The world’s largest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas, has set sail from Miami on its maiden voyage. The ship, built over 900 days at a shipyard in Turku, Finland, is a mammoth structure that outstrips the Eiffel Tower in height and boasts a total of 20 decks. Capable of carrying 5,600 passengers and a crew of 2,350, this giant vessel is a monument to enormity and designed to ensure that no one aboard will be bored or hungry.
The Icon has a staggering seven swimming pools, one of which is a 40,000-gallon “lake”, and six waterslides. It also has a carousel, the largest ice arena at sea, with more than 40 dining venues and bars. Entertainment is a top priority, with 50 musicians and comedians and a 16-piece orchestra scheduled to perform.
Despite its size, the Icon claims to be eco-friendly due to its use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) power. However, some experts have raised concerns that the ship’s LNG system could leak large amounts of methane gas into the atmosphere.
The Icon of the Seas is the first of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum Class of ships and has cost around $2 billion to build. It is equipped with the latest technology, including a microwave-assisted pyrolysis system for converting waste to energy-producing gas, and a reverse-osmosis system that can provide nearly all the fresh water the ship requires.
On Tuesday, the Icon was christened in style by global soccer star Lionel Messi – now with Inter Miami – when he smashed a bottle of Champagne against the ship’s bow. Last Saturday, the Icon set sail on its maiden voyage from its homeport in Miami. The ship is on a seven-day Caribbean itinerary before returning to Miami. Its promotional material stated that ticket demand was “unprecedented”.
At 2,000 feet long, the Icon will be taking the title of the world’s largest cruise ship from its Royal Caribbean stable-mate, the slightly smaller Wonder of the Seas. Despite its enormous size, Royal Caribbean executives are confident the ship will appeal to the post-pandemic cruise market. The Icon’s unique dining and entertainment options coupled with its eco-friendly engines and systems are all designed to set it apart from other ships in the luxury cruise industry.
