World football superstar Lionel Messi joined Royal Caribbean’s Michael Bayley and Jason Liberty for Icon of the Seas’ official naming ceremony last night (23 January)

The Inter Miami squad, the team Messi the plays for and includes football stars Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets, were there to witness the eight-time Balon d’Or winner break a ceremonial Champagne bottle over the bow of the world’s largest cruise ship.

Messi, who was joined on stage by Michael Bayley, chief executive of Royal Caribbean International, chief executive of Royal Caribbean Group Jason Liberty and the ship’s captain Henrik Loy, was announced as the official “icon” – similar to a ship’s godfather – of the vessel in December.

The ceremony was hosted by Dancing with the Stars presenter Mario Lopez, who introduced Messi as a traditional bagpipe precession led him into the ship’s AquaTheatre.

The ceremony kicked off with an a cappella rendition of the US national anthem, which was performed by Icon of the Seas cast members, and the audience were soon on their feet again when Scottish bagpipe band, Red Hot Chili Pipers, performed a spirited medley that included hits from Avici and Journey.

Michael Bayley addresses the audience, as well as thousands of cruise guests watching live throughout the ship. Particularly poignant moment when Bayley thanks the Carter family, who’ve been cruising with @RoyalCaribbean for three generations #IconoftheSeas #CTNonIcon pic.twitter.com/2VQY43tR7F

— Cruise Trade News (@cruisetradenews) January 23, 2024

Audiences also got to see Icon of the Seas’ AquaTheater in action for the first time, with performers wowing the crowd with a sneak peak of Royal Caribbean’s new marquee aqua show. Messi and co were escorted off the stage as the floor descended, instantaneously filling with water as aerialists sprung off two 30ft-high diving boards, while swimmers leapt and lurched out of the water at the crowd.

The ceremony stayed true to tradition by culminating with the blessing of the ship. It was up to Messi to do the honours, with the World Cup winner placing a football onto a podium, which triggered the largest bottle of Champagne ever made to zip down a high wire and smash into hull.

The moment we were all waiting for. Lionel Messi officially names #IconoftheSeas. An enormously ambitious ceremony for an enormously ambitious ship @RoyalCaribbean #CTNonIcon pic.twitter.com/NOHLitfOhm

— Cruise Trade News (@cruisetradenews) January 24, 2024

‘Dream now a reality’, says Bayley as Lionel Messi breaks Champagne

Addressing the audience, Bayley took time to thank the Royal Caribbean employees and engineers who helped bring the line’s first Icon class ship to life.

“It’s been a long and incredible journey and our dream has now become a reality,” he said. “What you see throughout Icon and its eight incredible neighbourhoods is more than 50 years of passion, innovation, coming together to create truly the best family vacation.

Liberty added: “Every once in a while a product comes along that changes everything. A product that pushes the boundaries of human ingenuity, makes a widespread impact and forever changes the status quo. Today is that day, as we launch a new era of multi-generational family experiences here on Icon of the Seas.

“Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas is a culmination of over 50 years of dreaming innovating and living our mission each and every day to deliver the world’s best vacations and doing so in a responsible way.”

Royal Caribbean also revealed how it plans to work with its agent partners following the launch of the vessel.