We hope you enjoy your Labor Day weekend with friends and family! It has been a busy week of Royal Caribbean news and events, and we have a look back at everything that happened this week.
Royal Caribbean placed an order for a fourth Icon Class ship, with the possibility of two more beyond that.
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The cruise line confirmed this week that it's ordered a fourth Icon Class ship, set to be delivered in 2027. Star of the Seas, the second Icon Class set, will launch in August 2025, with the third Icon Class ship being delivered in 2026.
No further details have been revealed about the fourth Icon Class ship, but Royal Caribbean also said that it has options to build fifth and sixth ships.
Royal Caribbean News
- Bahamas strikes $600M Deal: Inside the massive shipyard transformation set to dominate cruise repair
- I tried a free shore excursion instead of paying for a Royal Caribbean tour. It was so much better than I expected
- Royal Caribbean updates: Upgraded benefits for top tier members, free internet in Alaska, Beach Club update & more
- Royal Caribbean crew member gets 30 years for secretly filming kids
- I visited Bordeaux for the first time. I found there's so much more to love about the city than its wine
- Royal Caribbean adds new restrictions on free cruises from the casino
- Spotted: Long awaited Royal Caribbean dining package update rolled out
- Boarding my cruise ship in England was easier than most cruises in the United States
- One ocean in Europe is notorious for bad weather and rough seas. There was motion, but it wasn't as bad as I feared
- I spent two days in London before my European cruise. It gave me time to fight jetlag and explore this amazing city
- 3 hours in Paris? Why long bus ride cruise excursions are great and miserable
- Viral TikTok warns cruisers to avoid these three Caribbean shore excursions
New RCB Video: Uncomfortable Truths We Need to Tell You About Royal Caribbean
Have you subscribed to the Royal Caribbean Blog YouTube Channel? We share some great videos there regularly, all about taking a Royal Caribbean cruise!
This week, we are sharing our latest video — Uncomfortable Truths We Need to Tell You About Royal Caribbean — and don’t forget to subscribe here.
I took an Anthony Bourdain inspired tour of a city in Spain during my cruise
![Anthony Bourdain mural next to aerial view of Bilbao](/sites/default/files/styles/mobile_1x/public/fb/bourdain-inspired-bilbao-tour.jpg.webp?itok=CItFhbrr)
Looking for a new way to tour your next port of call?
Matt tried an Anthony-Bourdain-inspired tour on his latest visit to Bilbao, Spain.
His exploration blended culture, history, local customs, and food for a unique and surprising experience.
9 things you can bring on a plane, but not a cruise ship
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If you're not careful while packing, you could breeze through airport security but be banned from boarding the cruise ship.
Each mode of transportation is different, and there are some items that are safe to bring on a plane but aren't allowed on a cruise ship.
From handcuffs to irons, there are 9 things you should be wary of bringing.
Icon of the Seas vs. Utopia of the Seas: Comparing Royal Caribbean's newest and biggest cruise ships
![Icon of the Seas vs Utopia of the Seas](/sites/default/files/styles/mobile_1x/public/2024-08/icon-vs-utopia%20%281%29.png.webp?itok=-Tt0Yte8)
Both of Royal Caribbean's newest cruise ships are also the biggest ships in the world.
They both have a lot in common—from waterpark activities to buffet dining—but each ship comes from a different class.
Some key differences between these two mega ships can affect your next cruise.