CruiseFootball legend Lionel Messi will play the role of godfather to Royal Caribbean's newest and largest ship, the Icon of the Seas.

A football icon becomes the icon for Royal Caribbean’s Icon

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Lionel Messi, the ambassador of Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, will join the ship's naming event in January 2024.
Lionel Messi, the ambassador of Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, will join the ship's naming event in January 2024.

Royal Caribbean International has named Lionel Messi, the living football legend, as the official Icon of the inaugural voyage of its new ship, Icon of the Seas. Scheduled for launch in January 2024, the vessel aims to redefine vacations with unparalleled amenities and experiences.

Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and TIME’s 2023 Athlete of the Year, will be part of the ship's exclusive naming celebration in Miami. The Icon of the Seas aims to revolutionise the vacation experience, offering six record-setting waterslides, seven pools, and over 40 dining and entertainment options.

This collaboration follows Royal Caribbean’s partnership with Inter Miami CF, in which the cruise line became the Club’s Main Partner and Official Vacation Partner.

Messi’s appointment as the Icon of Icon aims to mirror the ship's ability to make a profound impact, as he has done in the world of sports and in Miami with Inter Miami CF. Messi will partake in the ship's naming celebration, symbolising a longstanding maritime tradition.

The Icon of the Seas promises an all-encompassing lineup of experiences across eight neighbourhoods, catering to families, couples, and friends alike when it debuts in January 2024. Moreover, the ship’s Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries will include visits to breathtaking destinations such as St. Maarten, Cozumel, St. Thomas, and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.

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