Royal Caribbean Names Sports Icon Lionel Messi ‘Icon’ to Icon of the Seas

It’s an icon for a soon-to-be iconic ship. Royal Caribbean International today announced that it has named famed sports star Lionel Messi 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 next month.  

Widely regarded as the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi continues to set records with a prestigious career that includes winning the Ballon d’Or award eight times and being named TIME’s 2023 Athlete of the Year. In its own right, Icon of the Seas has also marked record-breaking moments. The ship’s itinerary reveal back in October 2022 spurred the single largest booking day and highest volume booking week in Royal Caribbean’s then 53-year history.

Messi’s new role follows the partnership between Royal Caribbean and Inter Miami CF, in which Royal Caribbean 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.

“I’m thrilled and honored to join the Royal Caribbean family to celebrate the arrival of the game-changing Icon of the Seas,” said Lionel Messi, Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of Icon. “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 will take part in the traditional maritime naming celebration for Icon of the Seas in January 2024 in Miami. The Icon of Icon will have the honor of bestowing safekeeping onto the new ship, its crew, and the millions who will sail on the ship in the future. 

“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,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “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.”

Enjoy a sneak peek from Royal Caribbean International as they announced Lionel Messi as the Icon to the Icon of the Seas: 

Icon of the Seas will launch at the end of January 2024. The ship offers something for travelers of all ages, with eight neighborhoods filled with a variety of experiences, live entertainment, restaurants, bar, and more. The ship will sail 7-night Eastern or Western Caribbean adventure from Miami to ports including Philipsburg, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Charlotte Amalie, and Perfect Day at CocoCay. 

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