Category 6 Waterpark – Royal Caribbean International – Icon of the Seas
Submitted by: Royal Caribbean International
Lead Designer: Jordi Esteban
Companies Involved: Wilson Butler Architects, Robert Soldo Studio, Weigand Waterrides
Completion Date: 27/01/2024
Take the best-ever vacation and crank it up — way up. This is a whole new class of adventure. The kind that fills every moment with new thrills and changes the way guests play for good – like braving six record-breaking slides at Category 6, the largest waterpark at sea, and an immersive storm experience. This waterpark features:
- Storm Surge and Hurricane Hunter, the first family raft slides at sea with three-four riders per raft. Experience zero gravity on the 395 feet long Storm Surge and an acrylic lotus cantilevered over the ocean, making it feel like you’ll slide off the edge of the ship. Or bring the whole crew along on the 425 feet long Hurricane Hunter with there 360-degree tailspins.
- The 46-foot-tall Frightening Bolt is the tallest drop slide at sea featuring a nearly vertical acrylic section appearing like the floor is nonexistent. Once the floor drops, the solo rider plummets through 282 feet of thundering waterslide.
- Storm Chasers are the cruise industry’s first duo mat-racing slides. Guests can challenge a friend through the 431 feet long slides featuring adrenaline-pumping music and a timer at the end claiming the winner.
- Plummet down the industry’s first open free-fall slide and its near vertical 66-degree incline on Pressure Drop for an epic splashdown.
- Lastly, what differentiates this waterpark from others both on land and at sea, is the immersive Eye of the Storm. This experience features 3 unique storm experiences that blend a variety of water, sound, and light sequences and intensities. A storm experience shakes up the waterpark every 5 minutes as a fun surprise & delight feature for guests to enjoy while meandering throughout + in between the waterpark stair towers.
