‘Hero of the Seas’ is the fourth ship to join the cruise line’s Icon Class, which boasts the largest cruise ships in the world
Credit: Royal Caribbean
NEED TO KNOW
- Hero of the Seas will make its official debut August 2027 in Miami with record-breaking features and amenities
- The ship will include a three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse, 28 dining venues and the most pools at sea
- It is the fourth ship to join the cruise line’s Icon Class, which boasts the largest cruise ships in the world
Royal Caribbean newest ship is set to raise the bar with a ton of exciting, record-breaking features.
Hero of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s fourth ship to join its Icon Class, which are the largest cruise ships in the world. It will officially make its debut in Miami in August 2027, the cruise line announced on March 30.
The ship will be home to the most pools at sea, with nine unique swimming spots for guests to enjoy across its eight "neighborhoods" on board.
In addition to its newest pool, Coconut Cove, the ship will have even larger versions of some of its classic Icon Class pools, including Swim & Tonic and the Hideaway, which will boast “the largest swim-up bar at sea,” the cruise line says.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
The new ship will also be home to the largest waterpark at sea, Category 6, which is featured on all of Royal Caribbean's Icon Class ships: Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and the forthcoming Legend of the Seas, debuting in July 2026.
At the waterpark, cruisers can take advantage of two new family raft slides, including “the first funnel raft slide at sea."
The cruise line says they took guest feedback into account when curating new experiences on Hero of the Seas, especially from those who got to try out the waterpark on its other Icon Class ships.
“Our guests are so happy with this waterpark. The only thing they told us is, they wish they were there longer. So we’ve switched out some of our raft slides to make sure that the time that the guests are on the ride is now longer and is even more thrilling,” says Jennifer Goswami, Senior Director, Product Development at Royal Caribbean.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
In addition to all of the water adventures on board, the ship will debut its first-ever, three-deck Ultimate Family Treehouse, a guest suite featuring a rooftop terrace with a private whirlpool, two main bedrooms and a “two-deck teen space.”
The massive accomodation is ideal for families and offers multiple shared spaces where parents and kids can spend time together, all while surrounded by panoramic ocean views.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
The ship will also offer a record-breaking 28 dining venues, including its newest Orleans Parish Supper Club and the immersive Royal Railway – Hero Station.
Guests can also take a family-friendly cooking class at a new venue in the Surfside neighborhood that has yet to be revealed.
Credit: Royal Caribbean
At nearly 250,000 gross tons, Hero of the Seas can accommodate up to 5,654 guests and 2,350 crew members. It also features 2,814 staterooms and 20 total decks. But contrary to some reports, it is not technically the new largest cruise ship at sea, as it's the exact same tonnage as the other Icon class ships, PEOPLE confirms.
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Bookings will begin Wednesday, April 1, for Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members, before opening to the public on Thursday, April 2, on Royal Caribbean’s website.
The ship will offer a variety of itineraries, including 7-night Eastern Caribbean getaways with stops in St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Royal Caribbean’s exclusive Perfect Day at CocoCay destination in the Bahamas. Western Caribbean escapes will stop at destinations in Mexico, including Cozumel and Costa Maya.
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