Royal Caribbean’s new “Icon of the Seas,” a 20-deck, $2 billion-plus cruise ship that set sail earlier this year from Port Miami with 2,350 crew members, is outfitted with a range of sound systems utilizing more than 400 L-Acoustics loudspeakers installed by Miami-based L-Acoustics Certified Provider Control AV.
Eighteen of the ship’s many distinct venues are equipped with sound reinforcement, among them the multifaceted Royal Theater, which spans decks 4 and 5 on the forward end of the ship. The 1,229-seat venue hosts two inaugural main productions: “SHOWBAND! Live. Music. Now.,” featuring a 16-piece orchestra, and “The Wizard of Oz,” the first rendition of L. Frank Baum’s classic at sea. Equipped with L-ISA Hyperreal Immersive technology from L-Acoustics, the theater is sonically reinforced by 52 Kiva II enclosures in a seven-array system bolstered by six SB18i subwoofers. Two A10 enclosures, 52 coaxial X8, and 20 5XT are also deployed throughout the venue as delays, surrounds, and fills
Absolute Zero at the aft of deck 5 is the ship’s ice arena — the largest one at sea — with an oval-shaped ice rink that hosts both recreational skating as well as elaborate productions like “Starburst: Elemental Beauty.” Here A Series components — 18 A15i Wide, four A15i Focus and four A10i Wide — are complemented by six X12 loudspeakers and a dozen KS21i subs.
Another entertainment venue, the AquaTheater, is found on deck 15 inside the AquaDome neighborhood and is home to a 55-foot-tall water curtain that drops from the top of the jewel-like dome that crowns the ship. The AquaTheater’s “Aqua Action!” straddles the line between live-action cinematography and theatrical display, with Olympic-level high divers, skateboarders, aerialists, slackliners, synchronized swimmers, and more. Shows like this are heard via a combination of six L-Acoustics A15i Focus, 10 X12, 16 X8, and 19 compact X4i enclosures plus four KS21i and SB18 IIi subs.
The entertainment continues with venues along the Royal Promenade — which itself has 17 A10i Wide, 16 Syva Sub, four self-powered 108P, and two X8 — including Spotlight Karaoke, Dueling Pianos, the Latin-themed Boleros, and The Attic comedy club. Even the ship’s crew get to enjoy their own system, with X8 loudspeakers and SB15m subs installed in the crew bar and disco.
As noted, the sound systems were installed aboard “Icon” by Control AV, as were the other video and lighting systems, which took place in Turku, Finland, and Cadiz, Spain. It was, says the integrator, a collaborative effort that took nearly five years to bring the conceptual designs of Royal Caribbean and its designers to life, “merging art and science to create an immersive and unforgettable experience for passengers.”
“A standout innovation is the introduction of the groundbreaking L-Acoustics L-ISA system in the ship’s Royal Theater, elevating the acoustic experience to unprecedented levels at sea,” says Control AV president Amir El Yordi. “This cutting-edge technology provides guests with a level of immersion typically found only in top-tier land-based entertainment venues. This project signifies a pinnacle in maritime entertainment technology. We are thrilled to contribute to the success of Icon of the Seas, enhancing the experience for guests with our innovative AV solutions.”
“Considering Icon of the Seas’ multiplicity of venues, the challenges of designing, supplying, and integrating all of the audio systems for a project of this scale were arguably more involved than deploying sound for a huge multi-stage, multi-day music festival,” adds L-Acoustics Global Director of Business Development Scott Wakelin. “That being said, it was our pleasure and honor to partner with both Control AV and Royal Caribbean on this massively rewarding installation. Those who have been fortunate enough to have spent their leisure time on Icon will certainly say that it offers the best of everything, including sound.”
