Royal Caribbean: Soccer Star Lionel Messi is the Official Icon of ‘Icon of the Seas’ Cruise Ship

Royal Caribbean International recently announced that Argentine-born football (soccer) player Lionel Messi is the official Icon of the cruise line’s revolutionary Icon of the Seas ship set to debut in January 2024.

With six record-setting waterslides, seven pools, the first neighborhood designed for young families, more than 40 ways to dine, drink and be entertained, the Icon of the Seas cruise ship is expected to mark the start of a new era of vacations, according to Royal Caribbean. At 250,800 gross tonnage, Icon of the Seas will be the largest cruise ship in the world.

“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 Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley.

“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 football in Miami and the US,” he added.

As part of a longstanding maritime tradition, Messi will take part in the iconic naming celebration for Icon in January 2024 in Miami.

“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.”

Widely regarded as the greatest of all time, Messi has and continues to set a long list of records throughout his career that includes winning the prestigious Ballon d’Or award eight times and being named TIME’s 2023 Athlete of the Year for ushering in a new era of soccer in the U.S. when he joined Royal Caribbean partner and new Leagues Cup champion Inter Miami CF.

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.

According to Royal Caribbean, the Icon of the Seas vacation’s reveal in October 2022 spurred the single largest booking day and highest volume booking week in the cruise line’s then 53-year history, confirming vacationers are looking for a getaway that combines the best of every type of vacation – from the beach retreat to the resort escape and the theme park adventure – now more than ever.

Navigator Travel & Tourist Services Ltd is Royal Caribbean International’s sales representative in Greece.