Royal Caribbean · All Royal Caribbean ships · Icon Class
Hero of the Seas: ship guide
Fourth Icon Class ship, due in Miami in August 2027 with nine pools, the most at sea.
Best for: Multigenerational families who want to be among the first aboard the newest Icon Class ship on a weeklong Caribbean cruise from Miami starting in August 2027. Sails from Miami in 2026 and 2027.
About Hero of the Seas
Hero of the Seas is not yet in service. Royal Caribbean revealed the fourth Icon Class ship on March 30, 2026, and she floated out of the Meyer Turku dry dock in Finland on September 4, 2026 after 18 months of construction. Delivery and her Miami debut are scheduled for August 2027, and sailings are already open for booking. The line lists 20 decks, 2,814 staterooms, 5,654 guests at double occupancy and 2,350 crew.
Royal Caribbean is positioning Hero as the next step in family vacations. Her eight neighborhoods will hold nine pools, the most at sea, including the new Caribbean-style Coconut Cove with in-water loungers and a doubled adults-only Hideaway with two pools, the largest swim-up bar at sea and an in-water DJ booth. Category 6 adds two family raft slides, one of them the first funnel raft slide at sea.
Dining grows to 28 venues, led by the Orleans Parish Supper Club with live jazz and Cajun and Creole cooking, Royal Railway: Hero Station and family cooking classes in Surfside. The SpongeBob Musical will be the headline show. From August 2027 Hero sails 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises from Miami, every one calling at Perfect Day at CocoCay.
- Nine pools, the most at sea, including the new Coconut Cove and a double-size adults-only Hideaway
- Largest swim-up bar at sea with an in-water DJ booth in the Hideaway
- Category 6 waterpark with two new family raft slides, including the first funnel raft slide at sea
- Orleans Parish Supper Club with live jazz and Cajun and Creole dishes
- Royal Railway: Hero Station immersive train-car dining
- Ultimate Family Treehouse, a three-deck suite for up to 12 guests
- The SpongeBob Musical, the first production of the show at sea
- Family cooking classes in the Surfside neighborhood
Staterooms and suites
Interior
Interior and Interior Plus rooms give the lowest fare on the newest Icon Class ship, with the full run of included dining and the waterpark a short walk away.
Ocean View
Window rooms plus Panoramic Ocean View rooms for up to three guests with floor-to-ceiling glass over the AquaDome; accessible versions available.
Balcony
Spacious Infinite Ocean View Balcony rooms sleep four with a living area that opens onto the balcony; Family Infinite rooms sleep six with a separate bunk space and split bathroom.
Family suites
The Ultimate Family Treehouse spans three decks for up to 12 guests with four bathrooms, a rooftop terrace with private whirlpool, a two-story teen hideout and two main bedrooms with their own balconies; the Ultimate Family Townhouse sleeps eight with an in-suite slide and direct Surfside access, and Surfside Family Suites sleep two adults and two kids.
Suites
Royal Suite Class includes Sunset Suites, Sunset Corner Suites with wraparound balconies and the two-story Royal Loft and Icon Loft Suites; Sky and Star Class guests use the Suite Neighborhood with The Grove pool and sun deck, Coastal Kitchen and Royal Genie service for Star Class.
Hero of the Seas deck plans
Deck by deck, straight from our booking engine: the plan, the stateroom categories on that deck and the public rooms. Pick a deck.
Deck 20
Plans are the cruise line’s current drawings as supplied to our booking engine. Layouts change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the exact stateroom when you book.
On board Hero of the Seas
Dining on Hero of the Seas
Dining RoomIncluded
Multi-level main restaurant with a rotating multi-course dinner menu.
WindjammerIncluded
All-you-can-eat buffet with global stations.
AquaDome MarketIncluded
Food hall returning with four new stall concepts plus Crème de la Crêpe desserts and Simply Pressed juices.
Surfside Eatery and Surfside BitesIncluded
Family buffet and quick snacks in the Surfside neighborhood.
BasecampIncluded
Burgers and tater tots next to the Thrill Island attractions.
El Loco Fresh and Sorrento’sIncluded
Grab-and-go Mexican plates and pizza around the clock.
Orleans Parish Supper ClubSpecialty
Multi-course Cajun and Creole dinner with live jazz and craft cocktails in a French Quarter setting.
Royal Railway: Hero StationSpecialty
Immersive train-car dining that travels to new destinations through food, screens and performers.
Izumi Hibachi & SushiSpecialty
Teppanyaki and sushi, with the Izumi in the Park walk-up window.
Chops Grille, Giovanni’s and Hooked SeafoodSpecialty
Fleet-favorite steakhouse, family-style Italian and New England seafood return from the Icon Class lineup.
Entertainment and activities
- The SpongeBob Musical in the Royal Theater, planned for the summer 2027 debut
- New productions in the AquaTheater and at the Absolute Zero ice arena
- Nine pools including Coconut Cove, Royal Bay, Water’s Edge, Cloud 17, the Cove and the two-pool Hideaway
- Category 6 waterpark with the Storm Chasers mat racers and two new family raft slides
- Crown’s Edge skywalk 154 feet above the ocean, FlowRider, Adrenaline Peak and Lost Dunes mini golf
- Expanded Swim & Tonic swim-up bar and pool for adults
- Live music at Music Hall, Dueling Pianos, Lou’s Jazz ’N Blues and Boleros, plus Spotlight Karaoke
- Sports courts for pickleball, basketball and soccer
Families and who it suits
Surfside returns as the family neighborhood with new water features at Splashaway Bay, two kid-size slides, Baby Bay, a carousel, a Playscape and hands-on family cooking classes in a new venue. Adventure Ocean covers ages 6 months to 12 years, with a teen hangout for ages 13 to 17.
Best for: Multigenerational families who want to be among the first aboard the newest Icon Class ship on a weeklong Caribbean cruise from Miami starting in August 2027.
Sails from: Miami · Regions: Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean
Hero of the Seas questions we answer every day
When does Hero of the Seas start sailing?
How big is Hero of the Seas?
What is new on Hero of the Seas?
Where does Hero of the Seas sail?
What is included in the fare?
Which staterooms should families consider?
Facts checked against Royal Caribbean: Hero of the Seas, Royal Caribbean: Hero of the Seas rooms, Royal Caribbean Press Center: Hero of the Seas reveal, March 30, 2026, Royal Caribbean Press Center: Hero of the Seas fast facts on October 13, 2026. Ship details change with refurbishments; your SmartCruiser advisor confirms the current layout when you book.
Every Hero of the Seas sailing, priced all-in
Every Hero of the Seas departure the cruise line is selling, priced live with taxes, fees and port expenses included. SmartCruiser picks at the top are sailings where booking with us gets you something extra. Stack the filters, then sort by lowest price, best value per night or sail date.
SmartCruiser picks
Sorted by what you save, biggest firstEvery Hero of the Seas sailing
Stack any filters, then pick a sortPrices are per person, double occupancy, in US dollars, and include cruise fare, taxes, fees and port expenses as published by the cruise line at the moment you load this page. Fares are capacity controlled and change daily; the fare is confirmed when you book. Flights, hotels and transfers are extra unless the line’s offer says otherwise. Onboard credit shown on a sailing is per stateroom and applies to the lowest category offered unless stated otherwise.