Teri West
Royal Caribbean's fourth Icon-class ship, Hero of the Seas, is coming next year, and the cruise line recently shared that it will have the line's largest suite yet.
The 4,123-square-foot Ultimate Family Treehouse spans three decks and can accommodate up to 12 guests.
Treehouse is an appropriate way to describe the space, since the third deck is an outdoor terrace and there are multiple other outdoor pockets. It was also designed to look like a treehouse; there's a faux tree trunk in the main indoor living space on the lowest deck and wood and green accents throughout.
The size is a step up from the largest suite on the other three Icon-class ships -- the 2,347-square-foot Ultimate Family Townhouse that accommodates eight. Royal went bigger this time due to the Townhouse's success, said Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean's senior vice president of sales, trade support and service.
The outdoor terrace in the Treehouse was designed as a space for families to connect with an ocean view, she said. The terrace has a hot tub, dining table, loungers and a television with couches.
"Multigenerational groups are traveling more frequently, and they're looking for accommodations that provide space for connection," Freed said.
There is also a two-deck section designed for teenagers, with bedrooms connected via a spiral staircase. It is adjacent to a game room with a television and foosball table.
Royal Caribbean decided to design a space for teens because of guest feedback, Freed said.
"We hear how important it is for families with teens to have spaces that feel truly their own," she said. "With the Ultimate Family Treehouse, we saw an opportunity to intentionally design a space for our guests that reflects the growth of a multigenerational family."
Of course, the natural next question is how much the suite costs. It depends on the sailing, but the average price is currently around $160,000, which can fluctuate depending on the cruise's length and itinerary.
The largest accommodations on cruise ships attract affluent cruisers accustomed to luxury on land. Travel advisors say those clients are drawn to a cruise instead of a private yacht because of the variety of onboard activities, such as shows and multiple restaurants.
The Ultimate Family Treehouse will have a game room with a foosball table. Photo Credit: Royal Caribbean
While guests booking the Ultimate Family Townhouse can afford to vacation on a luxury cruise ship, they don't offer an array of family-tailored attractions that a Royal Caribbean ship does, like a waterpark, a rock climbing wall, the FlowRider surf simulator, ice skating and the Crown's Edge obstacle course and zipline.
Offering a family-style slice of luxury is Royal Caribbean's way of catering to these travelers.