Royal Caribbean Group

Arriving August 2027 in Miami, the new Icon Class vacation levels up family time with more ways to splash, adventure, dine and more

MIAMI, March 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Introducing the hero of family vacations: Royal Caribbean has revealed Hero of the Seas, the fourth Icon Class ship and bold evolution of family adventure arriving in Miami in August 2027. As part of the game-changing Icon Class that combines beach retreats, resort escapes and theme park thrills, Hero will raise the bar with more records and iconic ways for families to make lifelong memories. Hero's eight neighborhoods will be home to the most pools at sea, a record-breaking 28 dining venues and cooking classes for all ages, brand-new family raft slides, new accommodations for multigenerational families – including the three-story Ultimate Family Treehouse – and more. Vacations on Hero will soon open on Royal Caribbean's website, and Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members can book starting Wednesday, April 1, ahead of the official opening on Thursday, April 2. 

"Icon Class truly set a new standard for family vacations, and Hero of the Seas takes that vision even further," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean. "With more water, more thrills and more choices for all ages, we're continuing to build on what our guests love about Royal Caribbean and delivering the experiences families are looking for when vacationing together."

More Ways to Splash

Vacationers can dive into nine distinct pools – the most at sea – including family-friendly spaces, a new Caribbean-inspired pool, three adults-only options, the largest swim-up bars at sea and more.

• Hero will introduce Coconut Cove, an all-new pool steps away from the tropical Caribbean bar, The Lime and Coconut. With in-water loungers and poolside service for refreshing drinks, vacationers can kick back with views of the Central Park neighborhood's lush greenery.
• The Hideaway adults-only oasis will now feature two pools, including the largest swim-up bar at sea for tropical cocktails and an in-water DJ booth for nonstop party vibes.
• Familiar favorites will be revamped with more room to splash and unwind at the expanded Swim & Tonic pool and swim-up bar for adults, plus new water features at Splashaway Bay, the aquapark designed for young kids in the Surfside family neighborhood.

More Adventure

Adventure will reach new heights on Hero of the Seas with more action-packed thrills for the whole family to experience together.

• At Category 6 – the largest waterpark at sea – adventurers can take on two new family raft slides, including the first funnel raft slide at sea, along with new twists on the mat-racing Storm Chasers duo.
• Vacationers can test their courage on Crown's Edge – part skywalk, part zip line experience 154 feet above the ocean – or catch waves on the FlowRider surf simulator.
• Families can challenge one another to friendly competition at the Adrenaline Peak rock-climbing wall, Lost Dunes mini-golf course and sports courts for pickleball, basketball, soccer and more.

More Dining

Hero serves up the most family-favorite eats in the fleet with 28 dining spots, bringing world flavors and immersive experiences to the table.

• The newest supper club experience, Orleans Parish Supper Club is a multi-course dining venue with live jazz, craft cocktails, and gourmet Cajun and Creole dishes inspired by the early 20^th century elegance of the French Quarter.
• Royal Railway – Hero Station will bring to life the most immersive dining experience at sea that transports adventurous diners by train car to new destinations through a combination of entertainment, food and technology.
• The family-friendly Surfside neighborhood will host hands-on cooking classes in a new venue to be revealed. Families of all ages can learn kitchen skills together, from fun recipes for little ones to more advanced courses focused on chopping and baking.
• The AquaDome Market food hall will return with four new stall concepts, plus desserts at Crème de la Crêpe and freshly squeezed juices at Simply Pressed.
• The all-encompassing dining lineup will also include fleet favorites like sushi at Izumi and the walk-up window Izumi in the Park; family-style dishes at Giovanni's Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar, premium steaks at Chops Grille and fresh catches at Hooked Seafood. Plus, families can refuel throughout the day at grab-and-go spots with everything included like Basecamp for burgers and tater tots, El Loco Fresh for Mexican plates and Sorrento's for pizza.

More Family Stays

Hero is decked out with more options than ever for families to stay in style and celebrate any occasion.

• The Ultimate Family Treehouse is a dream come true for kids and kids at heart with a three-deck treehouse featuring a rooftop terrace and private whirlpool, a two-deck teen space, and two main bedrooms each with their own bathroom and balcony.
• Families can stay in rooms designed just for them at the three-level Ultimate Family Townhouse with direct access to Surfside; Surfside Family Suites and Family Infinite Ocean View Balconies.
• For leveled-up accommodations, vacationers can unwind in style at the Royal Loft Suites and Icon Loft Suites for spacious comfort with prime ocean views. Plus, Interior Plus and Sunset Suites offer comfortable stays for vacationers resting up for the next big day of adventure.

Signature Icon Class favorites will return on Hero, from the Royal Promenade neighborhood's restaurants, bars, floor-to-ceiling ocean views and the jaw-dropping Pearl – the world's largest kinetic art sculpture – to the open-air Central Park lined with more than 30,500 real plants, restaurants, and pick-up windows for sushi, champagne and more. Plus, the boldest entertainment takes center stage with new productions at the Royal Theater, the marquee AquaTheater and Absolute Zero – the largest ice arena at sea – along with spots for live music day and night.

Hero will take vacationers on 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean adventures from Miami, with every vacation visiting Royal Caribbean's top-rated exclusive destination at Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Guests can choose between weeklong Caribbean vacations wandering Western Caribbean spots like Roatan, Honduras, and Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, or explore crystal-clear waters in Eastern Caribbean locales at Philipsburg, St. Maarten, and Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

Vacations on Hero are now open to book on Royal Caribbean's website.

About Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean, part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years. The cruise line's game-changing ships and exclusive destinations revolutionize vacations with industry-leading innovations and an all-encompassing combination of experiences, from thrills and ways to chill, to dining and entertainment, for every type of family and vacationer. Voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 23 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, Royal Caribbean makes memories with adventurers across more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents, including the vacation brand's Perfect Day at CocoCay and Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas, plus four new signature destinations joining the growing lineup by 2027.

Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on X and visit www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to book, vacationers can visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com, call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN or contact their travel advisor.  

SOURCE Royal Caribbean International

Australia's boldest summer yet features the first-of-its-kind South Pacific island experience, plus more short getaways and longer holidays on Anthem and Voyager of the Seas starting October 2027

SYDNEY, March 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean is unveiling its most exciting Australian summer yet with all-in holiday adventures and the debut of Royal Beach Club Lelepa*, the Southern Hemisphere's first Royal Caribbean exclusive cruise destination for a holiday like no other. From October 2027 to April 2028, travellers can look forward to more short getaways, weekend departures and ways to bask in island time on Anthem of the Seas from Sydney and Voyager of the Seas from Brisbane, delivering 2- to 12-night holidays across Australia, the sun-soaked South Pacific – including the ultimate beach day at the all-new Royal Beach Club Lelepa – and breathtaking New Zealand. The new lineup of 2027-28 holidays on two of the boldest ships at sea are now available to book on Royal Caribbean's website.

"As the most trusted holiday partner in Australia, Royal Caribbean continues to raise the bar on the ultimate family holiday with Royal Beach Club Lelepa – a first-of-its-kind destination in the Southern Hemisphere inspired by the natural beauty and spirit of the South Pacific region," said Gavin Smith, vice president and managing director, Australia and New Zealand, Royal Caribbean. "We know Australian families love holidaying in the South Pacific, and Lelepa takes that to an entirely new level with an experience they won't find anywhere else in the world. With an expanded lineup of weekend sailings, short escapes and longer ways to holiday, we're giving travellers even more reasons to explore fan-favourite destinations across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific."

The ultimate island time is in store at Royal Beach Club Lelepa – a first-of-its-kind destination located on the island nation of Vanuatu in the Southern Hemisphere, included on every South Pacific getaway from Sydney and Brisbane starting October 2027. Guests can enjoy two pristine beaches, including a serene adults-only retreat and an activity-packed family beach where friendly competitions invite travellers to become the island's champion. Whether it's unwinding on sun-soaked shores, hiking a scenic nature trail or snorkeling in crystal-clear waters, Lelepa offers something for every kind of holidaymaker. From 10 bars and unlimited island eats to umbrellas, loungers and towels all included, guests can enjoy the perfect day in untouched paradise.

Australian Summer 2027-2028 Highlights:

Anthem of the Seas – From Sydney, Australia

• Across 24 headline-making getaways ranging from three to 17 nights, the Quantum Class favourite is providing more ways to celebrate the weekend with 3-night escapes and South Pacific holidays, including visits to Royal Beach Club Lelepa for guests to bask in spectacular island beauty.
• 9- to 12-night New Zealand holidays take holidaymakers to far-flung destinations, including Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Milford Sound, for families looking to experience landscapes, culture and cuisine that deliver on the wow factor in one seamless getaway.
• Adding to the adventures are ways to ring in the festivities with a 9-night South Pacific Christmas holiday – featuring Christmas Day at Royal Beach Club Lelepa – and a New Zealand New Year getaway that welcomes 2028 in the beauty of the Sounds, turning the most wonderful time of year into a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
• The spectacle of the season is a 17-night Transpacific adventure departing from Honolulu. Swapping the long-haul flight for a Pacific crossing, travellers can journey across the world's largest ocean before arriving in Australia in bold, unforgettable style.

Voyager of the Seas – From Brisbane, Australia

• Bringing the heat to the Sunshine State from October 2027, Voyager will deliver 29 sun-soaked holidays ranging from two to 25 nights, turning Queensland into the launchpad for memory-maxing adventures and more weekends for families and friends to experience the ultimate getaway.
• Starting at the beginning of the Queensland summer holidays, travellers can go from Brisbane to beyond beautiful 7-night South Pacific adventures visiting the brand-new Royal Beach Club Lelepa, along with Noumea, Lifou, Mystery Island, Port Vila and Luganville, including Christmas and New Year escapes.
• Closer to home, 4-night Whitsundays getaways to Airlie Beach, alongside six vibrant short escapes, put bragworthy beach days in Queensland's own backyard.
• For those ready to go bigger, a spectacular 25-night Transpacific adventure departing Seattle calls French Polynesia and Hawaii before arriving in Brisbane.

With two iconic ships owning the lineup, the 2027-28 season brings bold adventures to maximise every moment at sea. Thrill-seekers can reach new heights on the RipCord by iFly skydiving simulator, master the waves on the FlowRider surf simulator, enjoy sweeping 360-degree ocean views from the North Star observation capsule, and have a friendly face off in the glow-in-the-dark Battle for Planet Z laser tag clash. When it's time to refuel, holidaymakers can discover flavours from around the world, including fresh sashimi at Izumi, premium steaks at Chops Grille, and rustic Italian classics at Giovanni's Table. World-class entertainment is the star of the show on both ships as Anthem hits the high notes with the Olivier Award-winning phenomenon "We Will Rock You," while Voyager dazzles with the ice-skating spectacular "Ice Odyssey," where professional skaters bring the magic and mystery of tarot cards to the rink.

More details on the 2027-28 holidays are available on Royal Caribbean's website.

About Royal Caribbean  

Royal Caribbean, part of Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), has delivered memorable vacations for more than 50 years. The cruise line's game-changing ships and exclusive destinations revolutionize vacations with industry-leading innovations and an all-encompassing combination of experiences, from thrills and ways to chill, to dining and entertainment, for every type of family and vacationer. Voted "Best Cruise Line Overall" for 23 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers Choice Awards, Royal Caribbean makes memories with adventurers across more than 300 destinations in 80 countries on all seven continents, including the vacation brand's Perfect Day at CocoCay and Royal Beach Club Paradise Island in The Bahamas, plus four new signature destinations joining the growing lineup by 2027.  

Media can stay up to date by following @RoyalCaribPR on X and visit www.RoyalCaribbeanPressCenter.com. For additional information or to book, vacationers can visit www.RoyalCaribbean.com, call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN or contact their travel advisor. 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/royal-caribbean-delivers-more-island-time-than-ever-with-royal-beach-club-lelepa-and-new-2027-28-australia-summer-lineup-302718025.html

SOURCE Royal Caribbean International