a lot wanting ahead to the AquaDome, Thrill Island and Surfside neighborhoods.

Surfside is Royal Caribbean’s first neighborhood devoted to younger households. There’s the sprawling Splashaway Bay and Child Bay water parks for little ones to get pleasure from with the slides, spray fountains, and big dipping bucket, all whereas the adults watch from the Water’s Edge pool. Staying dry is simply as thrilling with a beach-themed carousel, an arcade with over 30 new and classy video games, and actions like household festivals. And when it is time to recharge between adventures, select spots the place each member of the household can seize a snack and a drink, together with the brand new Surfside Eatery buffet, a comfy reception counter at Surfside Bites and even a bar with grownup and youngsters menus referred to as The Lemon Publish.

You’ll be able to actually spend every single day at Surfside, too, as a result of there are new household rooms and suites, just like the three-story Final Household Townhouse and Surfside Household Suites proper within the neighborhood.

Do you could have what it takes to courageous the adrenaline-pumping rim of the crown 154 toes above the ocean?

Credit score: Royal Caribbean

You will discover the most important thrills on Thrill Island, a misplaced island journey and an all-new neighborhood the place Class 6 – the most important water park at sea – awaits the tallest, quickest and tallest slides like the primary household slide on a cruise ship. For the bravest, there’s Crown’s Edge, an expertise that is half flyover, half ropes course, and half thrill 154 toes above the ocean. Thrill Island can also be dwelling to returning favourites, reimagined, together with the Adrenaline Peak rock-climbing wall and Misplaced Dunes mini golf course.

With a lot pleasure additionally comes loads of methods to unwind, like on Chill Island and Henrik’s greatest choose, AquaDome. float on the prime of icon is the brand new AquaDome, which Henrik describes as “wonderful.” By day, the transformative neighborhood is a peaceable oasis with 220-degree ocean views. At evening, that is when the whole lot turns right into a vibrant scorching spot that comes alive with eating places, bars, and eye-popping leisure. Right here, you will discover performances in a next-level AquaTheater that mixes cutting-edge artwork and know-how with air racers, acrobats, elite divers, state-of-the-art projection and extra. And did we point out the 55-foot waterfall that towers over all of it?

The Hideaway – with a seashore membership ambiance – is dwelling to uninterrupted ocean views in addition to the primary infinity pool suspended within the sea.

Credit score: Royal Caribbean

Undoubtedly, the unforgettable experiences you’ll be able to have whereas crusing from one vacation spot to a different are an enormous a part of what makes a cruise the holiday of a lifetime. Henrik’s recommendation for making it the most effective getaway but? “Do your analysis, do not pack an excessive amount of and take advantage of each minute.”

Adventures you’ll be able to expertise on a ship cruise icon Tropical locations additionally, you will go to embody. Whereas Henrik was all around the world he mentioned that with icon He’s very a lot wanting ahead to visiting St. Martin, a historic Caribbean hotspot dominated by two nations, France and the Netherlands; and Cozumel, a shocking Mexican island off the Yucatan Peninsula.

Over 120 acres of pleasure and tranquility is what’s in retailer at Royal Caribbean’s personal island vacation spot, Excellent Day at CocoCay.

Credit score: Royal Caribbean

After all, he can also’t wait to spend a while on Excellent Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s personal island vacation spot within the Bahamas. You will discover all kinds of issues to do there, like ziplining down 13 water slides–including Daredevil’s Peak, the tallest in North America, or enjoyable on miles of white sandy seashores and in tranquil settings like the primary over-water cabanas within the Bahamas. Henrik says Excellent Day is “a terrific final day for everybody to get pleasure from.”

when icon For the primary time in slightly below a 12 months, Henrik is worked up to supply 1000’s of premium holidays to households, thrill seekers, sit back lovers, {couples} and teams of mates.

“My job could be very satisfying,” he mentioned. “I leverage my ardour and expertise whereas offering distinctive cruise holidays for our visitors and dealing with wonderful crew from all over the world.”

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