Royal Caribbean has built the world’s largest cruise ship and it’s almost ready
Cruise ships are often referred to as “floating hotels.” However, the Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas may take the title of “floating city.” Cited as the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, took its first sail on Tuesday, June 27 to prepare for its highly anticipated 2024 debut.
The massive ship completed its European sea trail on Tuesday, returning to the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. The Icon of the Seas will be put through four more days of extreme preliminary testing.
In an official release from the Royal Caribbean, the company stated the ship had more than 450 specialists conducting tests on the main engines, bow, propellers, and noise and vibration levels in preparation for the ship’s second set of sea trials slated for later this year. This was just a small percentage of the 2,000 specialists that have put in more than 350 hours of work to get the first class ship ready ahead of its debut in Miami in January 2024.
Guests traveling on the Icon of the Seas will experience the best of different types of vacations. They can indulge in the best of a resort getaway, beach escape, or theme park adventure – all while never leaving the cruise.
CNN provided a sneak peek into the ship and its record-breaking attractions. The ship features the world’s largest waterpark at sea, boasting six slides, seven full-size swimming pools, an aqua park for families and a swim-up bar. The ship will offer over 40 exclusive dining experiences, arcades, live music and shows.
There are 28 different types of accommodations. The spacious layout provides more room and options for family and group travelers. Royal Caribbean was happy to report this was the longest time frame it’s ever dedicated to “designing the perfect home base.”
Working towards their move to support clean energy, the Icon of the Seas is also the company’s first ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fuel cell technology.
The new liner weighs an estimated 250,800 tons and measures close to 1,200 feet long. CNN also mentioned the ship can also transport about 5,610 passengers and 2,350 crew members.
The outlet shared a statement from Royal Caribbean International President and CEO Michael Bayley describing the ship as “literally the best-performing new product launch we’ve ever had.”
The Icon of the Seas knocks the Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas out of the world’s largest cruise ship’s top spot. The Wonder made its inaugural voyage in 2022 and is very close to the Icon, coming in at 1,188 feet long.
The cruise line has already sold out on the first trip. Guests will leave from Miami and spend seven nights onboard the Icon, sailing through both the eastern and western Caribbean. Ports of call include the Bahamas, Mexico, Honduras, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.
The Icon of the Seas is set to sail all year, with various pricing available. For more details about Icon of the Seas, visit Royal Caribbean’s website.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.
This story was originally published June 28, 2023 at 2:52 PM.