Lionel Messiofficially christened the Icon of the Seas during a ceremony inside the AquaDome of the world's largest cruise ship.
Acrobats leapt out of the pool and flew around the dome, and high-diving divers launched themselves from two platforms. And Scotland's Red Hot Chili Pipers, with their bagpipes, drums, and electric guitars, had everyone clapping and swaying to the music.
The Icon of the Seas has been designed to be the best family vacation in the world, according to Michael Bayley, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. He described it as “the company’s greatest dream come true” and “a true marvel of engineering.”
Bayley introduced several multigenerational families who work as crew on Royal Caribbean ships along with the Carter family, “guests who have sailed with us for generations,” since the Sun Viking in 1987.
For his part, Royal Caribbean Group President and CEO Jason Libertydescribed Icon as a “revolutionary product that surpasses the limits of human ingenuity,” the result of more than 50 years of innovation.
The late Ed Stefan , founder of Royal Caribbean , was honored, and his wife Helen and daughter Samantha were among the audience. Members of the Wilhelmsen, Pritzker, and Ofer families were also present and offered their thanks.
As for Royal Caribbean Chairman Richard Fain, “you can see his fingerprints all over the ship, from bow to stern,” Liberty said, recalling that it was Fain who sketched his vision of the AquaDome on a napkin.
The Meyer family, seventh-generation shipbuilders, received thanks for “answering the call to be industry pioneers with us.” Bernard Meyer and Tim Meyer were seated near Fain.
Both Bayley and Liberty highlighted many team members whose hard work went into the Icon of the Seas, including Harri Kulovaara, Kelly Gonzalez, Laura Hodges Bethge, Jay Schneider, Naftali Holtz, Greg Purdy, Raimund Gschaider, Vicki Freed, Sean Treacy, Dana Ritzcovan, and Kara Wallace, among others, with "the greatest gratitude in the world to the crew of the Icon."
Next, the Icon's "icon," sports superstar Lionel Messi, received a soccer ball from captain Henrik Loy, who had received it from an acrobat.
Speaking in Spanish, Lionel Messi blessed the boat and used the ball to press a button that released a large bottle of champagne that crashed against the bow.
Follow cruise news at Cruisesnews.es
