Argentinian star Lionel Messi has expanded his business scope to the cruise industry. According to Mundo Deportivo, the 2022 World Cup champion has just signed a lucrative contract with Royal Caribbean International cruise line. As the official representative of the superyacht “Icon of the Seas”, the star of Inter Miami Club will participate in the launching ceremony of the yacht, which is likened to a “park”. giant at sea” in Miami on January 27, 2024.
Messi expressed his excitement in a recent statement about the partnership with Royal Caribbean International: “I am very happy and honored to join Royal Caribbean International in celebrating the arrival of Icon of the Seas. It promises to go beyond anything for a family holiday, with surprises never seen before.”
Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, also praised Messi in his speech. “Icon of the Seas is the pinnacle of yacht design and is ready to make a name for itself after being launched in January 2024,” Bayley emphasized.
“Lionel Messi has proven himself to be an icon of contemporary football. This will be a symbol of great cooperation, promising to bring excitement and passion for football to any tourist who experiences Icon of the Seas’ services.” The ship will depart from Miami (Florida) on January 27, 2024, to make its maiden 7-night cruise around the Caribbean.
It is important to know that Royal Caribbean International spent more than 2 billion USD to design and build a ship weighing 250,800 tons, 5 times larger than the Titanic, at a shipyard in Finland. The length of the ship is up to 365 meters, longer than the length of three football fields combined. Icon Of The Seas is larger than any cruise ship ever, and can accommodate approximately 5,610 passengers and 2,350 crew.
The yacht’s design is divided into eight different areas, each with themed entertainment facilities, restaurants, bars and experience parks. There are 28 diverse room styles for families and groups, with ocean views. Icon of the Seas is also the first of three Royal Caribbean International cruise ships to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fuel cell technology. Icon of the Seas’ LNG fuel tank weighs 307 tons and is 27.4 meters long.
Another notable highlight on the cruise is the world’s largest marine water park system, with a special highlight being a 16-meter high slide. The cost of a cruise for each tourist ranges from 4,000 to 6,000 pounds (equivalent to 120 million to nearly 200 million VND), excluding transportation costs to the pier.
